'The objective visions have no intrinsic value....'

[Guest guest]

om namo bhagavate sri ramanaya

Snippits from Talk 450:

"Vision is always of an object. That implies the existence of a subject. The

value of the vision is the same as that of the seer. (That is to say, the value

of the vision is on the same plane as that of the seer.) Appearance implies

disappearance also. Whatever appears must also disappear. A vision can never be

eternal. But Siva is eternal.

The pratyaksha (vision) of Siva to the eye signifies the existence of the eyes

to see; the buddhi (intellect) lying behind the sight; the seer behind the

buddhi and the sight; and finally the Consciousness underlying the seer. This

pratyaksha (vision) is not as real as one imagines it to be, because it is not

intimate and inherent; it is not first-hand. It is the result of several

successive phases of Consciousness. Of these, Consciousness alone does not

vary. It is eternal. It is Siva. It is the Self.

The vision implies the seer. The seer cannot deny the existence of the Self.

There is no moment when the Self as Consciousness does not exist; nor can the

seer remain apart from Consciousness. This Consciousness is the eternal Being

and the only Being. The seer cannot see himself. Does he deny his existence

because he cannot see himself with the eyes as pratyaksha (in vision)? No! So,

pratyaksha does not mean seeing, but BE-ing.

"TO BE" is to realise­­­Hence I AM THAT I AM. I AM is Siva. Nothing else can be

without Him. Everything has its being in Siva and because of Siva.

Therefore enquire "Who am I?" Sink deep within and abide as the Self. That is

Siva as BE-ing. Do not expect to have visions of Him repeated. What is the

difference between the objects you see and Siva? He is both the subject and the

object. You cannot be without Siva. Siva is always realised here and now. If you

think you have not realised Him it is wrong. This is the obstacle for realising

Siva. Give up that thought also and realisation is there.

....Surrender to Him and abide by His will whether he appears or vanishes; await

His pleasure. ...Or, enquire to whom these questions arise. Dive deep in the

Heart and remain as the Self. One of these two ways is open to the aspirant.

.... These questions arise because you have limited the Self to the body, only

then the ideas of within and without, of the subject and the object, arise. The

objective visions have no intrinsic value. Even if they are everlasting they

cannot satisfy the person. Uma has Siva always with Her. Both together form

Ardhanariswara. Yet she wanted to know Siva in His true nature. She made tapas.

In her dhyana she saw a bright light. She thought: "This cannot be Siva for it

is within the compass of my vision. I am greater than this light." So she

resumed her tapas. Thoughts disappeared. Stillness prevailed. She then realised

that BE-ing is Siva in His true nature.

(From Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi; Ramanasramam, 1978 edition)

--

"ekam sat vipraa bahudhaa vadanti

That which exists is One; sages call it by various names."