"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

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Know The 'I' First

Sri Ramana Maharshi

A question was asked regarding untouchability.

B: The non-Self is untouchable. The social untouchability is man-made, whereas the other untouchability is natural and divine.

Q: Should the untouchables be allowed into our temples?

B: There are others to decide it.

A question was asked regarding the avatars of Vishnu.

B: Let us know our own avatara; the knowledge of the other avataras will follow. 

Again there was a question on Ishwara.

B: Experience of Ishvara follows our conception of Ishwara. Let us first know whose concept He is. the concept will be only according to the one who conceives. Find out who you are and the other problem will solve itself.
.........

Q: What is the difference between aham brahmasmi (I am brahman) and brahmaivaham (only brahman I am)?

B: The former is pratyaksha vritti (direct experience), whereas the latter is paroksha jnana (indirect knowledge). The first begins with the realization of aham ('I'), whereas the latter starts with the hearsay brahman which cannot be apart from the Self, if the same has been realized.

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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