Many wonder about the nature of the mind. Here is an excerpt from ‘Who Am I’, a little book with questions put to Sri Ramana Maharshi and his answers:

“What is the nature of the mind?”

“What is called the ‘mind’ is a wondrous power residing in the Self. It causes all thoughts to arise. Apart from thoughts, there is no such thing as mind. Therefore, thought is the nature of mind. Apart from thoughts, there is no independent entity called the world. In deep sleep there are thoughts, and there is no world. In the states of waking and dream, there are thoughts, and there is world also.

Just as the spider emits the thread (of the web) out of itself and again withdraws it into itself, likewise the mind projects the world out of itself and again resolves it into itself.”

Watch a video with Ram Dass and others, talking about the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Motivation is an important ingredient for success. It is the power that kindles the fire to do things and to act, and has much to do with ambition and desire. In fact, without ambition and desire there is no motivation. When motivation is strong, there is ambition, and when there is strong ambition there is motivation.

Often, people get motivated to do something, learn something, accomplish something, but this motivation is too often short lived and evaporates after a little while. How do you feel after reading something that inspires you, or after watching a movie that awakens your ambition to succeed? You feel the desire to experiment or accomplish what you have read or seen. You feel a sense of euphoria and happiness, but too often, these feelings go away on the same day or the next one.

Why does this happen?
Because you don’t really want to achieve what you have read or seen.
You are too busy and forget about it.
It requires too much effort.
It requires that you make certain changes in your life.
It takes time to accomplish goals.

Read the rest of this entry »

People often ask me questions about meditation and visualization. One common question is, “How to visualize and meditate without words?” Here is a question someone has asked me a few days ago, which is a typical question:

“How can I meditate or visualize without words? My meditations, visualization etc. are always accompanied by explanatory words in my mind, and I find it difficult to remove them.”

It is very common for people to use words when they visualize or meditate. This habit often distracts the mind and disturbs the concentration. Instead of focusing on the subject of visualization or meditation, you constantly find yourself explaining to yourself what you are doing, or thinking about other related or unrelated subjects.

This happens because the mind is constantly active with thinking, comparing, analyzing and commenting on everything it is aware of. It is a deeply embedded habit, and while it is useful for certain activities, visualization, and especially meditation are more effective without it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Accepting the idea that you are not the mind is a great step toward mental mastery, better concentration and meditation, and the attainment of inner peace. You realize this idea as a fact, after you develop the ability to focus your mind in accordance with your will. Being able to direct your mind according to your will is a proof that you are not your mind, but something higher and above it.

Concentration and meditation require the ability to focus the mind, otherwise you will be constantly distracted and your mind will move from one thought to another, and that is neither cocentration nor meditation.

By practicing concentration exercises and learning to direct the mind according to your own will, you prove to yourself that you are not the mind. You realize that you are separate from the mind, otherwise how can you master it? It is you, the real you that is directing the mind. The ability to focus the mind or stop its activities in accordance with your will, awakens the understanding that you are not your mind, and this understanding helps both concentration and meditation, and is a great step toward self-realization.

Here is an excerpt from the book ‘Meditation – An Outline for Practical Study by Mouni Sadhu, where he speaks about this subject:

Read the rest of this entry »

One of the main tenets of the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi is non-identification with the body. This is one of the requirements leading to spiritual awakening and discovering who you really are.

I was browsing yesterday through the book ‘Living By The Words of Bhagavan’ by David Godman, and came across something interesting that Sri Ramana Maharshi said about non-identification with the body.

“If you were to take your complaints against mosquitoes to a court of law, the mosquitoes would win the case. Their dharma (the rules that they live by) is to bite and sting. They are teaching you that you are not the body. You object to their to their stings only because you identify with the body.”