Behind My Hand

The universe exists on account of the ‘I-thought’. If that ends there is an end of misery also. The false ‘I’ will end only when its source is sought. Talk 222 The thoughts are the enemy. They amount to the creation of the Universe. In their absence there is neither the world nor God the Creator. The Bliss of the Self is the single Being only. Talk 326

“The ideas of enlightenment and need for Vichara belong to ego alone. When ego searches within the foothills of its own existence and finds its source it settles down exhausted, vanquished. At that point there is no longer any need for Vichara. Only wayward mind needs the map of Vichara. Self is ever self-aware of its whereabouts.” Excerpt From Talks on Self Enquiry Miles Wright & Gabriele Ebert https://books.apple.com/gb/book/talks-on-self-enquiry/id1078197373 This material may be protected by copyright.

“Vichara practice engages with the ego-I. It does not go off looking for awareness, or contemplating breath, it engages with the one who has decided that such a search is the true practice. Who looks? Who is aware? Vichara engages with and removes this ultimately fictitious thief, the one that searches, the one that is aware. He will no longer be there in the final cut.” Excerpt From Talks on Self Enquiry Miles Wright & Gabriele Ebert https://books.apple.com/gb/book/talks-on-self-enquiry/id1078197373 This material may be protected by copyright.

||3|| He, who seeks from where the ‘I’ arises, with pure mind, turned inwards, realising his own nature, O Arunachala, merges in you... like the river in the sea.” —- —- —- “Atma-vichara is the means and the goal. The ‘I’ that rises and sets is not the real ‘I’. It is nothing more than the meandering cloud, which moves, changes, and finally empties when at last it approaches the mountain. When the mind becomes pure, it, naturally, rushes to its source, like a mountain stream rushing towards the sea, effortlessly overcoming all obstacles in its path. Atma-vichara is the purifying process which rids the mind of all impurities (mindstuff). Take up the quest ‘Who am I?’ Seek the impostor (ego-'I'). In the end, he is nowhere to be found!” Excerpt From Arunachala Pancharatna Ramana Maharshi https://books.apple.com/gb/book/arunachala-pancharatna/id948625238 This material may be protected by copyright.

“30.3.2004 >Ramana and others were often asked about this [the life as a householder] and gave the advice that the life of the householder should not be changed yet they themselves did not live this life.< It should be remembered that Sri Ramana left his home only after ‘Realisation’ not in order to attain realisation. He realised, albeit at a young age, in the midst of home and family. Of course, later an even larger family moved in and around him.” Excerpt From Talks on Self Enquiry Miles Wright & Gabriele Ebert https://books.apple.com/gb/book/talks-on-self-enquiry/id1078197373 This material may be protected by copyright.

Talk 618. A gentleman from Hardwar: When I go on analysing myself I go beyond the intellect, and then there is no happiness. M.: Intellect is only an instrument of the Self. It cannot help you to know what is beyond itself. D.: I understand it. But there is no happiness beyond it. M.: The intellect is the instrument wherewith to know unknown things. But you are already known, being the Self which is itself knowledge; so you do not become the object of knowledge. The intellect makes you see things outside, and not that which is its own source. D.: The question is repeated. M.: The intellect is useful thus far, it helps you to analyse yourself, and no further. It must then be merged into the ego, and the source of the ego must be sought. If that be done the ego disappears. Remain as that source and then the ego does not arise. D.: There is no happiness in that state. M.: ‘There is no happiness’ is only a thought. The Self is bliss, pure and simple. You are the Self. So you canno

Predisposition (samskara) is acquired knowledge and kept in stock. It manifests under favourable circumstances. One with strong samskara understands the thing when presented to him much quicker than another with no samskara or weak samskara. D.: Does it hold good with inventors also? M.: “There is nothing new under the sun.” What we call inventions or discoveries are merely rediscoveries by competent men with strong samskara in the directions under consideration. -from Talk 384 —- —- —-

Sri Bhagavan said: Sannyasa is mentioned for one who is fit. It consists in renunciation not of material objects but of attachment to them. Sannyasa can be practised by anyone even at home. Only one must be fit for it. Ramana Maharshi in Talk 588

Talk 557. A visitor asked: “We are advised to concentrate on the spot in the forehead between the eyebrows. Is it right?” M.: Everyone is aware, ‘I am’. Leaving aside that awareness one goes about in search of God. What is the use of fixing one’s attention between the eyebrows? It is mere folly to say that God is between the eyebrows. The aim of such advice is to help the mind to concentrate. It is one of the forcible methods to check the mind and prevent its dissipation. It is forcibly directed into one channel. It is a help to concentration. But the best means of realisation is the enquiry “Who am I?” The present trouble is to the mind and it must be removed by the mind only. Ramana Maharshi in Talks.

Talk 549. Sri Bhagavan often speaks of namaskar (prostration) in the following strain: “This namaskar was originally meant by the ancient sages to serve as a means of surrender to God. The act still prevails but not the spirit behind it. The doer of namaskar intends to deceive the object of worship by his act. It is mostly insincere and deceitful. It is meant to cover up innumerable sins. Can God be deceived? The man thinks that God accepts his namaskar and that he himself is free to continue his old life. They need not come to me. I am not pleased with these namaskars. The people should keep their minds clean; instead of that they bend themselves or lie prostrate before me. I am not deceived by such acts.” - Sri Ramana Maharshi