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Q: Can you speak about the
path of Self-enquiry and how it is practised?
P: Yes. Self-enquiry is to enquire into your own Self, where
the source is from where the enquiry arises. Follow the
source and return to that unknown place where it begins.
Q: So, it's something that happens all the time?
P: No, only once. When you arrive there, then you will know
that this is the place which gives you happiness and peace,
and makes you keep quiet. And he finds himself there, not by
words. By himself, he knows that this is the source of me,
and the source of all the beings that appear in the
Universe.
Q: How does Self-surrender compliment the practice of
Self-enquiry?
P: So, Self-surrender means, "surrender your ego to the
Self". It doesn't mean that you have to surrender to someone
else. Surrender your ego to the Self itself, and then you
will keep quiet.
Q: It's the same as surrendering your ego to the unknown? Is
the Self like the unknown?
P: Self is unknown. It cannot be known by any person. If it
can be known, it becomes an object. It's not an object,
neither a subject. Therefore, it is called "unknown". Nobody
knows it, you see.
Q: How would you describe Bhagavan to someone who never met
him?
P: I will suggest to him, "You will see Bhagavan, which is
your own Self. Then you will know who Bhagavan is. He lives
within your own heart." And the Self will speak to you
directly, and not indirectly. You will be satisfied because
your doubts will be removed from some unknown person inside
your own heart. And if you cannot understand, then He will
take another form of a person to speak to you directly by
word. But, if you understand, then there is no need for any
person to tell you.
Q: Has the Maharshi's physical demise made a difference in
the guidance that is available to seekers following the path
he laid down?
P: It doesn't make any difference whether he is alive or
whether he is no more now. It doesn't make any difference,
because it is not the form or the person that gives you
satisfaction. And for those who want to seek the path that
he laid, it is always there. That is, to keep quiet and find
out who you are, and find out what is the source of this
Universe and from where does it come. So, this will give you
satisfaction.
Q: How would you describe the place of Ramana Maharshi in
the great tradition of Indian saints and sages?
P: Definitely, it is an ashram, a place where people have
been going in the past. It's very traditional in India that
that place itself is sanctified, where a realised man has
tread on that land. That land itself is very sacred for
those who seek, and it attracts the seekers from all over
the world to that place. Like in Ramanasramam, the teacher
is no more there, but people from all over the world are
going there and they get peace of mind, and it will continue
like this.
Q: What advice would you give a person who is just starting
out in spiritual life, specifically regarding the
application of the teachings of Ramana?
P: Ramana has no teaching at all. He only pulls you from
outside, from the senses which are attracted with other
things. It attracts from inside, so that you will know your
own Self, from within your own self, and not through any
words or any statements given in the Upanishads.
Q: What role does the guru play in the life and teachings of
Ramana Maharshi?
P: The guru plays the part to show you once, the teaching
that the Self is within your own self and you have not to
find it anywhere else. This is the role of the guru, to stop
your search for your Self anywhere else, outside of your own
heart. So, this is the role of the guru. That is very
important, you see.
Q: Where does the seeking start from?
P: No, no. It means that you are your own guru and not
someone who is outside, who teaches you. And this can be
known by one who has really understood it, not to anyone
else. Guru is within you and the Self is that guru, not
known, not outside of any man. So, you will keep quiet. You
know that, "I am the guru and the Self is the guru itself,
and there is no difference between the Self and the guru".
And you will stop your search outside and get abiding peace
within your own Self. This has to be practised and not just
listened to or read somewhere.
Q: The practice, does it come naturally by itself, or does
the individual have to do something?
P: No, no, you have not got to do anything.
Q: So, the practice comes by itself?
P: Yes. It is very clear inside. When you have no doubt,
there is peace and why do you want anything else, from
anywhere?
Q: Bhagavan often spoke of returning to the source. What is
the easiest way to return to this source and abide in
it?
P: The easiest way to return to the source is you look at
the mind, that it is not going to be attracted by anything
outside, and if you keep quiet, a thought will come: "Where
is my source?" Don't go outside, but keep quiet. In this
quietness, the mind will automatically return to its source.
Having returned there, the mind is lost and there is no mind
now to search for the light or wisdom anywhere else, and
there will be a tremendous fountain of peace. And all doubts
are cleared and he will keep quiet, not by tongue but by his
heart. His ego is absolutely finished. This is called peace
and returning to the source.
