Ramana's Devotion
I went back to Ramanasramam and asked the Maharshi, 'Are you the person who appeared to me in Madras and told me, "Krishna bhakti alone is true"?' He heard my question but he didn't give me a reply.
While I was waiting for an answer, a group of devotees came from Vrindavan. They were on a tour of pilgrimage places in the South. On their visit to Tirupati they had heard that there was swami in Tiruvanamalai who was worth visiting. So, they all came along to have darshan. The leader presented the Maharshi with a picture of Krishna playing the flute for Radha. It was a beautiful picture. As the Maharshi was looking at the picture, tears started trickling down his cheeks. When you have intense devotion for Krishna, you can easily pick out other devotees who have that same passion. I could see that these were real tears of devotion and that they came from the heart and not from the mind. As I watched the tears trickling down his cheeks, I felt them trickling into my own Heart. It was a divine shower that filled my own Heart with love. He was so happy looking at that picture, and I felt so happy looking at him appreciate it.
I thought to myself, "This man has been hiding his devotion from me. He doesn't like to show it publicly, but now I have found out his secret. He is just as much a bhakta as I am."
A bird cannot fly without two wings. After this revalation I saw that the Maharshi was soaring on the twin wings of bhakti and jnana [ devotion and transcendental knowledge ]. From that moment on, my doubts evaporated and I had immense faith in him.
- From Nothing Ever Happened, Vol 1 by David Godman
I went back to Ramanasramam and asked the Maharshi, 'Are you the person who appeared to me in Madras and told me, "Krishna bhakti alone is true"?' He heard my question but he didn't give me a reply.
While I was waiting for an answer, a group of devotees came from Vrindavan. They were on a tour of pilgrimage places in the South. On their visit to Tirupati they had heard that there was swami in Tiruvanamalai who was worth visiting. So, they all came along to have darshan. The leader presented the Maharshi with a picture of Krishna playing the flute for Radha. It was a beautiful picture. As the Maharshi was looking at the picture, tears started trickling down his cheeks. When you have intense devotion for Krishna, you can easily pick out other devotees who have that same passion. I could see that these were real tears of devotion and that they came from the heart and not from the mind. As I watched the tears trickling down his cheeks, I felt them trickling into my own Heart. It was a divine shower that filled my own Heart with love. He was so happy looking at that picture, and I felt so happy looking at him appreciate it.
I thought to myself, "This man has been hiding his devotion from me. He doesn't like to show it publicly, but now I have found out his secret. He is just as much a bhakta as I am."
A bird cannot fly without two wings. After this revalation I saw that the Maharshi was soaring on the twin wings of bhakti and jnana [ devotion and transcendental knowledge ]. From that moment on, my doubts evaporated and I had immense faith in him.
- From Nothing Ever Happened, Vol 1 by David Godman
Sadhana is not for freedom but to remove your old habits. Freedom is standing in front of you, smiling at you, as you do your sadhana. Your old tendencies, which you grasp, are an imaginary wall. This wall is the thought "I am bound and suffering."
The one who follows the thought is also a thought!
The one who follows the thought IS in thought.
When you know that both are thoughts, you are home.
You are not in Home, you ARE Home.
Then allow thoughts to arise and allow them to be followed. You remain as That unmoved and unconcerned Being. This is the highest understanding.
The one who follows the thought IS in thought.
When you know that both are thoughts, you are home.
You are not in Home, you ARE Home.
Then allow thoughts to arise and allow them to be followed. You remain as That unmoved and unconcerned Being. This is the highest understanding.
There is nothing more beautiful then this Being
The happiness of all beings combined
is not one millionth the happiness of Being.
Thought cannot trespass into its purity,
not even the “I” thought can enter.
Don’t think or understand, just stay as thus.
Keep in tune with the source and all actions will be correct.
If you don’t there will be trouble no matter what you do.
