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Ram a n a M ah ar i: M ys t i c a s t r an s la tor

T h o m a s A F o r s t h o e f e l

R a m a na Ma ha r.s i ( 187 9- 19 50) ha s be e n ha i l e d a s a m ys t i c o f t he f i r s t o r de r

( B ha r a t i 1976: 29 ) ,~ wh ose l i fe a nd t e a c h ing r e p r e se n t a qu in t e s sen t i a l e xp r e s s ion

o f mo de r n n ondu a l i sm. Du r ing h i s m a ny ye a r s a t Ar un . a c a l a, t he s a c r e d h i l l ne a r

the S ou th I nd ia n town o f T i r uva nna m a la i , R a man .a wa s pa t i e n t ly in s i s t e n t upon

non c onc e p tua l , nondua l a wa r e ne ss a s the u l t ima te t r u th o f r e a l it y . B u t suc h a

t r u th re qu i r e s , bo th f o r ph i lo soph ic a l c ohe r e nc e a s w e l l a s fo r c om pa ss io na te

t e a c h ing , a doc t r ine o f we a k ine f f a b i l i t y . I n th i s c a se , c onc e p t s a nd c a te go r i e s

a r e f unda m e n ta l ly f l a we d a s a pp l i e d to u l t ima te r e a l i t y , una b le in a n y f ina l o r

de c i s ive wa y to c a p tu r e tha t r e a l it y : pa r a do x ic a l ly , t o a c c e p t t h is a s a n ine luc ta -

b l e da tum doe s in f a c t s a y a t le a s t one th ing a bou t t ha t r e a l i ty , na m e ly , t ha t i t i s

ine f f a b le . M or e ove r , we a k ine f f a b i l i t y a l lows , f o r t he be ne f i t o f t he d i sc ip l e ,

va r ious t e a c h in g s t ra t e g ie s wh ic h f u nda m e n ta l ly e nga g e the mind , i f on ly , i n t he

e nd , t o t r a nsc e nd the mind . P e r ha ps R a ma n .a s m os t p r om ine n t a nd e f f ec t ive

f o r m o f t e a c h ing wa s the so - c a l l e d s i l e n t upade,~a, w h i c h W i l h l e m H a l b f a s s

p r o p e r l y , t h o u g h c r y p t i c a ll y , n o t e s w a s a t l e a st as i m p o r t a n t as w h a t h e d i d s a y

( 1992 : 384 ) . H ow e ve r , R ama n.a d id e nga ge in va r iou s t e a c h ing s tr a t e g ie s, o f

w h i c h t r an s l a ti o n o f S a n s k r it t e x t s w a s o n e . T h i s e s s a y e x a m i n e s h i s T a m i l

t r a ns l a tion o f t he me d ie va l c l a s s i c, Vivekacad.aman. , of t e n he ld to be wr i t t e n by

S a f ika ra a nd w i l l h igh l igh t c on t inu i t i e s w i th the S a nsk r i t t e x t a s we l l a s r e l eva n t

va r i a t ions wh ic h a c c o r d w i th R a ma .na s o w n ve r s ion o f nondua l i sm in the o r y

a nd p r a c t ic e . Th e se t r a ns l at ion c ho ic e s be c o m e s it e s o f c om m e n ta r y f o r R a ma.na,

r e ve a l ing nua n c e s in the subs t a nc e a nd me tho d o f h i s t e a c h ing wh i l e a t t he s a me

t ime sh ow ing a n a f f in i ty f o r a tr a d i t iona l H indu pe d a gog y .

Th ere i s m uch to n ote in Ram an.a s t r ans la t ion . - F i r s t , he appears to take

l i b e r ty w i t h h is r e n d i t io n in a n u m b e r o f w a y s , t h e m o s t o b v i o u s , t h o u g h

pe r ha ps o f l e s s c r i t ic a l im por t a nc e o ve r a l l , be ing the o r de r o f t he t e x t . R ama n.a

t a ke s poe t i c l i c e nse w i th the a r r a nge me n t o f t he ve r se s , oc c a s iona l ly sk ipp ing

International Jou rnal o f Hind u Studies 5 , 2 ( Aug us t 2001 ) : 1 09 - 30

© 2 0 0 3 b y t h e W o r l d H e r i t a g e P r e ss I n c .



1 1 0 / T h o m a s A . F o r s t h o e f e l

v e r s e s a l t o g e th e r ; s o m e t i m e s h o w e v e r t h e ' m i s s i n g ' v e r s e a p p e a r s , th o u g h o u t o f

se que n c e ; so som e r e c ons t r uc t ive e f f o r t on the pa r t o f t he r e a de r i s r e qu i r e d . O f

m o r e i m p o r t a n c e , h o w e v e r , a r e t h e o c c a s i o n s w h e n R a m a n a a d d s h i s o w n

thou gh t s t o t he t r a ns l a t i on o f t he t e x t , o f f e r ing h i s o w n g los se s o f t e c hn ic a l

t e r m s o f A d v a i t a o r su m m a r i e s o f w h a t h e t a ke s to b e t h e ' e s s e n t ia l ' e l e m e n t s o f

V e d h n t a . O f t en s u ch i n c lu s i o n s a re co n s i s t e n t w i t h A d v a i t a p h i l o s o p h y , t h o u g h

oc c a s iona l ly t he y r e f le c t a s ign i f i c a n t c r e a t ive c on t r ibu t ion to Ad va i t a t hou gh t .

Th i s i s mos t e v id e n t i n R a ma .na 's u se o f t he t e r m ' 1 -I ' ah am -ah am , n~t3-ndn_) as

t h e b e s t l o c u t i o n t o s i g n i f y t h e i m m e d i a t e f l a s h o f l i b e r a t i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s .

T h e s e a d d i ti o n s an d g l o s s e s in t r o d u c e a m o d e r n v a r ia t io n o n a n e n d u r i n g t h e m e

i n H i n d u p h i l o s o p h y , n a m e l y , t h e u b i q u i ty o f t h e n o n d u a l S e l f . W h i l e i n t h e

m a i n a g r e e w i t h J o s e p h M i l n e t h a t a c o n s i s t e n c y c a n b e s e e n a m o n g n o n d u a l i s t

t h inke r s ' up to a nd inc lud ing R a ma n .a ' ( 1997 : 185 ) , I wou ld sugge s t t ha t

R a ma .na nua nc e s h i s ve r s ion o f Ad va i t a i n i n t e r e s t i ng a nd sub t l e wa ys a nd ,

m o r e o v e r , u s e s h i s T a m i l t r an s l a ti o n o f t h e Vivekacad. dm an i a s a p r inc ip l e

m e c h a n i s m t o d o s o .

Th e p r im a r y d i f f e re nc e be twe e n the tw o i s t he i r d i f f e r ing e mph a se s i n t he

e p i s t e m olo gy o f r e l i g ious e x pe r i e nc e , a pa r ti c u l ar ly l i ve ly a r e a o f r ese ar c h a nd

d e b a t e i n c o n t e m p o r a r y p h i l o s o p h y o f r el ig i o n . C o n t e m p o r a r y t h in k e r s, s u c h a s

W i l l i a m A l s t o n a n d A l v i n P l a n t i n g a , h a v e u s e d t h e e p i s t e m o l o g i c a l c a t e g o r i e s

o f i n t e r na l i sm a nd e x t e r na l i sm in t he i r e f f o r t s t o p r obe the e p i s t e mic me r i t s o f

r e l i g ious e xpe r i e nc e . Th e se c a t e go r i e s a r e u se f u l he u r i s t ic s t o he lp u s unde r s t a nd

h o w w e k n o w a n y t h i n g a l l , l e t a l o n e h o w w e k n o w r e l i g i o u s l y , l n t e r n a l i s m

pr op ose s t ha t i nd iv idua l s a r e e qu ippe d w i th t he r e l e va n t m e c h a n i sm s to a r r ive a t

j u s t i fi c a t i o n a n d t h e a c c o u n t o f k n o w l e d g e . T h e s e m e c h a n i s m s a r e i n te rn a l t o t h e

s u b j e c t , a n d t h e j u s t i f y i n g f a c t o r s i n t h e a c c o u n t o f k n o w l e d g e a r e s o m e h o w

di r e c t ly a nd c og n i t i ve ly a va i l a b l e t o t he sub je c t . Ex te r na l i sm i s t he de n ia l o f

th i s t he s i s a nd ho ld s t ha t a t l e a st some o f t he j u s t i f y in g f a c to r s i n t he p r oc e s s o f

kno win g ne e d no t be i n t e r na l ly a c c e s s ib l e ; t he y ma y be e x t e r na l t o t he a ge n t ,

a n d t h e y m a y b e c o n t i n g e n t a s w e ll . T h e s e , in t h e c as e o f r e li g i o u s k n o w i n g ,

m a y inc lude soc i a l l y e s t a b l ishe d dox a s t i c m e c ha n i sm s , r e p l e t e w i th a pp r op r i a t e

in t e l l e c tua l a nd e th i c a l c he c ks a nd ba l a nc e s . The se c a t e go r i e s c a n be a pp l i e d a s

u s e f u l h e u r i s ti c s t o A d v a i ta . G i v e n t h e a x i o m s o f n o n d u a l i s m , t h e i n w a r d ,

in t r o spe c t ive t u r n o f i n t e r na l i sm se e ms a t f i r s t g l a nc e a n a pp r op r i a t e i n t e r p r e t a -

t i o n o f S a n k a r a 's e p i s t e m o l o g y o f r e l ig i o u s e x p e r ie n c e , an d t h is c e r ta i n ly h a s

b e e n t h e p o s it i o n a d v a n c e d b y tw e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y a p o l o g i s t s f o r A d v a i ta , s u c h a s

S a r v e p a l li R a d h a k r i s h n a n a n d T . M . P . M a h a d e v a n .

