maharishi ramana

BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA'S TALKS :

IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND BHAGAVAN RAMANA IF YOU READ THE QUESTIONS PUT TO HIM AND THE ANSWERS GIVEN BY HIM, SLOWLY, CONCENTRATING ON EACH WORD ATTENTIVELY WITH INVOLVEMENT AND INTEREST TO LEARN.- It is made simple for you. So you will enjoy profusely. JKS

Devotee: People give some names to God and say that the name is sacred and repetitions of the name bestow merit on the individual. Can it be true?

Maharishi: Why not? You bear a name to which you answer. But your body was not born with that name written on it, nor did it say to anyone that it bore such and such a name. And yet a name is given to you and you answer to that name, because you have identified yourself with the name. Therefore the name signifies something and it is not a mere fiction. Similarly, God’s name is effective. Repetition of the name is remembrance of what it signifies. Hence its merit.

How mere sounds assuring him of Grace would satisfy him unless he had faith.

D: I have received a mantra. People frighten me saying that it may have unforeseen results if repeated. It is only Pranava. So I seek advice. May I repeat it? I have considerable faith in it.

M.: Certainly, it should be repeated with faith.

D.: Will it do by itself? Or can you kindly give me any further

instructions?

M.: The object of mantra japa is to realise that the same japa is

already going on in oneself even without effort. The oral japa

becomes mental and the mental japa finally reveals itself as being eternal. That mantra is the person’s real nature. That is also the state of realisation.

D.: Can the bliss of samadhi be gained thus?

M.: The japa becomes mental and finally reveals itself as the Self. That is samadhi.

D.: Please show Grace to me and strengthen me in my efforts!

Is thought of God necessary for fixing one’s sight (or making the mind one-pointed)?”

M.: What is the practice?

D.: To fix the look.

M.: What for?

D.: To gain concentration.

M.: The practice gives work for the eye right enough; but where is the work for the mind in the process?

D.: What should I do for it?

M.: Thought of God, certainly.

D.: Does the practice make one ill?

M.: Maybe. But all will be rightly adjusted of its own accord.

D.: I practised dhyana for four hours a day and fixation of sight for two hours. I became ill. Then others said that it was owing to my practice. So I gave up dhyana.

M.: Matters will adjust themselves.

D.: Is it not better that the gaze of the eye becomes fixed naturally?

Is practice necessary to fix the gaze or is it better to leave it to

happen of its own accord?

M.: What is practice if it is not an attempt to make something natural? It will become natural after long practice.