Hindu Teachings
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Devotee: “How long is the practice to continue?”
Sri Ramana Maharshi replied: “Till success is achieved and until yoga - liberation becomes permanent. Success begets success.
If one distraction is conquered the next is conquered and so on, until all are finally conquered.
The process is like reducing an enemy’s fort by slaying its manpower - one by one, as each issues out.” (Talks #28)
Seeking and Finding the Kingdom of Heaven
Talk #609
Devotee: I feel that I am transplanted into some other land than the Earth.
Sri Bhagavan, while looking into some correspondence, heard it,
smiled and said: “This is the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of
Heaven mentioned in the Bible, and this world, are not two different
regions. ‘The Kingdom is within you,’ says the Bible. So it is. The
realized being sees this as the Kingdom of Heaven whereas the others
see it as ‘this world’. The difference lies only in the angles of vision.”
The close disciples of Sri Bhagavan said that he shunned theoretical explanations
and kept turning the questioner back to consideration of sadhana, the path to be
followed. Furthermore it was said of him,
“It was sadhana, and sadhana alone, that he came to teach."
His efforts in teaching those who came to him can be summed up in guidance
toward transforming their lives to abandon the old (ages old) habits, both
physically and mentally. Many who found themselves in his presence were
satisfied in just hearing, 'the Kingdom of Heaven is within you'. They would glibly
smile with self-confidence and then return to their old ways without even a
glimmer of introspection regarding the condition of their minds and hearts.
But some wanted more. And to them Bhagavan gave more, and is still giving much
more! He would watch them as they meditated and would notice every detail of
their lives, both within and without. To those who sought change Bhagavan was
relentless in keeping not a single stone unturned. His success was not just
changing their angles of vision; he changed them.
The root definition of the Sanskrit word “sadhana” means the method by which
the instrument of transformation is applied. The Saints speak of sadhana being
like a chisel carving rough stone into a work of perfection. We should take this
simile to heart, and begin our spiritual ‘realization’ from the ground up, in order
to secure a strong mind able to grasp the subtle and merge into it. To this end Sri
Bhagavan’s teaching is ready and waiting: “Physically the digestive and other
organs are kept free from irritation. Therefore food is regulated both in quantity
and quality. Non-irritants are eaten, avoiding chillies, excess of salt, onions, wine,
opium, etc. Avoid constipation, drowsiness and excitement, and all foods that
induce them. Mentally take interest in one thing and fix the mind on it. Let such
interest be all-absorbing to the exclusion of everything else. This is dispassion
(vairagya) and concentration. God or mantra may be chosen. The mind gains
strength to grasp the subtle and merge into it.” Talk #2
Wisdom Bytes of Bhagavan
Sri Ramana Maharshi (Section #2)
