Words of Grace.
by Atman Nityananda
Just as a Brahmin actor does not forget that he is a Brahmin,
whatever part he may be acting,
so also a man should not confuse himself with his body, but should have a firm awareness of his being the Self, whatever his activity may be.
This awareness will manifest as the mind gets absorbed in its own primal State.
Such absorption leads to Bliss Supreme, when the Self reveals itself spontaneously.
Then one will not be affected by pleasure
and pain, which result from contact with external objects.
Everything will be perceived without attachment, as in a dream.
Such thoughts as
‘Is this good or that?’
‘Is this to be done or that?’
should not be allowed to arise.
Immediately a thought arises, it should be annihilated at its source. If entertained even for a little while, it will hurl one down headlong like a treacherous friend.
Can the mind which is fixed in its original
State possess an ego-sense or have any problem to solve?
Do not such thoughts themselves constitute bondage?
Hence when such thoughts arise due to past tendencies, not only should the mind be curbed and turned back to its true State but also it should be made to remain unconcerned and indifferent to external happenings.
Is it not due to Self-forgetfulness that such thoughts arise and cause more and more misery?
Though the discriminating thought,
‘I am not the doer; all actions are merely the reactions of the body, senses and mind,’ is an aid for turning the mind back to its primal state, nevertheless it is still a thought, but one which is necessary for those minds which are addicted to much thinking.
On the other hand, can the mind, fixed
unswervingly in the divine Self and remaining unaffected even while engaged in activities, give in to such thoughts as ‘I am the body. I am engaged in work’, or again to the discriminating thought, ‘I am not the doer, these actions are merely reactions of the body, senses and mind’?
Gradually one should, by all possible means, try always to be aware of the Self. Everything is achieved if one succeeds in this. Let not the mind be diverted to any other object. One should abide in the Self without the sense of being the doer, even when engaged in work born of destiny,
like a madman.
Have not many devotees achieved much with a detached attitude and firm devotion of this nature?
Sri Ramana Maharshi. Words of Grace.
Chapter: CHAPTER VIII. LIBERATION
A part of the main Chapter: Self-Enquiry.
The ‘secret’ to a plentiful life, a life of harmony, happiness and contentment is to have a sattvic mind free from desires and ego and to live in every moment in conscious contact with our true Self (Consciousness).
🌺 Peace, Love, Harmony
atmannityanada 