ABOUT THE BOOK The renowned Indian sage Ramana Maharshi is beloved by Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, and Taoists alike for the inspirational power of his teachings, which transcend all religious differences. Here is a collection of Sri Ramana’s instructions and discourses culled from three works: Who Am I?, Spiritual Instructions, and Maharshi’s Gospel. These teachings are arranged by topics such as work and renunciation, silence and solitude, peace and happiness, and the discipline of self-inquiry. Reading this book, presented in question-and-answer format, evokes the feeling of being with this outstanding teacher at one of his intimate teaching sessions. RAMANA MAHARSHI (1879–1950) was one of the greatest spiritual teachers of modern-day India. At the age of seventeen he attained a profound experience of the true Self. After some years of silent seclusion he finally began to reply to the questions put to him by spiritual seekers all over the world. Though he wrote little, his many conversations and verbal teachings were recorded by followers. 2 Sign up to receive news and special offers from Shambhala Publications. Or visit us online to sign up at shambhala.com/eshambhala. 3 B Ś R M HAGAVAN RĪ AMANA AHARSHI 4 The Spiritual Teaching of R M AMANA AHARSHI FOREWORD BY C. G. JUNG SHAMBHALA Boston & London 2015 5 Shambhala Publications, Inc. Horticultural Hall 300 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02115 www.shambhala.com Cover design by Jim Zaccaria © 1972 Sri Ramanasramam Biographical Sketch and Glossary © 1998 by Shambhala Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Library of Congress Catalogues the previous edition of this book as follows: Ramana, Maharshi. The spiritual teaching of Ramana Maharshi. 1. Spiritual life (Hinduism) I. Title. [BL1237.36.R35 1988] 294.5’448 88-18220 eISBN 978-0-8348-2537-6 ISBN 978-0-87773-024-8 (pbk.) ISBN 978-1-59030-139-5 (Shambhala Classics) 6 Contents PUBLISHER’S NOTE PREFACE FOREWORD BY C. G. JUNG BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH WHO AM I? SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION Instruction Practice Experience Attainment MAHARSHI’S GOSPEL Work and Renunciation Silence and Solitude Mind Control Bhakti and Jñāna Self and Individuality Self-Realization Guru and His Grace Peace and Happiness Self-Inquiry Sādhana and Grace The Jñāni and the World The Heart Is the Self Aham and Aham-vṛtti NOTES GLOSSARY E-MAIL SIGN-UP 7 Publisher’s Note This book contains diacritics and special characters. If you encounter difficulty displaying these characters, please set your e- reader device to publisher defaults (if available) or to an alternate font. 8 Preface A gently indrawn breath—with no thought—can bring the ecstasy of total awareness—beyond words. In these three books of answers to inquirers, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, without offending common sense, reason or logic, has come as close as possible to saying the unsayable and points the way—innumerable ways—for You to find the Self and Be. To Understand the Ultimate—experience must be Intimate. Beyond that which you think is that which you are. Realizing this does not involve specific practices or attitudes other than Understanding. No withdrawal is necessary—no change of present time, place or condition—only a change of viewpoint, which you bring about yourself for your Self. A recent letter from S. S. Cohen says: “‘Be’ sums up the whole practical teaching of Bhagavan. There is nothing in the material life to compensate for it—neither wealth, sex, art, science nor any other ideal. It is the Greatest Good—the bliss and truth absolute.” Bhagavan found Enlightenment for himself without a physical guru. In these books of questions, asked and answered, may you find your answer. This can be a trip to end all trips. Find out who you are and you can’t help but Be! Know that you immortal Are and you have but to Be. May all beings be well, may all beings be happy. Peace, peace. PEACE Joe & Guinevere Miller 9 Foreword Ś R H M M M Rī AMANA AND IS ESSAGE TO ODERN AN Śrī Ramana is a true son of the Indian earth. He is genuine and, in addition to that, something quite phenomenal. In India he is the whitest spot in a white space. What we find in the life and teachings of Śrī Ramana is the purest of India; with its breath of world-liberated and liberating humanity, it is a chant of millenniums. This melody is built up on a single, great motif, which, in a thousand colorful reflexes, rejuvenates itself within the Indian spirit, and the latest incarnation of which is Śrī Ramana Maharshi himself. The identification of the Self with God will strike the European as shocking. It is a specifically Oriental realization, as expressed in Śrī Ramana’s utterances. Psychology cannot contribute anything further to it, except the remark that it lies far beyond its scope to propose such a thing. However, it is clear to the Indian that the Self as spiritual Source is not different from God; and in so far as man abides in his Self, he is not only contained in God but is God Himself. Śrī Ramana is quite clear in this respect. The Goal of Eastern practices is the same as that of Western mysticism: the focus is shifted from the “I” to the Self, from man to God. This means that the “I” disappears in the Self, and the man in God. A similar effort is described in the exercitia spiritualia, in which the “personal property,” the “I” subjugate to the highest possible degree to the possessorship of Christ. Śrī Ramakrishna adopted the same position in regard to the Self, only with him the dilemma between the “I” and the Self comes a little more closely to the foreground. Śrī Ramana declares unmistakably that the real purpose of spiritual practice is the dissolution of the “I.” Ramakrishna, however, shows a somewhat hesitating attitude in this respect. Though he says, “As long as the I-sense lasts, so long are true Knowledge (jñāna) and Liberation (mukti) impossible,” yet he must acknowledge the fatal nature of ahaṃkāra. He says, “How very few can obtain this Union (samādhi) and free themselves from this ‘I’? It is very rarely possible. Talk as much as you want, isolate 10