Thereisnouseremovingdoubtsonebyone.Ifweclearonedoubtanother doubtwillariseandtherewillbenoendofdoubts.But,ifbyseekingthe doubter,thedoubterisfoundtobereallynonexistent,thenalldoubtswill cease. SelfInquirydirectlyleadstorealizationbyremovingtheobstacleswhich makeyouthinkthattheSelfisnotalreadyrealized. ThereisnomomentwhentheSelfasconsciousnessdoesnotexist,norcan theseerremainapartfromconsciousness. Whichistherealpower(siddhi)?Isittoincreaseprosperityorbringabout peace?Thatwhichresultsinpeaceisthehighestperfection(siddhi). Thenormalselfisthemind.Themindiswithlimitations.

Butpure Consciousnessisbeyondlimitations,andisreachedbyinvestigationintothe "I" YoumustneverrestcontentwiththepleasureofLaya(temporaryabeyance ofthemind)experiencedwhenthoughtisquelled,youmustpressonuntil alldualityceases. Thefinalobstacleinmeditationisecstasy;youfeelgreatblissandhappiness andwanttostayinthatecstasy.Donotyieldtoitbutpassontothenext stagewhichisgreatcalm. MeditationisnotsomuchthinkingoftheSelfasgivingupthinkingofthe notSelf.Whenyougiveupthinkingofoutwardobjectsandpreventyour mindfromgoingoutwardsbyturningitinwardsandfixingitintheSelf,the Selfaloneremains. Theproperwaytogetridofadesireistofindout"Whogetsthedesire? Whatisitssource?"Whenthisisfound,thedesireisrootedoutanditwill neveragainemergeorgrow. Allmetaphysicaldiscussionisprofitlessunlessitcausesustoseekwithin theSelfforthetruereality.Allcontroversiesaboutcreation,thenatureofthe

universe,evolution,thepurposeofGod,etc.,areuseless.Theyarenot conducivetoourtruehappiness.Peopletrytofindoutaboutthingswhich areoutsideofthembeforetheytrytofindout"WhoamI?"Onlybythe lattermeanscanhappinessbegained. Themomenttheegoselftriestoknowitself,itchangesitscharacter;it beginstopartakelessandlessoftheinsentient(jada)inwhichitis absorbed,andmoreandmoreoftheconsciousnessoftheSelf. Therearenootherstobehelped,forarealizedbeingseesonlytheSelf;just likeagoldsmithestimatingthegoldinvariousitemsofjewelryseesonlythe gold. Themindisintangible,infactitdoesnotexist.Thesurestwaytocontrolit istoseekit.Thenitsactivitiescease. Actually,theideaoftheSelfbeingthewitnessisonlyinthemind;itisnot theabsolutetruthoftheSelf.Witnessingisrelativetoobjectswitnessed. Boththewitnessandhisobjectarementalcreations. Thereisonlyonestate,thatofconsciousnessorawarenessorexistence.The threestatesofwaking,dreamandsleepcannotbereal.Theysimplycome andgo.Therealwillalwaysexist. ThemindturnedinwardsistheSelf;turnedoutwards,itbecomestheego andalltheworld. Thereisnodifferencebetweenthedreamandthewakingstateexceptthat thedreamisshortandthewakinglong.Botharetheresultsofthemind. Theseerandtheseentogetherconstitutethemind.Seeifthereissucha thingasthemind.Then,themindmergesintheSelfandthereisneitherthe seernortheseen. Cottonmadeintovariousclotheswecallbyvariousnames.Goldmadeinto variousornaments,wecallbyvariousnames.Butalltheclothesarecotton

