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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
The Hindu sastras enjoin taking the name of God all the time.
M.: One should not use the name of God artificially and superficially
without feeling. To use the name of God one must call upon Him
and surrender to Him unreservedly. After such surrender the name
of God is constantly with the man.
D.: What are the fundamental tests for discovering men of great
spirituality, since some are reported to behave like insane people?
M.: The jnani’s mind is known only to the Jnani. One must be a Jnani
oneself in order to understand another Jnani. However the peace of
mind which permeates the saint’s atmosphere is the only means by
which the seeker understands the greatness of the saint.
His words or actions or appearance are no indications of his
greatness, for they are ordinarily beyond the comprehension of
common people.
D.: Has man any Free-Will or is everything in his life predestined
and preordained?
M.: Free-Will holds the field in association with individuality. As long as
individuality lasts so long there is Free-Will. All the sastras are based on
this fact and they advise directing the Free-Will in the right channel.
Find out to whom Free-Will or Destiny matters. Abide in it. Then
these two are transcended. That is the only purpose of discussing
these questions. To whom do these questions arise? Find out and
be at peace.
D.: Are intellect and emotion, like the physical body, growths which come
with the birth of man; and do they dissolve or survive after death?
M.: Before considering what happens after death, just consider what
happens in your sleep. Sleep is only the interval between two
waking states. Do they survive that interval?
D.: Yes, they do.
M.: The same holds good for death also. They represent bodyconsciousness
and nothing more. If you are the body they always
hold on to you. If you are not the body they do not affect you. The
one who was in sleep is now in waking state just speaking. You
were not the body in sleep. Are you the body now? Find it out.
Then the whole problem is solved.
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