Find The Self

Sri Ramana Maharshi

M. Is there a mind?

The mind is only a collection of thoughts.

M. To whom are the thoughts? If you try to locate the mind, the mind vanishes and the Self remains. Being alone, there can be no one-pointedness or otherwise.

It is so difficult to understand this. If something concrete is said, it can be readily grasped. Japa, dhyana etc. are more concrete.

M. "Who am I?" is the best japa. What could be more concrete than the Self? It is within each one's experience every moment. Why should he try to catch anything outside, leaving out the Self? Let each one try to find out the known Self instead of searching for the unknown something beyond.

Where shall I meditate on the Atman? I mean in which part of the body?

M. The Self should manifest itself. That is all that is wanted.

How to turn the mind away from the world?

M. Is there the world? I mean apart from the Self? Does the world say that it exists? It is you who say that there is a world. Find out the Self who says it.