It is the nature of mind, intellect to raise that question. But at the same time, there is a reply, within you only.

This is called Atma-Nivedanam Bhakti.

Self-Realization devotion. Self-Realization devotion.

Devotion. It means, just like a child is asking some questions, and you reply. Similarly inside, a number of questions arise and at the same time the invisible Spirit is replying to that question.

I had given you the example of that Ekalavya character. You know Ekalavya character?

His Master is in the form of an idol, and he is there.

Asking that Master ‘Oh Master I am aiming at this target, is this correct?’ Then the inner part of this body, this Spirit ‘Yes, my child, it is correct.’

So as a matter of fact, Master was not present physically. But his internal Master inspired, vibrated, all the instructions. At that time, he is a devotee, and he is Master himself.

The great warrior Arjuna was not having this archery technique. That technique that Ekalavya had, that small boy.

It is a miraculous experience.

So, your Master, external Master, acting within you, as a great Master and giving instructions, so that is called dialogue with each other.

So, inside questions arise, immediately your Master inside is replying to that question.

It’s so fast that nobody can count that reply, it is instantly.

When there is a question there is a reply to that.

That is called Atma-Nivedanam Bhakti, last devotion, last bhakti.

Then you will be totally mature, strong.

There won’t be any temptation to ask questions of anybody else.

Not even that, if anybody asks you a question, because of your strong devotion to your internal Master, you are replying immediately.

So, I am addressing that to your inner Master, not to this body.

When there is total conviction, if anybody asks any tricky question, you can easily reply to him.

This strong, strong strain, diverted by your external Master, with your internal Master.

This statement of struggle internally, is for discussion and for conviction only.

So even if words are given, anybody approaches you with any questions, if you remember the atmosphere your internal Master instantly replies to that.

I have seen Nisargadatta Maharaj, a number of foreigners used to bombard questions.

And they were highly qualified as Masters of spirituality. They have degrees, Master of spirituality, philosophy, stuff like that.

But, Nisargadatta Maharaj had not read so many books, his education was hardly second or third tender.

But because he was having tremendous love, affection, devotion, and the power of Siddharameshwar Maharaj.

Out of that devotion, that strong devotion, that power, transforming, he used to reply immediately.

So, I am trying to vibrate your internal energy.

Because internally you have got a lot of energy.

Don’t underestimate you.

You see your greatness. This is not, I am not, I see, I can see your greatness.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj
Ramakant Maharaj’s house, Nasik, January 2012
Video Taken by Russian Devotee’s

In Honor, devotion and celebration for Sri Ramakant Maharaj Jayanti July 8, 2021. Jai Sadguru!
Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik December 21, 2013.

Know yourself in a real sense. The moment you know yourself in a real sense, you will find nothing is there.
So, don’t become a victim of blind faith. Let’s say “This is last karma, future karma, this prarabdha, rebirth, death, birth, past sin, future sin.” These are all illusionary concepts. The result it appears very easy. But, bringing into practice it is a little bit difficult.

Unless your body-based knowledge dissolves totally, you are not able to see yourself in a real sense. Then you ask, ‘What do you mean by “real sense”?’ We are knowing our self in body form, through mentally, or intellectually.
All of our activities are through the body form only. But we are not trying to know our self, who is acting within the body? That is unidentified identity. It is anonymous identity. It is invisible identity. It is beyond imagination. Intellect and that mind, ego, are not coming in that picture. It is just a spontaneous existence. Total involvement is required. Nothing is impossible. Yes, I want to know, ‘Who am I?’. I am measuring myself in the body form, this is not my identity. Some day or another, willing, or unwillingly, you have to leave this body. What is next? For that you have to make Self inquiry. So, therefore in the initial stage you have to undergo meditation. Systematic meditation. Then it is possible, that entire field will be cleared. In computer language, after dissolving all of these unwanted files, you’re getting clear result. Instead of you trying to find out somewhere else. Always you are supposed to be alert, for any virus that may try to enter. The virus is illusionary thoughts. You should not become a victim of somebody else’s thoughts. This is the weak point. This is the weak point when someone is talking about something, and you think maybe this is correct. You must be firm. The conviction I am that. I am not a woman; I am not a man. No body, no intellect, no ego.

Who is experiencing your inner feeling? Some thoughts are flowing inside. Struggle of thoughts. Sometimes you are remembering your past life from childhood. The circumstance has gone away. But when you remember any thoughts, you get confused. Some kind of sadness, some kind of depression. Things have already happened. But when you remember this, you get depressed or something, uncomfortable. Here you need spiritual knowledge. What you are feeling, past is gone. Why should I think about the past dream? It is something, good or bad dreams. I am living present time. Present and future is within me only. I can make my own decision. If somebody says, ‘No you do this thing’, no, no, no. If your inner Master disagrees, don’t accept anything. Because your inner Master is most important. Having a lot of, tremendous power. But all the ways you are considering in body form. So, you are not giving so much importance to your inner Master. You have strong strain, spontaneous strain within you, always ‘Oh, what do I do?’. Nisargadatta Maharaj says ‘I am making you a master, not a disciple’. Such a great personality. I am considering myself very fortunate because I came across him at the age of 22. What he taught me from that age until today, I am sharing that knowledge with you. Who is accepting all of this reality? Very, very, few people. They are coming ‘Ok, ok, ok, very good, very good.’ then leave. Casual devotion will not give you happiness. I am not doing any miracles. I am not claiming myself a great person. I am showing greatness already within you. Which you are unaware.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik March 5, 2018.

Q: The process that I see is as follows: Personality – I am not the Body (nor emotions, desires, thoughts since everything belongs to the body) – Sensation “I Am” – “I Am” is attested. By whom? – Without “I Am” there can be no witnessing. – finally, the Witness, the witnessed and the witness are Unity.

