This is direct knowledge. Nothing in between. It is not connected with any religion. Religions are created by human beings, when so called “god”. So called “god” birth. Just for establish society. Where there is no meaning. If you have gone through this, get rid off all these religions. You bow down to your Selfless Self. That is Ultimate Truth. When you know yourself in a real sense. You will find nothing is there except yourself. All knowledge is within yourself. You’re not knowing yourself and are believing in some external “god”. You have to change this. Know your Selfless Self. Not this body. This is a dead body. Without your existence, body has no meaning. Not to become a victim of so many concepts. Illusory thoughts. What is after death, after birth. No longer complicate things. Prior to beingness how were you? The same after the beingness disappears how are you? You don’t know. This is also don’t know. Because of this, you have to grow, a child, then grown up, old man. After willingly or unwillingly, you have to leave this. You can’t take this. So, effect, thought this should not go (body). Fear of death. Because we are not knowing ourselves. Measuring ourselves as a man or a woman. You’re neither man nor woman.

Invisible anonymous spirit is your identity. Why to run here and there? Everything is within you only. Why expect you to go here and there, and there? No illusion, strict. Entire miracles, magic happen within you. You are source of all miracles, magic. These are not intellectual thoughts. I am talking about the listener, inside listener. Not this body. See yourself with your internal eyes. See yourself with internal eyes. This is blood, flesh and bones. Some day or other it will go away. You’re not going anywhere. House collapses, sky is there. This house collapses, spirit is there. Why to have sorrow? Why the fear of death? I am unborn. The question of death never arises. This is Ultimate Truth. After having the conviction of Ultimate Truth, why should we bother about what is going on, something. Peace and happiness is spontaneous. Without any material object or cause. You are the base of the whole world. You are underestimating yourself, limiting.

Every way in search of “god”. You want peace. Happiness. Tension free life. Fearless life. Is it possible? Yes. Only you have to glance within yourself. You are looking for something else in the world. This is a direct contact. Nothing in between. But you must have strong will. Yes, I want to know myself. We are knowing everything. Except ourselves. We have a lot of study of “god”, goddesses, masters, spirituality, Atman, Paramatman, forget everything. So, there is some unwanted exercise after death, what will happen, why? When you come in the body, I decided earlier that I will take the birth as Indian, and do something rituals? Not any illusions. Because always we are thinking from body point. You’ve got, spiritual knowledge, but it is intellectual with the body knowledge. The moment your body knowledge dissolves there you are. Have to be brave. Strong. Nothing is impossible. All these great saints have the same spirit which is in you also. They know the reality, you are not knowing the reality, same spirit. It is very simple knowledge. Not round and round and round. You have to break the circle, of illusory concepts.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj
Ramakant Maharaj, Nasik, December 2012
Video Taken by Russian Devotee’s

Are you convinced or not? So far you are considering yourself in body form, therefore you are having such thoughts. The moment body knowledge dissolves these words will not appear from you.

No levels are there. Who is measuring levels? No levels are there. All this talk. All of this talk is out of your presence only. He’s enlightened, he’s not enlightened, his level is lower, his level is higher. Who is the discriminating one? When you say he is enlightened, you are also enlightened. When he say, “He is a good boy”, goodness is in you, therefore you say “Good boy”. When you say, “This boy is intelligent”, intelligence is within you only. Indirectly you are examining, the examiner is within you. Examiner has better post, better stage.

Everybody’s statement is a different statement. As a matter of fact, there is no guru, there is no disciple. Ultimate state there is no guru, there is no disciple. There is no man, there is no woman. You know Shankara? He says, “To say I is illusion, to say you is illusion, to say Brahman is illusion, entire world is illusion.” So, in this illusionary world, who is the master? Who is disciple and who is enlightened?

Who are you then? When you say “He is enlightened, he is a master. He is in higher stage; he is in lower stage.” Who is discriminating all? Without your presence, you cannot utter a single word. The entire world is your spontaneous projection. Prior to beingness did you know any enlightened person? After dissolving the body, you say “That is enlightened, these are enlightened”? All this literally is with body form only. Directly or indirectly, we have accepted “I am body”. The moment that body knowledge dissolves, that is a sign of knowledge. Then ask, your question to me is “What do you mean by knowledge?”. What do you mean by knowledge? To know oneself in a real sense, it is knowledge. We are knowing ourselves in body form. I am Russian, man, He is Indian man, He is master, I am disciple, I am devotee, He is enlightened, there is not any discrimination there. This is a mental and intellectual game. There is no mind, no intellect, no ego. Along with body all this came enter this world. When there was no body, did you know about mind, ego, intellect?

