Rituals And Reading For Self Realisation?

Ramana Maharshi

oi-Priya Devi

By Priya Devi

Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 18:23

Bhagavan Ramana's path to self realisation, self enquiry plunges one directly into the quest of knowing one's true self. All other paths like following rituals, Japa or chanting of mantras, Pranayama and even meditating on objects are all considered as aids to self enquiry (Atma Vichara), while enquiry alone is the direct path to the realisation of the truth. However Ramana never discouraged seekers to pursue their own path that suit them, as the goal was always the same despite the path.

Once Bhagavan Ramana was talking about certain spiritual books to Muruganar, an ardent devotee of Ramana who poured his devotion in thousands of poems.

Muruganar gave detailed accounts of the contents of each book. Ramana after listening attentively to Muruganar said, “The descriptions and illustrations might differ from book to book, but the destination is the same despite the various routes!"

Murganar agreed to Bhagavan, “Yes that is true. After reading through the books, we come to know they all convey the same truth and we feel it is just a waste of time!"

But Bhagavan replied, “But unless you read the books how is one to know that they all say the same thing? Until one reads them, one is driven by the anxiety of a new revelation in them which gets them into reading. Only when one has gone through the books, does one come to know that they all carry the same message!"

Ramana continued with an illustration, “This is like how a person undertakes to follow rituals and after having followed various pujas and rituals, one comes to know that they are not very important for self realisation!"

Further this is not to be taken that rituals are not necessary for self realisation. It is but the fact that they do not fall into the category of the direct path.