SriRamanaMaharshiKeyPoints Summary

7/30/2019 SriRamanaMaharshiKeyPoints Summary

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Om Shri Guruvay Namaha

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Sri Guru says:

Visitor: How to reach it or how to get peace?Bhagavan: As I said already, that which is, is peace. All that we

need do is to keep quiet. Peace is our real nature. We spoil it.

What is required is that we cease to spoil it. We are not going

to create peace anew. There is space in a hall, for instance.

We fill up the place with various articles. If we want space,

all that we need do is to remove all those articles, and we get

space. Similarly if we remove all the rubbish, all the thoughts,

from our minds, the peace will become manifest. That which isobstructing the peace has to be removed. Peace is the only

reality.

All that is required to realise the Self is to Be still

Realisation is nothing to be got afresh. It is already there.All that is necessary is to be rid of the thought: I have not

realised.

D.: Then one need not attempt it.

M.: No. Stillness of mind or peace is realisation. There is no

moment when the Self is not. So long as there is doubt or the

feeling of non-realisation, attempt must be made to rid oneselfof these thoughts. The thoughts are due to identification of the

Self with the non-self. Realization is already there, the state free of thoughts is the

only real state. The significance is that there is nothing to be learnt, discussed

and concluded. The idea of difficulty is itself wrong. It will not help you to

gain what you want. Again I ask: Who finds it difficult? There

is nothing so simple as being the Self. It requires no effort,

no aid. One has to leave off the wrong identity and be in his

eternal, natural, inherent state. They think that they must pass through savikalpa samadhi and

nirvikalpa samadhi before attaining Realisation. Hence all these

questions. Why should they wander in that maze? What do they gain

at the end? It is only cessation of the trouble of seeking. They

find that the Self is eternal and self-evident. Why should they

not get that repose even this moment?... Everyone knows I am.


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There cannot be a break in your being.

Imagine Sri Guru.

Enough, enough. It is just concept after concept. Thought after thought leading

to books, practices, efforts and memories. How much trouble because of a single

thought? Was there any trouble in deep sleep? No ! But now because of these

concept, so much trouble and all of it wrong. None of these ideas are needed.

Even this is a thought in the waking state. So drop every concept, memory and

thought and come to the state of concept-lessness in waking. You are already

realized, always the Self. Dont bind your Self with imaginary bondage.

The moment I pick a single idea/concept I am in trouble and I am WRONG as

they are based on I-am-the-body idea.- THIS IS THE MASTER KEY. Knowingthis just Be.

Even I am Existence-Awareness-Bliss is a thought it is not THAT but a pointer

to THAT. Drop every thought/concept one by one, when all concepts are

dropped you become THAT.

As and when you are troubled by a thought, inquire to whom is this thought ?,

the response will be to me, next who am i will lead to to an experience and

not a thought. Dont look for some new concept, just the non-thought about

experience of Being. Stay here, without picking up anything - memory, concept,

idea or thought.

Just keep repeating, and remember it is easy and direct. It needs very littleor no effort/energy to come Here. Gradually even this idea of who am I can

be dropped when you are continuously established in the Self. Here it is only

PEACE, PEACE, PEACE.

Even all this is just thought now !!? - the thoughtless Being state is only real

state, BE that now.

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All that is required to realise the Self is to Be Still.

Realisation is already there. The statefreefrom thoughts is the only real state.

Visitor: How to reach it or how to get peace?


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Bhagavan: As I said already, that which is, is peace. All that we need do is to keep quiet.

Peace is our real nature. We spoil it. What is required is that we cease to spoil it. We

are not going to create peace anew. There is space in a hall, for instance. We fill up the

place with various articles. If we want space, all that we need do is to remove all those

articles, and we get space. Similarly if we remove all the rubbish, all the thoughts, from

our minds, the peace will become manifest. That which is obstructing the peace has to

be removed. Peace is the only reality.

Bhagavan: Your real nature is always there, your meditation, etc., come only

temporarily.Reality being your Self, there is nothing for you to realise.All that is

required is that you should give up regarding the unreal as real, which is what all are

doing. The object of all meditation, dhyana or japa is only that, to give up all thoughts

regarding the not-self, to give up many thoughts and to keep to the one thought.

Even the thought, I do not realise is a hindrance. In fact, the Self alone is.

It is only cessation of the trouble of seeking.

D.: If I am always - here and now, why do I not feel so?

M.: That is it. Who says it is not felt? Does the real I say it or the false I? Examine it.

