Sri Ramana Maharishi : Talks

1.
Longing for a tiny grain of pleasure, people toil so hard using the mind to plough the field of the five senses, but they never wish for the flood of Bliss which is the fruit that comes by ploughing the Heart, the Source of the mind, with [simple] Self-attention. Ah, what a wonder!

2.
Just as the goat’s beard wanders and wags for nothing, people roam about merrily but in vain, doing Karmas for the fulfilment of their worldly desires, while despising the disciplines [followed by aspirants] which lead to eternal Moksha in Self. Ah, what a pitiable spectacle is the condition of these worldly people!

3.
Only when the world’s allurement is lost will true Liberation be possible [and its allurement cannot be lost unless it is found to be unreal]. Hence, to try to foist reality upon this world is to be just like an infatuated lover who tries to foist chastity upon a prostitute.

4.
Liberation is another name for you. It is always here and now with you. It has not to be won or reached hereafter or somewhere. Christ has said, “The Kingdom of God is within you” here and now. You have no death. Thayumanavar has sung, (i.e., 'even when living in the world those who are always in [sahaja] nishta do not think there is such a thing as death')].

5.

Reality is simply the loss of the ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. Because the ego is no entity it will automatically vanish and Reality will shine forth by itself. This is the direct method. Whereas all other methods are done, only retaining the ego. In those paths there arise so many doubts and the eternal question remains to be tackled finally. But in this method the final question is the only one and it is raised from the very beginning. No sadhanas are necessary for engaging in this quest.

Sri Ramana Maharishi