Gems From Bhagavan

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: TOC Next: 2.II The Self and Non-Self Glossary
I HAPPINESS
ALLBEINGSDESIREHAPPINESS ALWAYS, happinesswithoutatingeofsorrow.Atthe sametime everybodyloveshimselfbest.Thecausefor loveisonly happiness.So,thathappinessmustlie withinoneself.Further, thathappinessisdailyexperiencedby everyoneinsleepwhen thereisnomind.Toattainthatnatural happinessonemust knowoneself.Forthat,Selfenquiry,`Who amI??'isthechief means. HappinessisthenatureoftheSelf.Theyare notdifferent. Theonlyhappinessthereis,isoftheSelf. Thatisthetruth. Thereisnohappinessinworldlyobjects. Becauseofour ignoranceweimaginewederivehappiness fromthem. If,asamangenerallyimagines,his happinessisduetoexternalcauses,itis reasonabletoconcludethathishappiness mustincreasewiththeincreaseof possessionsanddiminish inproportiontotheirdiminution. Therefore,ifheisdevoidof possessionshishappinessshouldbenil.
bhagavan-ramana.org/ramana_maharshi/books/gems/gem001.html 1/3
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
What,however,is therealexperienceofman?Doesitconfirm thisview?In deepsleepthemanisdevoidofall possessions,includinghis ownbody.Insteadofbeingunhappyheis quitehappy. Everyonedesirestosleepsoundly.The conclusiontherefore isthathappinessisinherentinmanandis notduetoexternal causes.OnemustrealizehisSelfinorderto openthestoreof unalloyedhappiness.
1 Page
ThereisastoryinPanchadasi,which illustratesthatourpainsandpleasuresare notduetofactsbuttoourconcepts. Twoyoungmenofavillagewentona pilgrimagetoNorthIndia.Oneofthemdied there.Buttheotherhavingpickedup somejobdecidedtoreturntohisvillage onlyaftersometime. Meanwhilehecameacrossawandering pilgrimandsentword throughhimtohisvillageabouthimselfand hisdeadfriend. Thepilgrimconveyedthenewsandindoing soinadvertently changedthenamesofthelivingandthe deadman.Theresult wasthatthedeadman'speoplewere rejoicingthathewas doingwellandthelivingman'speoplewere ingriefthathe wasdead. Iusedtositonthefloorandlieonthe ground.Noclothspreadout.Thatis freedom.Thesofaisabondage.Itisjail forme.Iamnotallowedtositwhereand
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
howIplease.Isit notbondage?Onemustbefreetodoasone pleasesandshould notbeservedbyothers.`Nowant'isthe greatestbliss.Itcan berealizedonlybyexperience.Evenan emperorisnomatch foramanwithnowants.

2 Page
Referred Resources: Who am I? OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: Happiness: (Chapter 203: What is Happiness? Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems:
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: TOC Next: 2.II The Self and Non-Self Glossary
Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi | Words of Bhagavan Ramana | Bhagavan Ramana Photos | Letters from Sri Ramanasramam | Collected Works | Ramana Leela | BOOKS Version 1.1 Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya 2007/01/27 vim7.0 , ruby 1.8.4
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
bhagavan-ramana.org/ramana_maharshi/books/gems/gem001.html
3/3
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 1.I Happiness Next: 3.III Mind Glossary
II THESELFANDNON SELF: THEREALITYANDTHE WORLD

EXISTENCEORCONSCIOUSNESSISTHE ONLY reality.Consciousnesspluswakingwecall waking. Consciousnessplussleepwecallsleep. Consciousnessplus dreamwecalldream.Consciousnessisthe screenonwhich allthepicturescomeandgo.Thescreenis real,thepictures aremereshadowsonit. TheSelfandtheappearancestherein,asthe snakeintherope,canbewellillustratedlike this.Thereisascreen.On thatscreenfirstappearsthefigureofaking. Hesitsonathrone. Thenbeforehimonthatsamescreenaplay beginswithvarious figuresandobjects,andthekingonthe screenwatchesthe playonthesamescreen.Theseerandthe seenaremere shadowsonthescreenwhichistheonly reality,supporting allthepictures.Intheworldalso,theseer andtheseentogether constitutethemind,andthemindis supportedbyorbasedon theSelf.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
TheajataschoolofAdvaitasays,`Nothing existsexcepttheonereality.Thereisno birthordeath,noprojectionor drawingin,nosadhaka(aspirant),no mumukshu(onewho desirestobeliberated),nomukta[?](one whoisliberated),no bondage,noliberation.TheOneUnityalone existsforever.' Tothosewhofinditdifficulttograspthis truthandask,`How
3
Page
canweignorethissolidworldweseeall aroundus?'thedream experienceispointedoutandtheyaretold, Àllthatyousee dependsontheseer.Apartfromtheseer thereisnoseen.' Thisiscalleddrishtisrishtivada,orthe argumentthatone firstcreatesoutofhismindandthensees whathisminditself hascreated. Tothosewhocannotgraspeventhisand whofurtherargue,`Thedreamexperienceis soshort,whiletheworldalwaysexists. Thedreamexperiencewaslimitedtome. Buttheworldisfelt andseennotonlybymebutbysomanyand wecannotcallsuch aworldnonexistent,'theargumentcalled srishtidrishtivadais addressedandtheyaretold,`Godfirst createdsuchandsucha thingoutofsuchandsuchanelementand thensomethingelse andsoforth.'Thatalonewillsatisfythem. Theirmindsarenot otherwisesatisfiedandtheyaskthemselves, `Howcanall geography,allmaps,allsciences,stars,
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
planetsandtherules governingorrelatingtothem,andall knowledgebetotally untrue?'Tosuchitisbesttosay,`Yes.God createdallthisandso youseeit.'Alltheseareonlytosuitthe capacityofthehearers. Theabsolutecanonlybeone. Thereisfirstthewhitelight,sotocallit,of theSelf,whichtranscendsbothlightand darkness.Initnoobjectcanbeseen. Thereisneitherseernorseen.Thenthereis alsototaldarkness (avidya[?])inwhichnoobjectsareseen.But fromtheSelf proceedsareflectedlight,thelightofpure mind(manas[?]), anditisthislightwhichgivesroomforthe existenceofall thefilmoftheworld,whichisseenneither intotallightnor intotaldarkness,butonlyinthesubduedor reflectedlight. FromthepointofviewofJnana (Knowledge)ortheReality,thepainseenin theworldiscertainlyadream,asis theworld,ofwhichanyparticularpainlike hungerisan infinitesimalpart.Inthedreamalsoyou yourselffeelhunger.
4 Page
Youseeotherssufferingfromhunger.You feedyourself,and movedbypityfeedtheotherswhomyou findsufferingfrom hunger.Solongasthedreamlasted,all thosepainswereas realasyounowthinkthepainintheworld tobe.Itwasonly whenyouwokeupthatyoudiscoveredthat

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
thepaininthe dreamwasunreal.Youmighthaveeatento thefullandgoneto sleep.Youdreamthatyouworkhardand longinthehotsunall day,aretiredandhungryandwanttoeata lot.Thenyouwake upandfindyourstomachisfullandyou havenotstirredoutof yourbed.Butthisdoesnotmeanthatwhile youareinthe dreamyoucanactasifthepainyoufeelis notreal.Thehunger inthedreamhastobeassuagedbythefood inthedream.The fellowbeingsyoufoundsohungryinthe dreamhadtobe providedwithfoodinthatdream.Youcan nevermixupthe twostates,thedreamandthewakingstate. Tillyoureachthe stateofjnana[?]andthuswakeoutofmaya [?]youmustdosocial servicebyrelievingsufferingwheneveryou seeit.Buteven thenyoumustdoitwithoutahankara,i.e., withoutthesenseof Ìamthedoer',butwiththefeelingÌam theLord'stool'. Similarlyonemustnotbeconceitedby thinking,Ìamhelping amanbelowme.Heneedshelp.Iamina positiontohelp.Iam superiorandheinferior.'Butyoumusthelp themanasameans ofworshippingGodinthatman.Allsuch serviceisfortheSelf andnotforanybodyelse.Youarenot helpinganybodyelse, butonlyyourself. ThebookKaivalyaNavaneetahasasked andansweredsixquestionsonmaya[?].
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Theyareinstructive: 1.Whatismaya[?]?Theansweris:Itis anirvachaniyaorindescribable. 2.Towhomdoesitcome?Theansweris:To themindoregowhofeelsthatheisa separateentity,whothinksÌdo this'or`Thisismine'.

5 Page
3.Wheredoesitcomefromandhowdidit originate?Theanswer:Nobodycansay. 4.Howdiditarise?Theansweris:Through nonvichara,throughfailuretoenquire `WhoamI??' 5.IftheSelfandmaya[?]bothexist,does thisnotinvalidatethetheoryofAdvaita? Theansweris:Itneednot,sincemaya isdependentontheSelfasthepictureison thescreen.The pictureisnotrealinthesensethatthe screenisreal. 6.IftheSelfandmaya[?]areone,couldit notbearguedthattheSelfisofthenature ofmaya[?]andthatitisalsoillusory?The answeris:No,theSelfcanbecapableof producingillusion withoutbeingillusory.Aconjurormay createforour entertainmenttheillusionofpeople, animalsandthings,andwe seeallofthemasclearlyasweseehim,but aftertheperformance healoneremainsandallthevisionshe createdhavedisappeared. Heisnotapartofthevisionbutsolidand real. Thebooksusethefollowingillustrationto
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
helpexplaincreation:TheSelfislikethe canvasforapainting.Firsta pasteissmearedoverittoclosethesmall holesthatareinthe canvas.Thispastecanbecomparedtothe Antaryamin (Indweller)inallcreation.Thentheartist makesanoutline onthecanvas.Thiscanbecomparedtothe sukshmasarira (subtlebody)ofallcreatures;forinstance, thelightandsound (binduandnada)outofwhichallthings arise.Withinthis outlinetheartistpaintshispicturewith colours,etc.,andthis canbecomparedtothegrossformsthat constitutetheworld. Vedantasaysthatthecosmosspringsinto viewsimultaneouslywiththeseer.Thereis nocreationbystages orsteps.Itissimilartothecreationin dreamwherethe experiencerandtheobjectsofexperience comeintoexistence atthesametime.Tothosewhoarenot satisfiedwiththis explanation,theoriesofgradualcreationare offeredinbooks.
6 Page
Itisnotatallcorrecttosaythatadvaitins oftheSankaraschooldenytheexistenceof theworld,orthattheycallit unreal.Ontheotherhand,itismorerealto themthantoothers. Theirworldwillalwaysexistwhereasthe worldoftheother schoolswillhaveorigin,growthanddecay, andassuchcannot bereal.Theyonlysaythattheworldas `world'isnotreal,but
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
thattheworldasBrahmanisreal.Allis Brahman,nothing existsbutBrahman,andtheworldas Brahmanisreal. TheSelfistheoneRealitythatalwaysexists, anditisbythelightoftheSelfthatallother thingsareseen.Weforgetitand concentrateontheappearance.Thelightin thehallburnsboth whenpersonsarepresentandwhentheyare absent,bothwhen personsareenactingsomething,asina theatre,andwhen nothingisbeingenacted.Itisthelight whichenablesustosee thehall,thepersonsandtheacting.Weare soengrossedwith theobjectsorappearancesrevealedbythe light,thatwepayno attentiontothelight.Inthewakingor dreamstateinwhich thingsappear,andinthesleepstatein whichweseenothing, thereisalwaysthelightofConsciousnessor Self,likethehall lampwhichisalwaysburning.Thethingto doistoconcentrate ontheseerandnotontheseen,notonthe objects,butonthe Lightwhichrevealsthem. Questionsabouttherealityoftheworld,and abouttheexistenceofpainorevilinthe world,willallceasewhenyou enquire`WhoamI?'andfindouttheseer. Withoutaseerthe worldandtheevilsthereofallegeddonot exist. Theworldisoftheformofthefive categoriesofsenseobjects,andnothingelse. Thesefivekindsofobjectsaresensed
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
bythefivesenses.Asallareperceivedbythe mindthrough thesefivesenses,theworldisnothingbut themind.Istherea worldapartfromthemind? Thoughtheworldandconsciousnessemerge anddisappeartogether,theworldshinesor isperceivedonlythrough

