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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
15th July, 1935
Talk 66.
A letter was received containing some learned questions pertaining
to memory, sleep and death. It looked, at first sight, that they were
cogent yet baffling to answer. But when the Master was approached on
the subject he disentangled the skein very nicely, pointing out that all
such confusion was due to the non-differentiation of the real ‘I’ from
the false ‘I’. The attributes and modes pertain to the latter and not to
the former. One’s efforts are directed only to remove one’s ignorance.
Afterwards they cease, and the real Self is found to be always there.
No effort is needed to remain as the Self.
21st July, 1935
Talk 67.
A visitor, Mr. K. S. N. Iyer of the South Indian Railway, said, “There
is a trifling halting-place in my meditation. When I ask myself, ‘Who
am I?’ my reasoning proceeds as follows; I see my hand. Who sees it?
My eye. How to see the eye? In a mirror. Similarly to see me, there
must be a mirror. ‘Which is to supply the place of the mirror in me?’
is my question.”
M.: Then why do you enquire, “Who am I?” Why do you say you are
troubled and so on? You could as well remain quiet. Why do you
rise out of your composure?
D.: Enquiring thus helps me to concentrate. Is concentration the only
benefit?
M.: What more do you want? Concentration is the thing. What makes
you come out of your quiet?
D.: Because I am drawn out.
M.: Enquiry of “Who am I?” means finding the source of ‘I’. When
that is found, that which you seek is accomplished.
(The gist of Sri Bhagavan’s words seems to be that one should
make a concerted effort and not give it up baffled, with a defeatist
mentality.)
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