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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
D.: But we do not know that we are dreaming as apart from waking
as we do now.
M.: The dream is the combination of jagrat and sushupti. It is due
to the samskaras of the jagrat state. Hence we remember dreams
at present. Samskaras are not formed contrariwise; therefore also
we are not aware of the dream and jagrat simultaneously. Still
everyone will recollect strange perplexities in dream. One wonders
if he dreams or is awake. He argues and determines that he is only
awake. When really awake, he finds that it was all only a dream.
Talk 400.
In the course of another conversation Sri Bhagavan said: Photisms
add zest to meditation and nothing more.
16th April, 1937
Talk 401.
Mr. Krishnamurti, an Andhra gentleman, asked as follows:- When
we make tapas, on what object must we fix our sight? Our mind is
fixed on what we utter.
M.: What is tapas for?
D.: For Self-Realisation.
M.: Quite so. Tapas depends on the competency of the person. One
requires a form to contemplate. But it is not enough. For can anyone
keep looking at an image always? So the image must be implemented
by japa. Japa helps fixing the mind on the image, in addition to the
eyesight. The result of these efforts is concentration of mind, which
ends in the goal. He becomes what he thinks. Some are satisfied with the
name of the image. Every form must have a name. That name denotes
all the qualities of God. Constant japa puts off all other thoughts and
fixes the mind. That is tapas. One-pointedness is the tapas wanted.
The question what tapas is was asked in order to know what purpose
to serve. It will take the form required for the purpose.
D.: Are not physical austerities also tapas?
M.: May be one form of it. They are due to vairagya (dispassion) .
D.: I have seen a man with his arm lifted all his life.
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