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Realization consists of getting rid of the false idea that one is not realized.
Ramana Maharshi
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Realization involves acknowledging and shedding false beliefs about one's state of awareness or enlightenment.

This quote by Ramana Maharshi suggests that enlightenment, or realization, is often obstructed by our own misguided beliefs about ourselves. The 'false idea' refers to the misconceptions and self-doubt that prevent us from seeing our true nature, and to achieve true understanding, one must discard these illusions.

Themes

RealizationEnlightenmentAwarenessSelf-DiscoveryPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

During a mindfulness seminar to emphasize the importance of shedding false beliefs.

More from Ramana Maharshi

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.
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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.
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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.
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You need not aspire for or get any new state. Get rid of your present thoughts, that is all.
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Realisation is not acquisition of anything new nor is it a new faculty. It is only removal of all camouflage
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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.
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