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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
body. Discover to whom the thoughts arise. If the present ‘I’-ness
vanishes, the discovery is complete. What remains over is the pure
Self. Compare deep sleep and wakefulness. Diversity and body are
found only in the latter. In the former the Self remains without the
perception of body or of the world. Happiness reigns there.
The Sruti vakya, ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, relates to the state and not the
mode of mind. One cannot become Brahman by continuing to repeat
the mantra. It means that Brahman is not elsewhere. It is your Self.
Find that Self; Brahman is found. Do not attempt to reach Brahman
as if it were in some far off place.
The Pandit remarked that thoughts are so persistent that the aham
cannot be reached.
The Master said: The Brahma akara vritti helps to turn the mind
away from other thoughts. Either some such practice is necessary
or association with sadhus should be made. The sadhu has already
overcome the mind and remains in Peace. His proximity helps to
bring about such condition in others. Otherwise there is no meaning
in seeking a sadhu’s company.
Deho aham (I am the body) is limitation and is the root of all mean
and selfish actions and desires.
Brahma aham (I am Brahman) is passing beyond limitation and
signifies sympathy, charity, love etc., which are divine and virtuous.
D.: How does a grihasta (householder) fare in the scheme of moksha
(liberation)?
M.: Why do you think you are a grihasta? If you go out as a sanyasi,
a similar thought (that you are a sanyasi) will haunt you. Whether
you continue in the household, or renounce it and go to the forest,
your mind haunts you. The ego is the source of thoughts. It creates
the body and the world and makes you think you are a grihasta. If
you renounce the world, it will only substitute the thought sanyasi
for grihasta and the environments of the forest for those of the
household. But the mental obstacles are always there. They even
increase in new surroundings. There is no help in the change of
environment. The obstacle is the mind. It must be got over whether
at home or in the forest. If you can do it in the forest, why not in
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