THE PRACTICE OF SELF-ENQUIRY-PART VIII (END)

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THE PRACTICE OF SELF-ENQUIRY-THE RAMANA WAY

PART VIII (CONCLUSION)

 

Sri Bhagavan has categorically stressed in "Atma Vidya" that Self-

enquiry is the easiest of all paths. Let us see why Bhagavan has

said "easiest". What do the terms "easy' and "difficult" mean? In

the words of Sri Sadhu Om: "What we do not like, what we cannot do

and what we do not know, we call "difficult", whereas what we

already like, what we have already done and what we already know, we

call "easy"." That is, if something is within our power of loving,

our power of doing and our power of knowing we feel it to be easy;

but, if it is not within our power of loving, doing or knowing, we

feel it to be "difficult". With this simple definition let us see

whether Self-enquiry is easy or difficult. Is there anyone who can

say that he does not love himself? No, among all the things we hold

dear, it is our self that we love most. Is there anyone who can say

that he does not know himself? No, because before we know any other

thing, we must first know our self; when we say: "I know so-and-so",

does it not prove that we know the feeling "I"? And is there anyone

who can say that he is not able to remove all his adjuncts such as

the body and the mind, and to abide as himself? No, because every

day in deep sleep, we effortlessly and naturally remove these

adjuncts and remain in our true nature. Thus, it is clear that we

all love our Self, we all know our Self, and we are all able to

abide as our Self. In other words, the ichha-sakti (power of

loving), kriya-sakti (power of doing) and jnana-sakti (power of

knowing) necessary for Self-enquiry are already inherent in us!

Therefore, Self-enquiry is easiest. All Sri Bhagavan asks us to do

is: "Love yourself, know yourself and be yourself". How can this be

called difficult?

 

When Bhagavan assures that Self-enquiry is the easiest, He has also

subtly left us a clue there. His reassurance is that we are not

alone in this endeavor, but that His Grace is always there to help

us. When His Grace has brought us all to His Lotus feet, will He not

help us to attain the most noble and worthy achievement, that of

success in Self-enquiry?

 

NOTE: TAKEN FROM "BE THE SELF", BY V. GANESAN, PAGES 5 TO 17