"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

Sunday, September 9, 2012

No Incompatibility With Self

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Q. I want to know how I can gain that peace of mind. Kindly be pleased to advise me.
Yes - devotion and surrender.
Q.Am I worthy of being a devotee?
Everyone can be a devotee. Spiritual fare is common to all and never denied to anyone - be the person old or young, male or female.
Q.That is exactly what I am anxious to know. I am young and a grihini (housewife). There are duties of grihastha dharma (the household). Is devotion consistent with such a position?
Certainly. What are you? You are not the body. You are Pure Consciousness. Grihastha Dharma and the world are only phenomena appearing on that Pure Consciousness. It remains unaffected. What prevents you from being your own Self?
Q. Yes I am aware of the line of teaching of Maharshi.  It is the quest for the Self. But my doubt persists if such quest is compatible with grihastha life.
The Self is always there. It is you. There is nothing but you. Nothing can be apart from you. The question of compatibility or otherwise does not arise.

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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