Category: Self-Enquiry (Vichara Sangraham)

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (22) Devotee: How is breath to be controlled?  Maharshi: Breath can be controlled either by absolute retention of breath (kevala-kumbhaka) or by regulation of breath (pranayama). ~~~~~~~~ Note : Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham  is the first […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (21) Devotee: Of the means for mind-control, which is the most important?  Maharshi: Breath-control is the means for mind-control. ~~~~~~~~ Note : Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham  is the first set of teachings that Ramana Maharshi ever […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (20) Devotee: What is the reason for the absence of mental strength? Maharshi: The means that make one qualified for enquiry are meditation, yoga, etc. One should gain proficiency in these through graded practice, and thus […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (19) Devotee:   Although I have listened to the explanation of the characteristics of enquiry in such great detail, my mind has not gained even a little peace. What is the reason for this? Maharshi: The […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (18) Devotee:   How do the three states of experience, the three bodies, etc., which are imaginations, appear in the Self-light which is one, impartite and self-luminous? Even if they should appear, how is one to […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (17) Devotee:   How is one to know that in the Heart the Self itself shines as Brahman? Maharshi: Just as the elemental ether within the flame of a lamp is known to fill without any […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (16) Devotee:   How do egoity, soul, self, and Brahman come to be identified? Maharshi:      The Example  The Exemplified 1 The iron-ball                          […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (15) Devotee:   The mind, sense-organs, etc., have the ability to perceive; yet why are they regarded as perceived objects? Maharshi:      Drik (Knower) Drisya (Known object) 1 The Seer The seen object (for example, […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (14) Devotee:   What is the real purpose of sannyasa (renunciation)? Maharshi: Sannyasa is only the renunciation of the ‘I’ thought, and not the rejection of the external objects. He who has renounced the “I” thought […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (13) Devotee:   When there is activity in regard to works, we are neither the agents of those works nor their enjoyers. The activity is of the three instruments (i.e., the mind, speech, and body). Could […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (12) Devotee:   Is the aforesaid Self-experience possible, even in the state of empirical existence, for the mind which has to perform functions in accordance with its prarabdha (the past karma which has begun to fructify)? […]

Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (11) Devotee:   Is Self-experience possible for the mind, whose nature is constant change? Maharshi: Since sattva-guna (the constituent of prakriti which makes for purity, intelligence, etc.) is the nature of mind, and since the mind […]