With arrogance of ego there is no skillfulness
and without arrogance everything is skillful
Just as space in a room is not affected by how much furniture is in the room so space is not affected by activity or by mind or by thought. You are Space, do not touch the furniture in this space, which means keep quiet, do not mentate, do not activate thoughts. If thoughts arise allow them to come and go, but don’t hold on to them or let them land. Do not touch “I am the body.” Instead the first and last thought must be, “I am pure infinite Consciousness, I am Love itself.”
Know the truth of this, and not just the words!
The Truth is all what is.
The happiness of all beings combined
is not one millionth the happiness of Being.
Thought cannot trespass into its purity,
not even the “I” thought can enter.
Don’t think or understand, just stay as thus.
Keep in tune with the source and all actions will be correct.
If you don’t there will be trouble no matter what you do.
With arrogance of ego there is no skillfulness
and without arrogance everything is skillful
Just as space in a room is not affected by how much furniture is in the room so space is not affected by activity or by mind or by thought. You are Space, do not touch the furniture in this space, which means keep quiet, do not mentate, do not activate thoughts. If thoughts arise allow them to come and go, but don’t hold on to them or let them land. Do not touch “I am the body.” Instead the first and last thought must be, “I am pure infinite Consciousness, I am Love itself.”
Know the truth of this, and not just the words!
The Truth is all what is.
You have to simply become aware of the movement of the mind,
which begins this endless trouble.
which begins this endless trouble.
You are the Unchangeable Awareness in which All activity takes place. Always Rest in Peace.
You are Eternal Being, Unbounded and Undivided.
Just Keep Quiet. All is well.
Keep Quiet Here and Now.
You are Happiness. You are Peace. You are Freedom.
Do not entertain any notions that you are in trouble.
Be Kind to Yourself.
Open to your Heart and Simply Be.
You are Eternal Being, Unbounded and Undivided.
Just Keep Quiet. All is well.
Keep Quiet Here and Now.
You are Happiness. You are Peace. You are Freedom.
Do not entertain any notions that you are in trouble.
Be Kind to Yourself.
Open to your Heart and Simply Be.
To find permanent joy, you must look in the right direction. You will not find it in any outside object. Every object will rise, stay, and then cease. You have to look somewhere else for permanent, eternal joy. Don't attribute joy to something else, be it a person, the sun, moon, or stars.
Stop this tendency of going to outside objects, whatever they may be. Stop your mind from going in any direction outside. Then you must return to your inner beauty. That is your own nature: bliss eternal, which you have never felt.
Stop this tendency of going to outside objects, whatever they may be. Stop your mind from going in any direction outside. Then you must return to your inner beauty. That is your own nature: bliss eternal, which you have never felt.
The scriptures speak of three Holy rivers Within.
These are Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss.
Being beyond thought or effort
they cannot be objectified or subjectified.
They are so dear, so near, behind the retina and before the breath.
You need not see This, you are it.
These are Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss.
Being beyond thought or effort
they cannot be objectified or subjectified.
They are so dear, so near, behind the retina and before the breath.
You need not see This, you are it.
Don't keep the past in your mind. You have to love the Self, if you don't you are rejected by the Self. Self stands with extended arms waiting for you, but you look somewhere else! "Come my child, it is enough! Now come to me and I will give you rest". But you don't listen, you just look to something else. Whose fault is this? The Beloved is waiting for you, but you are looking toward the red lights.
What we speak about anybody can reasonably understand. And if it is understood it becomes a trap. Understanding and not understanding are all in the scheme of ignorance, just a realm of mind. This is not learning. This is your birthright. You cannot study to be what you are. You do not need to understand in order to breathe.
So when something comes in front of you just stay as the Truth, which does not move, and react to the circumstances whatever they may be, good or bad. Just react without any possessive concept in you. Whatever happens keep most interested in Self and see that all rises is Self rising out of Self. Self is not interested in possessing things because Self is total. So don't react with interest or reward or possession. Then you will be free and your interactions will be out of compassion and life will be like sailing in the breeze of non-attachment. This breeze comes from Self and will happen after Freedom, not before.
When you are Free still you have to live because still the world will be there but living will be very compassionate. Just love each other, and hold no hatred with anything. This depends on you, how you take things, and whether this "I" is from the ego or whether it is from Nowhere. The "I" from Nowhere contains the whole universe and this is total understanding itself.