andalltheornamentsgold.Theoneisreal,themanyaremerenamesand forms. TheminddoesnotexistapartfromtheSelf,thatis,ithasnoindependent existence.TheSelfexistswithoutthemind,neverthemindwithouttheSelf. ThatwhichiscalledhappinessisonlythenatureofSelf;Selfisnotother thanperfecthappiness.Thatwhichiscalledhappinessaloneexists. KnowingthatfactandabidinginthestateofSelf,enjoyblisseternally. Ifamanthinksthathishappinessisduetoexternalcausesandhis possessions,itisreasonabletoconcludethathishappinessmustincrease withtheincreaseofpossessionsanddiminishinproportiontotheir diminution.Therefore,ifheisdevoidofpossessions,hishappinessshould benil.Whatistherealexperienceofman?Doesitconformtothisview? No. Indeepsleepmanisdevoidofpossessions,includinghisownbody.Instead ofbeingunhappyheisquitehappy.Everyonedesirestosleepsoundly.The conclusionisthathappinessisinherentinmanandisnotduetoexternal causes.OnemustrealizetheSelfinordertoopenthestoreofunalloyed happiness. WhenyouareintheHeart,theHeartisknowntobeneitherthecentrenor thecircumference.Thereisnothingelseapartfromit. Realizationisnothingtobegainedafresh;itisalreadythere.Allthatis necessaryistogetridofthethought"Ihavenotrealized." Stillnessorpeaceisrealization.ThereisnomomentwhentheSelfisnot. ThereisnoreachingtheSelf.IfSelfweretobereached,itwouldmeanthat theSelfisnothereandnowandthatitisyettobeobtained.Whatisgot afreshwillalsobelost. WrongknowledgeisthefalseidentificationoftheSelfwiththebodyandthe mind.Thisfalseidentificationmustgo,andthentheSelfaloneremains.

Realizationisforeveryone;realizationmakesnodifferencebetweenthe aspirants.Thisverydoubt,whetheryoucanrealize,andthenotion"Ihave notrealized"arethemselvestheobstacles.Befreefromtheseobstaclesalso. Questioner:Howlongdoesittaketoreachmukti(liberation)? SriBhagavan:Muktiisnottobegainedinthefuture.Itisthereforever,here andnow.Abidinginthatconsciousnessbywhichweknowthatweexistis absolutestillness.It'sthoughtlessAwareness.It'sconsciousnesswithoutan objectorasubject.ItistheAwarenessthat'spriortosubject,priortoobject. ThisiswhatismeantbySelfabidance.ThisiswhatismeantbySilence. ThisisStillness.Inthissilentstillness,thereispeace. Onebelievesthatthereisbondageandthereforeseeksliberation.Butthe factisthatthereisnobondagebutonlyliberation.Whycallitbyanameand seekit? Thefeeling"Thebodyis'I'"istheerror.Thisfalsesenseof"I"mustgo.The real"I"isalwaysthere.Itishereandnow.Itneverappearsanewand disappearsagain. Theultimatetruthissosimple.Itisnothingmorethanbeinginthepristine state.Thisisallthatneedbesaid. Thestateofbeingispermanent;thingsintheworldarenot.Theyare fleetingphenomenapassingonthescreenofbeingconsciousness,whichis eternalandstationary. Trulythereisnocauseforyoutobemiserableandunhappy.Youyourself imposelimitationsonyourtruenatureofinfinitebeing,andthenweepthat youarebutafinitecreature.Thenyoutakeupthisorthatspiritualpractice totranscendthenonexistentlimitations.Butifyourspiritualpracticeitself assumestheexistenceofthelimitations,howcanithelpyoutotranscend them?

