Behind My Hand

Vichara is a way of life. It has absolutely nothing to do with sitting still with a quiet mind.

अथ योगानुशासनम् ॥१॥ atha yogānuśāsanam ||1|| “Here is the instruction in Yoga.” योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥२॥ yogaś cittavṛtti nirodhaḥ ||2|| “Yoga is the control of the activity of the mind.” तदा द्रष्टुः स्वरूपेऽवस्थानम् ॥३॥ tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe’vasthānam ||3|| “Then seer abides in itself.” (Yoga Sutras 1-3)

All action happens as a reaction.  Mind acknowledges this after the fact.

For Vichara, no sadhana (spiritual discipline) is required other than the discipline of remembrance. Since this discipline is innate, in truth, there is no discipline, as such. (Talks on Self Enquiry, by MWright, p. 79)

From Talk  no. 434: M. : The Sadguru is within. D. : I want a visible Guru. M. : That visible Guru says that He is within. D. : Can I throw myself at the mercy of the Sadguru? M. : Yes. Instructions are necessary only so long as one has not surrendered oneself. This is the Truth. Of that there is absolutely no doubt. Talks With Sri Ramana Maharshi; Sri Ramanasramam: 1978

“If a man considers he is born he cannot avoid the fear of death. Let him find out if he has been born or if the Self has any birth. He will discover that the Self always exists, that the body which is born resolves itself into thought and that the emergence of thought is the root of all mischief. Find wherefrom thoughts emerge. Then you will abide in the ever-present inmost Self and be free from the idea of birth or the fear of death.”  -from Talk 80 (Ramana Maharshi)

Ramana Maharshi, from Talk 146 "Reality is simply the loss of the ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. Because the ego is no entity it will automatically vanish and Reality will shine forth by itself. This is the direct method. Whereas all other methods are done, only retaining the ego. In those paths there arise so many doubts and the eternal question remains to be tackled finally. But in this method the final question is the only one and it is raised from the very beginning. No sadhanas are necessary for engaging in this quest." ___ ___ ___