The Self Draws us to It

"The Self is like a powerful hidden magnet within us. It draws us gradually to itself, though we imagine we are going to It of our own accord. When we are near enough, it puts an end to our activities, makes us still, and then swallows up our personal current, thus killing our personality. It overwhelms the intellect and over floods the whole being. We think we are meditating upon it and developing towards it, whereas the truth is that we are as iron filings and It is the Atman-magnet that is pulling us towards itself. Thus the process of finding Self is a form of Divine Magnetism."

-Ramana Maharshi, quoted in Paul Brunton's Conscious Immortality

To Be Meditated Upon

"It is only of the nature of pure Consciousness free from things perceived, boundless, undecaying, blissful, devoid of beginning, middle and end, existing from eternity and without taint."

-The Essence of Yogavaasishtha, 3.35

Like a Dry Leaf in the Wind....

 'The path of the Vedantic discipline is the path of negation, "neti", in which, by stern determination, all that is unreal is both negated and renounced. It is the path of jnana, knowledge, the direct method of realizing the Absolute. After the negation of everything relative, including the discriminating ego itself, the aspirant merges in the One without a Second, in the bliss of nirvikalpa samadhi, where subject and object are alike dissolved. The soul goes beyond the realm of thought. The domain of duality is transcended. Maya is left behind with all its changes and modifications. The Real Man towers above the delusions of creation, preservation, and destruction. An avalanche of indescribable Bliss sweeps away all relative ideas of pain and pleasure, good and evil. There shines in the heart the glory of the Eternal Brahman, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. Knower, knowledge, and known are dissolved in the Ocean of one eternal Consciousness; love, lover, and beloved merge in the unbounded Sea of supreme Felicity; birth, growth, and death vanish in infinite Existence. All doubts and misgivings are quelled for ever; the oscillations of the mind are stopped; the momentum of past actions is exhausted. Breaking down the ridge-pole of the tabernacle in which the soul has made its abode for untold ages, stilling the body, calming the mind, drowning the ego, the sweet joy of Brahman wells up in that superconscious state. Space disappears into nothingness, time is swallowed in eternity, and causation becomes a dream of the past. Only Existence is. Ah! Who can describe what the soul then feels in its communion with the Self?

'Even when man descends from this dizzy height, he is devoid of ideas of "I" and "mine"; he looks on the body as a mere shadow, an outer sheath encasing the soul. He does not dwell on the past, takes no thought for the future, and looks with indifference on the present. He surveys everything in the world with an eye of equality; he is no longer touched by the infinite variety of phenomena; he no longer reacts to pleasure and pain. He remains unmoved whether he — that is to say, his body — is worshipped by the good or tormented by the wicked; for he realizes that it is the one Brahman that manifests Itself through everything. The impact of such an experience devastates the body and mind. Consciousness becomes blasted, as it were, with an excess of Light. In the Vedanta books it is said that after the experience of nirvikalpa samadhi the body drops off like a dry leaf. Only those who are born with a special mission for the world can return from this height to the valleys of normal life. They live and move in the world for the welfare of mankind. They are invested with a supreme spiritual power. A divine glory shines through them.'

-The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

The Divine Life

 "A wish expressed in mental language is a thought. If there are no wishes, no thoughts arise nor can wishes ever germinate when thoughts have stopped their flow. Renounce all your desires and your thoughts cease. Arrest your flow of thoughts by bringing your attention to the single idea of your goal. With either method the mind can be annihilated. The life lived in pursuit of this total annihilation of the mind is the divine life."

-Swami Chinmayananda, Meditation and Life

Hell is Other People

"The effect of life in society is to complicate and confuse our existence, making us forget who we really are by causing us to become obsessed with what we are not."

-Zhuangzi (also known as Zhuang Zhou)

 

Vasana

 

"Even after the Truth has been realised, there remains that strong, obstinate impression that one is still an ego - the agent and experiencer. This has to be carefully removed by living in a state of constant identification with the supreme non-dual Self. Full Awakening is the eventual ceasing of all the mental impressions of being an ego."

-Adi Shankaracharya (see verse 267 of Vivekachudamani)

 

It's You!

 

"You are awareness. Awareness is another name for you. Since you are awareness there is no need to attain or cultivate it. All that you have to do is to give up being aware of other things, that is of the not-Self. If one gives up being aware of them then pure awareness alone remains, and that is the Self."

-Ramana Maharshi

He Who Knows, Knows Not

"Only two kinds of people can attain self-knowledge: those who are not encumbered at all with learning, that is to say, whose minds are not over-crowded with thoughts borrowed from others; and those who, after studying all the scriptures and sciences, have come to realise that they know nothing."

-Sri Ramakrishna

Real Worship

"Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go not to the temple to light candles before the altar of God, first remove the darkness of sin from your heart. Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer, first learn to bow in humility before your fellow men. Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees, first bend down to lift someone who is down trodden. Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your sins, first forgive from your heart those who have sinned against you."