Whose projection, who is imagining? Who is giving energy to say “I”? Correct. Your answer is correct. I don’t know. You know the story of I don’t know? You know the story of I don’t know? Funny story I don’t know. You know it, no, he will tell you.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj
Ramakant Maharaj, Nasik, June 2013
Video Taken by Russian Devotee’s

Trust the things I have already told you. It will be automatically added within you.

I am not addressing whatever I am telling you to, Aleah. The spirit, which is holding the name Aleah, I am talking with that. Not this body. I am not talking to this body. This is a dead body. The holder of the body is not dead. It is alive. I am talking with that alive one. Alive spirit. Invisible.

I am interacting with that invisible. Not this body. So, when listening you have to react accordingly. There is oneness, there is no difference. This is a direct approach.

So, if you read ‘I Am That’, you read any other books, it will be established perfection.

Perfection to be established in three ways. Three different ways. Number one, reading books. Number two listening from your Master. Number three, self-experience. If these three things tally it amounts to conviction.

What I read in books. It is tallied with what my Master says. It is a kind of auditing. You know auditing, balance sheet. Accounting. Assets, liabilities, and so on. Debit, credit. They are supposed to tally.

So, reading the books; reading, listening to the spiritual lectures of the Master and self-experience. These three sides tally, it amounts to perfection. Nothing remains.

Nothing remains.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj
Ramakant Maharaj, Nasik, December 2012
Video Taken by Russian Devotee’s

It is the nature of mind, intellect to raise that question. But at the same time, there is a reply, within you only.

This is called Atma-Nivedanam Bhakti.

Self-Realization devotion. Self-Realization devotion.

Devotion. It means, just like a child is asking some questions, and you reply. Similarly inside, a number of questions arise and at the same time the invisible Spirit is replying to that question.

I had given you the example of that Ekalavya character. You know Ekalavya character?

His Master is in the form of an idol, and he is there.

Asking that Master ‘Oh Master I am aiming at this target, is this correct?’ Then the inner part of this body, this Spirit ‘Yes, my child, it is correct.’

So as a matter of fact, Master was not present physically. But his internal Master inspired, vibrated, all the instructions. At that time, he is a devotee, and he is Master himself.

The great warrior Arjuna was not having this archery technique. That technique that Ekalavya had, that small boy.

It is a miraculous experience.

So, your Master, external Master, acting within you, as a great Master and giving instructions, so that is called dialogue with each other.

So, inside questions arise, immediately your Master inside is replying to that question.

It’s so fast that nobody can count that reply, it is instantly.

When there is a question there is a reply to that.

That is called Atma-Nivedanam Bhakti, last devotion, last bhakti.

Then you will be totally mature, strong.

There won’t be any temptation to ask questions of anybody else.

Not even that, if anybody asks you a question, because of your strong devotion to your internal Master, you are replying immediately.

So, I am addressing that to your inner Master, not to this body.

When there is total conviction, if anybody asks any tricky question, you can easily reply to him.

This strong, strong strain, diverted by your external Master, with your internal Master.

This statement of struggle internally, is for discussion and for conviction only.

So even if words are given, anybody approaches you with any questions, if you remember the atmosphere your internal Master instantly replies to that.

I have seen Nisargadatta Maharaj, a number of foreigners used to bombard questions.

And they were highly qualified as Masters of spirituality. They have degrees, Master of spirituality, philosophy, stuff like that.

But, Nisargadatta Maharaj had not read so many books, his education was hardly second or third tender.

But because he was having tremendous love, affection, devotion, and the power of Siddharameshwar Maharaj.

Out of that devotion, that strong devotion, that power, transforming, he used to reply immediately.

So, I am trying to vibrate your internal energy.

Because internally you have got a lot of energy.

Don’t underestimate you.

You see your greatness. This is not, I am not, I see, I can see your greatness.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj
Ramakant Maharaj’s house, Nasik, January 2012
Video Taken by Russian Devotee’s

In Honor, devotion and celebration for Sri Ramakant Maharaj Jayanti July 8, 2021. Jai Sadguru!
Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik December 21, 2013.

Know yourself in a real sense. The moment you know yourself in a real sense, you will find nothing is there.
So, don’t become a victim of blind faith. Let’s say “This is last karma, future karma, this prarabdha, rebirth, death, birth, past sin, future sin.” These are all illusionary concepts. The result it appears very easy. But, bringing into practice it is a little bit difficult.

