Thus Spake Ramana

Sri Ramana Maharshi

• Just as you seek corroboration about the waking state experiences from those whom you see in the waking state you have to ask for corroboration about the dream experiences from those whom you saw in the dream state, i.e., when you were in the dream. Then in the dream, friends or relations whom you saw in the dream would corroborate you. The main point is, are you prepared when awake to affirm the reality of any of your dream experiences? Similarly, one who has awakened into jnana cannot affirm the reality of the waking experience. From his viewpoint, the waking state is dream.
• Silence is of four kinds: Silence of speech, Silence of the eye, Silence of the ear, and Silence of the mind. Only the last is pure Silence and is the most important. The Commentary of Silence is the best commentary as illustrated in Lord Dakshinamurti. Only Silence is the Eternal Speech, the One Word, the Heart-to-Heart Talk.
• Silence is like the even flow of electric current. Speech is like obstructing the current for lighting and other purposes. However much a jnani might talk, he is still the Silent One. However much he might work, he is still the Quiet One. His voice is the incorporeal voice. His walk is not on the earth. It is like measuring the sky.