Sri Ramakant Maharaj a recorded discussion from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj October 23, 2017.
Q: How can we churn this knowledge in our daily practice?
M: Digest. That knowledge in respect of your Selfless Self. You have to digest it. What is mentioned in the Kakad Arati, bhajans and poems, it indicates your identity. Identity without any attachment with the body. All questions are related with the body, unless attachment with the body dissolves, you are not able to identify yourself. Why this identification is required? Because we are not having any peacefulness, happiness, always there is fear of death or problems. So, try to identify, try to understand that you are holding the body, you are not the body. Whatever is mentioned in all these poems or by various masters indicates that you are completely independent. Which is called Brahman, God, Atman, Paramatman, Master, for which there is no death, no birth, no past or future life. So, to have this Conviction, this confidence, you have to accept all this reality. Because unless you accept this reality, whatever we are discussing is meaningless. In this human body or human life, what we have to identify – though we are holding the body, it is not our identity. The moment the attachment with body dissolves everything will become clear and therefore we insist on meditation and bhajan. Because Selfless Self always engages with spirituality, it is always alert. Through body attachment, this mind, ego, intellect may create some unpleasant atmosphere within you. You are totally separate, even if you think intellectually. Prior to Beingness nothing was there. After leaving the body nothing remains.
Churning and digesting only so far as you are holding the human body. The moment the body concept or body attachment disappears at that time this churning and digesting will become spontaneous. You will not have to make specific or deliberate effort. But, till that spontaneous Conviction appears within you have to undergo meditation, you have to digest whatever is mentioned, refer to various masters, saints, through poems, read books. This is just an indication, a signal, the listener signals to the reader that you are completely separate from this illusionary world. Human body is temporary, it is having time and age limit. You are not this human body, its requirement and knowledge is not tolerable. So, to make it tolerable and completely separate from body attachment, you have undergo the mediation, you have to know the reality. Reality is not separate from you, Brahman is not separate from you. The invisible listener within you is Brahman, but due to body attachment, body knowledge, mind, ego, intellect, you are again and again distracted from reality. Use your mind, ego, intellect for body functions but it is not Ultimate Truth.
Even if you think intellectually. Prior to beingness. No needs are there, no requirements, there is no fear. No requirement of peacefulness, happiness. Their is no fear. After leaving body, nothing will be there. No requirements, no fear is there. As far as we are holding body therefore fear is there. So many things. We need some happiness, peacefulness, blissfulness. Body knowledge is not tolerable, so all these concepts are required. After having Conviction that body is not my identity, then attachment with the body will be dissolved slowly, silently and permanently. At the moment attachment dissolves. Though you are holding body you remain unconcerned with the world. World is a long dream, everyday a different dream in which you are acting and doing so many different things. After awakening, you remain unconcerned whether it is a good or bad dream. Similarly, at present, we are living within a long dream. Because of long association with the body, we are having so much attachment with it. Don’t neglect your body. Don’t neglect your human responsibilities. At the same time there should be conviction ‘I am nothing to do with my body knowledge’.
Even when there is pain or unpleasant atmosphere, after knowing the reality, its force will be reduced. Because, there will be Conviction that I am not the body at all. So therefore, spontaneous Conviction is most important. And to reduce the attachment to the body and illusionary world, all this process is required. Churning and digesting knowledge means to try to identify perfectly. Okay?
Q: Have you any advice regarding meditation, how to breathe, how to sit?
M: This is just a method giving in the beginning stage. Say, when you are learning any language, you are taught how to write A, B, C. After having command of this language, you don’t need to follow any discipline. This discipline is given in the beginning. To sit cross-legged with half-closed eyes, in position with concentration on tip of nose, reciting Mantra in mind, it is to be observed in the beginning.
After having conviction, after having regular practice, meditation will be spontaneous. In the beginning you have to do it. Then it will not be necessary. There are not any hard and fast rules. But you have to follow in the beginning only. Until you have got, complete, perfect practice. Okay. But beyond that nothing is there. Not to have any wavering mind. When you have got the knowledge, there should not be any diversion. There should not be any wavering mind ‘I will go this way, no that way.’ Don’t become a victim of your mind. Mind is playing all the time. Mind is a function, flowing of thoughts. Different thoughts are flowing. You can observe thoughts, you can experience thoughts, not to become a victim of your thoughts. Thoughts which are useful to you for daily practice you can use those thoughts. Use your mind. But, not to become victim or slave of your mind. Mind, ego, intellect are functioning organs of the body, which apply to all beings. But with human body, there is a difference from other beings, in that it can identify and know itself. So, you have to follow and accept reality. Whose main purpose is that attachment to the human body is to be dissolved. It is very simple thing, your strong faith and will power is very important. All spirituality is for escaping from illusory world – because we are part and parcel of this world, accepting this life, this body, as my body. Therefore, attachment to this body has to be dissolved. It is a fact. Every body has its time and age limit to disappear some or other day. At the time of death there should be no fear of ‘I am going’. You are going nowhere, you are everywhere. That Conviction should appear spontaneously. For which we recommend meditation, bhajan, to remain in that atmosphere. Like looking at a photograph, to remind and regain original memory that you are Ultimate Truth, you are Final Truth.
That continuity is most important. It is required, and you have to remember all these things to be alert at all times. Today you are in ashram, tomorrow you may be anywhere in the world, because some or other day attachment with the body may distract you from reality. So whatever you have been told so far, it has to be followed strictly, this is very serious. If it is ignored, then again, the wavering mind will create many problems for you. Not to follow the mind. Mind should follow you. Mind, ego, intellect are functioning organs, their existence came along with the body. Prior to body knowledge, prior to beingness or prior to consciousness there was no mind, ego, intellect, no gender, no being. Nothing was there. After leaving the body what remains? World disappears along with the body, nothing remains. What you see as the world and its relations – all these concepts of birth, death, past, future, gods, goddesses are in the circle of human body. You have given birth to God, he does not have separate identity. Entire world is itself illusion where there is no birth or death, as you are formless. Prior to Beingness or prior to consciousness there is no form. After leaving body, there is no form – you will be formless nor go to any hell or heaven. Hell, and heaven are concepts. There is nothing bad, nothing good. Because you are not doer, there is no deed. Conviction, strong faith, will power and courage to accept reality is most important. Therefore, we are insisting to go through reality. Meditation is the only source to have spontaneous Conviction. There is no other source, no other way – by simply reading books and doing bhajan, no. Unless you identify yourself it is not possible. Mind will always try to distract you, it is always creating problems. Don’t give so much importance to your mind, it is just a subtle part of your body. After leaving body, no mind, ego or intellect will be there. There was no body mind prior to Beingness or prior to consciousness. Thoughts will be flowing always, what are useful to you keep, the rest – throw out.
Except for your Selfless Self there is no Atman, no Paramatman, no God, no Master that reality should be accepted. Do your duties, don’t neglect responsibilities, physical or food body. But during this time, you should identify and convince yourself that I am nothing to do with this body. Then whatever happens to the body will be bearable.
Same thing is repeated again and again. Only through meditation can you have that conviction. Because you are really Master, Brahman. Brahman is not separate from you. Atman is not separate from you. But because of body attachment and body-based knowledge you have forgotten your identity. So, I am repeatedly trying to invite attention of listener within you that You are Ultimate Truth. It is Final Truth. You may go anywhere; no restrictions are there. Okay?”
Sri Ramakant Maharaj a recorded discussion from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj October 22, 2017.
M: So, we’re having human life, holding human body, and in human body, the Presence, spirit, energy is there, through which we are identifying our self as “I”. The moment that spirit or Presence touches with the body, painful life started. That Presence has taken form, body form, as a man or woman, any being. Every being would like to have a peaceful life, a blissful life, but the physical body, food body, is not tolerable, particularly the human body, we’re experiencing our self, and the experience is as “I”. “I am body, I am form”. It is a little bit of a painful experience, it is not tolerable. To tolerate the human body form, we are trying to search for happiness, peacefulness, with material causes. Material causes mentioned are publicity, money, and sex. These are the main material sources to have a life that is peaceful or blissful. They are giving some temporary relief. Other than this, we are trying to have some spiritual sources. God, Goddesses, various Masters, and through various sources, praying to Gods, sitting for meditation, doing some physical activities, just like tapas, counting beads, and so many things. And there are so many Masters in this world; everybody is trying to convince, “Do this do that” so that you’ll get some blissfulness, some peacefulness. And in spite of doing all these activities, physical activities, we are not having any satisfaction, happiness, peacefulness, what you were expecting. We are getting temporary relief but not permanent relief, because always there is the fear of death. Always there is tension, no happiness, depression is there, nervousness is there. And because we are doing all activities through body knowledge, through body form, it creates some unwanted things. The result is a painful life. So how to find happiness, peacefulness, blissfulness? Spirituality teaches you how you can be successful, how you achieve real happiness, real peacefulness. And the first lesson is: you are holding the body and it is not your identity at all. It is a physical body, food body. So long as you are supplying food it is growing, the moment you stop supplying food and water, it will go away. So simple common sense is that the physical body, this form, is not permanent, it is having some limit, time limit, age limit. And who is holding the body? The holder of the body is called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. This is bookish knowledge. What is the role of this Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master in my human life? That is the main question. And after knowing they’re Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, how will they get happiness? The second question. Such questions are appreciated. There are some people asking, “What is the color of Brahma? What is the color of Krishna?” These are not relevant how will they help you?
You should have knowledge that will help you at the time of leaving the body. Again, from childhood until today we are having a lot of concepts. Thousands of concepts. Concepts of parents, concepts of society, concepts of relatives, concepts of various sources. And now we are one with the concepts. We are trying to live within the circle of the concepts. So spiritual knowledge says, “Try to identify”. Prior to all these concepts, your Presence was there. It is just like space or sky. The Presence does not like all these illusory concepts. Your Presence does not know “I am Presence”. Prior to Beingness how were you? Invisible Presence, unidentified Presence, unidentified identity, where there is no experience, no experiencer, no witness, no witnesser. No “I” “you” “he” “she” or “it”. No concept of God or Goddesses, no needs, no requirements. These are the basics. Because of the human body we are having a lot of expectations. A lot of needs and requirements, to tolerate the human body, so how will all these requirements and needs help me. So, unless you identify that “me”, “I”, you will not get that blissfulness. Blissfulness is there, happiness is there. But, basically, try to understand, try to identify yourself. Who is acting with this body? When I say “I”, when I am talking with you, when I see the world? Who sees the world? Spiritual knowledge is trying to invite the attention of the invisible listener within you. Through which you are trying to identify the invisible Presence which is called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. To whom it is not necessary for any blissfulness or peacefulness. Blissfulness, peacefulness, happiness, are required for the body form. Basically, you are formless. Since you are formless there is no birth, no death, nothing is there. No past birth, no future birth. Nothing is there.
You have to identify, you have to know, everything came out of nothing and everything dissolves into nothing. After leaving the body who wants happiness? Who wants peacefulness? What to do for all these things? That is another question. “Yes, I can understand, I am not, body I was not body, okay”. “Body knowledge is not tolerable this is also okay”, “How will I get peacefulness?” Inside this is burning inside. To have peacefulness, blissfulness, you are to remove all the garbage. Garbage is in the form of various concepts. You have to clean it! “How can I clean it?” Again, a question. To clean all this garbage since childhood until today, you have to undergo meditation. What do we mean by meditation? To whom should I meditate? Again, a question is there. Meditate on the invisible meditator within you. Who is expecting happiness? Who is expecting peacefulness? Who is expecting a fearless life? That invisible Presence is there, who has taken the form of a human body. Try to identify! Go deeper and deeper and deeper then you will forget your body identity. The moment you forget your body identity, at that time, spontaneous peacefulness
is there. Instead of considering “I am somebody else” that “somebody else” dissolves. I am not the body! Whatever painfulness is to the body and not to me. I am the holder of the body, so the body is not my identify. Because after leaving the body there is not any painfulness. Any fear is there? Prior to this Beingness or prior to consciousness no fear was there. No blissfulness was there. No requirement, no need, no experience. So, the unknown comes into the known through the body only. After knowing this secret of spiritual life, you will be totally free. Even if something happens to your body. You are having Conviction because the body is not your identity. So that incidence, that problem, will be bearable for you. It is painful, but you will think, “I am not the body at all”. It is temporary; so long as the body is there it is bound to happen (problems).
So the thing which is not tolerable prior to knowledge will become tolerable. So spontaneously blissfulness will be there. That pain you are having, that will be reduced. Just like my Master said, a simple example is given. Neighbors child is there, they are given to you. They are suffering from high temperature. You feel very sorry for that child. But at the same time, you are knowing: “This is the neighbors child not my child”. You feel it, high temperature, the child is crying, hmm? But at the same time, you are knowing: “This is not my child”. Similarly, this body is not your child. The body belongs to the five elements. There is suffering in this body but you are knowing “body is not my identity at all” just like this child is not mine. Suffering is there you, feel it. You feel sorry for it. But, at the same time, “It is not mine”. It is a five elements body. So, painfulness is there. As long as the body is there, a painful life is there, depression is there. So, then depression will be dissolved. Because you are considering this body is my identity. That body identity is supposed to be dissolved. It is a very simple thing. Spirituality is very simple. You know everything intellectually. You will be definitely realized. That Conviction is most important. “Yes, I am not body”. To have this Conviction, spiritual science is giving some methods, discipline, this is called meditation. Why is meditation required and what is the meditation? For meditation Naam Mantra is given, the meaning of Naam Mantra is “I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. It is called Soham Sadhana. According to breathing you are to recite the Mantra. With the result that out of that Mantra, some vibration will be created, and unwanted things will be removed and garbage will be cleaned. Why are we worried? Why is there no peacefulness? Because there is a lot of garbage inside, through mind, through ego, through intellect. So many things are there. So many concepts are there. Even though we are listening all the time every day it is not removed. Some questions are arising. Mind is pricking. Mind is creating so many problems. So, control your mind, control your ego, control your intellect.
