Devotee: How is the mind to be kept in the right way?
Ramana Maharishi: By practice. Give it good thoughts. The mind must be trained in good ways.
Devotee: But it is not steady.
Ramana Maharishi: The Bhagavad Gita says: Sanaissanairuparamet (The mind must gradually be brought to a standstill); Atma samstham manah krtva (making the mind inhere in the Self); Abhyasa-vairagyabhyam (by practice and dispassion). Practice is necessary. Progress will be slow.
Devotee: What is the Self referred to in Atma samstham (fixing it in the Self)?
Ramana Maharishi: Do you not know your Self? You certainly exist. Or do you deny your existence? The question may arise “Who is this Self”, only if you do not exist, but you cannot ask anything unless you exist at the same time. Your question shows that you exist. Find out who you are. That is all.
Ramana Maharishi: By practice. Give it good thoughts. The mind must be trained in good ways.
Devotee: But it is not steady.
Ramana Maharishi: The Bhagavad Gita says: Sanaissanairuparamet (The mind must gradually be brought to a standstill); Atma samstham manah krtva (making the mind inhere in the Self); Abhyasa-vairagyabhyam (by practice and dispassion). Practice is necessary. Progress will be slow.
Devotee: What is the Self referred to in Atma samstham (fixing it in the Self)?
Ramana Maharishi: Do you not know your Self? You certainly exist. Or do you deny your existence? The question may arise “Who is this Self”, only if you do not exist, but you cannot ask anything unless you exist at the same time. Your question shows that you exist. Find out who you are. That is all.
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