Japa Is Your Real Nature

Sri Ramana Maharshi
9-3-1946 Morning

Q: My practice has been a continuous japa of the names of God with the incoming breath and the name of Baba (i.e., Upasani Baba or Sai Baba) with the outgoing breath. Simultaneously with this I see the form of Baba always. Even in Bhagavan, I see Baba. The external appearances are also much alike. Bhagavan is thin. Baba was a little stout. Now, should I continue this or change the method, as something from within says that if I stick to the name and form I shall never go above name and form? But I can’t understand what further to do after giving up name and form. Will Bhagavan please enlighten me on the point?

M: You may continue in your present method. When the japa becomes continuous, all other thoughts cease and one is in one’s real nature, which is japa or dhyana. We turn our mind outwards on things of the world and are therefore not aware of our real nature being always japa. When by conscious effort or japa or dhyana as we call it, we prevent our mind from thinking of other things, then what remains is our real nature, which is japa. So long as you think you are name and form, you can’t escape name and form in japa also. When you realise you are not name and form, then name and form will drop off themselves. No other effort is necessary. Japa or dhyana will naturally and as a matter of course lead to it. What is now regarded as the means, japa, will then be found to be the goal. Name and God are not different. See the teaching of Nama Dev on the significance of God’s name, extracted in the September, 1937, issue of the Vision. (This was read out in the hall). Bhagavan also quoted the Bible, ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’