M: There is no witness at all. Prior to beingness, any witness was there? Prior to beingness, no ‘I am’ was there. After leaving this body, any I am is there? Nothing is there. So far you are holding the body, considering “I am somebody else”, till that time, all these questions are arising. Prior to beingness, no “I am”, no “you are”, “he, she, it” nothing is there. No Master, no god, no disciple. No experience, no experiencer. No witness, no witnesser. Nothing was there. After leaving the body, what remains? Nothing is there. Throughout this, still what are we doing “my mind, my ego, my intellect”. Not to do this thing because you are not doer at all. Your identity is unidentified, invisible identity. Where there is no experience, all experience disappears there you are. Everything came out of nothing. Everything dissolves within nothing. What is there in the body? Just glimpses of ‘I’. So far you are holding the body, you are experiencing ‘I’. Who is that invisible experiencer, which is called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master? That you are.

But still we are not having Conviction. That spontaneous Conviction is required. Till that time, you have to undergo meditation. Otherwise mind is very crazy, playing tricks, raising so many questions and trying to distract you from the Reality. Be alert. What Master says you follow strictly. We are not expecting any single penny from you. No garland is required. Even not bow down to me. But what I told, just accept it, I am placing before you your Truth. Not truth of any Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. This is listener’s Truth. You accept the listener’s Truth. And listener is Ultimate Truth, Final Truth. There is nothing else beyond that. So… Be Firm… Because body is a dead body. If no Presence is there, what is the value of the body? So whatever knowledge you are acquiring, accumulating through body knowledge, it will be illusion. Why follow illusion? You know what illusion is, what is Reality. So, accept the Reality. And what is Reality? except your Selfless Self, there is no God, that is the Reality. God is the name given to the Ultimate Truth, supreme power, supernatural power within you. So, all time you are counting yourself in body form and asking so many questions. Where are all these questions prior to beingness? After leaving the body, any questions are there? So far, we are considering “I am somebody else”, so many questions are there. No question is there. Does sky have any questions? “Oh, how I am sky, I am called this sky that sky”. So, in the beginning you have to undergo some meditation. After, that too is not necessary. Ok. So be spiritually strong, for which in the beginning, sadhana is required, meditation is required. Through meditation you are hammering yourself “I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. So that hammering, result is Ultimate Truth. And afterwards, you will forget body identity. Nothing remains.

Why do so many exercises? Reading this book, that book, that book. You are reading books, reading books. But you are not reading, the reader’s biography. The invisible reader is the Ultimate Truth. So, it depends upon reading. Because while reading, you are posing yourself “I am somebody else”. That somebody else is supposed to be dissolved. You are everybody, you are everywhere. Your invisible identity is just like space or sky. Sky is everywhere. Is American sky different and Indian sky different? Why give a name like American sky, or England or London sky… something, something, something. So, sky is everywhere…Like that. Presence within the body is everywhere. It’s not having any colors, no specific identity. No experience, no experiencer, like that. And therefore, you have to follow strictly Master.

Don’t confuse, don’t create any doubts. As I told, your mind rebels against you. Mind is a subtle part of your body, function of body, a flow of thoughts. It’s the nature of the mind, flow of thoughts is there. When the body disappears, mind disappears. No mind, no ego, no intellect is there. Where everything ends, there you are. Where everything ends, there you are. Your identity is unknown identity, invisible identity, anonymous identity. You can’t define in any words. Language is there, words are there. Trying to indicate, giving signal. Ok.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik February 25, 2018.

I did not come here to have a new religion. We have religion in France. We have churches, priests, flowers, fires, worship God, saints, all this. Hinduism as a religion does not interest me. For example bhajans is a religion, all this is religion, I have a base in Christianity. I’m not interested. I came here only for one thing – for the essential. That is the most important point. So what do you say about this, what is your reaction?

M: See, religion is subsequent. There is not any religion. In the Bhagavad Gita it says, “discard all religions”. Religion came afterwards. Prior to that your Presence was there. Religion was formed after existence of the body. Prior to the body there is no religion. No bhajan, no mantra, no meditation. Why mantra is required, why bhajan is required, why meditation is required? Because as I have told you, you have forgotten your identity. This is media. Bhajan, meditation is not Ultimate Truth. It is instrument, indication. It indicates the Listener within you is Ultimate Truth. Christianity, Hinduism, any religion, they came afterwards. Prior to beingness there is no religion. After leaving body, what religion is there? I am talking about you, you are Ultimate Truth. God, Master or any supernatural power is not separate from you. Since we are counting ourselves as body form therefore our religions are there. Bhajans are there. What is bhajan? It is prayers. In Christian church, they are praying, right? Praying Christ. In any other – Hindu also, Muslim also, praying. These are prayers. Prayers addressed to the Supernatural Power. Which we say God. That God is not separate from you. What I have to say is that God is not separate from you. Your invisible Presence is sign of God. When did you come across God? “this is a God” to say, “this is God”, your Presence is required. If there is no Presence within the body, who will talk about God or talk about religion. Concept of religion came along with the body only. After leaving the body, what religion is there? No religion is there.

So I am not criticizing religion. It deos good. There are good disciplines. The ultimate intention behind religion, is that, try to identify yourself. Because as you know, body is not our identity at all. But, working with that concept, all these illusory concepts, What happens. We are counting ourselves in body form. Though we are knowing that body is not our identity. That body is not going to remain constant. That some or other day, willingly or unwillingly we have to leave the body. But, body is necessary to identify yourself. The body can’t itself identify itself. It is a combination of Spirit or Presence. We call Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. So, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, Energy can’t act independently. When the Energy or Spirit touches with the body, then you say, “I”. So, body and Energy come together, and you say, “I”. Body can’t say, “I”. Spirit can’t say “I”. So, this is a combination. This is for understanding. We are using so many words, but language is created by us. Through language you are trying to indicate Ultimate Truth is not separate from you. You are the Principle. Think yourself. Just sit calm and quiet and see what is there in the body. Where was the body prior to beingness? Nothing was there. After leaving body, burning or burying. Then any explanation is there? Nothing is there. In spite of knowing this, we are not ready to leave bodily concepts. Because we are having long association with the body. Directly or indirectly, we have got full faith in the body. “I am Hindu, I am Muslim, I am Christian”. You are nothing. Sky does not have any religion. American sky does not say: “I am Christian sky”. Indian sky: “I am Hindu sky”. Chinese sky: “I am Chinese sky”. Sky does not have religion. Likewise, the Presence within your body does not have any religion. It is said in the Gita also. All spiritual knowledge, all spiritual books, say religion came afterwards. Just to regulate society. Just to maintain law and order within society. Just to keep some discipline. So, religions are not bad. But, prior to that your Presence is there. All the ways, with different ways. Different words, different language. I am trying to insist that you are Ultimate Truth. You are final truth. God, Master, Brahman, Atman Paramatman. These are the words. Indications to the supernatural power within you. Unless we discard all body based concepts, we are not able to identify ourself. It’s an open fact. What is the value of this body? nothing. If there is no Spirit for a moment, there is no value of the body. You are burning, disposing of. That means body is media. So, my request is not to play with the words. Forget about the words. Words we have created. Language we have created. Meanings are different. But, what they indicate is most important.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik March 26, 2018.