As I have told you, mind ego and intellect are the functioning parts of the body, human body, food body. They were not in existence prior to Beingness, prior to consciousness. After consciousness they came into existence. It is part and parcel of these five elements. So how you are prior to Beingness or how you are prior to consciousness, that identity is supposed to be convinced, spontaneous Conviction is required. Then what is not tolerable will become tolerable. And for which I am insisting only reading is not sufficient, only listening is not sufficient. You have to have practical knowledge. Practice it. In the beginning I am telling you, for five months, six months, one year, you’ll feel “Oh it is a very prolonged thing”. Some, say, dislike, mind is rebelling against you, “What to do?” laziness will be there, nervousness will be there, but do it! That is the only remedy. In human life, to control mind ego intellect and to have realistic peacefulness, there is not any alternative to meditation. Only meditation can remove all the garbage. So in the
beginning you may feel “Oh…”. Meditation is not sitting like this. Always remember the words. Mantra. The Mantra is always hammering you “You are Brahman you are Brahman you are Brahman”. Twenty-four hours you are hammering. Even if you are in deep sleep the Mantra is going on inside. You’ll feel it. After awakening in the morning, in the early morning, you’ll feel the Mantra is going on inside. That oneness is supposed to be there. The Mantra is supposed to become one part and parcel of your food body. With continuous hammering all the garbage will become clean. And then reflection will be there. Suppose this mirror is full of dirt. So, you have to clean it then you will see your face. Correct? Similarly, with the mirror, transparency is there, but it is covered with so many concepts, so much garbage. So, you have to remove it, for the purpose of removing, meditation is there. After having meditation, after having Conviction, after removing all these things, you can just casually do it. But, until that time you have to do it there is not any other source. Okay? Any questions?
Q: Yes, question is there. “Maharaj yesterday you told me that it was a matter of being detached and identifying with the Self, that is why it was important to meditate. (M: Yes) During my meditation, it is a lot like contemplation and I find my body staring into the void as if melting into the landscape that has faded away. Is this normal, or is it but all meditation? Thank you, Maharaj.
M: It all is meditation, because there is some confusion started. So it is a cleaning process, a purification process. So, during meditation “I” is supposed to be dissolved. As long as you are noticing “I”, experiencing “I”, all these experiences will be there. Where all experience disappears there, you are. It is all processing, when you are doing meditation, some experience appears, good experience, bad experience, depression, nervousness, laziness. You have to go through all these things. But, silently, permanently and slowly, everything will be dissolved. As I have told you, you are to remove all the garbage, since childhood until today, so many concepts are there, taking possession of our body. Therefore, you have to remove it. It is a deliberate act, but to have the deliberate act, you have to undergo the meditation. So, meditation is the base. Whatever you are experiencing inside, then after you will experience something else. You’ll feel exceptional peacefulness. You’ll feel “I am different from body”. You’ll feel as if you are flying in the air, without weight. A lot of experiences appear, when you become thinner and thinner and thinner. You’ll feel so much blissfulness, exceptional happiness which cannot be described with any words. So continue with the meditation, continue reciting the Mantra, and then you’ll see the fun. All experiences will appear within you. Don’t rely upon me but I am telling of the experience that can happen from you. Because you are the central point of this world. The entire world is projected from you. The world does not have it is own identity. The world is the seer’s reflection. In the morning, when you are awakening, you immediately see the world. If there is no awakening in the morning, everything is gone. Hmm? So Kabir says “Consciousness disappears, the entire world disappears”. So no “I”, no “You”, no Bhagavann, no Master, nothing is there. Master is there, God is there, “I am” is there, “You” are there, as long as you have got consciousness. The moment the consciousness disappears, where is the “I”? Where is the Brahman, where is the Atman, where is the Master, where is the disciple? Nothing is there. Prior to consciousness what is there? All questions are rooted through body form, and you are not body at all. So basically, try to have that Conviction that how you were prior to consciousness, how you were prior to Beingness, where there is nothing.
We’re talking about something because we are holding body, we have a lot of attachment with the body. That attachment with the body is supposed to be dissolved. And I am saying not to neglect your body, but try to convince yourself, it is an open fact. Even if you think about it intellectually. Body is not your identity at all. Body is having a time limit. So, continue with the meditation and you will feel so many things. Some or other day, you may feel you are talking, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, is talking with you. Then all questions will be solved within you only. Just like I have given the example of Eklavya. It is a unique example in the Mahabharata, because Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, Master is not separate from you. Until that time, you are to undergo the meditation. Oneness is there, where there is no “I”, there is no knower, no experience of Master and no experience of Brahman. Where everything disappears there, you are. Where everything disappears there, you are. But that is unknown. No experience is there. No experiencer is there. No witness is there, no witnesser is there. Body based “I” is supposed to be dissolved, to disappear. How are you prior to consciousness, prior to Beingness, how are you after leaving the body? Just imagine, forget it. Just imagine. After leaving body who remains? What experiencer remains? Do you know any God? Any Master? Any disciple? Any devotee? Nothing is there. As long as you are holding body all experiences are there. And to have this Conviction “I was not body, I am not body, I am not going to remain body.” “Body is not my identity, body was not my identity, body is not going to remain my identity” so far since “I am not doer at all!” There is no past, no future, no past birth or future birth. Why take up ego for this present life? Okay you can apply it for life happily. Just like a dream, this is a long dream. In the dream when you come to know this is a dream then you are laughing, “Oh, it is a dream!”. You are acting freely. Hmm? Any question?
Q: Yes. “Dear Guru, when I close my eyes there is someone looking at the black space. Should I focus on the seer while reciting the Mantra?
M: Yes, you can do it in the beginning. The seer is not separate from you. You are the seer and you are the meditator. You are the meditator and you are the seer. These are not separate. Oneness is required. What you see, what you are experiencing is out of your Presence only. When the seer disappears, nothing will be there. So, continue with the meditation, continue with the Mantra, and see the miracles happen within you. Okay.
Sri Ramakant Maharaj a recorded discussion from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj.
Maharaj: So, any question for you?
Visitor: Some days I feel there is something happening, but I just continue with the japa Mantra.
M: Continue with the Mantra … after reciting Mantra, original consciousness will create atmosphere of how you are prior to beingness. At that time you forget your body identity. Though you are holding your body identity you remain unconcerned with the body identity. See one Principle is there whatever experiences appear upon your Presence. When the spirit clicked with the body, you feel ‘I’. That consciousness appears. Pure consciousness. Instantly that Consciousness came across with the mind, ego, intellect. And then body started functioning. See the process: prior to beingness there is no experience no experiencer. Nothing is there. When the beingness takes form, body form and consciousness appears, form appears. When the consciousness touches with the ego, intellect, mind, body and started functioning and you say ‘I’. Instantly that ‘I’ is taking pose as a human being, any being. And that form is ‘my identity’ it is accepted by that consciousness. Because prior to consciousness, no form is there, you are basically formless. The moment consciousness takes shape and takes form, it accepts that form is ‘my identity’ which it is not! And then within that form, what you feel ‘I’. That ‘I’ is instantly covered with all this ego, intellect, mind. ‘I’ accepts the body as ‘my identity’. ‘I’ contains all body concepts. ‘I am somebody else’, ‘I’ concept, all illusionary concepts. That is ‘I am somebody else’ ,’last birth’, ‘future birth’, ‘god’, ‘goddesses’ so many concepts. Thousands of concepts imposed or impressed upon us by various sources.
Here in human body it’s an open fact, that the human body is not your identity at all. It is open fact. Human body is having age limit, time limit, which you are not. In pure consciousness there is no time limit. There is no form. The moment that consciousness touches with the body, the Presence touches with the body, you say ‘I’ instantly the ego, intellect, and mind came across. Mind is manufacturing thousands of thoughts per minute and we have accepted thoughts, because we are unknown to our self. Through spirituality you will get spiritual awareness. What is spiritual awareness? ‘I’ was not body prior to beingness, ‘I’ was not body, ‘I’ was not having any form. The moment the Presence touched with the body immediately consciousness came across. And immediately along with the consciousness, mind and intellect takes birth. This is the process. Among all this your Presence is completely separate. Pure Presence, Pure Consciousness, where there is no touch of the body, no touch of the form, nothing is there. In spirituality you ought to identify yourself amongst all this illusionary world. “Where do I stand?”
‘I’ am not body, ‘I’ was not body’ Mind, ego, intellect are also illusionary concepts. They are functioning elements, functioning organs, subtle organs. So, why do we need the state of spirituality? Why visit all the masters? Through masters, as I have told you, there is no difference between master and disciples,it is one part. The Presence, the pure Consciousness is the same within the master and the same within the disciple, there is no separation. So, through language, any language, we are trying to convince our self ‘I am separate from this illusionary world!’ Why? Because there is the pressure of death, fear of death. No peacefulness, no happiness, always tensions. Always there is fear of the death. To come out from this, you have to identify yourself that I am not body identity. ‘I am not body. I was not body. I am not going to remain body’, It’s a fact. And with the result that you will get spontaneous happiness. Prior to consciousness, how you were? At that time, you have got exceptional peacefulness, where there is no experience, no experiencer. Now because of this body form, we are having a lot of experience. What you see ‘I’ am getting this experience. That experience, spiritual experience, something happens. It’s happening and non-happening. Appearing upon your consciousness. If there is no consciousness, there is no happening, no non-happening, no knowledge, no knowledge and no-knowledge are in that Consciousness. If it is not touched with the body all these concepts will disappear.
So, when all body-based concepts disappear, happiness and peacefulness will be spontaneous. So, why are we having Naam Mantra meditation? Through Naam Mantra and reciting Mantra meditation, you are impressing that invisible Consciousness, that you are Brahman, you are Atman, you are Paramatman, you are God you are Master. This act is a deliberate act. With the deliberate act it will convert spontaneously. Then you will forget doing anything deliberately. All actions will be spontaneous. Because at that time, it is called samadhi trance and that time you will totally forget body identity. You totally feel consciousness. No consciousness is there. Though your Presence is there, but there is no consciousness in any form. That Presence or consciousness is within form. But at that time consciousness will be there, but it is an unknown consciousness, invisible Consciousness, invisible Presence. Where there is no fear of death. Where there is no need of happiness. Where there is no need of peacefulness. Nothing is required. And that is your original place of original things.
But this habit of mind creates some confusion and so many problems are there. We are trying to analyze the words of the masters: “why this, why this?” This is contradictory. Don’t do those things because you are wasting your time. Nothing is contradictory. Master says finally: Except your Selfless Self, there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman, no Master. Because due to consciousness you’re considering yourself a man or woman or human being. In human form, that Consciousness is working, acting, all activities through Consciousness.
So, Consciousness accepted ‘I am the body’. To vanish all this body knowledge, you have to undergo the meditation, it’s a process. So, ultimately what is this body? Just you glance within yourself. Sit calm and quietly and see what is this body. Just glimpses of ‘I’ is there. Just glimpses of ‘I’. Because that ‘I’ has taken form, therefore you say, “I am somebody else.” That concept is supposed to be dissolved. That means not to neglect your body but at the same time you have to have spontaneous conviction that I am not the body, I was not the body, I am not going to remain body. It’s a fact!
So, it is a play of Consciousness. If there is no Consciousness, no knowledge is there, no Presence is there, no experience is there, no experiencer is there, no witness is there, no witnesser is there. So, try to convince yourself. Have some spontaneous conviction. At present think intellectually also, if you think intellectually, forget about spirituality for a moment. If you think intellectually, you are basically formless. This form is not going to survive for a longer time, it is having time limit. Who is acting from this form? Who is making activities from this form? It is pure Consciousness and prior to Consciousness your Presence is there. Prior to your pure Consciousness, Your Presence is there, which is invisible Presence, unidentified Presence, anonymous Presence. Which cannot be defined, it cannot be guessed. And which cannot be explained in any words. There won’t be words. Words are there, language is there; just to communicate thoughts just to communicate the knowledge. Beyond that there is not any importance of the words. So, language is created. Therefore I am requesting all the devotees not to analyze the words of masters. This statement is correct! This master says like this, this master says like this, don’t compare all these statements. What they want to convey is most important. They convey what. Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj and so many masters are there. They convey: ‘You are not a disciple – you are not devotee – you are master – you are the deity’.
Prior to beingness prior to Consciousness how you were? They are talking about that. To convince all these things they are taking some words: consciousness, beingness, conviction, god, master, disciple, these are the words we are using just to convince the invisible listener within you. Just to have spontaneous conviction you have nothing to do with this illusionary world.