Unless your body-based knowledge dissolves totally, you are not able to see yourself in a real sense. Then you ask, ‘What do you mean by “real sense”?’ We are knowing our self in body form, through mentally, or intellectually.
All of our activities are through the body form only. But we are not trying to know our self, who is acting within the body? That is unidentified identity. It is anonymous identity. It is invisible identity. It is beyond imagination. Intellect and that mind, ego, are not coming in that picture. It is just a spontaneous existence. Total involvement is required. Nothing is impossible. Yes, I want to know, ‘Who am I?’. I am measuring myself in the body form, this is not my identity. Some day or another, willing, or unwillingly, you have to leave this body. What is next? For that you have to make Self inquiry. So, therefore in the initial stage you have to undergo meditation. Systematic meditation. Then it is possible, that entire field will be cleared. In computer language, after dissolving all of these unwanted files, you’re getting clear result. Instead of you trying to find out somewhere else. Always you are supposed to be alert, for any virus that may try to enter. The virus is illusionary thoughts. You should not become a victim of somebody else’s thoughts. This is the weak point. This is the weak point when someone is talking about something, and you think maybe this is correct. You must be firm. The conviction I am that. I am not a woman; I am not a man. No body, no intellect, no ego.

Who is experiencing your inner feeling? Some thoughts are flowing inside. Struggle of thoughts. Sometimes you are remembering your past life from childhood. The circumstance has gone away. But when you remember any thoughts, you get confused. Some kind of sadness, some kind of depression. Things have already happened. But when you remember this, you get depressed or something, uncomfortable. Here you need spiritual knowledge. What you are feeling, past is gone. Why should I think about the past dream? It is something, good or bad dreams. I am living present time. Present and future is within me only. I can make my own decision. If somebody says, ‘No you do this thing’, no, no, no. If your inner Master disagrees, don’t accept anything. Because your inner Master is most important. Having a lot of, tremendous power. But all the ways you are considering in body form. So, you are not giving so much importance to your inner Master. You have strong strain, spontaneous strain within you, always ‘Oh, what do I do?’. Nisargadatta Maharaj says ‘I am making you a master, not a disciple’. Such a great personality. I am considering myself very fortunate because I came across him at the age of 22. What he taught me from that age until today, I am sharing that knowledge with you. Who is accepting all of this reality? Very, very, few people. They are coming ‘Ok, ok, ok, very good, very good.’ then leave. Casual devotion will not give you happiness. I am not doing any miracles. I am not claiming myself a great person. I am showing greatness already within you. Which you are unaware.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik March 5, 2018.

Q: The process that I see is as follows: Personality – I am not the Body (nor emotions, desires, thoughts since everything belongs to the body) – Sensation “I Am” – “I Am” is attested. By whom? – Without “I Am” there can be no witnessing. – finally, the Witness, the witnessed and the witness are Unity.

M: There is no witness at all. Prior to beingness, any witness was there? Prior to beingness, no ‘I am’ was there. After leaving this body, any I am is there? Nothing is there. So far you are holding the body, considering “I am somebody else”, till that time, all these questions are arising. Prior to beingness, no “I am”, no “you are”, “he, she, it” nothing is there. No Master, no god, no disciple. No experience, no experiencer. No witness, no witnesser. Nothing was there. After leaving the body, what remains? Nothing is there. Throughout this, still what are we doing “my mind, my ego, my intellect”. Not to do this thing because you are not doer at all. Your identity is unidentified, invisible identity. Where there is no experience, all experience disappears there you are. Everything came out of nothing. Everything dissolves within nothing. What is there in the body? Just glimpses of ‘I’. So far you are holding the body, you are experiencing ‘I’. Who is that invisible experiencer, which is called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master? That you are.

But still we are not having Conviction. That spontaneous Conviction is required. Till that time, you have to undergo meditation. Otherwise mind is very crazy, playing tricks, raising so many questions and trying to distract you from the Reality. Be alert. What Master says you follow strictly. We are not expecting any single penny from you. No garland is required. Even not bow down to me. But what I told, just accept it, I am placing before you your Truth. Not truth of any Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. This is listener’s Truth. You accept the listener’s Truth. And listener is Ultimate Truth, Final Truth. There is nothing else beyond that. So… Be Firm… Because body is a dead body. If no Presence is there, what is the value of the body? So whatever knowledge you are acquiring, accumulating through body knowledge, it will be illusion. Why follow illusion? You know what illusion is, what is Reality. So, accept the Reality. And what is Reality? except your Selfless Self, there is no God, that is the Reality. God is the name given to the Ultimate Truth, supreme power, supernatural power within you. So, all time you are counting yourself in body form and asking so many questions. Where are all these questions prior to beingness? After leaving the body, any questions are there? So far, we are considering “I am somebody else”, so many questions are there. No question is there. Does sky have any questions? “Oh, how I am sky, I am called this sky that sky”. So, in the beginning you have to undergo some meditation. After, that too is not necessary. Ok. So be spiritually strong, for which in the beginning, sadhana is required, meditation is required. Through meditation you are hammering yourself “I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. So that hammering, result is Ultimate Truth. And afterwards, you will forget body identity. Nothing remains.