The Invisible Presence is acting through the body that is Ultimate Truth. If at all you have to compare, compare like space or sky, sky does not know ‘I am sky’, sun does not know ‘I am sun’. Your identity is beyond that. How? Because you can see the sun, if there is no seer within the body, who can see the sun, who can see the moon, who can see the god, who can see the master? That means prior to everything your Invisible Unidentified Presence was there. Therefore, not to count yourself in body-form, you have got tremendous power. In the Kakad Arati it is mentioned “Koti Ravi-shashi Mavala-le. Taya Teja-majari.”, crores of suns and moons. What it says: you have got such power, such light, that crores of suns and moons cannot be compared, your power is beyond that.

Q: “I got tremendous power”, I have been hearing that I got tremendous power many years. But what I find is lack of power, a lot of obstacles.

M: Because you are not tempted to leave the existing position. You want knowledge considering “I am body”. Because you prepared some circle, square. It may be spiritual circle or square. You do not want to cross it. The moment you cross it, all identification will dissolve, disappear. Till that time, you have to undergo the meditation. What is meditation? Just you are hammering yourself “I am Brahman, Brahman I am”, just like the police person tortures “you are the criminal, you are the criminal, see, this is the evidence against you, you are a criminal”; it says “I am not” – “Yes, you are the criminal”, then he says “Oh, I am criminal”. Similarly, you are hammering “You are Brahman, You are Brahman, You are a liar? You are Brahman”, so with that, the Reality will accept the Reality, “That I am That”. Though you are holding your body you are remained unconcerned, untouched. If anybody says you are a good lawyer, you say “Okay”, you are a bad lawyer, it’s okay. Nisargadatta Maharaj says “If anybody says ‘You are a good saint’, I have no appreciation, if anybody says “you are a bad saint”, no depression/depreciation. Good and bad are connected with body only and I am not body at all, I am formless”.

Q: One has no desires and then final Conviction is coming or final Conviction is coming and after than final Conviction, there are no desires? You understand what I am saying?

M: Desire, Conviction, these are the words related to body only. As such there is no conviction, see this body is called female body, correct?

Q: Yes

M: You have got conviction that I am female body. You are female, you are female, it’s fact. This body’s name is “Saraswati”, you got the conviction that “I am Saraswati, I am realized”

Q: No, no, no

M: “Saraswati”, that means conviction is there, but you are unaware of that. You are Ultimate Truth, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, that conviction is there, but you are unaware of that Reality. And Master places before you that Reality to accept it totally. Conviction is there, who says that there is no conviction, you know this body form is not yours, it is fact.

Q: Well, sometimes I am…

M: Why “sometimes”? All the time. Do you say sometimes “I am Saraswati”, sometimes “I am somebody else”? No, all the time you are Saraswati, so all the time you are Brahman, who say’s “Sometimes I am Brahman, sometimes I am not Brahman?” Brahman means Ultimate Truth, Final Truth that you are, you were, you are. So, that Spontaneous Conviction is supposed to be accepted, we are not accepting because we are having some impressions of the body-knowledge. Everybody knows, in spite of that, we are accepting flow of thoughts. Mind is there, ego is there, intellect is there, somebody trying to impress their own thoughts in the name of spirituality. Nisargadatta Maharaj warned everybody, devotee, disciple, not supposed to come across such elements which will distract you from the Reality. Understand? After conviction, after knowing the Reality, you should not come across such elements, such thoughts, that will distract you from Reality. Suppose…

Q: Some people

M: Suppose tomorrow, you come across with some Baba, he says something oh! “Brahman is like that”, “Atman is like that”, and directly or indirectly you are becoming victim of his thoughts, you forget the past. Master says you are Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, Ultimate Truth, that particular moment the other element try to impress their thoughts.

Q: Yeah, absolutely.

M: You should be alert. Because you better know about the Reality. Just like famous example, story, of the blind going to see the elephant, it’s a very famous spiritual story. The blind wants to see the elephant, some blind got the feet of the elephant, oh blind says it’s like pillar, he starts saying elephant is like, so whatever part they got they describe in that way, but if you see the entire elephant will you struggle with that? No, you are not coming with their thoughts. They are right, because they are blind. Master is giving spectacles, see yourself. After seeing the entire elephant no contradiction is there, because you know better, no argument is there, likewise, not to come across such elements which will distract you from the Reality. It should be, supposed to be firm. I am not restricting your activity. But anyone trying to impress his thoughts, be alert. Because these thoughts are body-based thoughts. I am not criticizing anybody else, there are so many elements in the world, some people coming to me also, today decorated in the body, today body is decorated with bald, with malas, they are coming. So, to have spirituality these things are not required, you want to prove you are spirituality or somebody spiritualist? Typical clothes wearing? No, not necessary.

Be simple, be normal, and be humble. After knowing the Reality be humble. Not to have ego like “I am Brahman”, “I am Master”, this is also ego. Suppose tomorrow you become Master; some knowledge is having. There should not be the subtle ego that ” I am Master”, “I am teaching spirituality” The spirituality should not be used for commercial purpose, I am insisting everybody. There are some people after going from here opening some shops. That temptation should not be there. If you are really realized, if you really understood, if you got real conviction, fact is there. So, dry spirituality will not help. Be strong, spiritually strong. Nothing is wrong with you. Because you are not the doer, there is no deed. Nothing has happened. Because your invisible Presence is Ultimate Truth, nothing is there. You are Reality. You are Reality, Ultimate Truth. Ultimate Truth is not separate from you. The form you are holding is not Reality. Because basically you are formless. Prior to beingness there is no form. After leaving the body this form will disappear, burned or buried.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik January 5, 2018.

