Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham (28)
Devotee:
What is the purport of the teaching that in pratyahara one should meditate on the pranava?
Maharshi:
The purport of prescribing meditation on the pranava is this. The pranava is Omkara consisting of three and a half matras, viz., a, u, m, and ardha-matra. Of these, “a” stands for the waking state, Visva-jiva, and the gross body; “u” stands for the dream-state Taijasa-jiva, and the subtle body; “m” stands for the sleep-state, Prajna-jiva and the causal body; the “ardha-matra” represents the Turiya which is the self or ‘I’-nature; and what is beyond that, is the state of Turiyatita, or pure Bliss.
The fourth state which is the state of ‘I’-nature was referred to in the section on meditation (dhyana): this has been variously described – as of the nature of “amatra” which includes the three matras, a, u, and m; as maunakshara (silence syllable); as ajapa (as muttering without muttering) and as the Advaita-mantra which is the essence of all mantras such as panchakshara (five syllables).
In order to get at this true significance, one should meditate on the “pranava”. This is meditation, which is of the nature of devotion consisting in reflection on the truth of the Self. The fruition of this process is samadhi which yields release which is the state of unsurpassed bliss. The revered Gurus also have said that release is to be gained only by devotion, which is of the nature of reflection on the truth of the Self.
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Note :
Self-enquiry – Vichara Sangraham is the first set of teachings that Ramana Maharshi ever offered. It was offered at about 1901, when he was a young man of about twenty-two. He was already a Jnani (Sage) in perfect Realization of the Self, in the resplendent bliss of Divine Knowledge. At that time he was living in Virupaksha Cave on the hill of Arunachala.
A number of disciples had already gathered round him. Although he had not actually taken a vow of silence, he seldom spoke, and so wrote his replies to certain questions put to him by Sri Gambhiram Seshayya, one of the earliest devotees. Sri Seshayya copied them in his diary. After his passing away, this diary was obtained from his brother. This was edited by Sri Sivaprakasam Pillai and was later put into Question-Answer form by Sri Natanananda. It was published under the name of Vichara Sangraham, or Self-Enquiry.