Why do so many exercises? Reading this book, that book, that book. You are reading books, reading books. But you are not reading, the reader’s biography. The invisible reader is the Ultimate Truth. So, it depends upon reading. Because while reading, you are posing yourself “I am somebody else”. That somebody else is supposed to be dissolved. You are everybody, you are everywhere. Your invisible identity is just like space or sky. Sky is everywhere. Is American sky different and Indian sky different? Why give a name like American sky, or England or London sky… something, something, something. So, sky is everywhere…Like that. Presence within the body is everywhere. It’s not having any colors, no specific identity. No experience, no experiencer, like that. And therefore, you have to follow strictly Master.

Don’t confuse, don’t create any doubts. As I told, your mind rebels against you. Mind is a subtle part of your body, function of body, a flow of thoughts. It’s the nature of the mind, flow of thoughts is there. When the body disappears, mind disappears. No mind, no ego, no intellect is there. Where everything ends, there you are. Where everything ends, there you are. Your identity is unknown identity, invisible identity, anonymous identity. You can’t define in any words. Language is there, words are there. Trying to indicate, giving signal. Ok.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik February 25, 2018.

I did not come here to have a new religion. We have religion in France. We have churches, priests, flowers, fires, worship God, saints, all this. Hinduism as a religion does not interest me. For example bhajans is a religion, all this is religion, I have a base in Christianity. I’m not interested. I came here only for one thing – for the essential. That is the most important point. So what do you say about this, what is your reaction?

M: See, religion is subsequent. There is not any religion. In the Bhagavad Gita it says, “discard all religions”. Religion came afterwards. Prior to that your Presence was there. Religion was formed after existence of the body. Prior to the body there is no religion. No bhajan, no mantra, no meditation. Why mantra is required, why bhajan is required, why meditation is required? Because as I have told you, you have forgotten your identity. This is media. Bhajan, meditation is not Ultimate Truth. It is instrument, indication. It indicates the Listener within you is Ultimate Truth. Christianity, Hinduism, any religion, they came afterwards. Prior to beingness there is no religion. After leaving body, what religion is there? I am talking about you, you are Ultimate Truth. God, Master or any supernatural power is not separate from you. Since we are counting ourselves as body form therefore our religions are there. Bhajans are there. What is bhajan? It is prayers. In Christian church, they are praying, right? Praying Christ. In any other – Hindu also, Muslim also, praying. These are prayers. Prayers addressed to the Supernatural Power. Which we say God. That God is not separate from you. What I have to say is that God is not separate from you. Your invisible Presence is sign of God. When did you come across God? “this is a God” to say, “this is God”, your Presence is required. If there is no Presence within the body, who will talk about God or talk about religion. Concept of religion came along with the body only. After leaving the body, what religion is there? No religion is there.

So I am not criticizing religion. It deos good. There are good disciplines. The ultimate intention behind religion, is that, try to identify yourself. Because as you know, body is not our identity at all. But, working with that concept, all these illusory concepts, What happens. We are counting ourselves in body form. Though we are knowing that body is not our identity. That body is not going to remain constant. That some or other day, willingly or unwillingly we have to leave the body. But, body is necessary to identify yourself. The body can’t itself identify itself. It is a combination of Spirit or Presence. We call Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. So, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, Energy can’t act independently. When the Energy or Spirit touches with the body, then you say, “I”. So, body and Energy come together, and you say, “I”. Body can’t say, “I”. Spirit can’t say “I”. So, this is a combination. This is for understanding. We are using so many words, but language is created by us. Through language you are trying to indicate Ultimate Truth is not separate from you. You are the Principle. Think yourself. Just sit calm and quiet and see what is there in the body. Where was the body prior to beingness? Nothing was there. After leaving body, burning or burying. Then any explanation is there? Nothing is there. In spite of knowing this, we are not ready to leave bodily concepts. Because we are having long association with the body. Directly or indirectly, we have got full faith in the body. “I am Hindu, I am Muslim, I am Christian”. You are nothing. Sky does not have any religion. American sky does not say: “I am Christian sky”. Indian sky: “I am Hindu sky”. Chinese sky: “I am Chinese sky”. Sky does not have religion. Likewise, the Presence within your body does not have any religion. It is said in the Gita also. All spiritual knowledge, all spiritual books, say religion came afterwards. Just to regulate society. Just to maintain law and order within society. Just to keep some discipline. So, religions are not bad. But, prior to that your Presence is there. All the ways, with different ways. Different words, different language. I am trying to insist that you are Ultimate Truth. You are final truth. God, Master, Brahman, Atman Paramatman. These are the words. Indications to the supernatural power within you. Unless we discard all body based concepts, we are not able to identify ourself. It’s an open fact. What is the value of this body? nothing. If there is no Spirit for a moment, there is no value of the body. You are burning, disposing of. That means body is media. So, my request is not to play with the words. Forget about the words. Words we have created. Language we have created. Meanings are different. But, what they indicate is most important.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik March 26, 2018.

The Invisible Presence is acting through the body that is Ultimate Truth. If at all you have to compare, compare like space or sky, sky does not know ‘I am sky’, sun does not know ‘I am sun’. Your identity is beyond that. How? Because you can see the sun, if there is no seer within the body, who can see the sun, who can see the moon, who can see the god, who can see the master? That means prior to everything your Invisible Unidentified Presence was there. Therefore, not to count yourself in body-form, you have got tremendous power. In the Kakad Arati it is mentioned “Koti Ravi-shashi Mavala-le. Taya Teja-majari.”, crores of suns and moons. What it says: you have got such power, such light, that crores of suns and moons cannot be compared, your power is beyond that.

Q: “I got tremendous power”, I have been hearing that I got tremendous power many years. But what I find is lack of power, a lot of obstacles.

M: Because you are not tempted to leave the existing position. You want knowledge considering “I am body”. Because you prepared some circle, square. It may be spiritual circle or square. You do not want to cross it. The moment you cross it, all identification will dissolve, disappear. Till that time, you have to undergo the meditation. What is meditation? Just you are hammering yourself “I am Brahman, Brahman I am”, just like the police person tortures “you are the criminal, you are the criminal, see, this is the evidence against you, you are a criminal”; it says “I am not” – “Yes, you are the criminal”, then he says “Oh, I am criminal”. Similarly, you are hammering “You are Brahman, You are Brahman, You are a liar? You are Brahman”, so with that, the Reality will accept the Reality, “That I am That”. Though you are holding your body you are remained unconcerned, untouched. If anybody says you are a good lawyer, you say “Okay”, you are a bad lawyer, it’s okay. Nisargadatta Maharaj says “If anybody says ‘You are a good saint’, I have no appreciation, if anybody says “you are a bad saint”, no depression/depreciation. Good and bad are connected with body only and I am not body at all, I am formless”.

Q: One has no desires and then final Conviction is coming or final Conviction is coming and after than final Conviction, there are no desires? You understand what I am saying?

M: Desire, Conviction, these are the words related to body only. As such there is no conviction, see this body is called female body, correct?

Q: Yes

M: You have got conviction that I am female body. You are female, you are female, it’s fact. This body’s name is “Saraswati”, you got the conviction that “I am Saraswati, I am realized”

Q: No, no, no

M: “Saraswati”, that means conviction is there, but you are unaware of that. You are Ultimate Truth, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, that conviction is there, but you are unaware of that Reality. And Master places before you that Reality to accept it totally. Conviction is there, who says that there is no conviction, you know this body form is not yours, it is fact.

Q: Well, sometimes I am…

M: Why “sometimes”? All the time. Do you say sometimes “I am Saraswati”, sometimes “I am somebody else”? No, all the time you are Saraswati, so all the time you are Brahman, who say’s “Sometimes I am Brahman, sometimes I am not Brahman?” Brahman means Ultimate Truth, Final Truth that you are, you were, you are. So, that Spontaneous Conviction is supposed to be accepted, we are not accepting because we are having some impressions of the body-knowledge. Everybody knows, in spite of that, we are accepting flow of thoughts. Mind is there, ego is there, intellect is there, somebody trying to impress their own thoughts in the name of spirituality. Nisargadatta Maharaj warned everybody, devotee, disciple, not supposed to come across such elements which will distract you from the Reality. Understand? After conviction, after knowing the Reality, you should not come across such elements, such thoughts, that will distract you from Reality. Suppose…

Q: Some people

M: Suppose tomorrow, you come across with some Baba, he says something oh! “Brahman is like that”, “Atman is like that”, and directly or indirectly you are becoming victim of his thoughts, you forget the past. Master says you are Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, Ultimate Truth, that particular moment the other element try to impress their thoughts.

