RIBHU GITA

HEART 7. That in which existence or non-existence

 RAMANA  Maharshi attributed unique and delusions due to misapprehensions of the
value to this lucid exposition of Supreme mind, and even the word "misapprehension",
Truth, the Ribhu Gita, and often referred do not exist – ever abide as That Itself.
to it in his talks with devotees and
seekers. He is reported to have said that if 8. That in which there is no pleasure, in which
one repeatedly read Chapter 26 [Heart] of there is no imagination that I am the body, and
the Ribhu Gita one could pass in which all volition has been relinquished –
spontaneously into samadhi, or the natural ever abide as That Itself.
state of Self-realisation.
9. That in which a conditional state inclusive
[Innerquest Site] of Reality does not exist, in which defects are
not present, and in which there is no fear of
ABIDING AS “THAT” ITSELF the pairs of opposites – ever abide as That
Itself.
RIBHU :  
10. That in which the actions of speech and
1. I shall tell you now about being wholly body and the eon itself have ended in
"That" itself. This is rare to come by, even for dissolution, and in which the manifest universe
yogis. This is the secret of all the Vedas, of all is yet unborn – ever abide as That Itself.
the scriptures. This is rare to come by, indeed.
11. That in which there is no manifestation of
2. That which is the Supreme Reality delusion, in which there is not the least
[Brahman], the Self of all, of the nature of activity of illusion, in which there is nothing
existence-consciousness-bliss, the Self of all, seen or unseen – ever abide as That Itself.
the Supreme Self – ever abide [remain /
continue / dwell] as That Itself. 12. That in which there is no wise man or
wisdom, in which there are no such things
3. "All this" is of the nature of the Self, which as one's own side and an opposing side, and
is without beginning or end and which is in which there are no defects or non-
insuperable [impossible to bypass / la defects – ever abide as That Itself.
youta’khetta]. This is neither action nor
inaction. Ever abide as That Itself. 13. That in which there is no
differentiation, such as being Vishnu [all-
4. That in which there is no fear of duality, in pervading], in which the creator [Brahma]
which non-duality awakens, in which does not exist, and in which there is no
peacefulness and non-peacefulness both do not differentiation as Shankara [beneficent
exist – ever be That Itself. One] – ever abide as That Itself.

5. That in which there is nothing of volition 14. That in which there is no

[the exercise of the will] in which differentiation as truth and non-truth, in
misapprehension does not exist, in which, which there is no such state as
likewise, there is no thinking – ever abide as understanding, and in which there is no
That Itself. such idea as "individual self" – ever abide as
That Itself.

6. That in which there is nothing is Reality, in 15. That in which there is no meditation on

which having any conviction is a delusion, in Shankara, in which there is no Supreme
which the entire world does not exist – ever abode, and in which there is no state of
abide as That Itself. comprehension – ever abide as That Itself.

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16. That in which there is no microcosm or 25. That in which there is no
macrocosm, in which there is no imagining manifestation of things, in which there is
of happiness, and in which the manifest no victory or defeat, and in which there
world is a fallacy – ever abide as That is no utterance of statements – ever abide
Itself. as That Itself.

17. That in which there is no conception 26. That in which there is no branch of

of a body, in which there is no jubilance, inquiry into the Self, in which there is no
and in which there is no "awareness" of urge for listening to, reading or studying
thought – ever abide as That Itself. the Supreme Truth and in which there is no
"great bliss" – ever abide as That Itself.
18. That in which there is no intellect or
empirical knowledge, in which there is 27. That in which there is no classification
no Self in the sheath of mind, and in such as the same group or different groups
which there is no conception of and in which no internal difference arises
desire – ever abide as That Itself. – ever abide as That Itself.

19. That in which there is no liberation 28. That in which there is neither the

or repose, in which there is no bondage terror of hell nor the treasures of heaven
or separation, and in which there is no and in which there is no world of
permanent knowledge – ever abide as Brahma – ever abide as That Itself.
That Itself.
29. That in which there is no union with
20. That in which there is no conception of Vishnu, in which there is no Mount Kailash,
time, in which there is no conditional state in which there is no sphere of the egg of
of sorrow, and in which there is no the cosmos – ever abide as That Itself.
conception of the body – ever abide as
That Itself. 30. That in which there is no praise, in
which censure exits not, and in which
21. That in which there is no dispassion there is not the mistake of regarding them
of the individual self, in which there is no as on a par either – ever abide as That
misunderstanding of the scriptures, and Itself.
in which I, being the Self, am
myself – ever abide as That Itself. 31. That in which there is no conditional
state of the mind, in which there is no
22. That in which there is no self misapprehension, and in which there is
liberation, in which there is no liberation no experience or suffering – ever abide as
from the body, and in which there is no That Itself.
activity by volition – ever abide as That
Itself. 32. That in which there is no fear of sin,
nothing of the five great sins, and in
23. That in which there is no conception of which there is no defect of
beings, in which there is no existence of attachment – ever abide as That Itself.
anything separate, and in which there is no
differentiation as the individual self 33. That in which the triad of afflictions
either – ever abide as That Itself. does not exist, in which there are never
the three states of the individual self,
24. That in which Reality is a state of bliss, and in which the universe is known to be
in which joy is a state of bliss, and in which a delusion – ever abide as That Itself.
the quality of bliss is Eternal – ever abide
as That Itself.

