' Steps to Awakening '...

23. Knowing aright the nature of the Self

and abandoning the non-self as void, unreal, is wisdom true.

All other knowledge is ignorance, and not wisdom.


24. Even like a dream this waking world

is but a mind-conceived appearance in mind space.

Hence greatness lies in firmly ending indicative knowledge

and the folly of fondness for outer objects.


25. Knowledge is manifold, say they who know objects,

but not freedom from the dire delusion of differences.

When the senses five, driven outward by desire are pulled back, then true, full Awareness comes,

and there is no "other" to be known.


26. Those whom from books have learnt about the truth supreme esteem themselves supreme in wisdom,

and fail to seek the knower and taste the bliss of Self,

but test and measure the silent sage.

What folly this!


27. "Mine is the only mind amenable to my correction."

If one forgets this truth and broods o'er others' faults

one only fouls one's own mind more and more.


28. Only he who has attained immortal life can save the world.

For the ignorant one to help another

is but the blind leading the blind.


29. One has to blame oneself alone

if one should try to teach the Truth supreme

to those who are immature.

These might reject the highest Truth as false

because it contradicted what they had been told before

and had believed as true.





The above Sri Ramana Maharshi quotes are from the book

The Seven Steps to Awakening.