Q: Yeah, absolutely.

M: You should be alert. Because you better know about the Reality. Just like famous example, story, of the blind going to see the elephant, it’s a very famous spiritual story. The blind wants to see the elephant, some blind got the feet of the elephant, oh blind says it’s like pillar, he starts saying elephant is like, so whatever part they got they describe in that way, but if you see the entire elephant will you struggle with that? No, you are not coming with their thoughts. They are right, because they are blind. Master is giving spectacles, see yourself. After seeing the entire elephant no contradiction is there, because you know better, no argument is there, likewise, not to come across such elements which will distract you from the Reality. It should be, supposed to be firm. I am not restricting your activity. But anyone trying to impress his thoughts, be alert. Because these thoughts are body-based thoughts. I am not criticizing anybody else, there are so many elements in the world, some people coming to me also, today decorated in the body, today body is decorated with bald, with malas, they are coming. So, to have spirituality these things are not required, you want to prove you are spirituality or somebody spiritualist? Typical clothes wearing? No, not necessary.

Be simple, be normal, and be humble. After knowing the Reality be humble. Not to have ego like “I am Brahman”, “I am Master”, this is also ego. Suppose tomorrow you become Master; some knowledge is having. There should not be the subtle ego that ” I am Master”, “I am teaching spirituality” The spirituality should not be used for commercial purpose, I am insisting everybody. There are some people after going from here opening some shops. That temptation should not be there. If you are really realized, if you really understood, if you got real conviction, fact is there. So, dry spirituality will not help. Be strong, spiritually strong. Nothing is wrong with you. Because you are not the doer, there is no deed. Nothing has happened. Because your invisible Presence is Ultimate Truth, nothing is there. You are Reality. You are Reality, Ultimate Truth. Ultimate Truth is not separate from you. The form you are holding is not Reality. Because basically you are formless. Prior to beingness there is no form. After leaving the body this form will disappear, burned or buried.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik January 5, 2018.

Q: Is moksha mantra not usually reserved for Sannyasins?

Maharaj: No mantra is there. What is moksha …? You are already free. Liberation, freedom, moksha all these concepts are within the circle of body knowledge. Prior to beingness nothing was there, after leaving the body, nothing is there – so who wants moksha. Your existence in the body is like space and sky. Does sky wants any moksha? It is an open fact, open truth – what is in your body, your body is not your identity at all. This body has got a time limit, this is like dead body. No existence, what is the value of a dead body? So, existence and presence is subtler than sky. Moksha is appearing within the concept of body, you are already free. No moksha is required, you are already free. So far you are counting yourself as body form, therefore these concepts are there. You are not body at all, you are already free therefore no moksha is required. So, forget all these body-based concepts. Who wants moksha…? Is there any special identity that is asking for moksha…? Because you are formless, and no body identity is there. For which, to dissolve the form identification, the body-based knowledge, you have to undergo meditation. Your meditation will open all facts to you, through meditation reality will open for you, your reality. The meditation is supposed to be observed till the meditator disappears, till the invisible meditator disappears. Then there is no meditator or meditation is there. Nothing is there. There is no experience or experiencer. There is no consciousness no awareness. I’m placing your truth before you, listener’s truth. You are already free, no special thing is not required. Even at last stage, meditation is not required. Because you forgot your identity, the meditation is required, bhajan is required. It creates atmosphere to indicate your invisible identity. Then identity and identifier also disappears. Prior to beingness, where is the identity…? There is no identifier or identity. The moment spirit clicks with body, you started knowing I. The “I” is an illusion, this entire world is an illusion, including yourself and myself. What you are talking is of illusion, this is an illusionary world, a dream world. In dream you are doing so many things, you are having so many masters, so many Gods and Goddesses are there. Lot of scenes are there, the moment dream disappears, what happens to those pictures …? All pictures disappear. It is a seer’s reflection, it is a seer’s projection, it is a spontaneous projection, and there is no deliberate act. Therefore, I’m again repeating, this is bookish spiritual knowledge. To absorb this reality you have to undergo meditation till that mediator disappears, till the invisible mediator within you disappears. There is no individuality. This moksha concept, four types of moksha are there, all such spiritual concepts have nothing to do with practical life. Live a practical spiritual life, not to leave your responsibilities, do your job, and do your duty. Not to neglect your routine life, that is not spirituality. Some people say they left job, they left parents…why? That is not practical spirituality, we are teaching practical spirituality. Do your job, do your duties, there is no restriction here, no bondage is there. At the same time, your existence in the world is momentary. The body-based existence is momentary. So, who is holding the body? Who is watching the dream, who is experiencing all these things? That invisible presence called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, that reality is supposed to be absorbed. Then nothing will remain. There is no “I”, no “you”, nothing is there.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj answers questions regarding Self-Inquiry, Self-Knowledge and Self-Realization from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik October 14, 2017.

