Handling Fear-Self Enquiry

Ramana Maharshi

oi-Staff

By Super

Monday, April 2, 2012, 9:34

The first thing to keep in mind is not to lose faith in self-enquiry by assuming, erroneously, that in such situation it may not be of much use. The next is the need for vigilance against the intrusion of any thought from the word go. If one is not watchful, before one knows one gets so mixed up with fear related thoughts that there is no longer the me and my fear but just fear. If one is attentive as soon as the first thought related to this fear arises one should question 'To whom does it relate?' If not the proliferation of thoughts reflecting aspects of the same fear would crowd in.

If one misses the first instance check then at the earliest point of time when one notices a particular fear it is to be questioned in the same manner. Even if this second opportunity is missed and one is in the thick of different thought forms based on the undercurrent of fear, still the only weapon is self-enquiry. For even though the thoughts are many and appear to be continuous they are essentially disparate. Hence each thought can be isolated and dealt with using the weapon of self-enquiry. This would free the 'I' gradually from the myriad fears.

One can recall in this context Ramana's advice to Gambhiram Seshier in 1900-1901. He told him "Even though the mind wanders restlessly, involved in external matters forgetful of its own Self, one should remain alert and enquire 'Who am 'I'?' This is the only way for ending misery and ushering in the Supreme state. For stopping all mental activities born of the ego it is the best means". After advising thus Ramana queries "Can obsessive thoughts arise without the ego?"

Yet again one has to remember that so long as one believes that some thoughts can be entertained because they are preferred thoughts, one would have to live with unwanted thoughts as well. Once any thought is permitted entry into the mental horizon due to lack of vigilance, or because one enjoys that thought, trouble is already brewing. The others labelled 'unwanted' also quickly make their entry unnoticed and soon hog the attention wholly. One gets caught in a mess of one's own making.

It is important not to intellectualise the process, to make it dry and tasteless. For essentially it is enjoyable as the mind is alive all the time; never a dull moment. One would do well to add an essential requirement, love for the Sadguru Ramana who instills confidence, removes obstacles, encourages and provides the strength for sustained self-enquiry. Unflagging interest is possible only if one remembers that the best way of showing devotion to Ramana is to follow the path, to have faith in his experience which he is sharing. Have we not lived long enough with a chaotic mind which we do not understand when a peaceful, silent, and holistic mind is our natural inheritance?

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