MOURNING IS NOT the index of true love. It betrays love of the object, of its shape only. That is not love. True love is shown by the certainty that the object of love is in the Self and that it can never become non-existent. There will be no pain if the physical outlook is given up and if the person exists as the Self. There is no death nor birth. That which is born is only the body. The body is the creation of the ego. But the ego is not ordinarily perceived without the body. It is always identified with the body. If a man considers he is born he cannot avoid the fear of death. Let him find out if he has been born or if the Self has any birth. He will discover that the Self always exists, that the body which is born resolves itself into thought and that the emergence of thought is the root of all mischief. Find where from thoughts emerge. Then you will abide in the ever-present inmost Self and be free from the idea of birth or the fear of death. Recall the state of sleep. Were you aware of anything happening? If the son or the world be real, should they not be present with you in sleep? You cannot deny your existence in sleep. Nor can you deny you were happy then. You are now the same person speaking and raising doubts. You are not happy according to you. But you were happy in sleep. What has transpired in the meantime that happiness of sleep has broken down? It is the rise of the ego. That is the new arrival in the jagrat(waking) state. There was no ego in sleep. The birth of the ego is called the birth of the person. There is no other kind of birth. Whatever is born, is bound to die. Kill the ego: there is no fear of recurring death for what is once dead. The Self remains even after the death of the ego. That is Bliss – that is immortality. Training the mind helps one to bear sorrows and bereavements with courage. But the loss of one’s offspring is said to be the worst of all griefs. Still it is true, pain on such occasions can be assuaged by association with the wise. "The feeling "I work" is the hindrance. Ask yourself, "Who works?" Remember who you are. Then the work will not bind you; it will go on automatically. Make no effort to either work or renounce; your effort is the bondage. What is destined to happen will happen. If you are destined not to work, work cannot be had even if you hunt for it; if you are destined to work, you will not be able to avoid it; you will be forced to engage yourself in it. So leave it to the Higher Power. You cannot renounce or retain as you choose." Just found this lovely poem by Shri Adi Shankarachariya called Guru Ashtakam. on a website (http://kathavarta.com/) that had this sloka and its meaning in English which is wonderful. Here it is(May the Grace of Guru guide us):
SHAREERAM SUROOPAM THATHA VAA KALATRAM, YASASCHARU CHITRAM DHANAM MERU TULYAM, MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….1 Body is handsome, wife is attractive, fame spread far and wide, wealth enormous and stable like Mount Meru; but of what consequence are all these, if the mind is not riveted in devotion to the lotus feet of Guru? Really of what use is all this, what use, what use? KALATRAM DHANAM PUTRA POUTRAADI SARVAM, GRUHAM BHAANDAVAA SARVA METTADHI JAATAM, MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….2 Wife, wealth, son, grandson, and the like, house, relations, even if all these are there fate is certain, of what consequence is one’s life if his mind is not devoted to the feet of Guru? Ascertain, what use is any possession, person or object? Of what use, of what use, of what use indeed? SHADANGAADHI VEDO MUKHE SHASTRA VIDHYAA, KAVITVA AADHI GADHYAM, SUPADHYAM KAROTI, MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….3 All the Vedas are mastered and ever present on the lips; likewise, knowledge of all the sciences is well gained. The ability to write prose or verse is also present. Even then, of what ultimate benefit is all this, if one’s mind does not devoutly rest on the feet of Guru? By whose grace along can one’s soul be liberated? Of what use, of what use, of what use indeed? VIDHESESHU MAANYAHA, SWADHESESHU DHANYAHA, SADHAACHAARA VRUTTESHU MATTO NA CHA ANYAHA, MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….4 I am honoured well even in far off places, held in high esteem in my own locality; in good conduct and noble deeds there is no one to excel me. If one has occasion to think like this, of what avail is it if the mind is not steeped in devotion and humility towards the feet of the Guru from whom alone can flow wisdom and immortality? KSHAMAA MANDALE BHUPA BHUPAALA BRINDIHI, SADA SEVITAM YASYA PAADAARAVINDAM, MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….5 Your feet may be worshipped constantly even by the great kings and emperors of the world for reason of your greatness and scholarship; but of what real consequence is that if the mind is not graced by the blessing of unflinching devotion to the Guru, by whose loving ‘touch’ alone can redemption and peace be realized? YASHO ME GATTAM DHIKSHU DHAANA PRATAAPAATH JAGADVASTU SARVAM KARE YATPRASAADAATH MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….6 Of what avail if one has enough merits to think my fame has already spread in several places due to my unique generosity and a result, all things of the world stand within my easy reach? For, the virtue and quality that count ultimately is only one’s unflinching loyalty and devotion towards the Guru whose blessings are the ultimate factor for realization of Truth by a devoted seeker. NA BHOGE, NA YOGHE, NA VAA VAAJIRAAJAA, NA KAANTAA MUKHE NAIVA VITTESHU CHITTAM, MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….7 The mind may have turned away from external delights through dispassion and from attainments like Yogic concentration, possessions like horses and the like, the enchanting face of the beloved, in short, the entire wealth of the earth; yet it will be of no real merit if the mind is not absorbed in piety and devotion to the feet of Guru. Bereft of this devotion, of what benefit is anything, of what benefit, of what benefit? ANARGYAANI RATNAANI BHUKTAANI SAMYAK SAMA LINGITA KAMINI YAAMINEESHU MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….8 Even if I find in my possession precious stones or pearls and well decorated and dressed lovable bride, yet if my mind is not absorbed in devotion to the lotus feet of the Guru, of what use is any other possession? (Another version of Shloka no.8 :- ARANYE NA VAA SVASYA GEHE NA KAARYE NA DEHE MANO VARTATE ME TVANARGYE MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM, TATAH KIM……….8 The mind may have lost its charm to live in forests, and likewise in the house; may have lost all desire to achieve whatever; even the concern for the body’s welfare may have been outlived; the most invaluable treasure of the world may not hold any allurement. Even then, of what avail are all these if the supreme devotion to the Guru is not held by the aspirant? Determine, of what use? of what use? Phalasruti: GURORASHTAKAM YAH PATETU PUNYADEHEE YATIR BHUPATIR BHRAHMACHAARI CHA GEHI LABHED VAANCITAARTHAM PADAM BRAHMA SANJNAM MANASCHE NA LAGNAM GURO RANGHRI PADME, Result of reading: Whoever reads, studies and recites this Ashtaka on Guru and remains devoted and attentive to the sayings of the Guru, he, no matter if he is a holy person, ascetic, king, neophyte, or householder, attains his coveted object, namely the supreme abode of Brahman, the unassailable seat of immortality. David Godman, a devotee of Ramana Maharishi and a resident of Tiruvannamalai, talks about Mastan Swami, an obscure realised being who Ramana Maharishi said was the most ready to the state of realisation. People come to a guru at various stages, from the immature to the average to the good to the ready. He used to say that wet coal needs more time whereas charcoal catches fire more immediately.
This is one of my favourite answers by Ramana Maharishi. This dialogue happened between Him and Papaji who was meeting Bhagwan Ramana for the first time after coming down from his residence in the North. (There is an interesting story as how Papaji was drawn to Bhagwan, which I will post later.)
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AuthorWorking with the available light as Ramana Maharishi said. Archives
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