Hi there,
Today I would like to share with you a few quotes from one of my favorite books, “I Am That” by Nisargadatta Maharaj. Hope you enjoy it!
ps: one of my most frequent meditations is Soham, which means “I am". It's an Hindu mantra that means identifying oneself with everything, as in being the creator God of reality itself, instead of identities, social constructs, and personal views.
“Your high opinion of me is your opinion only. Any moment you may change it. Why attach importance to opinions, even your own?”
“The illusion of being the body-mind is there only because it is not investigated. Non-investigation is the thread on which all the states of mind are strung. It is like darkness in a closed room. It is there-apparently. Bu when the room is opened, where does it go? It goes nowhere because it was not there. All states of mind, all names, and forms of existence are rooted in non-inquiry, non-investigation in imagination, and credulity. It is right to say “I am”, but to say “I am this”, “I am that”, is a sign of not inquiring, of not examining, of mental weakness or lethargy.”
“You are aware of your thinking, feeling, doing. You are not aware of your being.”
“Refuse all thoughts except one: the thought “I am”. The mind will rebel in the beginning, but with patience and perseverance it will yield and keep quiet. Once you are quiet, things will begin to happen spontaneously and quite normally, without any interference on your part.”
"There is nothing wrong with the idea of a body or even with the idea of “I Am the body”. But limiting oneself to only one body is a mistake. In reality, all existence, every form is my own and within my consciousness. I cannot tell what I am because words can describe only what I am not. I am, and because I am, all is. But I am beyond consciousness and therefore, in consciousness, I cannot say what I am. Yet, I am. The question “Who am I?” Has no answer. No experience can answer it, for the self is beyond experience. (...) Still the question “Who am I?” Must be of some use. It has no answer in consciousness and therefore helps to go beyond consciousness.”
"To be free in the world, you must die to the world. Then the universe is your own; it becomes your body, an expression of a tool. The happiness of being absolutely free is beyond description. On the other hand, he who is afraid of freedom cannot die."
“You are love itself-when you are not afraid."
“What does being saved mean? Saved from what? From illusion."
"Pain and suffering are only the body and the mind screaming for attention. To go beyond the body you must be healthy, to go beyond the mind you must have your mind in perfect order. You cannot leave a mess behind and go beyond. The mess will bog you down. "Pick up your rubbish" seems to be the universal law. And a just law too."
“When your desire is not clear or strong, it cannot take shape. Besides, if your desires are personal, for your own enjoyment, the energy you give them is necessarily limited; it cannot be more than what you have.”
“Your aims are small and low. They do not call for more. Only God's energy is infinite - because he wants nothing for himself. Be like him and all your desires will be fulfilled. The higher your aims and vaster your desires, the more energy you will have for their fulfillment. Desire the good of all and the universe will work for you. But if you want your own pleasure, you must earn it the hard way. Before desiring, deserve."
"A man who moves with the earth will necessarily experience days and nights. He who stays with the sun will know no darkness. My world is not yours. As I see it, you are all on a stage performing."
“ A man with poor vision will not see the parrot on the branch of a tree however much you may prompt him to look. At best he will see your pointed finger. First, purify your vision: learn to see instead of staring and you will perceive the parrot. Also, you must be eager to see. You need both clarity and earnestness for self-knowledge. You need maturity of heart and mind, which comes through earnest application in daily life of whatever little you have understood. There is no such thing as compromise in yoga."
See you next week,
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