W h i l e a n e x t e n s i v e a n a ly s i s o f S a n k a r a ' s e p i s t e m o l o g y o f r e li g i o u s e x p e r i en c e

i s be y on d the s c op e o f t h i s a r t ic l e , le t m e sugg e s t t ha t i n t e r na l i s t p r e su m pt ion

no tw i th s t a nd ing , S a nka r a r e l i e s r a the r he a v i ly on e x t e r na l i s t me c ha n i sms in



R a m a n a M a h a r ,y i: M y s t i c a s t r a n s l a t o r / 1 I 1

t h e p r o c e s s o f r e l ig i o u s k n o w i n g ; t h e s e i n c lu d e , ~ r u t i , g u r u , a d h i k d r a , and

s a m . n y d s a . R a ma.na, on the o th e r ha nd , ope r a t e s m uc h m or e de c i s ive ly f r om a n

inwa r d o r i n t e r na li s t e p i s t e m olog y o f r e l ig ious e xpe r i e nc e tha n ~a f lka r a, r e ly ing

le s s on e x te r na l ( a nd c u l tu r a l ) p r opa e de u t i c s . H i s i s a pa r t i c u l a r ly mode r n

v e r s i o n o f n o n d u a l i s m , o n e w i t h n o f o r m a l a f f i li a ti o n s t o th e m a t h a s of S.rflgeri,

B a d r in~ th , K~fic i, o r a n y o th e r t r ad i t i ona l A dva i t in i n s t i t u t ions . I nde e d , i t i s

p r o ba b ly m isgu ide d to ide n t i f y R a ma n .a a s a n 'Adv a i t in ' a t a l l , s i nc e Adva i t a

r e p r e se n t s a n e n t i r e c u l tu ra l a nd in s t it u t iona l m a t r ix wh ic h m in im a l ly c ons i s t s

o f f o r m a t ive t e x t s , t r a d i t i ons , a nd t e a c he rs ; al l o f t he se in tu r n c ons t i t u t e a n

' e x t e r na l c i r c u i t r y ,' a s i t w e r e , a c om ple x se t o f soc i a l ly e s t a b l i she d doxa s t i c

m e c h a n i s m s w h i c h i n f o r m a n d s h a p e tr a d it io n a l A d v a i t in p r o g r a m s o f l ib e r at io n

a nd the i r subse qu e n t ve r ba l c la ims . W hi l e t he re is mu c h to no te in R a m a .na 's

t r a ns l a t ion , he r e I w i l l be mo s t c onc e r ne d w i th the m e c ha n i sm s wh ic h p r oduc e

s a v i n g k n o w l e d g e . R a m a n .a 's d e c i s i v e i n w a r d o r i n t er n a li s t e p i s t e m o l o g y o p e n s

h i s 'm od e r n ' ve r s ion o f Adva i t a t o a b r oa de r m i l i e u , i n e f f e c t ' l ibe r a t ing '

Adva i t a f r om i t s l oc a l c on te x t . I n do ing so , he s t r e ng the ns the un ive r sa l i sm tha t

f u n d a m e n t a l l y a c c o r d s w i th t h e m e t a p h y s i c s o f n o n d u a l i s m .

R A M A N A ' S I N T R O D U C T I O N T O T H E

V I V E K A C I ] D . T t M A N . I

Lo ok ing a t R a m a n .a 's p r ose in t r oduc t ion , h i s t r a ns l a tion o f t he V i v e k a c ~ . a m a n . i

i s u se fu l f o r i t r e ve a l s som e th ing o f R a m a n .a 's v i e w o f t he un ive r se , m uc h o f

wh ic h i s i n ke e p ing w i th t ime - honor e d v i e ws in H indu , e spe c ia l ly Adva i t in ,

me ta phys ic s . F i r s t , he r e c ogn iz e s the un ive r sa l de s i r e s f o r ha pp ine s s a nd

f r e e d o m f r o m s u f fe r in g . T h e f o r m e r h o w e v e r is o u r t ru e n a t u re , t h e l a tt e r is n o t ;

i gno r a nc e is t he e nde m ic f l a w wh ic h t r a ps hum a n i ty in the e nd le s s c yc le o f

e x i s t e nc e , t yp ic a l ly ge ne r a t ing a m isgu ide d p r og r a m o f su bs t i t u t ing e phe me r a l

p l e a s u re s l o t t ru e b l is s . H o w e v e r , u t te r in g w o r d s t h a t c o u l d h a v e b e e n s p o k e n b y

the B ud dha , R a ma .na wr i t e s : B u t t he r e ne v e r i s ha pp ine s s w i th ou t su f f e r ing '

( M a h a r s i 1 9 8 7 : I 1 1 ) ) I t i s f o r t h is r e a so n , h o l d s R a m an .a , t h a t L o r d S i v a ,

a s suming the f o r m o f S a f ika r a c a i l k a r a r c a i i k a r a v ~ s a m p a n . t.u ), wr o te the

c om m e n ta r i e s on the Ve dS ~nti c c a no n a nd , m or e o ve r , de m ons t r a t e d the pa th to

l ibe r a t ion n ~r v a _ l i ) in h is own l i f e val_i kat .t . i nat .antun. ) .

This l a s t po in t i s s ign i f i c a n t be c a use S a nka r a h imse l f ne ve r a ppe a l s t o h i s

ow n e x pe r i e nc e a s p r o o f f o r t he t ru th o f non dua l i sm. B u t R a man .a he r e c l e a rly

ind ic a t e s t ha t t he m or a l a u tho r i ty o f a sp i r i tua l l e a de r ha s c ons ide ra b le

pe r sua s ive f o r c e . W hi l e S a nka r a wa s h igh ly d i sc r e e t a bo u t h is ow n pe r sona l

e xpe r i e nc e , he none the le s s r e c ogn iz e d the a u tho r i ty o f a ho ly t e a c he r in t he



1 2 / T h o m a s A . F o r s t h o e f e l

Upade~asahasri a s d id the a u tho r o f t he Vivekac~damatfi. R a ma .na a l so

r e c ogn iz e s the im por t a nc e o f a u the n t i c pe r sona l w i tne s s . He wa s d i sc r e e t a bo u t

the f ru i t s o f h is expe r ience , tho ug h n ot a s d isc ree t ap paren t ly a s 5 ;a fika ra . Fo r

e x a m p l e , th e i m p o r t a n c e o f hi s a c c o u n t o f re a l iz a t io n a t t he a g e o f s e v e n t e e n l ie s

in the f a c t tha t i t i s no t on ly a n e x p o s t f a c t o i n t e r p r e t a t ion o f a pa r t i c u l a r ,

e x t r a o r d ina r y e xpe r i e nc e bu t a l so tha t suc h k ind o f a n e xpe r i e nc e be c om e s a

m ode l f o r t he sp ir i tua l pa th . S p i r it ua l suc c e s s r e qu i r e s ne i the r g r e a t l e a r n ing n o r

e r ud i t i on bu t a n a b i l i ty , so we l l e xe m pl i f i e d by R a ma n .a , t o ' d iv e w i th in ' t o

d i s c o v e r t h e e n d o f t h e b o d y - m i n d a n d t h e s o u r c e o f e m p i ri c a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s ,

t h a t is , t h e d e a t h l es s S e l f (S w a m i 1 9 9 3 : 2 1 ) . T h e i m p o r t a n c e o f h i s r e p re s en t a-

t i on is un de r sc o r e d by i ts r e pe t i t i on in v i r tua l ly e ve r y a c c oun t o f h i s l i fe , e i t he r

in b iog r a ph ie s o r a s i n t r oduc t ions to h i s w r i t ings o r t e a c h ings (fOr e xa m ple ,

Mahar . s i 1992: 1 , 1993: 7-9 ; Swami 1993: 21-22) .

I n a dd i t ion to h i s pe r sona l a c c o un t , R a man .a m a ke s o the r r e fe r e nc e s to h i s

e xpe r i e nc e . F o r e xa m ple , R ama n.a a ppe a l s t o h i s ow n e xpe r i e nc e to a c c oun t f o r

the a u tho r i ty o f h i s e xpe r i e nc e , no t pa r t i c ipa t ion in a

g u r u p a r a m p a r a .

W h e n

a s k e d b y O l i v i e r L a c o m b e i f h i s t e a c h i n g s f o l l o w e d t h o s e o f S a f i k a r a , R a m a n a

r e p l ie d , 'B ha ga v a n ' s t e a c h ing is a n e xp r e s s ion o f h i s o w n e xpe r i e nc e a nd

rea l iza t ion . Others f ind tha t i t t a l l ie s wi th Shankara ' (Mahar . s i 1993: 9) . No

l ine a ge r e nde r s h i s t e a c h ing a u tho r i t a tive , bu t h i s d i r e c t e xpe r i e nc e doe s .

E l s e w h e r e , f o l l o w i n g a d is c u s s io n o f w h a t m i g h t b e c a l le d ' s p i r it u a l a n a t o m y , '

R a man .a loc a t e s t he he a r t on the righ t s ide o f t he tho r a c i c c a v i ty , no t on the l e ft .