Blissisnotaddedtoyournature,itismerelyrevealedasyourtruenatural state,eternalandimperishable.Theonlywaytoberidofyourgriefisto knowandbetheSelf. Thereisnogoaltobereached.Thereisnothingtobeattained.Youarethe Self. You,beingtheSelf,wanttoknowhowtoattaintheSelf.Itissomethinglike amanbeingatRamanasramamaskinghowmanywaystherearetoreach Ramanasramamandwhichisthebestwayforhim. Allthatisrequiredofyouistogiveupthethoughtthatyouarethisbody andtogiveupallthoughtoftheexternalthingorthenotSelf. Theegoselfappearsanddisappearsandistransitory,whereastherealSelf ispermanent.ThoughyouareactuallythetrueSelfyouwronglyidentifythe realSelfwiththeegoself. Whenyoutrytotracetheego,whichisthebasisoftheperceptionofthe worldandeverythingelse,youfindtheegodoesnotexistatallandneither doesallthiscreationthatyousee. Thereisnoalternativeforyoubuttoaccepttheworldasunrealifyouare seekingthetruthandthetruthalone. Thereisnodissolutionorcreation,nooneinbondage,noranyonepursuing spiritualpractices.Thereisnoonedesiringliberationnoranyoneliberated. Thisistheabsolutetruth. Whenyouidentifyyourselfwiththebodythenonlytheformsandshapes arethere.Butwhenyoutranscendyourbodytheothersdisappearalongwith yourbodyconsciousness. Thatuponwhichmemoryandobliviondependistheideaoftheindividual self.Whenonelooksforit,thisindividual"I"isnotfoundbecauseitisnot real.Hencethis"I"issynonymouswithillusionorignorance(maya,avidya orajnana).

Toknowthatthereneverwasignoranceisthegoalofallthespiritual teachings. Alleffortsaredirectedtodestroyingdoubtandconfusion.Todosotheir rootsmustbecut.Theirrootsarethesamskaras(conditionedtendencies). Hearingthetruth(sravana)isthefirststage.Iftheunderstandingisnotfirm onehastopracticereflection(manana)anduninterruptedcontemplation (nididhyasana)onit.Thesetwoprocessesscorchtheseedsofsamskaras (mentaltendencies)sothattheyarerenderedineffective. Becauseweexisttheegoappearstoexist. Takenonoticeoftheegoanditsactivities,butseeonlythelightbehind.The egoisthethought"I."Thetrue"I"istheSelf. Speakingofrealization,itimpliestwoselvestheonetorealize,theotherto berealized.Whatisnotalreadyrealizedissoughttoberealized.Oncewe admitourexistence,howisitthatwedonotknowourself? Themindcannotkillitself.So,yourbusinessistofindtherealnatureofthe mind.Thenyouwillknowthatthereisnomind.WhentheSelfissought, themindisnowhere.AbidingintheSelf,oneneednotworryaboutthe mind. Thisignorancemustgo.Again,whosays,"Iamignorant?"Hemustbethe witnessofignorance.Thatiswhatyouare. Theideaoftimeisonlyinyourmind.ItisnotintheSelf.Thereisnotime fortheSelf.Timearisesasanideaaftertheegoarises. Effortmustbemadetoeradicatethementaltendencies.Knowledgecanonly remainunshakenafterallthementaltendenciesarerootedout.

Theconceptionthatthereisagoalandapathtoitiswrong.Wearethegoal orpeacealways.Togetridofthenotionthatwearenotpeaceisallthatis required. TheGurucannotgiveyouanythingnew,whichyoudon'thavealready. RemovalofthenotionthatwehavenotrealizedtheSelfisallthatis required. Thejnani(enlightenedone)livesintheHeart.Whenhemovesaboutand dealswithmenandthings,heknowsthatwhatheseesisnotseparatefrom theonesupremereality,theBrahmanwhichherealizedintheHeartashis ownSelf,thereal. Fromwheredoesthis"I"arise?Seekforitwithin;itthenvanishes. Whenthemindunceasinglyinvestigatesitsownnature,ittranspiresthat thereisnosuchthingasmind.Thisisthedirectpathforall. Themindismerelythoughts.Ofallthoughtsthethought"I"istheroot. Therefore,themindisonlythethought"I." Getridofthe"I"thought.Solongas"I"isalive,thereisgrief.When"I" ceasestoexist,thereisnogrief. Theego'sphenomenalexistenceistranscendedwhenyoudiveintothe sourcefromwherethe"I"thoughtrises. Inacinemashowyoucanseepicturesonlyinaverydimlight,orin darkness.Whenallthelightsareswitchedon,thepicturesdisappear.Soalso inthefloodlightofthesupremeatman(Self)allobjectsdisappear. Toseeobjectsthereflectedlightofthemindisnecessary.ToseetheHeartit isenoughthatthemindisturnedtowardsit.ThemindlosesitselfandHeart shinesforth. Theessenceofmindisonlyawarenessorconsciousness.Whentheego, however,dominatesit,itfunctionsasthereasoning,thinkingorsensing faculty.

