Gems From Ramana

Sri Ramana Maharshi

To see an object that is in the dark, both the eye and the light of a lamp are required. To see the light alone, the eye is enough. But to see the Sun, there is no need of any other light. Our intellect or buddhi is of no use to realize the Self. To see the world of external objects, the mind and the reflected light which always rises with it are necessary. To see the Self, the mind has simply to be turned inside and there is no need of the reflected light.

The "I" casts off the illusion of "I" and yet remains as "I". This appears to be a paradox to you, but is not so to the jnani. Take the case of the bhakta. His "I" prays to the Lord to unite it with Him, which is its surrender. What remains as residuum after this surrender, is the eternal "I", which is the Absolute, God or Paramatman Himself. What has happened to the "I" which had originally prayed? Being unreal, it simply vanished.

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From Thus Spake Ramana