7
Page
consciousness.Thatsourcewhereinboth theseariseand disappear,andwhichitselfneitherappears nordisappears,is theperfectReality. Ifthemind,thesourceofallknowledgeand activitysubsides,thevisionoftheworldwill cease.Justasknowledge oftherealropedoesnotdawntillthe fanciednotionofthe serpentdisappears,vision(experience)of theRealitycannot begainedunlessthesuperimposedvisionof theuniverseis abandoned. ThatwhichreallyexistsisonlytheSelf.The world,jiva[?] (individualself)andIswara(God)are mentalcreations,like theappearanceofsilverinmotherofpearl. Alltheseappear atthesametimeanddisappearsimilarly. TheSelfaloneis theworld,theegoandIswara. Tothejnani[?]itisimmaterialwhetherthe worldappearsornot.Whetheritappearsor not,hisattentionisalwaysonthe Self.Takethelettersandthepaperonwhich theyareprinted. Youarewhollyengrossedwiththeletters
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
andhavenoattention leftforthepaper.Butthejnani[?]thinks onlyofthepaperasthe realsubstratum,whetherthelettersappear ornot. Youmakeallkindsofsweetsfromvarious ingredientsandinvariousshapes,andthey alltastesweetbecausethereis sugarinallofthem,andsweetnessisthe natureofsugar.In thesameway,allexperiencesandthe absenceofthemcontain theillumination,whichisthenatureofthe Self.Withoutthe Selftheycannotbeexperienced,justas withoutsugarnot oneofthearticlesyoumakecantastesweet. TheImmanentBeingiscalledIswara. Immanencecanonlybewithmaya[?].It (Iswara)istheKnowledgeofBeingalong withmaya[?].Fromthesubtleconceit Hiranyagarbharises;from Hiranyagarbhathegross,concreteVirat rises.ChitAtmais pureBeingonly.
8 Page
Asregardstheexistenceofpaininthe world,thewiseoneexplainsfromhis experience,thatifonewithdrawswithin theSelfthereisanendofallpain.Thepain isfeltsolongas theobjectisdifferentfromoneself.But whentheSelfisfound tobeanundividedwhole,whoandwhatis theretofeel? TheUpanishadictextÌamBrahman'only meansBrahmanexistsasÌ'.
9
Page
9/10
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Referred Resources: Who am I? OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: sleep state: (Chapter 6: VI The Three States dream state: (Chapter 6: VI The Three States waking state: (Chapter 6: VI The Three States
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 1.I Happiness Next: 3.III Mind Glossary
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
10/10
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 2.II The Self and Non-Self Next: 4.IV `Who am I?' -- Enquiry Glossary
III MIND
MINDISAWONDERFULFORCE INHERENTIN theSelf. ThatwhichrisesinthisbodyasÌ'isthe mind. Whenthesubtlemindemergesthroughthe brainandthesenses,thegrossnamesand formsarecognized.Whenit remainsintheHeart,namesandforms disappear.Ifthemind remainsintheHeart,theÌ'ortheego whichisthesourceof allthoughtswillgo,andtheSelf,theReal, EternalÌ'alone willshine.Wherethereisnottheslightest traceoftheego, thereistheSelf. Mindandbreathhavethesamesource. Hencebreathiscontrolledwhenmindis controlledandmindwhenbreathis controlled.Breathisthegrossformofthe mind. Pranayama(breathcontrol)isonlyanaid tosubduethemindandwillnotservetokill it. Likepranayama[?],worshipofadeity,japa (repetition)withamantra,strictregulation ofdietareallaidsformindcontrol. Controlofbreath(pranayama[?])maybe
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
internalorexternal. Theinternalisasfollows:Naham(theideaI amnotthebody) isrechaka(exhalation),Koham(Whoam I??)ispuraka (inhalation),Soham(IamHe)iskumbhaka (retentionof breath).Doingthis,thebreathbecomes automatically controlled.Externalpranayama[?]isforone notendowedwith thestrengthtocontrolthemind.Thereisno waysosureas
10
Page
controlofmind.Pranayamaneednotbe exactlyasprescribed inhathayoga.Ifengagedinjapa,dhyana (meditation),bhakti[?], etc.,justalittlecontrolofbreathwillsuffice tocontrolthe mind.Themindistheriderandbreaththe horse.Pranayama isacheckonthehorse.Bythatcheckthe riderischecked. Pranayamamaybedonejustalittle.To watchthebreathis onewayofdoingit.Themindisdrawnaway fromother activitiesbybeingengagedinwatchingthe breath.That controlsthebreath,andthemindinitsturn isalsocontrolled. Ifrechakaandpurakaarefounddifficultto practise,retention ofbreathaloneforashortwhilemaybe practisedwhilein japa,dhyana,etc.Thattoowillyieldgood results. Thereisnootherwayofcontrollingthe mindexceptasprescribedinthebookslike theGita,drawinginthemindas
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
oftenasitstraysorgoesoutward,andfixing itintheSelf.Of courseitwillnotbeeasytodoit.Itwill comeonlywith practiceorsadhana[?]. Godilluminesthemindandshineswithinit. OnecannotknowGodbymeansofthe mind.Onecanbutturnthemind inwardsandmergeitinGod. Thebodycomposedofinsentientmatter cannotsayÌ'(i.e.,cannotbethecauseof theÌthought').Ontheotherhand,the EternalConsciousnesscannothavesucha thingasbirth. Betweenthetwosomethingariseswithin thedimensionsof thebody.Thisistheknotofmatterand Consciousness(chit jadagranthi),variouslycalledbondage, jiva[?],subtlebody,ego, samsara(attachment),mind,etc. Bhagavanpointedtohistowelandsaid, `Wecallthisawhitecloth,buttheclothand itswhitenesscannotbeseparated; anditisthesamewiththeilluminationand themindthat unitetoformtheego.Thefollowing illustrationisgivenin thebooks:ThelampinthetheatreisPara Brahmanor
11
Page
illumination.Itilluminatesitself,thestage andtheactors.We seethestageandtheactorsbyitslight,but thelightstill continueswhenthereisnomoreplay. Anotherillustrationis anironrodthatiscomparedtothemind. Firejoinsitandit becomesredhot.Likefire,itglowsandcan

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
burnthings,but stillithasadefiniteshapeunlikefire.Ifwe hammerit,itis therodthatreceivestheblow,notthefire. Therodisthe jivatman,thefiretheSelforParamatman [?].Themindcando nothingbyitself.Itemergesonlywiththe illuminationand candonoactiongoodorbad,exceptwith theillumination. Butwhiletheilluminationisalwaysthere, enablingthemind toactwellorill,thepleasureorpain resultingfromsuch actionisnotfeltbytheillumination,justas whenyouhammer aredhotironitisnotthefirebuttheiron thatgetsthe hammering. Ifwecontrolthemind,itdoesnotmatter wherewelive.
12 Page
Referred Resources: Who am I? OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: samsara: (Chapter 11: What is Meant by Samsara? japa: (Chapter 48: Japa, Tapa and the Like MIND: (Chapter 73: The I is the Mind Itself Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: Consciousness: (Chapter 2: II The Self and Non-Self I-thought: (Chapter 4: IV `Who am I?' -- Enquiry
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 2.II The Self and Non-Self Next: 4.IV `Who am I?' -- Enquiry Glossary
Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi | Words of Bhagavan Ramana | Bhagavan Ramana Photos | Letters from Sri Ramanasramam |
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Collected Works | Ramana Leela | BOOKS Version 1.1 Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya 2007/01/27 vim7.0 , ruby 1.8.4
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
5/5
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 3.III Mind Next: 5.V Surrender Glossary
IV `WHOAMI?' ENQUIRY
FORALLTHOUGHTSTHESOURCEIS THE Ìthought'.Themindwillmergeonlyby Selfenquiry`Who amI?'Thethought`WhoamI?l?'will destroyallotherthoughts andfinallykillitselfalso.Ifotherthoughts arise,withouttrying tocompletethem,onemustenquireto whomdidthisthought arise.Whatdoesitmatterhowmany thoughtsarise?Aseach thoughtarisesonemustbewatchfulandask towhomisthis thoughtoccurring.Theanswerwillbe`to me'.Ifyouenquire `WhoamI?'themindwillreturntoits source(orwhereit issuedfrom).Thethoughtwhicharosewill alsosubmerge. Asyoupractiselikethismoreandmore,the powerofthe mindtoremainatitssourceisincreased. Bymeansofamoderatequantityofsattvic (pure)food,whichissuperiortoallother rulesandregulationsofself discipline,thesattvicorpurequalityofthe mindwillgrow andSelfenquirywillbehelped. Thoughancientandtimelesssense attachmentsintheshapeofvasanas[?]
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
(subtletendencies)mayrisecountlesslike the wavesofthesea,theywillallbedestroyedas dhyana progresses.Withoutgivinganyroomfor doubtwhetherit wouldatallbepossibletoeradicateallthose vasanas[?]andbe theSelfalone,onemusttakeholdceaselessly ofdhyana[?]of theSelf.Howevergreatasinneronemaybe, insteadof lamentingÌamagreatsinner,howcanI makeanyprogress?'
13 Page
onemustcompletelyforgetthefactofbeing asinnerand earnestlypursuemeditationofSelf.Heis thensuretosucceed. Iftheegoispresent,allelsewillalsoexist.If itisabsent,allelsewillalsovanish.Asegois allthis,toenquirewhatthis egois,istogiveupallattachment. Controllingspeechandbreath,anddiving deepwithinoneself,asamandivesinto watertorecoversomethingthat hasfallenthere,onemustfindoutthe sourcewhencetheego rises,bymeansofkeeninsight. Enquiry,whichconstitutesthepathof jnana[?],consistsnotinorallyrepeatingÌ' Ì',butinsearchingbymeansofadeeply introvertedmindwherefromtheÌ'springs. TothinkÌam notthis'orÌamthat'maybeofhelpinthe enquiry,butcannot betheactualenquiry. Whenwequestwithinourmind`Whoam
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
I?'andreachtheHeart,Ì'topplesdown andimmediatelyanotherentitywillreveal itselfproclaimingÌI'.Eventhoughitalso emergessayingÌ',it doesnotconnotetheego,buttheOne PerfectExistence. Ifweunceasinglyinvestigatetheformofthe mind,wefindthereisnosuchthingasthe mind.Thisisthedirectpath opentoall. Thoughtsaloneconstitutethemind,andfor allthoughtsthebaseorsourceistheÌ thought'.Ì'isthemind.Ifwego inwardquestingforthesourceoftheÌ',the Ì'topplesdown. Thisisthejnana[?]enquiry. WheretheÌ'merges,anotherentity emergesasÌI'ofitsownaccord.Thatis thePerfectSelf. Thereisnouseremovingdoubts.Ifweclear onedoubtanotherarisesandtherewillbe noendofdoubts.Alldoubts willceaseonlywhenthedoubterandhis sourcehavebeen found.Seekforthesourceofthedoubter, andyoufindheis reallynonexistent.Doubterceasing,doubts willcease.
14 Page
Realitybeingyourself,thereisnothingfor youtorealize. Allregardtheunrealasreal.Whatis requiredisthatyougive upregardingtheunrealasreal.Theobject ofallmeditation (dhyana[?])orjapaisonlythat,togiveup allthoughtsregarding

