Forget Truth, there is nothing to remember — Raman Maharshi

Following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Question: There are two things which I hold very tightly. Raman Maharshi has written only these two pieces himself. One is — ‘Who am I?’ And the other one is — ‘Self Inquiry’.

I go through only these, because these are from a young man who was not conditioned, who did not have any religious upbringing or background, and who just became on his own. So, in my opinion, they are the purest form of learning that one can get.

I typically go and follow him, and somehow get back to whatever experience that I have, and check back with whatever he has written, or whatever was transcribed from what he has said.

And every time I read these lines, I get a different meaning.

Acharya Prashant: The greatest proof will be, when you somehow don’t remember Raman Maharshi, and are still able to be what he said.

You said that you have your own thoughts, concepts in life, and you kind of match it against what he is saying……

Q: No. You know, what I am saying is that in his case, it happened spontaneously, very naturally. In my case, I have got so much of conditioning which has happened over a period of time, so many concepts which have all gone inside, I have to shed all that.

AP: Even a Raman Maharshi, even a Krishna, carries his share of conditioning. It is just that he does not give it central importance.

Till the time you keep saying that you are conditioned, you will remain conditioned. Stop taking this statement too seriously, because Raman Maharshi too had his share of conditioning.

See, to know one language and not to know another language, to have one kind of genetic features and not have another kind of genetic features, all these things remain. But to say, to see, that these are not important, that is when you and Raman Maharshi come really close.

The idea can never be to emulate him.

It is always, to disappear just like him.

Q: Yes, exactly. I do get this feeling once in a while, but I am not able to believe that this is real!