A Guided Meditation on Silence and Stillness - Sri Ramana Maharshi

Summary

This script emphasizes the power of silence in spiritual practice, suggesting that true wisdom and peace come from inner stillness rather than extensive reading of scriptures. It advocates for transcending the 'I-thought' to achieve silence, where the mind becomes quiescent and all arises from that state. The ultimate goal is to experience egoless awareness, leading to bliss and the end of suffering. The text encourages ignoring the false mind and focusing on self-awareness to attain a state of pure consciousness and divine truth.

Takeaways

• 🕊️ Silence is a powerful form of work, more impactful than extensive scriptures.
• 🌱 The ultimate teaching of all texts is to achieve a state of mental quiescence.
• 🧘‍♂️ True silence is achieved when the 'I' thought disappears, leading to inner peace.
• 📚 There comes a time when one must unlearn to gain true knowledge.
• 🌌 The self is the state of absolute silence, where all arises and becomes quiescent.
• 🤫 Remaining still without attention to anything allows one to become the reality.
• 🌐 Silence is the universal language that transcends verbal communication.
• 🧠 Ignoring the mind's falseness and focusing on self-awareness leads to the true state.
• 🌟 The state of silence reveals itself when thoughts cease and one abides in self-awareness.
• 🏔️ The goal of knowledge is pure silence, which is the bliss of peace beyond worldly pleasures.
• 🌈 Freedom from concepts and the 'I am the body' idea leads to the non-dual expanse of consciousness.

Q & A

What is the significance of silence in spiritual practice according to the script?

Silence is considered the most potent form of work in spiritual practice. It is more effective than any scripture, leading to peace and a state of quiescence.

How does the script describe the relationship between the mind and silence?

The script suggests that when the mind becomes quiescent, all becomes quiescent. Silence is achieved when there is no 'I thought', indicating a state of self-awareness.

What is the ultimate goal of spiritual practice as per the transcript?

The ultimate goal is to attain a state of egoless awareness, which is described as pure silence and the bliss of peace, transcending the pleasures of the world and the next.

How does one achieve the state of silence mentioned in the script?

One achieves silence by refraining from looking outward and instead abiding within the heart in self-awareness, leading to the disappearance of the ego.

What is the role of desire in the context of achieving silence as described in the script?

Desire is portrayed as an obstacle to achieving silence. By remaining quiet without desire, one can attain a state of bliss that transcends worldly pleasures.

How does the script define the 'self' in relation to silence?

The 'self' is defined as the state where there is absolutely no 'I thought'. It is a state of self-awareness that arises when one becomes quiescent.

What is the significance of the 'universal language of silence' mentioned in the script?

The 'universal language of silence' refers to a state where words cease, and understanding is achieved non-verbally through silence, indicating a deeper form of communication.

How does the script suggest one should deal with the mind's movements?

The script advises to ignore the mind as something false and unreal, and to stand firm in self-awareness, which will cause the mind's movements to gradually subside.

What is the role of thoughts in achieving the state of silence?

Thoughts are to be destroyed as they arise, without leaving any residue, which is described as non-attachment. This leads to the state of silence.

How does the script describe the state of the sage in silence?

The sage is in silence always, even when they speak. They remain without affirmations and vacillations, immersed in the depths of peace.

What is the outcome of achieving the state of silence as per the script?

Achieving the state of silence leads to the end of pain, the bliss of peace, and a vision of God that is free from veiling ignorance.

Outlines

00:00

🔇 The Power of Silence

This paragraph emphasizes the significance of silence in spiritual practice. It suggests that despite the vastness and depth of scriptures, their teachings are ineffective without silence. The guru, being silent, brings peace. The ultimate teaching of all scriptures is to quiet the mind. Once this understanding is grasped, there is no need for endless reading. At some point, one must forget what has been learned to achieve true silence, which is the absence of the 'I' thought. This state of being is where everything becomes still and peaceful.

05:18

🌟 Silence as the Universal Language

The second paragraph discusses the concept of silence as a state of being where one is not focused on external stimuli but rather on self-awareness. This state is achieved through powerful attention to being, leading to a realization of the expansive consciousness. The sage is always in silence, even when speaking, and communicates through a universal language of silence. This state transcends the petty desires of worldly and otherworldly pleasures, leading to a bliss that is unattainable through mere verbal wisdom. It is advised to ignore the false and unreal mind and to stand firm in self-awareness, allowing the mind's movements to subside.

10:39

🕊️ The Goal of Knowledge: Egoless Awareness

Paragraph three explores the idea that true knowledge comes from egoless awareness and not from verbal or conceptual understanding. It describes a state of silence where the ego disappears, and pure consciousness shines forth. This state is the end of pain and the beginning of peace. It is achieved by refraining from external observation and instead focusing inward on self-awareness. The result is a state of bliss that is beyond the reach of conceptual thought, where one becomes the mere eye of grace, the non-dual expanse of consciousness.

