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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
The Yogis attach the highest importance to going up to sahasrara
i.e., the brain centre or the thousand-petalled-lotus. Some yogis say
that there are other centres higher up with greater involutions e.g.,
100,000 (100) petalled or 100,000,000 (108) petalled ones. Let us
omit them for the present. They point out the scriptural statement
that the life-current enters the body through the fontanelle and
argue that, viyoga (separation) having come about that way, yoga
(union) must also be effected in the reverse way. Therefore we must
by yoga practice, gather up the pranas and enter the fontanelle
for the consummation of yoga. The jnanis point out that the yogi
assumes the existence of the body, its separateness from the Self,
and therefore advises effort for reunion by the practice of yoga.
In fact, the body is in the mind which has the brain for its seat,
which again functions by light borrowed from another source
as admitted by the yogis themselves in their fontanelle theory.
The Jnani further argues: if the light is borrowed it must come
from its native source. Go to the source direct and do not depend
on borrowed resources. Just as an iron ball comes into being
separate from the mass of iron, gets fiery, in fire, later cools down
giving up the fire, but must again be made fiery to reunite with the
original mass, so also the cause of separation must also form the
factor of reunion.
Again if there is an image reflected there must be a source and also
accessories like the Sun and a pot of water for reflection. To do away
with the reflection either the surface is covered up corresponding to
reaching the fontanelle according to the yogis or the water is drained
away which is called tapas (Tapo Brahmeti - tapas is Brahman).
That is to say, the thoughts or the brain activities are made to cease.
This is jnana-marga.
All these are however on the assumption that the jiva is separate
from the Self or Brahman. But are we separate? “No”, says the
Jnani. The ego is simply wrong identity of the Self with the
non-self, as in the case of a colourless crystal and its coloured
background. The crystal though colourless appears red because of
its background. If the background is removed the crystal shines in
its original purity. So it is with the Self and the antahkaranas.
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