W he n p r e s se d a b ou t th i s , R a man .a in s i st s tha t he i s no t spe a k ing o f t he phys i c a l

he a r t bu t o f B r a hm a n i t se l f, a nd in a n e mb od ie d sou l , t h i s i nne r w i tn e s s i s on

t h e r ig h t s id e o f th e c a v it y . H o w d o e s h e k n o w t h i s? ' T h e h e a r t o f w h i c h I s p e ak

i s on the r igh t . Th a t is my e x pe r i e n c e , a nd I r e qu i r e no a u tho r i ty f o r i t ' ( Ma ha r s i

1993 : 32 ). Ma h a de va n c a p tu r es t he po in t o f R a m a na ' s ' p l e na r y e xpe r i e nc e ' a s

we l l i n h i s r e v ie w o f R a ma n .a ' s va r iou s r e fe r enc e s to ~ruti a nd smr t i . A c c o r d i n g

to M a ha d e va n , suc h t e x t s we r e b r oug h t t o R a m a n .a 's a t t e n t ion a f t e r h i s e n l igh t -

e n m e n t e x p e r i e n c e ; h e r e a d a n d r e v i e w e d t h e m in o r d e r t o cl e a r t h e d o u b t s o f h i s

d i sc ip l e s : i n t he e nd , how e ve r , ' i t i s q u i t e c l e ar t ha t t he se c i t a t ions a r e o f fe r e d

o n l y a s c o n f i r m a t i o n s o f th e t ru t h d i s c o v e r e d b y B h a g a v a n h i m s e l f i n h i s o w n

e xpe r i e nc e ' ( Mahar .s i 1994b : i v ). M a ha d e va n ' s po in t i s t ha t e x pe r i e nc e c a m e

f i r s t i n t he c a se o f R a ma n .a a nd wor ds , c a t e go r i e s , a nd e xp la na t ions c a me l a t e r .

W hi l e Ma h a de v a n min im iz e s the s ign i f i c a nc e o f R ama n . a ' s r e l ig ious a nd c u l tu r a l

ba c k gr ou nd a s a c on t r ibu t ing f a c to r i n R a ma n .a 's a c c o un t o f h i s e x pe r i e nc e , no t

to me n t ion the a c tua l e xpe r i e nc e i t s e l f, h i s p o in t i s c l ea r : R a ma .na 's a u tho r i ty

l ie s n o t w i t h a b a t te r y o f t e x t s b u t w i t h h i s o w n d i r e c t e x p e r i e n c e o f e n l i g h t -

e n m e n t .

R e tu r n ing to R a ma n .a ' s i n t r oduc t ion , he sugge s t s t ha t S a f ika r a wr o te the



Rama¢za M ahars i : M ys t i c a s t rans la tor

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mumuk.yus

le ss sk i l led in schola r sh ip but s t i l l a rdent

f o r l ib e r a ti o n . H e th e n o f fe r s a s h o r t s u m m a r y o f t h e t e x t b e f b r e c o m m e n c i n g

h i s t r a ns l a t ion . H i s i n t r od uc t ion i s s ign i f i c a n t t o r i t de m ons t r a t e s R a ma n .a s

a pp r op r i a t ion o f t ra d i t i ona l t e r ms a nd f i t ti ng the m to h i s p r og r a m o f l i be r at ion .

I n h is s u m m a r y o f th e Vivekacad. dman . i , he h igh l igh t s t he tr a d i t iona l A dva i t in

e m p h a s i s o n k n o w l e d g e a s t h e p r o x i m a t e m e a n s t b r l ib e r at io n ; s u c h e f fi c ac i o u s

kno wle d ge , how e ve r , i s a c h ie ve d on ly th r ough s t e a dy inqu i r y (Ma har.s i 1987 :

112). A dd i t ion a l ly , h i s r e p r e se n ta t ion o f the

Vivekacad.dmatf i

e m p h a s i z e s b o t h

t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e

g u r u

t o t e a ch t h e m e t h o d o f p r o p e r i n q u i r y a n d t h e

i m p o r t a n c e o f o n e s o w n e f l b rt t o a t ta i n u l t i m a t e b l is s ta t3 p i rayat ta tjam~

mukk i yam) .

I n t h e e n d , s u c h e f fo r t o r p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e , f e l t k n o w l e d g e , a s i t

we r e , i s u l tima te ly p r o duc t ive o f l i be r a t ion , t b r t he b l i ss o f l i be r a t ion i s

una va i l a b le by m e r e boo k kno wle dge (Ma har.s i 1 987 :112 ) .

R a ma n .a the n summa r iz e s wha t he t a ke s to be the pu r po r t o f t he

Viveka-

cad.amat3i,

n a m e l y , t h e p r o c e s s o f i n q u i r y

vicara) ,

whic h he de f ine s a c c o r d ing

to the t r a d i t i ona l Adva i t in me thod o f

gravan,a , manana ,

a n d

n id idhy~sana .

Sravan.a

be g ins the de s t r uc t ion

n a c a m )

o f i g n o r a n c e a n d p r e s u p p o s e s a w o r k i n g

re la t ionsh ip wi th a rea l ized teacher . E ls ew here , Raman.a was f on d o f a pa r t icu la r

m e ta phor to de sc r ibe the re a d ine s s o f i nd iv idua l s f o r u l tima te t r u th ; he a dm i t s

th r ee k inds o f d isc ip l e s a nd l ike ns the m to gun pow de r , d r y c ha r c oa l , a nd we t

c ha r c oa l (Ma har.s i 199 2 :18 ) . T hose a l r e a dy pu r i f i e d a r e p r e pa r e d to he a r the t r u th

o f the S e l f ma y r e a li z e i t i n s ta n t ly , l i ke the f la sh o f i gn i t e d gun pow de r . Le ss

p r e pa r e d sou l s mu s t a t t e nd c a r e f u l ly to t he t r u th , s t e e p ing i t de e p ly w i th s t e a dy

inqu i r y un t il , l i ke the s low ly bu r n ing c ha r c oa l, t he t r u th b u r ns s low ly a nd

c ons i s t e n t ly in t he se d i sc ip l e s . O the r s ne e d va r ious p r a c t i c e s o f pu r i f i c a t ion to

p r e pa r e the sou l | b r t r u th . I n th is c a se , t he sou l i s l i ke ne d to the da m p c ha rc oa l

tha t fi r s t m us t d r y ou t be f o r e be ing k ind le d . T he d ida c t i c de sc r ip t ion o f t he se

g r ad e s o f a s p i r a n t s - - h i g h e s t , m e d i u m , a n d l o w e s t - - a p p e a r s i n Vicdrasaiz-

graham:

t he h ighe s t a r e p re pa r e d to de t e r m ine the na tu r e o f t he r e al t h r ough

inqu i r y ; t he m e d ium d i r e c t the mind to r e s t in t he he a rt t h r oug h c on t inuou s

me d i t a t ion ; a nd the low e s t mus t r e ly on the me c ha n ic s o f b r e a th c on t r o l in o r de r

to m a s te r m ind c on t r o l ( Ma ha r s i 1994b : 37 ) . R e le a se how e ve r i s t he s a m e in

e ve r y c a se - -- -de s tr uct ion o f the m in d - - a nd so a l l e f f o r t s ha ve a s t he i r a im the

con trol o f the min d (Mahar .s i 1994b: 36) .

H i s r e p r e se n t a ti o n o f m a n a n a c o m p a r e s w e l l t o t he ~tm~naonav i veka f ound in

the

Vivekacadaman. i ,

e spe c ia l ly in the a na lys i s o f t he

ko.~as.

T h i s p r o c e s s , w h i c h

a lso pa ra l le l s Sa f lka ra s

anvayavyat i reka

m e t h o d o f i n t e r p r e t i n g

mah~vakyas ,

de te r mine s tha t t he

kogas

a nd the e n t i r e a gg r e ga te o f t he me n ta l a n d phys i c a l

u n iv e rs e a re n o t - th e - S e l f o r n o t - I / T h r o u g h

m a n a n a

( sus ta ined re f lec t ion) , the

inne r Se l f , re s id ing in the hea r t , i s de l ica te ly draw n ou t l ike a s ta lk of grass




d r a w n o u t f r om i ts s he a t h ( M a ha r. si 1987: 36 ) .

A p p r o p r i a t e i n s tr u c t io n o f t h e S e l f a n d t h e S u p r e m e i s upadega a nd i nc l ude s a

p r o p e r a n a l y s is o f m a h a v a k y a s s uc h a s ta t t ram as i . T h e g u r u t he n e n j o i n s t he

d i s c i p l e t o r e m a i n i n s t a t e o f a h a m - b r a h m a n . H o w e v e r , t h e l b r m e r t e n d e n c i e s

o f t h e m i n d (parva vacanaikal.) c o n s t i t u t e a n o b s t r u c t i o n ( tat .ai) . Nididhyasana

a m o u n t s t o r e s o l v i n g t h e m i n d i n t h e h e a rt u n ti l th e s e t b r c e s a r e d e s t ro y e d . T h i s

i s a l s o c a l l e d by va r i ous c ogna t e t e r m s , s uc h a s a tmOnusandhanam, bhak t i ,

yoga , o r dhydna . W ha t is i n t e r e s ti ng t o no t e i s t ha t R a m a n . a s f i r s t g l o s s on

n id idhydsana- - -a tmanusandhanarn- - inc ludes bo t h a na l y t i c a l a n d a f f e c t i ve ove r -

t o n e s . T h e v e r b a n u s a n d h a m e a n s t o i n q u ir e i n t o , t o s e a r c h , t o e x a m i n e ,

a n d s o o n , b u t i ts s e m a n t i c r a n g e a d d i t i o n a ll y i n c l u d e s t o c a l m , t o q u i e t , a n d

t o c o m p o s e . O n e m i g h t t he n i n te r p re t R a m a n . a s us e o f t he t e rm

a tmanusan-

d h a n a m a s t h e c a l m t h a t e m e r g e s t h r o u g h i n q u i r y . T o c o n v e y t h e i m p o r t a n c e

o f s u c h e x te n d e d c o n te m p l a t io n , R a m a .n a b o r r o w s a m e t a p h o r f r o m m a n y

t r a d it i o n s o f m e d i t a t io n ; h e s u g g e s t s t h a t u n s w e r v i n g c o n c e n t ra t io n o n t he