15:41

🌈 The State of True Self

The fourth paragraph delves into the concept of the true self, which is experienced as an ocean of bliss and grace during silence. It is a state where there is no grief or discontent, and the experience is beyond thought. This state is referred to as knowledge, but it is devoid of the three elements: the knower, the object known, and the act of knowing. The sage remains firm in their awareness of the true self, without affirmations or vacillations, immersed in the depths of peace. The paragraph also advises against allowing the mind to wander towards worldly objects or the concerns of others, as this leads to happiness when the mind is free from thought.

20:47

🧘‍♂️ The Path to Wisdom and Non-Attachment

The final paragraph discusses the concept of wisdom as the ability to remain quiet and resolve the mind in the self. It suggests that likes and dislikes, love and hatred should be avoided equally, and that thoughts should be destroyed as they arise. The world should be viewed as a dream, and no object in it should be considered a source of happiness. The paragraph concludes by stating that if the mind is controlled, it does not matter where one is, as true happiness comes from within, independent of external circumstances.

Keywords

💡Silence

Silence in the context of the video refers to a state of inner quietude and stillness, devoid of external noise and internal chatter. It is portrayed as a potent form of work, where the absence of noise allows for peace and clarity to prevail. The script emphasizes that true understanding comes from this silence, not from endless reading of scriptures. For instance, it mentions, 'the guru is quiet and peace prevails,' illustrating how silence is more profound than any text.

💡Quiescent

Quiescent refers to a state of rest or inactivity, particularly in reference to the mind. The video script suggests that rendering the mind quiescent is the ultimate goal of spiritual practice, leading to release and freedom. It is highlighted as the conclusive teaching of all scriptures, as in 'all the texts say that in order to gain release, one should render the mind quiescent.'

💡Self

The term 'self' in the video script refers to the true essence or core of an individual, beyond the ego and personal identity. It is associated with a state of 'absolutely no I thought,' which is described as silence. The script explains that when the self arises, all arises, and when it becomes quiescent, all becomes quiescent, indicating the central role of the self in achieving inner peace.

💡Mind

The 'mind' in the video is depicted as the source of thoughts, desires, and the constant stream of mental activity. It is something to be controlled or ignored in order to achieve silence and self-realization. The script advises to 'ignore it then as something false, and unreal,' suggesting that the mind's noise is an obstacle to realizing the true self.

💡Ego

Ego, as used in the script, represents the false sense of self that is based on identification with the body and personal experiences. It is something to be transcended to achieve silence and peace. The script states that 'when one self arises all arises, when oneself becomes quiescent, all becomes quiescent,' indicating that the dissolution of ego is crucial for inner tranquility.

💡Awareness

Awareness in the video script refers to the state of being conscious or mindful, particularly of one's true nature. It is presented as the key to overcoming the mind and achieving silence. The text suggests that 'know the self-awareness as the real ground,' implying that cultivating awareness is essential for spiritual growth and attaining the state of silence.

💡Consciousness

Consciousness is described as the unbounded space of awareness, the vast eye through which reality is perceived when the mind is still. The script mentions becoming 'the vast eye, the unbounded space of consciousness,' indicating that silence leads to an expanded state of consciousness where one perceives beyond the limitations of the physical senses.

💡Bliss

Bliss in the video is the state of profound happiness and contentment that transcends the temporary pleasures of the world. It is achieved through silence and self-realization. The script states, 'if you remain quiet without desire, you will certainly attain that state of bliss,' suggesting that bliss is the natural outcome of living in silence and being free from worldly desires.

💡Non-attachment

Non-attachment is the practice of not clinging to thoughts, emotions, or material possessions. It is presented as a path to silence and peace in the script. The text advises to 'utterly destroy' thoughts without any residue, which is a form of non-attachment, illustrating how letting go of attachments leads to inner silence.

💡Self-abidance

Self-abidance refers to the state of residing or settling in one's true self. It is mentioned as the ultimate state of being where one remains firmly established in the consciousness of the heart. The script describes this as 'the state of self-abidence, in which you remain firmly established,' indicating that self-abidance is the goal of the spiritual journey towards silence.

💡Ignorance

Ignorance in the video script is the state of being unaware of one's true nature, which leads to suffering and the cycle of rebirth. It is contrasted with the state of knowledge or self-realization. The text states that 'ignorance is the state in which one shines in the heart,' suggesting that overcoming ignorance through silence and self-awareness is essential for spiritual liberation.

Highlights

Silence is the most potent form of work.

Guru's silence brings peace, surpassing the effect of scriptures.

The ultimate teaching of scriptures is to render the mind quiescent.

Endless reading is unnecessary once the mind is understood to be quiescent.

The self is the state of absolute no 'I' thought, which is called silence.