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
thenonself,togiveupmanythoughtsand toholdontoone thought.Theobjectofallsadhana[?]isto makethemindone pointed,toconcentrateitononethought andthusexclude ourmanythoughts.Ifwedothis,eventually eventheone thoughtwillgoandthemindwillget extinguishedinitssource. Whenweenquirewithin`WhoamI?'theÌ' investigatedistheego.Itisthatwhich makesvichara[?](enquiry)also.The Selfhasnovichara[?].Thatwhichmakesthe enquiryistheego. TheÌ'aboutwhichtheenquiryismadeis alsotheego.As theresultoftheenquirytheegoceasesto existandonlythe Selfisfoundtoexist. Whatisthebestwayofkillingtheego?To eachpersonthatwayisbestwhichappears easiestorappealsthemost. Allthewaysareequallygood,astheyleadto thesamegoal, whichisthemergingoftheegointheSelf. Whatthebhakta callssurrender,themanwhodoesvichara[?] callsjnana[?].Both aretryingtotaketheegobacktothesource fromwhichit sprangandmakeitmergethere. Toaskthemindtokillitselfislikemaking thethiefthepoliceman.Hewillgowithyou andpretendtocatchthethief, butnothingwillbegained.Soyoumustturn inward,andsee fromwhencethemindrisesandthenitwill ceasetoexist.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Breathandmindarisefromthesamesource andwhenoneofthemiscontrolledtheother isalsocontrolled.Asamatter offact,inthequestmethodwhichismore correctly `WhenceamI?'andnotmerely`Whoam I?'wearenot simplytryingtoeliminate,saying`Weare notthebody,nor thesensesandsoon',toreachwhatremains astheultimate reality,butwearetryingtofindoutwhence theÌthought'or
15
Page
theegoariseswithinus.Themethod containswithinit,though implicitlyandnotexpressly,thewatchingof thebreath.When wewatchwherefromtheÌthought'arises, wearenecessarily watchingthesourceofbreathalso,asthe Ìthought'andthe breatharisefromthesamesource. Breathcontrolmayserveasanaidbutcan neverbyitselfleadtothegoal.Whiledoing itmechanically,takecaretobe alertinmindandtoremembertheÌ thought'andthequest foritssource.Thenyouwillfindthatwhere thebreathsinks, theretheÌthought'arises.Theysinkand arisetogether.TheÌthought'willalsosink alongwiththebreath. Simultaneouslyanotherluminousand infiniteÌI'will emerge,anditwillbecontinuousand unbroken.Thatisthe goal.ItgoesbydifferentnamesGod,Self, Kundalini, Shakti,Consciousness,etc.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
WhoamI?'isnotamantra.Itmeansthat youmustfindoutwhereinyoutheÌ thought'arises,whichisthesourceof allotherthoughts.Butifyoufindthat vicharamarga(pathof enquiry)istoohardforyou,yougoon repeatingÌI'andthat willleadyoutothesamegoal.Thereisno harminusingÌ' asamantra.ItisthefirstnameofGod. IaskyoutoseewheretheÌ'arisesinyour body;butitisnotreallyquitecorrecttosay thattheÌ'risesfromandmerges intheHeartontherightsideofthechest. TheHeartisanother namefortheReality,anditisneitherinside noroutsidethe body.Therecanbenoinandoutforit,since Italoneis.Ido notmeanby`Heart'anyphysiological organ,anyplexusof nervesoranythinglikethat,butsolongas oneidentifies oneselfwiththebodyandthinksheisthe body,heisadvised toseeinthebodywheretheÌthought' risesandmergesagain. ItmustbetheHeartattherightsideofthe chest,sinceevery manofwhateverraceandreligionandin whateverlanguage
16
Page
hemaybesayingÌ',pointstotherightside ofhischestto indicatehimself.Thisistruealloverthe world.Sothatmust betheplace.Andbykeenlywatchingthe constantemergence oftheÌthought'onwakingandits subsidinginsleep,one canseethatitisintheHeartontheright side.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Firstknowwhoyouare.Thisrequiresno sastras[?](scripture) orscholarship.Thisissimpleexperience. Thestateofbeing isnowandhereallalong.Youhavelosthold ofyourselfand areaskingothersforguidance.Thepurpose ofphilosophyis toturnthemindinward."Ifyouknow yourself,noevilcan cometoyou.BecauseyouaskedmeIhave toldyouthis"(see KaivalyaNavaneeta).Theegocomesup onlybyholdingyou (theSelf).Holdyourselfandtheegowill vanish.Untilthen thesagewillbehappysaying,`Thereis', andtheignorant willbeasking,`Where?' Regulationoflife,suchasgettingupata fixedhour,bathing,doingmantrajapa, etc.,allthisisforpeoplewhodo notfeeldrawntoSelfenquiry,orarenot capableofit.But forthosewhocanpractisethismethodall rulesanddisciplines areunnecessary. Undoubtedlyitissaidinsomebooks,that oneshouldgooncultivatingonegood qualityafteranotherandthusprepare formoksha[?];butforthosewhofollowthe jnana[?]orvicharamarga ,theirsadhana[?]isitselfquiteenoughfor acquiringall daivic(divine)qualities;theyneednotdo anythingelse. WhatisGayatri?Itreallymeans`Letme concentrateonThatwhichilluminesall'.
Page
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
17
Referred Resources: Who am I? OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: Kundalini: (Chapter 218: Kundalini Sakti Chinmaya Deha japa: (Chapter 48: Japa, Tapa and the Like Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: Kaivalya Navaneeta: (Chapter 2: II The Self and Non-Self Consciousness: (Chapter 2: II The Self and Non-Self I-I: (Chapter 9: IX Heart
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 3.III Mind Next: 5.V Surrender Glossary
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
8/8
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 4.IV `Who am I?' -- Enquiry Next: 6.VI The Three States Glossary
V SURRENDER
GODWILLBEARWHATEVERBURDENS WEPUT onHim.Allthingsarebeingcarriedonby theomnipotent powerofaSupremeGod.Insteadof submittingourselves toIt,whyshouldwealwaysbeplanning, `Weshoulddothis orthat'.Knowingthatthetraincarriesall theload,why shouldwe,travellingtherein,sufferby carryingoursmall bundleonourheads,insteadofleavingiton thetrainand beinghappy. ThestoryofAshtavakrateachesthatin ordertoexperienceBrahmaJnanaallthat isnecessaryistosurrenderyourself completelytotheGuru,togiveupyour notionofÌ'and `mine'.Ifthesearesurrendered,what remainsistheReality. Therearetwowaysofachievingsurrender. OneislookingintothesourceoftheÌ'and mergingintothatsource.The otherisfeeling,Ìamhelplessmyself,God aloneisall powerful,andexceptbythrowingmyself completelyonHim, thereisnoothermeansofsafetyforme'; andthusgradually developingtheconvictionthatGodalone
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
existsandtheego doesnotcount.Bothmethodsleadtothe samegoal.Complete surrenderisanothernameforjnana[?]or liberation. Bhaktiisnotdifferentfrommukti[?].Bhakti isbeingastheSelf.OneisalwaysThat.He realizesItbythemeansheadopts. Whatisbhakti[?]?TothinkofGod.That meansonlyonethought prevailstotheexclusionofallother thoughts.Thatthoughtis
18
Page
ofGod,whichistheSelf,oritistheself surrenderedunto God.WhenHehastakenyouup,nothing elsewillassailyou. Theabsenceofthoughtisbhakti[?].Itisalso mukti[?]. BhaktiisJnanaMata,i.e.,themotherof jnana[?]. Itisasked,whyallthiscreationissofullof sorrowandevil.Allonecansayisthatitis God'swill,whichisinscrutable. Nomotive,nodesire,noendtoachievecan beattributedto thatinfinite,allwiseandallpowerfulBeing. Godisuntouched byactivitieswhichtakeplaceinHis presence.Thereisno meaninginattributingresponsibilityand motivetotheOne, beforeitbecamemany.ButGod'swillfor theprescribed courseofeventsisagoodsolutionforthe vexedquestionof freewill.Ifthemindisworriedoverwhat befallsus,orwhat hasbeencommittedoromittedbyus,itis wisetogiveupthe senseofresponsibilityandfreewill,by
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
regardingourselves astheordainedinstrumentsoftheAllWise andtheAll Powerful,todoandsufferasHepleases. ThenHebearsall theburdensandgivesuspeace. AMaharanitoldBhagavan,Ìamblessed witheverythingthatahumanbeingwould liketohave'.HerHighness'svoice choked.Controllingherselfshecontinued slowly,Ìhaveall thatIwant,ahumanbeingmaywant butbutIdonot havepeaceofmind.Somethingpreventsit. Probablymy destiny'.Therewassilenceforawhile.Then Bhagavanspoke inhisusualsweetmanner:Àllright,you havesaidwhatyou wishedtosay.Well,whatisdestiny?There isnodestiny. Surrender,andallwillbewell.Throwall responsibilityon Godanddonotbeartheburdenyourself. Whatcandestiny dotoyouthen?' Devotee:Surrenderisimpossible. Bhagavan[?]:Yes,completesurrenderis impossible.Partialsurrenderiscertainly possibleforall.Incourseoftimethat
19
Page
willleadtocompletesurrender.Well,if surrenderisimpossible whatcanbedone?Thereisnopeaceof mind.Youarehelpless tobringitabout.Itcanbedoneonlyby surrender. D:Partialsurrenderwell,canitundo destiny? B:Ohyes,itcan.

