Why bother what we shall do?

Sri Ramana Maharshi

19-3-1945 Morning

Q. It is said only some are chosen for Self-realization and those alone could get it. It is rather discouraging.

M: All that is meant is, we cannot by our own buddhi, unaided by God's Grace, achieve realization of Self.

I added, "Bhagavan also says that even that grace does not come arbitrarily , but because one deserves it by one's own efforts either in this or in previous lives."

Q. Human effort is declared to be useless. What incentive can any man then have to better himself?

I asked, "Where is it said you should make no effort or that your effort is useless?"

The visitor thereupon showed the portion in "Who am I?" where it is said, "When there is one great Force looking after all the world, why should we bother what we shall do?" I pointed out that what is deprecated there is not human effort, but the feeling "I am the doer." Bhagavan approved of my explanation when I asked him if it was not so.