I (S.N.)beseeched him fervently in the following words:
“It is my great desire that I should actually experience your gracious wisdom. Kindly fulfill my desire.”
In those days Sri Ramana was not speaking much. Still, he spoke kindly as follows:
“Is it the body in front of me that desires to obtain my grace? Or is it the awareness within it? If it is the awareness, is it not now looking upon itself as the body and making this request? If so, let the awareness first of all know its real nature. It will then automatically know God and my grace.
The truth of this can be realized even here and now.”
Besides speaking like this, he also explained it in the following way, using examples from my daily experience that I could
understand and relate to.
“It is not the body that desires to obtain the grace. Therefore,
it is clear that it is the awareness that shines here as ‘you’.
To you who are the nature of awareness there is no connection during sleep with the body, the senses, the life force [prana] and the mind. On waking up you identify yourself with them, even without your knowledge. This is your experience. All that you have to do hereafter is see that you do not identify yourself with them. In the states of waking and dream try to remain as you were in the state of deep sleep.
As you are by nature unattached, you have to convert the state of ignorant deep sleep, in which you were formless and unattached, into conscious deep sleep. It is only by doing this that you can remain established in your real nature.
You should never forget that this experience will come only through long practice. This experience will make
it clear that your real nature is not different from the nature of
God.”
This instruction is very concise and full of meaning. The first point is to become aware of not being identified with the body and situation but to realize oneself to be consciousness. This is what we could call an enlightened understanding.
ReplyDeleteThe second point is to hold on to that BEING of sleep in all states and stages of life as continuously as possible.
ReplyDeleteAfter a long practice (for most of us) this BEING will even shine during deep sleep, and it will become most obvious and a direct experience that we are neither born nor can die.
ReplyDelete"This experience will make it clear that your real nature is not different from the nature of God.”
"After a long practice (for most of us) this BEING will even shine during deep sleep, and it will become most obvious and a direct experience that we are neither born nor can die." - Profound statement !!
ReplyDeleteYes, that is the sure sign of freedom from the changeful mind!
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