Sunday, 6 February 2011

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi's mahamantra and the Bhagavad Gita

Hridaya Kuhara Madhye Kevalam Brahmamathram
Hyahamaaham Iti Sakshat Atmaroopena Bhati
Hridhvisha Manasa Swam Chinvatha Majjatava
Pavanachalanarodhat Atma Nishto Bhavatwam.

Freelance translation:

In the deep interior of the Heart-cave
The ultimate reality (Brahman) alone resides

The direct immediacy is experienced as the pulsation "I","I"
In the form of the real Self (Atman)

Merge into the Heart with a questing mind (self enquiry)
Or by diving deep within (surrender to the original cause of life)

Through control of breath (Yoga)
Abide in the real Self (Atman).

Excerpts from the Bhagavad Gita:

Following are selected verses from the Bhagavad Gita conveying the same meaning, along with a brief commentary:

O Arjuna, I am the Self abiding in the Heart of all beings.
I am the beginning (birth), the middle (life), and also the end (death) of all beings.
(Bhagavad Gita 10.20)

- Lord Krishna’s words express the same fact. Even if they are expressed in the first person, they convey the same message - in the deep interior of the Heart-cave, the ultimate reality alone resides.

I am enthroned in the hearts of all. Memory, wisdom and discrimination originate from Me. I am the one who is to be realised in the Vedic scriptures; I inspire their wisdom and I know their truth.
(Bhagavad Gita 15.15)

-  Memory, wisdom and the ability to discriminate originate from the Self. The I-thought arises first and then followed by both objective and subjective knowledge, resulting in an illusion of a duality between the knowledge and the knower. The direct immediacy which is experienced all the time as the pulsation “I”, “I” in the form of the real Self remains untainted. Lord Krishna assures that he is enthroned in the hearts of all.

O Arjuna, knowing that knowledge you will never be subjected to illusion like this again. By the virtue of it you will perceive all living entities in the Self and then in Me.
(Bhagavad Gita 4.35)

- This is the culmination of all the spiritual practices based on the questing mind. This ultimate wisdom is a natural consequence of Self-enquiry. When the questing mind merges into the Heart, the Self alone shines. One gets rid of the illusions forever. This verse supports Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi’s profound statement: “Let knowledge be guessed by the sign of equality to all beings.”

O Arjuna, just surrender unto Him, totally and in every possible way. By His grace you will receive transcendental peace and the eternal abode.
(Bhagavad Gita 18.62)

- This is the culmination of all the spiritual practises based on devotion. As the devotional practises make the wandering mind sink in the Heart , one surrenders to the original cause of life. The actions continue according to the destiny ('prarabdha') of an individual, but they do not lead to a bondage of karma anymore.

When the mind, completely controlled, is established in the Self, and free from all earthly desires, then is the man truly spiritual.
(Bhagavad Gita 6.18)

- This verse reveals the true meaning of ‘Yoga’. All the yogic processes are aimed at controlling the ‘Pranashakti’ which governs the mind.  With the vital force kept under control, the mind gets steadfastly established in the Self. The process then gets complemented by a reciprocal flow of the divine grace from the divine (God, Guru or Self).

Self-enquiry is a direct method. Surrender and various yogic methods related to breath control are powerful aids for those walking the path. They lead to self-enquiry sooner or later.

The seeker’s efforts are necessary in controlling the wavering mind and in establishing it in the Self. Rest is taken care of by the divine grace.