Sri Ramana Maharshi's Teachings

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Know Yourself

It is said that the life of Bhagavan Ramana is itself his teaching. Why? This is because he was a perfect human being. He was like a child among children, a perfect kitchen mate to the uneducated women working there, a villager amongst villagers, a scholar par excellence amongst the learned. To monkeys, squirrels, cows and all animals he was a dear friend who belonged in their eyes totally to them. To seekers of truth he was the ever shining sun of knowledge and to the devotees the embodiment of the Supreme. He belonged to everyone but yet no one could claim him only to himself. His love was boundless, yet he was attached to none. Everyone could identify himself without anyone.

In complete contrast, we find that even the so called distinguished men in the fields of science, medicine, literature, arts, sports, etc., are filled with anxieties and fears. Whatever be their public charisma, reputation in a particular field which they may command, they have their own share of daily worries. Their lives do not show the universality we find in Bhagavan Ramana's life.

One should therefore go into the question as to what causes this gulf of difference, this chasm. If one does so, one would find that the difference has arisen because of the lack of Self-knowledge.

If one has to summarise the teachings of Bhagavan Ramana in two words, it would be 'Know Yourself'. Knowledge may be divided broadly into two categories. One is objective knowledge. Such knowledge is about the universe around us and the various fields of art, science and medicine. This knowledge is becoming vaster with more scientific tools being available and is also becoming more specialized. Even if one is the ultimate authority in his own branch of study his knowledge is still incomplete. Why? Because his knowledge is lop-sided. He would not have any knowledge about himself.

What does one mean in saying knowledge about oneself? Every individual sees the world through a series of relationships - with people, with ideas, with possessions etc. Knowledge about oneself is of paramount importance. For each one sees the world through his mind. It is his world. One assumes he knows about himself. But does he really know? A conversation which Ramana had with a devotee brings home this point.

D: Have you seen God?
R: Why do you seek to know?
D: If you have seen God I would like you to help me to see God.
R: You say "I wish to see God". First tell me who you are.
D: My name is Devadatta Sharma.
R: That is your name. But who are you?
D: I have already told that I am Sharma. I am a Brahmin.
R: That is an indication of your caste but who are you?
D: I am a lecturer in a college.
R: That is your profession. But who are you?
D: I am a human being.
R: That is your birth womb. But who are you?
D: I am a man.
R: That is your gender. I would like to know who it is that desires to meet God?
D: It looks as if I do not know myself.
R: When you are not in a position to understand yourself, how will you be able to understand God?

If you want to realize God you must be aware who you are and who it is that desires to know God.

It is precisely in this area that Ramana Maharshi steps in and helps one to grasp the essential truth about oneself. Presently, we are totally ignorant not because we cannot understand but only because we have never gone into this question at all. The focus of our attention has been elsewhere. The most important contribution of Ramana Maharshi to our lives is to restore the balance by making everyone conscious that knowledge about the subject holds the key to happy living. If one does not have proper understanding of oneself whatever else one may know is as good as useless. As Ramana puts it 'Of what use is it to know about the world, if we remain ignorant about ourselves?' Again he would say that "the truth about oneself alone is worthy of being scrutinized and known".

The young are those in whom the flame of enquiry, the desire and capacity to learn is very much there. The young are like gunpowder which will catch fire as soon as the match is lit. So all of you have a fine chance to understand the truth about yourselves if only you pay attention to the simple and direct way for knowledge shown by Ramana.