Surrender and have Atma-Sakshatkara

Sri Ramana Maharshi

27-4-1946 Morning

The priest of a temple at Dwaraka, returning from Aurobindo’s Ashram, visited Bhagavan and asked him in Sanskrit, “I wish to get sakshatkara of Sri Krishna. What should I do to get it?” This question was put while Bhagavan was reading a rather long letter from Lt. Shroff, which his wife had brought. The letter closed with the sentiment: “Do what you will to me. Send me health or sickness, riches or poverty.” Bhagavan said with reference to the priest’s question, “I did not want to disturb his faith, but wanted to tell him ‘Just leave it to Sri Krishna, — even this sakshatkara of Krishna.’ And this letter of Shroff contains the same thing.”

After saying this, Bhagavan added, “What is your idea of Sri Krishna and what do you mean by sakshatkara?”

On this, the priest replied, “I mean the Sri Krishna who lived in Brindavan and I want to see him as the Gopis saw him.”

Bhagavan replied, “You see, you think he is a human being or one with a human form, the son of so and so, etc., whereas he himself has said, ‘I am in the Heart of all beings, I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all forms of life.’ He must be within you, as within all. He is your Atman or the atman of your Atman. So if you see this entity or have sakshatkara of it, you will have sakshatkara of Krishna. Atma Sakshatkara and sakshatkara of Krishna cannot be different. However, to go your own way, surrender completely to Krishna and leave it to Him to grant the sakshatkara you want.”