The Nonduality of Ramana Maharshi

Shri Ramana Maharshi

"Is there a mind in the first place?  What you call mind is an illusion. It starts from the 'I'-thought.

Without the gross or subtle senses, you cannot be aware of the body or the mind. Still, it is possible for you to be without these senses. In such a state, you are either asleep or aware of the Self only. Awareness of Self is ever there. Remain what you truly are and this question will not arise."

From Talks with Ramana Maharshi, recorded June 29th, 1936.

See below for a video documentary on Ramana.

Born Venkataraman Iyer, Ramana is probably the best known sage of 20th century India, having had a spontaneous awakening at 16, in his home in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

“Enquiring within ‘Who is the seer?’ I saw the seer disappear leaving That alone which stands forever. No thought arose to say, ’I saw.’ How could the thought arise to say ‘I did not see.’

Ramana travelled north to Tiruvannamalai, the home of Arunachula mmountain, the sacred site, where Shiva was said to have entered the world at creation. There, he spent the rest of his life, hosting seekers from throughout the world.

Robert Adams (See Contemporary Teachers) stayed at the Ashram. Henri Cartier- Bresson, photograpghed him, Paul Brunton, Arthur Osborne, Major Chadwick, S.S. Cohen, and David Godman, who was the Ashram’s librarian, all wrote books about Ramana for a Western audience.

Dozens of books transcribing Ramana’s teaching and detailing his remarkable life have been written, many of which became New York Times bestsellers.

"Mind is consciousness which has put on limitations. You are originally unlimited and perfect. Later you take on limitations and become the mind."  - Ramana Maharshi. 

Click here to view the remaining videos of Ramana Maharshi: The Jnani of Arunachula.

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