Holdtheegofirstandthenaskhowitistobedestroyed.Whoasksthe question?Itistheego.Thisquestionisasurewaytocherishtheegoandnot tokillit. Thisghostlyegowhichisdevoidofformcomesintoexistencebygraspinga form;graspingaformitendures;feedinguponformswhichitgraspsit waxesmore;leavingoneformitgraspsanotherform,butwhensoughtforit takestoflight. Thethought"Iamthebodyoffleshandblood"istheonethreadonwhich arestrungthevariousotherthoughts.Therefore,ifweturninwards inquiring,"WhereisthisI?"allthoughts(includingthe"I"thought)will cometoanendandSelfknowledgewillthenspontaneouslyshineforth. Meditationrequiresanobjecttomeditateupon,whereasthereisonlythe subjectwithouttheobjectinvichara(inquiry).Meditationdiffersfrom vicharainthisway. Realizationisnothingnewtobeacquired.Itisalreadythere,butobstructed byascreenofthoughts.Allourattemptsaredirectedtoliftingthisscreen andthenrealizationisrevealed. Vichara(inquiry)istheprocessandthegoalalso."Iam"isthegoalandthe finalreality.Toholdtoitwitheffortisvichara.Whenspontaneousand naturalitisrealization. SelfInquiryistheoneinfalliblemeans,theonlydirectone,torealizethe unconditioned,AbsoluteBeingthatyoureallyare. WhenKingJanakaexclaimed,"NowIhavediscoveredthethiefwhohas beenruiningmeallalong.Heshallbedealtwithsummarily,"thekingwas reallyreferringtotheegoorthemind. Theattempttodestroytheegoorthemindthroughsadhanas(practices) otherthanatmavichara(SelfInquiry)isjustlikethethiefpretendingtobea policemantocatchthethiefthatishimself.

HavingrealizedtheSelf,nothingremainstobeknown,becauseitisperfect bliss,itistheall. Atmavichara(SelfInquiry)alonecanrevealthetruththatneithertheego northemindreallyexists,andenableonetorealizethepure, undifferentiatedbeingoftheSelfortheabsolute. Attentiontoone'sownSelf,whichisevershiningas"I,"theoneundivided andpurereality,istheonlyraftwithwhichtheindividual,whoisdeluded bythinking"Iamthebody,"cancrosstheoceanofunendingbirths. Realityissimplythelossofego.Destroytheegobyseekingitsidentity. Becausetheegoisnoentityitwillautomaticallyvanishandrealitywill shineforthbyitself. Thereisnogreatermysterythanthis;thatbeingtherealityweseektogain reality.Wethinkthatthereissomethinghidingourrealityandthatitmust bedestroyedbeforetherealityisgained.Itisridiculous.Adaywilldawn whenyouwillyourselflaughatyourpastefforts.Thatwhichwillbeonthe dayyoulaughisalsohereandnow. Youarethemindorthinkthatyouarethemind.Themindisnothingbut thoughts.Nowbehindeveryparticularthoughtthereisageneralthought whichisthe"I,"thatisyou.Letuscallthis"I"thefirstthought. Sticktothis"I"thoughtandquestionittofindoutwhatitis.Whenthis questiontakesstrongholdonyou,youcannotthinkofotherthoughts. Clingtoyourself,thatis,tothe"I"thought.Whenyourinterestkeepsyouto thatsingleidea,otherthoughtswillautomaticallygetrejectedandtheywill vanish. Ifyouarevigilantandmakeasternefforttorejecteverythoughtwhenit rises,youwillsoonfindthatyouaregoingdeeperanddeeperintoyourown innerself.Atthislevelitisnotnecessarytomakeanefforttoreject thoughts.