Q: Is moksha mantra not usually reserved for Sannyasins?

Maharaj: No mantra is there. What is moksha …? You are already free. Liberation, freedom, moksha all these concepts are within the circle of body knowledge. Prior to beingness nothing was there, after leaving the body, nothing is there – so who wants moksha. Your existence in the body is like space and sky. Does sky wants any moksha? It is an open fact, open truth – what is in your body, your body is not your identity at all. This body has got a time limit, this is like dead body. No existence, what is the value of a dead body? So, existence and presence is subtler than sky. Moksha is appearing within the concept of body, you are already free. No moksha is required, you are already free. So far you are counting yourself as body form, therefore these concepts are there. You are not body at all, you are already free therefore no moksha is required. So, forget all these body-based concepts. Who wants moksha…? Is there any special identity that is asking for moksha…? Because you are formless, and no body identity is there. For which, to dissolve the form identification, the body-based knowledge, you have to undergo meditation. Your meditation will open all facts to you, through meditation reality will open for you, your reality. The meditation is supposed to be observed till the meditator disappears, till the invisible meditator disappears. Then there is no meditator or meditation is there. Nothing is there. There is no experience or experiencer. There is no consciousness no awareness. I’m placing your truth before you, listener’s truth. You are already free, no special thing is not required. Even at last stage, meditation is not required. Because you forgot your identity, the meditation is required, bhajan is required. It creates atmosphere to indicate your invisible identity. Then identity and identifier also disappears. Prior to beingness, where is the identity…? There is no identifier or identity. The moment spirit clicks with body, you started knowing I. The “I” is an illusion, this entire world is an illusion, including yourself and myself. What you are talking is of illusion, this is an illusionary world, a dream world. In dream you are doing so many things, you are having so many masters, so many Gods and Goddesses are there. Lot of scenes are there, the moment dream disappears, what happens to those pictures …? All pictures disappear. It is a seer’s reflection, it is a seer’s projection, it is a spontaneous projection, and there is no deliberate act. Therefore, I’m again repeating, this is bookish spiritual knowledge. To absorb this reality you have to undergo meditation till that mediator disappears, till the invisible mediator within you disappears. There is no individuality. This moksha concept, four types of moksha are there, all such spiritual concepts have nothing to do with practical life. Live a practical spiritual life, not to leave your responsibilities, do your job, and do your duty. Not to neglect your routine life, that is not spirituality. Some people say they left job, they left parents…why? That is not practical spirituality, we are teaching practical spirituality. Do your job, do your duties, there is no restriction here, no bondage is there. At the same time, your existence in the world is momentary. The body-based existence is momentary. So, who is holding the body? Who is watching the dream, who is experiencing all these things? That invisible presence called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, that reality is supposed to be absorbed. Then nothing will remain. There is no “I”, no “you”, nothing is there.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj answers questions regarding Self-Inquiry, Self-Knowledge and Self-Realization from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik October 14, 2017.

Q: Are meditation and self-inquiry different or same thing?

Maharaj: In the beginning self-inquiry is there. Self-inquiry is “Who am I? What is Brahman?” You are making inquiry because you have forgot your identity. Suppose you forgot your address “Where is Ranjit Ashram?” After knowing Ranjit Ashram, you need not go and have any inquiry. So far you are missing yourself, therefore you are inquiring. And meditation is giving some clues, landmarks. Through meditation, you are getting Identification. Through meditation, through that Word given to you, you are hammering “Yes! I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. So, I will give you mantra today. But you are to recite mantra with full confidence. You are to devote some time for you only. Human body is a golden opportunity for you. You can identify through human body only. Don’t confuse yourself. What you have read and listen, forget it. The listener within you is Ultimate Truth. The invisible reader within you is Ultimate Truth. The invisible experiencer is Ultimate Truth. The invisible witnesser within you is Ultimate Truth. Entire world is projected out of your invisible presence. No God has created this world. World is Seer’s reflection. The moment that spirit clicked with the body, you see the world. If there is no awakening in the morning, who can talk about the world? Last night you were in deep sleep. In the morning, if there is no awakening, who will talk about the world? Who will talk about the person, the master, the Gods? God, master, all these are concepts. It is very interesting, if you go deeper and deeper within your Selfless Self, you will find exceptional happiness, exceptional peacefulness, because peacefulness and happiness are within you! You are trying to find peacefulness and happiness outside, through sex, through publicity, through money. Nothing! How are you prior to Beingness? How are you after leaving the body? There is no mind, no ego, no intellect, they came along with the body only. All concepts came along with the body and all concepts dissolve with the body. Ultimately, I am Brahman is also a concept. Brahman has been given name to the Ultimate Truth, final truth, supernatural power within you, for identification. Who am I? You are Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. Questioner itself is Ultimate Truth. Since you are measuring yourself in body form, therefore you forgot your identity. To regain identity, meditation is given, Naam is given, we are asking to do some Bhajans also to create atmosphere.

Q: How important is self-inquiry? Is there an end to inquiry? Do you have tips on how to Self-inquire?

Maharaj: Self inquiry is required because you are missing your Ultimate Truth, you are missing your Selfless Self. Therefore, self-inquiry is required. In the beginning, at the initial stage only, you are to make self-inquiry. “Who am I?” It is the most important question. The questioner itself is Ultimate Truth. Because we are holding body, we are considering body as our identity. To dissolve body identity, Naam mantra is given, meditation is given, through which you will get reply from You. Therefore, in the beginning, self-inquiry is required because you are not having address. Address of Oneself. We are knowing everybody’s address but not knowing the address of our Self. Who am I? Self-inquiry results in Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge results in Self-realization. There are 3 stages in the spiritual life. Self-inquiry, Self-knowledge, Self-realization. Why Self-inquiry? Because we are not knowing ourselves. We are measuring ourselves, counting ourselves in body-form. A lot of confusion is there: confusion about the Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master, confusion about spiritual knowledge, confusion about ourselves. While doing spiritual inquiry, you will come to know that there is a Brahman which ‘I am’. Self-inquiry leads to the Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge leads to the Self-realization.