When one becomes quiescent, all becomes quiescent.

The mind has no task to do or thought to think in stillness.

Remaining still leads to becoming the reality, the vast eye, the unbounded space of consciousness.

Silence is attained by remaining in silence.

The sage is in silence always, even when they speak.

Understanding another is possible through the universal language of silence.

The state of bliss transcends the pleasures of this world and the next.

Ignoring the mind as false and unreal leads to self-awareness.

The mind's movements subside when one stands firm in self-awareness.

The state of silence is revealed when the noise of thoughts ceases.

Abiding within the heart in self-awareness leads to the disappearance of ego.

Pure silence is the goal of knowledge, the end of pain, and the bliss of peace.

Being free from concepts leads to the non-dual expanse of consciousness.

Restrained deceit and mental concepts lead to the revelation of divine truth.

The true vision of reality is free from veiling ignorance.

The state of being the real self is called the state of knowledge.

In the state of knowledge, there is no knower, nothing known, and no act of knowing.

The mind should not wander towards worldly objects or concerns of others.

Happiness is experienced as the meditation on the self rises higher.

Remaining quiet is called wisdom insight.

Likes and dislikes, love and hatred are equally to be eschewed.

The world should be considered like a dream, with no true happiness in its objects.

The mind is controlled, and one's location becomes irrelevant.

Transcripts

silence is the most potent

form of work

however vast and emphatic the scriptures

may be

they fail in their effect

the guru is quiet and peace prevails

in all

their silence is more vast and emphatic

and all the scriptures put together

all the texts say that in order to gain

release

one should render the mind quiescent

therefore their conclusive teaching

is that the mind should be rendered

quiescent

once this has been understood

there is no need for endless reading

there will come a time then when one

will have to forget

all that one has learned

the self is that where there is

absolutely

no i thought

that is called silence

when one self arises all arises

when oneself becomes quiescent

all becomes quiescent

be still then

apart from this the mind has no task

to do or thought to think

if you remain still without paying

attention to this

without paying attention to that

and without paying attention to anything

at all

you will simply through your powerful

attention

to being become the reality

the vast eye

the unbounded space of consciousness

because that state is taught by silence

and also because it is attained by

remaining in silence

it is called silence

the sage is in silence always

even when they speak

when one remains without thinking

one understands another by means of the

universal language of silence

this is that state when word

cease and silence prevails

oh foolish mind who is suffering due to

the desire for the petty pleasures of

this world

and of the next

if you remain quiet without desire

you will certainly attain that state of

bliss

which surely transcends the pleasures of

these two

no one can confront and overcome the

mind

ignore it then as something false

and unreal

know the self-awareness as the real

ground

and stand firm rooted in it

then the mind's movements will gradually

subside

if the noise of thoughts rising

incessantly within

does not subside

the ineffable state of silence

will not be revealed

when one refrains from looking out

and noting outward objects

and instead abides within the heart in

self-awareness

the ego disappears

the pure silence that then shines forth

is the goal of knowledge

the end of pain the bliss of peace

results from egoless awareness

and not at all from verbal wisdom

having become free from concepts

which are afflicting thoughts

and with i am the body idea

completely extinguished

one ends up as the mere eye of grace

the non-dual expanse of consciousness

this is the supremely fulfilling vision

of god

having restrained the deceitful

and having abandoned mental concepts

you should stand aloof in your real

nature

in that state of self-abidence

in which you remain firmly established

in the consciousness of the heart

the divine truth will reveal

itself

the true vision of reality that is free

from veiling

ignorance is the state in which one

shines in the heart

as the ocean of bliss

the inundation of grace

in the experience of silence that surges

there

as holy self and which is impossible to

think about

not a trace of grief or discontent

exists for the jiva

though that state of being the real self

is called the state of knowledge

it is one in which there is none of the

three

the noah the object known

and the act of knowing

that being the case

what does one know there by what means

and who is there to know

it must be understood that knowledge is

just a name

for the state of being the south

in that state doubts do not arise

since the sage is ever firm in their

awareness

of the true self

there they remain without affirmations

and vacillations

immersed in the depths of peace

the mind having become

[Music]

extinct

the mind should not be allowed to wander

towards worldly objects

and what concerns other people

when there is no thought the mind

experiences happiness

as the meditation on the self rises

higher

and higher the thoughts will get

destroyed

remaining quiet is what is called

wisdom insight

to remain quiet is to resolve the mind

in the self

likes and dislikes love

and hatred are equally

to be eschewed

as thoughts arise destroying them

utterly without any residue in the very

place of their origin

is non-attachment

the world should be considered like a

dream

in no single one of the countless

objects of the mundane world

is there anything that can be called

happiness

apart from thoughts there is no such

thing

as mind

if only the mind is kept under control

what matters it where one may happen to

be

you