"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

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Day by Day with Bhagavan

Sri Ramana Maharshi
11-11-1945 Morning

Maha Vir Prasad, Chief Engineer, U.P., who has been staying here for about twenty days asked, "I find it said in Maha Yoga that in the beginning of meditation one may attend to the breath. i.e., its inspiration and expiration, and that after a certain amount of stillness of the mind is  thereby attained, one can dive into the heart seeking the source of the mind. I have been badly in want of some such practical hint. Can I follow this method? Is it correct?

B: The thing is to kill the mind somehow. Those who have not the strength to follow the enquiry method are advised pranayama as a help to control the mind. And pranayama is of two kinds, one of controlling and regulating the breath and the other of simply watching the breath.

Prasad: During meditation I sometimes attain a state lasting for about fifteen minutes, during which I am not aware of anything and am free from all thoughts. Some have told me that such a state is what may be called yoga nidra and that one should guard against such a state as bad.

B: One should endeavor to get beyond sleep.

For some reason B did not answer further the query put by Prasad. I thereupon advised Prasad to read Crumbs from the Table, where this particular matter is dealt with. B also asked us to take a copy of the book and give it to Prasad. We did so.

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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