The birth of thought itself is sin

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The Teachings of BhagavanSri Ramana Maharshiin His Own WordsCHAPTER ONERELIGIONSIt should be clear from what we said in previous section thatBhagavan's teaching was not opposed to any religion. Ifphilosophers or theologians wished to argue whether the humansoul was permanently and essentially separate from the DivineBeing, he would refuse to join issue with them but try to turnthem to spiritual effort instead, as, for instance, in his talkwith a Jesuit priest on page 39. When they attained Realisationthey would know, and theoretical knowledge withoutRealisation would not help them anyway.Strictly speaking, Bhagavan was not exclusively a Hindu orsubject to Hindu ritual, since Hinduism recognises that onewho is established in constant, conscious identity with the Selfis above all religions; he is the mountain peak towards whichthe various paths converge. Bhagavan had many followers whowere not Hindus – Christians, Muslims, Parsis and others –and none was ever recommended to change his religion.A religion involves two modes of activity; what might becalled the horizontal and the vertical. Horizontally itharmonises and controls the life of the individual and societyin conformity with its faith and morality, giving opportunityand incentive for a good life leading to a good death. Verticallyit provides spiritual paths for those who strive to attain ahigher state or realise the ultimate truth during this life onearth. Horizontally, religions are mutually exclusive, but notreally contradictory. Bhagavan was concerned rather with thevertical mode, the paths to realisation, and therefore his teachingclashed with no religion. He guided those who would followhim on the most direct and central path, the quest of the Self;and for this any religion could serve as a foundation. Heapproved of every religion and if some devotees came to himwho followed no formal religion, he did not insist they shoulddo so. When asked about the different religious practices, hewould stress their deeper meaning, and about different religionstheir basic unity.Devotee: What is yoga?Bhagavan: Yoga (union) is necessary for one who is in a state ofviyoga (separation). But really there is only one. If you realisethe Self there will be no difference.D.: Is there any efficacy in bathing in the Ganges?B.: The Ganges is within you. Bathe in this Ganges; it willnot make you shiver with cold.D.: Should we sometimes read the Bhagavad Gita?B.: Always.D.: May we read the Bible?B.: The Bible and the Gita are the same.D.: The Bible teaches that man is born in sin.B.: Man is sin. There is no feeling of being man is deepsleep. The body-thought brings out the idea of sin. The birth ofthought itself is sin.D.: The Bible says that the human soul may be lost.B.: The `I'-thought is the ego and that is lost. The real `I' is`I am that I am'. 11 Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, 164.

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---- Original message ----

>Date:   Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:40:26 -0000

>   " Grant " <g-ssummerville

>Subject:   The birth of

thought itself is sin

>To:  

>

>

>

> The Teachings of Bhagavan

> Sri Ramana Maharshi

> in His Own Words

>

> CHAPTER ONE

>

> RELIGIONS

>

> It should be clear from what we said in previous

> section that

> Bhagavan's teaching was not opposed to any religion.

> If

> philosophers or theologians wished to argue whether

> the human

> soul was permanently and essentially separate from

> the Divine

> Being, he would refuse to join issue with them but

> try to turn

> them to spiritual effort instead, as, for instance,

> in his talk

> with a Jesuit priest on page 39. When they attained

> Realisation

> they would know, and theoretical knowledge without

> Realisation would not help them anyway.

>

> Strictly speaking, Bhagavan was not exclusively a

> Hindu or

> subject to Hindu ritual, since Hinduism recognises

> that one

> who is established in constant, conscious identity

> with the Self

> is above all religions; he is the mountain peak

> towards which

> the various paths converge. Bhagavan had many

> followers who

> were not Hindus – Christians, Muslims, Parsis and

> others –

> and none was ever recommended to change his

> religion.

>

> A religion involves two modes of activity; what

> might be

> called the horizontal and the vertical. Horizontally

> it

> harmonises and controls the life of the individual

> and society

> in conformity with its faith and morality, giving

> opportunity

> and incentive for a good life leading to a good

> death. Vertically

> it provides spiritual paths for those who strive to

> attain a

> higher state or realise the ultimate truth during

> this life on

> earth. Horizontally, religions are mutually

> exclusive, but not

> really contradictory. Bhagavan was concerned rather

> with the

> vertical mode, the paths to realisation, and

> therefore his teaching

> clashed with no religion. He guided those who would

> follow

> him on the most direct and central path, the quest

> of the Self;

> and for this any religion could serve as a

> foundation. He

> approved of every religion and if some devotees came

> to him

> who followed no formal religion, he did not insist

> they should

> do so. When asked about the different religious

> practices, he

> would stress their deeper meaning, and about

> different religions

> their basic unity.

>

> Devotee: What is yoga?

>

> Bhagavan: Yoga (union) is necessary for one who is

> in a state of

> viyoga (separation). But really there is only one.

> If you realise

> the Self there will be no difference.

>

> D.: Is there any efficacy in bathing in the Ganges?

>

> B.: The Ganges is within you. Bathe in this Ganges;

> it will

> not make you shiver with cold.

>

> D.: Should we sometimes read the Bhagavad Gita?

>

> B.: Always.

>

> D.: May we read the Bible?

>

> B.: The Bible and the Gita are the same.

>

> D.: The Bible teaches that man is born in sin.

>

> B.: Man is sin. There is no feeling of being man is

> deep

> sleep. The body-thought brings out the idea of sin.

> The birth of

> thought itself is sin.

>

> D.: The Bible says that the human soul may be lost.

>

> B.: The `I'-thought is the ego and that is lost. The

> real `I' is

> `I am that I am'. 1

>

> 1 Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, 164.

>

 

 

yes...

 

All sacred texts,

Are match-boxes.

Each true statement –

A single match stick.

No need to burn

The whole box of sticks

To start a bonfire.

Suffice to light one match

Striking it on the stone

Of direct experience.

Likewise

Enough to follow and apply

But one instruction

Wholeheartedly…

Tended diligently

With loving care,

The fire that you light

Can easily burn and incinerate

All the world of illusion

To ashes.

 

 

 

jai jai ramanaji!

 

gratefully,

yosy