Monday, November 24, 2014

Turn inward to the Self; and then know that the world is not apart from the Self.

Devotee:  It is said Atma samstham manah krtva (fixing the mind in the Self). But the Self is unthinkable.

Ramana Maharishi:  Why do you wish to meditate at all? Because you wish to do so you are told Atma samstham manah krtva (fixing the mind in the Self); why do you not remain as you are without meditating? What is that manah (mind)? When all thoughts are eliminated it becomes Atma samstha (fixed in the Self).

Devotee:  If a form is given I can meditate on it and other thoughts are eliminated. But the Self is formless.

Ramana Maharishi:  Meditation on forms or concrete objects is said to be dhyana, whereas the enquiry into the Self is vichara (enquiry) or nididhyasana. Explaining adhyaropapavadabhyam (superimposition and its elimination), Sri Bhagavan pointed out that the first turns you inward to the Self; and then according to the second, you know that the world is not apart from the Self.

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