Why is it an illusionary world? Because someday after leaving the body the illusionary world will disappear. And what is there after leaving body? What experience is there? Are you a devotee? Are you a deity? Are you a master? Nothing remains! Prior to beingness, prior to a hundred years how you were? You are unknown to yourself. At present even though you are holding the body, you are having form with the body, you are unknown to you. You become unknown through the consciousness, consciousness which is taking the form of human body, you say ‘I am somebody else’ OK, while living in this human body, you can use the human body, but at the same time, there should be spontaneous conviction that: ‘I am nothing to do with the human body, because the human body is not my identity. Basically I am totally formless’ so therefore it is said pure consciousness. Pure consciousness where there is no experience, no experiencer, just Presence within the body. OK!
So, that conviction is supposed to happen for which all these exercises are there. Naam Mantra is there, meditation is there, reciting Mantra is there, reading books are there, because you forgot your basic identity. That ‘I am somebody else’. Basically you are Ultimate Truth, Final Truth. So, stop measuring stop counting yourself in body form. If you continue with the body form and not to accept the Reality, then again there will be possible to have another dream.
So at the time of leaving the body there should not be any fear ‘I am dying’. Because there is no death and no birth for the consciousness. Consciousness though it is in form, it is basically formless. You are formless. So, try to identify ‘Who am I?’ While trying to identify ‘Who am I?’ the identifier will disappear, nothing will remain. Even consciousness will not remain. Just listen to me. But for explaining, some words, I am trying to convince the invisible listener within you. I am placing before you your Ultimate Truth. I am talking about the Invisible Listener not to the body. Because I know that you are formless. Basically, the Speaker from this body and the Listener for this body, there is no difference. Master and disciple: these are the external appearance, but prior to that there is no master, no disciple, no deity, and no devotee.
It is one and the same. Suppose the sky is one when you say ‘this China, this Pakistan, this Russia, America’ or sky is one and one. We have given the name likewise this name is given. This Gopal or something, something, like that. It is the name of the body, but who is the holder of the body? It doesn’t have any name. Name is only Ultimate Truth, Final Truth, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God or Master, that you are. You have to accept this Reality for which you have to make deliberate effort in the beginning. Which is why we are insisting on meditation. Meditation is always hammering yourself. Hammering that consciousness that you are formless. You are Ultimate Truth, you are Brahman, you are Atman, you are Paramatman. Soham. Soham Sadhana. In our lineage we are giving some Mantra. So that the Mantra is most important, it is acting perfectly. It creates a vibration and out of that vibration originality will be exposed, ‘Oh, so I am That!’. Therefore, the words I am That, so that I, like that. Meaning that I am Brahman, Brahman I am. So, as per the discipline we are not to disclose the Mantra to anybody else. But you have to recite it very seriously not to neglect it because this is a golden opportunity. Being the human body is a golden opportunity. Within this human body, within this human form, you have to try to identify deliberately. Then it will be spontaneous!
So, whatever happens around you, you’ll neglect it. It may be peaceful atmosphere, it may be painful atmosphere. Even though there are a lot of atmospheres, there you remain unconcerned. Because you are knowing that ‘I am nothing to do with all this’. Just like when you see dream it may be good dreams, bad dreams, some bad elements maybe there. So, awakening it is a dream, even if you are awakening in that dream, it is a dream. ‘I am not doing anything because I am not doer!’ ‘My consciousness has taken birth and projected a dream world and I am acting in that dream!’ And when you are knowing in the dream that it is a dream, how can you act? Similarly, in this illusionary world when you know it is an illusionary world all actions are illusionary actions. So, you don’t give any importance to what you are doing, because you are totally not the doer! Because there is no deed at all! So, you are not taking any ego that I am doing something! To have this spontaneous conviction is the reason for which all these exercises are here.
So, not, again I am repeating, not to try to analyze or define masters words. What they want to convey is most important. Your question is supposed to be a practical question, not theoretical question. Not to make some analyzation. Not to make some undue comments. Not to test knowledge. Analysis is not the ground to test knowledge. In each and everybody try to know the practical question and it is the fact that: Except for your Selfless Self there is no God. Prior to consciousness, prior to beingness, your Presence is totally unconcerned with the body knowledge, unconcerned with the world. The moment that Presence touches with the body, consciousness started. That consciousness has taken possession of the body and you started living with this body. So, that illusion is supposed to be dissolved for which all these exercises are there. OK.
Any questions?
V: It is said that there is no difference between waking life and dreams yet in waking life things are very solid. For example, if i leave something on the table it stays there until I or someone moves it. They are the laws of physics, mathematics, biology, etc. There is no such continuity in dreams all is chaos and it is rare to find any sort of continuity from one dream to the next. When I awaken from a dream I return to the same life and situations of my present life. How can it be said that waking life is no different than a dream?
M: How are you prior to beingness? Any dream was there? After leaving body, what dream was there? Any physical life is there? Chemical life was there, or any life is there? How are you prior to beingness? The moment that consciousness touched with the body you started all this logical questioning.
There is no logic. There is no knowledge prior to beingness. There is no knowledge. You are unknown to yourself. In dreams, you are watching dreams you’re in deep sleep so, you see so many things. Who has manufactured all these things? So, in dreams, your Presence is there. In present life your Presence is there. Presence is common in dream and this one. The Experiencer within the dream, the experiencer within the illusionary world is one and the same. So, therefore there is no difference between experiencer. It is invisible Experiencer which is called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. The entire world is projected out of Presence. The dream world and this world is projected out of your invisible Presence, so you are the Principle behind all these things. In dreams your Presence is there; in this world also, your Presence is there. If there is no Presence, can you see yourself? Nothing is there.
So, in dreams, you are acting as if somebody else. In this illusionary world, you’re acting as somebody else. When you come to know all these physical problems? Science, science came into existence along with the Consciousness. If there is no consciousness, if you leave your body tomorrow early morning what experiences are you having? Prior to a hundred years what experiences are you having, nothing. So, everything came out of nothing and everything dissolves within nothing. Because you are posing yourself in body form, therefore you are having all these concepts. So, for which meditation, reciting the Mantra, spirituality is required to identify yourself. How you are prior to beingness? That identification. Spontaneous identification must be there. Then all these questions will be totally dissolved.
V: When I am reciting the Mantra, do I have to pay attention to the meaning of the Mantra?
M: Not necessary. You do it. These are the words you know the meaning, so you need not be required to concentrate on the meaning of the Mantra. Mantra is acting spontaneously. When you take a drop of poison are you thinking what will happen the result will be same, death. So, similarly, you take this drop of nectar, the result will be immortality. So, not to concentrate on this meaning of the Mantra. Mantra will act spontaneously within you and then you will be the vibration and you will identify yourself in real sense.
Any more questions? This is direct knowledge. There is no hide and seek. Because everything is behind you. You are Principle. You are Central Point. Your spontaneous identity is central point of this world. So, what you think, what you consider, what you see, it is the seer’s reflection. Because this is a food body and a food body, as I have told you the mometn awareness is there, the moment that consciousness is there, you started thinking. Immediately that ego, intellect, mind started touching with you and created so many thoughts. And you consider this world as a true world. This is not a true world. Just like the dream world is not a true world. Because in dream world your Presence is there; in this world also, your Presence is there. So, this world is just like a dream world, but this is long dream.
Prior to beingness nothing was there. No dream world is there. No illusionary world is there. Existence of the world came along with your Consciousness. If there is no Consciousness, no Presence in the body, who talk about all these things. Therefore, I repeatedly say not to analyze each and every word. Not to compare present world with dream world. Behind everything your Presence is there. You are Central Point. If there is no seer in this body who thinks about all these things? And to vanish all these illusory concepts, you have to undergo strictly meditation. Have some practical knowledge. Do some practice. It is most important. Desperately required for this practice. If there is no practice only dry discussion and dry knowledge, it will be meaningless. So, don’t waste your time in comparing the words and these things. Try to identify yourself. Read some books. “I Am That”, “Selfless Self” and some Ramana Maharshi, and so many good authors are there. If you read it thoroughly, not casually. Read it thoroughly and then try to identify what they want to convey. My Master, Nisargadatta Maharaj, says except your Selfless Self there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman. What more do you want?
Because you are measuring and counting yourself in body form, therefore, all these questions arise. No question is there. Because questioner itself ends questioner. Questioner does not know that I am the questioner. But to questioner you have given some form as a man or woman or somebody else. If there is no Presence, suppose for a moment, there is no Presence? Where is the question? Is the dream there? Is this illusionary world there? If you leave your body-form and there is no Presence there, for a moment, they throw away the body! Burning or bury!
‘I am’ is doing this thing. ‘I am’ is doing that thing. ‘I am’ is seeing this thing. Where is that ‘I’? ‘I’ disappears along with the body. Try to identify that ‘I’. If there is no Consciousness who says ‘I’? If there is no Presence who says ‘I’? The moment the ‘I’ was projected, the body was projected along with the world. It maybe a dream or it maybe this present dream. Stop measuring yourself in body form. How are you prior to body form? You do not know anything. After leaving body how you will be? Any activities are there? After leaving body after your Presence disappears from the body any activities are there? Nothing is there. So, everything comes out of nothing and dissolves within nothing. Can you see a dream after leaving the body? Can you see the present thing? When that Presence disappears from the body can a dead body act? Can a dead body tell you anything is there? Nothing is there. So, basic concept you have to forget that ‘I am somebody else’. You’re not somebody else. You’re everybody. All forms are projected out of you. Yes.
V: This is not an attempt to analyze words but for clarification, Nisargadatta Maharaj said:” the purpose of Mantra is to surrender the seen to Brahma.” How is this done?
M: Yes. He correctly said. Because the moment that spirit touched with the body the concept ‘I am somebody else’ it came out. The Consciousness accepted ‘I am somebody else’. And for this Nisargadatta Maharaj says the Mantra is acting. The Mantra is meant as the final truth. The Mantra is hammering yourself ‘I am Brahman, Brahman I am’. That meaning. So, it acts spontaneously. Because you forgot your identity. Suppose somebody lost his memory. At that time you are showing some articles that is known to him. The purpose behind that until he gets his original memory back. The same thing. The Spirit is very sensitive. It forgot its identity. For which the Mantra, the words are there. Through which the meditator is concentrating. Invisible meditator within that says ‘I am Brahman’. Brahman is Ultimate Truth, you’re Final Truth. So, all the saintly people say the same thing: “try to identify”. You are identifying yourself in body form, it is illusion. Therefore, concentrate on concentrator within you then concentrator will disappear!
V: That means the surrendering of the seen.
M: Yeah, yeah, yeah. In the initial stage you have to make it a deliberate act. Then it is not necessary. You surrender body knowledge ‘I am not body’. Any question is there?
V: No. No more questions are there.
M: OK, I think this is sufficient for today. If we go on talking, talking the same thing. We are talking in different words. Same thing we are talking in different words. Simple! Try to identify your Selfless Self. Prior to consciousness how you were? After leaving Consciousness how will you be? And through Consciousness you are observing this world, watching this world. How existence is true or false? That you ought to identify! OK. Short and sweet!
Nothing has happened, nothing is going to happen, the entire world is an illusory world, even God is an illusory God, so do not trace – because the moment the Spirit touched with the body, the world is projected, and the moment the Spirit leaves the body the world will disappear.” So, any knowledge is also illusion. Spiritual knowledge is also illusion. The Naam Mantra is also illusion, but to discard all illusions, you have to take the help of the Naam Mantra.
The Naam Mantra is having good value, as I told you, because that Spirit is very sensitive. The moment the Spirit touched with the body, you started saying “I am somebody else, I am man, or I am a woman… something… something” You got some position and along with that moment, instantly, you have seen the entire world and so many concepts engraved upon you – through parents, through society members, through so many sources. And within that circle, you are posing as something and then you’re trying to live within that illusory concept and then life is painful and not tolerable.
So, in that case somebody told you God is there, and that He is taking care of all human beings etc. But that identification is not true identification because the body is not your identity at all, as I told you several times. The holder of the body is Ultimate Truth that is called Brahman, Atman Paramatman, God, Master. That You Are! But you are neglecting your Self, you are measuring, you are counting yourself in body form. This is a dead body. Body does not have any identity. You were a small child, then you become a young man and now an old man. These are the stages of the body. Similarly mind, ego, and intellect are functioning organs of this body – subtle organs. So to come out of all this vicious circle you have to undergo the meditation and Naam Mantra. Naam Mantra is the words given to the meaning “I am Brahman – Brahman I am.” And that is why the Naam Mantra is required, because your Spirit is very sensitive and what you impress it reflects. Considering that fact, considering that point, the Naam Mantra is given, because your original identity is Brahman, you – your Self is Brahman. Brahman is not separate from you. Ultimate Truth is not separate from you. So, though you are holding the body and acting according to body, your existence is totally separate from the body. And God is also a concept developed in human life just to have some trust. “God is great – oh! God bless me!” OK – it’s OK – it’s just temporary relief. But God is not separate from you! If there is no Presence who can identify your God? To say God your Presence is required.
