Like the practice of breath control, meditation on the forms of God, repetition of mantras, food restrictions, etc., are but aids for rendering the mind quiescent.
Ramana MaharshiRead
The mind of one meditating on a single object becomes one-pointed. And one-pointedness of mind leads to abidance in the self. Real attainment is to be fully conscious, to be aware of surroundings and the people around, to move among them all, but not to merge consciousness in the environment. One should remain in inner independent awareness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focusing the mind on a single object leads to deeper self-awareness and independence from external influences.
This quote emphasizes the importance of concentrating the mind on one object, allowing for a clearer understanding of the self. By achieving a state of one-pointedness, one can maintain a conscious awareness of their surroundings and engage with others, while simultaneously retaining an internal sense of autonomy and awareness that is not influenced by external distractions.
Themes
MeditationAwarenessSelfMindfulnessConcentration
In practice
Example use cases
During a mindfulness workshop, I shared this quote to emphasize the importance of focus.
More from Ramana Maharshi
All quotes →Think of God; attachments will gradually drop away. If you wait till all desires disappear before starting your devotion and prayer, you will have to wait for a very long time indeed.
Ramana MaharshiRead
You need not aspire for or get any new state. Get rid of your present thoughts, that is all.
Ramana MaharshiRead
Realisation is not acquisition of anything new nor is it a new faculty. It is only removal of all camouflage
Ramana MaharshiRead
Bliss is a thing which is always there and is not something which comes and goes. That which comes and goes is a creation of the mind.
Ramana MaharshiRead
The thing to do is to concentrate on the seer and not on the seen, not on the objects, but on the Light which reveals them.
Ramana MaharshiRead
Similar quotes
I think making mistakes and discovering them for yourself is of great value, but to have someone else to point out your mistakes is a shortcut of the process.
Shelby FooteRead
I have learned now that while those who speak about one's miseries usually hurt, those who keep silence hurt more.
C. S. LewisRead
This place where you are right now, God circled on a map for you.
HafezRead
If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope of advance.
Orville WrightRead
Self-awareness is not self-centeredness, and spirituality is not narcissism. 'Know thyself' is not a narcissistic pursuit.
Marianne WilliamsonRead
You need to remember that. If you’re to have decent lives, you have to know who you are and what lies ahead of you, every one of you.
Kazuo IshiguroRead