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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
M.: When we can speak to each other why should we not speak to
Isvara in the same way?
D.: Then why does it not happen with us?
M.: It requires purity and strength of mind and practice in meditation.
D.: Does God become evident if the above conditions exist?
M.: Such manifestations are as real as your own reality. In other words,
when you identify yourself with the body as in jagrat you see gross
objects; when in subtle body or in mental plane as in svapna, you
see objects equally subtle; in the absence of identification as in
sushupti you see nothing. The objects seen bear a relation to the
state of the seer. The same applies to visions of God.
By long practice the figure of God, as meditated upon, appears in
dream and may later appear in jagrat also.
D.: Is that the state of God-realisation?
M.: Listen to what happened once, years ago.
There was a saint by name Namdev. He could see, talk and play
with Vithoba as we do with one another. He used to spend most of
his time in the temple playing with Vithoba.
On one occasion the saints had assembled together, among whom was
one Jnandev of well-established fame and eminence. Jnandev asked
Gora Kumbhar (a potter-saint) to use his proficiency in testing the
soundness of baked pots and find out which of the assembled saints
was properly baked clay. So Gora Kumbhar took his stick and gently
struck each one’s head in joke as if to test. When he came to Namdev
the latter protested in a huff; all laughed and hooted. Namdev was
enraged and he sought Vithoba in the temple. Vithoba said that the
saints knew best; this unexpected reply upset Namdev all the more.
He said: You are God. I converse and play with you. Can there be
anything more to be gained by man?
Vithoba persisted: The saints know.
Namdev: Tell me if there is anything more real than you.
Vithoba: We have been so familiar with each other that my advice
will not have the desired effect on you. Seek the beggar-saint in
the forest and know the truth.
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