When you are Free still you have to live because still the world will be there but living will be very compassionate. Just love each other, and hold no hatred with anything. This depends on you, how you take things, and whether this "I" is from the ego or whether it is from Nowhere. The "I" from Nowhere contains the whole universe and this is total understanding itself.
Everyone is God, but we do not see it unless we see God within ourselves. If you first see God in yourself you will see him in the animals, birds, rocks.
Surrender to God and keep Quiet and he will take your responsibilities. As long as you take your responsibilities on your own head, God doesn't take care and it seems that he is hiding.
Surrender to God and keep Quiet and he will take your responsibilities. As long as you take your responsibilities on your own head, God doesn't take care and it seems that he is hiding.
You are the Fullness of Love in Love
and the Emptiness of Awareness.
You are Existence and the Peace beyond Peace.
You are that screen on which all is projected.
You are the Light of Knowledge,
the One who gave concept of creation to the creator.
Forget what can be forgotten and know yourself
to be that which can never be forgotten.
You are the substratum on which everything moves, let it move.
You are Now, You are Nowness:
what 'I' is there which can be out of this Now?
You are the Truth and only the Truth Is
and the Emptiness of Awareness.
You are Existence and the Peace beyond Peace.
You are that screen on which all is projected.
You are the Light of Knowledge,
the One who gave concept of creation to the creator.
Forget what can be forgotten and know yourself
to be that which can never be forgotten.
You are the substratum on which everything moves, let it move.
You are Now, You are Nowness:
what 'I' is there which can be out of this Now?
You are the Truth and only the Truth Is
When anybody laughs he has no thought, there is no mind, and there is no suffering. It is the mind that suffers. Therefore laugh away your problems.
There is no escape from Love, there is no east or west for Peace and Freedom. No matter where you go it is always within you.
Bhakti is love. It is romance. It can't be just going to the temple for an hour. It is a romance you can never forget for an instant. It's a real romance with your own Self. If you surrender to the divine, your work is done. Surrender or inquire.
To find permanent joy, you must look in the right direction. You will not find it in any outside object. Every object will rise, stay, and then cease. You have to look somewhere else for permanent, eternal joy. Don't attribute joy to something else, be it a person, the sun, moon, or stars.
Stop this tendency of going to outside objects, whatever they may be. Stop your mind from going in any direction outside. Then you must return to your inner beauty. That is your own nature: bliss eternal, which you have never felt.
Stop this tendency of going to outside objects, whatever they may be. Stop your mind from going in any direction outside. Then you must return to your inner beauty. That is your own nature: bliss eternal, which you have never felt.
Free your mind of all attachment, and you are God itself. Free of desire, you are absolute. There is no doubt about it. Just get rid of desire for one second, and see how you feel. In this instant, you fall in love with your own Self.
Whatever comes let it come,
whatever stays let stay, what goes let go,
always keep Quiet, and always adore Self:
this is the essence of living skillfully
in the world of appearance.
During all activities of life
is to accept whatever comes
and not care about what does not come.
Things will come so enjoy them and be happy
Let the play happen by the Supreme Power;
you will be taken care of.
Be free to be happy, love has no traps.
If you are happy all will be happy,
if you suffer, all will suffer,
if your mind smells bad others will be affected.
Keep yourself happy in peace, Light, Wisdom, Consciousness
This is your responsibility.
Be happy and have compassion
and live hand and hand with nature.
This makes birth worthwhile.
Start from Heart and see that all arises from Heart.
Always do this, Always be This.
whatever stays let stay, what goes let go,
always keep Quiet, and always adore Self:
this is the essence of living skillfully
in the world of appearance.
During all activities of life
is to accept whatever comes
and not care about what does not come.
Things will come so enjoy them and be happy
Let the play happen by the Supreme Power;
you will be taken care of.
Be free to be happy, love has no traps.
If you are happy all will be happy,
if you suffer, all will suffer,
if your mind smells bad others will be affected.
