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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
M.: That is mentioned as if to say: “Do not see with your eyes.”
D.: What is regulation of breath for?
M.: Only to control the mind.
Again after a few minutes Sri Bhagavan continued: The mind
functions both as light and as objects. If divested of things the
light alone will remain over.
D.: But we must know that there is such light.
M.: Sight or cognition is impossible without such light. How do you
cognise anything in sleep? Our cognition pertains to the present
state because there is light. Light is the essential requisite for sight.
It is plain in our daily life. Among the lights, sunlight is the most
important. Hence they speak of the glory of millions of suns.
D.: There is light if we press the eyelids with our fingers.
Another questioner: What is the use of seeing such a light?
M.: It is done lest we forget the goal. The practice helps one not to
divert the attention to other pursuits.
The object is seen or the light is recognised because there is the
subject to do so. How does it affect the subject whether the objects
are seen or not? If the light, i.e., the cogniser or the consciousness
is seen, there will be no object to be seen. Pure light, i.e.,
Consciousness, will alone remain over.
D.: Why then is the regulation of breath necessary?
M.: Control of breath or its regulation is only for controlling the mind
so that the mind may not wander away.
D.: Is it for control of mind only?
M.: It is not enough that light is seen; it is also necessary to have the
mind engaged in a single activity, e.g., the elephant trunk and the
chain.
D.: How long will it take for one to gain Chintamani (the celestial
gem granting all the wishes of its owner)?
M.: The example of Chintamani is found in Yoga Vasishta. Chintamani
signifies the Real nature of the Self. The story is as follows:-
A man was making tapasya for gaining Chintamani. A gem
mysteriously fell into his hands. He thought that it could not be
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