RAMANA GITA STUDY GROUP Ch 3 - Vs 7-12 [Natarajan]

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Chapter 3 (questions from Daivarata contd.)

Vs 7…Q

Best of sages, will the observance of the code of conduct prescribed

in the scriptures continue to be helpful till success is achieved ?

 

Commentary

…if one is soaked in other spiritual practices or has no natural

inclination for self-enquiry the doubt is bound to arise as to the

utility of other practices, either by themselves or supplementarily.

 

Vs 8..answer

Prescribed rules of conduct do help the effort of the earnest

seekers. The do's & don'ts drop off by themselves for those

who have

attained success.

 

Commentary

Steadfast pursuit of spiritual practices purifies the mind and makes

it steady. To this extent they strengthen the mind and self-enquiry

would be rendered easier. When Self-knowledge dawns, the mind is

quiet, sunk always in the Heart. Then the question of any spiritual

practice would not arise.

 

Vs 9…Q

Cannot success be obtained by repetition of syllables, to the same

extent as by exclusive, steady, non-objective self-enquiry ?

 

Commentary

Self-enquiry makes the mind supportless by dissociating the

`I'-

thought from other thoughts, and the mind perforce automatically

turns within. In repetition of the mantra, the mind is kept alive

and gradually becomes one pointed and capable of adhering to a

single thought.

 

Vs 10…

Earnest seekers who incessantly and with a steady mind, repeat

sacred syllables or `OM', will attain success.

Vs 11

By repetition of the sacred syllables or the pure `OM' the

mind is

withdrawn from the sense objects and becomes one with Self.

 

Commentary

Though Ramana would never hesitate to state that self-enquiry is

the `infallible means' he would also not disturb people's

faith.

This is because he recognised the fact that the best suited

spiritual practice would depend on one's temperament. One

therefore

finds in Ramana Gita as also in the Talks with Ramana Maharshi,

replies suited to the temperament and background of the questioner.

One has to note that the repetition of the sacred syllables should

be incessant and steady.

Ganapati Muni, a master of mantra sastra, its tireless practitioner

for years on end, found that the peace which should have followed

did not. This at once underscores the advantages as well as the

limitations of `other methods' and the effectiveness of

self-enquiry.

Ramana's advice to find out he source of the `I'-thought,

or the

sound of mantra, revealed the truth to the Muni.* It could be said

that the Muni's earlier practices had ripened him, making

realisation instantaneous on hearing from Ramana himself about self-

enquiry.

[* Bhagavan and Nayana by S. Sankaranarayanan – P4]

 

Vs 12

This marvellous conversation took place on the seventh day of the

seventh month of the year 1917 of the Christian era.

 

[End of Chapter 3]

 

( Note: Sanskrit version of Ch. 3 in Ramana's hand writing can

be

seen in `Photo' file in Ramana Gita album.)

 

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anu