Q: What is self-knowledge like Maharaj? Self-knowledge is direct sense of the primary I or what is it?

Maharaj: No, no, no! Self-knowledge means Conviction. You are knowing yourself at present as a man or woman. You are neither man nor woman, you are Brahman! The moment spirit touched with the body, we started knowing ourselves as human beings. Who is acting with the human body? Who is listening? Who is reading? Who is enjoying food? Who is watching the entire world? This is called Self-inquiry. When you approach Master, you asking the question “Who am I?” That is Self-inquiry. Master says you are Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. Then you say “How can I be Master? How can I be Brahman?” Body is not your identity at all. Body is having death and birth, not to you. You are holder the body. You are subtler than sky and space. How you are prior to Beingness? You say ‘I don’t know’. How you will be after leaving the body: ‘I don’t know’. That means the answerer of ‘I don’t know’ said “I am not in any form”. You are formless. So all concepts, even Self-inquiry are required because we are unknown to ourselves, we are missing ourselves. Wrong identification. The Self-inquiry leads to the Self-knowledge. Perfect identification. Because this identity is an unidentified, invisible, anonymous identity. The invisible identifier within you is Ultimate Truth. Where there is no experience, no experiencer. That leads to the Conviction, Realization. It is a starting question. So far, we have been posing ourselves as body, therefore Self-inquiry is required. Inquirer itself is Ultimate Truth. Because you are not body, you were not body, you are not going to remain body. So, body-knowledge, body-identity is supposed to be dissolved, for which Self-inquiry is required. The result of Self-inquiry is Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge means that I am Brahman, Ultimate Truth. Self-knowledge is supposed to lead to Self-realization, that spontaneous Self-conviction. So, though you are holding body, you remain unconcerned with the body, unconcerned with the world.

Q: Maharaj, spontaneous waves of light occasionally appear. Are they experiences enabling self-inquiry or are they mind-body-knowledge to be discounted?

Maharaj: There is no experience, no experiencer. At ultimate stage there is no experience, no experiencer. These are statements, these are the words, trying to convince the invisible listener within you. At that stage there is no experience, no experiencer. How are you prior to awakening, prior to Beingness? At that time, nothing was there. No question are there. After leaving body, what question remains? No knowledge will be there. That means everything came out of nothing, everything dissolves within nothing. Out of nothing, you see something. That is illusion. Without playing with the words, analyzing the words, try to identify the invisible Listener within you. And keep in mind: except your Selfless Self, there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman, no master.

Q: I consider myself a devotee of a Guru who is no longer in physical form and use the “Om Namah Shivaya” mantra for years. Since reading your book and speaking with you, I prefer your mantra. Does this mean I am starting all over again from the beginning?

M: Okay, mantra is the words. If you have not taken the mantra from me, you can repeat the similar words “I am Brahman, Brahman I am’. If you already taken, you concentrate meditation. So, you need not go and repeat ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. According to the discipline of the lineage, we are not supposed to disclose the mantra to anybody else. If you have taken the Naam mantra from me, no other mantra is required. “Om Namah Shivaya” is not wasted: through that knowledge, through that sacrifice or devotion you come to me. It is not wasted. Because nowadays you will not get direct knowledge: round and round and round and round. This a direct approach without any expectation. I’m not expecting a single penny from anybody else. Be realized make others realized, be enlightened make others enlightened, straight knowledge. There is no any hide and seek, I am not hiding anything from you. Because there is no difference between you and me except this body. Knowledge means what? Just to identify oneself in a real sense. In the beginning you are to make deliberate effort, not afterwards. Okay. So, I will give you Naam mantra, but with the confidence that you will follow it very strictly. Be serious, because so many persons are taking Naam mantra then going here and there. It is not harmful for me but harmful for you people. People are coming to me “Oh! We want mantra, we want mantra!” Then going here and there, this master, that master, wavering mind will be there. Therefore, normally in our lineage we are not giving Naam mantra immediately, but I am very liberal. You people are coming from long distance, so with sympathy I am trying to give the Naam mantra. But I have found that so many persons are coming and going here and there, here and there. They are spoiling their spiritual career.

Q: Maharaj I went to Tokyo as a tourist. I went to a Buddhist temple. It was very peaceful. Is that ok or is it not good Maharaj?

M: It’s good. You can go anywhere; I am not restricting to go to temples. There are no restrictions, you go anywhere in the world but with Self-confidence.

Q: I feel trapped in the body.

Maharaj: There is no Maya, no Brahman. Brahman is also illusion. Maya is also illusion. No Maya, No Brahman. So, names are given: Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. These are the names given to the Ultimate Truth. Where was that Maya prior to Beingness? Where was that Brahman prior to Beingness? After leaving body, any Brahman is there? Nothing is there. Why to struggle with the words? Maya, Atman, God, master. Ok these are not bad words. These are good words, indicating your Ultimate Truth, final truth. You are subtler than this space or sky.

Okay, there is no restriction. You are a free bird; you can fly without wings. Forget about past, forget about future.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj a recorded discussion from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj October 14, 2017.

