"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

All is Perumal Alone

Sri Ramana Maharshi

A young man asked in broken Tamil:

How long will it be before Self-Realization?

M.: First know what Self means and also what Realization means: then you will know all.

D.: The mind must realize in the Heart.

M.: Be it so. What is mind?

D.: Mind, Heart are all avatars of Perumal (Vaishnavite term for incarnate God).

M.: If so no need to worry ourselves.

D.: On this basis how can we realize?

M.: Surrender the mind to Perumal (God). His avatar cannot remain independent of Him. Render unto Him what is His and be happy.

D.: How to do so?

M.: How is the mind known to us? Owing to its activities, namely, thoughts. Whenever thoughts arise remember they are all modes of Perumal and they cannot be otherwise, this is enough; this is the surrender of the mind. Can anything exist independent of Perumal? All is Perumal alone. He acts through all. Why worry ourselves?

सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad