Final Part - Few Talks Of Bhagavan Ramana

"So long as the body is considered,
birth is real. But the body is not 'I.'
The Self is not born nor does it die.
There is nothing new. The sages
see everything as being in and of
the Self; there is no diversity in it.
Therefore, there is neither birth
nor death."

"Find out the source of 'I.' " - Ramana Maharshi

One day when the doctor was dressing Bhagavan's arm, they chatted about taking photos. Bhagavan said, "In a pin- hole camera, when the hole is small, you see shapes and col- ours. When the hole is made big, the images disappear and one sees only clear light. Similarly when the mind is small and narrow, it is full of shapes and words. When it broadens, it sees pure light. When the box is destroyed altogether, only the light remains. - Ramana Maharshi

Again, why mourn the dead? They are free from bondage. Mourning is the chain forged by the mind to bind itself to the dead. -Ramana Bhagavan

Just like one who is (seemingly) listening to a story when (his) mind has (in fact) gone far away, the mind (of the Atmajnani or knower of self) in which the tendencies (vasanas) have been erased, has not (in fact) done (anything) even though it has (seemingly) done (many things). (On the other hand) the mind (of an ajnani or one who does not know Self) which is saturated with them (tendencies or vasanas),has (in fact) done (many things) even though it has (seemingly) not done (anything), (just like) one who (thinks) in dream (that he) has climbed a hill and is falling over a precipice, even though (his body is in fact lying) here without movement (sleeping on his bed).

Therefore, since the states of activity, namely waking and dream, the state of absorption (nishta) and the state of sleep are all states which pertain only to the body and mind, they are not at all known to the Jnani, just as the moving, standing and unyoked states of a cart are unknown to someone who is asleep in the cart.

But in the non-dual state of self-abidance, in which the ego or individuality has been destroyed, one does not experience any sense of otherness-that is, one does not feel any such distinction as ‘This is me, that is someone else’ –and hence if one is praised or disparaged by ‘others’ it is as if one is praised or disparaged by oneself. In other words,since the Jnani knows that He alone exist, His perfect equanimity cannot be distrurbed even in the least by either praise or disparagement.

- Ramana Maharshi

Do understand that you are destined for enlightenment. Co-operate with your destiny,don't go against it, don't thwart it. Allow it to fulfill itself. All you have to do is to give attention to the obstacles created by the foolish mind.
- Nisargadatta Maharaj

When you build a house, you build doors as well. These doors are meant to facilitate easy entry and departure of friends and relatives. Only those who are authorised to enter are allowed through these doors. The door is not meant for dogs and donkeys to come into the house. Similarly through the doors of the senses, we should usher in only sacred thoughts, feelings and ideas. The heart is the abode of God. The Lord cannot be enthroned in a heart fouled by evil thoughts, ideas and feelings. We should not allow either animal or demoniac qualities to enter into that sacred abode of Divinity. -Baba