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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
glory lies where we cease to exist. In order to gain that state, one
should surrender oneself saying “LORD! Thou art my Refuge!” The
master then sees “This man is in a fit state to receive guidance,” and
so guides him.
D.: What is Self-surrender?
M.: It is the same as self-control; control is effected by removal of
samskaras which imply the functioning of the ego. The ego submits
only when it recognises the Higher Power. Such recognition is
surrender or submission, or self-control. Otherwise the ego remains
stuck up like the image carved on a tower, making a pretence by
its strained look and posture that it is supporting the tower on its
shoulders. The ego cannot exist without the Power but thinks that
it acts of its own accord.
D.: How can the rebellious mind be brought under control?
M.: Either seek its source so that it may disappear or surrender that
it may be struck down.
D.: But the mind slips away from our control.
M.: Be it so. Do not think of it. When you recollect yourself bring it
back and turn it inward. That is enough.
No one succeeds without effort. Mind control is not one’s birthright.
The successful few owe their success to their perseverance.
A passenger in a train keeps his load on the head by his own folly.
Let him put it down: he will find the load reaches the destination
all the same. Similarly, let us not pose as the doers, but resign
ourselves to the guiding Power.
D.: Swami Vivekananda says that a spiritual Guru can transfer
spirituality substantially to the disciple.
M.: Is there a substance to be transferred? Transfer means eradication of
the sense of being the disciple. The master does it. Not that the man
was something at one time and metamorphosed later into another.
D.: Is not Grace the gift of the Guru?
M.: God, Grace and Guru are all synonymous and also eternal and
immanent. Is not the Self already within? Is it for the Guru to bestow
It by his look? If a Guru thinks so, he does not deserve the name.
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