S e l f , c ons t a n t l i ke t he u nb r o ke n f l ow o f o i l , p r od uc e s n irv ika lpa samadh i , a

n o n c o n c e p t u a l a w a r e n e s s o f t h e e f f u l g e n t S e l f. T h i s a w a r e n e s s a m o u n t s t o a

k n o w i n g b e y o n d k n o w l e d g e , a n a w a r e n e ss th a t t r a n s c e n d s a ll c a t e g o r ie s a n d

c onc e p t ua l i z a t i ons ; t h i s p r oc e s s , w h i c h c l e a r l y u s e s t he m i nd i n o r de r f i na l l y t o

t r a n s c e n d th e m i n d s d u a l is t ic t e n d e n c ie s , r e a d i l y a n d s p o n t a n e o u s l y y i e l d s t h a t

d i re c t, i m m e d i a t e , u n o b s t r u c t e d , a n d u n i v e rs a l p e r c e p t i o n o f B r a h m a n , w h i c h

is at o n c e k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i en c e a n d w h i c h t r a n s ce n d s t i m e a n d s p a c e

(Mahar.s i 1987: 113).

R A M A N. A S T R A N S L A T I O N

D e s p i t e a r a t her t r e e a r ra nge m e n t o f the ve r s e s , Ra m a n . a s t r a n s l a ti on o f t he

Vivekacad.dman. i n ge ne r a l f a i t h f u l l y r e p r e s e n t s t he p r i nc i pa l t he m e s o f t he t e x t .

T h i s is n o t to s ay hi s t r a n sl a ti o n i s a c c u r a t e , i f b y t h is o n e m e a n s a s c r u p u l o u s

a t te n t i o n t o t h e o r d e r o f v e r s e s a n d t h e s e q u e n c e s o f w o r d s a n d p h r a s e s. R a m a n .a

t e nd s t o r e a r ra n g e t h e o r d e r o f t h e t e x t a n d t o o m i t o r c o n d e n s e S a n s k r i t w o r d s

o r p h r a s e s , e v e n i f m u c h o f h is t r an s l a ti o n d o e s f a i t h f u l ly c a p t u r e th e S a n s k r i t

t ex t . T h i s i t s e lf is n o n e t o o s e r i o u s , t h o u g h i t s o m e t i m e s m a k e s f o r a d if f ic u l t

e f f o r t t o m a t c h T a m i l s e n te n c e s w i t h S a n s k r i t v e r s e s . F o r e x a m p l e , Viveka-

c~d.a m a n i

4 9 4 e x p r e s s e s t h e u b i q u i ty o f t h e S u p r e m e a s t h e u l t i m a t e r e a li ty

be h i nd a l l ph e no m e na l a ppe a r a nc e s , i nc l ud i ng de i t i e s , i n a m a nn e r t ha t c l e a r l y

e c hoe s t he t e n t h c ha p t e r o f B h a g a v a d G f t a . Ra m a n . a c onde ns e s s e ve r a l ve r s e s

s u r r o u n d i n g VivekacfMaman. 494 a nd t r a ns l a te s , I i nde e d a m B r a hm a n , V i .sn .u,



Rama.na Mahar,yi: M ystic as translator / 115

R ud ra , T~a , Sad ~giv a (Mahar .s i 1987: 170) . Su ch a s en ten ce ce r t a in ly i s fa i th fu l

t o t he s p i r it o f Vivekacad.dmat.zi, i f no t t o i ts l e tt e r. I nde e d , Ra m a n . a s om i s s i on

o f Nf ir~yan.a and h i s inc lus ion o f Sadf i~ iva m ay f i r s t r a i s e the q ues t ion of

s e c t a r i a n b i a s ; bu t on c l o s e r i n s pe c t i on Vivekacad. mat.zi 490 i nc l ude s S a d f i ~ i va ,

and N~rayan . a o f cou rse i s ano the r na m e tbr Vi.sn .u.

A l t h o u g h h e ta k e s l ib e r ty w i t h t h e a r r a n g e m e n t o f th e

Vivekaca d. man. ,

there

i s no que s t i on t ha t h i s t r a n s l a t i on i s t r ue t o nondua l ph i l o s ophy a nd t r ue e ve n t o

n u m e r o u s a n c i ll a ry c o n c e r n s o f A d v a i t a . F o r e x a m p l e , h i s r e p r e se n t a ti o n o f t h e

qua l i t i e s o f a guru s e e m s t o c a p t u r e w e l l t he l i st in t he VivekacfM. m at.zi 3 3 - 4 0 ,

a s doe s h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i on o f t he

~tm~n~tmatattvaviveka

e s pe c i a l l y i n h i s

a n a l y s i s an d e s ti m a t e o f th e h u m a n b o d y ( 8 3 - 1 0 5 ) a n d o f th e kogas ( 1 4 7 - 8 8 ) .

S t i ll , the r e a r e p l a c e s w he r e Ra m a n . a om i t s a w or d o r t w o o f the v e r s e , a dds

t e r m s t ha t a r e no t i n t he S a ns k r i t t e x t , o r i n t e r po l a t e s a b r i e f e xc u r s us . S om e o f

t h e s e v a r i a ti o n s , in t u r n , d o n o t s e e m t o b e o v e r l y i n v a s i v e . F o r e x a m p l e , t he

r e p e a t e d r e fr a in o f

Vivekacad. matfi

4 0 8 - 1 0 ,

hrd i kalayati vidvan,

i s om i t t e d ; i t s

o m i s s i o n m a y b e s o m e t h i n g o f a n i n j u s ti c e t o t h e S a n s k r it , b u t i t d o e s n o t

v i t i a t e t he ove r a l l c on t i nu i t y o f the T a m i l ve r s i on w i t h i ts S a ns k r i t o r i g i na l .

M o r e o v e r , re s o l v i n g th e m i n d i n th e h e a r t is p r e c i s e l y t h e p r o g r a m o f R a m a n . a s

m e t h o d o f i n q u ir y . I n t h e m a i n , t h e f ac t t h a t h e o c c a s i o n a l l y o m i t s w o r d s o r

ph r a s e s a ppe a r s to be pa r t ic u l a r t r a n s la t ion c ho i c e s t ha t do n o t v i t i a te t he p r og r a m

o f t h e

Viveka cad. man. .

O t h e r v a r i a t i o n s , h o w e v e r , d o s e e m t o h i g h l i g h t

R a m a n . a s u n iq u e a p p r o a c h t o A d v a i t a. T h e f o l l o w i n g p a g e s w i ll h i g h l i g h t s o m e

o f t he s e va r i a ti ons a s w e l l as s t r e s s im por t a n t po i n t s o f c on t i nu i t y be t w e e n t he

S a n s k r i t Vivekacad.~mat.zi a n d R a m a . n a s T a m i l t r a n s la t io n .

O ne o f i m po r t a n t s i te s o f c on t i nu i t y in t he t w o ve r s i o ns i s the c ons i de r a t i on

o f t he m e a ns w h i c h p r oduc e l i be r a ti on . Ra m a n . a a c c u r a te l y t r a ns l a te s s e ve ra l

v e r s e s o f t he Vivekacagl. man. w hi c h r e l a t i v i z e t he m e r i t s o f e x t e r na l f a c t o r s a nd

e m p h a s i z e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f i n te r na l e x p e r i e n c e . F o r e x a m p l e , R a m a n.a t rans la t e s

Vivekacad.aman. 281 qu i t e l i t er a l ly , [ O n e kn ow s the se l l] th r ough s c r i p t u r e ,

r e a s on i ng , a nd on e s ow n e xpe r i e nc e ( M a ha r s i 1987: 148 ). T he T a m i l r e f le c t s

R a m a . n a s o w n h i e ra r ch y o f p r e fe r re d s o t e ri o l o g i c a l m e c h a n i s m s , t e r m i n a t i n g in

o n e s o w n e x p e r i en c e (sv~_nupavatt~lum).

A n d a l t h o u g h t h e S a n s k r i t Viveka cad. m at.zi doe s i nde e d r e l a t i v i z e t he

i m por t a nc e o f s c r i p t u r e , t he t e x t ne ve r t he l e s s s t r e s s e s t he ne e d f o r he a r i ng a nd

i n t e r na l i z i ng o f the t r u th o f s c r i p t u r e ( 241 - - 45 ). Ra m a n . a c onc u r s i n h i s t r an s l a -

t i on , f o r he c l e a r l y i nc l ude s t he

Vivekacadaman i s

i n s i s t e nc e on i n t e r na l i z i ng

t he ( nondua l ) t r u t h o f s c r i p t u r e a s pa r t o f t he p r oc e s s o f l i be r a t i on . Ra m a n . a

e l s e w he r e r e pe a t s t he

VivekacOgl.~mat.zi s

e m p h a s i s o n t h e n e e d f o r s c ri p tu r e ; o n e

e xa m pl e i l l u s t r a t e s bo t h t he t he o r y o f i nna t e mok.ya a n d t h e w i t n e s s v a l u e o f

s c r i p t u r e : P r e c i s e l y being t he pa r t l e s s Br a hm a n i s l ibe r a t i on : t h is i t s e l f i s t he




e s o t e r ic c o n c l u s i o n o f th e e n t i r e V e d a n t a t o w h i c h

grut i

tes t i f ie s ' (Mahar.si 1987 :

169 ; e m pha s i s a dde d ) .

