It Is Your Business - Part II

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As long as one acts with the feeling that it is the individual effort which matters, the responsibility of finding out the truth also rests squarely on oneself. In fact, we are constantly engaged in some action or the other since our restless nature would never let us relax in peace. One might say that Ramana is only drawing pointed attention to the necessity of putting one"s will power to the best possible use, for discovering the natural state.

Since effort is of paramount importance, Ramana would gently remove all dampeners in the form of negative thoughts. The first thing which has to be tackled is the repeated expression of fear that one cannot do justice to sadhana when caught up in the turmoil of daily life. Ramana would encourage one to get over this false notion. He would point out that if only one keeps steadily at meditation, even if it be for a little while, then life would no longer be strife and worry ridden. The mental environment of one"s functioning would change when the peace generated by meditation is felt in the background of work. This happens as our true meditative natures takes over more and more.

The second negative stumbling block which one has to deal with is the feeling that spiritual life is too tough and is therefore not worth attempting. Here again we find Ramana doing his best to dispel such ideas and consequent handicaps. When someone asked Ramana whether we must give up lust and anger, Ramana humorously replied "You give up thoughts, you need not give up anything else". Here one has to remember that in the "Ramana Way" one does not discard habits and thoughts one by one. They dry up when through self-attention one learns to push within and stay at the source.

This brings one to the basic issue of the effort about which Ramana is talking. The effort referred to here is to hold on to the core "I"-thought and to ward off the distraction of other thoughts. The mind has to be gathered together by practice. Attention presently given to other thoughts by the "I" has to be turned on itself - "seeing the mind with the mind". Attention has to be sustained till peace, alert peace, prevails.

One might ask, "How long is there need for effort?" So long as the mind becomes externalized. Till such time as the mind has not acquired the strength to remain sunk in the heart, effort would be inescapable. One would find that along the way the mind experiences the peace and contemplation of the natural state. Then as Ramana told Cohen one should learn to switch off the positive attitude required for effort. The consciousness behind the mind would take over, and the need for effort would cease. One would have arrived at the destination, the natural state.