So now, any fresh question? See purpose behind meditation is to invite the attention of invisible Listener within you. Since childhood until today, we are counting ourselves in body-form. Our conviction is “I am body, somebody else” and name is given to the body. In fact, body is not your identity at all, you know better. Body is having time-limit. So, who is holder of the body? It’s just glimpses of I. It is formless. So why is all this spirituality required? Why Naam mantra is required? Why meditation is required? The one reason is because we have forgot our identity. And we are under the pressure of so many concepts. Death and birth, past birth, future birth, hell, heaven, then virtue and bad deeds, good deeds, so many concepts! Because of so many body-based concepts, you are confused, everybody is confused! What to do? You always say that God is there, God is great, his blessing, if you do something wrong thing then he will punish you, if you are doing something good thing then he will reward you. These are various concepts. Where do I stand? Is this world true or not? What is the fate of the world? So, to come out from all this confusion, the secret of this spirituality is told. What is the secret of spirituality? The basic thing: you are counting yourself in body-form and that is to be discarded. It is fact! Body is not your identity at all, body was not your identity, body is not going to remain your identity. Only dry discussion on spirituality will not help you. So that body-based concept is supposed to be dissolved. Then the originality, the spontaneous presence, where there is no experience and no experiencer, will come out. We are trying to convince with some words, but words are not sufficient to define or give the meaning of this spirituality. But we are trying our level-best to convince with some words. So, what is the purpose behind this? The purpose behind the spirituality is to come out from these illusions. And what is reality? Your spontaneous invisible presence is the reality. To whom there is no birth, no death. Basically, you are unborn. See, the moment that spirit clicked with the body, you started saying ‘I am’. And that ‘I am’ was instantly colored with so many concepts: “I am man or woman, I am somebody being”, so many concepts. And then the world is there. World is projected out of your spontaneous invisible presence. Just like in deep sleep, we are sleeping but that dream world is projected. You are acting inside the dream world, you have so many feelings, so many concepts, so many people. You see the sea, so many hills, sun, moon, so many things. How is that world projected? You are acting in that world, and not even that, some video shooting of that world is getting taken. After awakening you say “I have seen good dream, bad dreams” etc., etc. It is not a good dream; it is not a bad dream. Same as that dream-world is projected, similarly, the moment spirit clicked with the body, this world is projected. So, what you see is the seer’s reflection. And we are to invite the attention of the invisible Seer within you that you are Ultimate Truth, final truth, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. These names are given to the Ultimate Truth, that invisible presence within this body. With the result that, at the time of leaving body, there won’t be any concepts. Human being body is very important, invaluable, because through human body, we can identify ourselves. This is golden opportunity for everybody.

And then what is the importance of meditation? So many times the questions are asked “what is the purpose of meditation?” You always suggest, in book I mention that concentrate invisible concentrator within you. “Means what?” There is a glimpse of I. The moment spirit clicked with body you say ‘I’. Who am I? The question is Who am I? If I am not body, who am I? That is the question. To reply this Who am I, you are to undergo the meditation. What is the meaning of meditation, of that Naam mantra? I am Brahman, Brahman I am; I am Brahman, Brahman I am. Brahman means Ultimate Truth. All the way, with that mantra, you are hammering yourself, with the result that body based knowledge will be dissolved. And how you were prior to beingness and how you are after leaving the body, that reality will be opened. It cannot be defined or explained in any words. W.O.R.D.S. words are only media. We have created language; we have given meaning to the various words. Through words, we are trying to convince. So not to analyze the words. There are some seekers or devotees who are always analyzing words: “this master says this, that master says that”. Don’t analyze the words of the various Masters. What they want to convey is most important. All the Masters want to convey that except your Selfless Self there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman, no master. You are Ultimate Truth; you are Almighty God. The listener within this body is Almighty God, to whom there is no form, to whom there is no birth and death. To whom there is no past and future life. Who is not doer, there is no deed. So, these are the reality. To open, to absorb this reality, you are to undergo, in the beginning, meditation. Meditation is the base. Without which, after reading so many books, approaching so many masters, it is meaningless. It is dry discussion, dry knowledge. Be practical. It is very simple, even if you think intellectually, what is there? This body was small child, become young man, then old man, and one or other day, willingly or unwillingly, you are to leave the body. Then it is reality that body is not your identity at all. So, who is acting from the body? Who is listening from the body? That question is there. That means that Who am I? It is said, the questioner itself is Ultimate Truth, Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, and Master. But to have this spontaneous conviction you are to undergo, in the beginning, meditation. Through meditation you will get or regain your original memory. These are words, just remember that you are prior to beingness. How you are, your Ultimate Truth, is just like space or sky. Where there is no experience, no experiencer. This experience came out of nothing only. So that reality will be open with you. So always we say concentrate invisible concentrator within you. Means, invisible concentrator cannot be seen, it can be felt – I am, but you can’t see how that I am is. It is feeling. It is called glimpses of I, which is subtler, subtler than space and sky. There is no comparison to sky and space because sky is visible. But the experiencer, invisible experiencer within this body is not visible. You feel it. But we are mixed up with the body knowledge, therefore we are not having conviction. We are knowing I am Brahman, I am Paramatman, I am God, everything we know better. But that conviction is not there. To have the conviction appear spontaneously, you are to concentrate on the concentrator within you. It is a deliberate act. Then while concentrating on the concentrator, the concentrator and concentration will disappear. When you are trying to concentrate on the concentrator deliberately, after certain level, that concentration and concentrator disappear, nothing remains. That is to say Samadhi or trance. You know trance? So, there is no witness, no witnesser. So, like that, reality will be open with you and then there will be spontaneous peacefulness, spontaneous happiness: “Oh! That I, Oh I am That!”. So even though you are living in this world, even though you are holding this body, you remain unconcerned with the body. If there any calamity, any problem, any nervousness, any depressions, these are coming and going, these are mental bases, egoistic bases, intellectual bases. So, thoughts are coming and going. What is mind? Mind is the production of the thoughts. Mind is producing so many thoughts. Intellects is taking decision to implement those thoughts, and ego is implementing thoughts. It is a very simple thing. So prior to that, your presence is there.

In brief, you are Almighty God, You Are Almighty Brahman, You are Almighty Everything. Don’t count yourself in body-form. You are holding body, ok, it is external cover. But you are unconcerned with the body. So, with the result that at the time of leaving body, there won’t be any feeling “Oh! I am dying! Oh, do something to safeguard my body!” etc, etc. That thought will be dissolved spontaneously. Let it go! Because I am not body, this is not my property. The property belongs to the five elements, let them take, I am not concerned. That conviction will appear spontaneously with the result that you will be totally fearless, no tension will be there. So, though you are holding body, you remain unconcerned with the body, you remain unconcerned with the world, unconcerned with every feeling, no feelings will be there. Feeling may appear, it may come, it may go, you are not concerned. Thoughts are coming and going, you are not concerned. The thoughts which are useful for your daily use, you can use, the thoughts which are not useful, you are neglecting. So that art of living will appear within you spontaneously. How to act under certain circumstances, that clarity will be come. Nothing is impossible! The speaker within this body and listener within the body is one and the same. But the speaker in this body is inviting attention of the invisible listener within this body that except your Selfless Self, there is no God. There is no difference between master and disciple. There is no difference between deity and devotee. These are concepts. These concepts are appearing during the human form. Human from itself is illusion. You are beyond that; you are beyond that. This world itself illusory world. This is illusionary world, what we are posing our self is illusion.