A d d i t i o n a l l y , Vivekacad. d man . i 4 7 4 o f fe r s a s u m m a r y o f t h e m e a n s o f v a l id

k n o w l e d g e f o r t h e m um uk s , u : sc r ip tu r e , r e a son ing , t he wor ds o f t he g u r u , a n d

o n e ' s o w n e x p e r i e n c e a r e t h e p r a m d n , a s of l ibe ra t ion . Raman.a of fe r s a l i te ra l

t r a ns l a t ion tha t a c c o r ds we l l w i th the S a nsk r i t :

' c u r u t i , y u k t i , k u r u v d c a n a m ,

aka t t i l u l l .a tan a nu pa va m iva i pram~t. za i zka l. ' (Mahar.si 1987: 169). What is

in t e r e s t ing to no te he re is t he im p l i e d c a l l to i nne r e xp e r i e nc e tha t a ppe a r s i n

b o t h t h e S a n s k r i t a n d T a m i l ( S a n s k r i t a n t a h . - s i d d h a , l i te ra l ly 'pe r fec ted

i n t e rn a l l y ' o r ' p e r f e c t e d w i t h i n ' ; T a m i l ak at t i l ul.l .a a_nupavam, ' e x p e r ie n c e w h i c h

is i n t e r na l ' ) . Th i s i s in ke e p ing w i th the in t r o spe c t ive tu r n f i r s t e xpe r i e nc e d a nd

t h e n a d v o c a t e d b y R am a n. a a n d s u g g e s t s a n o t h e r r e a s o n w h y h e w a s d r a w n t o t h e

Vivekacad. am an i .

S t il l, t he a u tho r o f t he V i v e k ac ad .a m a n i w a s n o t a f ra i d t o m i n i m i z e t h e m e r i t s

o f s c rip tu r e , no r wa s R ama .na. I nde e d , R a ma n .a wa s a f r e qu e n t c r i t ic o f ' bo ok

le a r n ing , ' a nd so the

Vivekacad. aman. i ' s

o w n n e g a t i v e e s t im a t i o n o f e r u d it i o n

sugge s t s a no th e r r e a son w hy R a ma n. a f oun d i t a ppe a l ing , f o r i t a c c o r d s w e l l w i th

h i s ow n p r e d i spos i t i ons . F o l lo win g in th i s sp i r it , R ama .na a c c u r a t e ly r e p r e se n t s

V i v e k ac adam at 3 i 6 , imp or t a n t f o r it s de v a lua t ion o f t yp ic a l re l ig ious p r a ct ic e s

a n d its c o n s e q u e n t v a lo r i z a ti o n o f tr a n s c e n d e n t k n o w l e d g e : ' N o m a t t e r w h a t o n e

d o e s f o r w h a t e v e r n u m b e r o f e o n s - - r e a d t h e s cr ip t ur es , p e r f o rm p a j d t o g o d s , d o

r it u al a c ti o n , w o r s h i p s p i r i t s - - w i t h o u t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e n o n d u a l B r a h m a n

l ibe r a tion is im poss ib l e ' ( Ma har .s i 19 87 :11 5) .

S im i l a r ly , he o f f e r s a r a the r li t er a l t r a ns l a tion o f Vivekacad. am an i 59 , wh ic h

poe t i c a l ly d i smis se s the u l t ima te im por t a n c e o f sc r ip tu r e : ' I f on e i s i gn o r a n t o f

the na tu r e o f the u l t im a te , r e a d ing sc r ip tu r e is i ne f f e c t ive , a nd inde e d a f t e r one

knows the S upr e me , r e a d ing sc r ip tu r e i s c omple t e ly unne c e ssa r y ' ( Ma ha r s . i

1987 : 122 ) . I nde e d , a c c o r d ing to R a m a .na 's Ta m i l r e n d i t ion o f

Vivekac t . ama n. i

60 , one mus t ' c r o s s t he g r e a t f o r e s t o f g a s t r a s w h i c h d u p e t h e m i n d ' a n d r e l y ,

w i th the he lp a r e a l i z e d te a c he r , on a pa r t i c u l a r k ind o f e xpe r i e n t i a l kno wle dge o f

the Se lf to be l ibera ted (Mahar.si 1987: 122).

In Vivekacad.a m a n i 479 , R a ma n .a f o l low s the S a nsk r i t wh ic h in th i s c a se

m a k e s n o r e fe re n c e t o ' i n n e r e x p e r ie n c e ' b u t i n s te a d e m p h a s i z e s o n e ' s o w n

r e a s o n in g p o w e r s

( t a n y u k t i y a l u m ) ,

sc r ip ture

( c ur u t i p r am a t . z a t t a l um ) ,

and the

c l a r i f y i n g w o r d s o f t h e g u r u ( u r a i t t a k u r u v a c a n a t t a l u m ) a s t h e m e a n s b y w h i c h

t h e d i s c i p l e k n o w s t h e S e l f

( a t m a t a t t uv am a_r i n t u ) .

St i l l , a l l th is genera tes the

d i r ec t e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e n o n d u a i S e l f, a n d i n d e ed , f o l l o w i n g t h e d i s c i p l e ' s b r i e f

( k o ~c a k a l a m ) e xp e r i e n c e o f he igh te ne d a bso r p t ion in the S e l f , t he d i sc ip l e o f f e rs

h i s s a lu t a t ions to the g u r u a n d h o n o r s h i m w i t h t h e e p i t h e t , ' O O n e o f c o n s u m -

m a t e e x p e r i e n c e (maka_nubhava). ' S uc h a ti t le r e ve a l s bo th the m e tho d a nd the



R a m a na Mahar,.~ i: M y s t i c a s t r ans l a t o r

/ 117

goa l o f R a ma n .a ' s p r o j e c t t b r u l t ima te a wa r e nes s : a pa r t ic u l a r k ind o f e xpe r i e nc e

wh ic h i s bo th r e ve l a to r y a nd se l l- gua r a n te eing . A nd ye t i t i s a n e x t r a o r d ina r y ,

spe c i a l k ind o f e xpe r i e nc e . C o nc e r n in g th i s un iqu e e xpe r i e nc e R a ma n a onc e

e x p l a i n e d , ' W h a t i s a n u b h a v a ? I t i s o n l y g o i n g b e y o n d t h e p a ir s o f o p p o s i t e s o r

the

t r ipu t i s

o f k n o w e r , k n o w n , a n d k n o w l e d g e ( M u d a l i a r 1 98 9: 2 1 6 ) .

S u c h k n o w l e d g e is n o n c o n c e p t u a l a n d n o n d u a l , a k i n d o f k n o w i n g b e y o n d

k n o w l e d g e . T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e S e l f i s a p a r t i cu l a r k i n d o f k n o w l e d g e w h i c h

s h o u l d n o t i m p l y a lo c al iz e d k n o w e r - - s o m e o n e w h o h a s k n o w l e d g e o f t h e

Se ll for in kee pin g wi th the prem ise o f A dv a i ta , the re i s no th in g separa te

f r om the S e l f t ha t c a n be know n . Kn ow le dg e , on th i s t a ke , i s a d i r e c t a wa r e nes s

o f t he one r ea l in w h ic h the dua l i t y o f sub je c t a nd o b je c t ha s c e a se d to e x i s t .

C o n c e r n i n g t h e

t r iput . i

Raman.a i s qu i te c lea r : 'There i s a r ea l i ty beyond these

three . Th ese app ear and d isappear , w hereas the t ru th i s e te rn a l ' (Mahar.s i 1994a :

342 ) . Th e a u tho r i t y w i th wh ic h he spe a ks i s no t e w or thy . R a ma n .a he r e doe s no t

e nga ge in de ba t e o r per sua de w i th i nc on t r o ve r t i b l e l og i c ; i n s t ea d , he i s sues a

c o m p r e h e n s i v e p r o n o u n c e m e n t a b o u t t h e n a t u re o f r e a li ty . T h e i m p l i c it s o u r c e o f

the a u tho r i t y is no s c r ip tu r a l c a no n o r c a non s o f log i c bu t t he t r u th o f R a m a na ' s

o w n e x p e r ie n c e .

To he lp t he d i s c ip l e a c c e s s t he r e a l i t y be yond sub je c t a nd ob je c t , R a ma n .a

h igh l igh t s the im por t a nc e o f s ing l e - m inde d c onc e n t r a t i on ne c e s sa r y to e l imina t e

me n ta l c h a t t e r a nd to p r e par e f o r t he f l a sh o f ' I- 1 ,' w ha t he c a l l s t he a h a m -

s phur t i .

