Whatever The Path, 'I' Is Inescapable

Sri Ramana Maharshi

22-3-1946 Afternoon

The Swami remarked, “The bhakta requires a God to whom he can do bhakti. Is he to be taught that there is only the Self, not a worshipper and the worshipped?” 

Bhagavan: Of course, God is required for sadhana. But the end of the sadhana, even in bhakti marga, is attained only after complete surrender. What does it mean, except that effacement of ego results in Self remaining as it always has been? Whatever path one may choose, the ‘I’ is inescapable, the ‘I’ that does the nishkama karma, the ‘I’ that pines for joining the Lord from whom it feels it has been separated, the ‘I’ that feels it has slipped from its real nature, and so on. The source of this ‘I’ must be found out. Then all questions will be solved. Whereas all paths are approved in the Bhagavad Gita, it says that the jnani is the best karma yogi, the best devotee or bhakta, the highest yogi and so on.” 

The Swami still persisted, “It is all right to say Self-analysis is the best thing to do. But in practice, we find a God is necessary for most people.” 

Bhagavan: God is of course necessary, for most people. They can go on with one, till they find out that they and God are not different.

The Swami continued, “In actual practice, sadhakas, even sincere ones, sometimes become dejected and lose faith in God. How to restore their faith? What should we do for them?” 

Bhagavan: If one cannot believe in God, it does not matter. I suppose he believes in himself, in his own existence. Let him find out the source from which he came. 

Swami: Such a man will only say the source from which he comes are his parents. 

Bhagavan: He cannot be such an ignoramus, as you started by saying he was a sadhaka in this line already.