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34. That in which knowledge has not 43. That in which there is the fullness of
arisen, in which there is no error of consciousness, in which there is an ocean
conceiving of the world, and in which there of bliss, and in which, indeed, there is
is no manifestation of activity – ever abide the direct presence of the
as That Itself. Supreme – ever abide as That Itself.

35. That in which there is no domain of the 44. That in which, indeed, one himself is,
mind, in which, indeed, there is the indeed, That Itself, and in which there is
greatest happiness, and in which exists the no difference between oneself and one's
permanent abode – ever abide as That Self – ever abide as That Itself.
Itself.
45. That in which, indeed, there is
36. That in which the cause of all is Supreme bliss, in which oneself is the
peace, in which all is happiness, and Supreme happiness, and in which,
having reached wherefrom none reverts indeed, there is the understanding of
once – ever abide as That Itself. differencelessness – ever abide as That
Itself.
37. By knowing which all is renounced,
by knowing which nothing else remains, 46. That in which there is not even an
and by knowing which there is nothing atom, in which the is no blemish of the
else to be known – ever abide as That mind, in which there is nothing like "I do"
Itself. or "I give" – ever abide as That Itself.

38. That in which no defect has arisen, 47. That in which thought is dead, in which
that which is the place that is changeless, one's body and mind are dead, and wherein
and in which, indeed, the individual self is memory finally dissolves – ever abide as
destroyed – ever abide as That Itself. That Itself.

39. That in which, indeed, the Self is ever 48. That in which, indeed, "I" is surely
satisfied, in which, indeed, there is dead, in which desire meets its dissolution,
changeless bliss, and in which, indeed, and in which, indeed, Supreme bliss is
there is changeless peace – ever abide as – ever abide as That Itself.
That Itself.
49. That in which the trinity of gods have
40. That in which, indeed, there is all their dissolution, in which the bodies and
comfort, in which, indeed, there is the such perish, and in which there are no
definition of the real, and in which, interactions – ever abide as That Itself.
indeed, there is certainty of existence
– ever abide as That Itself. 50. Immersed wherein there is no fatigue,
immersed wherein one does not see, and
41. That in which I am not, and in which immersed wherein there is no life and such
you are not, in which you yourself are not, things – ever abide as That Itself.
indeed, yourself, and in which, indeed,
there is certain peace – ever abide as That 51. Immersed wherein nothing shines,
Itself. wherein wakefulness does not exist, and
wherein, indeed, delusion meets its death
42. That in which, indeed, you are – ever abide as That Itself.
joyful, in which, indeed, happiness is
attained, and in which there is no fear of 52. That in which, indeed, time finds its
sorrow – ever abide as That Itself. death, in which yoga finds its dissolution,
and in which the company of Truth

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[satsang] ceases to be – ever abide as That 62. Wherein the great Self itself is
Itself. present, wherein the joys of joys is
present, and wherein, indeed, wisdom
53. That in which, indeed, Brahman- and true knowledge are present – ever
nature exists, wherein, indeed, there is abide as That Itself.
only bliss, and wherein, indeed, there is
the Supreme bliss – ever abide as That 63. That in which, indeed, oneself is the
Itself. Light, in which oneself, indeed, is the non-
dual, and in which, indeed, there is
54. That in which the universe never Supreme bliss – ever abide as That Itself.
exists, in which the manifest world does
not exist, and in which there are no inner 64. Thus the conviction of becoming That
faculties – ever abide as That Itself. Itself has been proclaimed. Be thus always
– ever, ever, I am Reality, existence-
55. That in which, indeed, there is only consciousness-bliss. I am undivided and
joy, in which it itself is entirely only bliss, ever joyful.
and in which, indeed, it itself is Supreme
bliss – ever abide as That Itself. 65. I am Reality alone, which is true
knowledge. I am the Supreme peace. I am
56. That in which there is only the consciousness. I am devoid of thought. I am
consciousness of existence, in which not "I". I abide as He Himself.
consciousness alone is all there is, and in
which shines the fullness of bliss – ever 66. I am That. I am consciousness. I am He.
abide as That Itself. I am spotless. I am the highest. I am the
highest. I am the Supreme. Thus, casting
57. That in which there is the direct aside everything, be happy.
presence of the Supreme Reality, in
which one is oneself the Supreme, and in 67. All this is the remnant of thoughts, the
which serenity is the Supreme goal – ever muddying of purity. Thus, renouncing all
abide as That Itself. and forgetting everything, like mere dead
wood.
58. That in which lies the direct meaning
of the undivided, in which exists the very 68. Leaving aside the body like a corpse,
goal, and in which destruction and such being ever like a piece of wood or iron, and
exist not – ever abide as That Itself. renouncing even remembrance, firmly
abide only in Reality as the goal.
59. That in which, evidently, there is only
oneself, in which, evidently, only oneself 69. Whoever hears this explanation even
prevails, and in which exists, evidently, the once, even though he be connected with
great Self – ever abide as That Itself. great sins, shall, casting off all, reach the
Supreme.
60. Wherein the Supreme Truth evidently
is, wherein is, evidently, the great, and 70. Though, in parts, they deal with
wherein true knowledge evidently exists meditation [upasana] on You, do not
– ever abide as That Itself. the Vedas proclaim You as the unattached,
as especially connected to the vessel of the
61. Wherein the transcendence of qualities Heart of all, existing as the Self, and of the
evidently is, wherein blemishlessness nature of the undivided?
evidently is, and wherein Eternal purity
evidently is – ever abide as That Itself. THE  universe was neither born, nor
maintained, nor dissolved; this is the

