THE GIST OF SRI
BHAGAVAN'S TEACHINGS
By K. Padmanabhan
THE two main works of Sri Ramana Bhagavan, Ulladu Nar-
padu (Reality in Forty Verses), which is the siddhantha
(philosophical or theoretical) treatise, and Upadesa Saram
(Quintessence of Wisdom), which is the sadhana [?] (practical)
treatise, elaborate his teachings. The gist of the principle and
practice of his teachings is given by him in one verse:
Hridaya Kuhara Madhye Kevalam Brahmamathram
Hyaham Aham Ithi Sakshath Atmaroopena Bhathi
Hridhvisha Manasa Swam Chinvatha Majjathava
Pavana Chalanarodhat Atma Nishto Bhavatwam.
In the inmost centre of the Heart cave Brahman [?] alone
shines in the form of Atman (Self) with direct immediacy as
`I' -- `I'. Enter into the Heart with questing mind, or by diving
deep within, or through control of breath, and abide in the
Atman, dissolving the ego.1
Sri Bhagavan, without decrying other practices or methods,
emphasises Atma Vichara, or Self-enquiry, the `Who am I??'
quest. He says it is not a mere method of questioning, as that
would take one nowhere, since mind cannot destroy mind by
mere thinking. The source of the mind itself is to be found,
and one has to transcend the mind to reach the thought-free
state, the state of pure Awareness. Diving deep within, one
should lose oneself in deep absorption in the Heart, the Self-
effulgent bliss. Conviction of spiritual declarations is
intellectual and is no doubt necessary, but the Heart must
play the ultimate part for spiritual absorption.
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According to the Upanishads [?], the Atman is to be seen, heard
and reflected upon, but it is not an object to be known. Sri
Bhagavan reiterates the same and wants one to realise the
Atman here and now and abide as such. Therefore the quest
of the Atman is to be purely inward, within the centre of
consciousness, so that the identity with the Universal
Consciousness gets firmly established. Reality is neither
physical nor mental, but spiritual. This knowledge gets
established only with identity. It is only when the ego dies
that the eternal Being in the core of the Heart is realised.
Atma Vichara is not a mere japa or mantra. It is listening
or enquiring within. What is needed is a mind devoid of
thoughts. Silence, paradoxical though it may seem, would be
the dynamic method of Self-enquiry for merging the mind in
the Heart. With sat-darshan or truth perception, awareness is
realised as the only true Being. It is for each one to discover
this truth for oneself.
There is no need for any prolonged study of the scriptures
or even for a guru, once you get fully convinced of the efficacy
of the vichara marga. Grace is always there to draw you from
within. It is indeed grace that initiates the vichara, aids you
to still the surface agitations, and takes you to the silence of
the Self.
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