It is the mind which creates duality

It is the mind which creates duality. There may be two different Jnanis, one who has never read anything or one who has read many things. At the end of the day, both had attained Jnana. It is the mind which binds and not the reading per se.

Bhagavan Ramana did not read anything worth but He had to read many things after Self realization, for the sake of others.So He clearly said in Who am I? -There is no use in reading measure-lessly.One has to unlearn or forget, at some point of time,all that one has learnt.He made this 'concession' since He was sure that everyone would not be like Him.It is the mind which creates 'bondage' that has to be controlled on ideas, concepts, philosophies etc.,

There was a washer-man.He had three donkeys.Once while driving them, He had urgent nature call to clear.He looked up for ropes to tie the donkeys and go for some time. But he had only ropes that were adequate for only two donkeys.He was thinking. He saw a Jnani sitting near the tree.He asked him.The Jnani said: Tie the two donkeys. And for the third one,you just go behind its hind-legs and make a scene that you are tying it.I shall take care of all the three.The washer-man did that and went away and came after some time.He had thought that Jnani had chanted some mantras to keep the third one safe.He started untying the donkeys.The first two were untied and and they started moving.The third one,though never untied did not move! He looked at the Jnani.He thought that the Jnani had bound that donkey with some mantras.He told him to do something.The Jnani said: I did not do anything.You do one thing.You go behind its hind-legs and make a scene that you are untying the donkey. He did that.And the donkey moved!

The first two are world and god.You can either ignore them or cling to them. They will act as your wish.The third one is your mind, the Jiva.This jiva-donkey is mano-bhava.It is all thoughts.There is no tying at all.But still it acts as if it is tied.You need not either cling to the mind too much nor ignore it too much.You just allow it to play its game but do some scene of controlling it.This "acting" is moderation.

Thanks to my Spiritual Friend Subramanian R garu for sharing this.

Readers interested are requested to read below article as well

http://prashantaboutindia.blogspot.com/2010/04/ramana-maharshi-answers-though-our-real.html