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 plain Truth. The basic screen of pure
being-awareness-stillness devoid of all Brahman].
the moving shadow pictures of name and
form of the universe is the sole, Eternal With all objective knowledge banished,
existence. with no trace of thought or nescience,
with all the three states of waking,
Some may argue that this universe of duality dream and sleep wiped out, with all
[multiple existences] is a factual second thought of death and birth abolished, and
reality, clearly seen by the senses operated ever established in the spontaneous
by the mind. But then, are the senses blissful state of Brahman-Self, the
anything apart from the mind? Can they condition of the videhamukta [liberation
function without the support of the mind in at death] cannot be conceived, and much
which they are imbedded? What is this mind less expressed in words.
except a bundle of thoughts? What are
thoughts except evanescent ripples in the still, The continued repetition of "I am Brahman-
limitless ocean of pure being-awareness-Self, Self" constitutes the sole mantra leading to
which is the sole existence without a second? liberation. All other mantras connected
with diverse gods should be firmly
The existence of the illusion of silver in mother eschewed, as they aim at mundane
of pearl is not a reality apart from the reality objectives other than the Self. All other
of mother of pearl, which is the basic mantras always entangle one inextricably
reality. The illusion of the universe is based on in the bondage of worldly enjoyments.
the mind, which again is an illusion based on
the still awareness-being-Self. Lord Shiva must be meditated upon and
realised to be the Self, by making the
In the unitary, undifferentiated still ocean of restless mind stay still and alert after it
existence-awareness-Self, body, senses, mind, has been adequately restrained, and
intellect and individual embodied souls are completely prevented from the pursuit of
nothing but evanescent ripples not apart from sense objects, namely, the shadow pictures
that sole Self. on the screen of the Self. All shadow
pictures removed, what remains is pure
The universe of name and form, the awareness, the spotlessly effulgent screen.
embodied creatures and their creator, mind, Thus, Shiva reveals Himself spontaneously
desire, action, misery and everything other as the sole Eternal being-consciousness-
than the Self, are merely thought formations bliss-Self, the very essence of the nature of
projected by the powers of the Self onto its the worshipper.
screen-Self.
The jivanmukti is a being liberated during
The state of firm abidance in that thought- his lifetime, who continues to have
free, alert awareness-Self, constitutes consciousness of the body and the world
integral Perfection, Yoga, wisdom and [as Reality] along with his firm abidance in
liberation, which the scriptures proclaim by his Self. He ever abides in the blissful
the title of Brahman [Reality]. peace of being-consciousness-bliss. He is
poised rock-firm in the conviction that he
There never was a mind nor any of its is not the body, and that his being is the
countless forms, like a world full of sole existence, the sole alert-awareness-
individuals. There isn't the least doubt that all bliss of Self Supreme.
these are the form of the eternally
undifferentiable Supreme Brahman-Self. This is The liberated being has his consciousness
the Truth. The one who hears this great completely dissolved beyond recognition
secret wisely abides as Brahman-Self [Atman- in his Brahman-Self. Eternally alone in his

5
Self, he is ever lost in the enjoyment of Anything seen as other than Brahman-Self
the bliss of his Brahman-Self. is bound to cause fear and trouble. 
Therefore, it behoves one to stick to the
The videhamukta [one who is liberated at single attitude that everything sensed is
death] is free from the least trace of Brahman-Self alone. In due course even
thought; he abides all alone in his this one thought must be given up, in order
effulgent, pure awareness-Self in intense to abide firmly in the free undisturbed
unbroken bliss, totally oblivious of limited blissful state of the sole Brahman-Self.
forms, in a state of stillness of body,
speech and mind. The total discarding of the mind is alone
victory, achievement, bliss, Yoga,
He is the pure embodiment of being- wisdom and liberation. The sacrifice of
consciousness-bliss, all-pervasive as ether, the mind is, in fact, the totality of all
infinite as the sky, all alert with sacred sacrifices.
awareness, spontaneously abiding as the
perfect Brahman-Self in a state of still, The firm denial of the existence of the
unbroken, peaceful bliss. mind and the firm belief in the existence
of Brahman-Self, is the sure way to the
There is not an atom apart from the Self, conquest of mind, leading to the
which is the integral undifferentiated experience of the sole effulgent Self.
perfection of Whole being. Soul, world
and creator are inseparable from the If one gives the slightest room for the
Self. The reality of these is the reality of thought that the mind exists, pure
the Self only. awareness itself will vibrate as the
ruffled mind, which is the parent of all
All ignorance and illusion, all objects trouble and illusions. Therefore, one
inert and living, all beings and non- should ever abide in the true knowledge
beings, all the five elements, all the that there is no mind, and that the pure
diverse worlds, all bodies and the lives awareness-Self is the sole existence. This is
that arise in them, not being apart from the easy way to conquer the mind with all
Brahman-Self, are Brahman-Self its vagaries.
only. Existence alone is, for even non-
existence acquires meaning only in There is no such thing as the troublesome
existence. Simply put, everything exists mind, no world of names and forms, not
always as Brahman-Self only. the least bit of ego. All these are nothing
but the perfect Brahman-Self, which I
All objective knowledge, all thought forms, am. In this faith one should abide firmly,
all visible objects, all things heard, all until one achieves the state of sleepless-
questions and answers, all the food sleep which is alert-peace-Eternal.
consumed and all other illusions, not being
apart from the Self, should be regarded as To hold on to the faith born of Self-
Brahman-Self only. enquiry that "I am no doubt the screen-
Brahman-Self, and the world picture
Therefore one should practise the habit thereon, though evanescent, is no doubt
of regarding everything as Brahman-Self I am Self only", and to abide still and
only; until all thought of things other blissful in that faith is the acme of all
than the Self is lost. This condition once spiritual disciplines, like divine worship,
achieved, one should not give room for any charitable gifts, spiritual austerities,
thought and should ever abide in the peace repetition of mantras and Transcendental
of total stillness. awareness.

6
The Self alone is the spontaneous self wisdom to attain the bliss of total
effulgent awareness; that alone is Eternal liberation. If continued further, it bestows
bliss; that alone is existence everlasting; on the disciple even the status of
that alone is all embracing Perfection, videhamukti. Therefore, if one is keen on
the sole Godhead without a rival and the being released from bondage into the
sole primordial substratum of the freedom of spiritual liberation, the one
universe. In the conviction born of this infallible means of achieving that aim is
experience, one should ever abide, as the the loving and worshipful service of the
sole "I am", the Supreme Self. jnani Satguru.

Remaining alertly aware and thought- Firmly established in the Self, undisturbed
free, with a still mind devoid of by the least ripple of thought, as still as an
differentiation of Self and non-Self even idol of stone or wood, dissolved completely
while being engaged in the activities of in Brahman-Self, even as water is in milk,
worldly life, is called the natural state. with awareness devoid of all impurities of
thought and drowsiness, standing clear as
Functioning naturally from the Self is the the pure sky, the grandeur of the jnani's
hallmark of a liberated being. With firm stance in the Self defies thought and
progressive development towards this expression.
state, an intensity of blissful peace is
attained, leading on to the four successive That in which the whole universe is born
stages of perfection in Transcendental and into which it is absorbed in
awareness. Nothing short of abiding in the dissolution, is the Shiva-Self. Devoted
natural state will be of any avail in worship of and meditation on that Shiva-
destroying the fearsome cycle of births and Self of pure consciousness alone will
deaths. attract Shiva's Grace, which is
indispensable for liberation.
That realised being who abides in the
Brahman-Self, and has lost all feelings of Those engaged in the pursuit of knowledge
differentiation of Self and non-Self, is the of the Brahman-Self, happening to get
enlightened sage [jnani]. Such a one is involved in the mundane pleasures of sex,
rare to find even by searching among should regard such pleasures as merely
millions of people. If one has the lucky faint shadows of the bliss of the Self. They
opportunity of getting his darshan [seeing should never even dream of worldly
or be seen by a holy being] one attains pleasures.
purification from all his sins, and what is
more, such a person's ego gets liquidated The disciple practising meditation on the
at once. Self, should always think firmly that all
diversities of soul, world and creator are
Darshan of the matured jnani constitutes the undifferentiated Brahman-Self only. By
the acme of purification of baths taken in practice, his consciousness is freed from
sacred waters, divine worship, repeating thoughts, after which he should give up the
mantras, spiritual austerities, charitable above thought also and abide always in the
acts and devotional worship of Lord Shiva. thought-free state of the Self.
To find and to gain access to the sacred
presence of such a jnani is the luckiest of Abidance in the state of thought-free,
opportunities that one could ever obtain in alert awareness-Self is the state of
this world. liberation beyond thought and
expression. The emergence of thought is
Worshipful service rendered unto such a the bondage of untold suffering. Abidance
jnani Satguru quickens one's spiritual in the Self is the true non-dual awareness,

7
and that alone leads one to the Eternal only by the firm conviction that "All this is
bliss of liberation. Brahman-Self and I am Brahman-Self".

