Stay As "I AM"

The primary aim is to fix the mind in the Heart at the feet of the Lord shining as the Self and never to forget Him. ~ Sri Ramana

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Annamalaiswami : I should, perhaps, always try to think : " I am That ".

Sri Bhagavan : Why should one think " I am That " ? He is That only. Does a man go on thinking that he is a man ?

Mr.Anantachari : The belief " I am a man " is so deep that we cannot help thinking so.

Sri Bhagavan : Why should you think " I am a man " ? If you are challenged, you may say, "I am a man". Therefore,the thought-"I am a man " - is called up when another thought, say, "I am an animal", protrudes itself. Similarly, the thought " I am That " is necessary only so long as the other thought " I am a man ", persists.

D.: The thought " I am a man " is so natural.

Sri Bhagavan : Not so. On the other hand, " I AM " is natural. Why do you qaulify it with " a man " ?

D.: "I am a man " is so obvious, whereas " I am That " is not understood by us.

Sri Bhagavan : You are neither "That " nor "This ". The truth is " I AM ". " I AM THAT I AM " according to theBIBLE also. Mere " Being " is alone natural. To limit it to " being a man " is uncalled for.

D.: (Humorously) If vote be taken, the majority will be on my side (Laughter).

Sri Bhagavan : I cast my vote also on your side (Laughter). I say also, " I am a man " ; but, I am not limited to the body. It is in " ME ". That is the difference.

D.: The limitation ( upadhi ) of being a man, cannot be got rid of.

Sri Bhagavan : How were you in deep sleep ? There was no thought of being a man.

D.: So, the state of deep sleep must be brought about even when one is awake.

Sri Bhagavan : It is jagrat--sushupti.

Some people even say that while they sleep they are enclosed somewhere in the body. They forget that such an idea did not persist in deep sleep, but rises up only on waking. They bring their waking--state to bear upon their deep sleep.

(The lights went down and all retired.)

-- from " TALKS WITH SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI ", pp.555--56