The mind resting in the self is its natural condition but instead of that our minds are resting in outward objects; Maharishi Ramana.

Comment;

I am not writing these posts for any of my individual purposes like fame or money but when I was doing my practice of ‘ self-inquiry. My mind melts in the self and I feel like an ocean of bliss in my heart. I want anybody to be able to feel that experience. I found Maharishi Ramana is the last Saint who can define it. That is why I used to post his words.

The meaning of Maharishi Ramana is that when our mind rests in the self by self-inquiry it is its natural state but instead of our minds are resting in outward objects and we become upset.

Grace is there all along. Grace is the self. It is not something to be acquired. All that is necessary is to know its existence. It is the same way the sun is pure brightness.it is there and shines and you are surrounded by sunlight; still, if you want to know the sun you must turn your eyes in the direction and look at it. Similarly, grace is only to be found by effort, although it is here and now.; Ramana Maharishi.

Comment; self is our real nature. It’s very simple but our minds remain occupied with worldly objects. That is why our minds live in tension. But when we empty our minds by observing our minds. Through the practice of self-inquiry, we touch the bliss. we have to look inside our thoughts.

The birth of a person and the death of a person appear real because one wrongly identifies himself with the body. However, the birth of the ‘I’ thought is a person’s birth and its death is its death. For it’s only after the ‘I’ thought has arisen. Then the wrong identification arises. Identifying yourself with the body makes you falsely identify with others and also with their bodies. But if you cease to identify yourself with the body and realize the true self, this confusion will vanish; Ramana Maharishi.

In deep sleep, man is devoid of possessions, including his own body . instead of being unhappy, he is happy. The conclusion is that happiness is inherent in man and not due to external causes.; Maharishi Ramana.

Comments; I have been using this method of self-inquiry for 35 years. according to your practice, you can achieve this stage of bliss. as I learned from my Guru St. Nikka Singh Ji. it is our real nature we have not to to find it, it is already there. but our minds used to go outside in-world objects. when our mind stays in the self, it is called (anter-mukha) or inwardness then gross names and forms disappear but when mind goes out then names and forms appear. to stay in the heart it is enough. That is Maharishi telling us that in deep sleep there are no possessions including his own body and instead of being unhappy, he is happy.The conclusion is that happiness is inherent in man and not due to external causes.

Introduction; This set of questions and answers has been asked by Sri M. Sivaprakasam Pilli about the year 1902. He was a graduate of Philosophy and was at that time employed in the Revenue department. On his official tour, we met Maharishi Ramana in Virupaksha Cave. He sought his spiritual guidance and solicited answers to questions relating to self-inquiry. Maharishi Ramana was in silence and answers were given by writing. There are 28 questions and answers in a little book ‘ who am I’

Question No. 4; when will the realization of the self be gained?

Answer; when the world which is what-is-seen has been removed, there will be the realization of the self which is the seer.

Question no,5; Will there not be realization of the self even while the world is there( taken as real).

Answer; There will not be).

Comments; when through self-inquiry mind is empty then you will find the experience of bliss, it is the meaning of Maharishi Ramana.

Question; Why?

Answer; The seer and the seen (object) are like the rope and the snake .just as the knowledge of the rope which is the substrate will not arise unless the false knowledge of the illusory serpent goes, so the realization of the self which is the substrate will not be gained unless the belief that the world is real is removed.

Grace is there always. But practice is also necessary. Staying in the Self by one’s effort is like training a roguish bull to remain confined to his stall by tempting him with luscious grass and preventing him from straying.; Ramana Maharishi.

Comment; we practice of awareness or self-inquiry then our mind goes outside. Because our mind is used to going outside due to our tendency of so many lives. So practice should be there.

Sometimes the experience of bliss happens but we should not stop there. Because it is a divine, eternal peace and astonishing experience. One can not believe that such happiness can happen in this life. Most people stop there. But this is not the final goal. We should not stop here up to the self-realization.

Effort is necessary up to the stage of realization. Even then the self should spontaneously become evidence. Otherwise, happiness would not be complete. Up to the state of spontaneity, there must be effort, in some form or other.; Ramana Maharishi.

Comment; The meaning of Ramana Maharishi is that when we practice of self -inquiry there will be an experience of bliss but it is not complete. We should not stop there should be more practice for the stage of liberation.