"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

Friday, June 1, 2012

Thus Spake Sri Rama


The sayings in this section have been collected from various sources like the Valmiki Ramayana, Adhyatma Ramayana and the Yoga Vasishtha Ramayana. 

Sri Rama tells Hanuman,

To be blessed with Guru's grace, first you must understand the meaning of the words Tat Twam Asi. 'Tat' means Paramatman, 'Twam' means Jeevatman, 'Asi' means are. It therefore means that both Paramatman and Jeevatman are the same. Since both Paramatman and Jeevatman are one and the same, it is not possible to differentiate them. It is also impossible to attribute separate qualities to them.

The body which is made up of the five elements and which is limited and perishable, is different from the Atman. Atman is without beginning and end. It is indestructible. It creates this body. Think well over this and try to know the Atman.

By this process of neti neti (elimination), you should try to find out what exactly the Atman is. Thus scrutinizing the world which is a mixture of good and evil, take its essence and discard the rest, just as you throw away the seed of the ripe mango after taking its sweet juice. It has no childhood, youth or old age.

The Atman is all-blissful. Why should you think that the miserable samsara (world) exists in the Atman? It is because of your ignorance that you feel sorrow exists in the Atman. With the dawn of knowledge, this notion vanishes.

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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