Q: Are meditation and self-inquiry different or same thing?

Maharaj: In the beginning self-inquiry is there. Self-inquiry is “Who am I? What is Brahman?” You are making inquiry because you have forgot your identity. Suppose you forgot your address “Where is Ranjit Ashram?” After knowing Ranjit Ashram, you need not go and have any inquiry. So far you are missing yourself, therefore you are inquiring. And meditation is giving some clues, landmarks. Through meditation, you are getting Identification. Through meditation, through that Word given to you, you are hammering “Yes! I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. So, I will give you mantra today. But you are to recite mantra with full confidence. You are to devote some time for you only. Human body is a golden opportunity for you. You can identify through human body only. Don’t confuse yourself. What you have read and listen, forget it. The listener within you is Ultimate Truth. The invisible reader within you is Ultimate Truth. The invisible experiencer is Ultimate Truth. The invisible witnesser within you is Ultimate Truth. Entire world is projected out of your invisible presence. No God has created this world. World is Seer’s reflection. The moment that spirit clicked with the body, you see the world. If there is no awakening in the morning, who can talk about the world? Last night you were in deep sleep. In the morning, if there is no awakening, who will talk about the world? Who will talk about the person, the master, the Gods? God, master, all these are concepts. It is very interesting, if you go deeper and deeper within your Selfless Self, you will find exceptional happiness, exceptional peacefulness, because peacefulness and happiness are within you! You are trying to find peacefulness and happiness outside, through sex, through publicity, through money. Nothing! How are you prior to Beingness? How are you after leaving the body? There is no mind, no ego, no intellect, they came along with the body only. All concepts came along with the body and all concepts dissolve with the body. Ultimately, I am Brahman is also a concept. Brahman has been given name to the Ultimate Truth, final truth, supernatural power within you, for identification. Who am I? You are Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. Questioner itself is Ultimate Truth. Since you are measuring yourself in body form, therefore you forgot your identity. To regain identity, meditation is given, Naam is given, we are asking to do some Bhajans also to create atmosphere.

Q: How important is self-inquiry? Is there an end to inquiry? Do you have tips on how to Self-inquire?

Maharaj: Self inquiry is required because you are missing your Ultimate Truth, you are missing your Selfless Self. Therefore, self-inquiry is required. In the beginning, at the initial stage only, you are to make self-inquiry. “Who am I?” It is the most important question. The questioner itself is Ultimate Truth. Because we are holding body, we are considering body as our identity. To dissolve body identity, Naam mantra is given, meditation is given, through which you will get reply from You. Therefore, in the beginning, self-inquiry is required because you are not having address. Address of Oneself. We are knowing everybody’s address but not knowing the address of our Self. Who am I? Self-inquiry results in Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge results in Self-realization. There are 3 stages in the spiritual life. Self-inquiry, Self-knowledge, Self-realization. Why Self-inquiry? Because we are not knowing ourselves. We are measuring ourselves, counting ourselves in body-form. A lot of confusion is there: confusion about the Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, confusion about spiritual knowledge, confusion about ourselves. While doing spiritual inquiry, you will come to know that there is a Brahman which ‘I am’. Self-inquiry leads to the Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge leads to the Self-realization.

Q: What is self-knowledge like Maharaj? Self-knowledge is direct sense of the primary I or what is it?

