Devotee: Is a Master necessary for realisation?” Mrs. Piggot asked first.
Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi: The realisation is the result of the Master’s grace more than teachings, lectures, meditation, etc. They are only secondary aids, whereas the former is the primary and the essential cause.
Devotee: What are the obstacles which hinder realisation of the Self?
Bhagwan Sri Ramana: They are habits of mind (vasanas).
Devotee: How to overcome the mental habits (vasanas)?
Bhagwan Sri Ramana: By realising the Self.
Devotee: That is a vicious circle.
Bhagwan Sri Ramana: It is the ego which raises such difficulties, creating obstacles and then suffers from the perplexity of apparent paradoxes. Find out who makes the enquiries and the Self will be found.
Devotee: What are the aids for realisation?
Bhagwan Sri Ramana: The teachings of the Scriptures and of realised souls
Devotee: Can such teachings be discussions, lectures and meditations?
Bhagwan Sri Ramana: Yes, all these are only secondary aids, whereas the essential is the Master’s grace.
Devotee: How long will it take for one to get that?
Bhagwan Sri Ramana: Why do you desire to know?
Bhagwan Sri Ramana: Even such a desire is an obstacle. The Self is ever there, there is nothing without it. Be the Self and the desires and doubts will disappear. Such Self is the witness in sleep, dream and waking states of existence. These states belong to the ego. The Self transcends even the ego. Did you not exist in sleep? Did you know then that you were asleep or unaware of the world? It is only in the waking state that you describe the experience of sleep as being unawareness; therefore the consciousness when asleep is the same as that when awake. If you know what this waking consciousness is, you will know the consciousness which witnesses all the three states. Such consciousness could be found by seeking the consciousness as it was in sleep.
Talk—13
From Ramana Maharshi
Grace is Awakening of Shakti. Without which nothing can happen. Since Awakening of Shakti can occur in many forms, people err. They think Ramana Maharshi only talked about self enquiry but in reality he was Awakening Shakti in a very few selected disciples.
I have written about signs of Awakening Shakti elsewhere. Plus there are 5 levels (3 + 2 ) and two depths. These details are learnt much later. Many have told me they have their Shakti awakened by many “guru”. I remain silent. Should I cry for them ? I leave hints. But they cannot grasp
Devotee: To give me hope.
Bhavin