So, your Spontaneous Invisible Presence is most important, to have this conviction you have to undergo strictly meditation and reciting the Mantra is most important. Through reciting the Mantra and meditation you’re impressing yourself “I am Brahman! I am Brahman! I am Brahman!” Non-stop – concentrating or hammering yourself, once, one time, so that “I am That!” – that spontaneous experience will appear within you and then there will be peacefulness. Why are these worries there? Why a painful life is? Because directly or indirectly we are considering ourselves as body form and body form is not your identity at all! You are basically formless; no form is there! It’s an open fact: prior to beingness or prior to one hundred years ago you were not having any form – you were totally unknown to you. Now you are known to you because of this body, the moment the body disappears, the unknown dissolves in unknown, so no identity remains! Where will be painfulness be? Who, then, wants peacefulness who, then, wants a tension-free life? Who, then, wants a fearless life? Because body knowledge is not tolerable, therefore, all these requirements are there. Why the Master is required? Because you forgot your identity and to have this conviction you have to undergo strictly meditation. Simply reading books and listening to and approaching various Masters – so many Masters! – will just be dry spirituality.
Be practical! Don’t leave your job, do your duties, take care of your family members, live like a good human, but at the same time try to identify! This human body is an opportunity, a golden opportunity, to identify yourself in a real sense, so don’t neglect it. Do your job, do your duties, don’t neglect your family members, but at the same time, don’t lose this as an opportunity, and have firm courage to accept this reality. This open fact that is being placed before you, because the body identity is not going to remain constant, so be brave and have courage! Yes! So That I!
Calamities will be there, depression maybe be there, but it will be temporary, not permanent. Don’t become a victim of your own psychology. “Oh, what will happen?” Nothing will be happening! Nothing has been happening, and nothing is going to happen because you are not the doer there is no deed! Your Presence is just like a space or sky, sky does not know that “I am the sky,” the sky is not having any family members, the sky is having any wife, father and mother. No! So, you’re subtler than sky because you can identify the sky! Today you may not believe it, but it is a fact – a naked fact – an open fact – so don’t neglect yourself! You do not know your importance, you have got high importance, your presence is Invaluable Presence. All greatness is there but you are neglecting it! You are underestimating yourself! “Oh, how will this happen?” You are not to depend, because you are totally independent, not dependent! “Oh God bless me!” Not even the Master is required; the Master is required only because you forgot your identity. Your Spontaneous Presence is itself the Master! Your Spontaneous Invisible Presence within this body is itself is the Master! I am placing before you this open fact, so don’t torture yourself. Be brave. Things are coming and going. It may be a bad thing it may be a good thing; forget it! Do not give it so much importance. Find out the way how to come out from all these illusionary circumstances. To make your life bearable! To make the human life bearable you have to identify yourself. You do need not to go anywhere or you will yourself be misguided. To find yourself why would you need to go here or there? No need of any Master is required! Try to please your own Master within you! The Finder Itself is the Master. For which you read some books of course, “Selfless Self,” “I am That,” some books from Ramana Maharshi and other really good books helpful for spiritual information, spiritual identity, for conviction. Because lack of confidence is causing you spiritual illness, so be brave, try to stabilize – within your Selfless Self – any lack of confidence, lack of will power, underestimating yourself. These are discrepancies. Instead, create some confidence: “I can do it!” Confidence is most important. In human life you are not to achieve anything. You are to discard everything. “I am not body – I was not body – I am not going to be body.” So, whatever problems are there are related to the body only, whatever allegations are there relate to the body only, and not to You.
With the result you will find forgive and forget-ness – anything happens in your life you forgive and forget. Tolerance will be there. It’s most important. Why your peacefulness is disturbed? Because directly or indirectly, you’re posing yourself: “I am somebody else,” the ego says, “and, oh, he is disturbing me, he is attacking me by words.” But whatever Presence is within this body is the Presence everywhere; from the Speaker from this body to the Listener there is no difference! Accept this reality! You must have courage to accept the Reality. No past life. No future life. No hell. No heaven. Because you are not doer, there is no deed! Some people say because of past bad deeds, you have taken the birth – they say these things, but nothing is there! The child is not born – yet you’re talking about the fate of the child! This is the challenge to accept the reality – not to be a coward! “Oh, what will happen?” “Oh, they will do something.” You’re not helpless! Yes! I can do it! Have some courage! Age is no factor. “Oh, I am an old man – what will happen to me?”
Spirit does not have any age factor, is the sky a hundred years old or two hundred years old? Sky does not have any age factor. So, your Presence does not have any age, any age factor is connected to the body only – a very simple thing and for which again I am repeating your involvement is most important. You have to undergo strictly meditation, devote some time for your Self, at least one hour … two hours … three hours.
Those days, all these saints were devoting about ten hours, but nowadays it is not possible, but at least for one or two hours devote for some time.
For You only it is needed. Then it is not necessary. But in the beginning, it is needed. Your mind will rebel against you not allowing you peacefulness. But be confidant! “Yes, I have to do it!”
Mind, ego, intellect is in existence because of this body only! There is no mind, no ego, no intellect. Prior to beingness, where are they? Nothing. After leaving body, what about the mind, ego, intellect? MY mind? MY ego? MY intellect? Why?
Everything comes out of nothingness and everything dissolves within nothingness. So courage is most important, spiritual courage not egoistic courage. “I can do it,” the master says, “I am Brahman; I am Brahman!” When somebody says you are a donkey you’re immediately slapping him, correct? Because you accepted the donkey. But the master says, “You are not a donkey or monkey… you are Brahman!” Why don’t you accept it? As if you are accepting donkey and slapping somebody else, assaulting somebody else, like that, my Master says Yes, I Am Brahman, I have to take revenge, yes I am Brahman.
Nothing is impossible. Napoleon said “Impossible is a word in dictionary of a fool” you know? “Impossible” is a word in dictionary of a fool.” You are not a fool. Nothing is impossible. Be brave! It’s a very simple thing, not do anything that you are to do it. Because you are not doer there is no deed.
You are unnecessary carrying the burden of your human life. But beyond human life is peaceful, tension-free, the only source, you have to identify your Self “Who am I?” You are neither man nor woman you are Brahman, Ultimate Truth, and the Ultimate Truth is not separate from you. So be realized! Make others realized! Yes – why not?
V: Maharaj, there are challenges, so how can I stay with the sense that my real identity is Selfless Self?
M: Yes, correct.
V: That’s with the sense I stay, that whatever comes, comes.
M: OK, forget it! Winter is coming; Autumn is coming, these are seasons, Summer is there. Autumn is there. Winter is there. They are coming and going, you are there and there only. Be firm. So, nobody dares to attack you. I tell you: no calamities, no unpleasant atmosphere will attack you if you will be strong enough inside. If you are mentally weak, physically weak, spiritually weak, then everything will take possession of your body. Not to allow mind, ego, intellect, which previously you were slave of, now you are holder of your mind! I can dictate terms. Mind is nothing; its a flow of thoughts! So lack of courage – spiritual courage -is creating problem for you. Doubts are there, but why doubts are there? What is doubts? Where are the doubts prior to beingness? After leaving the body, any doubts are there?
V: How do we make our mind still like that?
M: Mind is a flow of thoughts, you’re recognizing what is going on! During the mind, bad thoughts are coming, and good thoughts are coming; you are identifying bad thoughts and good thoughts. You are discriminating bad thoughts and good thoughts. Let bad thoughts come. Let good thoughts come. The thoughts which are useful for your routine life you can accept it.
Q: But it is projected as if, you know, a lot of times now I’ve come here, right? And long before I found you and Nisargadatta’s book, I went to Tiruvannamalai. But since I met you I do not go there at all. Still, some people are still saying “Oh …”
M: Forget about others you have to make your own decision! You are a master of your own! Forget about others, forget about mind.
V: I am not concerned with them.
M: Of course, you remain unconcerned with the world. Not concerned with human beings, not concerned with the world, because the world itself is illusion. The world is projected out of your Invisible Presence, if the Presence is not there who will talk about the world and who will talk about the man or woman? Who will talk about the human life and beingness? The moment the spirit clicked with the body you see the world: “Oh I am that” and from that moment you started measuring yourself by body form, but body form is not your identity at all. Be brave…. nothing is impossible…. start doing meditation! It’s most important! It will give you a lot of courage – a lot of energy, meditation is not only simply words; it’s creating a vibration inside, creating energy within you, spiritual energy, to accept the Reality, and then thereafter it will be spontaneous. You will need not to go to sit for special meditation. It will be spontaneous meditation! Wherever you go it will be there! In the beginning we are advising that you sit for meditation like this like this etc. But thereafter it will not be necessary. Just like when you are learning some language – any language – you do “A – B- C- D…” like that, but now you are master of this language. You need not need to go say “A – B- C- D.” Similarly, we are asking you to sit for meditation in the beginning only, thereafter there are no rules and regulations.OK! Enough for you; short and sweet!
V: Strong!
M: Yes! Have you broadcasted this?
V: Yes.
M: Good good! So be enlightened and make others enlightened! Be realized, make others realized! Siddharameshwar Maharaj says if you realized share the knowledge, make others realized! Any question for you?
V: Self enquiry is different?
M: Forget about enquiry! No enquiry is there! It is for in the beginning “Who am I?” You’re not the body, you were not body, you’re not going to remain body. Self-enquiry: “Who am i? If I am not body who am I?” It’s called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master that you are! It’s an open fact that the body is not your identity at all! The body was not your identity! The body is not going to remain your identity. After self-enquiry you will find out the reality!
Why is self-enquiry required? To find out the reality “Who am I?” The main question is: “If I am not body then who am I?” You say “Brahman, Atman, Paramatman.” So, what is that Brahman? How that Brahman is? It cannot be imagined. It is beyond imagination, beyond any inferences, because it is Spontaneous Existence, where there is no experience and no experiencer, no witness and no witnesser. In Spontaneous Existence there is no experience and no experiencer, no witness no witnesser! No identity is there. It is called nothingness. So, everything came out of nothing and everything dissolves within nothing. What is enquiry? The child which is not born, we are talking about the fate of that child. It’s ok in the beginning. You have to self-enquiry. It is required. Self-enquiry – self-knowledge – self-realization – these are three stages. In spiritual life there are three stages: self-enquiry – because we forgot our identity, we are not knowing our self; we are not knowing anything about spirituality – we are not knowing anything about anything… we are told God is there and God is great is there. Find out, because all knowledge is within you only. Knowledge is not separate from you. Your Spontaneous Invisible Existence is itself a sign of knowledge: Reality – Ultimate Truth final truth. Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master – all these names are given. You are almighty God, God is not separate from you. So, stop measuring yourself in body form, it’s an open fact that you were not the body – you are not the body – you are not going to remain the body. All concepts came along with the body, all requirements, all needs came along with the body. Who needs peacefulness? Who needs happiness? Who wants a tension-free life? Who wants a fearless life? Because body is not tolerable.
V: When I meditate like this a lot of thoughts coming up in my mind.
M: Don’t stress your mind, not to give so much importance to your mind.
V: So, should I wait for these thoughts to stop?
M: In the beginning…You Listen to me! I will take care of you! Do not worry about it. Since you came here I will make you Perfect! Nisargadatta Maharaj says I am not making you a disciple, I am making you a Master. You came here as a devotee, but you will go afterwards as a Master! “Yes, I am Master!” My Master says I am a Master! Live like a Master! The Owner Of This World!
Ramakant Maharaj: Present life is not Ultimate Truth, it is not stable life, so likewise you have to think over it, who am I? That is the main question, that you have to concentrate. After knowing the reality, though you are living this body form, you are unconcerned. Sometimes bliss is there, sometimes pain is there, sometimes depression is there, nervousness is there, sometimes happiness is there. It happens because you are holding the body, today you are happy, tomorrow depression may be there. Sometimes some devotees say “oh, I am doing spirituality, I am doing meditation, I am doing Bhajan, why is there nervousness, why is there depression?”. It is body knowledge, it is going to happen, depression, unhappiness, all these concepts are not there prior to Beingness. After leaving the body, have you got any depression? “OH I am depressed”, there, nobody is there! The Presence merges with all the entire Presence, like a bucket of water you put in sea, you can’t remove the bucket of water from sea, it becomes sea. Likewise, your Presence, after leaving the body, will merge within, vast, Brahman.
So that type of conviction is required, then only, there will be spiritual survival “yes, I have nothing to do with the world”. At present we survive with the body form, that is not survival at all. So be with you, always, do your job, do your duties. “OH Master, I am having so many problems”, some people ask whether not to continue service or not, why? What is the harm? Spirituality is not asking you to leave your service, leave your responsibilities and go to the forest. Do your routine life, nothing is wrong with you, that means you got ego, “I am somebody else, I am a spiritual man”, and that ego is supposed to be dissolved.
“I am spiritual man, I am Brahman” is also ego, you are neither Brahman nor Atman, you are every thing. Atman, Brahman, Master, names are given to that Ultimate Truth that you are. So, desires are there, concepts are there, because you are holding the body, a body made by five elements. And there is imbalance in the five elements, it happens, up and down is there, today you will be so much happy and peaceful, tomorrow some incident will happen, just like clouds are going and coming. So not to give so much importance, just be steady.
So the first thing: that body attachments are supposed to be dissolved with spiritual knowledge. And take positive views, not negative “oh something happened”, “ok, body is there, some or other day, I will have to leave the body”. That is reality. You can’t postpone. At the most you can postpone 1 year, 2 years, 3 years. You are not going to survive more than 100 years, so that is not your identity at all!
So whatever job, duties you have, observe your duties and for which again I am repeating, meditation is the most part, because after meditation, Conviction will appear. Entire knowledge will be open within you, because you are Master of Masters. You are neglecting that, you are discarding yourself, you are not knowing your importance, you’ve got tremendous importance.