Maharaj: No, no, no! Self-knowledge means Conviction. You are knowing yourself at present as a man or woman. You are neither man nor woman, you are Brahman! The moment spirit touched with the body, we started knowing ourselves as human beings. Who is acting with the human body? Who is listening? Who is reading? Who is enjoying food? Who is watching the entire world? This is called Self-inquiry. When you approach Master, you asking the question “Who am I?” That is Self-inquiry. Master says you are Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. Then you say “How can I be Master? How can I be Brahman?” Body is not your identity at all. Body is having death and birth, not to you. You are holder the body. You are subtler than sky and space. How you are prior to Beingness? You say ‘I don’t know’. How you will be after leaving the body: ‘I don’t know’. That means the answerer of ‘I don’t know’ said “I am not in any form”. You are formless. So all concepts, even Self-inquiry are required because we are unknown to ourselves, we are missing ourselves. Wrong identification. The Self-inquiry leads to the Self-knowledge. Perfect identification. Because this identity is an unidentified, invisible, anonymous identity. The invisible identifier within you is Ultimate Truth. Where there is no experience, no experiencer. That leads to the Conviction, Realization. It is a starting question. So far, we have been posing ourselves as body, therefore Self-inquiry is required. Inquirer itself is Ultimate Truth. Because you are not body, you were not body, you are not going to remain body. So, body-knowledge, body-identity is supposed to be dissolved, for which Self-inquiry is required. The result of Self-inquiry is Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge means that I am Brahman, Ultimate Truth. Self-knowledge is supposed to lead to Self-realization, that spontaneous Self-conviction. So, though you are holding body, you remain unconcerned with the body, unconcerned with the world.

Q: Maharaj, spontaneous waves of light occasionally appear. Are they experiences enabling self-inquiry or are they mind-body-knowledge to be discounted?

Maharaj: There is no experience, no experiencer. At ultimate stage there is no experience, no experiencer. These are statements, these are the words, trying to convince the invisible listener within you. At that stage there is no experience, no experiencer. How are you prior to awakening, prior to Beingness? At that time, nothing was there. No question are there. After leaving body, what question remains? No knowledge will be there. That means everything came out of nothing, everything dissolves within nothing. Out of nothing, you see something. That is illusion. Without playing with the words, analyzing the words, try to identify the invisible Listener within you. And keep in mind: except your Selfless Self, there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman, no master.

Q: I consider myself a devotee of a Guru who is no longer in physical form and use the “Om Namah Shivaya” mantra for years. Since reading your book and speaking with you, I prefer your mantra. Does this mean I am starting all over again from the beginning?

M: Okay, mantra is the words. If you have not taken the mantra from me, you can repeat the similar words “I am Brahman, Brahman I am’. If you already taken, you concentrate meditation. So, you need not go and repeat ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. According to the discipline of the lineage, we are not supposed to disclose the mantra to anybody else. If you have taken the Naam mantra from me, no other mantra is required. “Om Namah Shivaya” is not wasted: through that knowledge, through that sacrifice or devotion you come to me. It is not wasted. Because nowadays you will not get direct knowledge: round and round and round and round. This a direct approach without any expectation. I’m not expecting a single penny from anybody else. Be realized make others realized, be enlightened make others enlightened, straight knowledge. There is no any hide and seek, I am not hiding anything from you. Because there is no difference between you and me except this body. Knowledge means what? Just to identify oneself in a real sense. In the beginning you are to make deliberate effort, not afterwards. Okay. So, I will give you Naam mantra, but with the confidence that you will follow it very strictly. Be serious, because so many persons are taking Naam mantra then going here and there. It is not harmful for me but harmful for you people. People are coming to me “Oh! We want mantra, we want mantra!” Then going here and there, this master, that master, wavering mind will be there. Therefore, normally in our lineage we are not giving Naam mantra immediately, but I am very liberal. You people are coming from long distance, so with sympathy I am trying to give the Naam mantra. But I have found that so many persons are coming and going here and there, here and there. They are spoiling their spiritual career.

Q: Maharaj I went to Tokyo as a tourist. I went to a Buddhist temple. It was very peaceful. Is that ok or is it not good Maharaj?

M: It’s good. You can go anywhere; I am not restricting to go to temples. There are no restrictions, you go anywhere in the world but with Self-confidence.

Q: I feel trapped in the body.

Maharaj: There is no Maya, no Brahman. Brahman is also illusion. Maya is also illusion. No Maya, No Brahman. So, names are given: Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. These are the names given to the Ultimate Truth. Where was that Maya prior to Beingness? Where was that Brahman prior to Beingness? After leaving body, any Brahman is there? Nothing is there. Why to struggle with the words? Maya, Atman, God, master. Ok these are not bad words. These are good words, indicating your Ultimate Truth, final truth. You are subtler than this space or sky.

Okay, there is no restriction. You are a free bird; you can fly without wings. Forget about past, forget about future.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj