Behind My Hand

“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

“What are you doing?" asked the master—a question that never got a straight answer from an enlightened Ch'an monk. "I am herding an ox," the man replied, a metaphorical way of saying he was trying to discipline himself. "And how," shot back Ma-tsu, "do you go about tending it?" The monk replied, "Whenever it starts to go to grass [i.e., self-indulgence], I yank it back by the nostrils [the tender part of the great animal]." To which Ma-tsu admiringly replied, "If you really can do that by yourself, then I may as well retire.” (From The Zen Experience; Thomas Hoover,  https://amzn.to/2JRbO4H ) --- --- ---  D.: Is it enough if I spend some time in the mornings and some time in the evenings for this atma-vichara? Or should I do it always - say, even when I am writing or walking? M.: Now what is your real nature? Is it writing, walking, or being? The one unalterable reality is Being. Until you realise that state of p

"Whatever you try to become, that is not you. Before the words come out, before you say "I Am", that is you. You must be concerned only with yourself. Don't worry about anybody else. What are you?" (Nisargadatta Maharaj, Consciousness and the Absolute, January 12, 1981)

...if you say, I’ve got the Knowledge,” or “I’m a Master,” that is ego. People often make a show of their Knowledge. Some renounce and put on special clothes. Showing anything is not correct. Understanding is what is required, nothing else. If a man puts on women’s clothes, that does not make him a woman, and vice-versa. Thinking is the first obstacle that has come upon you, but you are thoughtless. Thoughts are of the mind only. (Sri Ranjit Maharaj; Illusion vs. Reality, January 6, 1998.)

यतः वाचः अप्राप्य मनसा सह निवर्तन्ते।  ब्रह्मणः आनन्दं विद्वान् कुतश्चन न बिभेति। yataḥ vācaḥ aprāpya manasā saha nivartante |  brahmaṇaḥ ānandaṁ vidvān kutaścana na bibheti | (Taittiriya upanishad 11.9.1) (quoted in Talk 317) From whence, unreachable, words are turned away along with the mind. One who knows that bliss of Brahman is never afraid of anything.  --- --- --- Ramana Maharshi, in 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."

दृष्टिं ज्ञानमयीं कृत्वा पश्येद्ब्रह्ममयं जगत् । Dṛṣṭim jñānamayīm kṛtvā paśyet brahmamayam jagat | (Aparokshanubhutih 116)  (Quoted by Ramana Maharshi in Talk 311) Having filled one’s sight with knowledge, one should see the world as consisting of Brahman. (trans: MWright)

Nāmarūpa An old Zen monk wrote the word “mind” on the gate, on the window, and on the wall of his retreat. A visiting monk commented, "Surely the gate should have the word “gate” written on it, the window should have the word “window” on it, and the wall should have the word “wall” on it.” A third monk, however, said, "Ha! Surely, all three, gate, window and wall, appear without recourse to labelling.” —- —- —- "A visitor said: “The Supreme Spirit (Brahman) is Real. The world (jagat) is illusion,” is the stock phrase of Sri Sankaracharya. Yet others say, “The world is reality”. Which is true? Ramana Maharshi: Both statements are true. They refer to different stages of development and are spoken from different points of view. The aspirant (abhyasi) starts with the definition, that which is real exists always; then he eliminates the world as unreal because it is changing. It cannot be real; ‘not this, not this!’ The seeker ultimately reaches the Self and there find