Category: Talks – Numerical Order

No reason to mourn The European visitor asked relating to the existence of departed souls and how best to serve them. With regard to the question concerning departed souls: So long as a man identifies himself with his gross body, the thought materialised as gross manifestations must be real to him. Because his body is imagined […]

Guest to see Maharshi Mr. Douglas Ainslie (Mr. Grant Duff), an aristocratic English gentleman, 70 years old, nephew of a former Governor of Madras, an author and poet formerly attached to the British Legation in Athens, Paris and The Hague, had come to Madras as a guest of Government House. He came to see Maharshi […]

Supreme Spirit is subtle A question was asked about the Upanishadic passage, “The Supreme Spirit is subtler than the subtlest and larger than the largest.” M.: Even the structure of the atom has been found by the mind. Therefore the mind is subtler than the atom. That which is behind the mind, namely the individual […]

Realization exists beyond expression An old man came and sat in the hall. Maharshi was reading Sarma’s revised Sanskrit edition of Arunachala Akshara Manamalai (the first of His Five Hymns on Arunachala). The man asked softly: “It is said that self-realization is beyond expression; and expression always fails to describe the realization. How is it?” M.: […]

The Self alone Is “Is a Master necessary for Self-realization?” Mrs. Piggot asked first. M.: The realization 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 realization of the […]

Peaceful Monkey Mrs. M. A. Piggot, an English lady, who had read “Search in Secret India”, came to see the Maharshi. The services of a disciple as interpreter were provided. There were many visitors at the time in the hall, including some ladies with their infants. The place resounded with noise. Finally silence prevailed. Suddenly […]

I know nothing A man asked the Maharshi to say something to him. When asked what he wanted to know, he said that he knew nothing and wanted to hear something from the Maharshi. M.: You know that you know nothing. Find out that knowledge. That is liberation (mukti, salvation). Talks With Ramana Maharshi – […]

Can destiny end D.: “Can destiny (karma) ever come to an end?” M.: The karmas carry the seeds of their own destruction in themselves. Talks With Ramana Maharshi – Part 1 March 28, 1935 Talk 11.

Controlling the mind A visitor asked how to realize oneself in accordance with Maharshi’s instructions, contained in his text of Truth Revealed, verse 8, supplement1. The difficulty was in controlling the mind. M.: It is to be done by controlling the breath. If you practise it by yourself without other help, then the mind is […]

Sage and child Someone enquired: Why is it said in scriptures that the Sage is like a child? M.: A child and a Sage (Jnani) are similar in a way. Incidents interest a child only so long as they last. It ceases to think of them after they have passed away. So then, it is […]

Sacred Mantras D.: “Can anyone get any benefit by repeating sacred syllables (mantras) picked up casually? M.: “No. He must be competent and initiated in such mantras.” Maharshi illustrated this by the following story: A King visited his Premier in his residence. There he was told that the Premier was engaged in repetition of sacred […]

Occult Powers Bhagavan was asked about occult powers. When asked if occult powers (Siddhis) can be achieved along with Omnipotence (Iswaratva) as mentioned in the last verse of Dakshinamurti Ashtakam, Maharshi said: “Let Omnipotence (Iswaratva) be accomplished first, and then the other question (about occult powers) may be raised.” ~~~~ Note: Below is the last […]