But again you are depending upon somebody, “oh do something, bless me”, why do you want blessings? Ok. Blessings are there. Have your own blessing, please yourself, your inner Master is almighty God. Master key is given to you in Naam Mantra, recite Naam Mantra continuously, there is no harm. Not to pay a single penny, you are not required to bring any garlands or anything, not to bow down to me also, bow down to yourself.
But what I have told you, just accept it, that is my humble request to everybody. I am addressing the invisible Listener, because human form is a golden opportunity for you. This is the last terminal, don’t neglect it, do your job, your duties, your responsibilities, at the same time, try to identify, that is the most important thing. If you neglect it, if you take it lightly, with a wavering mind, you go here and there, approach this Master, that Master, you are wasting your time.
Approach your own Master, it is very simple, but be humble, not to have any ego, not to struggle with mind, not to struggle with people. There should not be any hatred, some conditions are there, not to make comparisons “oh my Master is great and your Master is not great”. Like that.
Not to allow silly questions inside, sometimes mind is playing, mind is very crazy, playing with you, creating so many questions, trying to distract you from the Reality. So, you control the mind, sometimes you have to go against mind. Mind, ego, intellect, do not have any specific identity. They are functional organs of the body, through which you are talking or listening, so use them, but not to become a slave of mind, ego, intellect!
Sri Ramakant Maharaj
A recording from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Sri Ramakant Maharaj in December of 2017.
Q: Thank you so much for these broadcasts. When doing Mantra meditation should the concentration be on the words, the sound, the breath, the Master, or just Selfless Self?
Ramakant Maharaj: Just Selfless Self. Master is also with form, basically Master is formless but, in the beginning, mind does not allow you to concentrate Selfless Self directly. So, in that case you have to see the Master in body form, you can concentrate on Master and some vibrations, some waves will come inside. As matter of fact there is no difference between Master and yourself, but in spite of this mind is not accepting the reality. To make the mind accept this reality in the beginning you have to concentrate on Master or Selfless Self, Master though it is with form it is easy for concentration.
There is no difference between Master and disciple. Because we are holding human form, different human forms are there. In all bodies Spirit is one just like with all buildings all sky is one. Similarly, lakhs of beings are there so every being is having same Spirit called Brahman, Atman, Paramatmam, God, Master. Because Directly or indirectly we are considering our self as body form, so there is lot of attachment to that body form. Therefore, we are having an egoistic ‘I’. That egoistic ‘I’ is supposed to be dissolved, it is to be a humble ‘I’, not egoistic ‘I’. Try to identify, it is a very simple thing, this ‘I’ does not know it’s independent identity. It is vast, it is everywhere omnipresent, in the sense how to some people Gods or goddesses are. Master is not separate from you, so instead of playing with words – Master, God, Ultimate Truth, Maya, Brahman – through explaining or narrating, try to convince the invisible listener within you. So, one principle is that there is Selfless Self which is the ultimate truth you are. So why is Naam Mantra, or Master required? Because you forgot your identity, you treat this dream as true dream. Everyday there is a different dream, but dreams are not true. Similarly, this is a long dream. As we are treating this dream as true therefore to discard all these illusionary concepts you have to undergo meditation.
So many questions are asked, for those unable to come to India or Nasik whether mantra is compulsory. So, my reply is that Mantra is a word, came from lineage to lineage, holding some importance in Sanskrit and creating some vibrations. It is not compulsory if you have strong devotion with words of Master’s that except myself there is no Brahman, Atman, Paramatmam. Myself not in egoistic sense but formless ‘myself’. But these are words, if there is such full faith within you of a Master who is teaching you then mantra is not necessary. Mantra is only media, creating atmosphere, and through mantra you are reminding yourself. ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ is also mantra, and spontaneous awakening is required that ‘I am Brahman, Brahman I am’. Then originality will come out with the result that at time of leaving the body there should not be any dream. Why is spirituality required, why is a Master required, why are books required? Because there is no peacefulness, no happiness. Since we are holding body always tension is there, fear of death is there, so to come out of these illusionary concepts spirituality is required. Spirituality is a concept. To say ‘I am Brahman’ is also a concept, an illusionary concept. But It is a concept based on sattva guna, a good concept, through which you can identify yourself. After identification, after conviction you don’t need this exercise – not even meditation, bhajan or help of Master. Till you stand on your own feet Master is required because you consider yourself as handicapped depending upon blessings of Master or God. Master is not separate from you, but you are not having such conviction. To have this strong faith that you are Master, this process is required. Meditation is required as form of hammering. How to breathe or concentration on tip of nose, all these aids are not compulsory. If you have full confidence that I am Brahman, then nothing is required. But mind does not accept this reality easily, so all this process is necessary -so many sources, reading books, Masters words, meditation – for the principle and just to get back that original memory that I am Ultimate Truth. Brahman means ultimate truth, that you are.
Be strong. To get spiritual strength, to accept reality that you are not man, woman or any being, but you are formless. There is no past or future birth, nothing is there, no deed, no doer, only this reality needs to be absorbed in you. To absorb this reality this process is there. So, gist of all this is that except for Selfless Self nothing is there. Master is only cause, mantra is only cause. Master and disciple are same, God and devotee are one and same, just bodies are different. Mind is not accepting and always playing always with words, debates, arguments, why this, why not this. Try to convince yourself, even if you try to understand intellectually, you are not the body. It comes with a time limit. Who is acting from this body, think about it. Who is watching this dream, who is watching this world? If there is no presence in the body who will talk about the world? This body is just a dream, entire world is projected out of your Presence. If you accept this principle there is no need of anything, even mediation or bhajan are not necessary, as everything came out of nothing. Prior to beingness you were not aware of anything, not knowing anything. After leaving body what remains? What is knowledge? Just to identify yourself in real sense is knowledge. You are unknown to yourself, because of mind, ego, intellect there is confusion. No peacefulness or happiness is there, always tension, always fear. To come out of all this bad patch you have to undergo meditation, read books which give direct information. Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharishi, Siddharameshwar Maharaj, J Krishnamurti, as all these saints were placing before people the ultimate truth. They were living the Ultimate Truth, that you are. Ultimate Truth is not separate from you, God is not separate from you, Master is not separate from you. All this process, this theory is just to convince yourself in real sense you are Brahman, you are Atman, you are Paramatman, you are God, you are Master.
This is short and sweet spiritual knowledge. If you go on talking and narrating it is meaningless you are wasting your time. Except for Selfless Self nothing is there. Why this, why that, if a child is not born why talk about its fate? If you work with mind, ego, intellect they create problems for you. I am somebody else has to be dissolved. ‘I am jnani’ is ego. ‘I am Brahman’ is ego. Brahman does not have specific identity, it is like the sky. It does not have any identity, ‘I am Indian sky, American sky or Russian sky. Sky is sky everywhere, so Brahman is Brahman everywhere.
Q: Please is it possible to clarify. Master says this is the last terminus, and Selfless Self not separate from us. It is inner Master. So we stay with Mantra till leaving last breath or till spontaneous conviction is reached? There is no wish to leave Ranjit Ashram, so we keep with sadhana always? Thank you.
M: Make sadhana anywhere in the world. Sometimes it’s not possible due to physical, age, financial, mental or other problems not come to India. You don’t have to come to Ranjit Ashram all the time, wherever you are make yourself believe that except for Selfless Self nothing is there. You are reading and listening to us, so you have to accept it make in mind. Sadhana is just required to convince yourself. Suppose someone has lost their memory, and so invites the attention of that principle of their original, old memory. You are considering yourself in human form, that is not your identity at all. Sadhana is necessary till you get conviction, to remind yourself, to hammer yourself that you are not man or woman. You are Ultimate Truth, I am Brahman, Brahman I am. These are words to forget body identity, because even if you understand intellectually the body is not your identity at all. Some day you have to leave the body so there should not be another dream. Therefore, this is last terminus. Human body is a golden opportunity to identify yourself. God, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman is not separate from you. Again, and again I am placing before you the same thing. But to accept it is difficult, therefore sadhana is required, Master is required, Mantra is required. But if you have full confidence, strong confidence, nothing is required. Just like Eklavya.
In this story from Mahabharata, Eklavya’s Master refuses to give him the art of archery but he does not get depressed. The boy creates a statue of his Master, worships it and invites inner Master thus gaining exceptional knowledge of archery in absence of external Master achieved in such a way, that a Master would not teach anyone else. That can happen. Your inner Master is a very strong Master. Don’t neglect your inner Master, external Master tries to invite attention of your inner Master. As matter of fact there is no difference between external Master and inner Master except for purpose of conversation, so concentrate on invisible concentrator that you are Brahman. Through mantra you are hammering yourself, and body form consciousness will be turned to Ultimate Truth. You are changeless, you are formless, what you see as changes, or in body form is all illusion. But you have to mold yourself, in the beginning you have to make a deliberate effort. Dry discussion is not sufficient. The questioner is within you, so question yourself in calm and quiet. You will get answers inside, make your inner Master talk with you. Apparently, it seems like duality, but duality will be turned into individuality. There is no duality. But in the beginning, you have to undergo some discipline and deliberate efforts. And you have not to go anywhere in search of Master. Master is not separate from you. You are wasting your time approaching so many Masters. You are neglecting your own Master. You are underestimating and not giving any value to You.
Sri Ramakant Maharaj
A recording from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Sri Ramakant Maharaj in October of 2017.
V: If progress one does is not enough in one lifetime to realize, what…
M: Not necessary. Not necessary. Discard this concept. What progress? The sky is walking, any progress is there? Don’t count yourself in body-form. Progress means you are counting yourself in body-form. I am shouting that you are not body at all. You were not body at all. Now you learn something, you are a mature devotee. See one thing is there: you are to discard body concept. Because, directly, indirectly, we are counting ourself body-form, that is illusion. It is open fact, forget about spirituality. Body is not your identity at all. Whose progress? You are not body. For progress something is required, some element is required. You are formless! You are shapeless. No form is there. This form is not going to remain constant. Who wants progress? Who is the beneficiary of progress? No progress is there. Basic concept is, basic knowledge is you are not body at all, you are formless, no birth, no death. And for which, I am repeating to everybody, you must have to undergo strictly meditation, because that ego, intellect, mind creating problem for you. For small incidents you are getting irritated.
I told you the six symptoms of this realization: Forgive and forget, tolerance, then anxiety to know the reality, no attraction of the world, strong faith in the Masters and strong faith, trust. See, it’s very simple method. Now if you examine yourself, If something insult you, if somebody insult you, you are getting irritated,“Oh he has insulted me”, that means that Reality is not absorbed within you. I told so many examples. I have given the example of Eknath Maharaj, who was the great Saint of the Maharashtra. One person accepted challenge that I will make him irritated. Eknath Maharaj used to go to for bath in one lake. And this [crupido?], go to the stream and spit on him, dirty spit. He’s not irritated. He went there taken bath and came again. Again he spit. Again he taken bath, again he spit. Like that, forty times he spit on him. It is reality, I’m not talking about some story. Then he got irritated, in spite of my forty times spitting, he is not irritated. He bow down to him, “I’m sorry, forgive me.” He said, “No, you have not done anything, because of you I have got forty times bath, holy bath. Because of you I have got forty times holy bath.” He is not irritated, no anger is there. Why anger is there? Why irritation is there? There is some essence of body ego is there. Nobody is insulting anybody else, because you are not body at all. The Holder of the body is formless. Nobody can insult me. Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “If anybody says, ‘He is a foolish Saint, if anybody says he is a foolish Saint’ I am not having any deprecation. If anybody says, ‘He’s a wise Saint’, no appreciation. Because what he says I am not that. Because body is not my identity at all.” Who is insulting to whom? Body? If there is no Presence in the body, who can insult you? Because you are having subtle ego. So examine yourself. These are the tests of your spiritual knowledge. Some incidents happen. Incidents happened in Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ranjit Maharaj, Siddharameshwar Maharaj, and myself also. There are some incidents of irritation.
I’m giving one example of Nisargadatta Maharaj. Nisargadatta Maharaj came after one or two years, then some people used to come to him. So one of his senior Guru-brother came to know, he got irritated. He send message to him, Nisargadatta Maharaj, “Who has given authority to make disciples? Who has given you authority to disciple. Stop this!” And he instructed to some other devotees, “Stop this”. Not to have devotion with the Siddharameshwar Maharaj, it is not your, say authority, not your, for that. What Nisargadatta Maharaj says? “Tell them sorry, if you want take these photographs of Siddharameshwar Maharaj to him, I will put big mirror. I will make puja of that big mirror.” Number one. See what his greatness, he is not irritated. He’s not insulted. Second thing he says, “People are coming to me, I can’t say ‘Don’t come to me’”. Then what happens? The senior Guru-brother feels sorry for him. That is the greatness of the Saint. There are so many incidents, I don’t want to quote each and every one. In my also, life. When I came here, I’ll tell you, when I came here somebody had some chair, his chair, decorated chair, and I don’t know. Then one of the trustees says, “Don’t sit at that chair, you do not deserve for that.” I just ignore him, “You do not deserve to sit in that chair”. I’m not irritated. Okay, I sit down, not sit on the chair. Program was completed. Nobody knows what has happened. Then one of the other devotees make him realize, “What are doing? To whom are you insulting?” And at that time I decided that if people do not like, I will go back to Bombay. But what do I want to tell? Insult, irritation, should not be there. That is the quality, second quality. Forgive and forget and tolerance. Only dry spiritual knowledge will not help you. For petty, petty matters we are getting irritated. XYZ insulted me. XYZ scolded me. You are not so cheap! Who can insult you? Because you are not knowing your importance. You are not knowing your greatness! You have become small. See greatness is within you. There should not be any type of irritation. It’s an experience. You can tolerate it, “Okay”.
Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “If I am fortunate enough all calamities will come to me.” So spiritual devotees are supposed to be very strong, inside and outside. Only dry discussion on Brahman, Paramatman… anything happens in your practical life you must have tolerance. This is a dream! This is a dream. We are giving so much importance to the dream. In dream so many people appears before you, some people are good people, some people are bad people. Are you taking any ego? After awakening what happened to those people, good and bad? They disappear. This is a long dream. So, tolerance is most important. You must become strong and strong, spiritually strong. If something happens, then some weakness is there. You all people are mature people. Since last so many month, or so many years you are listening, reading books, it’s not enough. How you live practically? How are you enjoying spiritual knowledge in practical life? Such type of incidents are bound to be happen in your life also. Be strong, be strong! “Okay, I will overcome it!” Let them insult me, what to do?
I will give the example of Gautam Buddha also. One lady taking charges and getting irritated, and Gautam Buddha was walking near. That lady abuse him in very, very vile language, very, very vile language, but he was not irritated. Then out of irritation she says, “I abuse you in very bad language, you are not getting irritation”. What he says, “Oh mother, you are going to offer me so many things, I have not accepted it. You are going to offer me so many things, I am not accepting it. With whom it remains?” That is the quality of spiritual knowledge. When you become spiritualist, when you say whether I am realized or not, if such incidents happen in your life, you are to be firm. We are calculating, spiritual life and human life; we say you are formless, no life is there. We are counting, since that spirit click with the body we are counting, one day, two day, one year, two years, three years.
So be strong, I am requesting you! These type of incidents are bound to be happen in your life. It’s a practical spirituality. See nothing has happened in the world. Entire world itself is illusion. No knowledge, what is knowledge? Realization, enlightenment, whom? You are already formless, just like a space or sky. Can you say Indian sky is realized and American sky is not realized? So try to absorb that knowledge within you. Only dry discussion, don’t expect anything. Even if you’ve got a lot of experience, all experience appear upon your Invisible Presence. It may be good progressive steps. Everybody have different, different experiences. In spiritual science these are three type of experience that appears. If your devotion is very strong, then three type of experiences happen. Darshana means to see the Masters or some gods also, some Lineage Masters also. This is darshana. Very, very strong experience, but it is not knowledge. It is a good sign. You are becoming nearer and nearer about the Reality. Then sparshana means touch. Sometimes you are getting touch. Then sambhashana means talk. I’ll tell you a great story that I already told you. That during the Bhausaheb Maharaj, Bhausaheb Maharaj left his body in 1914, at that time, at Bagevadi, you know Bagevadi? There’s a plague. You know plague?
V: Mmhhmm.
M: Plague disease, incurable disease in those days. Known plague. It is uh say, some racks; racks, racks. Plague, plague. It was very dangerous in those days. That one lady, her name is Hemabai. Maharaj, Bhausaheb Maharaj had left the body, thereafter she caught with this plague, and their practice is that when anybody contracted with such type of disease, instead of say spreading of the disease, they’re putting that lady, or whosoever, in the forest. And according to all the people who taken her to the forest and left her, at that time, she prayed Bhausaheb Maharaj, he was her Master. It is a rare story. And then, Bhausaheb Maharaj physically appeared before her and totally cured from all the disease, and then he said, “Go to the ashram at Bagevadi.” She says, “If I go to Bagevadi, people will say ‘It’s a ghost’, they’ll beat me”. He said, “Don’t worry, I will give darshana for you only. If there is a problem I will be there.” She went there, to appear, people says ‘It’s a ghost’, she says… See this is rare story of Reality. Nobody believe. Then there was some rooms are there, Bhausaheb Maharaj photograph was there. So she went inside, and people started, one person brought one prasada, “Give to Bhausaheb Maharaj”. Within no time that plate become completely cleared. Then somebody given some scent to give bath. So all these [inaudible]. So they realize. And at that time used to take and give bath to the Bhausaheb Maharaj, then Gurulingajangam Maharaj, and then Kadsiddheshwar Maharaj. The three stands are still there, if you go to Bagevadi, three stands are still there.
It can be happen, but this is not knowledge. Like that so many incidents are there. I am not insisting miracles. It is progressive steps, because your Presence taken form, what you feel. Therefore I say the Invisible Presence within you having strong power, but unfortunately we are counting ourself in body-form. Any unpleasant incidents happen in your life you are getting irritated, and insulted. It should not be there. It is a test of your spiritual knowledge. So, therefore, if the six symptoms appear within you, that means a sign of realization. And, for which, I am again repeating, you have to undergo strictly meditation.
I’m not here to solve your family problems. Some people says, “I don’t have any employment. I’ll get some service somewhere, service, please do something. My parents are sick, my daughter is not studying.” I am not here to solve all these problems. I’m talking strictly about the spirituality. Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “Except your Selfless Self there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman.” Why don’t you accept this? Live like a Paramatman, Brahman, Ultimate Truth. You can use your body, but excessive use of our body, ego, intellect, mind, can create problem for you. Particularly ego is very dangerous. Everybody having subtle ego. They say well I am unable… anything goes wrong against you, you are getting irritated.
You have to take care. This is high time. This is a golden opportunity for you! What do we want in human life? Human life is uncertain, a lot of problems are there, but all this appear upon your Presence. If there’s no Presence, no problems are there; no ego, no intellects, no mind is there. And therefore, everything within you. Everything start from you, everything end within you. I am placing before you open secret. Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, these are the words. The name is given to the Invisible Listener within you! It’s not separate from you. You can use your body, body is not ultimate truth. Along with body, ego, intellects, mind is there. They are not bad, but we are using excessively. Directly, indirectly, we are counting ourselves in body-form, and instantly that mind playing tricks against you, creating some doubts. Ego also there and intellects are there. They are good and they’re worst. Mind, ego, intellects they are very good and also very worst. Some or other day they will distract you from the Reality. There should not be any doubts. When Master says, “I am Brahman”, I am Brahman, there’s not any alternate. Master says, “You are Brahman, you are Ultimate Truth. You were not body, you are not body, you are not going to remain body. The Holder of the body is Ultimate Truth, Brahman.” These are not concepts, it is Reality, I am placing before you.
So if at all some ego is there, surrender it. Don’t be foreigner to that ego, intellect, mind. We have become victim of our own mind, ego, intellects. How to take other people, it’s up to you. Avoid struggle, there are different type of people are there. You are mature enough, you are not ordinary, you know better where you stand. And therefore, strong faith is most important! Strong faith within you and strong faith within the Masters. It’s open secret, nothing wrong with you. Only your confidence, trust most important. Complete faith is most important. You need not, not required to read any books. Not go anywhere, there should not be temptation to go anywhere. Not to search any masters. Master is within you, you are ignoring your own Master within you. So you are the cause and the consequence of this… concept. Entire world is an illusory world. I told you sometimes Shankaracharya says, “To say ‘I’ it is illusion, to say ‘You’ is also illusion, to say ‘Brahman’ also illusion, entire world is illusion.” What is true? Whose progress is required? Who wants progress? Who is the beneficiary of progress? Slow progress, no progress, ant ways, bird ways. What is ways? No ways is there. All this concept.
And for which I am trying to convince you. It’s okay, what people says. Ants way means devotion, bhatki, ect, ect. Birds way means direct knowledge. It’s okay. I say there is no ways at all. You are there and there only. Whose ways? What is the ways? You are at terminal. What is required? Therefore, be strong, spiritually; physically okay, but spiritually. This is high time. If some such type of concepts, irritated concepts appears that means something wrong with you. Don’t be insulted. Nobody can insult you. Don’t underestimate you. Do your job, do your duties. Forget it, forget the entire world. Different type of people are there. They may say, “He’s a good person, he’s a bad person, he’s a worse person.” This quality supposed to be appear within you.
So realization, enlightenment, it’s okay. The symptoms are there. If the symptoms appear within you it means you are not required to go anywhere. You’ll be fearless. There will be spontaneous peacefulness, happiness. No material cause is required for happiness and peacefulness. There are three types of material causes are there: publicity, money, and sex; publicity, money, and sex or desire. After knowing the reality, no need of all these things. You will have spontaneous happiness and peacefulness. Because your view will be totally changed about yourself. Your knowledge is not limited with the body. Just see, what is in body? Just glimpses of “I”. Just you see, sit alone. Who is in the body? Just glimpses of “I”. The moment that Presence disappear what is the value of this body? Nothing. But, that ego, intellects create problem for you, and you have to overcome all these things. From today onwards, no ego. Don’t feel insulted. If anybody insult you, if anybody try to divert you for some illusory concept, forget it. Nisargadatta Maharaj specifically says, “Not to come across with such people which will distract you from the Reality.” What he says? “Not to come across with such elements which will distract you from the Reality.” Everybody in time, walk of life. So many incidents happens. You may be anywhere in the world, some people appreciate you, some people depreciate you, insult you. Okay, because you are not counting yourself in body-form. So be firm. Human body is an opportunity for you, to identify yourself in real sense. We are identifying ourself in body-form and this is illusion.
So I think this is enough for you. So be practical, not theoretical. You may be having a lot of theoretical knowledge, that is meaningless. And for which I am insisting your base is supposed to be really strong, for which you are to undergo strictly meditation, involvement. Because all cards will be open, all Reality will be open within you. Because you are the source of all this knowledge. After knowing this, after realizing this, there won’t be any doubt. Complete silence is there. If anything happen around you, okay. You are very, very good. If such thing happens you will be feeling that you are the greatest and greatest, thee great. That greatness within you. And therefore Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “I am not making you disciple, I am making you Master.” What he says, “I am not making you disciple, I am making you Master”, because Masterly essence within you. But in spite of listening all these things some doubts are there. What knowledge more do you want? What is knowledge? Just to identify yourself in real sense. What we are identifying ourself as is illusion. Through which you are identifying is Reality. Just listen to me. Be calm and quiet. Enjoy. Enjoy silence. Nothing has happened. In dream somebody has insulted you, after awakening do you say “I will take revenge”?
You have to convince yourself. Ego, intellects, and mind is very, very crazy. They are pricking you from backside, trying to distract you from the Reality. Be alert. And for which all these things are required: ask for Bhajan, meditation, because always your keeping touch with your Selfless Self. I know it is illusion. Meditation also illusion, but a kind of alertness is there, because you are holding human body. Directly, indirectly, some concepts are there that may attack you at any moment. Through this meditation, through bhajan and all these things, you’ll get alertness. It always reminds: “I am Brahman, Brahman I am. I am Brahman, Brahman I am.” It creates some strong circle, so no thought will try to enter inside. Be aware. Nothing wrong with you. Don’t underestimate you. Don’t be any foreigner to your ego, intellects, mind. World is not bad, and not good also. Just try to understand. Be with you all the time. Nothing wrong. Peoples are coming and going, thoughts are coming and going, you are there and there only. Don’t disturb your stability. It happens, it’s test of your spiritual knowledge. It happens. Let come that happening, you’ll become strong and strong!
I think this is enough for today. So what I have told just remember it, try to absorb it, then you will see the results.
Material causes, material life, material life is not permanent. Because body is not permanent. Because some day or another you are to leave the body. So, who is acting within that body? That I’m pointing out that Invisible Presence within you that is Ultimate Truth. Because of the body impressions we forgot our Identity. Everybody know I Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, but it is not absorbed that Reality. To absorb Reality, you have to undergo strictly the meditation. Because though we knowing I am Brahman, Atman, God, Master, it is not impressed so much. It is not engraved so much. It should be engraved, you cannot wash out that. Most important, for which you are to undergo the process. This Reality not anywhere in the world. This is Your Reality.
There Nothing Is There. No attraction. No sources for some happiness. Source started from You. Source end within You. Because You are central point of this world. Except yourself nothing is there. There should not be temptation to go anywhere. Because you have lots of material attractions. Some sex is there. Money is there. Publicity is there. So many attractions that try to pacify the body knowledge, have some peacefulness. It’s temporary relief just like pain-killers, not permanent. Try to identify.
See one thing is that some or other day we are to leave this body. It’s Fact. Willingly or unwillingly you are to leave this body. That means body is not your identity at all, body was not your identity, and body not going to remain. The Invisible Presence acting within the body is Ultimate Truth, is The Brahman. It is not separate from You. You are the source of all the Brahman. So not to have any temptation to go anywhere. Everything within you. Why to go here and there? Today some person from Rishikesh is coming. Rishikesh, Kanya Kumari, Himalaya. Why to go here and there? Why to torture your body. You need not torture your body. Very plain knowledge, the base-Reality.
You have Secret Asset. Invisible Asset. Confidential Asset. That You Are. What is that? Just to find out what is that, just sit quiet. Just glimpses of ‘I’. Nothing else. It is caught with the body, so we accepted the body as our identity and therefore we are running here and there for happiness. What is happiness? What is peacefulness? Why we are fearing all the time birth, death, and something else? No death is there. No birth is there. Because we’re measuring ourselves in body form therefore we feel that ‘I will die, last birth, future birth, all concepts engraved upon us, wrapped upon us.