Q: If you were to sum up the legacy of Ramana Maharshi in a
few words, what would you say?
P: I will only say, "Go to Ramana Maharshi himself,
directly, not even in Tiruvannamalai, nor any form of the
Maharshi. Return to formlessness, which is your own Self."
This advice I will give you, and this will be available
anywhere, in any part of the world. Just keep quiet.
Q: Could you explain how Bhagavan's potent silence helped
the seeker to see the transience of the mind and taste his
true nature?
P: Bhagavan was already always silent, and this is called
the transient teaching, not by mind. This is everyone's true
nature, to keep quiet. It doesn't allow your mind to attach
itself to any other person, to any other word or to any
other teaching. Maintain absolute quietness. In that
quietness, one feels very happy and peaceful (laughs).
Q: Would you share with us several reminiscences you have of
the Maharshi?
P: This would take, I think if I go to describe the
reminiscences of the Maharshi, it will take many hours, but
you can pick up what I speak always from different books.
This book of "Interviews", by David Godman, and others also.
And, "The Truth Is", by Yudhishtara also will help. So,
these reminiscences I cannot describe in a few hours, you
see. It takes all my life in describing it (laughs). So,
this can be picked up from many books about the
reminiscences of this great sage which appeared in this
present century.
Q: There's not one story you can tell us for this film?
P: This story alone is enough, that did he appear to me at
my own house. And then I had no money to go to the South. I
had spent all the money in search of gurus. It means that I
was very thirsty for light or for someone to come to me and
give me guidance. And then, how could I get a job from an
Army canteen contractor who lives in Peshawar? All this
happened! The Self helps every seeker like this. And when I
went to the South, and there I saw this man (Ramana) and I
was not very happy, because this was the man who came to me
in Punjab. If he had to give me a teaching, he could very
well have given it there, itself, in Punjab. Why did he give
his own address to me to go there? So, I was not very happy
about it. And then, I left him and I returned to my job in
Madras, and there again he came into my vision and then
called me there, "You come back and go to that man." So I
went there again. It was the same man in my vision, again.
And then again, I was not satisfied. I left him and I went
on the other side of Arunachala, to Annamalai, and stayed
there.
So, while going, I wanted to see him (Ramana) again. There
was some attraction to him, even though I may not have liked
him. So, I said to one man, "He's just a fraud. He is not a
real man." He said, "What are you speaking about? I said,
"This man came to Punjab and gave me, out of his own
arrogance, his own address. "Come to see me."" He said, "For
the last fifty years he has not moved from this place." He
was a Parsi gentleman, and his name was Franji, who was the
owner of this Vallington Cinemas Group all over India. So,
he said, "You come and I will introduce you to the manager
(of the ashram)", who was his younger brother. And then he
told me, "He never moved anywhere, but some people have come
and have told us the same story like you, that he
appeared."
"Once", he said, "he appeared to a woman belonging to
Hyderabad." And she was sick. And then, she wanted to go to
Ramana Maharshi, to see him, but she was critically sick and
the doctor said that she is going to die. But she wanted to
see him, but she said, "Now I am not going to see him
because I am on the deathbed." So, there, somehow, someone
comes and gave medicine, put it in her mouth, and slowly she
recovered. Then she went to Tiruvannamalai, and she saw that
the Maharshi was the same doctor who gave the medicine to
her (laughs). And there she spoke. And this brother,
Niranjananda Swami, he's called Chinna Swami, he told
several stories like this.
There was an American, from California, one woman who wanted
to see him, but she had no money. And then, "How to go to
India, for the first time, an unknown country and no money
for the travel?" So, oneday, when she returned home, the
money was lying on her table, enough money, (laughs). So
these stories often happen, but it happens to those who are
very serious and have been working for many, many
incarnations in their life. For them, the Self works, maybe
in the form of a person, a friend or whatever it is. This is
how the help comes, but one has to be very seriously in
search of his or her own Self. It works very well. So, the
best advice I give is that, instead of going to any guru,
stay where you are, wherever, in your house, anywhere, and
just look that you have no other desire for anything except
to know who you are. And this often happens in many cases,
(laughs), in satsang. Many others have written to me, saying
that "you appeared to me in a dream and you gave answers to
all my questions, and my doubts are no more there. I am
happy. Should I visit you or not?" So, these are often
questions that arise. Okay. Om.
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