The Guru...#1.. NO Mind And The Self..Godman

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Sri Lakshmana's teaching have only one purpose: to direct devotees towards

realization of the Self. Because of this he rarely talks about philosophical or

theoretical matters. When he talks about the Self, and explains how realization

can be brought about, he always stresses that the grace of the Self is more

important than any amount of effort that the devotee might make. He says that

the mind, or the individual self, cannot eliminate itself through is own

efforts, all it can do is move a certain distance towards the Self. When the

mind has trained itself to subside a little into the Heart, the Self starts to

pull it into itself. If the devotee is sufficiently advanced, The Self will pull

the mind completely into the Heart and destroy it . This is the moment of

Self-realization.

 

Swamy: For realization effort is needed, but grace is also required, and

grace is more important. The mind can move towards the Self, but it cannot reach

it. Ramana Maharshi used the analogy of a candle and the sun. The candle is the

mind and its light cannot be compared to the light of the sun, which is the

Self. If a candle travels towards the sun, the heat of the sun will melt it

before it gets anywhere near it. So it is with the mind; the mind cannot reach

the Self, but if it makes the attempt, the Self will destroy it.

 

The key figure in this process is the Guru. Sri Lakshmana maintains that it is

the Guru who provides the necessary grace to make the devotee's mind subside

into the Self; he also says that it is the Guru who finally destroys it there. A

few years ago I was talking to him about a famous spiritual figure when he

remarked, "If he can use the power of the Self to bring a devotee to

Self-realization, then one may accept him as a genuine Guru. This is the

ultimate test." This brief remark succinctly summarizes, in Sri Lakshmana's

view, the qualification a Guru must have and the role he plays in the devotee's

life.

Sri Lakshmana further insists that only a living human Guru has enough power

to bring a devotee to Self-realization. Some times he will admit that in very

rare instances the unmanifest Self may bring about Self-realization, but he will

usually add that this can only happen with devotees who have virtually completed

sadhana in previous lives.

 

Swamy: A living human Guru is essential for Self-realization. It is the Self,

acting through the medium of the Guru, which finally destroys the ego, and only

the human Guru can act as the medium. When

the Guru gives up his body, the Self can no longer use him to destroy devotees'

egos.

Question: Ramana Maharshi realized the Self without any effort and without a

Guru. How was this possible?

Swamy: He was a very advanced soul who had almost completed his sadhana in his

previous lives.

Question: If the Guru cannot provide help after his death, what is the devotee

to do when the Guru gives up the body?

Swamy: If the devotee wants to realize the Self he should try to find another

Guru who has realized the Self. Other wise it will be extremely difficult.