The great illusions: mind and individual Everything is only a concoction of time,
souls, world and its creator, all names and space and energy. All else is the trite talk
forms, and all mental conceptions are of people who dislike the effort of spiritual
nothing but the Self. One should ever discipline which takes them to the Self.
abide firmly in the peace of the Self. This talk is based on their dense ignorance
of the Self. Only by persistent practice and
All worlds and creatures are only thought direct experience can one arrive at the
forms. They are nothing but the mind, Truth that all concepts of souls, world, and
which is a bundle of thoughts, which again the cause thereof are just evanescent
are nothing more than ripples in the still shadows on the screen of Shiva-Brahman-
ocean of awareness-Self, and certainly Self.
nothing apart from that
Self. Therefore, one should abide in the There is never such a thing as conception
firm faith that all objects are only "I am of names and forms, no such thing as the
Brahman-Self". conceiving mind, no such thing as a person
lost in repetitive history, and no such
There are no such things as achieved things as the world and its
objectives and the efforts leading to them, creator. Everything that is seen to exist
association with the wise or the ignorant, must be realised to be no other than the
efforts of learning and knowledge sole, pure awareness-being-Brahman-Self.
acquired, acts of enquiry and practice, the
learner or the learned, and any goals Whatever is found to exist is existence
achieved. What exists is only Brahman, only. Whatever is pleasurable is bliss
the effulgent awareness-Self. only. One should ever abide in the
bedrock awareness of being-
One should be firm in the understanding consciousness-bliss-Self. Never for once
that there are no charitable acts, sacred should one slip, even inadvertently, into
waters and pilgrim centres, no loss or the disastrous conviction that one is the
gain and no loser or gainer, no karma, body and that the world is real.
devotion and wisdom, and no knower or
known. All these thought-forms are bound One should abide in the rock-firm Truth
to be dissolved and lost in the Brahman- that, "Everything is only Brahman-Self
Self, which is the sole existence. and I am that Brahman-Self." By fixing the
mind on this Truth, all thought movements
The steady faith in "I am Brahman-Self" and nescience will disappear, resulting in
swiftly takes one to liberation. As the the Eternal abidance in the sole natural
continued reading of the texts generating state of being-consciousness-bliss-Self.
that faith, takes the aspirant unerringly
to the goal, he should always dwell on By abiding in the Self, the wandering
the written words dealing with the mind is reduced to perfect stillness after
Brahman-Self. being freed from all nescience and
thought currents. It gets lost in the being-
The illusion that one is the body and that consciousness-bliss-Self in the same way
the world is the basic Reality has that water is lost when mixed with milk.
remained soaked over a long, long time,
and cannot be got rid of by the casual Having realised that the world picture on
reading and mere understanding of the the screen-Self is evanescent and
Truth. The basic illusion can be effaced essentially non-existent, one should ever

8
remain still and blissful in the firm Brahman-Self.
knowledge of ever being the sole Brahman-
Self only. This matured, natural state of There is certainly no such thing as mind
abidance in the Self should be with its constituents of thought and
maintained even while functioning as an thought forms of objects. In this conviction
individual in the world of name and form. one should ever abide still and at peace, in
the state of thought-free, alert awareness-
In that blissful Self wherein there is no Self which endures after all spiritual
action of body, speech and mind, no disciplines and its rigours have exhausted
virtuous or sinful action and the fruits themselves in Brahman-Self.
thereof, one should remain still, eschewing
the least trace of thought. Having gained the experience that there is
no creator, no illusion, no duality, and no
In that Self wherein there is neither objects at all, and that pure awareness-
conceiver nor conception of the world of Self alone exists, one should ever remain
names and forms, one should remain still and peaceful in that state of Selfhood.
blissfully still, eschewing the least trace of
thought. If a person gives heed to these teachings
he would certainly gain the Grace of Lord
In that Self wherein desire, anger, Shiva and attain the state of Selfhood even
covetousness, confusion, bigotry and envy though he is immersed in the dense
are all absent; in that Self wherein there is darkness of nescience which could not be
no thought of bondage or release, one banished by the glare of a million suns.
should abide blissfully still, eschewing the
least ripple of thought. Why waste words? This is the Truth in a
nutshell. Only those who have earned the
Firmly abiding in the Self one acquires Grace of our Lord Shiva by long devotional
the totality of all knowledge and achieves worship will get the rare opportunity of
the successful completion of all reading this scriptural text which leads to
endeavours and duties. In that state one the bliss of peace everlasting in Brahman-
should abide blissful and still, eschewing Self.
the least ripple of thought.
Only that sage who teaches that "Thou
Mind merged completely in the Self, one art the thought-free, alertly aware,
becomes a lord without rival-steeped in absolutely still, ever blissful, intensely
bliss beyond compare. In that state one peaceful, unqualified Brahman-Self", is
should abide still, free from the least the true Satguru, and others are not.
trace of thought.
Unbroken abidance in the state of alert
I am that Self which is integral existence- awareness, unruffled by thoughts, is Self-
awareness-bliss, the sole Brahman-Self. realisation. This state is easily attainable
Firm in the conviction born of this only for those who have earned the divine
experience, one should abide still, free Grace of Shiva by deep devotion to Him,
from the least trace of thought. and not for others. What is stated here is
the import in a nutshell of the message of
In the conviction that "I am the Self in that charming crest jewel of
which no thought, ego, desire, mind or the Vedas known as the Upanishads.
confusion can exist", one should abide still,
free from trace of thought. The firm Those who give heed to this message and
conviction of being the Self is sufficient to abide in accordance with it will forthwith
dispel all thought and establish one in attain liberation. They will not suffer from

