Sri Ramana Maharshi
on Rooting Out the Ego and Persevering on the Path
Edited by John David Oct 2021
INTRODUCTION
In this blog “Ramana Maharshi on Rooting Out the Ego and Persevering on the Path,” we explore the transformative practice of self-enquiry as taught by Sri Ramana Maharshi. Central to his teachings is the idea of eradicating the ego at its root, a crucial step for anyone committed to true spiritual progress. We delve into how perseverance on the spiritual path, as emphasized by Ramana Maharshi, is essential for overcoming the obstacles of the mind and ego, which continuously try to pull us away from our natural state of pure awareness. By embracing self-enquiry with determination, we uncover the deeper truths of our existence and move closer to lasting inner peace.
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Widely appreciated
“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.”
Gangaji
“Thanks for presenting the book. I went through the book and it is indeed a good read. As you have mentioned, certain portions are controversial. However, many portions on Self-enquiry (genuinely in Bhagavan’s words) are profound and helpful to the seekers. Pranams”
Sri Ramanacharana Tirtha Swami
(formerly Sri Nochur Venkataraman),
“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.”
Noah
2nd Volume
now available
on www.openskypress.com and Amazon:
The pristine, pure mind of the Master that speaks through this profound volume is bound to bring us to an awakening into the most obvious yet hidden truth of our own existence.
Pravrajika Divyanandaprana
Rooting Out the Ego and Persevering on the Path
Q: Which is genuine Vichara – asking myself Who am I? every time a thought arises or keenly investigating the problem of who I am?
B: The latter. If you want to get rid of a poisonous tree, do you lop off its leaves one by one? What is the use of such an approach? In the time it takes for you to cut down one leaf, leaves multitudinous in number and multifarious in variety would have sprouted forth from the vicious tree. Instead, attack the poisonous root of illusion, namely the ahamvritti, straightaway!
Q: But I have heard it spoken of amongst Bhagavan’s devotees that Vichara, according to Bhagavan, can be compared to an aged mongoose waiting for a snake to come out of a discarded anthill that the latter happens to be using as its place of residence.
B: Yes. The sword can be used for slicing as well as for stabbing. In the preliminary phase of sadhana, when thoughts rush out furiously one after the other, Vichara is used as a tool to go on returning the mind to its native state of thought-free pure Subjective Consciousness. It is always to be practised as and when it is discovered that the mind has strayed away from this natural state. However, there is also the subsequent stage, where thoughts have largely subsided. Now, the investigation Who am I? is used to seek the mind with mind. Use the mind to scrutinise closely what ‘I’ is. Rather than creating something called ‘I’ and then looking at it so as for fulfilling the instruction to closely scrutinise ‘I’, seek ‘I’, whatever it might be and whether it might exist or not, without harbouring notions as to its existence or non-existence.
Q: I am trying to follow Bhagavan’s instructions. But my vasanas prove to be an obstacle. What can I do?
B: Never mind obstacles. Keep on going. Do not sit down or pause to moan or complain, but keep on going. The only important thing is to keep on going. If you try to take stock of progress yet to be made, you will feel alarmed and then further progress would have become impossible. So, never stop, but go on escalating. One day you will reach the summit, or rather, realise that you never left it. Until then, climb relentlessly and incessantly. Do not bother about obstacles, progress, and the like. Simply and only, go on scaling.
More from Ramana Maharshi
BE As You Are
Realization is simply BEing as you ARE. Through persistent vichara, Grace shines forth until seeker and seeking both dissolve.
Sri Gajapathi Healed and Attacked
Through Grace, Love, and remembrance, illness was healed, fear dissolved, and an enduring devotion to Bhagavan and Hanuman remained.
Guru’s Grace
Ramana Maharshi explains that Guru’s Grace burns ego and mental habits, allowing total surrender and spontaneous Self-Realization to arise.
Kaushika
Kaushika’s pride is humbled by a housewife and butcher, teaching that surrender and dutiful living lead to true realization.
Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer Ashram Report
A vivid Ashram diary recounting the devoted, diverse lives of seekers, Bhagavan’s humour, Grace, and timeless wisdom in action.
Rooting Out the Ego and Persevering on the Path
Root out ego directly, persevere endlessly despite obstacles, and realise you never left the summit of pure Being.
Ripe Souls Attain Jnana
The Jnani’s silent presence works like a magnetic force, effortlessly turning ripe minds inward, leading to natural, thought-free peace.
Unrealise the not-Self
Recognise that all ideas of ego and identity are unreal, and by seeing this clearly, only the true Self remains.
Consciousness
The “I”-sense is not even remotely connected to anything physical. Being of the nature of consciousness, it emanates from the Self only.
Illusion and the Body
Ramana Maharshi explains that you are pure awareness, not the body. The world is a mental projection of the Self.
Get Your Copy of the Book
Aham Sphurana
A Glimpse of Self Realisation
New Book about Sri Ramana Maharshi
Available Worldwide
On www.openskypress.com and Amazon:
“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
