No one needs to worry as to what happens
These are extracts from Talks with Ramana Maharshi explaining Worry and how to overcome it.
Talk 552.
There are some buildings in the Asramam. They used to have some plan which somehow could not be followed in entirety. Therefore ‘A’ and the Sarvadhikari did not agree on many details and there used to be trouble between them. ‘A’ was once highly disgusted with the state of affairs. He asked Sri Bhagavan what could be done under the circumstances.
Sri Bhagavan said: “Which of the buildings was according to a plan made by these people here? God has His own plans and all these go on according to that. No one need worry as to what happens.”
Talk 238.
D.: What happens to the man after death?
M.: Engage yourself in the living present. The future will take care of itself. Do not worry about the future. The state before creation and the process of creation are dealt with in the scriptures in order that you may know the present. Because you say you are born, therefore they say, yes, and add that God created you.
But do you see God or anything else in your sleep? If God be real why does He not shine forth in your sleep also? You are always – now the same as you were in sleep. You are not different from that one in sleep. But why should there be difference in the feelings or experiences of the two states?
Did you ask, while asleep, the question regarding your birth? or where do I go after death? Why think of all these now in the wakeful state?
Engage in Self-investigation, then the non-self will disappear. The Self will be left over. This is self-investigation of the Self. The one word Self is equivalent to the mind, body, man, individual. the Supreme and all else.
Talk 453.
M.: What is right and wrong? There is no standard by which to judge something to be right and another to be wrong. Opinions differ according to the nature of the individual and according to the surroundings. They are again ideas and nothing more. Do not worry about them. But get rid of thoughts. If you always remain in the right, then right will prevail in the world.
Abide as the Self and remain uncontaminated by what goes on around.
Moreover, however much you might advise them, your hearers may not rectify themselves. Be in the right yourself and remain silent. Your silence will have more effect than your words or deeds. That is the development of will-power. Then the world becomes the Kingdom of Heaven, which is within you.
Talk 480.
D.: Wars are going on in the world. If we do not think, do the wars cease?
M.: Can you stop the wars? He who made the world will take care of it.
D.: God made the world and He is not responsible for the present condition of the world. It is we who are responsible for the present state.
M.: Can you stop the wars or reform the world?
D.: No.
M.: Then why do you worry yourself about what is not possible for you? Take care of yourself and the world will take care of itself.
Talk 600.
A young man asked in broken Tamil: How long will it be before Self-realization?
M.: First know what Self means and also what realization means: then you will know all.
D.: The mind must realise in the Heart.
M.: Be it so. What is mind?
D.: Mind, Heart are all avatars of Perumal (Vaishnavite term for incarnate God).
M.: If so no need to worry ourselves.
D.: On this basis how can we realise?
M.: Surrender the mind to Perumal (God). His avatar cannot remain independent of Him. Render unto Him what is His and be happy.
D.: How to do so?
M.: How is the mind known to us? Owing to its activities, namely, thoughts. Whenever thoughts arise remember they are all modes of Perumal and they cannot be otherwise, this is enough; this is the surrender of the mind. Can anything exist independent of Perumal? All is Perumal alone. He acts through all. Why worry ourselves?
Talk 542.
‘A’ asked: I often desire to live in solitude where I can find all I want with ease, so that I may devote all my time to meditation only. Is such a desire good or bad?
M.: Such thoughts will bestow a janma (reincarnation) for their fulfilment. What does it matter where and how you are placed? The essential point is that the mind must always remain in its source. There is nothing external which is not also internal. The mind is all. If the mind is active even solitude becomes like a market place. There is no use closing your eyes. Close the mental eye and all will be right. The world is not external to you. The good persons will not care to make plans previous to their actions. Why so? For God who has sent us into the world has His own plan and that will certainly work itself out.
Talk 135.
Three European ladies from the Theosophical Conference came here and asked: “Is the whole scheme, the Plan, really good? Or is it in the nature of an error, a mistake of which we have to make the best?”
M.: The Plan is indeed good. The error is on our part. When we correct it in ourselves the whole scheme becomes all right.
M.: As we are not able to help ourselves, so we have to surrender ourselves to the Supreme completely. Then He will take care of us as well as the world.
Talk 240.
D.: The world is materialistic. What is the remedy for it?
M.: Materialistic or spiritual, it is according to your outlook. Drishtim jnanamayim kritva, Brahma mayam pasyet jagat — Make your outlook right. The Creator knows how to take care of His Creation.
D.: What is the best thing to do for ensuring the future?
M.: Take care of the present, the future will take care of itself.
D.: The future is the result of the present. So, what should I do to make it good? Or should I keep still?
M.: Whose is the doubt? Who is it that wants a course of action? Find the doubter. If you hold the doubter the doubts will disappear. Having lost hold of the Self the thoughts afflict you; the world is seen, doubts arise, also anxiety for the future. Hold fast to the Self, these will disappear.
D.: How to do it?
M.: Make effort. Just as water is got by boring a well, so also you realise the Self by investigation.
D.: Yes. But some find water readily and others with difficulty.
M.: But you already see the moisture on the surface.You are hazily aware of the Self. Pursue it. When the effort ceases the Self shines forth.
D.: How to train the mind to look within?
M.: By practice. The mind is the intelligent phase leading to its own destruction, for Self to manifest.
D.: How to destroy the mind?
M.: Water cannot be made dry water. Seek the Self; the mind will be destroyed.