And for which, in the beginning, again I am repeating, meditation is the only source. In the beginning that mind will rebel against you. Some laziness, some depressions, nervousness, but you don’t leave that meditation. Yesterday I received some message from one devotee. He says “In the first two or three months I could not concentrate meditation, so many confusion was there, so many depressions are there”. That means that those words of the meditation are affecting inside. The medicine given to you is affecting. So those unwanted things are going out, just like I told that there are some tenants in your house. While going, while leaving this house, they will abuse you because since long the tenants are there. Similarly, wrong concepts are there. So many wrong concepts are there, illusory concepts are there in body. So, while going, they will rebel against you. So, mind, ego, intellect is controlling your body – now you can control the mind, ego, intellect. It is a vice versa. So, you are Ultimate Truth, you are final truth, you are Almighty God, Almighty God is not separate from you.

Almighty God is the name given to the supernatural power which is already within you. So, don’t underestimate you. But you are to follow the meditation. It is very simple; you are to devote some time for You. In the beginning we are asking to do meditation for one hour, two hours, three hours. If you do it, it will give you more effect. And then after some time, you need not to go and have meditation. It is Spontaneous Meditation. Even if you are in deep sleep, meditation is there. Just like this body called man. I am not thinking ‘I am man, I am man, I am man’. This body given some name ‘Ramakant’, then in deep sleep “oh I am Ramakant”. Or his name is Gangadharam, you are in deep sleep “oh I am Gangadharam”. So that word is totally close and close and has become one with body. Similarly, the word Brahman is supposed to be very close with your Selfless Self. At that moment you will forget everything. Till that time, you are not to leave this Naam mantra. Naam mantra is necessary up to the level till you get spontaneous conviction that I am Brahman, without any experience. Then, Naam mantra and meditation are not required. At that time, you will find that ‘I am Brahman’ is even also a concept. It is very direct simple knowledge. It has become complicated by various sides. It is a direct approach. Therefore, the brief or the summary of the spirituality is: except your Selfless Self, there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman, no master. That reality, you are to accept it. That Ultimate Truth, you are to accept it. For which you have to hammer with the Naam mantra ‘I am Brahman, Brahman I am.’ And I told that the spirit within this body is very sensitive. What you impress, it reflects. You are impressing, you are always hammering “Yes I am Brahman, I am Brahman, I am Brahman, Brahman I am”. And see the fun! That reality will be open with you. I am giving 100 percent guarantee. Really, I am giving 100 percent guarantee. Nobody will guarantee but I am 100 percent. Only you are to sacrifice, you are to devote some time for you. And then result will be there. I am not doing any miracles; miracles happen within You. But you are to be very serious regarding meditation. “Oh, I go this master, then that master then that master”: there should not be confusion, there should not be wavering mind. If you have thousands of masters, meaningless. Why to leave? Because Master is formless, just like sky or space. If you go to India, you go to China, to Japan, space is one. What you will do? If you are not getting happiness in India, you will not get happiness in Japan or China or England or anywhere else. Find out. Try to identify yourself. Thinking part is given to you. In the light of all these statements, you try to identify yourself, where do I stand? I have been told that I am Brahman, how can I be Brahman? Question yourself. You will get instant answer. Have dialogue with your Selfless Self. Be with you all the time. Not to neglect your body, not to neglect your duties. Live your routine life. Enjoy it. Be with the society. If you are businessman, do your business very nicely. You can be with family responsibilities. “Oh, I am Brahman, I am spiritual man! How can I concentrate my family”- not like that. To quit the society, to quit family life is not spirituality. Remain in family. Remain in society and try to identify yourself. Not to run out from this battlefield. Faith: “Yes ok! I can do it!” Have some courage, spiritual courage, not egoistic courage. All these saintly people faced a lot of problems. A lot of problem but nothing then again then. I have said that Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ranjit Maharaj, Siddharameshwar Maharaj faced a lot of problem in their life, physical problems, mental problems. But they are having strong faith in their Master: “Yes! My Master says that I am Ultimate Truth, then I am Master, Ultimate Truth.” With the result, there will not be any importance given to any concept.

Therefore, Nisargadatta Maharaj said “Not to come across with such elements which will distract you from the reality.” “Such elements” means what? The elements are trying to confuse you. Now I told you that you are Ultimate Truth, then somebody says “no, no, you are not Ultimate Truth. Brahman is separate from you, and something and something else”. They are trying to confuse you. Convince yourself! “Yes! My Master says that I am Brahman, so I am Brahman, I am Ultimate, I am Ultimate Truth. Not to listen from anybody else. Then confusion starts and again you will come down. You must have strong will power, you must have sacrificing nature: “Yes, my Master says I am Brahman, so I am Brahman.” Brahman is called Ultimate Truth, final truth, where there is no experience, no experiencer, no witness, no witnesser, no identification also. It is Unidentified Identity. Unidentified, invisible, anonymous identity. Simple thing. Prior to beingness, do you know anything? Nothing. After leaving body, know anything? Nothing. What is the purpose, the use of all these things? Convince yourself: this is illusionary world, just like a dream world. Every day you see different, different, different dreams. Are you taking ego “Oh! I studied the image like this, therefore yesterday…?” Are you planning “Oh! Today I will see this dream, tomorrow that dream?” It appears spontaneously. What happened to those dream people, the good people, the bad people? Think seriously, even intellectually, and try to convince yourself. Your Self-conviction is most important. Your self- conviction is most important.

