The New Dawn

Ramana Maharshi

oi-Staff

By Super

Thursday, May 3, 2012, 10:10

Ramana is the spring of life. One can always have his fill from his nectarine fact. He offers it to everyone and at all times. But can we avail of it? Are there any qualifications, prerequisites, mental attitudes which make it possible for one to avail of this offer?

In one sense spiritual life in general and 'Ramana Way' in particular there is an underlying need for the spirit of adventure. The spirit of adventure implies a spirit of enquiry, a willingness to go behind appearances, an insatiable desire to push beyond the known, tentativeness about coming events and above all courage in the face of seeming odds. The pioneering qualities of a Vascoda gama, a Columbus, or a Living stone. The shining examples of the Vedic rishis and great human lights who have enriched millions of lives are before us. In them we see all these virtues completely.

Is it not strange that we never tire of going round the mulberry bush. We have had our sorrows and joys of a ego-based life, lived in the same way life after life. Ramana told a seeker, Mercedes de Costa that each person has been changing his roles, husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister and so on. The roles keep changing. But the way one leads his or her life is not essentially different. Is it not time to reflect, to ponder over the question whether there is way out of the groove a way which would enable us to lead a life of great joy, free from endless limitations?

If we do we will find in the Ramana path a way from out of frontiers and limitations of a fragmentary mind to the freedom of a pure mind which is powerful, resilient and tentative and a life focussed on the heart. Ramana"s emphasis is on understanding the 'I", the subject, to be focussed out to understand its nature to be consciousness, fullness of consciousness. He emphasizes the need for experience as the bedrock of sadhana experience of what? Of the state of 'sahaja samadhi"; a state of inherent, overflowing happiness.

In this state all desires and all seeking would have ended since there would be no need for them. All action based on desire and the search is only for happiness. When one is in a state where one is immersed in the abundant joy of the heart, one rests in that 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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