Liberation Another Name For You

Sri Ramana Maharshi

9-3-1946 Morning

Q: Is liberation to be achieved before the dissolution of the body or can it be had after death? What is the meaning of a verse like Ch.2, 72 or Ch. 8, 8 of the Gita?

M: Is there a death for you? For whom is death? The body which dies, were you aware of it, did you have it during sleep? The body was not, when you slept, but you existed even then. When you awoke, you got the body and even in the waking state you exist. You existend both in sleep and waking. But the body did not exist in sleep and exists only in waking. That which does not exist always, but exists at one time and not at another, cannot be real. You exist always and you alone are therefore real. 

Liberation is another name for you. It is always here and now with you. It has not to be won or reached hereafter or somewhere. Christ has said, "Kingdom of God is within you" here and now. You have no death. Thayumanavar has sung, "Even when living in the world those who are always in nishta do not think there is such a things as death."

The Gita verse only means in the context of the whole Gita that you must achieve liberation during your lifetime. Even if you fail to do it during your lifetime, you must think of God at least at the time of death, since one becomes what he thinks of at the time of death. But unless all your life you have been thinking of God, unless you have accustomed yourself to dhyana of God always during life, it would not at all possible for you to think of God at the time of death.