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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
You can entertain these thoughts or relinquish them. The former
is bondage and the latter is release.
D.: It is not quite clear to me.
M.: You must exist in order that you may think. You may think these
thoughts or other thoughts. The thoughts change but not you. Let
go the passing thoughts and hold on to the unchanging Self. The
thoughts form your bondage. If they are given up, there is release.
The bondage is not external. So no external remedy need be sought
for release. It is within your competence to think and thus to get
bound or to cease thinking and thus be free.
D.: But it is not easy to remain without thinking.
M.: You need not cease thinking. Only think of the root of the thoughts;
seek it and find it. The Self shines by itself. When that is found the
thoughts cease of their own accord. That is freedom from bondage.
D.: Yes. I understand it now. I have learnt it now. Is a Guru necessary?
M.: So long as you consider yourself as an individual, a Guru is
necessary to show to you that you are not bound by limitations
and that your nature is to be free from limitations.
Talk 525.
Another visitor asked: Actions are bondage. One cannot remain
without some kind of activity. So bondage goes on increasing.
What is one to do under the circumstances?
M.: One should act in such a manner that the bondage is not
strengthened but gets weakened. That is selfless action.
3rd October, 1938
Talk 526.
A visitor asked Sri Bhagavan: People give some names to God and
say that the name is sacred and repetitions of the name bestow
merit on the individual. Can it be true?
M.: Why not? You bear a name to which you answer. But your body
was not born with that name written on it, nor did it say to anyone
that it bore such and such a name. And yet a name is given to you
and you answer to that name, because you have identified yourself
524