WORDS OF ANANDAMAYI MA
From ‘MA IN HER WORDS’
Unhappiness is there in the background of happiness.
The experience of the ultimate reality is a state beyond happiness and unhappiness. You consider a wet pitcher to be full of water when seen from a distance because usually a pitcher full of water looks wet. Likewise in the gesture and posture of a self-realized person, there appears an apparent state of happiness but this is not happiness.
Question: So, in you there’s a fulfillment experience that is not depending on anyone or anything?
Karl Renz: No. I’m absolutely happy that I don’t have to be happy to be what I am. I absolutely enjoy that I don’t have to enjoy to be what I am. I don’t need joy, that is the nature of joy. Whatever peace can be experienced – peace-off. To be that what never needs any peace to be what-it-is. So, peace-off or joy-off or do whatever, consciousness.
Question: Is it not possible for God and the Guru to effect the liberation of a soul?
Ramana Maharshi: God and the Guru will only show the way to liberation; they will not by themselves take the soul to the state of liberation. In truth, God and the Guru are not different.
Ramana Maharshi: Happiness is the very nature of the Self; happiness and the Self are not different. There is no happiness in any object of the world. We imagine through our ignorance that we derive happiness from objects. When the mind goes out, it experiences misery. In truth, when its desires are fulfilled, it returns to its own place and enjoys the happiness that is the Self.
Karl Renz: In the early times of Zen monasteries in Japan, everything could be done without any consequences. There was a Zen master and a disciple who said “I am ready, master. Do whatever you like with me. I want to get enlightened, I accept everything. I am the most ready and no one was ever as ready as me.” The master calls him and asks “Would you give your little finger for That?” The disciple starts crying “My finger?” The master chops his little finger off. The master asks him “Are you less now?” Then he cuts his whole hand. The disciple cries and master asks him “Are you less now?” Then he cuts his whole arm and asks “Are you less now?” Then he chops his whole head and asks “Are you less now?” And there was no answer and that’s what-you-are. [Laughter]
Yogi Ramsuratkumar: We work from one spot, taking into consideration the entire cosmic movement. All are moving together towards one single point, always progressing. When this beggar gives word, it will take place, if it fits in with the harmony of the entire cosmos for its good.
Question: There are strong habit patterns.
Nisargadatta Maharaj: Yes, and once you know their impermanence and that they are not true, why worry about the habit patterns? Remove the habit. Go beyond! If you cannot do so, then you cannot understand this, the whole final truth, yet. No path, no instruction, no method, no technique. You are full, you are all One. You feel you are two, so OK. Understand you are not two, advaita.
You were a child, and you have become a big boy now, a big man. Do you know anything about along which path you have come? And how you have grown? You don’t know anything about this? Then why do you want to ask which path to follow now?