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
D:Isnotdestinyduetopastkarma[?]? B:IfonehassurrenderedtoGod,Godwill looktoit. D:ThatbeingGod'sdispensation,howdoes Godundoit? B:AllareinHimonly. Toadevoteewhowasprayingthatshe shouldhavemorefrequentvisionsofSiva, Bhagavansaid,"SurrendertoHim andabidebyHisWill,whetherHeappears ordisappears; awaitHispleasure.IfyouaskHimtodoas youlikeitisnot surrenderbutcommandtoGod.Youcannot haveHimobey youandyetthinkyouhavesurrendered.He knowswhatis bestandwhenandhowtodoit.Hisisthe burden.Youhave nolongeranycares.AllyourcaresareHis. Suchissurrender. Thatisbhakti[?]."
20 Page
Referred Resources: OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: Bhakti: (Chapter 13: Ahetuka Bhakti (Motiveless Devotion) Bhakti: (Chapter 27: Bhaktis Taste prarabdha: (Chapter 116: Prarabdha (Fate) Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: destiny: (Chapter 11: XI Fate and Freewill
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 4.IV `Who am I?' -- Enquiry Next: 6.VI The Three States Glossary
4/5
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
5/5
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 5.V Surrender Next: 7.VII Grace and Guru Glossary
VI THETHREESTATES: WAKING, DREAMANDSLEEP

THEREISNODIFFERENCEBETWEEN THEDREAM andthewakingstateexceptthatthedream isshortandthe wakinglong.Botharetheresultofthemind. Ourrealstateis calledturiya[?],whichisbeyondthewaking, dreamandsleep states. TheSelfaloneexistsandremainsasItis. Thethreestatesowetheirexistenceto avichara(nonenquiry),andenquiry putsanendtothem.Howevermuchone mayexplain,this factwillnotbecomeclearuntiloneattains Selfrealization, andwondershowhewasblindtotheself evidentandonly existenceforsolong. Allthatweseeisadream,whetherweseeit inthedreamstateorwakingstate.On accountofsomearbitrarystandards aboutthedurationoftheexperienceandso on,wecallone experienceadreamandanotherwaking experience.With referencetoRealityboththeexperiencesare unreal.Aman mighthaveanexperiencesuchasgetting
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
anugraha(grace) inhisdream,andtheeffectsandinfluence ofitonhisentire subsequentlifemaybesoprofoundand abiding,thatone cannotcallitunrealwhilstcallingreal sometriflingincident inthewakinglifethatjustflitsby,whichis casual,ofno consequenceandissoonforgotten.OnceI hadanexperience, avisionoradream,whateveryoumaycall it.Iandsome
21
Page
others,includingChadwick,hadawalkon thehill.Returning, wewerewalkingalongahugestreetwith greatbuildingson eitherside.Pointingoutthestreetandthe buildings,Iasked Chadwickandothers,whetheranybody couldsaythatwhat wewereseeingwasadream,andtheyall replied,`Which foolwillsayso?'Wethenwalkedalong, enteredthehalland thevisionordreamceased,orIwokeup. Whatareweto callthis? Justbeforewakingupfromsleep,thereisa verybriefstate,freefromthought.That shouldbemadepermanent. Indreamlesssleepthereisnoworld,noego andnounhappiness,buttheSelfremains. Inthewakingstatethere areallofthese.YetthereistheSelf.Onehas onlytoremove thetransitoryhappeningsinordertorealize theeverpresent beatitudeoftheSelf.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Yournatureisbliss.Findthatonwhichall therestaresuperimposedandyouthen remainasthepureSelf. Insleepthereisnospaceortime.Theyare concepts,whichariseaftertheÌthought' hasarisen.Youarebeyondtimeand space.TheÌthought'isthelimitedÌ'.The realÌ'is unlimited,universal,beyondtimeand space.Justwhilerising fromsleepandbeforeseeingtheobjective world,thereis stateofawarenesswhichisyourPureSelf. Thatmust beknown.
22 Page
Referred Resources: OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: three states: (Chapter 137: Beyond the Three States turiya: (Chapter 156: Turiyavastha (The Fourth State) Links to rl: Chadwick: (Chapter 36: Light of the World Links to sp: Chadwick: (Chapter 57: -- I Major Chadwick Chadwick: (Chapter 68: There is Nothing, Be! -- Major A. W. Chadwick Chadwick: (Chapter 29: Sri Ramana -- Major A.W. Chadwick Chadwick: (Chapter 30: Sri Bhagavan and the Mother's temple--Major A.W. Chadwick Chadwick: (Chapter 67: The Eternal Now -- Major A.W. Chadwick Links to gems: Consciousness: (Chapter 2: II The Self and Non-Self I-thought: (Chapter 4: IV `Who am I?' -- Enquiry
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 5.V Surrender Next: 7.VII Grace and Guru Glossary
3/4
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
4/4
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 6.VI The Three States Next: 8.VIII Self-Realization Glossary
VII GRACEANDGURU
IHAVENOTSAIDTHATAGURUISNOT NECESSARY. ButaGuruneednotalwaysbeinhuman form.Firstaperson thinksthatheisinferiorandthatthereisa superior,all knowing,allpowerfulGodwhocontrolshis ownandthe world'sdestinyandworshipshimordoes bhakti[?].Whenhe reachesacertainstageandbecomesfitfor enlightenment, thesameGodwhomhewasworshipping comesasGuruand leadshimonward.ThatGurucomesonlyto tellhim,`That Godiswithinyourself.Divewithinand realize'.God,Guru andtheSelfarethesame. RealizationistheresultoftheMaster's (Guru's)grace,morethanteachings, lectures,meditations,etc.Theyareonly secondaryaids,whereastheformeristhe primaryandessential cause. Guru'sgraceisalwaysthere.Youimagineit tobesomethingsomewherehighupinthe sky,farawayandwhich hastodescend.Itisreallyinsideyouinyour Heart,andthe moment,byanyofthemethods,youeffect subsidenceor
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
mergerofthemindintoitssource,thegrace rushesforth, spoutingasfromaspringfromwithinyou. Contactwithjnanisisgood.Theywillwork throughsilence.AGuruisnotthephysical form.HenceHiscontact remainsevenafterthephysicalformofthe Guruvanishes. Afteryourbhakti[?]toGodhasmatured you,GodcomesintheshapeofaGuruand fromoutsidepushesyourmindinside,
23
Page
whilebeinginsideasSelfHedrawsyou therefromwithin. SuchaGuruisneededgenerally,thoughnot forveryrareand advancedsouls. OnecangotoanotherGuruafterone'sGuru passesaway. Butafterall,Gurusareone,asnoneofthem aretheform. Mentalcontactisalwaysthebest. SatsanghmeansassociationwithSator Reality.OnewhoknowsorhasrealizedSat isalsoregardedasSat.Such associationisabsolutelynecessaryforall. Sankarahassaid, "Inallthethreeworldsthereisnoboatlike satsanghtocarry onesafelyacrosstheoceanofbirthsand deaths." Gurunotbeingphysical,Hiscontactwill continueafterHisformvanishes.Ifone Jnaniexistsintheworld,His influencewillbefeltbyorbenefitallpeople intheworld, andnotsimplyHisimmediatedisciples.As
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
describedin VedantaChudamani,allthepeopleinthe worldcanbeput underfourcategories:TheGuru'sdisciples, bhaktas,those whoareindifferenttoHimandthosewho arehostiletoHim. Allthesewillbebenefitedbytheexistenceof theJnani eachinhisownwayandtovariousdegrees. Fromthebook,DivineGraceThroughTotal SelfSurrender byD.C.Desai,Bhagavanreadoutthe followingquotations byPaulBruntonforourbenefit: DivineGraceisamanifestationofthe cosmicfreewillin operation.Itcanalterthecourseofeventsin amysterious mannerthroughitsownunknownlaws, whicharesuperior toallnaturallaws,andcanmodifythelatter byinteraction. Itisthemostpowerfulforceintheuniverse. Itdescendsandactsonlywhenitisinvoked bytotalself surrender.Itactsfromwithin,becauseGod residesinthe Heartofallbeings.Itswhispercanbeheard onlyinamind purifiedbyselfsurrenderandprayer.
24 Page
Rationalistslaughatit,andatheistsscorn it,butitexists. ItisadescentofGodintothesoul'szoneof awareness.It isavisitationofforceunexpectedand unpredictable.Itis avoicespokenoutofcosmicsilenceItis `CosmicWill