-Rabindranath Tagore

 

Eternal Freedom

 “You must want to be free. It must become first with you before anything else. Everything that you’ve done all your life, is only a game, a game you’re playing with your self, only it seems to be real. The only reality is the Self and you are That. Why look for anything else? Everything else will take care of itself. You’ve got to abide in the Self, just in the Self. Everything else will take care of itself in a beautiful way. You are boundless space, like the ocean, like the sky, all-pervasive. This is your real nature. But for some reason you believe you are a body, confined to a small space. This is not you. It’s illusion. You are all-pervading absolute reality. This is your true nature. This is who you really are.

"Just by thinking about these things all the time, something begins to happen to you, something wonderful. Do not think about the weather, or about the day’s work or your problems. For all the thinkers, who thinks? Find out who has the problems? Find out who you really are, who am I? It’s up to you to awaken from this mortal dream. You can keep on going like you are right now, with the good things and the bad things. Yet you live in a universe of dualities, which means for every good there is a bad. For every bad there is a good. It’s a false world in which you live. You need to awaken to this truth.

"Be aware of yourself, always. The world goes through its own karma. It has absolutely nothing to do with you. You belong to God. Everything you see is God. This is why you should be nonjudgemental. Leave everything alone. By practising these things, you become radiantly happy. Everyone wants something. If your mind stops thinking, what happens? Some of you believe you will not have anything, that you will have more problems. But it’s in reverse. You experience bliss, joy and happiness when you don’t want anything. From what we know, people want something and when they get it, they become more miserable than ever before.

"Nothing is wrong. Everything is right just the way it is. Do not try to understand this or figure it out. Leave it alone. It will happen by itself, by keeping yourself quiet and still. You quiet the mind because of realization. Let it be calm. In all situations be calm. Let it be still and quiet. The world doesn’t need any help from you. Aren’t you the world, aren’t you the Creator? You created the world the way it is. It came out of you, of your mind. The world that you are in, is a creation of your own mind. When the mind becomes still, the world begins to disappear. And you’re in divine harmony and joy. Therefore, happiness comes to you when you stop thinking, when you stop judging, when you stop being afraid. When you begin to contemplate what is happiness. All the answers are within you. Everything you’re looking for is within you, everything.

"Nobody can help but your Self. Know who you are. You are the power. All the power of the universe is within you. You have all the power you need. All is well, exceedingly well. It has always been well, it will always be well. When you leave here today act like a god or a goddess. Do not act like a human being any longer. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, saying you’re unhappy. Stand up tall. Know the truth about yourself. Become the witness of all phenomena that you see and be free. Peace.” 

― Robert Adams, Silence of the Heart: Dialogues with Robert Adams

Free Here Now

 

"We are ever free if we would only believe it, only have faith enough. You are the soul, free and eternal, ever free, ever blessed. Have faith enough and you will be free in a minute."

-Swami Vivekananda

Nirvana Shatakam

Atma / Nirvana Shatakam

The Song (6 verses) of the Self by Adi Shankara 788-820 CE

Mano Buddhi Ahankaara Chittaani naaham

Naa cha Shrotra Jihve Naa cha Ghraana Netre

Naa cha Vyoma Bhoomir Naa Tejo Naa Vaayu

Chidaananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

Naa Cha Praana Samjno Naa Vai Pancha Vayu

Naa Va Saptadhaatur Naa Va Pancha Koshah

Naa Vaak Paani Padau Naa Chopastha Paayu

Chidaananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

Naa Me Dvesha Raagau Naa Me Lobha Mohau

Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya Bhaavah

Naa Dharmo Naa Chaartho Naa Kaamo Naa Mokshah

Chidaananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

Naa Punyam Naa Papam Naa Saukhyam Naa Dukham

Naa Mantro Naa Teertho Naa Veda Naa Yajnaaha

Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Naa Bhokta

Chidaananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

Naa Me Mrityu Shanka Naa Me Jati Bhedah

Pitaa Naiva Me Naiva Maata Naa Janma

Naa Bandhur Naa Mitram Gurur Naiva Shishyah

Chidaananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

Aham Nirvikalpo Niraakara Roopaha

Vibhur Vyaapya Sarvatra Sarvendriyaanam

Sadaa Me Samatvam Naa Muktir Naa Bandhah

Chidaananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

1) I am not mind, nor intellect, nor ego,  nor thought.

Nor am I ears, tongue, nose or eyes.

I am not the ether, nor the earth,  nor the fire, nor the wind (the five elements). 

Formed of blissful awareness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

 

2) Neither can I be termed as life-energy (prana), nor five types of life-wind (vayus),

nor the seven material essences, nor the five coverings (pancha-kosha).  

Neither am I the five instruments of elimination,  procreation, motion, grasping, or speaking. 

Formed of blissful awareness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

 

3) I have no hatred or dislike, nor affiliation or liking, nor greed, nor delusion, nor pride or haughtiness,  nor feelings of envy or jealousy. 

