Only the Reflection Moves

From Guru Vachaka Kovai (Collection of Guru's Sayings) By Sri Muruganar

Though Self, which is ever still because of Its wholeness, seems to move with the movements of the unsteady mirror, the mind, it is never the real Self that moves, but only its reflection, the mind.

If it is asked, “How did the delusive upadhis [attributes such as mind, intellect, chittam etc.] [appear to] arise for the Supreme Self, which is One without a second?”, it must be replied that they are seen to arise only in the view of the ignorant jiva, and that in reality no attribute has ever arisen for Self. Thus you should know!

A spark of fire can fly out only for a fire-ball of limited size [and it could not do so from a fire which is unlimited and all pervading]. Similarly, it is impossible for jivas and the world to arise as tiny separate entities, ‘I’ [and ‘this’], from the Supreme Self, which is the unlimited Whole.

The body exists only in the view of the mind, which is deluded and drawn outwards by the power of Maya. In the clear view of Self, which is a single vast Space of Consciousness, there is no body at all and it is therefore wrong to call Self ‘Dehi’ or ‘Kshetrajna’ [the owner or knower of the body].

Unless the body is taken to be ‘I’, otherness – the world of moving and unmoving objects – cannot be seen. Hence, because otherness – the creatures and their Creator – does not exist, it is wrong to call Self the Witness.

The world does not exist apart from the body; the body does not exist apart from the mind; the mind does not exist apart from Consciousness; and Consciousness does not exist apart from Self, which is Existence.

Although Guru Ramana taught various doctrines according to the level of understanding of those who came to Him, we heard from Him that ‘Ajata’ alone is truly His own experience. Thus should you know.

It is this same ‘Ajata’ that Sri Krishna revealed to Arjuna in an early Chapter [two] of the Gita, and know that it was only because of the latter’s bewilderment and inability to grasp the Truth, that other doctrines were then taught in the remaining sixteen chapters.