Bhavagan Ramana on Solitude

November 17, 2013

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi was a realized man who ceaselessly highlighted the importance of अात्म विचार (atma vichara) or Self-Enquiry. Thanks to Him, the phrase "Who Am I?" or "Naan Yaar?" (in Tamil) became quite fashionable in intellectual circles in the South. His core teachings can be seen in the publication "Who Am I?".

I came across a very nice discussion on solitude on Sri Ramana's facebook page. It goes to the core of some questions about solitude.

SOLITUDE MEANS ONLY CONTINUOUS PRACTICE
D: When I spent an hour or two on the hill yonder, I sometimes found even better peace than here, which suggests that a solitary place is after all more conducive to mind-control.
B: True, but if you had stayed there for an hour longer, you would have found that place too not giving you the calm of which you speak. Control the mind and even Hell will be Heaven to you. All other talk of solitude, living in a forest etc., is mere prattle. D: If solitude and abandonment of home were not required, where then was the necessity for Sri Bhagavan to come here in his seventeenth year? B: If the same force that took this (meaning himself ) here, should take you also out of your home by all means let it, but there is no use of your deserting your home by an effort of your own. Your duty lies in practice, continuous practice of Self-enquiry.
D: Is it not necessary to seek the company of the wise (the Saints and Sages)?
B: Yes; but the best sat-sangam is inhering in your "Self". It is also the real guhavasam (living in the cave). Dwelling in the cave is retiring into your "Self". Association with the wise will certainly help a great deal.

Crumbs from His Table

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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