I have no duty (dharma), nor any money,nor any desire (kama),  nor even liberation (moksha). 

Formed of blissful awareness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

 

4) I have neither merit (virtue),  nor demerit (vice). 

I do not commit sins or good deeds, nor have happiness or sorrow,  pain or pleasure. 

I do not need mantras, holy places,  scriptures (Vedas), rituals or sacrifices (yagnas). 

I am not the food, nor the eating, nor the eater (experienced, ecperience, experiencer) 

Formed of blissful awareness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

 

5) I do not have fear of death, as I do not have death.

I have no separation from my true self,  no doubt about my existence, nor have I discrimination on the basis of birth.

I have no father or mother, nor did I have a birth. 

I am not the relative, nor the friend,  nor the guru, nor the disciple. 

Formed of blissful awareness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

 

6) I am all pervasive.  I am without any attributes, and without any form. 

I have neither attachment to the world,  nor to liberation (mukti). 

I have no wishes for anything  because I am everything, everywhere, every time, always in equilibrium. 

Formed of blissful awareness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

 

 

Self-Inquiry

 

"The question 'Who am I?' is not really meant to get an answer, the question 'Who am I?' is meant to dissolve the questioner."

-Ramana Maharshi

Mithya (Illusion)

 "Once you realize that the world is your own projection, you are free of it. You need not free yourself of a world that does not exist, except in your own imagination! However is the picture, beautiful or ugly, you are painting it and you are not bound by it. Realize that there is nobody to force it on you, that it is due to the habit of taking the imaginary to be real. See the imaginary as imaginary and be free of fear."

-Nisargadatta Maharaj

The Crest-Jewel of Discrimination

"By whom everything is understood, but who is understood by none, that is the Atman [Self], the knower of all, known only by keen understanding - pure intellect.

"You become the witness of that which you see. When there is nothing to be seen, the concept of a witness becomes irrelevant.

But of one who can never be comprehended - who can be the witness of that/ Therefore, the Atman is the witness of Himself, because He knows Himself."

-Adi Shankaracharya, Viveka Chudamani

Join us for our upcoming course on this seminal text.

Why Can't I See the Self?

Question: You say that everything is the Self, even māyā. If this is so, why can't I see the Self clearly? Why is it hidden from me?

Annamali Swami: Because you are looking in the wrong direction. You have the idea that the Self is something that you see or experience. This is not so. The Self is the awareness or the consciousness in which the seeing and the experiencing take place.

Even if you don't see the Self, the Self is still there. Bhagavan [Ramana Maharshi] sometimes remarked humorously: “People just open a newspaper and glance through it. Then they say, ‘I have seen the paper.’ But really they haven't seen the paper, they have only seen the letters and pictures that are on it. There can be no words or pictures without the paper, but people always forget the paper while they are reading the words.”

Bhagavan would then use this analogy to show that while people see the names and forms that appear on the screen of consciousness, they ignore the screen itself. With this kind of partial vision it is easy to come to the conclusion that all forms are unconnected with each other and separate from the person who sees them. If people were to be aware of the consciousness instead of the forms that appear in it, they would realize that all forms are just appearances which manifest within the one indivisible consciousness.

That consciousness is the Self that you are looking for. You can be that consciousness but you can never see it because it is not something that is separate from you. 🕉

The Truth Shall Set You Free

 

“It is always the false that makes you suffer, the false desires and fears, the false values and ideas, the false relationships between people. Abandon the false and you are free of pain; truth makes happy, truth liberates.” 

― Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Bonus Quote

"When you know once with absolute certainty

that nothing can bring you in trouble

except your own imagination, desires, fears,

concepts and ideas are no longer binding

and you will only live with the truth."

― Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj 

Pratibimba (Reflection)

 

“Once we become conscious, even dimly, of the Atman, the Reality within us, the world takes on a very different aspect. It is no longer a court of justice but a kind of gymnasium. Good and evil, pain and pleasure, still exist, but they seem more like the ropes and vaulting-horses and parallel bars which can be used to make our bodies strong. Maya is no longer an endlessly revolving wheel of pain and pleasure but a ladder which can be climbed to consciousness of the Reality.” 

― Adi Shankaracarya, Vivekachudamani

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The Power of Now

"To forget oneself totally, one’s mind should keep awake at every moment. A mind that has forgotten the past and the future, that is awake to the now, to the present, expresses the highest concentration of intelligence. It is alert, it is watchful, it is inspired. The actions of a man who has such a mind are exceptionally creative and perfect. Verily to forget oneself totally, is to be in perfection."

—Swami Chinmayananda

Nil Desperandum

 

“There are pearls in the deep sea, but you must hazard all perils to get them. If you fail to get at them by a single dive, do not conclude that the sea is without them. Dive again and again, and you are sure to be rewarded in the end. So also in the quest for the Lord, if your first attempt to see Him proves fruitless, do not lose heart. Persevere in the attempt, and you are sure to realise Him at last.”

-Sri Ramakrishna

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