Who Are You, Friend?-Part II

A thousand questions which everyone ought to ask oneself took birth as Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi and, in his austere silence and resplendent gaze, pierced everyone"s heart so that one"s eyes might turn inward in a searching self-enquiry.

Bhagavan Ramana keeps asking the question: 'Who are you, friend?' His life, his movement, his gait, and his sitting posture, his talk and his Upadesha – everything concerning Ramana posed this question before all: 'Who are you, friend?'

Not even in the answer to the question, but in the question itself, is peace and prosperity hidden! The moment one asks this question of oneself, there descends on him an ineffable peace and bliss that surpasses understanding. For, at that moment his gaze is turned inward; he snaps the pain bonds that bind him to the miserable mundane plane; he seeks (if only he seeks) the Self within – and that moment itself he enjoys bliss. Who would desist from diving deeper within after tasting such joy on the very surface of this ocean of bliss?

Beloved embodiments of bliss! That ocean is Bhagavan Ramana. Wherever you turn, you find him silently gazing at you and asking you, “Who are you, friend?" When you ask yourself this question, you will find the Infinite Source of Peace and Bliss! May His blessing be upon you all!

About the author

Swami Sivananda, Rishikesh

Swami Sivananda was the founder of 'The Divine Life Society' in Rishikesh. He could almost be considered a revolutionary in his view of Hindu spirituality and the place of sannyasins in Hindu Dharma. He was dedicated to the spiritual upliftment of all mankind and considered it the unique role and privilege of sannyasins to serve the world rather than be served.