You will find it is the wrong I. The wrong I is the obstruction. It has to be removed in

order that the true I may not be hidden. The feeling that I have not realised is the

obstruction to realisation. In fact it is already realised; there is nothing more to be

realised. Otherwise, the realisation will be new; it has not existed so far, it must take

place hereafter.*************************************************************************

Your nature is Peace and Happiness. Thoughts are the obstacles to realisation. Ones

meditation or concentration is meant to get rid of obstacles and not to gain the Self.

Does anyone remain apart from the Self? No! The true nature of the Self is declared to

be Peace. If the same peace is not found, the non-finding is onlya thought

which is alien to the Self. One practises meditation only to get rid of these alienfancies. So, then, a thought must be quelled as soon as it rises.Whenever a thought

arises, do not be carried away by it. You become aware of the body when you forget the

Self. But can you forget the Self? Being the Self how can you forget it? There must

be two selves for one to forget the other. It is absurd. So the Self is not

depressed; it is not imperfect: it is ever happy. The contrary feeling is a

mere thought which has actually no stamina in it. Be rid of thoughts.Why


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should one attempt meditation? Being the Self one remains always realised,

only be free from thoughts.

The key point I think is that one is Peace always. Thoughts rise up and hide this

Peace. But one can never be away from this Peace since we ARE Peace. This non-

finding of Peace is also only a thought - meaning we imagine that we are away from

this Peace. So to handle these thoughts we seek its source, which brings us back to

Peace immediately and the thought vanishes. Dont verbalize this state, just Be. Also

another important POINT - if you give too much importance to this current thought,

then you have assumed it is real. It is not. Yesterday night it was not there. Now this

thought exist and you feel it is causing pain - but it is only A SINGLE thought that

makes you feel you are away from PEACE. You REAL nature is the Self, which is always

Blissful. It is only one current thought, that is linked to all the past concepts - by

removing this thought the entire past is removed - not replacing but removing. How

do you remove the current thought, by not making any effort and remaining as youare originally - the Self and not mistaking yourself as I am this or that. When you

hear things like dont use memory, imagination, thought etc, youWATCH IT FROM

A PLACE OF PEACE (THE SELF), THAT IS ALL. YOU ARE ALWAYS LOCATED IN

PEACE NO NEED TO GO TO PEACE, FROM HERE JUST WATCH THE CURRENT

THOUGHT, IT WILL VANISH EASILY.

Imagine Sri Guru.

I am always (located) in Peace, no need to reach anything.

The moment I pick up ANY idea/concept I am in trouble - THIS IS THE MASTER KEY.

The witnessing is ever free and peaceful.Dont focus on destruction of thought/mind, it is only another concept. This concept

was used to drop all other concepts NOW it is time to drop this concept also. And NO

FURTHER concepts are needed, what remains is THE SELF.

No need to bring this SELF into memory. Just dont form any ideas about the SELF

whatsoever.

Any effort is a trap, because all effort start with a pre-state and goal to reach, both

concepts. Did they exist in deep sleep? No. Just know you are always in Peace.

If you feel you are not at Peace, then it is because you have picked up this idea. DONT.I am Existence Awareness Bliss (or Peace or Freedom).

All I want is Peace and freedom from effort.

Any effort is just creation of more concepts and thoughts. Look if it is possible to make

effort without thoughts. NO !!! So any effort is contrary to Being Still. } -all these

thoughts did not exist last night and you were at Peace, so why now? So not a single

thoughts is needed . Just neglect it as if in deep sleep and enjoy total Peace. For ages

you made effort to go back to your Existence, Awareness, Bliss but this effort took you


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away, so now drop all effort and see.

All effort starts with opposite of what is desired. Like when we want freedom we

assume we are in bondage. Is this true? Both freedom and bondage are just thoughts.

So stay away from effort. Just intensely desire Peace and freedom from thoughts.

The non-finding of this Bliss is just another thought, so I seek its source.

Dont think about Being, just Be.

Dont stir a single thought, just Be.

All this was not there last night, now it has come, so it is just thought.

Just remain in this thought-free state.

{In this seeking I dont use any thought just the intention.

THE TRICK IS TO STAY WITH THE INTENTION/DESIRE/SEEKING FOR PEACE.

This staying with desire as the effect of completely destroying thoughts.

I feel this intention is the Self itself. I can never be objectified, I am the subject of all thoughts.I am is truth, I am superimposed on the bodily attributes is false.} -- all these are just efforts of

the mind, after it has created the illusion of bondage. Look carefully for bondage -

you need to see a bounded, bondage and the binding - DO YOU ?? This is the TRICK.

There is no one who is bound !!! There is no bindings !!! There is just no bondage, look,

look !!! Just emptiness that is all. On looking like Sri Guru says, the ego, the bounded

vanishes. If you feel that the one who is looking is bounded, then look to see how he is

bound - what are the bindings.

The Peace of not finding the snake is what I think the Scriptures call Bliss. I have

assumed I was bound and wasted my EFFORT in removing this non-existent bondage.All intentions are false, since they are based on the false I am bound (I am body )

idea. Now I feel like the free/light/happy mind I had a week or so back (today 4/27/

2011)

The relaxed mind is essential, since we will not be using any thought here. Either there

is Peace or Non-Peace. If you feel I am not feeling any Peace, then look for the non-

Peace and if you find non-Peace you can proceed to remove it, if you dont find it, then

you are already at Peace.

Do away with all learning and goals. These are all just traps of the mind. Just stay with the intention

to be free. If that intention goes, then what is is IT. - all this is because you assumed you arebound. Papaji hits on this very very well again and again. That is why NO EFFORT

or PRACTICE is necessary. Everything is just thought, all these exercises were not

there last night in deep sleep. Then you wake up and they come. So this waking up is

assuming the false, I am the body and hence I am bound idea. Remain as the formless,

free Self that you were last night.


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Time is itself a thought, and based on this is all the other false concepts.

Dont control thought - it is only knowing that you are other than thought and you are

free. This knowing occurs when in a relaxed state of mind.

Bring attention to the source of I, that is all, dont use any thought here. Here you have to forget

everything and burn it in the direct experience of I. If thoughts come up, no problem, just let them comeup and they will end up burning up in the I-experience. This is the most direct method according to me.

Just for this moment dont think, it is that easy. And keep staying there thus extending the no-thought

state. Problem arise when try to confirm or explain this state or in other words try to bring it into memory.

Dont do this, memory is dead, so is of no use especially when you have the live present Being experience

with you all the time.Having no desires, I am completely fulfilled.All thoughts are desires and I being Peace already,

dont need any desires/thoughts. Hence dont practice anything, all practice is only

memory. Just Be, dont try to become-Papaji.

10. How will the mind become quiescent?

By the enquiry Who am I?. The thought Who am I? will destroy all other thoughts,

and like the stick used for stirring the burning pyre, it will itself in the end get

destroyed. Then, there will arise Self-realization. (from Naan Yar)

The true nature of the Self is declared to be Peace. If the same peace is not found, the

non-finding is only a thought which is alien to the Self. One practises meditation only

to get rid of these alien fancies. So, then, a thought must be quelled as soon as it rises.

M.: Moksha is to know that you were not born. Be still and know that I am God.

To be still is not to think. Know, and not think, is the word.

M: All that is required to realise the Self is to Be Still.

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THE STATE WE CALL REALIZATION IS SIMPLY being oneself,not knowing anything

or becoming anything.

Peace is ever present. But you hold it down and rise over it and thus disturb it. Then you

say, I want Peace.

Liberation is only to remain aware of the Self.

D.: Is there thought in Samadhi? Or is there not?


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M.: There will only be the feeling I am and no other thoughts.

D.: Is not I am a thought?

M.: The egoless I am is not thought. It is realisation. The meaning or significance of I

is God. The experience of I am is to Be Still.

M.: If there be anything new and hitherto unknown upadesa will be appropriate. Here

it happens to bestilling the mind and remaining free from thoughts.

The Self is realised when thoughts subside.

The aim is the cessation of mental activities

Quite so. It is the mind that stands between and veils our happiness.

See to whom the thoughts arise. Then you transcend them and they subside.

Being of the nature of Bliss why does one continue to crave for happiness? To be rid of

that craving is itself salvation.

The perturbation owing to thoughts appears to rob the Self of its peace

After the mind ceases to exist and bliss of peace has been realised, one will find it then

as difficult to bring out a thought, as he now finds it difficult to keep out all thoughts.

M.: Moksha is to know that you were not born. Be still and know that I am God. To bestill is not to think. Know, and not think, is the word.

The Bible says, Be still and know that I am God. Stillness is sole requisite for the

realisation of the Self as God.