I n h i s o the r wo r ks a s we l l a s in h i s t r a ns l a t i on o f t he

Vivek aca d. am at.ff,

R a ma n .a f r e que n t ly u se s t he Ta m i l t e r m nik.yt.ai ( ' m e d i t a t i o n ' ) t o c o n v e y t h i s

s e n s e o f h e i g h t e n e d c o n c e n t r a t i o n . H o w e v e r , h e b o r r o w s t e r m s f r o m e a r l y a n d

la t e r Yoga t r a d i t i ons t o g lo s s a bso r p t ion in t he S e l f , i n e f f e c t r e de f in ing the m

a c c o r d ing to h i s p r inc ip le s . F o r e xa m ple , i n h is i n t r oduc t ion to t he Viveka-

cad. ~m an i , h e s p e ak s o f ni ra , ka lpa samadhi , h i s te r m t b r a s a m p r a j ~ d t a s a m ~ d h i

i n t he Yog a t r a d i ti on . B u t t he

V i v e k ac ~ . am an . i

r a r e ly u se s t he se t e r ms a nd

c e r t a in ly no t i n t he h igh ly t e c hn ic a l p r og r a m o f p syc ho log ic a l t r a ns f o r ma t ion

f ound in t he Y oga Sa t r a . I n f a c t, t he r e i s no r e f e r e n c e to n i r v i k a l p a s a m d d h i in

the Y o g a S a t r a . T h e f o u r s a m a p a t t i s o f Y o g a S a t r a 1 . 4 1 i m p l y h e i g h t en e d

s t a t e s o f a wa r e nes s 'w i th c og n i t i on ' ( s am pr a j ~ d t a ) . These four s ta te s a re ' a rgu-

m e n t a t i v e '

( sav i tarka) ,

' n o n a r g u m e n t a t i v e '

(n i rv i tarka) ,

' r e f l e c t ive '

( sav icdra) ,

a nd ' supe r r e f l e c t ive ' (n i rv icdra) (Ei iade 1990: 80) . T hes e technica l te rm s re fe r to

a n in t e nse t r a in ing o f t he mind , a g r a dua l pe ne t r a t i on o f a n o b je c t o f m e d i t a t i on

th r ough s ing le - po in t e d c onc e n t r a t i on un t i l one ob ta in s a s t a t e i n wh ic h sub je c t

a n d o b j e c t d i s a p p e a r a n d b e i n g a n d k n o w i n g b e c o m e f u s e d . A t t h is p o i n t i n t h e

Y oga sys t e m, one is p r e pa r ed to ' e n t e r ' a n e ve n m or e r e f ine d s t a t e i n wh ic h

c onsc iousn e s s r e c e ive s a d i r e c t r e ve l a t i on o f t he S e l f ( E i i a de 1990 : 83 ; M i l l e r

1995 : 39 - 42 ) .




B u t t h i s h y p e r i n t e n s e p r o g r a m o f p s y c h o l o g y i s h a r d l y t h e a g e n d a o f

Vivekacad.dman. o r o f R a m a n .a . R a m a n . a n o w h e r e r e c o m m e n d s t h e a r d u o u s

p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r o g r a m o f yoga a s u l t i m a t e l y e f f e c t i ve be c a us e it i m p l i e s a

p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g , s o m e t h i n g b o t h R a m a n .a a n d S a f ik a r a c o n s i d e r e d a n ti -

t h e ti c al to t he t ru t h . C o n c e r n i n g t h e f a m o u s m a x i m i n t h e Mund. ka Upanisad,

' H e w h o k n o w s B r a h m a n b e c o m e s B r a h m a n ' ( 3.2 .9 ) , R a m a n .a is b lu n t: ' I t is n o t

a m a t t e r o f b e c o m i n g b u t b e i n g ' ( M u d a l i a r 1 98 9: 2 3 2 ) . E l s e w h e r e , h e c o m m e n t s ,

' I s it n o t lu d i c ro u s ? T o k n o w H i m a n d b e c o m e H i m ? T h e y a re m e r e w o r d s . T h e

s a ge i s B r a h m a n - - t h a t i s a l l ' ( M a ha r .s i 1994a : 173 ).

W h i l e R a m a n . a d o e s c o n c e d e s o m e t e m p o r a r y b e n e f i t t o b r e a t h c o n t r o l ,

p e n e t r a ti n g i n q u ir y r e m a i n s h is p r e fe r re d m e c h a n i s m t o r e v ea l o n e ' s t ru e S e l f .

S t i l l , Ra m a . na t yp i c a l l y a ppe a l s t o

nirvikalpa sam~dhi,

a n o n d i s c u r s i v e

r e a l i z a ti on o f the S e l f vo i d o f a l l c onc e p t ua l i z a t i on

vikalpa)

(Mahar.si 1987:

113 , 123 , 157 - 58 ) . O c c a s i o na l l y he a dd s a f u r t he r g l o s s o f the t e r m , s pe a k i ng o f

sahaja nirvikalpa samadhi, a t e r m w h i c h a l s o d o e s n o t a p p e a r i n t h e Yoga

Satra a n d o f t e n s u g g e s t s T a n t r i c o v e r t o n e s . F o r e x a m p l e , in h i s r e v i e w o f

v a r i o u s Y o g a t r ad i t io n s , M i r c e a E l i a d e e x a m i n e d m e d i e v a l s c h o o l s o f T a n t ra ,

e s pe c i a l l y t ha t o f K Sn .h a , an d s u g g e s t s t h e t b l l o w i n g :

L i k e t h e b r a h m a n o f t h e U p a n i. sa d s a n d V e d a n t a , a n d t he

nirvana

o f t h e

Mah~y,~ni s t s , t he s t a t e o f

sahaja

i s i nde f i na b l e ; i t c a nno t be know n

d i a l e c t ic a l l y , i t c a n o n l y be a pp r e h e nde d t h r ough a c t ua l e xpe r i e nc e . . . O n e

' r e a l i z e s ' t he s t a t e o f sahaja by t r a ns c e nd i ng t he dua l i t i e s ( 1990 : 268 - - 69 ) .

W hi l e Ra m a n .a is h a r d l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e m o r e outr~ m e t h o d s o f T a n t r a , h e i s

c onc e r ne d w i t h t he i nna t e

sahaja)

q u a l i t y o f l i b e r a t i o n . H i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f

va r i ous t e c hn i c a l t e r m s i n yoga i l lu s t r a t e h is u s e o f t he m f o r h i s ow n pa r t ic u l a r

pu r pos e s . L e s s c onc e r ne d w i t h a c a r e f u l p r og r e s s i on o f e c s t a t i c s t a t e s a c c o r d i ng

to t rad i t iona l yoga, he i s m o r e c onc e r ne d w i t h a pa r t i c u l a r k ind o f inna t e s t a te

sahaja sthiti)

t ha t t r a ns c e nds a l l c onc e p t s a nd dua l i t i e s . Ra m a . na h i m s e l f c l e a r l y

k n e w w h a t h e w a s d o i n g i n h i s c r e a t i v e d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e Y o g a s c h o o l:

I n

yoga

t h e te r m

samadhi

r e f e r s t o s om e k i nd o f t r a nc e a nd t he r e a r e va r i ous

k i n d s o f samadhi . B u t t h e samadhi I speak of i s d i f fe ren t . I t i s sahaja

samadhi. F r o m h e re y o u h a v e samadhana ( s t e a d i n e s s ) a n d y o u r e m a i n c a l m

a n d c o m p o s e d e v e n w h i l e y o u a r e a c t iv e . Y o u r e a l iz e th a t y o u a re m o v e d b y

t he de e pe r r e al S e l f w i t h i n . Y o u h a ve no w o r r i e s , no a nx i e t i e s , no c a r e s , l o r

y o u c o m e t o r ea l iz e t h a t t h er e i s n o t h i n g b e l o n g i n g t o y o u . Y o u k n o w t h a t

e v e r y t h i n g is d o n e b y s o m e t h i n g w i t h w h i c h y o u a r e in c o n s c i o u s u n i o n

( M a ha r. si 19 92 : 1 50 - 5 ) .



R a m a n a M a h a r , y i : M y s t i c a s t r a n s l a t o r / 119

T h i s c o n s c i o u s u n i o n i s s a h a j a s a m a d h i . I n d e ed , R a m a n a u s es v a r i o u s te r m s t o

i nd i c a te t he S u p r e m e , nondua l r e a l: G o d , t he S e lf , the H e a r t , t he ' I - I ' ; s a h a j a

m a y b e i n c lu d e d a m o n g t he se s y n o n y m s o f t he d i v in e t o i n d ic a te t h a t o n e ' s S e l f

i s t h e r e al , n a t u r al s t a te o f o n e ' s b e i n g . W h e n a q u e s t i o n e r w o r r i e d o v e r th e

t r a n si e n c e o f s t a te s o f s am f i dh i , Ra m a n . a r e p l i e d w i t h the s a m e poe t i c s e ns i b i l i t y

w h i c h h e t y p i c a l l y u s e d w h e n g l o s s i n g t ra d i ti o n a l t e r m s : ' W h a t i s s a m a d h i ?

S a m a d h i i s one ' s e s s e n t i a l na t u r e . H ow t he n c a n i t c om e a nd go? ' ( M a ha r . s i

1994a: 552) .

A n o t h e r s li g h t v a r ia t io n a l s o e m p h a s i z e s t h e e x t e r n a l m e c h a n i s m s o f g u r u a n d

gruf f a nd i s s ho w n in h is r e p r odu c t i on o f t he s.a t s ~ d h a n a s a m p a t . H e r e h e t b l lo w s

the Vivekacad. aman. i s g l o s s o n f r a d d h f i ( f a it h ) , w i t h one no t a b l e e xc e p t i on .

