Meditation - Ramana Maharshi

"Meditation is, truly speaking, Atmanishta (to be fixed as the Self). But when thoughts cross the mind and an effort is made to eliminate them, the effort is usually termed meditation. Atmanishta is your real nature. Remain as you are. That is the aim."

"The state of Atmanishta (being fixed in the Self), devoid of the individual feeling of 'I', is the supreme state. In this state there is no room for thinking of objects, nor for this feeling of individual being. There is no doubt of any kind in this natural state of being-consciousness-bliss (sat-chit-ananda)."

"What does it matter if ever so many thoughts arise? At the very moment that each thought rises, if one vigilantly enquires 'To whom did this appear?' it will be known 'To me'. If one then enquires 'Who am I?' the mind will turn back to its source and the thought that had arisen will also subside. By repeatedly practising in this way, the mind will increasingly acquire the power to abide at its source.

 When the mind, which is subtle, is externalised via the brain and the sense organs, names and forms, which are material, appear. When it abides in the Heart, names and forms disappear. Keeping the mind in the Heart, not allowing it to go out, is called 'turning towards the Self' (ahamukham) or 'facing inwards'. 

Allowing it to go out from the Heart is termed 'facing outwards' (bahirmukham). When the mind abides in the Heart in this way, the 'I', the root of all thoughts, vanishes. Having vanished, the ever-existing Self alone will shine. The state where not even the slightest trace of the thought 'I' remains is alone swarupa (one's true nature; the Self)."

Ramana Maharshi (1879 - 1950)

http://anthonyduartmaclean.blogspot.com/2011/03/self-enquiry-in-words-of-ramana.html


Yes, all kinds of thoughts arise in meditation. It is but right. What lies hidden in you is brought out. Unless they rise up how can they be destroyed? They therefore rise up spontaneously in order to be extinguished in due course, thus to strengthen the mind.

~ Sri Ramana Maharshi (from "Talk 310")