Ramana Maharshi – Atma Vidya, Self Knowledge

Ramana Maharshi, the great spiritual saint of South India frequently compared the Light of the Self to the Light of the Sun. Here in his famous poem Atma-Vidya (Self-Knowledge) Ramana Maharshi describes the spiritual Self as “Sun within the Heart… the boundless seas of Perfect Bliss!”

ATMA-VIDYA: SELF-KNOWLEDGE

by Ramana Maharshi

A devotee once wrote on a slip of paper that Self-knowledge is the easiest thing, since one already is the Self, and handed it to Bhagavan [Ramana Maharshi], asking him to write a poem on the subject. This is the poem written.

The Self, which shines as Sun within the Heart,
Is real and all-pervading. ‘T will reveal
Itself as soon as false thought is destroyed
And not one speck remains. For this thought is
The cause of the appearance of false forms,
The body and the world, which seem to be
Real things in spite of Self, which steadfast stands
The ever-changeless, firm as Truth itself.
When Self shines forth darkness will be dispersed
Affliction cease and Bliss alone remain.

The thought “I am the body,” is the string
On which are threaded diverse thoughts like beads.
Therefore, on diving deep upon the quest
“Who am I and from whence?” thoughts disappear
And consciousness of Self then Rushes forth
As the ‘I—I’ within the cavity
Of every seeker’s Heart. And this is Heaven!
This is that Stillness, the abode of Bliss!

What is the use of knowing everything
Except the Self? What else is there to know
For anyone when Self, itself, is known?
On realizing in oneself the Self,
Which is the only Self-effulgent One
In myriads of selves, the Light of Self
Will clearly shine within. This is indeed
The true display of Grace, the ego’s death
And the unfolding of the Bliss Supreme.

In order that the bonds of destiny
And all its kindred may at last be loosed,
And so that one may also be released
From the dread cycle of both birth and death,
This path than others is far easier,
Therefore be still and keep a silent hold
On tongue and mind and body. That which is
The Self-effulgent will arise within.
This is the Supreme Experience. Fear will cease.
This is the boundless sea of Perfect Bliss!

Annamalai, the Transcendental One,
That is the Eye behind the eye of the mind,
Which eye and other senses cognize,
Which in their turn illuminate the Sky,
And all the other elements as well,
That is again the Spirit-sky in which
The mind-sky doth appear, That shines within
The Heart which of every thought quite free,
And with gaze fixed within remains as That;
Annamalai, the Self-effulgent shines.
But Grace is needed most. So faithful be
Unto the Self and Bliss will then result.

Source: http://books.google.com/books?id=_rdMEhgClvEC&lpg=PA89&ots=1DqJ0uq24b&dq=The%20Self%2C%20which%20shines%20as%20Sun%20within%20the%20Heart%2C&pg=PA89#v=onepage&q=The%20Self,%20which%20shines%20as%20Sun%20within%20the%20Heart,&f=false

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Tags: enlightenment, Ramana Maharshi, Self-realization