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WORKING FOR IMMORTALITY
A Discussion with Ma
An American woman, Markell Brooks had been only for twelve days in India when she asked Anandamayi Ma:
Question: Since the will of the individual is illusory and one does not know God's will, how can one lead a purposeful life in this world.
Ma: By contemplating the Self, one will find out. It is man's principal duty to aspire to Self-realization.
Question: What about self-expression in art?
Ma: This also belongs to that which is fleeting. You paint a picture, but it can't last. The most beautiful song fades away in a moment.
Question: Presuming that the striving goes on no matter what, how can one know how to live — in relation both to human beings and one's own creative energies?
Ma: A man who is after worldly things and is occupied with the business of this world gets satisfaction out of what he does, for otherwise why should he do it? He feels he is doing well, he gets praise and fame, money and position and his mind is always occupied with his affairs. If someone is opposed to him and puts obstacles in his way, he gets angry and hostile.
A person who strives after Self-realization will turn to Mahatmas [great souls] for advice, guidance, and company. He will start reading books written by such men. He will admire them and wish to become like them and so, since he is searching for Truth, he will come to be truthful in behavior and speech. The Self is one, so remember the Oneness of all.
Although a dog may bite you, you will not bite back. The man who strives after worldly goods and satisfaction is working for death because everything in the world is constantly dying and something else is born. The child dies to the young girl and the girl to the woman etc. But the man who is after Self-realization is working for immortality. When living and working in the world one's creative power is exhausted in the pursuit of sense objects so one may come to feel weak, tired or ill.
But by striving after Self-realization one's creative power is preserved and strengthened.
While the person who lives in the world takes pleasure in parties, meeting people etc, the one who is out for Self-realization will take pleasure in meditation, singing the praises of God, reading books of wisdom, listening to discourses by great souls and mixing with those who are pilgrims on the path.
- Death Must Die, p. 529
A Discussion with Ma
An American woman, Markell Brooks had been only for twelve days in India when she asked Anandamayi Ma:
Question: Since the will of the individual is illusory and one does not know God's will, how can one lead a purposeful life in this world.
Ma: By contemplating the Self, one will find out. It is man's principal duty to aspire to Self-realization.
Question: What about self-ex
Ma: This also belongs to that which is fleeting. You paint a picture, but it can't last. The most beautiful song fades away in a moment.
Question: Presuming that the striving goes on no matter what, how can one know how to live — in relation both to human beings and one's own creative energies?
Ma: A man who is after worldly things and is occupied with the business of this world gets satisfaction out of what he does, for otherwise why should he do it? He feels he is doing well, he gets praise and fame, money and position and his mind is always occupied with his affairs. If someone is opposed to him and puts obstacles in his way, he gets angry and hostile.
A person who strives after Self-realization will turn to Mahatmas [great souls] for advice, guidance, and company. He will start reading books written by such men. He will admire them and wish to become like them and so, since he is searching for Truth, he will come to be truthful in behavior and speech. The Self is one, so remember the Oneness of all.
Although a dog may bite you, you will not bite back. The man who strives after worldly goods and satisfaction is working for death because everything in the world is constantly dying and something else is born. The child dies to the young girl and the girl to the woman etc. But the man who is after Self-realization is working for immortality. When living and working in the world one's creative power is exhausted in the pursuit of sense objects so one may come to feel weak, tired or ill.
But by striving after Self-realization one's creative power is preserved and strengthened.
While the person who lives in the world takes pleasure in parties, meeting people etc, the one who is out for Self-realization will take pleasure in meditation, singing the praises of God, reading books of wisdom, listening to discourses by great souls and mixing with those who are pilgrims on the path.
- Death Must Die, p. 529
Yesterday some foreigners asked Mataji questions.
Q: How can I get Self-Realization?
Anandamayi Ma: The Self is Swayam Prakash (self-illumined), so you need not do anything.
Q: But have we not to make an effort towards it?
Ma: Yes, there is a veil over the Self and you can remove it by your effort.
Q: What is the process towards this?
Ma: Do you really want it? Then will you do without questioning what I tell you?
Q: (hesitating) I came to India for this purpose and I regard Ramana Maharshi as my guru.
Ma: Then you must do exactly as He tells you. If you want Self-Realization and nothing else, you shall find a way. There is no doubt about it.
This is really the point and justifies what J.Krishnamurti said: “ If one is in dead earnest, this very seriousness becomes the guru.”
But who is in dead earnest?
- Death Must Die
Q: How can I get Self-Realization?
Anandamayi Ma: The Self is Swayam Prakash (self-illumined), so you need not do anything.
Q: But have we not to make an effort towards it?
Ma: Yes, there is a veil over the Self and you can remove it by your effort.
Q: What is the process towards this?
Ma: Do you really want it? Then will you do without questioning what I tell you?
Q: (hesitating) I came to India for this purpose and I regard Ramana Maharshi as my guru.
Ma: Then you must do exactly as He tells you. If you want Self-Realization and nothing else, you shall find a way. There is no doubt about it.