Somebody says like this. ‘Don’t read from such book which will try to distract you from the Reality. There are thousands of books on spirituality. Everybody wrote something, what he imagines, or they have some concept. Don’t go such, because it will divert you. It will distract you from Reality. Because you are Reality. To Identify what else what books is required? To know yourself, no books are required. You know better to you. You know better that body is not identity at all. You can hold body. You can have your all responsibilities. Take care of your body. Not to neglect your body. Not to sit idle, ‘oh I’m spiritual man’. Do your job, do your duties. You can do it. But, try to concentrate Concentrator that Invisible Concentrator within you is Ultimate Truth. Without it, nothing is there. It’s very simple thing. So, spirituality not restraining from all your routine life.
But meditation most important because meditation always hammering, always impressing your Reality. Why meditation is required? Because that words are impressing, hammering all the time that You are Brahman, You are Brahman, You are Brahman. And then knowingly or unknowingly that Spirit Accept ‘Oh So That I Am That.’ That Conviction, Spontaneous Conviction supposed to be there. Then you need not to go to any deliberate effort. In the beginning, you are to undergo some deliberate effort, but in the last, no deliberate effort required. Because its Fact. Your Presence is Ultimate Truth. That is called Secret Asset. Confidential Asset. Invisible Asset within you.
But generally, nobody knows it and we are wandering here and there, in search of some Masters, in search of some. Why to search of Masters? Yes because, it’s okay. You are not knowing your address, till that time you are to search for address. After arriving at the destination throw that address away. So, like that, knowing the Reality, you are to discard. People who create books, but what they wanted to convey that is most important. No to try to analyze the words. Try to identify, what they say, what they want to convey. There are so many Masters there, very rare though those with Exceptional identity. So, some people say kundalini and these things, it all is meaningless, no kundalini. No chakra is there. Entire Asset, Entire Secret Asset Invisible asset, Invisible property within you why to go here and there to find out that Property. That is principal of spirituality.
So, with the help of the Master try to identify. After identifying that Invisible Master within you, nothing do anything. Do your job, do your duties, if you like, smoothly. Because at that time you will be have Exceptional Peacefulness, Exceptional Happiness within you. Happiness, Peacefulness not separate from you. Why there is fear? Because you do not know, it is nature of the Spirit. Because Spirit knows itself through body only. Spirit does not know I am Spirit. Presence does not know I am Presence. It knows through body only therefore it likes to continue that body. I like to give an example of small ant. You pour water, he’s running here and there. Why? The smallest subtlest presence wants to continue that body. So, it’s the nature of the Spirit, Presence. Because through body it knows I am somebody else. Either man or woman, whatsoever, any being. So, that external cover should not go away, should not die, should not disappear. That efforts are there, therefore you fear not to go this body. For which, after knowing the Reality, ok what has happened? Some or other day willingly or unwillingly you are to leave the body. The end of the body after, the cemetery mm? So, it’s not going to remain. So, that Conviction, then there won’t be fears.
After having such conviction, body is not my identity body was not my identity, what to why to fear? So, that fear will be disappear. For which you are struggling for meditation or the Spirituality. Spirituality giving you Courage. Spirituality giving you Courage, Power, Energy. Live with Brave. Live with that Light. Don’t be cowards, what coward, just little. Some or other day you are to be prepared for that. That is idea behind spirituality therefore why you do the meditation. Because through meditation all illusory concepts dissolves. Meditation, all illusory concepts dissolves, for which you are to undergo strictly meditation. Not sitting like this, you got to have some non-stop recitation, reciting Mantra. Mantra came from Dattatreya. So, that is the basic principle of spirituality. Because literally we are knowing “I am Brahman” but it is not sufficient. Literal knowledge, bookish knowledge not sufficient. Because after knowing this you will forget. So, material knowledge, literal knowledge, dry knowledge will not help you. Be practical. Practical is most important. Nisargadatta Maharaj till the age of 70 or 75 they are working some shops. So, they not left their job, duties, “oh I am spiritual man, I am Master, I will not continue my business.” No. I also working in a bank some. So not to depend upon anybody else. You can stand on your own feet. this body-based knowledge, you’re routine life also. Not to depend upon spirituality also. Because you are spiritual man or woman, man or woman spiritual. Spirituality is already with you. Why to go here and there to find out spirituality? So Be With You all the time. You must have courage not to come across with such elements that will distract you from the Reality. So many masters in the world who are talking something, something. So, I’m not criticizing it. It happens. But here, there is not any business, there is not any commercial use. We are pointing out that except your Selfless Self there is no God. You want to ask anything?
Q: No questions.
Maharaj: This is simple, very, very simple. All these master’s giving the simple knowledge. Except your selfless Self nothing is there. Why to go to identify ourself here and there? Where is Lauv, where is he? You are Lauv. hmm? So, like that. To whom you are searching The Searcher Itself Is Ultimate Truth. It is not separate from You. So be strong, spiritually strong, not physical strong, not egoistical strong. So, nobody impresses their own ideas or concept upon you. You may be anywhere in the world, you need not to go here and there. Not to stay for long in ashram. If you have sufficient time you can stay in ashram no problem. But Where You Are There, There Ashram Is There. You may be in your house, you may be in cottage, Ashram Is There. No exercise is required. No special efforts are required to identify yourself. But only thing have Conviction, you are to undergo strictly meditation, most important, it’s the only source.
A powerful talk given by Sadguru Sri Ramakant Maharaj during the Guru Purnima celebration at Nashik Ashram July 7, 2018.
Maharaj: So, we are talking about spirituality. The importance of spirituality in human life. We are holding human life, human body. What is the importance of the spirituality in human life or human body? The basic concept is clear that body is not your identity at all. We are holding this body. What is there? Just glimpses of “I”, glimpses of “I”. Formless. There is no awareness, no unawareness. There is no experience, no experiencer. There is no witness, no witnesser. There is no seer, no seen. I am placing before you fact, your fact. What happened? When you are studying, listening spirituality, at that time we are having strong concept “I am somebody else”, form. The importance of spirituality is to dissolve this form. How to dissolve this form? For which basic thing, in our Lineage, we are giving Naam Mantra, called “Soham Sadhana”. What is the meaning of “Soham Sadhana”? Through that words indicates your Invisible Identity. It’s totally invisible, there is not any awareness, no witness, nothing is there. But, directly, indirectly, we are having some base “I am somebody else”, that should be melted. That is to be dissolved. It rarely happens, therefore first lesson in spirituality: follow Master, what He says. When Master says, “You are formless”, you are formless. It’s fact! How are you prior to beingness? No form is there. After leaving body no form is there. But you are not accepting this fact. This is the tragedy of human life. Master’s shouting, “You are formless! You are Ultimate Truth! You are Final Truth!”, but you are not accepting it. People says, “When will I realize? When will I get enlightenment?”, these are the words. As such there is no enlightenment, no realization. You are not single person, you are not individual. “Is X,Y,Z, realized?”, means what? That the form realized? Just like the Indian sky realized and American sky not realized? It’s not like that. What is the purpose behind that?
Through this meditation we are hammering our Self, we are hammering the Invisible Concentrator within you, “I am Brahman, Brahman I am. I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. Non-stop concentrating concentrator, then the entire thing will be melted. No layers of the illusory concepts remains. That’s what we want. Directly, indirectly we are counting our self in body form and that is illusion. It’s a fact! So just look at You! How you were prior to beingness? How you are after leaving the body? “I don’t know.” Your answer will be, “I don’t know”. “I don’t know” means that in a negative answer a positive reply is there. “I don’t know” means my Presence is there but I am not in any form. In that negative reply what it says, “I don’t know” means, I am there, invisible. So I am completely formless, the reply meaning, but it is very easy to understand literally. I am insisting practice. Do some practice. People having wrong impressions, “Oh I am realized, I know I am Brahman”. It is not so easy. You have to study it till that so called “I” dissolves, melts. Till that time you have to undergo meditation. I already told all of you meditation, bhajan also illusion, but to remove one illusion you have to take the help of another illusion. Just like I give the example, to remove one thorn you have to take the help of another thorn and throw it out.
But, our knowledge is having body-based concept, directly, indirectly we say, “I am somebody else”, either male or female. Male or female are external covers, it’s not your identity at all. So just try to identify yourself. The principle of spirituality in human life is try to identify yourself. How you were prior to beingness? How you are after leaving the body? No form is there, no concepts is there, no thoughts is there, no identity is there. That means everything came out of nothing, everything dissolves within nothing. Your Presence is Invisible, Unidentified, Anonymous, which cannot be guessed. You can use your body. Have your own responsibilities, take care of body, take care of your body, take care of your family, no harm. Spirituality is not a hindrance in the way of your family life, but at the same time try to identify yourself. “Who am I?” is the main question of everybody. “Who am I?” That question will be solved within you. Have the question, “Who am I?”, the reply is “I am That”, “So that I, I am”. That is “Soham Sadhana”. So it means, “I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. Brahman is also word, but it indicates Ultimate Truth that you are. How that Ultimate Truth is? No form, just like a space or sky. Space or sky does not have its own identity. Who says this is space, this is sky? Sky does not know “I am sky”. This reality is supposed to be absorbed totally within you. For which spirituality [help you]. Spirituality means not chanting Mantra, not saying “Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram”. Try to identify, “Who am I?”. Then the identifier itself will dissolve. No identity remains. No witness remains, no experience is there. That means where everything ends there you are. That reality is supposed to be absorbed. Therefore, I am insisting first lesson of spirituality is you have to undergo strictly meditation. Meditation is the most important. Without meditation theoretical knowledge will not help you. A lot of theoretical knowledge, I read this book.
So many persons are coming to me, “Last 50 years I’m doing some spirituality”, what are you doing spiritual? That means reading so many books and saying, “Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram” and doing some karma, some chakra is there, [another] chakra, this chakra, dharma, yoga… what is the use of all this, what is the use of this? Not to sit and torture your body. For identifying yourself not to sit and torture your body, because body is not your identity at all. Body is having death and birth, not you. The Holder of the body is totally free from all concepts. But our knowledge is within the circle of the concepts. You are to break that circle; and for which, after mediation you will get spontaneous courage to accept the Reality. We are having lack of confidence, no faith; no faith in yourself and no faith in Master. Whosoever your Master, have strong faith. My Master is Ultimate Truth and what my Master says is Ultimate Truth. Master says you are Ultimate Truth, I am Ultimate Truth. Master says you are Brahman, I am Brahman, no other thoughts. When this reality absorbs, this strong faith, nothing will remain.
So, therefore, try to identify yourself. I know that identifier and identifier, these are concepts, but we are talking something about spirituality we have to use of language. We have created language. We have given meaning to some words: this is “donkey”, this is “Brahman”, this is “Atman”. We have created words, given meaning, but through language we are trying to impress the Invisible Listener within you, that you are Ultimate Truth. So therefore, till you get Spontaneous Conviction, you have to undergo strictly meditation. Then meditation not sitting like this (Maharaj gestures “Jnana mudra”), meditation’s total involvement. When you are leaving this human body, when the Holder of the human body is leaving body, human body, Ultimate Truth for which is no specific identity. That reality. … are there, all relations, all desires, all concepts came along with the body and dissolve along with the body. Prior to beingness, no desire
is there, no karma is there; karma, dharma, all these concepts came afterwards; even mind, ego, intellect. My mind, my ego, my intellects, where are those prior to beingness? After leaving body mind is there, ego is there, intellect is there? Nothing is there. It’s not bad, but we are using excessively. Not to use excessive mind, ego, intellects. So far we are slave of our own mind, “Oh I don’t want to go against my own mind”. What is mind? Flow of thoughts. We are victim of our own thoughts. Try to go against, go against your mind. Intellects is not bad, ego also not bad, but we are using excessively; therefore, be alert.
Through human body you can identify, and you have got good capacity because of all the Lineage Masters. Focus: Except your Selfless Self there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman, no Master. Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “Except your Selfless Self there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman, no Master”. That reality is supposed to be absorbed. So, after knowing this reality why to go here and there to find out some Masters? Master is not separate from you. Not to count Master in any form, Master is formless. That reality is supposed to be absorbed; and therefore, spirituality is required.
Okay, any questions for anybody? I don’t think there will be any questions because it’s clear. So, don’t confuse it, “I want to realize, then I want enlightenment”, these are all concepts. No words are there, because entire world is illusionary world. [Inaudible] Shankaracharya, what he says, “To say ‘I’ it is an illusion, to say ‘You’ it is an illusion, to say ‘Brahman’ it is illusion; entire world is an illusion”. What more do you want? In an illusionary world God and Master also, illusion. It’s not bad, I am not blaming you, but except your Selfless Self nothing is there. Suppose, example is that in spirituality it is mentioned that if at all you want to compare, compare just like a space or sky. Space or sky does not have any specific identity. Which sky is realized, which sky is not realized? Sky does not know I am sky, space does not know I am space. Like that, your Invisible Anonymous Identity is beyond sky. Since we are counting our self in body form therefore we are separating our self.
