Devotee: Has God a form?
Ramana Maharishi: Who says so?
Devotee: Well, if God has no form is it proper to worship idols?
Ramana Maharishi: Leave God alone because He is unknown. What about you? Have you a form?
Devotee: Yes. I am this and so and so.
Ramana Maharishi: So then, you are a man with limbs, about three and a half cubits high, with beard, etc. Is it so?
Devotee: Certainly.
Ramana Maharishi: Then do you find yourself so in deep sleep?
Devotee: After waking I perceive that I was asleep. Therefore by inference I remained thus in deep sleep also.
Ramana Maharishi: If you are the body why do they bury the corpse after death? The body must refuse to be buried.
Devotee: No, I am the subtle jiva within the gross body.
Ramana Maharishi: So you see that you are really formless; but you are at present identifying yourself with the body. So long as you are formful why should you not worship the formless God as being formful?
Ramana Maharishi: Who says so?
Devotee: Well, if God has no form is it proper to worship idols?
Ramana Maharishi: Leave God alone because He is unknown. What about you? Have you a form?
Devotee: Yes. I am this and so and so.
Ramana Maharishi: So then, you are a man with limbs, about three and a half cubits high, with beard, etc. Is it so?
Devotee: Certainly.
Ramana Maharishi: Then do you find yourself so in deep sleep?
Devotee: After waking I perceive that I was asleep. Therefore by inference I remained thus in deep sleep also.
Ramana Maharishi: If you are the body why do they bury the corpse after death? The body must refuse to be buried.
Devotee: No, I am the subtle jiva within the gross body.
Ramana Maharishi: So you see that you are really formless; but you are at present identifying yourself with the body. So long as you are formful why should you not worship the formless God as being formful?
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