The mind will subside only by means of the inquiry, "Who am I?" The thought "Who am I," destroying all other thoughts, will itself finally be destroyed like the stick used for stirring the funeral pyre. Whatdoesitmatterhowmanythoughtsrise?Attheverymomentthateach thoughtrises,ifonevigilantlyinquires,"Towhomdidthisrise?"itwillbe known"Tome."Ifonetheninquires,"WhoamI?"themindwillturnback toitssource(theSelf)andthethoughtwhichhadrisenwillalsosubside.By repeatedlypracticingthus,thepowerofthemindtoabideinitssource increases. Althoughtendenciestowardssenseobjects,whichhavebeenrecurringdown theages,riseincountlessnumberslikethewavesoftheocean,theywillall perishasmeditationonone'snaturebecomesmoreandmoreintense. Withoutgivingroomeventothedoubtingthought,"Isitpossibletodestroy allthesetendencies(vasanas)andtoremainasSelfalone?"oneshould persistentlyclingfasttoSelfattention. Aslongastherearetendenciestowardssenseobjectsinthemind,the inquiry"WhoamI?"isnecessary. Whenthoughtsrise,oneshouldannihilateallofthemthroughinquiry,then andthereintheirveryplaceoforigin. NotleavingtheSelfistrueKnowledge(Jnana). Intruth,thesetwo(desirelessnessandknowledge)areone,andthesame. Justasapearldivertyingastonetohiswaistdivesintotheseaandtakesthe pearllyingatthebottom,soeveryone,divingdeepwithinhimselfwithnon attachment,canattainthepearloftheSelf. Ifoneresortsuninterruptedlytoremembranceofone'srealnatureuntilone attainstheSelf,thatalonewillbesufficient.

Inquiring,"WhoamIthatisinbondage?"andknowingone'srealnature aloneisliberation. Ifyoumeditateintherightmannerthenthecurrentofmindinducedwill continuetofloweveninthemidstofyourwork. Thesamelineyoutakeinmeditationwillbeexpressedinyouractivities. Givingupthefalseselfisthetruerenunciation. Youhavetoaskyourselfthequestion"WhoamI?"Thisinvestigationwill leadintheendtothediscoveryofsomethingwithinyouthatisbehindthe mind.Solvethatgreatproblemandyouwillsolveallotherproblems. Thispure"IAM"istheheart,ourtruebeing."IAM"aloneisreal. ThereshouldbenothingassociatedwiththepureSelf.TheSelfisthe unassociated,purereality,inwhoselightthebodyandtheegoshines. ConsciousnessisalwaysSelfconsciousness.Ifyouareconsciousof anything,youareessentiallyconsciousofyourself. Reincarnationexistsonlysolongasthereisignorance.Thereisreallyno reincarnationatall,eithernoworbefore.Norwilltherebeanyhereafter,this isthetruth. TheSelfisGod."IAM"isGod. Knowthatyouaretheperfectshininglight,whichnotonlymakesthe existenceofGod'skingdompossible,butalsoallowsittobeseenassome wonderfulheaven. Faithisinthingsunknown,buttheSelfisselfevident. ThatblissoftheSelfisalwayswithyouandyouwillfinditforyourselfif youseekitearnestly.

