Part 1 - Thus Spake Ramana

Turn your vision inward
and then the whole world
will be full of Supreme Spirit.
The world is said to be illusion.
Illusion is really truth.
Even science traces the origin
of the universe to one primordial matter;
Subtle, exceedingly subtle.
God is the same to those who say
the world is real and their opponents.
Their outlook is different.
You need not entangle yourself
in such disputations.
The goal is one and the same for all.
Look to it.

There is only one consciousness.
Without consciousness,
time and space do not exist.
They appear in consciousness.
It is like a screen on which these are cast as pictures,
and move as in a cinema show.
The absolute consciousness is our real nature.

Bliss is concurrent with
Being-Consciousness.
All the arguments relating
to the eternal being of that Bliss
apply to Bliss, also.
Your nature is Bliss.
Ignorance is now hiding that Bliss.
Remove the ignorance,
for Bliss to be freed.

The perception of an "I"
is associated with a form,
maybe the body.
There should be nothing associate
with the pure Self.
The Self is the unassociated,
pure Reality
in whose light the body,
the ego, etc, shine.
On stilling all thoughts,
the pure consciousness remains.

Even though the world is seen,
the Seer remains unaffected.

Because you are accustomed to identify with the body
and sight with the eyes, you say you do not see anything.
What is there to be seen? Who is to see? How to see?
There is only one consciousness which,
manifesting itself as "I"-thought, identifies itself with the body,
projects itself through the eyes and sees the objects around.
The individual is limited in the waking state
and expects to see something different.
The evidence of his senses will be the seal of authority.
But he will not admit, that the seer--the seen,
are all manifestations of the same consciousness.
Namely, "I-I"
Contemplation helps one overcome the illusion
that the Self must be visual. In truth nothing visual exists.
How do you feel the "I" now?
Do you hold a feeling in front of yourself to know your being?
The awareness is the "I". Realize it and that is the truth.

The mind is only a bundle of thoughts.
The thoughts arise because there is the thinker.
The thinker is the ego.
The ego, if sought, will vanish automatically.
The ego and the mind are the same.
The ego is the root-thought
from which all other thoughts arise.
Dive within.
You are now aware that the mind rise up from within.
So sink within and seek.

Seek the mind
on being sought
it will disappear.

Everyone wants only happiness.
Happiness, too as found
in the enjoyment of the senses.
This question was asked of a Guru,
and the latter answered, "Quite so,
That happiness which is a result of the
enjoyment of the senses
is the same as that of liberation.
That desire of such liberation is one
of the four requirements for Liberation
This is common to all.
So all are eligible for this knowledge;
Self- knowledge."

Pursuit of Self-knowledge
should not be abandoned.


Bhagavan replied, "Happiness is possible only if the mind is right. If the mind is not right, whatever else may be, there is no peace. The mind becomes ripe according to each person's fitness. A nastik (an agnostic) becomes an astik (a believer), an astik becomes a bhakta, a bhakta becomes a jignasu (one desirous of Knowledge) and a jignasu becomes a Jnani. This refers to the mind only.What is the use of saying it refers to the body? If the mind is happy, not only the body but the whole world will be happy.So one must find out the way of becoming happy oneself. One cannot do this except by finding out about oneself by Self-enquiry.

To think of reforming the world without doing that is like thinking of covering the whole world with leather to avoid the pain caused by walking on stones and thorns when the much simpler method of wearing leather shoes is available. When by holding an umbrella over your head you can avoid the sun, will it be possible to cover the face of the whole earth by tying a cloth over it to avoid the sun? If a person realises his position and stays in his own self, things that are to happen will happen.Things that are not to happen will not happen.The shakti that is in the world, is only one. All these troubles arise if we think that we are separate from that shakti."

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Nagamma: Letters, 17.05.1947

In the beginning one has to be told
that he is not the body, because
he thinks that he is the body only.
Whereas he is the body and all else.
The body is only a part.
Let him know it, finally.
He must first discern consciousness
from insentience
and be the consciousness only.
Later, let him realize that insentience
is not apart from consciousness.
This is discrimination [viveka]
The initial discrimination
must persist to the end.
It's fruit is Liberation.

D.: Is not dhyana one of the efficient processes for Realisation?

M.: Dhyana is concentration on an object. It fulfils the purpose of keeping away diverse thoughts and fixing the mind on a single thought, which must also disappear before Realisation. But Realisation is nothing new to be acquired. It is already there, but obstructed by a screen of thoughts. All our attempts are directed for lifting this screen and then Realisation is revealed. If a true seeker is advised to meditate, many may go away satisfied with the advice. But someone among them may turn round and ask, "Who am I to meditate on an object?" Such a one must be told to find the Self. That is the finality. That is Vichara.

D.: Will vichara alone do in the absence of meditation?

M.: Vichara is the process and the goal also. 'I AM' is the goal and the final Reality. To hold to it with effort is vichara. When spontaneous and natural it is Realisation.

Effortless and choiceless awareness is our Real State. If we can attain It or be in It, it is all right. But one cannot reach It without effort, the effort of deliberate meditation. All the agelong vasanas (latent tendencies) carry the mind outwards and turn it to external objects. All such thoughts have to be given up and the mind turned inward. For most people effort is necessary. Of course, everybody, every book says summa iru (be quiet or still). But it is not easy. That is why all this effort is necessary. Even if you find one who has effortlessly achieved the mouna (silence) or Supreme State you may take it that the effort necessary has already been completed in a previous life. Such effortless and choiceless awareness is reached only after deliberate meditation.