T h e S a ns k r i t t e x t ho l d s t ha t f a it h is t he ' f i r m c onv i c t i on o f t he t r u th o f s c r ip t u r e

a nd t he w or ds

o f a g u r u ( V i v e k a c a d . 6 m a n i

25) . Ra ma .na t rans la tes : 'Fa i th i s the

c e r t a i n t y w h i c h a c c e p t s bo t h t he t ru t h o f the w o r ds o f V e d f in t ic s c r i p t u r e s a nd

t h e w o r d s o f a g u r u (Mahar.s i 1987: 117) . H ow ev er , he add s tha t fa i th ' i s the

c a u s e o f d i r e c t a w a r e n e s s o f B r a h m a n (c fiksf itkarat ti_r k~tuva_na cir at ta i) , w h i c h

s l igh t l y nu a nc e s t he S a n s k r i t t e x t w h i c h s a ys ' f a i t h i s t ha t by w h i c h t he r e al is

pe r c e i ve d

( s fi y a y d v a s t u u p a l a b h y a t e ) .

B o t h v e r s i o n s s e e m t o g i v e p r i d e o f

p lace to fa i th in the causa l m a t r ix l ead in g to l ibe ra t ion . Th i s i s a t f i r s t

pe r p l e x i ng , i f on e op e r a t e s ou t o f a t yp i c a l t he is t ic u nde r s t a nd i ng o f f ai th .

B u t f a i th h e r e i s n o t t h e d e v o t i o n a l i s m o f t h e i s ti c V e d a n t a w h e r e b y o n e

r e c ogn i z e s on e ' s d i f f e re nc e f r om t he d i v i ne a nd s u r r e nde r s t o t he S u p r e m e i n

h u m b l e s u b m i s s i o n , e v e n i n s e r v i t u d e ( k a i i z k a ~ a ) . G o d a n d s u r r e n d e r a r e i n d e e d

o f t e n r ef er re d t o in R a m a . n a ' s c o m m e n t s w i t h d i s c ip l e s , a s w e s a w a b o v e ;

h o w e v e r , h e h a d l it tl e p a t i e n ce f o r t h e d u a l is t ic p r e s u p p o s i t i o n s o f s o m e f o r m s

o f V a i ~n .a v is m : ' S o G o d c a nn o t ge t on w i t ho u t t he i r s e r v i c e s ? O n t he c on t r a r y ,

G o d a s k s: W h o a re y o u t o d o s e r v ic e t o M e T ' H e i s a l w a y s s a y in g : I a m

w i t h in y o u ; w h o a r e y o u ? O n e m u s t t r y t o r e a li z e t h a t a n d n o t s p e a k o f s e r v i c e '

( M uda l i a r 1989: 227 ) . S ti ll , s u r r e nde r i s a n i m por t a n t p s yc ho l og i c a l m om e n t i n

t h e li fe o f t h e d i s c ip l e . S u r r en d e r h e r e m e a n s g i v i n g u p o f p r i v a t e p l a n s a n d

pa r t ic u l a r a ge n da , a l l o f w h i c h a r e m a r k e d by w i l l a nd p l e a s u r e . S u r r e nde r i s

l e tt ing go o f a c on s t r i c t e d i de n t i ty , t he e go , in f a vo r o f t he u n l i m i t e d S e l f .

S o t he i m por t a nc e o f f a i t h a s pa r t o f t he c a us a l m a t r i x f o r r e a l i z a t i on s hou l d

be c le a r . F a i t h a l l ow s f o r a r e s t r uc t u r ing o f m i nd a nd a f f e c t to r e c e i ve a nd de e pe n

V e d fi n ti c t ru t h . O n e ' s m i n d i s r e f a s h i o n e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e t ru t h o f n o n d u a l i s m .

B u t w h i l e f a i th h a r d l y a m o u n t s h e r e to p o p u l a r d e v o t i o n a l i s m , it s t il l s u g g e s t s ,

a t l e a s t i n i ti a l ly , a c ogn i t i ve a s s e n t a nd a f f e c t ive r e s o l u t i on pe r ha p s be s t s e e n i n

p o p u l a r d e v o t i o n a l m o v e m e n t s . T h i s i s w h y t h e a u t h o r o f t h e V i v e k ac ~ . am a . n i

a l s o a d d s t h a t ' a m o n g t h e m e c h a n i s m s w h i c h p r o d u c e l i b e ra t io n , b h a k t i i nde e d

i s s u p r e m e ' (3 2 ) . R a m a n a c o n c u r s in h i s t ra n s la t io n : ' a m o n g th e m e a n s w h i c h




r e su l t i n t he a t t a in ing o f l i be r a tion , bhakt i a l o n e e n j o y s h i g h e s t p r e s ti g e (baktiy¢

mikavu m cirOks, .am ) (Mahars i 1987: 118). T he reas on fo r the h igh pre s t ig e o f

de v o t ion in t he p r oc e s s o f li be r a t ion is t he s a m e a s tha t o f f a it h . D e vo t ion , a s

f a it h , c o n s i s ts o f a m e n t a l a n d v o l i ti o n a l e n e r g y w h o s e o u t c o m e i s t h e

r e f a sh i o n i n g o f h e a rt a n d m i n d . T h i s e n e r g y i n R a m a n .a s p h i l o s o p h y a n d t h a t o f

the Vivekacad. mani sp r ings f r om the s a me sou r c e : t he i ne f thb le S e l f ; t he r e lb r e ,

t h e e n e r g y o f c o n c e n t r a t io n w h i c h f o c u s e s o n t h i s s o u r c e is t h e s a m e , h o w e v e r i t

i s t e r me d . Th i s i s why R a ma n .a s a ys , i n h i s i n t r oduc t ion to t he Vivekacad . man. ,

tha t nididhydsana whic h i s c ons t a nc y in t he s e l f (dtmd_nu-cantdnam) is

o t h e r w i s e c a l l e d bhakti , yoga , dhydna (Mahar.si 1987: 113).

S u c h c o n s t a n c y o f c o u r s e d e m a n d s i n d iv i d u a l e f f o r t, a n o t h e r t h e m e w e s a w i n

the va r ious d i a log ue s c o l l e c t e d by R a m a .na s d i s c ip l e s . Th i s t he m e i s r e pe at e d in

the Vivekacud.dman. (5) , and Raman. a h ighl igh ts i t wi th a s l igh t v a r iance in 110:

[Vivekacad.dmani:] Ha v ing r e nounc e d a ll a c t i on , l e t t he i n t e l li ge n t , t he w i se ,

wh o ar e p r e pa r e d f o r t he p r a c t i c e o f t he s e l f, s t r i ve f o r t he l i be ra t ion f r o m the

b o n d s o f e x i s te n c e .

[ R a m a n a :] T h e r e f o r e t h e o n e p o s s e s se d o f g r e a t c o u r a g e . . . h a v i n g r e je c t e d t h e

e n t i re l o t o f a c ti o n a n d h a v i n g r e n o u n c e d t h e c y c l e o f e x i s t e n c e w h i c h c o n s i s ts

o f b i r t h a nd de a th , m us t m a ke e f f o r t in o r de r t o a t t a in l i be r a tion ( Ma har.s i

1 9 8 7 : 1 1 6 ) .

R a m a n .a s t r a ns l a t i on a dm i t t e d ly i s qu i t e c lo se t o t he S a n sk r i t ve r s ion . Th e y

b o t h o f c o u r s e e m p h a s i z e e f f o r t. T h e S a n s k r it h o w e v e r s e e m s m o r e h o r t a to r y ; i ts

ma in ve r b a f t e r a ll is in t he o p ta t i ve t e nse . R a m a n .a s ve r s io n se e m s to de sc r ibe

b o t h a n o r m a t i v e m o d e l o f re n u n c i a ti o n a n d a n o r m a t i v e d i s ci p li n e . A s i n t h e

S a nsk r i t , R a m a n .a s t r a ns l a ti on inc lude s a dv e r b i a l pa r t i c ip l e s w h ic h ind i c a t e a

p r e l imina r y pha se o f t r ain ing a nd p r a c ti c e ( ha v ing r e j e c t e d , ha v ing r e nounc e d )

b u t t h e n c o n c l u d e s w i th a c o m m o n n o r m a t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n T a m i l , t h e

in f in i t i ve p lu s v~n.t.um. R a ma n .a a l so r e duc e s t he numbe r o f t he sub je c t f r om

p l ur al t o si n g u la r , i n a s en s e c o n s t r u c t i n g n o t o n l y a n o r m a t i v e p r o g r a m ( m u s t

m a k e e f f o r t ) b u t a ls o a si n g le , n o r m a t i v e e x e m p l a r , th e c o u r a g e o u s o n e .

