Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi Complete ... - BrahminVoice.org

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
M.: Removal of ignorance is the aim of practice, and not acquisition of
Realisation. Realisation is ever present, here and now. Were it to be
acquired anew, Realisation must be understood to be absent at one
time and present at another time. In that case, it is not permanent,
and therefore not worth the attempt. But Realisation is permanent
and eternal and is here and now.
D.: Grace is necessary for the removal of ignorance.
M.: Certainly. But Grace is all along there. Grace is the Self. It is
not something to be acquired. All that is necessary is to know its
existence. For example, the sun is brightness only. He does not
see darkness. Whereas others speak of darkness fleeing away on
the sun approaching. Similarly, ignorance also is a phantom and
not real. Because of its unreality, its unreal nature being found, it
is said to be removed.
Again, the sun is there and also bright. You are surrounded by
sunlight. Still if you would know the sun you must turn your eyes
in his direction and look at him. So also Grace is found by practice
alone although it is here and now.
D.: By the desire to surrender constantly, increasing Grace is
experienced, I hope.
M.: Surrender once for all and be done with the desire. So long as
the sense of doership is retained there is the desire; that is also
personality. If this goes the Self is found to shine forth pure.
The sense of doership is the bondage and not the actions
themselves.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Here stillness is total surrender
without a vestige of individuality. Stillness will prevail and there
will be no agitation of mind. Agitation of mind is the cause of
desire, the sense of doership and personality. If that is stopped
there is quiet. There ‘Knowing’ means ‘Being’. It is not the relative
knowledge involving the triads, knowledge, subject and object.
D.: Is the thought “I am God” or “I am the Supreme Being” helpful?
M.: “I am that I am.” “I am” is God - not thinking, “I am God”. Realise
“I am” and do not think I am. “Know I am God” - it is said, and
not “Think I am God.”
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