Allunhappinessisduetotheego;withitcomesallyourtrouble.Whatdoes itavailyoutoattributetothehappeningsinlifethecauseofmiserywhichis reallywithinyou? TobetheSelfthatyoureallyareistheonlymeanstorealizetheblissthatis everyours. Effortmustbemadetoeradicatethementaltendencies.Knowledgecanonly remainunshakenafterallthementaltendenciesarerootedout. Hewhothinksheisthedoerisalsothesufferer. Itisthehumanmindthatcreatesitsowndifficultiesandthencriesforhelp. Miserydoesnotexistinrealitybutonlyinmereimagination. Ifonescrutinizesone'sownSelf,whichisbliss,therewillbenomiseryat allinone'slife. Good,God,Love,areallthesamething.Ifthepersonkeepscontinuously thinkingofanyoneofthese,itwillbeenough.Allmeditationisforthe purposeofkeepingoutallotherthoughts. Youmustloveallandhelpall,sinceonlyinthiswaycanyouhelpyourself. Ifoneknowsthetruththatallonegivestoothersisgivingonlytooneself, whoindeedwillnotbeavirtuouspersonandperformthekindactofgiving toothers. Sinceeveryoneisone'sownSelf,whoeverdoeswhatevertowhomeveris doingitonlytohimself. Lookwithin,seetheSelf.Thentherewillbeanendoftheworldandits miseries. Solongasyouconsideryourselftobethebody,youseetheworldas externalandtheimperfectionsappeartoyou.

Youarenotinstructedtoshutyoureyestotheworld,youareonlyto"see yourselffirstandthenseethewholeworldastheSelf. Tobringaboutpeacemeanstobefreefromthoughtsandtoabideaspure Consciousness. Ifoneremainsatpeaceoneself,thereisonlypeaceeverywhere. Thereisnostandardbywhichtojudgesomethingtoberightandanotherto bewrong.Opinionsdifferaccordingtothenatureoftheindividualand accordingtothesurroundings.Theyareideas,andnothingmore. Whateverisdonelovingly,withrighteouspurityandwithpeaceofmind,is agoodaction. Badhabitsandbadconductarelikeawoundinthebody.Everydiseasemust begivenappropriatetreatment. Whenthereisno"I"thereisnokarma(destiny). Untilrealization,therewillbekarma,thatis,actionandreaction.After realization,therewillbenokarma,andnoworld. Unlessthedoerofallkarmas(actions)theegoisannihilatedthrough Inquiry,theperfectpeaceofSupremeBliss,whichistheresultofKarma Yoga,cannotbeachieved. Destiny(karma)istheresultofpastactions. Whateverthisbodyistodoandwhateverexperiencesitistopassthrough wasalreadydecidedwhenitcameintoexistence. HewhoisforgetfuloftheSelf,mistakingthephysicalbodyforit,andgoes throughinnumerablebirths,islikeonewhowandersallovertheworldina dream.Thus,realizingtheSelfwouldonlybelikewakingupfromthe dreamwanderings.

Surrendercanneverberegardedascompletesolongasthedevoteewants thisorthatfromtheLord. Awarenesswhichalreadyexistswithineveryoneeverywhere,isimperishable andchangeless. ThegurudoesnotbringaboutSelfrealization.Hesimplyremovesthe obstaclestoit. Godorguruneverforsakesthedevoteewhohassurrenderedhimself. Silenceisthebest,themostpotentinitiation.Silentinitiationchangesthe heartofall. Itisveryhardtorealizeone'struestateornaturewithoutthegraceofthe guru. Godneveracts.Hejustis. IndividualityistheillusionthatwearenotidenticalwithGod.Whenthe illusionisdispelled,whatremainsisGod. RealizationoftheSelfisrealizationofGod.ItisnotanexperienceofGod, rather,itisanunderstandingthatoneisGod. KnowingtheSelf,Godisknown.Infact,GodisnoneotherthanSelf. Thereisonlyonestate,thatisconsciousness,orawarenessorexistence. OnlywhentheeverpresentConsciousnessisrealizedwillitbepermanent. Whenone'sowntruenatureisknown,thenthereisbeingwithoutbeginning andend.Itisunbrokenawarenessbliss. Theoneunalterablerealityisbeing.Untilyourealizethatstateofpurebeing youshouldpursuetheinquiry.

