Arunachala - The Silence Within
Late July and early August of 2022 I spent few days in self enquiry at the Sri Ramanashramam in Tiruvannamalai in Tamilnadu, India. A few friends that know of this have asked for the details, hence this blog.
The Maharshi's Journey
Ramana Maharshi, born as "Venkataraman" became a realized soul after a brief experience. Around 17 years of age, he one day was taken over by a severe fear of death. He briefly enquired what is death. He lay on the ground dramatizing death and questioned what has died. He felt he was able to watch death as well - death of the body and realized himself to be the permanent One, the Self. Subsequently, he moved to Arunachala (the glowing mountain) where he stayed till leaving his body in April 1950. He was called as Maharshi (great sage) or Bhagvan (the divine one) by his followers.
Over the years, thousands of devotees gathered around him from across the world to receive spiritual grace. It was British author Paul Brunton who first captured and publicized his experience with the sage through his book "A Search in Secret India". The first westerner to visit was FH Humphreys, a British police officer narrates his experience:
When we reached the cave we sat before Him at His feet and said nothing. We sat thus for a long time and I felt lifted out of myself. I could only feel His body was not the man, it was the instrument of God, merely a sitting motionless corpse from which God was radiating terrifically. My own sensations were indescribable...
The Teaching in Silence
The Maharshi's primary teaching was in silence, but occasional oral and written instructions were also provided. He accepted all paths to self realization, but laid emphasis on Self-enquiry which is the direct path to self realization.
In the book "Who am I", the sage gives an overview of the self enquiry process:
When a thought occurs, do not yield to it, but enquire to whom this occurs. The answer is naturally to me. If you trace the thought back to its source the thought will subside. As more thoughts arise follow the same process till all thoughts subside.
The Path Beyond Faith
The Maharshi's teachings do not require any faith, beliefs or rituals. Just follow a rational enquiry process. The Maharshi never suggested one should discard their practices or their creeds. He suggested that all these paths are ways to realize the self. These may help one achieve one-pointedness of mind, which is then ripe for self enquiry.
The vast universe manifested before our senses is not other than the Self. The self enquiry process looks within oneself. A natural doubt arises: how come something that is universal be confined within oneself? Looking out would mean impressions captured by the senses and adding to the trove of thoughts. Looking in will help eliminate the thoughts. Once a person is fully realized they do not have the need to look within. This is called as "Sahaja Samadhi" - natural state of union/bliss.
When the thoughts subside there is perfect stillness and silence - an experience of one's true state. The Maharshi alluded to the Arunachala mountain as a manifestation of the Self within.
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