The Self is the real book. You can glance anywhere in that book; nobody can take it away from you.
Whenever you are free, turn towards the Self. Thereafter you may read whatever you like.
#SriRamanaMaharshi
On the eve of my departure I recounted to Sri Bhagavan the sufferings of my wife who was still grief-stricken by the sudden death of our son.
'Has she no other male child?' enquired Bhagavan.
'No,' I replied.
Sri Bhagavan sighed and said, 'What a pity!'
This brief exchange took place on 18th October 1936. My wife delivered a male child on 1st August 1937.
When the baby was later shown to Sri Bhagavan, his first question was, 'What is the baby's name?'
When I answered 'Ramana Prasadam,' Sri Bhagavan exclaimed, 'Indeed! Is it so?' and to my consternation he fed the baby with two bananas as if to demonstrate his prasad. It did not in the least upset the child's digestion!
At my leave-taking the ashram manager handed me three packets of prasad. l asked whom they were for.
Bhagavan who was then having his oil bath in the same room*, replied, '0ne for your family, one for Narayanappa, and one for your friend'.
The friend's name was not specified, nor did I at that time think to ask for it. The next day, after I had returned home, I received a letter that had been redirected from the ashram. It had been written by Mr R. P. Reddy, a zamindar, and sent to my Ramanasramam address. Enclosed was a prayer for Sri Bhagavan's grace. Mr Reddy's grandmother, it stated, was on the verge of collapse, having stopped taking food several months before. I at once understood whom Bhagavan meant by 'your friend'. I took the prasad and went as quickly as I could to Mr Reddy's home.
A few days later Mr Reddy met me and reported that the prasad proved to be the turning point for his grandmother. She was, he said, now taking food and was on the road to recovery. Now, he said, she had a strong desire to make some offering in token of her gratitude to Sri Bhagavan. My friend was not content with the customary presents to the ashram. Since he knew that I had been translating Sri Ramana Gita, he insisted on printing a no-expenses-spared edition of the book. The ashram, on behalf of Sri Bhagavan, accepted the devout offer. This was another marvel of Sri Bhagavan's grace.
*Until the middle of the 1930s, the ashram was administered from a part of a building that also included the ashram's dining room and Bhagavan's bathroom.
#SriRamanaMaharshi
No learning or knowledge of scriptures is necessary to know the Self, as no man requires a mirror to see himself. All knowledge is required only to be given up eventually as not-Self. Nor is household work or cares with children necessarily an obstacle.
If you can do nothing more at least continue saying "I, I" to yourself mentally as advised in Who am I? (book)...
If one incessantly thinks "I, I", it will lead to that state (the Self).
Continue to repeat it whatever work you may be doing, whether you are sitting, standing or walking.
"I" is the name of God. It is the first and greatest of all mantras. Even om is second to it.
#SriRamanaMaharshi
"The Bible says, "Be still, and know that I am God. Stillness is the only requirement for the realization of Being like (being) God. "
#SriRamanaMaharshi
The Guru
Mr. Evans-Wentz continued another day: "May one have more than one spiritual master?"
M.: Who is a Master? He is the Self after all. According to the stages of the development of the mind the Self manifests as the Master externally. The famous ancient saint Avadhuta said that he had more than 24 Masters. The Master is one from whom one learns anything. The Guru may be sometimes inanimate also, as in the case of Avadhuta. God, Guru and the Self are identical.
A spiritual-minded man thinks that God is all-pervading and takes God for his Guru. Later, God brings him in contact with a personal Guru and the man recognises him as all in all. Lastly the same man is made by the grace of the Master to feel that his Self is the Reality and nothing else. Thus he finds that the Self is the Master.
D.: Does Sri Bhagavan initiate his disciples?
Maharshi kept silent.
Thereafter one of the devotees took it upon himself to answer, saying, "Maharshi does not see anyone as outside his Self. So there are no disciples for him. His Grace is all-pervading and He communicates his Grace to any deserving individual in silence."
#SriRamanaMaharshi
The Guru is within. Surrender and you will find it.
#SriRamanaMaharshi
