Who am I ?

Who am I ? 

This is a central question that will spring in the mind if we want to understand ourselves. Without understanding ourselves we cannot understand others.

If we are saying that we understand others it is merely words without meaning.

So what do we mean when we say that we understand ourselves ?

The famous saint of Arunachala Ramana Maharishi says,

“The mind is only a bundle of thoughts. The thoughts have their root in the I-thought. Whoever investigates the True "I" enjoys the stillness of bliss.”

Yes, the thought “i” controls most part of our life. That same thought ” I “ is behind every mans ego. If we can conquer the thought “i” then we have conquered the biggest obstacle to be free.

Here Ramana Maharishi says,

“See who is the doubter, who is the thinker. It is the ego. Hold it; the other thoughts will die away - the ego will be left pure. See the source from where the ego arises and abide in it. That is pure consciousness. “

Ego is the biggest hindrance to understand others. Ego does not allow to appreciate the greatness in others. We achieve real happiness when we are able to be happy by seeing other peoples happiness.

When my end of life comes I will be no more there. Only thing that exists after my demise will be my sole.

Quoting Ramana maharishi again,

“Turn the mind inward and cease thinking of yourself as the body; thereby you will come to know that the self is ever happy. Neither grief nor misery is experienced in this state.”

If you start to enquire in the word “i” , you will start think inwards towards the origin of your thoughts. Once you know the origin of thoughts then you can control the bad thoughts by the good thoughts.

According to Saint Ramana,

“The mind of one meditating on a single object becomes one-pointed. And one-pointedness of mind leads to abidance in the self.Realization is to get rid of the delusion that you have not realized.

Good thoughts keep off bad thoughts. They must themselves disappear before the state of realization.”

I at one point was quiet interested find the meaning to the statement that one needs to understand themselves. While searching through several information one thing came to light. Without realising you start to purify your thoughts and kindness and love take over your emotions which in turn presents you with clarity and peace.

I am not saying that I have achieved the goal. But it is a interesting journey, even if you do not reach the destination, the experience you get from the travel is worth the effort.

Sakthi Sakthithasan