So be with You all the time. You’ve got knowledge, but it should be implemented, it should be dissolved, it should be absorbed . [Unlayers?] supposed to be dissolved, [layers?] supposed to be absorbed. And to
absorb the reality you have to undergo strictly, in the beginning, meditation. You devote some half an hour, one hour, and all the time recite the Mantra. Then it is not necessary. Just like this body is called man, I am not saying, “I am man, I am man, I am man”. Like that the Holder of the body called “Brahman”. So you have to meditate “I am Brahman”, till you get Conviction. Then it is not necessary. You are living like a Brahman. Whatever happening, whatever not happening you are unconcerned, because all deeds and everything came along with the body. There is no deed, there is no doer. What karma is there? What is dharma? Dharma is nothing, it is also concept. In Bhagavad Gita Krishna says, “Discard all religions, religions imaginary. Through which you are identifying entire world, that Invisible Presence, bow down to Me”.
Various books, spiritual books it’s mentioned clearly, but only not to become bookish or literal knowledge, have practical knowledge. And human body is an golden opportunity for you. And then this Direct Knowledge I prepared for you, you have to accept it. Nothing in between, it’s not a theory. This is Listeners knowledge, Listeners reality. Invisible Listener is formless, that’s enough. After accepting this, nothing to do. There should not be any temptation to go anywhere to find out reality, because you are reality. But not to take the help of ego, human beings having ego, “I am somebody else”. That “somebody else” supposed to be dissolved. That’s enough for us. What more do you want?
Any questions for anybody else? Oh, Oh, good.
It is very simple. No complication, not to stress your mind, not to stress your brain. No intellects required, simple thing, but simple thing we make it complicated, because directly, indirectly we are counting ourself in body form. This concept supposed to be dissolved totally. And for which “Soham Sadhana”, meditation is the base to dissolve everything. Therefore in another language I say, “Soham Sadhana” , meditation is “anti-virus software”. Meditation means “anti-virus software”, you have to install it in your computer. All bugs will be dissolved.
Visitor : Maharaj.
M: Yes.
V: How is it possible to recite the Mantra while engaged in uh, activities that require attention, like studying or reading or speaking?
M: It happens spontaneously. So, this body called “Man”, are you saying “I am man, I am man, I am man”?
V: No
M: You are living as a man. The meaning of Mantra, “I am Brahman”. Till you get conviction, till that time you have to recite the Mantra. It become spontaneous. This body is given some name, we have accepted it, are you counting my name is “Jordan, Jordan”? No. So, some or other way you are counting yourself in body-form, therefore this question is there. You are not body, you were not body, you are not going to remain body. You do your job, do your duties, but when doing any duties, doing job are you repeating “I am man, woman”? That reality is there. Like that you are neither woman nor man, you are Brahman, Ultimate Truth. Why to remember it? In the beginning it is required. After having conviction nothing is required. So don’t separate yourself from the Ultimate Truth. You are Ultimate Truth. Now you are considering “I am somebody else, I am doing specific job, while doing this job how can I recite the Mantra”, it’s not like that.
V: But at the time when I, for example, when I am reading something I can not put my attention on the Mantra at the same time I am putting attention on the…
M: That “I am” is supposed to be dissolved! Your so called “I am” is the problem for you. There is no “I am”, “You are”, “He”, “She”, nothing is there. Just like you are not forgetting “I am a man”. While doing so are you forgetting “I am a man”?
V: No
M: Correct, then Master says, Master place Reality before you, that you are Brahman, why to forget it? I am doing something [what] so I will not have time, I find it difficult to accept this uh Mantra, meaning of the Mantra. It’s not like that. And Master says, “Except your Selfless Self nothing is there”. No Brahman is there. And therefore in the beginning I am insisting, no problem is there. So do your job, do your duties, but at the same time you can recite the Mantra inside, while traveling, the Mantra is going on inside spontaneously. In the beginning you will find it difficult, because long association with the body we are having so much attachment, so much close with our body identity. To dissolve body identity you have to undergo strictly meditation. Meditation means you are always hammering. You are hammering the Invisible Concentrator that “You are the Brahman, you are the Brahman”. Then I don’t need. It’s a fact. Because you forgot your identity this exercise is required in the beginning, not thereafter.
Correct. Don’t worry about it, Master will take care of all actions. Once Nisargadatta Maharaj said, “If you take drop of poison what are the consequences? You need not be thinking about the consequences.” Like that you have taken a drop of nectar: “You are Brahman”, it acts automatically inside. Don’t worry about it. All worries are because “I am somebody else”. You are not somebody, you are everybody. Because you are counting as individual therefore all this problem is there. I told you that body is not your identity at all. Prior to beinginess have you got any disturbance of thoughts? Just remember they’re thoughts. What are thoughts? They are flowing, it’s the nature of the mind. Let thoughts flow, don’t pay attention. In the beginning you’ll find it little bit difficult, I understand, but continue with the reciting Mantra.
V: So recite as much as, as I can remember?
M: Remember all the time. When the colored concept dissolves, at that time it will be spontaneous. So far some concept, body based concepts are there, some layers of body based concepts are there, this question will be arise. The moment that all layers dissolves, disappears, erased out of that Nama Mantra, no question will be there.
Nothing is there. I told you, everything came out of nothing everything dissolve within nothing. You are unknown to yourself. Prior to beingness you are not known to yourself. The unknown came into existence as known, then you say “I am”. Unknown came into existence as known, through body, then you say “I am”. Where was that “I am” prior to beingness? No “I am” is there, no “you are” is there. After leaving body any “I am” is there? Nothing. “I am”, “You are”, “He is”, “She is”, all these concepts came along with the body only. Prior to beingness there is any desire? Who want happiness? Who want peacefulness? Who want tension free life? Who want fearless life? So far you are considering body-form therefore all these concepts required. Prior to beingness nothing is required. You do not know what is happiness. After leaving body any happiness is there? All these are body-based concepts. This is a dead body. If there is no Spirit within the body what is the value of the body? Nothing. So have courage. To get courage meditation most important. I’m insisting, only dry discussions on spirituality are meaningless, be practical. In the beginning you have to do something; thereafter there is nothing to do. Because you are not doer, there is no deed.
In the beginning when you are learning any language, you are learning A, B, C, D, something, something, something, on purpose. Now it’s not required, purpose is known, because you are the master of that language, but start with the base for learning the language. Brahman is the base for learning language, after it is not necessary. So with various ways try to convince the Invisible Listener within you. Invisible Listener does not have any specific identity. It is vast just like a space or sky. Invisible Listener is not limited to the body, because it is formless. For which Spontaneous Conviction is most important. To get the Spontaneous Conviction you have to undergo strictly meditation. Don’t worry, all problems will be solved.
Okay yes, enough of it.
V: Thank you Master.
M: Take care, be happy, be realized, and make other realize. Siddharameshwar Maharaj says, “If you are realized make others realize. Place your carpet or mat and start teaching that you are Brahman yourself”. Accepting only Master is not so easy. When you are to become Master there is a lot responsibility. When anybody, devotees are coming to you having high expectations. No irritation is required. You know better about spirituality, how to place before this reality because the Invisible Listener is “I”, ask any question, you must have patience to convince them. For which you must have strong conviction. Any question maybe asked, you are able to reply that question, you are supposed to be able to convince to his satisfaction. Nothing difficult, and for which you need strong confidence with the Master and yourself. All these Lineage Masters, they’re not highly qualified. Nisargadatta Maharaj, Siddharameshwar Maharaj, Ranjit Maharaj, they’re not highly qualified, but whatever Master says they absorbed totally within them. They are not compromise with the devotion. Exceptional devotion they are having, “My Master is Ultimate Truth, my Master is Final Truth”. No other thoughts. People are saying, “I am to go to this master, to that master, to that master”. Why? This is adding confusion, confusion. When the Master says you are Ultimate Truth what more do you want? Number of people giving so many quotations, “This master says it like that, like that, like that. This master like…”, try to implement within you instead of giving quotations of the various Masters. Not to teach others, teach yourself. When you are giving some quotation of some other spiritual master it is not bad, it is also ego. I am giving lectures of this master, that master. Try to be Master with yourself. This very easy, giving quotations very easy.
Okay.
Sri Ramakant Maharaj
A powerful talk given by Sadguru Sri Ramakant Maharaj during the Guru Purnima celebration at Nashik Ashram July 7, 2018.
Q – How is it after dissolving all body knowledge, I will still be able to interact with human beings who believe themselves to be a body?
M – After dissolving the body knowledge, no identity remains, but since you are holding body, you are doing activities without any ego. At the final stage, though you are holding the body, and after realization, body-based concepts dissolve because you are not body, it is fact. When the fact is confirmed that I am not body at all, thereafter all your activities are just like a dream activity, as if you are acting in a drama.
So, there is no any ego, there is no any type of illusionary concept. You remain formless, all actions after realization are spontaneous. Where there is no ego, no intellect, no mind, because it is confirmed, it is convinced that “I am not body, I was not body”– so all activities are not having so much importance, egoistic importance, ok.
Q – Is true meditation the total negation or denial of any of all phenomena, including the Self? Will that lead to supreme wisdom? If yes, then its seems nothing needs to be done except deny everything.
M – After realization, no need of any meditation is required. Till you’ve got Conviction that – “I am not body”– till that time you have to undergo the meditation, number one. Second thing, as a matter of fact, human form is not your identity at all, that Conviction is supposed to appear.
So, all questions are related to the body-based questions. Basically, prior to Beingness, there were no questions, after leaving body, there won’t be questions, all our questions are guessing, guess questions, imaginary questions, illusory questions, so no questions remain after realization.
Realization means Conviction that I am not body at all, basically you are formless, human form is not your identity at all. So, all these questions: “what will happen after this human form after Realization?” nothing is going to happen because nothing has happened, nothing is going to happen. So, your birth and death this is also concept, illusionary concept, so not to accept this.
We are acting within the circle of the body knowledge, that is supposed to be broken-up. You are not body at all, that’s a fact, you have to accept it.
So, the basic principle of Spirituality, I repeatedly told you: that body form is not your identity at all, that Conviction is supposed to appear. This is Ultimate Truth: you were not body, you are not body, you are not going to remain body. So many questions are there, they are body related question.
So, after knowing the Reality, your actions or reactions, remain no value. Your actions are just like a spontaneous act because you are knowing that this is not, say, Ultimate Truth. Present body form is not Ultimate Truth, Ultimate Truth is beyond that where there is no experience, no experiencer, that is your Identity and for which you have to undergo meditation. Because if you don’t go under the meditation, illusionary concepts will not dissolve and then again and again the mind will play with you. It will create some problems, it will create some questions, it will create confusion within you.
So very simple thing: even if you think intellectually, body is not your identity at all. After leaving body what remains? Just think intellectually, forget about Spirituality. After leaving this body what remains? Any question remains? Any requirement is there? Any need of God is there? Any need of Master is there? You are not disciple, you are not Master, you are not God, you are not devotee, nothing is there. Nothing is there, prior to Beingness, what is there? Nothing is there.
So in between, that Spirit has taken form, human form and a number of questions, and through mind, ego, intellect, we are acting all the ways. All routine activities are going through the mind, ego, intellect, they are the functional organs during human form, so human form is not your identity at all, you are formless and since you are formless, there is no birth and death, it is very simple principle of Spirituality. You need not go to God and Master, Master is within you. External Master is inviting attention of the Invisible Master within you that except your Self nothing is there, it is fact.
But you are not accepting because of a long association with the body, you are acquainted with this body knowledge, so body knowledge is supposed to be dissolved, it is very simple thing. Spirituality is not complication, there is no complication. Because we have a lot of attachment to this body, we are thinking, considering body is our base and body is not your base at all. Some or other day you have to leave the body, prior to Beingness, prior to body knowledge, nothing was there. After leaving body what remains? No knowledge is there. Knowledge, Enlightenment, Realization, Conviction, God, Master, disciple, devotee, all this came along with the body.
Where are the Master and God prior to Beingness? Nothing was there, just simple, imagine it, prior to hundred years what is your status? Nothing. After leaving body, what is your status? Nothing is there. So everything came out of nothing, everything dissolves within nothing.
So, all questions are body related questions, intellectual questions, guess questions, logical questions. Where were all the questions prior to Beingness? Nothing is there.
And for which, again I am repeating, to know this Reality, to identify this Reality, you have to undergo meditation. Meditation will open all cards and you will yourself Self–Realize.
You will come to know, you are not to go anywhere, knowledge already within you, Reality already within you, Ultimate Truth is not separate from you, Master is not separate from you, God is not separate from you.
Since you are measuring yourself, counting yourself in body form, therefore you forgot all these memories. Master is reminding it, through meditation, through these words – “Aham Brahmasi, I am brahman”, reminding, hammering, “You Are Brahman, you are Brahman” – “I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. After having Conviction “Brahman I am”, then all body-based knowledge dissolves, nothing will remain.
What is there. Just you see, what is there? Blood is there, flesh is there, bones are there, what is there? And for which you say, “I am somebody else”. What is identification? Is body your identity? Not at all. Why there should be ego, why to struggle with the mind, why to struggle with the people? Okay, you can hold body, you can act from body, but have some Conviction, because everything is within you, everything starts from and everything end within you, you are central point of the world. Even Masters and everybody says, “Except your Selfless Self, nothing is there”. No God, no Master is there. Have some spontaneous Conviction. What is the purpose of Spirituality? Just to identify your Self in real sense. Ok.