Behind My Hand

Question: Should I go on asking ‘Who am I?’ without answering? Who asks whom? Which bhavana (attitude) should be in the mind at the time of enquiry? What is ‘I’ the Self or the ego? Answer: In the enquiry ‘Who am I?’, ‘I’ is the ego. The question really means, what is the source or origin of this ego? You need not have any bhavana in the mind. All that is required is, you must give up the bhavana that you are the body, of such and such a description, with such and such a name, etc. There is no need to have a bhavana about your real nature. It exists as it always does; it is real and no bhavana. [Ramana Maharshi's first answer to Mr Joshi in Day By Day on 3-1-46]

“In the course of tracing ourselves back to our source, when all thoughts have vanished, there arises a throb from the Hridaya on the right, manifesting as ‘Aham’ ‘Aham' ‘I’- ‘I’. This is the sign that Pure Consciousness is beginning to reveal itself. But that is not the end in itself. Watch wherefrom this sphurana (throbbing) arises and wait attentively and continually for the revelation of the Self. Then comes the awareness, oneness of existence.” (from a reply, approved by Bhagavan, which was sent to an English devotee; recorded in ‘Moments Remembered’ by V. Ganesan, p. 53)

8. What part of the body is the abode of the Self? The Heart on the right side of the chest is generally indicated. This is because we usually point to the right side of the chest when we refer to ourselves. Some say that the sahasrara (the thousand-petalled lotus) is the abode of the Self. But if that were true the head should not fall forward when we go to sleep or faint. (Spiritual Instruction; Collected Works) —- —- —- 18. Between the two paps, below the chest, above the stomach, there are six organs of various colours. Of these, one, looking like a lily bud, is the Heart, at two digits’ distance to the right of the centre. (Ramana selected this verse from Ashtanga Hridayam, Malayalam. It can be found in Reality in Forty Verses: Supplement)

yogī yuñjīta satatam ātmānaṁ rahasi sthitaḥ | ekākī yata-cittātmā nirāśīr aparigrahaḥ || A comparison of some translations of Bhagavad Gita verse 6.10 that I have read over the years. Ramana Maharshi's comment on this verse. My own translation follows. --- --- --- I first read the following translation from Juan Mascaro circa 1970.  "Day after day, let the yogi practise the harmony of soul : in a secret place, in deep solitude, master of his mind, hoping for nothing, desiring nothing."  6.10,   Juan Mascarao's Bhagavad Gita --- --- --- A couple of years later I was given a copy of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's translation "Bhagavad-Gita As It Is". "A transcendentalist should always try to concentrate his mind on the Supreme Self; he should live alone in a secluded place and should always carefully control his mind. He should be free from desires and possessiveness." 6.10,   A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada'

“The universe and the body are both simultaneously revealed to me. I have no right to say that the body is mine and the universe is not mine because both are revealed to me.”  Swami Virajananda 

In answer to a question as to what is the best way to the goal, Bhagavan said, “There is no goal to be reached. There is nothing to be attained. You are the Self. You exist always. Nothing more can be predicated of the Self than that it exists. Seeing God or the Self is only being the Self or yourself. Seeing is being. You, being the Self, want to know how to attain the Self. It is something like a man being at Ramanasramam asking how many ways are there to reach Ramanasramam and which is the best way for him. All that is required of you is to give up the thought that you are this body and to give up all thoughts of the external things or the not-Self. As often as the mind goes out towards outward objects, prevent it and fix it in the Self or ‘I’. That is all the effort required on your part. The different methods prescribed by different thinkers are all agreed on this. The Advaita, Dvaita, Visishtadvaita schools and other schools all agree that the mind must give up thinking of extern

Where truth is ... falsehood is not. Brahman is truth. The Self cannot be attained without practising truth. Suffering is the result of false relationships, false fears, false ideas. Liberation is truth. How is this liberation realised? Through right action of mind, speech and body. That is jnana, that is freedom, that is moksha. Self Enquiry is constant truth. Maintaining the quest even in the midst of worldly duties ensures right action. --- (Talks on Self Enquiry: A collection of writings on Self Enquiry (Atma Vicara) according to the teaching of Ramana Maharshi. B y Miles Wright, ed. by Gabriele Ebert)