Be still and know that I am God. Here stillness is total surrender without a vestige of

individuality. Stillness will prevail and there will be no agitation of mind. Agitation of

mind is the cause of desire, the sense of doership and personality. If that is stopped

there is quiet. There Knowing means Being. It is not the relative knowledge involving

the triads, knowledge, subject and object.

Your duty is to be: and not to be this or that. I AM that I AM sums up the whole truth.

The method is summed up in BE STILL. What does stillness mean? It means destroy

yourself. Because any form or shape is the cause of trouble. Give up the notion that I

am so and so. Our sastras say: ahamiti sphurati (it shines as I).


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M.: Search for the source of the I-thought. That is all that one has to do. The universe

exists on account of the I-thought. If that ends there is an end of misery also. The

false I will end only when its source is sought.

D.: Yes. There is an unchanging Self and a changing one in me. There are two selves.

M.: The changefulness is mere thought. All thoughts arise after the arising of the I-

thought. See to whom the thoughts arise. Then you transcend them and they subside.

This is to say, tracing the source of the I-thought, you realise the perfect I-I. I is the

name of the Self.

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1. What is the method of practice?

As the Self of a person who tries to attain Self-realization is not different from him and

as there is nothing other than or superior to him to be attained by him, Self-realization

being only the realization of ones own nature, the seeker of liberation realizes, without

doubts or misconceptions, his real nature by distinguishing the eternal from the

transient, and never swerves from his natural state. This is known as the practice of

knowledge. This is the enquiry leading to Self- realization. (from Upadesa)

18. Of the devotees, who is the greatest?

He who gives himself up to the Self that is God is the most excellent devotee. Giving

ones self up to God means remaining constantly in the Self without giving room for the

rise of any thoughts other than the thought of the Self. Whatever burdens are thrown

on God, He bears them. Since the supreme power of God makes all things move, whyshould we, without submitting ourselves to it, constantly worry ourselves with thoughts

as to what should be done and how, and what should not be done and how not? We

know that the train carries all loads, so after getting on it why should we

carry our small luggage on our head to our discomfort, instead of putting it down in the

train and feeling at ease? (from Naan Yaar)

If the mind does not become quiet then and ONLY then;

2. If I am none of these, then Who am I?After negating all of the above mentioned as not this, not this, that Awareness which

alone remains that I am. (from Naan Yaar)

Even if one thinks constantly I I, one will be led to that place. (from Naan Yaar)

M:.. As each thought arises, one should inquire with diligence, To whom has this


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thought arisen?. The answer that would emerge would be To me. Thereupon if one

inquires Who am I?, the mind will go back to its source; and the thought that arose

will become quiescent.

M.: Enquiry of Who am I? means finding the source of I. When that is found, that

which you seek is accomplished.

M.: Trace the source of thoughts, they will disappear.

M.: Atman is realised with mruta manas (dead mind), i.e., mind devoid of thoughts

and turned inward. Then the mind sees its own source and becomes That.It is not as

the subject perceiving an object.

The seeker ultimately reaches the Self and there finds unity as the

prevailing note.

When the source of the I-thought is reached it vanishes and what remains over is the

Self

So long as there is vichara, there is duality too. But merging into the Source there is

unity only.

D.: Thoughts materialise.

M.: If there be thoughts they will materialise. If they disappear there is nothing to

materialise. Moreover if you are physical the world is physical and so on. Find out if youare physical.

D.: How is the mind to be stilled?

M.: Looking at the mind with the mind, or fixing the mind in the Self, brings the mind

under control of the Self.

D.: What or how am I?

M.: Do not trouble yourself about it. Let it be as it is. Why do you care?

As each thought arises, one should inquire with diligence, To whom has thisthought arisen?. The answer that would emerge would be To me. Thereupon if one

inquires Who am I?, the mind will go back to its source; and the thought that arose

will become quiescent.

You cannot be aware of breaks unless you think so. It is only a thought. To whom do

thoughts arise?


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D.: How to get rid of the mind?

M.: Is it the mind that wants to kill itself? The mind cannot kill itself. So your business is

to find the real nature of the mind. Then you will know that there is no mind. When the

Self is sought, the mind is nowhere. Abiding in the Self, one need not worry about the

mind.

D.: How did the wrong identity arise?

M.: Due to thoughts. If these thoughts are put an end to, the real Self should shine forth

of itself.

D.: How to quell the I-thought?

M.: If its source is sought it does not arise, and thus it is quelled.

Trace the source of thoughts, they will disappear.

Yes, if there be the mind. A search for it discloses its non-existence.How can anything

that does not exist be killed?

Destroy the ego by seeking its identity.

See how each one admits that he is. Does he look into a mirror to know his being?

D.: So, it is wrong to begin with a goal: is it?

M.: If there be a goal to be reached it cannot be permanent. The goal must already bethere. We seek to reach the goal with the ego, but the goal exists before the ego. What is

in the goal is even prior to our birth, i.e., to the birth of the ego.

M.: What is fear? It is only a thought.

We think that there is something hiding our Reality and that it must be destroyed before

the Reality is gained. It is ridiculous. A day will dawn when you will yourself laugh at

your past efforts. That which will be on the day you laugh is also here and now.

Forgetfulness and thought are for I-thought only. Hold it; it will disappear as aphantom. What remains over is the real I. That is the Self.

See whose is that thought. It will be found to be from I. Wherefrom is the I thought?

Probe into it. The I- thought will vanish. The Supreme Self will shine forth of itself. No

further effort is needed.


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M.: Exactly. For the same reason the enquiry Who am I? is advised.

D.: Raising the question, no response comes from within.

M.: What kind of response do you expect? Are you not there? What more?

M.: The enquirer is the answer and no other answer can come. What comes afresh

cannot be true. What always is, is true.

M.: Trace the source of thoughts, they will disappear.

D.: So, then, I must go back tracing the source of thoughts.

M.: Quite so; in that way the thoughts will disappear and the Self alone will remain. In

fact there is no inside or outside for the Self. They are also projections of the ego. The

Self is pure and absolute.

M: ..Can the mind be got at by the mind on looking for it as an object? The source of

the mental functions must be sought and gained. That is the Reality. One does not

know the Self owing to the interference of thoughts. The Self is realised when thoughts

subside.

D.: Is the thought I am God or I am the Supreme Being helpful?

M.: I am that I am. I am is God - not thinking, I am God. Realise I am and do not

think I am. Know I am God - it is said, and not Think I am God.

You see, the one who eliminates all the not I cannot eliminate the I. To say I am not

this or I am that there must be the I. This I is only the ego or the I-thought. Afterthe rising up of this I-thought, all other thoughts arise. The I-thought is therefore the

root-thought. If the root is pulled out all others are at the same time uprooted. Therefore

seek the root I, question yourself Who am I?; find out its source. Then all these will

vanish and the pure Self will remain ever.

A Maharashtra lady of middle-age, who had studied Jnaneswari, Bhagavata and

Vichara Sagara, and was practising concentration between the eyebrows, had felt

shivering and fear, and did not progress. She required guidance.

Maharshi told her not to forget the seer. The sight is fixed between the eyebrows, but the

seer is not kept in view. If the seer be always remembered it will be all right.

D.: Should we not find out the ultimate reality of the world, individual and God?

M.: These are all conceptions of the I. They arise only after the advent of the I-

thought. Did you think of them in your deep sleep? You existed in deep sleep and the

same you are now speaking. If they be real should they not be in your sleep also? They


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are only dependent upon the I-thought. Again does the world tell you I am the world?

Does the body say I am body? You say, This is the world, this is body and so on. So

these are only your conceptions. Find out who you are and there will be an end of all

your doubts.

D.: Why are there good and evil?

M.: They are relative terms. There must be a subject to know the good and evil. That

subject is the ego. Trace the source of the ego. It ends in the Self. The source of the ego is

God. This definition of God is probably more concrete and better understood by you.

D.: So it is. How to get Bliss?

M.: Bliss is not something to be got. On the other hand you are always Bliss. This desire

is born of the sense of incompleteness. To whom is this sense of incompleteness?

Enquire. In deep sleep you were blissful: Now you are not so. What has interposed

between that Bliss and this non-bliss? It is theego. Seek its source and find you are

Bliss.

There is nothing new to get. You have, on the other hand, to get rid of your ignorance

which makes you think that you are other than Bliss. For whom is this ignorance? It is

to the ego. Trace the source of the ego. Then the ego is lost and Bliss remains over. It

is eternal. You are That, here and now. That is the master key for solving all doubts.

The doubts arise in the mind. The mind is born of the ego. The ego rises from the Self.

Search the source of the ego and the Self is revealed. That alone remains.The universe

is only expanded Self. It is not different from the Self.

Om Shri Guruvay Namaha

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SriRamanaMaharshiKeyPoints Summary