Your Duty

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Q: Bhagavan, I have read much of the Vedas and the sastras but no atma jnana has come to me. Why is this?

B: Atma jnana will come to you only if it is there in the sastras. If you see the sastras, sastra jnana will come. If you see the Self, Self-knowledge will shine.

Q: How to see the Self?

B: Everyone says I AM. How do we know that this is true? Do we know this by looking in the mirror or do we know it only after looking in the sastras? Tell me. If the Self is something to be seen, there should be two selves (the Self which looks and the Self which is seen). would you agree that you have two 'Is'?

Q: No.

B: The reality that exists is only one. Then how can there be another self which is to be seen? All are seeing the Self everywhere but they don't understand. What a pity! What to do? If the thought 'I am this body' is given up, what is seen is only the Self.

Q: What am I to do? What is my duty?

B: Now you have nothing to do. Enquire 'Who am I?' Then, (when you have found out who you are) if there is still duty, it may be done.

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From 'Dairy Extracts'