A Multidisciplinary Research Journal - Devanga Arts College

father’s death he contemplated the matter of death and how his father’s body was still there, but
the ‘I’ was gone from it. Venkataraman who later became Sri Ramana Maharishi realised, “The
body dies but the spirit transcending it cannot be touched by death”. That means I am the
deathless spirit. From that moment onwards, the “I” or Self focused attention on itself by a
powerful fascination. Fear of death vanished in him once and for all. The ego was lost in the
flood of self – awareness.” “ The thought ‘Who am I?” destroying all other thoughts will itself
finally be destroyed”.
Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharishi :
Sri Ramana Maharishi’s focussed his attention on the essential need to discover one’s
true identity. He preached. “The truth about oneself alone is worthy of being scrutinised and
known”. Sri Ramana Maharishi taught of what use it is to know everything about
the world if we remain ignorant about ourselves? It would be worth remembering that the
answers to all questions will be found when one becomes self-aware. Maharishi informs that
human mind is occupied with unwanted and superfluous thoughts. Man does not have the know
– how to deal with the mind. This is because man never cared to study the nature of the mind.
Ramana Maharishi provides mankind with an infallible means to find out about the mind in the
form of attention focusing questions: This makes one alive to the core issue: “What is one’s true
identity?” So far little attention is focussed on these issues. This process is termed as ‘self-
enquiry’. This turns the mind and the intuitive perception of the surging joy within. Diligent
practice of the self-enquiry is bound to bring peace and happiness.
JAMES ALLEN – AN EXPOSITION:
The world of letters has seen many a great author enlightening the mankind with unique
insight, inspiration and revelation that has made life meaningful, successful and useful. Some
enlightened men of letters have tried to offer best solutions to the riddles and mysteries of life.
Though man thinks that he is the crown of creations, he is not able to find a fitting answer too
many of the problems that confront him. Not only he understands his inability to solve many of
his problems, but he is unable to accept and understand why he has to undergo suffering he never
foresaw and he never anticipated that would befall his life. Like Shakespeare’s King Lear many
people complain. “I am more sinned against than sinning”. Similarly God is accused as “a
wanton boy”.