' Realization '...

It is false to speak of realization. What is there to realize?

The real is as it is always.

We are not creating anything
new or achieving something which we did not have before.

The illustration given in books is this.

We dig a well and
create a huge pit.

The space in the pit or well has not been
created by us.

We have just removed the earth which was
filling the space there.

The space was there then and is
also there now.

Similarly we have simply to throw out all
the age-long samskaras [innate tendencies] which are
inside us.

When all of them have been given up, the Self
will shine alone.



- Sri Ramana Maharshi

"Be As You Are"
The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi
Edited by David Godman
Arkana, 1985