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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
M.: There are different methods of approach to prove the unreality of
the universe. The example of the dream is one among them. Jagrat,
svapna and sushupti are all treated elaborately in the scripture in
order that the Reality underlying them might be revealed. It is not
meant to accentuate differences among the three states. The purpose
must be kept clearly in view.
Now they say that the world is unreal. Of what degree of unreality
is it? Is it like that of a son of a barren mother or a flower in the sky,
mere words without any reference to facts? Whereas the world is a
fact and not a mere word. The answer is that it is a superimposition
on the one Reality, like the appearance of a snake on a coiled rope
seen in dim light.
But here too the wrong identity ceases as soon as the friend
points out that it is a rope. Whereas in the matter of the world it
persists even after it is known to be unreal. How is that? Again the
appearance of water in a mirage persists even after the knowledge of
the mirage is recognised. So it is with the world. Though knowing
it to be unreal, it continues to manifest.
But the water of the mirage is not sought to satisfy one’s thirst. As
soon as one knows that it is a mirage, one gives it up as useless
and does not run after it for procuring water.
D.: Not so with the appearance of the world. Even after it is repeatedly
declared to be false one cannot avoid satisfying one’s wants from
the world. How can the world be false?
M.: It is like a man satisfying his dream wants by dream creations.
There are objects, there are wants and there is satisfaction. The
dream creation is as purposeful as the jagrat world and yet it is
not considered real.
Thus we see that each of these illustrations serves a distinct purpose in
establishing the stages of unreality. The realised sage finally declares
that in the regenerate state the jagrat world also is found to be as
unreal as the dream world is found to be in the jagrat state.
Each illustration should be understood in its proper context; it
should not be studied as an isolated statement. It is a link in a chain.
The purpose of all these is to direct the seeker’s mind towards the
one Reality underlying them all.
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