The teachings of Ramana Maharshi

Mind is where thoughts stem from and yet after scrutiny one can conclude that apart from thoughts mind does not exist. In the wakeful and dreaming state thoughts are present.But in the deep sleep state, thoughts are not present and therefore the world is not present. There is no physical world independent of thought. The mind projects the world and by withdrawing the mind we may withdraw the world back into ourselves. When the mind is externalised the world is perceived and opposed to it when the mind is internalised the Self is perceived. The best way to internalise the mind is self- enquiry.

Since thoughts arise in the mind we can conclude that the ‘I’ thought in the physical body arises in the mind too. If one takes it from there and investigates one can perceive that the answer to all the questions of ‘Who am I’ and the very thought ‘I’ itself arises from the heart of all. No thought can arise without the ‘I’ and only after the ‘I’ can ‘You’ or ‘He’ come.Therefore whenever a thought arises if one makes it a point to immediately investigate and enquire as to ‘who am I’ or ‘who is thinking these thoughts’ the quest for the ‘I’ will kill all other thoughts and the enquiry for the ‘I’ will lead the mind inwards towards the heart. Ultimately this ‘I’ enquiry having destroyed all other thoughts will destroy itself just as the stick used to kindle a pyre will ultimately burn.

When mind in this manner becomes absorbed in the heart the ‘ego’ of a man disappears giving way to pure consciousness or the Self. This state in the being is known as true wisdom and the Atman is the only reality. Everything else exists through it and by it.So long as tendencies continue to inhere the mind. It is necessary to continue this enquiry until all tendencies are completely annihilated. When thoughts occur they should be annihilated then and there in their place of origin by the method of enquiry.

exerpted from: http://www.crystallotus.com/Ramana/Ramana%20Maharshi.htm