The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi

Happiness

Everybody desires to be happy all the time without a feeling of sorrow. Also, people love themselves the best. Love is the causation for happiness. Happiness lies within us. The most happiness experienced is when we are asleep when the functioning of is mind is not involved. Hence, a clear understanding of what one is would help set the floor for happiness.

Consciousness

Our consciousness is the only reality there is. When we wake our consciousness, it is called awakening. When we sleep without consciousness, it is called sleep. When we dream without consciousness, it is called ream. Consciousness is something that is in the scene at all times while all the activities resume and stop.

Mind

Mind is the force from within and arises from the “I” in us.  When it is our brains and senses in the application, worthless forms are cognized. When in the heart, the forms disappear. When there is no ego, or no “I”, there is the Self, which is the highest form of consciousness.

Enquiry about self

When we question our existence and ask ourselves “Who am I?”, all other thoughts die. When there are no thoughts competing against each other, it would help you understand the reasons for these thoughts better. Then the question is to whom these thoughts are arising, and the answer is self. These thoughts would submerge too, upon practice more and more and questioning ourselves more and more.

Surrender

There are basically two ways of surrendering. One is merging self with the source. The other is laying all the trust on God and throwing oneself completely in Him devotion. God only is the source of safety and security in this world. When the love for God develops, the ego vanishes. Completely surrendering oneself would lead to liberation.

Freewill and Fate

All the free will and destiny will exist always. The result of our past actions is destiny and it is concerned with the body. Free will and fate last for as long as there is the body. But the knowledge of self is beyond our body and ignorance. Whatever happens to us is the result of our past actions. But when we conquer ourselves, we break free from his ego and merge into God.

In conclusion

Sri Maharshi opined that a Guru was necessary in the journey to self-discovery and God. Guru does not have to be eternally present. When he left this plane, he told his followers that he was not leaving as he was not his body. He is ever-present.