Ego, mind and Self

The mind is merely a reflection of the Self. It takes to its heels when searched for. It is non-existent in sleep. It is neither visible nor tangible. Why nurture it?

Unless the ego is traced to its source one cannot be Self-aware. The idea that one is the body must be uprooted. A flower has to blossom before bees can enter it. If the petals are closed how can they enter?

Once the flower blossoms the bees do not have to be invited. They will come automatically. Similarly if the ego veils the Self, how can we have Self-knowledge?

Earnest seekers practicing the way grasp the truth at once. For the rest, the truth must be explained gradually, step by step, after checking if they have understood what had been told to them earlier.

-- Bhagavan's words noted by N.N.Nataraja Iyer, UY p147 25-10-1943 3:00 pm

The suffering is mine

Attendant K was a veritable enemy of the monkeys. When the monkeys played mischief in the hall or tried to stealthily take away fruits he would beat them ignoring Bhagavan's protests. Once Bhagavan told him,
'It is not the monkeys that are receiving your beatings. It is I. The suffering is mine.'
-- Roda McIver, p63 Unforgettable Years (a compilation).

[Update: Please also see Bhagavan's warning call to monkeys.]
~~~
1. (a) You root out the ego of those who meditate on You in the Heart, O Arunachala!

Silence

Once, a devotee while observing silence wrote out a long list of questions and handed it over to Bhagavan. He looked at it and returned it observing,
'Is this silence? It is the mind which has to be silent.'
[Roda McIver recollects, p62, Unforgettable Years]

Silence

Another devotee was continuously prostrating to Bhagavan. He remarked:
Is this a gymnasium? Have you come for exercise? If you have devotion, demonstrate it by your silence.