Prayer And Surrender In The Ramana Way-Part II

Ramana Maharshi

oi-Staff

By Staff

Monday, June 1, 2009, 9:52

One begins with a prayer which proclaims the omnipotence of Ramana and his role as the Sadguru on his direct path. The advantage would be that one would become humble and prayerful. This would be a head start.

one then is ready to take on one's own creation, thoughts. Perceiving the mind to be a thought flow energized by the thinker and diving within in search of the thinker's source, mind's true nature as silence is discovered. The mind remains silent and vibrant. Then all thoughts and actions are in that vast silence which remains always as the undercurrent.

This should be the practice and is usually so when the mind is in one of its modes of 'satva' 'equilibrium'. But often the 'rajas' 'activity orientation' of the mind or 'tamas' the attachment to inaction, to laziness takes over. The mind would either be turbulent, willing to give up the self-enquiry at the slightest pretext, or just inattentive allowing thoughts to crowd out the enquiry.

Then one has necessarily to fall back on Ramana's strength. Recalling Ramana's words one might cry out in inner anguish to him.

"Boldly seeking the true Self, I am ruined
Have mercy on me, Ramana"

Or

"Seeking you with my weak mind I have come back
Empty handed, aid me Ramana.
Look at me, think of me! Touch me! Make me fit!
Ripen me! Then be my master, govern me, Ramana"

This expression of spiritual hunger is bound to evoke a spontaneous response. The faltering mind's virility and alertness would be restored. The mind would become focussed and centered on itself. Ramana's strength would be coursing through it. As long as one's attention lasts, fine. But then old habits die hard. Once again the same appeal for Ramana's aid to stay on course would be needed. Perhaps one could remind Ramana that he is the all powerful one ready to take over the burden of sorrows, worries and thoughts which keep pushing us out. Here again one could mentally repeat one of Ramana's verses in the 'Decad'.

"Ordain that my burden should no more be mine,
But yours, for what is the burden for you, the all-sustainer?
I have had enough of carrying this world
Upon my head, parted from you"

Rejuvenated by such prayers expressive of one's helplessness and dependence on the Supreme Lord, Sadguru Ramana, the mind would be ready to dive into the heart, ready to return to its source. But one cannot say that it is yet ready "to become food unto him". The dualistic mind is bound to come out of the heart seeking the objects of the world, seen as apart from the Self and regarded as the true source of happiness. What then?

The remedy is the same. More of the same medicine. Prayer and surrender to Ramana. To be rid of this madness for the world and aware of the sovereign fact that Ramana is the only refuge. One may pray with all the intensity of a yearning heart wanting to discover the truth. For this one may take the cue from one of Ramana's verses.

'Possess me like a ghost, never letting me go until I am rid of this ghost of worldliness'

Then it happens. One remains at the nectarine source, immersed in it; all seeking having ended in discovering one's own fullness.

About the author

A.R.Natarajan

Sri A.R.Natarajan has had the opportunity of a long association of over 50 years with the Ramanashram. He was the editor of "Mountain Path" for two years. He was the secretary of Ramana Kendra, New Delhi for ten years. He founded the Ramana Maharshi centre for learning, a non profit institution. He has authored more than thirty six books and eleven pocket books on the life and teachings of Bhagavan Ramana.

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