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
whichcanperformauthenticmiraclesunder itsownlaws'. Intruth,GodandtheGuruarenot different.Justasthepreywhichhasfallen intothejawsofatigerhasnoescape, sothosewhohavecomewithintheambitof theGuru's graciouslookwillbesavedbytheGuruand willnotgetlost; yet,eachoneshouldbyhisowneffort pursuethepathshown byGodorGuruandgainrelease. EachseekerafterGodshouldbeallowedto gohisownway,thewayforwhichhealone maybebuilt(meant).Itwill notdotoconverthimtoanotherpathby violence.TheGuru willgowiththediscipleinhisownpathand thengradually turnhimontotheSupremepathattheripe moment.Suppose acarisgoingattopspeed.Tostopitatonce ortoturnitat oncewouldbeattendedwithdisastrous consequences.
25 Page
Referred Resources: OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: Links to rl: Brunton: (Chapter 36: Light of the World Links to sp: Brunton: (Chapter 27: A Spiritual Torch -- Paul Brunton Brunton: (Chapter 66: Sri Ramana: A Pure Channel for a Higher Power -- Paul Brunton Links to gems: Jnani: (Chapter 12: XII Jnani Surrender: (Chapter 5: V Surrender destiny: (Chapter 11: XI Fate and Freewill
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 6.VI The Three States Next: 8.VIII Self-Realization
Glossary
4/5
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
5/5
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 7.VII Grace and Guru Next: 9.IX Heart Glossary
VIII SELFREALIZATION
THESTATEWECALLREALIZATIONIS SIMPLY beingoneself,notknowinganythingor becominganything. Ifonehasrealized,heisThatwhichaloneis, andwhichalone hasalwaysbeen.Hecannotdescribethat state.Hecanonly beThat.OfcoursewelooselytalkofSelf realizationforwant ofabetterterm. Thatwhichis,ispeace.Allthatweneeddo istokeepquiet.Peaceisourrealnature.We spoilit.Whatisrequiredis thatweceasetospoilit.Forinstance,there isspaceinahall (room).Wearenotgoingtocreatespace anew.Wefillupthe placewithvariousarticles.Ifwewantspace, allthatweneed doistoremoveallthosearticlesandweget space.Similarly, ifweremovealltherubbishfromthemind thepeacewill becomemanifest.Thatwhichisobstructing thepeacemust beremoved.PeaceistheonlyReality. MuktiorLiberationisourNature.Itis anothernameforus.Ourwantingmukti[?] isaveryfunnything.Itislikeaman whoisintheshadevoluntarilyleavingthe shade,goinginto
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
thesun,feelingtheseverityoftheheat, makinggreatefforts togetbackintotheshade,andthen rejoicingÀtlastIhave reachedtheshade,howsweetistheshade!' Wearedoing exactlythesame.Wearenotdifferentfrom theReality.We imaginewearedifferent,i.e.,wecreatethe bhedabhava(the feelingofdifference)andthenundergogreat sadhanastoget
26
Page
ridofthebhedabhavaandrealizethe oneness.Whyimagine orcreatethebhedabhavaandthendestroy it? Itisfalsetospeakofrealization.Whatis theretorealize? Therealisasitis,ever.Howtorealizeit? Allthatisrequired isthis:Wehaverealizedtheunreal,i.e., regardedasRealwhat isunreal.Wehavetogiveupthisattitude. Thatisallthatis requiredforustoattainJnana.Wearenot creatinganything neworachievingsomethingwhichwedid nothavebefore. Theillustrationgiveninthebooksisthis: Wedigawelland createahugepit.Theakasa(space)inthe pitorwellhasnot beencreatedbyus.Wehavejustremoved theearthwhich wasfillingtheakasathere.Theakasawas there,then,andis alsotherenow.Similarlywehavesimplyto throwoutallthe agelongsamskaras(innatetendencies) whichareinsideus.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Whenallofthemhavebeengivenup,the Selfwillshinealone. Effortlessandchoicelessawarenessisour RealState.IfwecanattainItorbeinIt,itis allright.ButonecannotreachIt withouteffort,theeffortofdeliberate meditation.Alltheage longvasanas[?](latenttendencies)carrythe mindoutwardsand turnittoexternalobjects.Allsuchthoughts havetobegiven upandthemindturnedinward.Formost peopleeffortis necessary.Ofcourse,everybody,everybook says?mU??? (summairubequietorstill).Butitisnot easy.Thatiswhyall thiseffortisnecessary.Evenifyoufindone whohaseffortlessly achievedthemouna[?](silence)orSupreme Stateindicatedby (?),youmaytakeitthattheeffortnecessary hasalready beencompletedinapreviouslife.Such effortlessandchoiceless awarenessisreachedonlyafterdeliberate meditation. Thebooksnodoubtspeakofsravana[?] (hearing),manana[?] (reflection),nididhyasana[?](onepointed concentration),samadhi andsakshatkaram(Realization).Weare alwaysthesakshat (Real)andwhatisthereforonetoattain (karam)afterthat?We
27
Page
callthisworldsakshatorpratyaksha (directlypresent).What ischanging,whatappearsanddisappears, whatisnotsakshat, weregardassakshat.Wearealways,and

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
nothingcanbemore directlypresentthanwe,andaboutthatwe saywehaveto attainsakshatkaramafterallthese sadhanas.Nothingcanbe morestrangethanthis.TheSelfisnot attainedbydoinganything otherthanremainingstillandbeingaswe are. Wesaythatwhatweseewiththeeyesalone ispratyaksha. Theremustfirstbetheseerbeforeanything couldbeseen. Youareyourselftheeyethatsees, (andhamilakann )theÌnfiniteEye'referredtoinUlladu Narpadu(RealityinFortyVerses). Peopleareafraidthatwhentheegoorthe mindiskilled,theresultmaybeamere blankandnothappiness.Whatreally happensisthatthethinker,theobjectof thoughtandthinking allmergeintotheoneSource,whichis Consciousnessand Blissitself,andthusthatstateisneither inertnorblank.Ido notunderstandwhypeopleshouldbeafraid ofthatstatein whichallthoughtsceasetoexistandthe mindiskilled.Every daytheyexperiencethatstateinsleep. Thereisnomindor thoughtinsleep.Yetwhenonerisesfrom sleeponesays,Ì slepthappily.'Sleepissodeartoeveryone thatnoone,prince orbeggar,candowithoutit. Whenwehavevikalpas(falseconcepts)and aretryingtogivethemup,i.e.whenweare
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
stillnotperfected,buthaveto makeconsciousefforttokeepthemindone pointedorfree fromthought,itisNirvikalpaSamadhi. Whenthroughpractice wearealwaysinthatstate,notgoinginto samadhiandcoming outagain,thatisthesahaja(natural)state. Insahajaone alwaysseesoneself.Heseesthejagat (world)asswarupa (Reality)orBrahmakara(formof Brahman).Eventually,what wasoncethemeansbecomesitselfthegoal, whatevermethod
28
Page
onefollows.Dhyana(meditation),jnana, bhaktiandsamadhi areallnamesforourselves,forourReal State. Knowingone'sSelfisonlybeingone'sSelf, asthereisnosecondexistence.ThisisSelf realization. Youmaygoonreadinganynumberofbooks onVedanta. Theycanonlytellyou`RealizetheSelf'.The Selfcannotbe foundinbooks.Youhavetofinditfor yourselfinyourself. TheLordwhosehomeistheinteriorofthe HeartLotusandwhoshinesthereasÌ'is extolledastheLordoftheCave. IfbyforceofpracticethefeelingÌamHe,I amtheLordof theCave'(Guhesa)becomesfirmly established,asfirmlyas yourpresentnotionthatyouaretheegois establishedinthe body,andthusyoustandforthastheLord
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
oftheCave,the illusionthatyouaretheperishablebodywill vanishlike darknessbeforetherisingsun. Thetruekarma[?],yoga,bhakti[?]orjnana [?]consistsinfindingoutwhoitisthatdoes thekarma[?],orseeksreunionthroughyoga, or feelsseparationfromhisLord,orisin ignorance.Allthesedo notexistwithouttheÌ'.Sotoremainasthe Ì'istheTruth. Ifweregardourselvesasthedoersofaction weshallalsobetheenjoyersofthefruitsof suchaction.Ifbyenquiring whodoestheseactionsonerealizesone's Self,thesensethat oneisthedoervanishesandwithitallthe threekindsofkarma (viz.sanchita,agamyaandprarabdha). Thisisthestateof eternalMuktiorLiberation. OurRealNatureisMukti.Butweimagine thatweareboundandaremaking strenuousattemptstobecomefree,whilewe are allthetimefree.Thiswillbeunderstood onlywhenwereach thatstage.Wewillbesurprisedthatwe werefranticallytryingto attainsomethingwhichwehavealways beenandare.An illustrationwillmakethisclear:Amangoes tosleepinthishall. Hedreamshehasgoneonaworldtour,is roamingoverhilland
29
Page
dale,forestandcountry,desertandsea, acrossvariouscontinents and,aftermanyyearsofwearyand

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
strenuoustravel,returnsto thiscountry,reachesTiruvannamalai, enterstheashramandwalks intothehall.Justatthatmomenthewakes upandfindshehas notmovedaninch,butwassleepingwhere helaydown.Hehas notreturnedtothehallaftergreatefforts, butisandalwayshas beeninthehall.Itisexactlylikethat.Ifitis asked,whybeing freeweimaginewearebound,Ianswer, `Whybeinginthehall didyouimagineyouwereonaworld adventure,crossinghill anddale,desertandsea?'Itisallmindor maya[?]. Thedyadsorthepairsofopposites,suchas pleasureandpain,andthetriads,orsuch differencesastheknower,the known,andtheprocessofknowing,depend ononething theego.Whenoneseeksforthatthinginthe Heartandfinds outitsRealNaturetheywillvanish.Those alonewhohave foundouttheRealNatureoftheegohave seentheReality. Theywillhavenomoredoubtsoranxieties. Thereisnoknowledgeapartfrom ignorance,andnoignoranceapartfrom knowledge.Thataloneisjnana[?]orreal knowledge,whichwhenenquiringtowhom thisknowledge orignorancearises,reachesthatSource whichistheSelf. ThethoughtÌamthebody'isignorance. ThatthebodyisnotapartfromtheSelfis knowledge.Thebodyisamental projection.Themindistheego,andtheego
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
risesfromtheSelf. Thebodythoughtisdistractingandstrays awayfromtheSelf. Forwhomisthebodyorbirth?Notforthe Self,theSpirit.Itis forthenonselfwhichimaginesitself separatefromtheSelf. Solongasthereisthesenseofseparation therewillbeafflictingthoughts.Ifthe originalsourceisregainedandthe senseofseparationends,thereispeace.A stonepickedup fromitsplaceandthrownupintothesky hasnoresttillit comesbacktoearth.Thewatersofthesea evaporatingand
30
Page
risingintotheskyascloudsfindnoresttill theycomeback asrain,andfinallyrushbacktothesea.The egocanhave peaceonlywhenitmergesbackintoits Source,theSelf. SeeingGodinanyformandspeakingto Himisasrealasyourownreality.Inother words,whenyouidentifyyourself withthebodyinthewakingstate,yousee grossobjects;when inthesubtlebody(thementalplane)asin dream,yousee objectsequallysubtle;intheabsenceofall identification, asindreamlesssleep,youseenothing.The objectsseen,bear arelationtothestateoftheseer.Thesame appliestovisions ofgods.Bylongpractice,thefigureofGod asmeditated uponappearsindreamandmaylater appeareveninthe wakingstate.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
TherewasasaintbythenameNamDev.He couldsee,talkandplaywithVithoba,the GodofPandharpur.Godhad toteachhimthatthatwasnotenough,and onemustpresson furtherandrealizetheSelfwhereseerand seenareone. VisionofSiva:Visionisalwaysofanobject. Thatimpliestheexistenceofasubject.The valueofthevisionisthesame asthatoftheseer.Thenatureofthevision isonthesame planeasthatoftheseer.Appearance impliesdisappearance aswell.Whateverappearsmustalso disappear.Avisioncan neverbeeternal.ButSivaiseternal. Viswarupadarshan(visionofthecosmic form)andViswatmadarhsan(visionofthe universalself)arethesame. Suchdarshanisnotbyeyesightorinany grossfashion.As thereisonlyBeing,withoutasecond, anythingseencannot bereal.Thatisthetruth. ThemoralbehindthestoryofAshtavakra andJanakaissimplythis:Thedisciple surrendershimselftotheMaster. Thatmeansthereisnovestigeof individualityretainedby thedisciple.Ifthesurrenderiscomplete,all senseof
31
Page
individualityislostandthereisnocausefor misery.The EternalSelfisonlyhappinessandthatis revealed. ThewholeofVedantaiscontainedinthe

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
twoBiblicalstatementsÌamthatIam'and `BestillandknowthatI amGod'. Thereisastatebeyondoureffortsor effortlessness.Untilthatisrealized,effortis necessary.Aftertastingsuchbliss evenonce,onewillrepeatedlytrytoregain it.Havingonce experiencedtheblissofpeace,noonewould liketobeoutof itorengagehimselfotherwise.Itisas difficultforaJnanito engageinthoughts,asitisforanajnanito befreefrom thought. AnykindofactivitydoesnotaffectaJnani. Heremainseverineternalpeace. IshtaDevata(deityofone'schoice)and Guruareaids,verypowerfulaidsonthis path.Butforanaidtobeeffective requiresyoureffortalso.Youreffortisasine quanon.Itis youwhoshouldseethesun.Canspectacles andthesunsee foryou?YouyourselfhavetoseeyourTrue Nature.Notmuch aidisrequiredfordoingit. FirstoneseestheSelfasobjects,thenone seestheSelfasvoid,andthenoneseesthe SelfastheSelf;onlyinthislast caseistherenoseeingbecauseseeingis becoming. Themorewecontrolthought,activityand food,themorewewillbeabletocontrol sleep.Butmoderationoughttobe theruleforthesadhak(aspirant),as explainedintheGita.As explainedintheGita,sleepisthefirst
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
obstacleforall sadhakas.Thesecondobstacleissaidtobe vikshepa,orthe senseobjectsoftheworldwhichdivertone's attention.The thirdissaidtobekashayaorthoughts aboutprevious experienceswithsenseobjects.Thefourth, ananda[?](bliss),is alsocalledanobstacle,becauseinthatstate afeelingof
32
Page
separationfromthesourceofananda[?], makingtheenjoyer say,Ìamenjoyingananda[?],'ispresent. Eventhishastobe surmounted,andthefinalstageof samadhanaorsamadhi hastobereached,whereonebecomes ananda[?],orOnewith theReality,andthedualityofenjoyerand enjoymentceases intheoceanofSatchidananda[?] (ExistenceConsciousness Bliss)ortheSelf. ThepowerofaJnani'sSelfRealizationis morepowerfulthanalloccultpowers.Tothe Jnanitherearenoothers.But whatisthehighestbenefitthatcanbe conferredonòthers' aswecallthem?Itishappiness.Happiness isbornofpeace. Peacecanreignonlywhenthereisno disturbancebythought. Whenthemindhasbeenannihilated,there willbeperfect peace.Asthereisnomind,theJnanicannot beawareofothers. ButthemerefactofHisSelfRealizationis itselfenoughto makeallotherspeacefulandhappy.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Thefollowingextractfromaletterofthe poetTennysontoB.P.Bloodwasreadoutin Bhagavan'spresence:àkind ofwakingtranceIhavefrequentlyhad, quiteupfromboyhood, whenIhavebeenallalone.Thishas generallycomeuponme throughrepeatingmyownnametwoor threetimestomyself, silently,tillallatonce,asitwereoutofthe intensityof consciousnessofindividuality,the individualityitselfseemed todissolveandfadeawayintoboundless being;andthisnota confusedstatebuttheclearestofthe clearest,thesurestofthe surest,theweirdestoftheweirdest,utterly beyondwords, wheredeathwasanalmostlaughable impossibility,theloss ofpersonality(ifsoitwere)seemingno extinctionbutthe onlytruelife'. Bhagavansaid,`Thatstateiscalled abidanceintheSelf.'
33 Page
Referred Resources: Reality in Forty Verses OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: boyhood: (Chapter 259: Boyhood Days Happiness: (Chapter 203: What is Happiness? Samadhi: (Chapter 49: What is Samadhi Samadhi: (Chapter 138: Samadhi Samadhi: (Chapter 163: Six Kinds of Samadhis prarabdha: (Chapter 116: Prarabdha (Fate) Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: Happiness: (Chapter 1: I Happiness Consciousness: (Chapter 2: II The Self and Non-Self Jnani: (Chapter 12: XII Jnani
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
destiny: (Chapter 11: XI Fate and Freewill waking state: (Chapter 6: VI The Three States
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 7.VII Grace and Guru Next: 9.IX Heart Glossary
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
13/13
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 8.VIII Self-Realization Next: 10.X Renunciation Glossary
IX HEART
INTHECENTREOFTHECAVITYOFTHE HEART thesoleBrahmanshinesbyitselfasthe Atman(Self)inthe feelingofÌI'.ReachtheHeartbydiving withinyourself, eitherwithcontrolofbreath,orwith thoughtconcentratedon thequestoftheSelf.Youwillthusgetfixed intheSelf. IhavebeensayingallalongthattheHeart Centreisontherightside,evenwhen learnedmendifferedfromme.Ispeak fromexperience.Iknewiteveninmyhome duringmytrances (samadhi).Againduringtheincident recordedinSelf Realization,Ihadaveryclearvisionand experience.Allofa suddenalightcamefromonesideerasing theworldvision.I feltthattheheartonthelefthadstopped andthebodybecame blueandinert.VasudevaSastriembraced thebodyandwept overmydeath,butIcouldnotspeak.Allthe timeIwasfeeling thattheHeartCentreontherightwas workingaswellas ever.Thisstatelastedfifteenortwenty minutes.Thensuddenly somethingshotoutfromtherighttotheleft likearocket
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
burstingintothesky.Thebloodresumed circulationandthe normalconditionofthebodywasrestored. Theentireuniverseiscondensedinthebody andtheentirebodyintheHeart.Thusthe Heartisthenucleusofthewhole universe.Thisworldisnototherthanthe mind,themindis nototherthantheHeart;thatisthewhole truth.
34 Page
Thesourceisapointwithoutany dimensions.Itexpandsasthecosmosonthe onehandandasInfiniteblissonthe other.Thatpointisthepivot.Fromita singlevasanastarts andexpandsastheexperiencer(Ì'),the experienceandthe experienced(theworld). ToRamawhoquestionedVasishta:`Which isthatbigmirrorinwhichalltheseare merereflections?Whatistheheartofall soulsorcreaturesinthisuniverse?'Vasishta replied:Àllcreaturesinthisuniversehave twokindsofheartsonetobetakennote ofandtheotherignored.Heartheir respectivetraits:Theonetobeignoredis thephysicalorgancalledtheheartwhichis situatedinthechestasapartofthe perishablebody.Theonetobetakennoteof istheHeartwhichisofthenatureof consciousness.Itisbothinsideandoutside (us)andhasneitheraninsidenoran outside.' ThisisthereallyimportantHeart.Itisthe mirrorwhichholdsallreflections.Itisthe basisandsourceofallobjectsandallkinds ofwealth.Therefore,itisonlythat Consciousness,whichistheHeartofall,not
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
thatorganasmallpartofthebody,which isinsentientlikeastone,andperishable.So onecanachievetheeradicationofalldesires andcontrolofbreath,bythepracticeof mergingthemindintheHeart,whichis PureConsciousness. Concentratingone'sthoughtssolelyonthe Selfwillleadtohappinessorbliss.Drawing inthethoughts,restrainingthemand preventingthemfromgoingoutwardsis calledvairagya[?].FixingthemintheSelfis sadhana[?]orabhyasa(practice). ConcentratingontheHeartisthesameas concentratingontheSelf.TheHeartis anothernamefortheSelf. TheSelfistheHeart.TheHeartisSelf luminous.LightarisesfromtheHeartand reachesthebrainwhichistheseatofthe mind.Theworldisseenwiththemind,that isbythe
35
Page
reflectedlightoftheSelf.Itisperceivedwith theaidofthemind.Whenthemindis illumineditisawareoftheworld.Whenitis notitselfsoillumined,itisnotawareofthe world.Ifthemindisturnedinwardtowards thesourceoflight,objectiveknowledge ceasesandtheSelfaloneshinesforthasthe Heart. Themoonshinesbythereflectedlightofthe sun.Whenthesunhasset,themoonis usefulforrevealingobjects.Whenthesun hasrisen,nooneneedsthemoon,although thepalediscofthemoonisstillvisiblein thesky.Soitiswiththemindandthe Heart.
36 Page
Referred Resources:
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: Consciousness: (Chapter 2: II The Self and Non-Self
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 8.VIII Self-Realization Next: 10.X Renunciation Glossary
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
4/4
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 9.IX Heart Next: 11.XI Fate and Freewill Glossary
X RENUNCIATION
WHENASKED:`HOWDOESA GRIHASTHA(householder)fareinthe schemeofMoksha(liberation)?'Bhagavan said,`Whydoyouthinkyouarea grihastha?Ifyougooutasasannyasi (ascetic),asimilarthoughtthatyouarea sannyasiwillhauntyou.Whetheryou continueinthehouseholdorrenounceit andgototheforest,yourmindgoeswith you.Theegoisthesourceofallthought.It createsthebodyandtheworldandmakes youthinkyouareagrihastha.Ifyou renouncetheworlditwillonlysubstitutethe thoughtsannyasiforgrihastha,andthe environmentsoftheforestforthoseofthe household.Butthementalobstacleswillstill bethere.Theyevenincreaseinthenew surroundings.Thereisnohelpinachange ofenvironment.Theobstacleisthemind.It mustbegotoverwhetherathomeorinthe forest.Ifyoucandoitintheforest,whynot athome?Therefore,whychangeyour environment?Youreffortscanbemadeeven nowinwhateverenvironmentyouarenow. Theenvironmentwillneverchange accordingtoyourdesire'. Ifobjectshaveanindependentexistence, i.e.,iftheyexistanywhereapartfromyou, thenitmaybepossibleforyoutogoaway fromthem.Buttheydonotexistapartfrom you;theyowetheirexistencetoyou,your thoughts.Sowherecanyougotoescape them?
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
37
Page
Wherecanyougo,fleeingfromtheworldor objects?Theyareliketheshadowofman, whichthemancannotfleefrom.Thereisa funnystoryofamanwhowantedtoburyhis shadow.Hedugadeeppit,andseeinghis shadowatthebottom,wasgladhecould buryitsodeep.Hewentonfillingthepit, andwhenhehadcompletelyfilleditup,he wassurprisedanddisappointedtofindthe shadowonthetop.Evenso,theobjectsor thoughtsofthemwillbealwayswithyou untilyourealizetheSelf. Whyshouldyouroccupationordutiesinlife interferewithyourspiritualeffort?For instance,thereisadifferencebetweenyour activitiesathomeandintheoffice.Inyour officeactivitiesyouaredetached,andso longasyoudoyourdutyyoudonotcare whathappens,orwhetheritresultsingain orlosstotheemployer.Butyourdutiesat homeareperformedwithattachmentand youareallthetimeanxiousastowhether theywillbringadvantageordisadvantageto youandyourfamily.Itispossibleto performalltheactivitiesoflifewith detachmentandregardonlytheSelfasreal. Itiswrongtosupposethatifoneisfixedin theSelf,one'sdutiesinlifewillnotbe performedproperly.Itislikeanactor.He dresses,actsandevenfeelsthepartheis playing,butheknowsthatheisreallynot thatcharacterbutsomeoneelseinreallife. Inthesameway,whyshouldthebody consciousnessorthefeelingÌamthebody' disturbyouonceyouknowforcertainthat youarenotthebodybuttheSelf.Nothing thatthebodydoesshouldshakeyoufrom abidanceintheSelf.Suchabidancewill neverinterferewiththeproperandeffective dischargeofwhateverdutiesthebodyhas,
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
anymorethantheactor'sbeingawareofhis realstatusinlifeinterfereswithhisactinga partonthestage. Renunciationisalwaysinthemind,notin goingtotheforestorsolitaryplaces,or givingupone'sduties.Themainthingisto seethattheminddoesnotturnoutwardbut inward.

38 Page
Itdoesnotreallyrestwithamanwhetherhe goestothisplaceorthat,orwhetherhe givesuphisdutiesornot.Allthathappens accordingtodestiny. Alltheactivitiesthatthebodyistogo througharedeterminedwhenitfirstcomes intoexistence.Itdoesnotrestwithyouto acceptorrejectthem.Theonlyfreedomyou haveistoturnyourmindinwardand renounceactivitiesthere.Nobodycansay whythatfreedomaloneandnoother freedomislefttoman.ThatistheDivine scheme. Givingupactivitiesmeansgivingup attachmenttoactivitiesorthefruitsthereof, givingupthenotionÌamthedoer'.The activitieswhichthisbodyisdestinedto performwillhavetobegonethrough.There isnoquestionofgivingupsuchactivities, whetheronelikesitornot. IfoneremainsfixedintheSelf,theactivities willstillgoonandtheirsuccesswillnotbe affected.Oneshouldnothavetheideathat oneisthedoer.Theactivitieswillstillgoon. Thatforce,bywhatevernameyoucallit, whichbroughtthebodyintoexistencewill seetoitthattheactivitieswhichthisbodyis meanttogothrougharebroughtabout.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Ifthepassionsaresomethingexternaltous, wecantakearmsandammunitionand conquerthem.Theyallcomefromwithin us.Ifbylookingintothesourcewhencethey come,wepreventtheircomingupandwe shallconquerthem.Itistheworldandthe objectsinitthatarouseourpassions.But theworldandtheseobjectsareonlycreated byourmind.Theydonotexistduringour deepsleep. Thefactisthatanyamountofactioncanbe performed,andperformedquitewellbythe Jnani,withoutHisidentifyingHimselfwith itinanyway,oreverimaginingthatHeis thedoer.SomepoweractsthroughHisbody andusesHisbodytogettheworkdone.
39 Page
Referred Resources: OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: Jnani: (Chapter 12: XII Jnani destiny: (Chapter 11: XI Fate and Freewill
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 9.IX Heart Next: 11.XI Fate and Freewill Glossary
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
4/4
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 10.X Renunciation Next: 12.XII Jnani Glossary
XI FATEANDFREEWILL
FREEWILLANDDESTINYAREEVER EXISTENT.Destinyistheresultofpast action;itconcernsthebody.Letthebody actasmaysuitit.Whyareyouconcerned aboutit?Whydoyoupayattentiontoit? Freewillanddestinylastaslongasthebody lasts.Butjnana[?]transcendsboth.TheSelf isbeyondknowledgeandignorance. Whateverhappens,happensastheresultof one'spastactions,ofdivinewillandofother factors. Thereareonlytwowaystoconquerdestiny orbeindependentofit.Oneistoenquirefor whomisthisdestiny,anddiscoverthatonly theegoisboundbydestinyandnottheSelf, andthattheegoisnonexistent. Theotherwayistokilltheegoby completelysurrenderingtotheLord,by realizingone'shelplessnessandsayingall thetime,`NotI,butThouOhLord'and givingupallsenseofÌ'and`mine',and leavingittotheLordtodowhathelikes withyou.Completeeffacementoftheegois necessarytoconquerdestiny,whetheryou achievethiseffacementthroughSelf enquiryorbhakti[?]marga(pathof devotion). Everythingispredetermined.Butamanis alwaysfreenottoidentifyhimselfwiththe body,andnottobeaffectedbythepleasures orpainsconsequentonthebody'sactivities.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Thosealonewhohavenoknowledgeofthe Sourcewhencefateandfreewillarise,will disputewhichofthemcanconquerthe other.ThosewhohaverealizedtheirSelf, whichisthe

40
Page
Sourceofbothfateandfreewillhaveleft suchdisputesbehind,andwillhavenothing moretodowiththem. Successandfailureareduetoprarabdha karma[?],andnottowillpowerorthelackof it.Oneshouldtrytogainequipoiseofmind underallcircumstances.Thatiswillpower.

41 Page
Referred Resources: OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: prarabdha: (Chapter 116: Prarabdha (Fate) Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems:
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 10.X Renunciation Next: 12.XII Jnani Glossary
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
2/2
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 11.XI Fate and Freewill Next: 13.XIII Miscellaneous Glossary
XII JNANI
AJNANIHASATTAINEDLIBERATION EVENWHILEalive,hereandnow.Itis immaterialtoHimastohow,whereand whenHeleavesthebody.SomeJnanismay appeartosuffer,othersmaybeinsamadhi; stillothersmaydisappearfromsightbefore death.Butthatmakesnodifferencetotheir jnana[?].Suchsufferingisonlyapparent, seemingrealtotheonlooker,butnotfeltby theJnani,forHehasalreadytranscended themistakenidentityoftheSelfwiththe body. TheJnanidoesnotthinkHeisthebody.He doesnotevenseethebody.Heseesonlythe Selfinthebody.Ifthebodyisnotthere,but onlytheSelf,thequestionofits disappearinginanyformdoesnotarise. Inbooks,itismentionedthatthegreatest maladywehaveisthebody,theTY?S?n (bhavanoydiseaseofbirth),andifone takesmedicinetostrengthenandprolongits life,itislikeamantakingmedicineto perpetuatehisdisease.ASanskritversein CantoXIoftheBhagavatasaysthebodyis notreal(impermanent).Whetheritisat rest,ormovesabout,andwhetherbyreason ofprarabdhaitclingstoHimorfallsoff fromHim,theSelfRealizedSiddhaisnot awareofit,evenasthedrunkenman blindedbyintoxicationisunawarewhether hisclothisonhisbodyornot.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Illustrationsaregiveninthebooksastohow aJnaniwhoisinthesahajastateandwho alwaysseesonlytheSelf,can

42
Page
moveaboutandliveintheworldlike everyoneelse.Forinstance,youseea reflectioninthemirror,youknowthe mirrortobetherealityandthepictureinit amerereflection.Inordertoseethemirror, isitnecessarythatoneshouldceasetosee thereflectioninit? Oragaintakethescreenillustration:There isascreen.Onthatscreenfirstappearsthe figureofaking.Hesitsonathrone.Then beforehiminthatsamescreenaplaybegins withvariousfiguresandobjectsandthe kingonthescreenwatchestheplayonthe samescreen.Theseerandtheseenaremere shadowsonthescreen,whichistheonly realitysupportingthesepictures.Inthe worldalso,theseerandtheseentogether constitutethemindandthemindis supportedby,orbasedon,theSelf. Youareundertheimpressionyouarethe body.SoyouthinktheJnanialsohasa body.DoestheJnanisayHehasabody?He maylooktoyouashavingabodyanddoing thingswiththebodyasothersdo.Theburnt ropestilllookslikearopebutitcannotserve asaropeifyoutrytobindanythingwithit. Aslongasoneidentifiesoneselfwiththe body,allthisisdifficulttounderstand. Examineallthedifferentkindsofstates. TakeholdofthatStatewhichaloneisthe SupremeandTrueOneandengageyourself inactionintheworld,regardingyourlife thereasmeresport.Youhavediscovered ThatwhichistheRealityinsideyourHeart behindalltheappearancesofthisworld.So, withouteverlettingThatoutofyoursight,
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
disportyourselfasyoulikeintheworld. Seemingtohaveenthusiasmand gratification,anxietiesandaversions(but reallyhavingnoneofthem),seemingto beginandpersevereinendeavours(but reallyhavingnoattachmenttosuchefforts), engageyourselfintheaffairsoftheworld withoutanydetrimenttoyourself.

43 Page
Freeingyourselffromallsortsofbonds, maintainingthesameequanimityanddoing workexternallyinconformitywiththe environmentinwhichyoufindyourself, disportyourselfasyoulikeintheworld. Hewhosemindisnotattachedtoany desires,doesnoactioninreality,thoughhis bodymayact.Heislikeonewhohearsa storywithhismindelsewhere.Similarly,the manwhosemindisfullofdesiresisreally actingthoughhisbodymaybeactionless.A manmaybesleepingherewithhisbody inert,andyethemaybeclimbinghillsand fallingfromthemindreamatthesame time. Itisallthesametoonewhoisfastasleepin acart,whetherthecartmovesorstops,with thebullsleftyokedorunyoked.Similarlyfor theJnaniwhohasgonetosleepinthecart ofHisphysicalbody,itdoesnotmatter whetherHeworksorisindeepmeditation (samadhi),orisasleep. ThestatementthattheJnaniretains prarabdhawhilefreefromsanchitaand agamyakarmas1isonlyaformalanswerto thequestionsoftheignorant.Ofseveral wivesnoneescapeswidowhoodwhenthe husbanddies;evenso,whenthedoergoes allthreekarmasvanish.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
ThenonactionoftheSageisreally unceasingactivity. Hischaracteristiciseternalandintense activity.Hisstillnessisliketheapparent stillnessofaveryfastrotatingtop.Its extremespeedcannotbefollowedbytheeye andsoitappearstobestill.Thismustbe explained,aspeoplegenerallymistakethe stillnessoftheSageforinertness.
Thethreekindsofkarmasare:prarabdha,beingthat
portionofone'spastkarma[?]tobeworkedoutinthe presentbody;sanchitabeingtheoutstandingbalanceof pastkarma[?],andagamyabeingthekarma[?]that willbearfruitinfuturebirths.
44
Page
Referred Resources: OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: prarabdha: (Chapter 116: Prarabdha (Fate) Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: destiny: (Chapter 11: XI Fate and Freewill
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 11.XI Fate and Freewill Next: 13.XIII Miscellaneous Glossary
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
4/4
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 12.XII Jnani Next: TOC Glossary
XIII MISCELLANEOUS
NOONECANBEOUTOFSIGHTOFTHE SUPREMEPresence.Sinceyouidentifyone bodywithBhagavanandanotherbodywith yourself,youfindtwoseparateentitiesand speakofgoingawayfromhere.Wherever youmaybe,youcannotleaveme. SriRamakrishnaissaidtohaveseenlifein theimageofKalithatheworshipped.That lifewasperceivedbyhim,notbyall.The vitalforcewasduetohimself.Itwashisown vitalforcewhichmanifestedasifitwere outsideanddrewhimin.Weretheimage reallyaliveitmusthaveappearedsotoall. Ontheotherhand,everythingisfulloflife. Thatisthefact.Manydevoteeshavehad experiencessimilartoSriRamakrishna. ChrististheegoandtheCross,thebody. Whentheegoiscrucifiedanditperishes, whatsurvivesistheAbsoluteBeing(God); cf..,ÌandmyFatherareone.'Thisglorious survivaliscalledtheResurrection.Godthe FatherrepresentsIsvara,theSonisthe Guru,andtheHolyGhostistheAtman. TheBiblesays,`BestillandknowthatIam God,'Psalm46.FoundintheEcclesiastics: `Thereisonealoneandthereisnosecond' and`Thewiseman'sheartisattheright handandafool'sheartisattheleft'. Nothoughtwillgoinvain.Everythought willproduceitseffectsometimeorother.
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
Thoughtforcewillnevergoinvain.
45 Page
Somehavemaintainedthatthebodycanbe madeimmortalandtheygiverecipes, medicalorother,forperfectingthisbody andmakingitdefydeath.TheSiddha School(asitisknownintheSouth)has believedinsuchadoctrine.VenkasamiRao inKumbakonamstartedaschoolwhich believedthesame.Thereisasocietyin Pondicherytoo.Thereisalsotheschool whichbelievesintransformingmeninto supermenbydescentofDivinePower.But allthepeople,afterwritinglongtreatiseson theindestructibilityoftheirbodies,after givingmedicalandyogicrecipestoperfect thebodyandkeepitaliveforever,passaway oneday. NameofGodandGodarenotdifferent.The Biblealsohasit:Ìnthebeginningwasthe WordandtheWordwaswithGodandthe WordwasGod.' InthenameRama,`Ra'standsfortheSelf, and`ma'fortheego.Asonegoeson repeating`Rama',`Rama',the`ma' disappears,gettingmergedinthe`Ra'and then`Ra'aloneremains.Inthatstatethere isnoconsciouseffortatdhyana[?],but dhyana[?]isalwaysthere,fordhyana[?]is ourrealnature. Theyogimaybedefinitelyaimingatrousing theKundalini (theSerpentpower)andsendingitupthe sushumna(yogicnerve).TheJnanimaynot havethisasHisobject,butbothachievethe sameresult,thatofsendingthelifeforceup thesushumnaandseveringthe chitjadagranthi(theknotbindingthe sentientandtheinert).Kundaliniisanother
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
nameforAtmaorSelf,orSakti.Wetalkof itasbeinginsidethebodybecausewe conceiveourselvesaslimitedtothebody. Butitisinrealitybothinsideandoutside, beingnootherthantheSelf,orSakti.Inthe jnanamarga[?],whenbySelfenquirythe mindismergedintheSelf,theSelf,itsSakti orKundalinirisesautomatically. IfpeaceofmindistrueMuktiorLiberation, howcanthosewhosemindsareseton siddhis(miraculouspowers),which
46
Page
cannotbeattainedexceptwiththehelpand activityofthemind,attainMukti,whereall turmoilofthemindceases? Avoiddesireandaversion.Donotengage themindmuchintheaffairsoftheworld. Asfaraspossibledonotgetentangledinthe affairsofothers.Givingtoothersisreally givingtooneself.Ifoneknowsthistruth, wouldoneeverremainwithoutgiving? Ifegorises,allwillrise.Iftheegomerges,all willmerge. Themorewearehumble,thebetteritisfor us. Thebestandmostpotentdiksha(initiation) isbysilence,whichwaspractisedbyLord Dakshinamurti.Thosebytouch,look,etc. areofalowerorder.Mounacanchangeall hearts. Bhagavan,whenaskedbyadevoteewhether heshouldcontinuetakingthenameofGod asadvisedbyhislateGuru,orchangeover tovichara[?](enquiry),referredthedevotee toanarticleinVisionofSeptember1937,on the`PhilosophyoftheDivineName accordingtoSaintNamDev',inwhichitis
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
explainedthatGodandGod'sNameareall thesame. Thesunilluminestheuniverse,whereasthe SunofArunachalaissodazzling,thatinIt theuniverseisnotseen;thereremainsonly anunbrokenbrilliance. Itisnottruethatbirthasamanis necessarilythehighest,thatonemustattain SelfRealizationwhileonlybeingaman. EvenananimalcanattainSelfRealization. Thereisnoneedforanyonetostart reformingthecountryorthenationbefore reforminghimself.Eachman'sfirstdutyis torealizehisTrueNature.Ifafterdoingthis hefeelslikereformingthecountryornation, byallmeanslethimtakeupsuchreform. SwamiRamTirthaadvertised:`Wanted Reformersbutreformerswhowillreform themselvesfirst'.Notwopersonsinthe worldcanbealikeorcanactalike.External differencesareboundtopersist,however hardwe
47
Page
maytrytoeliminatethem.Theonlysolution isforeachmantorealizehisTrueNature. TheBrihadaranyakaUpanishadsays Àham'isthefirstnameofGod.Thefirst letterinSanskritisÀ'andthelastletter `Ha'andÀha'thusincludeseverything fromthebeginningtotheend.Theword AyammeansThatwhichexists,selfshining andselfevident.Ayam,Atma,Ahamall refertothesamething.IntheBiblealso,Ì AM'isgivenasthefirstnameofGod. Ifweconcentrateonanythoughtandgoto sleepinthatstate,immediatelyonwaking upthesamethoughtwillcontinueinour minds.Peoplewhoaregivenchloroformare
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
askedtocountone,two,etc.Amanwho goesunderaftersayingsix,forinstance, will,whenhecomesroundagain,start sayingseven,eight,etc. WhenIlaydownwithlimbsoutstretched andmentallyenactedthedeathscene,and realizedthatthebodywouldbetakenand crematedandyetIwouldlive,someforce, callitatmicpoweroranythingelse,rose withinmeandtookpossessionofme.With thatIwasrebornandIbecameanewman. Ibecameindifferenttoeverything afterwards,havingneitherlikesnordislikes. Fromsilencecamethought,fromthought theego,andfromegospeech.So,ifspeech iseffective,howmuchmoresomustbeits source? Karpuraarathi(burningcamphorbefore God)issymbolicofburningawaythemind bythelightofillumination.Vibhuti(sacred ash)isSiva(AbsoluteBeing)andkumkum (vermillionpowder)isSakti(consciousness) . ThepuranasspeakofthisHill(Arunachala) asbeinghollow,withcitiesandstreets insideit.Ihavealsoseensuchthingsin visions.ThebooksspeakoftheHeartasa cavity.
48 Page
Butpenetrationintoitprovesittobean expanseoflight.SimilarlytheHillisoneof light.Thecaves,etc.arecoveredupwith thatlight. Themeansprescribedforsecuringthe spiritualend,suchascharity,penance, sacrifice,dharma[?](virtuousconduct), yoga,bhakti[?](devotion)andtheenditself

7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
describedvariouslyasHeaven,theSupreme Object,Peace,Truth,Grace,theQuiescent State,DeathlessDeath,TrueKnowledge, renunciation,Moksha(Liberation)andBliss areallnothingbutbeingfreefromthe obsessionthatthebodyistheSelf. Giveupregardingyourselfasthisdespicable bodyandrealizeyourRealNature,whichis oneofEternalBliss.Seekingtoknowthyself whilestillanxiousaboutthewelfareofthe body,islikeattemptingtocrossastream withtheaidofacrocodileforaraft. NotdesiringthenonSelfisdispassion (vairagya[?]).InheringintheSelfisJnana. Botharethesame.
49 Page
Referred Resources: OTHER LINKS: Links to letters: Kundalini: (Chapter 218: Kundalini Sakti Chinmaya Deha Links to rl: Links to sp: Links to gems: Liberation: (Chapter 8: VIII Self-Realization renunciation: (Chapter 10: X Renunciation Jnani: (Chapter 12: XII Jnani Self-Realization: (Chapter 8: VIII Self-Realization
Gems from Bhagavan

Previous: 12.XII Jnani Next: TOC Glossary
Google Search
onlysearchthissite
7/16/12
Gems from Bhagavan
7/7

Gems From Bhagavan

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Direitos autorais

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Gems From Bhagavan

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

7/16/12

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

howIplease.Isit notbondage?Onemustbefreetodoasone pleasesandshould notbeservedbyothers.`Nowant'isthe greatestbliss.Itcan berealizedonlybyexperience.Evenan emperorisnomatch foramanwithnowants.

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

II THESELFANDNON SELF: THEREALITYANDTHE WORLD

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Youseeotherssufferingfromhunger.You feedyourself,and movedbypityfeedtheotherswhomyou findsufferingfrom hunger.Solongasthedreamlasted,all thosepainswereas realasyounowthinkthepainintheworld tobe.Itwasonly whenyouwokeupthatyoudiscoveredthat

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Theyareinstructive: 1.Whatismaya[?]?Theansweris:Itis anirvachaniyaorindescribable. 2.Towhomdoesitcome?Theansweris:To themindoregowhofeelsthatheisa separateentity,whothinks`Ido this'or`Thisismine'.

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

bythefivesenses.Asallareperceivedbythe mindthrough thesefivesenses,theworldisnothingbut themind.Istherea worldapartfromthemind? Thoughtheworldandconsciousnessemerge anddisappeartogether,theworldshinesor isperceivedonlythrough

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

illumination.Itilluminatesitself,thestage andtheactors.We seethestageandtheactorsbyitslight,but thelightstill continueswhenthereisnomoreplay. Anotherillustrationis anironrodthatiscomparedtothemind. Firejoinsitandit becomesredhot.Likefire,itglowsandcan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Realitybeingyourself,thereisnothingfor youtorealize. Allregardtheunrealasreal.Whatis requiredisthatyougive upregardingtheunrealasreal.Theobject ofallmeditation (dhyana[?])orjapaisonlythat,togiveup allthoughtsregarding

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

willleadtocompletesurrender.Well,if surrenderisimpossible whatcanbedone?Thereisnopeaceof mind.Youarehelpless tobringitabout.Itcanbedoneonlyby surrender. D:Partialsurrenderwell,canitundo destiny? B:Ohyes,itcan.

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

VI THETHREESTATES: WAKING, DREAMANDSLEEP

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Rationalistslaughatit,andatheistsscorn it,butitexists. ItisadescentofGodintothesoul'szoneof awareness.It isavisitationofforceunexpectedand unpredictable.Itis avoicespokenoutofcosmicsilenceItis `CosmicWill

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan

Gems from Bhagavan