Keep yourself happy in peace, Light, Wisdom, Consciousness
This is your responsibility.
Be happy and have compassion
and live hand and hand with nature.
This makes birth worthwhile.
Start from Heart and see that all arises from Heart.
Always do this, Always be This.
Go to where the physicality of the world rises from and you will discover the vastness, the secret sacred core of your heart. This is who you are, but hold any object or take yourself to be anything and you will forget this, all due to desires and hopes. All is One and One is all. Identify yourself with the common center giving up old habits of desires and hopes and you are the Emperor of the Universe. Go to this Here and Now and you are this Here and Now.
In Freedom, In Reality,
there is no process or way or path,
no here, no there,
no this, no that,
no 'me', no 'you',
no concepts, no name, no form,
no mind, no bondage, no duality.
Nothing has happened.
Nothing is happening.
Nothing ever will happen.
Only Self Is.
there is no process or way or path,
no here, no there,
no this, no that,
no 'me', no 'you',
no concepts, no name, no form,
no mind, no bondage, no duality.
Nothing has happened.
Nothing is happening.
Nothing ever will happen.
Only Self Is.
Love doesn't disappear at all,
but this word love is mistaken for lust.
Love is pure, it cannot change.
If you once fall in Love with your own Self,
there is no escape from it.
But when it comes and goes,
some person must be involved in it.
and that is called lust, not love.
but this word love is mistaken for lust.
Love is pure, it cannot change.
If you once fall in Love with your own Self,
there is no escape from it.
But when it comes and goes,
some person must be involved in it.
and that is called lust, not love.
Be attached only to this moment.
When you hold something other than your true nature
you will be disturbed.
By holding attachment to transient things
you declare to yourself that you are not the fullness in which all is.
Self is totality and therefore cannot possess or desire;
So possessing is a veil, a lie.
When you hold something other than your true nature
you will be disturbed.
By holding attachment to transient things
you declare to yourself that you are not the fullness in which all is.
Self is totality and therefore cannot possess or desire;
So possessing is a veil, a lie.
Whatever you think, so it becomes because it is Consciousness and everything is possible in Consciousness. You have created all these manifestations, all these waves in the ocean. You are so capable, so vast, so full, so complete, so conscious. You can create all of this so why suffer? Emptiness is never affected by appearances in Emptiness. The ocean does not suffer when a wave rises. It does not even suffer when a wave falls. Let the waves dance and let them enjoy. Just stay Here and see only Love and Beauty and Happiness. This is the Ultimate Understanding.
Surrender, let Silence have you.
Surrender to the source,
Surrender to awareness, this is the only place of protection.
Surrender your heart and you will know all.
Surrender to Consciousness and Bliss.
Surrender means to surrender your bondage and to simply be Freedom. Surrender is the ego bowing down to its Source. No more demands or commands, but putting all in the hands of Source. Submit to Consciousness and Bliss and you will be happy. Surrender the addiction to your senses. You don't need to stop them, but you need to have perfect control over them. Ego is a poor driver of these five horses, but the Atman charioteer will not make a mistake. Surrender the reigns of your senses to the Atman. As the river surrenders to the ocean, surrender yourself to the Self, the Source. And if you find you are still swimming on the surface of the ocean: stop swimming and you will sink into the depths of Love.
Surrender to the source,
Surrender to awareness, this is the only place of protection.
Surrender your heart and you will know all.
Surrender to Consciousness and Bliss.
Surrender means to surrender your bondage and to simply be Freedom. Surrender is the ego bowing down to its Source. No more demands or commands, but putting all in the hands of Source. Submit to Consciousness and Bliss and you will be happy. Surrender the addiction to your senses. You don't need to stop them, but you need to have perfect control over them. Ego is a poor driver of these five horses, but the Atman charioteer will not make a mistake. Surrender the reigns of your senses to the Atman. As the river surrenders to the ocean, surrender yourself to the Self, the Source. And if you find you are still swimming on the surface of the ocean: stop swimming and you will sink into the depths of Love.
Beings
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