The essential point is that the mind must always remain in its source.

Devotee:   I often desire to live in solitude where I can find all I want with ease, so that I may devote all my time to meditation only. Is such a desire good or bad?

Ramana Maharishi:  Such thoughts will bestow a janma (reincarnation) for their fulfilment. What does it matter where and how you are placed? The essential point is that the mind must always remain in its source. There is nothing external which is not also internal. The mind is all. If the mind is active even solitude becomes like a market place. There is no use closing your eyes. Close the mental eye and all will be right. The world is not external to you. The good persons will not care to make plans previous to their actions. Why so? For God who has sent us into the world has His own plan and that will certainly work itself out

Temporary and Reality

Devotee: What is the necessity for reincarnation?

Ramana Maharishi: Let us first see if there is incarnation before we speak of reincarnation.

Devotee: How?

Ramana Maharishi: Are you now incarnated that you speak of reincarnation?

Devotee: Yes. Certainly. An amoeba developed into higher organisms until the human being has been evolved. This is now the perfection in development. Why should there be further reincarnation?

Ramana Maharishi: Who is to set limits to this theory of evolution?

Devotee: Physically it is perfect. But for the soul, further development may be required which will happen after the death of the man.

Ramana Maharishi: Who is the man? Is he the body or the soul?

Devotee: Both put together.

Ramana Maharishi: Do you not exist in the absence of the body?

Devotee: How do you mean? It is impossible.

Ramana Maharishi: What was your state in deep sleep?

Devotee: Sleep is temporary death. I was unconscious and therefore I cannot say what the state was.

Ramana Maharishi: But you existed in sleep. Did you not?

Devotee: In sleep the soul leaves the body and goes out somewhere. Then it returns to the body before waking. It is therefore temporary death.

Ramana Maharishi: A man who is dead never returns to say that he died, whereas the man who had slept says that he slept.

Devotee: Because this is temporary death.

Ramana Maharishi: If death is temporary and life is temporary, what is it that is real?

Devotee: What is meant by the question?

Ramana Maharishi: If life and death be temporary, there must be something which is not temporary. Reality is that which is not temporary.

Devotee: There is nothing real. Everything is temporary. Everything is maya.

Ramana Maharishi: On what does maya appear?

Devotee: Now I see you; it is all maya.

Ramana Maharishi: If everything is maya, how does any question arise?