Process of thinking is there, clue is given to you, Master has given you various clues. You are to accept it, you are to think seriously, yes. Something is there, it is fact that I am not body, it is fact. How long you can you protect this body? This is a dead body. Who is acting from that body? Who is listening from the body? Who is enjoying this body knowledge? That invisible presence called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, master that you are. It is formless, where there is no fate, no rebirth, no past, no birth, no future birth? God is not having any birth, God means Ultimate Truth. It only requires strong confidence, strong faith within you and your master. If you have got a wavering mind: today here and then this master, that master, changing master, it is like changing wives. What happiness you will get? Nothing. One place to another and then one place to another place. There should not be any prostitution mentality. You may feel that this is a bad word, but it is like that. Be loyal with yourself. After knowing the reality, what is there? Why to go here and there? Time is very short: each and every moment in your life is most important. Only lack of spiritual confidence is there. It is open truth! Nothing hidden is there. Accept it: “Yes! I am That!”

Sri Ramakant Maharaj

Sri Ramakant Maharaj a recorded discussion from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj August 7, 2017.

Regarding spirituality, we insist on continuous meditation. continuous meditation does not mean sitting in one place, we remember all-the-ways. Meditation means concentration. Through concentration, all layers of the illusory concepts will dissolve.

There are so many concepts are there. Yesterday there was a lecture in Marathi regarding Dasbodh. It said “Reality, so many layers are there…concept of bodies, that is food-body, and subtle-body, and this body and that body.” So, these are the concepts or layers upon your Ultimate Truth or Presence. So, through meditation, there’s a direct hammering. Through meditation You are hammering the Selfless Self with the result that the Reality will open. The purpose behind that meditation, and that concentration, and that listening from the various Masters, the reading from various books, is that the Spirit is very sensitive, what You impress, it reflects. So, in other words, you could say it is psychological. What you impress on that Spirit, it reflects like that. So similarly, meditation is recommended. That Soham Sadhana, or ‘I Am Brahman, Brahman I Am’, like that. With this process, you will forget your food-body identity and the Reality will be open. What is Reality? You are nothing to do with the body-knowledge. Body- knowledge is illusion. And the body is not going to continue for long time. The body is having some time-limit. So, until body touch dissolves, you are to undergo the meditation. What do we mean by “body touch dissolves”? Just like when you are using clothes. You are using clothes, but you are not feeling that you are wearing clothes. Though you are using the clothes, you remain untouched with the clothes. Similarly, even if you are within the body, you remain unconcerned with the body. You feel totally light, their is no weight, nothing is there. So, there won’t be any type of burden. You remain completely free, weightless. So, like that, to have such things you are to undergo the meditation. And the meditation leads to Ultimate Truth, to Realization or Enlightenment.

Because we are nothing to do, just we are to know that the body is not our identity at all, just a very simple thing. Because if, with the strength of the body-knowledge, you try to extract the spiritual knowledge, that will get the duality. Any devotee of any age, if he at all likes to identify oneself, he has to undergo strictly meditation. Now I told that for meditation, the words are given, Soham, or Shivoham, so many words are given through Masters. That words are hammering the Meditator. And then what hammering? “I am Brahman, Brahman I am; I am Brahman, Brahman I am’. So continuously reciting the Mantra, the Reality that You are Ultimate Truth will be open. And then there will be spontaneous conviction that I am not body at all. And the result is that you won’t face any, another body-based dream. This is a body-based dream, “I am somebody else, my name is something, I have family members, I am male or female, and my family is there, my Master is there, God is there, so many relations are there”. So, all relations, all needs, all requirements came along with the body. Prior to beingness we are unknown to everything: no God, no disciple, no devotee, no master, no brother, no sister, no father, no relations were there. Because there is no body at all. So how you were prior to beingness is just like space or sky. Sky does not have any relations. So, like that, after leaving the body, or prior to beingness, no touch of the anything. So, you remain untouched.

So therefore, I am insisting – almost all that you know, you have got good background, you have got good foundation, spiritual foundation – now you are to just hammer Yourself. You are to be totally free from the body-bondages. Because even if you’ve got spiritual knowledge, these body bondages appear, having spirituality behind this curtain of this body-bondage, body-knowledge, it will not serve your purpose. So, after that you will be totally free. Whatever concept will be there you will have some exceptional internal happiness, peacefulness. Though you are living in the society, or with your friends, and all relations, exceptional happiness, exceptional peacefulness will be there. Though you are holding the body, you remain untouched with body. Just like we are wearing all these clothes. So, we are not feeling that ‘I am wearing clothes, it is there, but you don’t feel that ‘I am wearing clothes.’ Similarly, body is an external cloth. Though you are holding the body, external cloth, you remain unconcerned with that, just like suppose subtle, subtle, subtle light. You can’t describe in any words but that is something – exceptional experience, beyond imaginations. Because Bhausaheb Maharaj while planning all this Inchegeri Sampradaya, he had foresight that everybody should remain with this atmosphere, spiritual atmosphere all the time. Because early morning Bhajan, meditation, afternoon Bhajan, evening Bhajan, and all this, because you want to keep yourself busy with the spirituality.

And at the same time, it’s a practical knowledge. You do your job, do your duties, have your responsibilities, don’t neglect your body, but at the same time you, should be totally concerned with the Selfless Self. That is the idea behind it. No doubt that he is knowing that this Bhajan, meditation, are also illusion. But it is necessary to have conviction, spontaneous conviction of Your Ultimate Truth, Ultimate Identity.

In the beginning Master is necessary. He may be in any form. See I told, I am giving example; that Master is refusing to give the teaching of archery to Eklavya. But even so, he prepared some statue, and he under the statue of that Master he learned archery. So, in that case also, if the physical master is not available, suppose he suppose refuses or anything, you can have the idol of this Master, and you will get instruction from that out of the Master. Because Master is not separate from You. You are a Master, but you’re posing yourself as some body-form, therefore that body-form is supposed to be dissolved.

It is very simple, but very difficult also because you must have strong faith within your Master. Yesterday I told that, there are so many layers upon your Presence. So, remove all these layers, to burn all these layers, you are to undergo strictly the meditation, and you are to follow the instruction of the Master in the beginning very strictly. At the same time, you have your own responsibilities, do your job, do your duties, not to neglect your duties. But at the same time, You must concentrate concentrator.

Sri Ramakant Maharaj