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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
Therefore this question does not arise then.
Atma sakshatkara (Self-Realisation) is thus only anatma nirasana
(giving up the non-Self).
D.: Is there only one Self or are there more selves?
M.: This is again due to confusion; you identify the body with the
Self. You think: “Here I am; here he is, there is another; and so
on”. You find many bodies and think they are so many selves.
But did you ask in your sleep “I am sleeping here, how many are
there who are awake?” Does any question arise, for the matter of
that? Why does it not arise? Because you are only one and there
are not many.
D.: What is my tattva (truth)?
M.: You are yourself the tattva. Is there a different one to know the
tattva of another? How can you exist apart from the tattva? The
very fact of your existence makes you ask this question. Your very
existence is the tattva. Give up the habiliments of the tattva and
remain in your essential nature. All the Scriptures tell you only not
to waste your efforts in non-truth - non-tattva. Give up the nontattva.
Then tattva remains always shining pure and single.
D.: I want to know my tattva and my duties.
M.: Know your tattva first and then you may ask what your duties
are. You must exist in order to know and do your duty. Realise your
existence and then enquire of your duties.
26th October, 1938
Talk 566.
There is a Tamil paper Arya Dharmam. An article on Vairagyam
appeared in it. Sri Bhagavan read it out in answer to a question. The
article was briefly as follows:
vairagya = vi + raga = vigataraga (non-attachment).
Vairagya is possible only for the wise. However, it is often misapplied
by the common folk. For instance, a man often says “I have determined
not to go to cinema shows.” He calls it vairagya. Such wrong
interpretation of the words and old sayings are not uncommon.
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