"Where can I go? I am here!"The great Maharshi found Himself within himself and then gave out to the world the grand but simple message of his great life, "Know Thyself".
"Know Thyself. All else will be known to thee of its own accord. Discriminate between the undying, unchanging, all-pervading, infinite Atma and the ever-changing, phenomenal and perishable universe and body. Enquire, ‘Who am I?’
Make the mind calm. Free yourself from all thoughts other than the simple thought of the Self or Atma. Dive deep into the chambers of your heart. Find out the real, infinite ‘I’. Rest there peacefully for ever and become identical with the Supreme Self." - This is the gist of the philosophy and teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Sri Ramana says, "The world is so unhappy because it is ignorant of the true Self. Man’s real nature is happiness. Happiness is inborn in the true Self. Man’s search for happiness is an unconscious search for his true Self. The true Self is imperishable; therefore, when a man finds it, he finds a happiness which does not come to an end.
"In the interior cavity of the heart, the One Supreme Being is ever glowing with the Self-conscious emanation I... I... To realise Him, enter into the heart with an one-pointed mind - by quest within or diving deep or control of breath - and abide with the Self of self".
His method of teaching was characterized by the following:
1. He consistently urged people who came to him to practice self-enquiry;
2. He directed people to look inward rather than seeking outside themselves for Realization. ("The true Bhagavan resides in your Heart as your true Self. This is who I truly am," he said.)
3. He viewed all who came to him as the Self rather than as lesser beings. ("The jnani sees no one as an ajnani. All are only jnanis in his sight," Sri Ramana said.)
4. He charged no money, and was adamant that no one ever ask for money (or anything else) in his name;
5. He never promoted or called attention to himself. Instead, Sri Ramana remained in one place for 55 years, offering spiritual guidance to anyone of any background who came to him, and asking nothing in return;
6. He considered humility to be the highest quality.
7. He said the deep sense of peace one felt around a jnani (realized, enlightened one) was the surest indicator of their spiritual state, that equality towards all was a true sign of liberation, and that what a true jnani did was always for others, not for themselves.
About | Sri Ramana Maharshi (December 30, 1879 – April 14, 1950) was a mystic sage, may God sanctify his secret and elevate his rank, who primarily advocated Self-enquiry (Atma-Vichara) to attain spiritual realization. At the age of sixteen he had a great awakening which was triggered by the fear of death. Read more via wikipedia.
Reference:
. The official Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi website
. Lives of Saints
. Sri Ramana Maharshi
. Arunachala Ashram and teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi
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