Not Two
Ramana Maharshi said that there is
No such thing as "two selves", in other
Words "one self that realizes another self"
And therefore it is absurd for anyone to
Attempt to become enlightened, because
You are already the Self. He advised
Everyone to abide in the Self always,
And to do nothing else, this being the
Primary spiritual practice at his ashram
In south India, where seekers arrived in
Droves seeking the Self, only to be told
That they are the Self, and that there was
Nothing for them to seek, which left them
Sitting quietly at the feet of the Master who
Smiled, nonattached to phenomena and
Craving nothing at all, which he said was
Everybody's inherent condition, there being
Nothing else to realize, know, or understand,
And thus Ramana Maharshi took walks at the
Base of Mount Arunachal lecturing visitors
On the identity of their true nature which they
Traveled thousands of miles to question him
About, which he graciously answered for
Them and on and on this went until he
Became internationally well known as a
Spiritual teacher and his sayings were
Published and his living quarters became a
Shrine and Mount Arunachal was accepted as
The Abode of Shiva and his teachings influenced
Generations of spiritual seekers and today
Pilgrims from around the world come to his
Ashram and meditate there and read the
Books and sing bhajans and hear lectures
From his devotees and celebrate Shivaratri
On the mountain and mindfully circumambulate
On the well worn foot paths and hike up to the
Peak and light incense and offer flowers and
Eat prasadam and finger rudraksha seed beads
And finally realize that they cannot abide in the
Self, because they are the Self, since there are not
Two selves, one to abide in the other, because
Brahman, or the Self, is everything! OM TAT SAT
Craig Louis Stehr
9.XII.'12
Composed at
Saxby's Coffee House
University Mall (near George Mason University)
Fairfax, Virginia, USA
