Self-Enquiry or Surrender

Sri Ramana Maharshi

 Mr. Shamanna: Is there a sixth sense to feel “I AM”? 

M.: Do you have it in your sleep? There is only one being functioning through the five senses. Or do you mean that each sense is independent of the Self and there are five selves admitting of a sixth to control them? There is a power working through these five senses. How can you deny the existence of such Power? Do you deny your existence? Do you not remain even in sleep where the body is not perceived? The same ‘I’ continues to be now; so we admit our existence, whether there is the body or not. The senses work periodically. Their work begins and ends. There must be a substratum on which their activities depend. Where do they appear and merge? There must be a single substratum. Were you to say that the single unit is not perceived, it is an admission of its being single: for you say that there is no second one to know it. All these discussions are only to get rid of ignorance. When that is done everything will be clear. It is a matter of competence, or ripeness. 

D.: Cannot Grace hasten such competence in a seeker? 

M.: Leave it to Him. Surrender unreservedly. One of two things must be done. Either surrender because you admit your inability and also require a High Power to help you; or investigate into the cause of misery, go into the source and merge into the Self. Either way you will be free from misery. God never forsakes one who has surrendered. Mamekam saranam vraja. 

D.: What is the drift of the mind after surrender? 

M.: Is the surrendered mind raising the question? (Laughter.)