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

Talk 565.
Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
A gentleman from Mysore asked: How is the mind to be kept in the
right way?
M.: By practice. Give it good thoughts. The mind must be trained in
good ways.
D.: But it is not steady.
M.: The Bhagavad Gita says: Sanaissanairuparamet (The mind must
gradually be brought to a standstill); Atma samstham manah krtva
(making the mind inhere in the Self); Abhyasa-vairagyabhyam (by
practice and dispassion).
Practice is necessary. Progress will be slow.
D.: What is the Self referred to in Atma samstham (fixing it in
the Self)?
M.: Do you not know your Self? You certainly exist. Or do you deny
your existence? The question may arise “Who is this Self”, only if
you do not exist, but you cannot ask anything unless you exist at
the same time. Your question shows that you exist. Find out who
you are. That is all.
D.: I have read many books. But my mind does not turn to the Self.
M.: Because the Self is not in the books; but it is in you. Reading
books makes one learned. That is its purpose and it is fulfilled.
D.: What is Atma sakshatkara (Self-Realisation)?
M.: You are the Atma (Self) and that sakshat (here and now) also.
Where is the place for kara (accomplishment) in it? This question
shows that you think you are the non-Self. Or you think that there
are two selves, the one to realise the other. It is absurd.
That you identify yourself with the gross body lies at the root of
this question. Well, this question arises now. Did it arise in your
sleep? Did you not exist then? Certainly you did exist in sleep.
What is the difference between these two states that the question
should arise now but not in sleep? Now you think that you are the
body. You see things around you and you want to see the Self in
a similar manner. Such is the force of habit. The senses are mere
instruments of perception. You are the seer. Remain as the seer only.
What else is there to see? Such is the state in deep sleep.
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