Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi says, ‘You are always the Self. It is just your notion that you are not the Self that has to be got rid of.’ How does this happen?
Annamalai Swami: The Self is peace and happiness. Realizing peace
and happiness within you is the true realisation of the Self. You cannot
distinguish between peace, happiness and the Self. They are not separate
aspects. You have this idea that peace and happiness is within you, so you make
some effort to find it there, but at the moment it is still only an idea for
you.
So, ask yourself, ‘To whom does this idea come? Who has this
idea?’
You must pursue this line if you want to have the idea replaced by the experience. Peace is not an idea, nor is it something that comes and goes. We are always That. So, remain as That. You have no birth and no death, no bondage and no freedom. It is perpetual peace, and it is free from all ideas. The ‘I am the body’ idea is what is concealing it. This is what has to go.
Explanation:
The teachings of Ramana Maharshi, a revered Indian sage, emphasize the understanding that true peace and happiness reside within oneself. According to Maharshi, our natural state is one of inner tranquility and contentment, but this is often obscured by the mind's restless tendencies and attachments to external circumstances.
When you have the idea that peace and happiness are within you, you begin to direct your efforts inward, seeking to uncover this truth. However, for many, this remains an intellectual concept rather than a lived experience. The journey from understanding this idea to truly embodying it involves a process of deep introspection and self-inquiry.
Ramana Maharshi advocates for the practice of self-inquiry (Atma Vichara), which involves asking the question "Who am I?" This question is not meant to elicit a verbal answer but to help direct attention away from the thoughts and towards the source of one's being. By persistently turning the mind inward and focusing on the sense of "I," one can eventually transcend the ego, the false sense of self that is bound to desires and fears.
As this practice deepens, the layers of illusion created by the mind start to dissolve, revealing the underlying reality of the Self, which is pure consciousness. In this state, one realizes that peace and happiness are not something to be attained from the outside world but are the very essence of one's true nature.
Thus, while you might currently hold the idea that peace and happiness are within you, the teachings of Ramana Maharshi encourage you to go beyond the mere intellectual understanding and to directly experience this truth through dedicated self-inquiry and meditation. This transformative journey, guided by a sincere quest for self-realization, ultimately leads to the direct, experiential understanding that your true nature is blissful and peaceful, independent of external circumstances.