9
the least particle of affliction; they will Staying in the company of a Satguru and
enjoy a bliss far greater than the bliss respectfully questioning him, one should
attained from this and all other worlds; first make oneself clear about the
they and their environments will be filled objective to be obtained. This is an
with the plenitude of auspicious important aspect of the enquiry. After
events. Totally free from all trace of fear, thus making sure of the objective, one
they will never again enter the cycle of must firmly abide in that objective of
births and deaths. They will become the sole Brahman-Self until the Self is
immutable Brahman-Self. All this we swear unmistakably experienced.
is the Truth beyond doubt, the
fundamental Truth. The conscious introspective
concentration of Self-enquiry kills all
That state of still, pure, effulgent thoughts and destroys the dense darkness
awareness is liberation, the state beyond of nescience; it effaces all worry; it
compare. Those who maintain an illuminates the intellect with the
unbroken abidance in that Supreme state radiance of pure awareness; it wipes out
will never more be touched by suffering all conceptual confusions; it fixes one in
or confusion, and will be absolved from Brahman-Self; it transforms a host of
all duties. Such duties, if any, will impending disasters into auspicious
somehow be completed without any events; and lastly, it destroys the ego-
volition on their part. They will eternally mind utterly with all its afflictions.
abide as the sole Supreme Self.
Only by those strong willed persons who
By the persistent and continued make earnest and persistent Self-enquiry
conviction that "I am the Brahman-Self", will the turbulent mind be calmed and
all thoughts and feelings of firmly established in the awareness-Self.
differentiation of Self and non-Self will
drop off and permanent abidance in One should relentlessly pursue Self-
Brahman-Self will be achieved. This is enquiry until all conceptual forms of
possible only for those with a keen creature, world and creator merge and
enquiring mind intent on knowing the disappear in the pure, thought-free, alert
Self and not for those who are indifferent awareness-Self, enabling one to abide in
about Self-knowledge. the faith that "I am the Brahman-Self".

Ignorance and indifference in regard to the It is only the mind which appears as the
enquiry of the truth about one's Self is the world and bondage; there is no world other
store house of nescience and trouble, than the mind. On enquiry, this mind
blocking the view of the Self, and creating turns out to be nothing more than a
in a split second all sorts of illusions and group of ripple-thoughts in the still ocean
harassment of mental worry. Non-enquiry of pure awareness-Shiva-Self. I am that
renders liberation impossible. Shiva-Self only and there is nothing apart
from me. In this firm experience one
In short, non-enquiry will steep one should ever abide.
forever in the ocean of earthly suffering.
There is no greater enemy for one than There is no world apart from the mind.
non-enquiry. With the kind help of the What appears as the world is only the
Satguru, one should enquire, "Who am I? mind. If this mind is investigated, it turns
What is this world? What is the Reality out to be nothing more than a bundle of
behind all these?" thoughts based on the primary thought of "I
am the body", called the ego. If this ego-I
is enquired into and its identity searched

