Edited by John David Oct 2021
INTRODUCTION
In this blog “Ramana Maharshi on the Body,” Bhagavan explains that the sense of having a body arises from the thought ‘I have a body.’ True self-knowledge is realized not by replacing this thought with another, but by letting all ideas dissolve and remaining in silence. Actions naturally continue, guided by a Higher Power, without interference from the mind. Persistent self-inquiry meditation, mindful meditation, and connection with the spiritual heart lead to effortless awareness, revealing the body as a transient phenomenon while the Self remains untouched.
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“In my opinion, Aham Sphurana, a Glimpse of Self Realisation, will become a Treasure Trove of Wisdom to the Seekers of Truth in general, and particularly to the devotees of Bhagavan.”
Swami Hamsananda – Athithi Ashram, Tiruvannamalai
“This collection is a profound offering for those who are inspired to deeper inquiry. I have read both volumes for myself and others. Many passages reveal freshly and intimately the gift that is Ramana Maharshi. This is a book to cherish.”
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“An excellent book suitable for anyone serious about the spiritual life and committed to knowing profound and liberating realisations. The beauty of Ramana’s teachings shows in the unwavering directness with a remarkable clarity and simplicity. Meditate on the questions and responses. Listen inwardly beneath the mind’s activity.”
Christopher Titmuss
“Aham Sphurana is the most profound, subtle and practical version of Ramana Maharshi. When you read this book you realise just how diluted, vague and lacking are most of the books published in the name of this great sage of Arunachala.
It is not an easy new age read, it is the real deal with all its subtleties and intricacies. Our role is to develop a profound, sensitive and subtle mind and heart to understand and absorb these teachings.
The persons who wrote and published this book faced fierce objection from many people and are no less than warriors of spiritual truth.
Their devotion and respect to Ramana Maharshi made them fight this war and they deserve our appreciation and respect for making these rare teachings available to us.”
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Pravrajika Divyanandaprana
Q.: So, it is the thought ‘I have a body.’ that is responsible for creating the false impression that I have a body, whereas in truth I have none. Am I correct?
B.: Yes.
Q.: In that case, if I think, ‘I have no body.’, the body should disappear, but it does not disappear. Why is this so?
B.: Intensely thinking about the disappearance of the body does make it disappear; but accquisition of such worthless siddhis [Psychic Powers] is not our objective. You were asked to remove the idea ‘I have a body.’ and keep quiet. Instead you remove that idea and in its place introduce the idea ‘I have no body.’. Jnana is the disappearance of all ideas. ‘All ideas must disappear.’ is also an idea. Eschew that idea also and keep quiet.
Q.: How will day-to-day life go on in the absence of thoughts?
B.: Many times better than it is going on now.
Q.: Can we move or speak without thinking?
B.: Once the ego is burnt away in the crucible of Jnana, all actions become automatic.
Q.: This is the Jnani’s point of view. Can it apply to an ajnani?
B.: Never mind Jnanis and ajnanis. Keep quiet and see whether your body’s actions are not spontaneously guided by an unfathomable Higher Power.
Q.: Can the Higher Power be trusted to always act in accordance with my interest?
B.: He always does the right thing. What he does may or may not coincide with your world view and your understanding of or preferance for how things ought to go or events ought to unfold. His actions may even seem unwise in your eye. What you should do is to close the eye of perception or judgement once and for all and open the eye of wisdom once and for all. Let the Master take care of the body and the circumstances, favourable or un favourable, that it is destined to face. You remain permanently submerged in the Heart and lose yourself there. Then it will not matter whether the body is drenched in rain or roasted in the sun or buried in the bowels of the earth; you remain unaffected, irrevocably and irretrievably lost in supreme shanti [peace] and not knowing anything apart therefrom.
Q.: Only a Jnani could be so indifferent to the body.
B.: Be a Jnani, then.
Q.: But it is said to be the hardest of all attainments.
B.: On the other hand, it is always your natural state.
Q.: If so why am I unaware of the same?
B.: Because you think you are unaware.
Q.: How to remedy the affliction?
B.: Stop thinking.
Q.:How is that done?
B.: Every time a thought arises, ask yourself, ‘To whom has this thought arisen?’ and then take the mind back to its origin, which is the primordial state of subjective awareness. Sustained effortlessly and volitionlessly.
Q.: The thought ‘To whom has this thought arisen?’ is also a thought.
B.: The stick which is used to stir a burning pyre- what is its ultimate fate?
Q.: Generally it is thrown into the pyre itself to burn.
B.: Exactly.
Through a juggler’s display, Bhagavan emphasizes focusing inward, relinquishing belief and ego, to realize the Self beyond all spectacle.
Bhagavan warns that mistaking emptiness for Jnana is a deadly trap, delaying true realization and making recovery a challenging path.
Kaushika’s pride is humbled by a housewife and butcher, teaching that surrender and dutiful living lead to true realization.
Bhagavan reminds people to trust in God for its needs, resolving a misunderstanding with compassion and integrity.
Meditation means sticking to one thought to the exclusion of every other. One particular thought keeps away all others.
Through Grace and surrender, one is lifted beyond samsara, like the monkey safe from the barking dog, untouched.
Through a lifetime of hardships, rituals, and encounters with saints, the Aghori finds the grace of Ramana Maharshi, surrendering ego and discovering the peace of the Self.
The 40th anniversary of Bhagavan’s union with Arunachala was celebrated with reverence, and grace, with him attending to every detail.
Sabotage ends when we discard the ‘I’ that strives for Realisation, resting in pure Subjective Consciousness, free from identification.
Life does not question its own purpose. It has no questions to ask. It has no complaint to raise. It has no grudge to bear.
Aham Sphurana
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“In my opinion, Aham Sphurana, a Glimpse of Self Realisation, will become a Treasure Trove of Wisdom to the Seekers of Truth in general, and particularly to the devotees of Bhagavan.”
Swami Hamsananda – Athithi Ashram, Tiruvannamalai
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