Silenceistruth.Silenceisbliss.Silenceispeace.AndhenceSilenceisthe Self. "IamthatIam,"whichimpliesthemetaphysicaldictumthattheproofof existenceisexistenceitself. DidIeversaythattheworldistherebecauseofyou?Ihaveputtoyouthe question,"WhatistherewithoutSelf?"YoumustknowthatbytheSelf,the bodysubtleorgrossisnotmeant. Allthatyouseedependsontheseer.Apartfromtheseerthereisnoseen. HethatseestheSelfseestheDivine. Turnthemindinwardandsearchfortheseer;youfindthatyouaretheseer andtheobjectiveworlddoesnotexist. To one who has destroyed himself (his ego) and is awake to his nature as bliss, what remains to be accomplished? He does not see anything (as being) other than himself. Who can comprehend his state? Althoughthescripturesproclaim,"Thatthouart,"itisasignofweaknessto meditate(affirm):"IamnotthisbutThat,"insteadofinquiringwhatoneis andremainingso;foroneisalwaysThat. Itisabsurdtosayeither:"IhavenotrealizedtheSelf,"or"Ihaverealized theSelf."Why?Aretheretwoselvesforonetobetheobjectoftheother?It istheexperienceofallthatit(theSelf)isone. Thesenseofdoershipisbondage,andnottheactionsthemselves."Bestill andknowthatIamGod."Stillnesswillprevailandtherewillbenoagitation ofthemind.Agitationofthemindisthecauseofdesire,thesenseof doership,andofpersonality,orthepersonalsenseof"I."Ifthatisstopped, thereisquiet. Itisnecessarythattoseethemirrorweshouldceasetoseethereflectionin it.

ThemomentyoustartlookingfortheSelfandgodeeperanddeeper,thereal Selfiswaitingtheretotakeyouin. AllthatwehavetodoistogiveupidentifyingtheSelfwiththebody,with formsandlimits,andthenweshallknowourselvesastheSelfthatwe alwaysare. Meditationisbyyou,ofyou,andinyou.Itmustgoonwhereyouare.It cannotbeoutsideyou.Soyouarethecenterofmeditationandthatisthe Heart. TheGuruisalwayswithinyou. Whenoneremainswithoutthinkingoneunderstandsanotherbymeansof theuniversallanguageofSilence. Silenceisneverendingspeech.Vocalspeechobstructstheotherspeechof silence.InSilenceoneisinintimatecontactwiththesurroundings. Pleasureorpainareaspectsofthemindonly.Ouressentialnatureis happiness.ButwehaveforgottentheSelfandimaginethatthebodyorthe mindistheSelf.Itisthatwrongidentitythatgivesrisetomisery. Completesurrenderdoesrequirethatyouhavenodesireofyourown.You mustbesatisfiedwithwhateverGodgivesyouandthatmeanshavingno desireofyourown. DonotdeludeyourselfbyimaginingyoursourcetobesomeGodoutside you.Yoursourceiswithinyourself.Giveyourselfuptoit.Thatmeansthat youshouldseekthesourcewithinandmergewithit. NolearningknowledgeofscripturesisnecessarytoknowtheSelf,asno manrequiresamirrortoseehimself.Allknowledgeisrequiredonlytobe givenupeventuallyasnotSelf.

Renunciationdoesnotimplyapparentdivestingofcostumes,familyties, home,etc.,butrenunciationofdesiresandattachment. Thefeeling"Iwork"isthehindrance.Askyourself,"Whoworks?" Rememberwhoyouare.Thentheworkwillnotbindyou,itwillgoon automatically. AttendingtotheSelfmeansattendingtothework.Becauseyouidentify yourselfwiththebody,youthinkthatworkisdonebyyou.Butthebodyand itsactivities,includingthatwork,arenotapartfromtheSelf. Renunciationisalwaysinthemind,notingoingtoforestsorsolitaryplaces, orgivingupone'sduties.Themainthingistoseethattheminddoesnot turnoutwardbutinward. Whereisshanti(peace)?Ifshantiisrequired,theonlycorrectmethodof securingitisbySelfInquiry.