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Words can bring you only up to their own limit; to go beyond, you must abandon them. Remain as the silent witness only.
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Words are limited in conveying deeper truths; true understanding requires silence and presence.

This quote emphasizes the limitations of language in expressing profound realities. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj suggests that while words can provide insight, they ultimately fall short of conveying the full essence of experience and truth, urging us to transcend verbal communication and become silent observers of our own consciousness.

Themes

WordsSilenceUnderstandingTruthWitness

In practice

Example use cases

In a meditation class to highlight the importance of silence over spoken words.

More from Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

All happiness comes from awareness. The more we are conscious the deeper the joy. Acceptance of pain, non-resistance, courage and endurance - these open deep and perennial sources of real happiness, true bliss.
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Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care of itself. You do not tidy up a dark room. You open the windows first. Letting in the light makes everything easy. So, let us wait with improving others until we see ourselves as we are/ and have changed. There is no need to turn round and round in endless questioning; find yourself and everything will fall into its proper place.
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Watch your thoughts as you watch the street traffic. People come and go; you register without response. It may not be easy in the beginning, but with some practice you will find that your mind can function on many levels at the same time and you can be aware of them all.
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Learn to live without self concern. _x000D_ _x000D_ For this you must know your own true being as indomitable, fearless and ever victorious. _x000D_ _x000D_ Once you know with absolute certainty that nothing can trouble you but your own imagination, _x000D_ _x000D_ you come to disregard your desires and fears, concepts and ideas, and live by truth alone.
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Do not neglect this body. This is the house of God; take care of it, only in this body can God be realized.
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