This is really the point and justifies what J.Krishnamurti said: “ If one is in dead earnest, this very seriousness becomes the guru.”
But who is in dead earnest?
- Death Must Die
Serve everyone always with the feeling that one is serving the Supreme Being.
The Grace of the Guru always pours down on you, but you must have mercy upon yourself so that you may realize this. If your cup is turned upside down, how can anything catch it?
Have you not noticed how, when you find it impossible to get the object of your love, you either wish to kill it or to die yourself? Whereas, the love of God, takes you to the death of death, to Immortality.
If there were, it would mean that the discovery of the Real depends on the efforts of the individual. The Supreme would not be the Supreme if He were subject to anything at all. He and He alone is at all times. To wear out the veil that occludes the vision of Reality is all that man can do, and that he has got to do.
Real silence means there is actually nowhere else for the mind to go .
When by the flood of your tears the inner and outer have fused into one, you will find Her whom you sought with such anguish, nearer than the nearest, the very breath of life, the very core of every heart.
No two fruits are alike. Yet it is one life that throbs in every particle of the tree. So, it is the same Atman everywhere.
Just as ice is nothing but water, so the Beloved is without form, without quality, and the question of manifestation does not arise. When this is realized, one has realized one’s Self.
Blessed is he [she] who breathes his last breath pronouncing God’s Name.
What a comedy God's Lila is! What a lunatic asylum! He Himself is sporting with Himself!
Without loving God you will not get anywhere. Remember this at all times.
By ceaseless prayer He Who is Akhands (whole) is found. One's own Self, the Life of one's life, the Beloved of One's heart is the One to be eagerly sought.
Who is known as a Vaishnava? One who sees Visnu everywhere. And as a Sakta? One who beholds the Great Mother, and nothing save Her. In truth, all the various ways of thought spring from one common source - who then is to be blamed, who to be reviled or suppressed? All are equal in essence.
The Universe was created out of joy
and this is why you find joy in the fleeting things of the world. Without joy, life is an ordeal.
You must try to attain to that great Joy
which has brought forth the world.
and this is why you find joy in the fleeting things of the world. Without joy, life is an ordeal.
You must try to attain to that great Joy
which has brought forth the world.
To the extent to which one becomes indifferent to worldly pursuits will one progress towards real Bliss
The right sustenance for the mind cannot be had from anything that is of this world and hence perishable, but solely from that which is Eternal. The taste of the Eternal will still the mind. The Universe was created out of joy and this is why you find joy in the fleeting things of the world. Without joy life is an ordeal. You must try to attain to that great Joy which has brought forth the world.
O Will Supreme, Thy Will prevails.
The Fountain of Goodness accomplishes everything when the time is ripe.
To aspire to That which is Eternal Truth is right for everyone.
Of Thee alone must be the spoken word,
All else is but futility and pain.
The Fountain of Goodness accomplishes everything when the time is ripe.
To aspire to That which is Eternal Truth is right for everyone.
Of Thee alone must be the spoken word,
All else is but futility and pain.
It is for the Guru to point out the method; he will show you the way to understanding and instruct you in your sadhana. It is for you to keep on practiCing it faithfully. But the fruit comes spontaneously in the form of Self-revelation.
The power to make you grasp the Ungraspable duly manifests itself through the Guru. Where the question "How am I to proceed?" arises, fulfillment has obviously not yet been reached.
Therefore, never relax your efforts until there is Enlightenment. Let no gaps interrupt your attempt, for a gap will produce an eddy, whereas your striving must be continuous like the flowing of oil, it must be sustained, constant, an unbroken stream.
The power to make you grasp the Ungraspable duly manifests itself through the Guru. Where the question "How am I to proceed?" arises, fulfillment has obviously not yet been reached.
Therefore, never relax your efforts until there is Enlightenment. Let no gaps interrupt your attempt, for a gap will produce an eddy, whereas your striving must be continuous like the flowing of oil, it must be sustained, constant, an unbroken stream.
Treat with equal love all the people with whom you have relations. Thus the abyss between 'myself' and 'yourself' will be filled.
Always bear this in mind: Everything is in God’s hands, and you are His tool to be used by Him as He pleases. Try to grasp the significance of ‘all is His’ and you will immediately feel free from all burdens. What will be the result of your surrender to Him? None will seem alien, all will be your very own Self.
Be truthful in every way.
Without purity one cannot advance towards Divinity.
Without purity one cannot advance towards Divinity.
Questioner: Am I right to believe that you are God? SRI ANANDAMAYI MA: There is nothing save Him alone, everyone and everything are but forms of God. In your person, also He has come here now to give darshan. Q: Then why are you in this world? SRI MA: In this world? I am not anywhere. I am myself reposing within myself. Q: What is your work? SRI MA: I have no work. For whom can I work since there is only One?
It is necessary to try and dedicate to the Supreme every single action of one’s daily life.
You will have peace only if you can rise above worldly desires.
Beings
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