10
out, it gets swallowed up without a trace Whatever names and forms are seen by me
in the pure awareness-being-Shiva- in my dream are not anything apart from
Self. One should maintain this firm me. Even so, this world seen by me in my
conviction that "I am Self-Shiva" until that waking state is not anything apart from
state of being the Shiva-Self becomes the me, the awareness-Self that I am. The
spontaneous experience free from any wise one should give up all
effort. differentiation of Self and non-Self, and
abide as pure Self only.
In me, the pure awareness-Self, the
universe is born, maintained and dissolved If this world of the waking state is not
as the mind. Therefore, there are no mind evanescent in its nature, whatever is seen
and thought forms of objects apart from in the waking state must be seen during
me, the Self. In this firm experience one sleep also. Since I, as pure Self, exist alone
should ever abide. and always, there is no room for thought of
a non-Self world. I-Brahman-Self is the sole
One should ever abide as pure Shiva-Self by existence.
the firm experience that there are no
thought forms of creature, world and No world exists during the absence of the
creator apart from the mind which is just mind, and there is no mind apart from
an array of ripples in me the still ocean of my awareness-Self. So, mind and world
pure awareness-Self and therefore I am the are nothing apart from the Self, and I am
sole being Shiva-Self only. ever that sole existence-awareness-
Brahman-Self. The wise one should abolish
Even as the world, seen in my dream, is all thought of differentiation of Self and
not apart from me but only my creation, non-Self.
even so, the world of the waking state is
only a creation made by me and seen by I see neither mind nor world during my
me in the medium of my pure awareness- sleep. In my dream there is mind with its
Self. In this experience one should firmly creation, the dream world. The dream
abide. world is falsified in my waking state. But I-
Self exist always. Arguing thus, one must
The rock-firm conviction that "I am the give up all differentiation of Self and non-
Self" is the sure mark of firm abidance in Self, and ever abide firmly as the thought-
the Self. Abidance in that conviction under free, alert awareness-Brahman-Self.
all conditions is, true divine worship,
meditation on God, incantation of mantras, All diversities of world, mind, wakefulness,
practice of right conduct in life, dream, sleep, talk of you and me are
contemplation, integral Yoga, wisdom of evanescent, and yet, not apart from the
the Self and final liberation. Self. Thus, a wise one should give up all
thought of Self and non-Self and abide as
Whatever appears as illusion, creator, Self only.
creature, mind, world, names and forms
are the pure Brahman-Self only and not In dim light the illusion of a serpent is seen
apart from that Self. in a rope, and this serpent is nothing but
the rope. Even so all illusion of non-Self
Steady abidance in the rock-firm exists in the Self only. Thus wise one
conviction born of the experience that "I should give up all thought of Self and non-
am the Self", is the greatest Yoga, total Self and ever abide firmly in the peace of
dissolution of the mind, true the Self.
renunciation, true wisdom and final
liberation.

11
In the wisdom of integral experience, I am You are the sole Supreme Godhead, the
the non-dual, Transcendental, motionless, Self. There is nothing apart from
peaceful, bondage-free, notion-free, sky of you. This, we declare to be the ultimate
pure consciousness only. With this Truth after a complete analysis of all the
experience one should reject all scriptures. By the holy feet of Shiva, we
differentiation of Self and non-Self and swear this to be the truth beyond all
ever abide firmly in the peace of Brahman- doubt. By the feet of the Satguru, we
Self. swear again that this is the truth declared
by the Upanishads.
One should give up all yogic practices like
breath control, all religious dogmas and By the sole practice of the teachings of
their diverse disciplines and be ever this book, all confusion and ignorance
satisfied in simple abidance as the Self will be destroyed. Firm abidance in the
only. Self will be the positive result. With the
fusion of the wisdom and peaceful bliss in
Only those who contemplate on Lord Shiva, the Self, liberation will be attained.
the pure supporting screen of all
manifestation, gain the pure experience of Only when all sins are washed off by the
continued Self abidance. Apart from this practice of virtues running through many
devotion to Lord Shiva, the pure, alert lives, one gets the rare opportunity of
awareness-Self, there are no other means securing this treatise and practising its
leading to liberation. tenets.

The non-dual sole being existing in deep By the feet of Lord Shiva we declare that
sleep conjures up a world in the dream only those whose cycle of births and deaths
state. Even so, the shadow world conjured has come to an end with this life will ever
up in the waking state is the work of the get this treatise in their hands and practise
power, inherent in one's own Brahman-Self. its teachings.
Abiding firmly in the experience of pure
Brahman-Self, one finds that the mind and O My Lord Satguru! By Thy Grace I have, in
all its confabulations [fabricate imaginary a split second, shed all sense of
experiences  as compensation for the loss differentiation of Self and non-Self; I have
of memory] are lost forever. attained the certainty that "All is Brahman
and I am that Brahman-Self"; I have
One should remain firm in the conviction become settled in the Eternal bliss of
"I am the Self" and reject all thoughts like Brahman-Self.
"I am this body" and "This world is
real". If one maintains this habit I am verily the being-consciousness-bliss-
unremittingly, this false belief will drop Brahman-Self. I am the Eternal undisturbed
away even as a flower held in the hand peace devoid of name and form. I am the
slips away when one falls into deep flawless integral whole of all existence.
slumber. Firmly I am settled in my sole Brahman-
Self.
One is solely responsible for one's own
liberation or bondage, since the choice of I have become the five elements,
destroying the restless mind or allowing multitudinous worlds scattered in the
it to roam at large rests with that one skies, all existing things and their histories,
only. Therefore, one should conquer the all the Vedas, and all the diversities of
restless mind by steady abidance in the name and form.
pure, thought-free, alert-awareness-Self
only. At one stroke I have become the bodies,

12
senses, and souls owning them, the mind, Self!
intellect, intuition, ego, the primal Salutations to that integral Perfection, the
nescience and the restless commotion of Self!
spirit, and in short all that is seen and Salutations to that effulgent-awareness,
known. the Self!
Salutations to that blemish-free Self
That mature jnani who is lost in the total without attributes!
stillness of the pure, effulgent awareness- Salutations to that indivisible Unity, the
Brahman-Self, devoid of the least trace of Self!
nescience, fully devoid of all consciousness Salutations to that pure sky of
of the body and its three states of waking, consciousness, the Self!
dream and sleep, devoid of all distinctions
of name and form and devoid of any Salutations to that goal integral existence,
thought of bondage or freedom is a the Self!
videhamukta.

