H.W.L. Poonja (1910 to 1997) - Poonjaji is affectionately referred as ‘papaji’ and was a disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Here is a collection of Quotes and Thoughts of Poonjaji.
- If someone tells you something, don't accept it because no teaching has so far touched the Truth. This much I will tell you. No one ever spoke the Truth. No word has ever been coined to present it.
You have to wake up Yourself; you have to see for Yourself. The senses are not needed, nor are the eyes. The eyes cannot see it; the mind cannot understand it; the intellect cannot grasp it. None of these will accompany you. You have to be alone without these things. You have to proceed alone. None of the five elements will accompany you. You will go alone to meet this situation, but what it is, no one knows.
- Look within, there is no difference between yourself, Self and Guru. You are always Free. There is no teacher, there is no student, there is no teaching.
What Poonjaji means is that Truth has to be experienced and not taught.
Self Enquiry is to enquire into your own Self, where the source is from where the enquiry arises. Follow the source and return to that unknown place where it begins.
When you arrive there, then you will know that this is the place which gives you happiness and peace, and makes you keep quiet. And he finds himself there, not by words. By himself, he knows that this is the source of me, and the source of all the beings that appear in the Universe.
The easiest way to return to the source is you look at the mind, that it is not going to be attracted by anything outside, and if you keep quiet, a thought will come: "Where is my source?" Don't go outside, but keep quiet. In this quietness, the mind will automatically return to its source. Having returned there, the mind is lost and there is no mind now to search for the light or wisdom anywhere else, and there will be a tremendous fountain of peace. And all doubts are cleared and he will keep quiet, not by tongue but by his heart. His ego is absolutely finished. This is called peace and returning to the source.
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You are the unchangeable awareness in which all activity takes place. Always rest in peace. You are eternal Being, unbounded and undivided. Just keep Quiet. All is well. Keep quiet here and now. You are happiness, you are peace, you are freedom. Do not entertain any notions that you are in trouble. Be kind to yourself. Open to your heart and simply Be.
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If you step out of the silence there is trouble. You don’t need anything in silence. Eternity is here. Happiness is here. No death can enter this silence. No trouble can enter here. No thought, no concept can enter here. All desires are met here in emptiness. Step out and there is samsara – the endless cycle of birth and death.
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You are the unchangeable awareness in which all activity takes place. Always rest in peace. You are eternal Being, unbounded and undivided. Just keep Quiet. All is well. Keep quiet here and now. You are happiness, you are peace, you are freedom. Do not entertain any notions that you are in trouble. Be kind to yourself. Open to your heart and simply Be.
Self is what you are. You are that fathomless-ness in which experience and concepts appear. Self is the moment that has no coming or going. It is the heart, atman, emptiness. It shines to itself, by itself, in itself.
Self is what gives breath to life. You need not search for It, It is here. You are that through which you would search. You are what you are looking for! And that is all it is. Only Self is.
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It has no beginning and only Self knowledge will end it.
The question ‘Who am I?’ will end it.
So firmly decide, ‘I have to do it Now.’
This human birth is such a blessing, don’t waste it! Postponement is samsara, the cycle of suffering.
Whenever you are in trouble ask, Am I dreaming?’ This is ‘Who am I?’ and it will wake you up and make you fall in love with your own self.
Then you will know all ‘others,’ and will take this candle wherever you go!
The question ‘Who am I?’ will end it.
So firmly decide, ‘I have to do it Now.’
This human birth is such a blessing, don’t waste it! Postponement is samsara, the cycle of suffering.
Whenever you are in trouble ask, Am I dreaming?’ This is ‘Who am I?’ and it will wake you up and make you fall in love with your own self.
Then you will know all ‘others,’ and will take this candle wherever you go!
Look within
Approach with all Devotion
Stay as Heart
Approach with all Devotion
Stay as Heart
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The secret to Bliss is to stop the search, stop thinking, stop not-thinking and keep Quiet. The best practice is to Know ‘Who am I. ’ You are Brahman, know this. If you want to anything, just always adore Self.
You are this moment, introduce yourself to This, do not attach your mind to any direction. No Sadhana, no past, no future, not even the emptiness of your heart, not even space. To be free forever introduce yourself to this Moment. This moment is always this moment, it will not change. It is freedom, free from mind and concepts, and is your fundamental birthright.
Dharma means not holding onto any concept, so the supreme dharma is to reject all dharmas. If you reject everything what will happen? All the burdens of all the religions and concepts will fall from your mind, bringing you to the perfect Peace and Love, and this is your dharma.
‘I want this, I want that. I dislike this, I like that.’ If you remove this switch of like and dislike, how will you feel? Instantly you will be free. Like and dislikes keep you in bondage and suffering.
Mind has created separation, and no mind will remove this separation. The separation doesn’t exist. Even to say ‘I am separate’ is a joke.
If you step out of the silence there is trouble. You don’t need anything in silence. Eternity is here. Happiness is here. No death can enter this silence. No trouble can enter here. No thought, no concept can enter here. All desires are met here in emptiness. Step out and there is samsara – the endless cycle of birth and death.
I tell you that you are already free and you don’t accept it. You want to do something. Freedom doesn’t need any effort. Other things may need effort. Freedom is free. Free of your efforts.