Merge Into Source

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Q: There is something concrete necessary to meditate upon. How shall we meditate upon 'I'?

M: We have become rooted in forms and so we require a concrete form for meditating upon. Only that which we contemplate will, in the end, remain over. When you contemplate, the other thoughts disappear. So long as you need to contemplate, there are other thoughts. Where are you? You contemplate because you exist. For, the contemplator must contemplate. The contemplation can only be where he is. Contemplation wards off all other thoughts. You should merge yourself in the Source. At times we merge in the source unconsciously, as in sleep, death, swoon etc. What is contemplation? It is merging into the source consciously. Then the fear of death, swoon etc. will disappear, because you are able to merge into the source consciously.

Why fear death? Death cannot mean non-being. Why do you love sleep, but not death? Do you think now? Are you not existing now? Did you not exist in your sleep? Even a child says that it slept well and happily. It admits its existence in sleep, unconsciously though. So, consciousness is our true nature. We cannot remain unconscious. We, however, say that we were unconscious in our sleep because we refer to qualified consciousness. The world, body etc. are so embedded in us that this relative consciousness is taken to be the Self. Does anyone say in his sleep that he is unconscious? He says so now. This is the state of relative consciousness. Therefore he speaks of relative consciousness and not of abstract consciousness. The consciousness is beyond relative consciousnesss or unconsciousness.

Again reverting to Tiruvachagam, B said: All the four foremost saints have given out their experiences in the very first stanza. Undifferentiated worship, Never failing remembrance, Unrisen thought, The ego is not, the Self is. All mean the same.

Q: But this truth is not realized.

M: It will be realized in due course. Till then there is devotion: 'Even for a trice you do not leave my mind'. Does he leave you any moment? It is you who allow your mind to wander away. He remains always steady. When your mind is fixed, you say 'He does not leave my mind even for a trice.' How ridiculous!