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
Speaking of Self-realizatio n is a delusion. It is only because people have been under the delusion that the non-Self is the Self and the unreal the Real that they have to be weaned out of it by the other delusion called Self-realizatio n; because actually the Self always is the Self and there is no such thing as realizing it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that the pursuit of self-realization is misguided, as the Self is always present and does not need to be realized.
Ramana Maharshi emphasizes that self-realization is a concept built on a fundamental misunderstanding: people confuse their true Self with their perceived identity. He argues that instead of striving to realize what is already inherently true, individuals are caught in a cycle of delusions that distract them from recognizing the Self's constant presence.
Themes
Self-RealizationSelfDelusionPhilosophyIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing the nature of self and identity.
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
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
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.
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