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
If you are vigilant and make a stern effort to reject every thought when it rises, you will soon find that you are going deeper and deeper into your own inner self, where there is no need for your effort to reject the thoughts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and self-awareness in overcoming distracting thoughts to achieve inner peace.
Ramana Maharshi's quote speaks to the process of self-examination and mental discipline. It suggests that by being vigilant and actively rejecting unhelpful thoughts, an individual can cultivate a deeper understanding of their true self. Over time, this practice leads to a state of inner calm where such efforts become unnecessary, as a natural sense of peace and clarity emerges from within.
Themes
MindfulnessSelf-AwarenessInner PeaceThoughtsMeditation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be referenced during a meditation workshop to encourage participants to let go of distracting thoughts.
More from Ramana Maharshi
All quotes βThink 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.
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
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