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
From where does this "I" arise? Seek for it within; it then vanishes. This is the pursuit of wisdom. When the mind unceasingly investigates its own nature, it transpires that there is no such thing as mind. This is the direct path for all. The mind is merely thoughts. Of all thoughts the thought "I" is the root.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote explores the nature of self and consciousness, suggesting that the pursuit of understanding the 'I' leads to the realization of its non-existence.
In this quote, Ramana Maharshi delves into the concept of self-awareness, prompting individuals to introspectively inquire into the origin of their sense of 'I'. He posits that this investigation reveals that the mind is essentially comprised of transient thoughts, with the notion of 'I' being the fundamental thought that underlines our perception of self. This journey towards understanding the essence of one's mind is portrayed as a path to wisdom, highlighting that by dissecting our thoughts, we can uncover deeper truths about our existence.
Themes
SelfWisdomMindThoughtNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a meditation class, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of self-inquiry.
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.
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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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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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