Thou hast, O Lord Satguru, taken me across

the boundless ocean of samsara in the boat QUESTION :  While sitting near you, what
of Self-knowledge. To me, floundering in sort of mental state should I have so as to
the misery of the belief that "I am the receive the transmission from the Self?
body" thou hast taught that "I am the
Brahman-Self" and vouchsafed to me the Ramana: Keep your mind still. That is
bliss of all embracing awareness-being. To enough. You will get spiritual help sitting
thee, I render these devout salutations. in this hall if you keep yourself still. The
aim of all practices is to give up all
Salutations to thee, my Lord Satguru! Thou practices. When the mind becomes still,
hast destroyed my illusion that I am the the power of the Self will be
body and that the world is apart from me experienced. The waves of the Self are
and is real. Thou hast given me the pervading everywhere. If the mind is in
experience of my own Brahman-Self. Thou peace, one begins to experience them.
hast destroyed my wrong belief that action
is the road to salvation, and showing that Question: Which is better for me, to gaze
knowledge alone could make one free. at your eyes or your face? Or should I sit
Thou hast given me my salvation in the Self with closed eyes and concentrate my mind
. on a particular thing?

To that Satguru who is the core of my Self, Ramana: Gaze at your own real nature. It
who destroyed my nescience by the gift of is immaterial whether the eyes are open or
awareness-Self, to that embodiment of closed. Everywhere there is only the one,
Self-knowledge, do I offer these so it is all the same whether you keep your
salutations. eyes open or closed. If you wish to
meditate, do so on the "I" that is within
Salutations to the Satguru who is the you. It is the Self. Because it has no eyes,
embodiment of undisturbed peace, without there is no need either to open or close the
attributes, Eternal purity, all-pervasive eyes. When you attain Self-knowledge,
infinite sky of consciousness and integral there will no longer be any ideas about the
Perfection. world. When you are sitting in a room,
whether the windows are open or closed,
Salutations to being-consciousness-bliss- you are the same person, in the same
Shiva-Self! state. In the same way, if you abide in the
Salutations to that peace undisturbed, the Reality, it is all the same whether the eyes

13
are open or closed. It matters little and taking medicine for them, it is better
whether external activities go on or not. to see that such bad habits are not formed.

Question: In my present state, is there Question: During and after meditation, I

sufficient faith, humility and surrender in get many thoughts about the unhappy
me? If not, how to make them complete? people of the world. What will happen to
the world?
Ramana: You are perfect and complete,
so abandon the idea of Ramana: First find out whether there is an
incompleteness. There is nothing to be "I" in you or not. It is this ego "I" that gets
destroyed. Ahankara, the individual "I", is these thoughts and, as a result, you feel
not a real thing. It is the mind that makes weakness. Therefore find out how
the effort and the mind is not real. Just as identification with the body takes place.
it is not necessary to kill a rope that one Body consciousness is the cause of all
imagines to be a snake, so also there is no misery. When you conduct the enquiry into
need to kill the mind. Knowing the form of the ego "I", you will find out its Source and
the mind makes the mind disappear. That you will be able to remove it. After that
which is forever non-existent is already there will be no more questions of the type
removed. you are asking.

Question: What books should I read for The body itself is a disease. To wish for a
personal study? long stay of that disease is not the aim of
the jnani [one who has realised the Self].
Ramana: The Self is the real book. You Anyhow, one has to give up identification
can glance anywhere in that book; with the body. Just as the "I am the body"
nobody can take it away from you. consciousness prevents one from attaining
Whenever you are free, turn towards the Self-knowledge, in the same way, one who
Self. Thereafter you may read whatever has got the conviction that he is not the
you like. body will become liberated even if he
doesn't desire it.
Question: How to uproot the weariness,
fear and anxiety that arise during  
meditation?

Ramana: Find out to whom these questions

occur. By conducting this enquiry these
things will disappear. These things are
impermanent. Do not pay attention to
them. When there is knowledge of duality,
fear arises. Fear only comes when you
think that there are others apart from
you. If you direct your mind towards the
Self, fear and anxiety will go away. In your
present state, when your mind is agitated,
if you remove one kind of fear, another
will rise up and there will be no end of
them. It is a laborious task to pluck the
leaves off a tree one by one. The "I" feeling
is the root of all thoughts. If you destroy
the root, the leaves and branches will
wither away. Instead of forming bad habits

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