A l tho ug h in d iv idu a l e f for t , necess a r i ly w i th fa i th , a l so i s pa r t o f the causa l

ma t r ix l e a d ing to l i be r a t ion , t he mumuk.yu i s no t w i thou t a s s i s t a nc e ; t he r o l e o f

guru i s h igh l igh te d in bo th o r ig ina l a nd t r a ns l a t i on . The g u r u - - i n t he e nd the

s u p r e m e S e l f w o r k s w i t h i n a n d w i t h o u t t h e d i s c i p l e t o d r a w h i m i n t e rn a l l y t o

a c c e s s t he imm uta b le r e a l . W hi l e t h i s i s t he u l t ima te t r u th o f t he t he o r y o f

guru, a c c o r d ing to R a ma n .a , he none the l e s s c on f e r s impor t a nc e to t he phys i c a l

guru a s we l l . Aga in , pa r t o f t he a ppe a l o f t he Vivekacftddman. for Raman.a is



Ram ana Mahar,.s i: M yst ic as translator / 121

pr e c i se ly i t s m ode l o f the guru-.~i..~yare la t ionsh ip , for i t accords wi th h is under -

s t a nd ing o f t he imp or t a nc e o f tha t r e l a ti onsh ip . A f i vanmukta ha s i ne s t ima b le

mo r a l a nd pe r sua s ive a u tho r i t y . B e t t e r t o a s soc i a t e w i th h im (satsai~g) and

t h e r e b y b e n e f i t i n n u m e r o u s w a y s : d o u b t s c l e a re d , p a s s i o n s c a l m e d , p e r s p ec t iv e

r e o r de r e d . I n sho r t , the guru m o d e l s a w a y o f b e i n g in t h e w o r l d ; b u t t h is i s n o

m e r e voc a t ion a l d i spos i t i on , a s , s a y , a n a r t is t m ode l s a b ohe m ia n l i f e s ty l e o r a

sc ho la r m ode l s a l i fe o f re se a r c h . Mo r e c o r r e c t i s t ha t t he r e a l iz e d guru is b e i n g ,

a s R a ma n .a c onc lude d f r om the Mun.d.aka ve r se ; so , a s a r e su l t o f c onsc ious

u n i o n (sahaja sam~dhi) wi th the S e l f , t he f i vanmukta e m a n a t e s c o m p a s s i o n ,

w i sdom, a nd g r a c e . I n sho r t , t he c ompe l l i ng w i tne s s o f a l i f e i n t e g r a t e d w i th

w i s d o m p r o v i d es a c o m p e l l i n g e p i s t e m o l o g y o f h o l i n e ss v e r y m u c h w o r t h y o f

sc r u t iny a nd , whe r e a pp r op r i a t e , pe r ha ps wor thy o f imi t a t i ng .

W e no t i c e d a bov e tha t fa i t h is pa r t o f t he c a usa l m a t r ix w h ic h t e r m ina t e s i n

l i be r a t ion , bu t bo th t he Ta mi l t e x t a nd i t s S a nsk r i t o r ig ina l i n s i s t t ha t t he ob je c t

o f fa i th i n c lu d e s th e w o r d s o f th e guru ( T a m i l kuru vakkivam; S a nsk r i t guru

va kya ) . The guru h i m s e l f i s e x t o l l e d i n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e Vivekacad.amat3i,

w h e n a q u a l i f ie d a sp i r a n t b e s e e c h es h i m , a n d a t t h e e n d o f t h e t e x t , w h e n t h e

d i s c i p l e g l o w s i n t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e S e l f , o w i n g t o t h e e f f i c a c i o u s upadega

o f t h e guru. R a ma n .a s t r a ns l a ti on o f t he se s e c t ions i s a ga in t r ue t o t he sp i r i t

o f the tex t , i f no t to i t s le t te r . Th e rea l ized teacher i s pure

(nirmalaray),

o n e

w h o h a s t e r m i n a t e d t h e s t a t e o f b o n d a g e (pava pantattai niviruttippavaray),

o m n i s c i e n t (carvamum a_rinthavaray), p u r e c o m p a s s i o n (kirupacakaray), be s t

a m o n g k n o w e r s o f B r a h m a n (pirahmavit cirOk,ytar~,); indee d , he is a f r iend to

all sadhus wh o c l ing to h im ( Mahar .s i 19 87 :11 8) .

T h e i m p o r t an c e o f t h e guru i s c lea r in bo th tex ts , bu t Raman.a unde rscores i t

w i t h a d d i t i o n s n o t f o u n d i n t h e S a n s k r i t . F o r e x a m p l e , Vivekac~damat3i 6 0

wa r ns o f t he p r ob le m o f i n t e l l e c tua l i sm, t he ne t o f wo r ds , t he g r e a t f o r e s t , t he

c a u s e o f t h e w a n d e r i n g m i n d ; t h e r e f o r e , t h o s e w h o a r e a w a r e o f th i s f a c t o u g h t t o

s t r i ve t o know the t r u th o f t he S e l f . R ama n .a a g a in c ha nge s t h ings s l i gh t ly bu t

a l so a dds a t e l li ng ph r a se : O ne m us t pa s s t h r oug h the da z z l ing f o r e s t o f t e x t s ,

w h i c h o n l y p r o d u c e a c o n f u s e d m i n d , a n d e x p e r i e n ce t h e t r u e S e l f t h r o u g h t h e

guru, who i s a ~ n i (Mahar. si 1987: 122) . T o render Ram an.a s Ta m i l in to

Eng l i sh i s s l i gh t ly a wk wa r d be c a use he i nc lude s two r e l at e d c ons t r uc t ions , a n

in f in i ti ve a dve r b i a l ph r a se a nd a n in s t r ume n ta l ph r a se , bo th o f wh ic h su gge s t t he

m e a ns o r m a nne r by wh ic h on e doe s som e th ing . I n t he f ir s t c a se , t he i n f in i t i ve

t o k n o w (a_riya) i s c o m b i n e d w i t h a n a d v e r b i a l c o n s t r u c t i o n (a_nupavam~,).

T o g e t h e r , t h e se w o r d s i n d i ca t e t h e m a n n e r o f k n o w i n g t h e S e l f: t h r o u g h

e xpe r i e nc e . S o the l a s t ph ra se c ou ld be re nde r e d , one sho u ld k now the S e l f

t h r o u g h e x p e r i e n c e . A s l i g h t ly d i f f e r e n t E n g l i s h c o n s t r u c t i o n c o n v e y s t h e s a m e

po in t : on e shou ld ha v e expe r i e n t i a l kno wle d ge o f t he S e l f ; t he l a t te r ph r a s ing




i s a c c e p t ab l e a s l o n g a s o n e d o e s n o t c o n s i d e r k n o w l e d g e h e r e a s s o m e t h i n g

s e pa r a t e a nd qua n t i f ia b l e o r pe r t a i n i ng t o a l oc a l i z e d know e r . I n a ny c a s e , bo t h

v e r s i o n s e m p h a s i z e k n o w l e d g e g a i n e d t h r o u g h d i r e c t e x p e r ie n c e , a t h e m e v e r y

m u c h i n k e e p i n g w i th R a m a n . a ' s p h i l o s o p h y . B u t in h i s t r a n s la t i o n o f Viveka-

cad.aman. 60 , Ra m a n . a i nc l ude s a ph r a s e no t f ound i n t he S a ns k r i t : j ~ a n i

kuruvdl , a n i n s t r um e n t a l ph r a s e m e a n i n g , ' by o r t h r o ugh t he r e a l iz e d t e a c he r .'

Ra m a n . a a ppe a r s t o g i ve e qua l c r e d i t he r e to e xpe r i e n t i a l kno w l e dg e a nd t o t he

i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f t he guru; or , pu t i n a no t h e r w a y , he e n j o i n s t he ne e d f o r

e x p e r i e n t i a l k n o w l e d g e (a_nupavamdy ar iya v n.t.um) w h i c h o c c u r s t h r o u g h t h e

g u r u ' s i n t e r c e s s i on .

T h e t e n s i o n o f d i r e c t e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f t h e g u r u c a r r i e s on .

R a m a n . a m o d i f i e s 6 3 - 6 5 ; h e a p tl y r e n d e rs t h e

Vivekacad.dman. 's

m e t a p h o r

o f si c k n e s s ( ' o n e d o e s n o t r e c o v e r f r o m i ll n e ss m e r e l y b y s a y i n g t h e w o r d

m e d i c i n e ' ) a n d c o n c l u d e s w i t h a s l ig h t b u t i m p o r t a n t v a r i a t i o n f r o m t h e

S a n s k r i t . T h e a u t h o r o f t h e Vivekacad.dman. w r i t e s : ' W i t hou t d i r e c t e xpe r i e nc e ,

m e r e l y u t te r in g B r a h m a n w i l l n o t li b e r a t e ' ( 6 2 ). R a m a .n a m o d i f i e s th i s

s l i gh t l y by i n t e r po l a t i ng a mahdvakya , ' W i t h o u t d i r e c t e x p e r i e n t i a l k n o w l e d g e ,

m e r e l y u t t e ri n g t h e p h r a s e, I a m B r a h m a n , w i ll n o t d e s t r o y b o n d a g e ' (M a ha r.si

1987: 122 ). A t f i r s t t he va r i a t i o n s e e m s o f no c on s e qu e nc e , a nd i nde e d , a c r uc ia l

p o i n t is c l e a r i n b o t h v e r s io n s : o n e m u s t h a v e a n i m m e d i a t e , a u t h o r i t a t iv e d i re c t

e xpe r i e nc e o f r e a li z a ti on ; one c a nn o t hop e t o u t t e r a s a c r e d f o r m u l a a nd e xpe c t

c o s m i c c o n s c i o u s n e s s ; o n e m u s t e x p e r ie n c e it, a n d , a p p a r e n t l y , o n e k n o w s i t i f

one ha s ha d s uc h a n e xpe r i e nc e . 4

Bu t Ra m a n . a i n t e r po l a t e s t he mahavakya . T h i s i s i m p o r t a n t f o r t w o r e a s o n s ;

he doe s no t a s c r ibe a m a g i c a l po t e nc y t o s c r i p t u r e , s a y , i n t he m a nn e r o f

5 ] a nka r a ' s d i s c i p l e , S u r e ~va r a . S e c on d , he f i nds n o u l t i m a t e w o r t h i n t r a d i t i ona l

m e d i t a t i o n s o n t h e mahdvakyas w h i c h a t t e m p t t o c o n s t r u c t y e t a n o t h e r i d e n t i -

f i c a ti o n th a t in th e e n d n e e d s t o b e a b a n d o n e d . R a m a n . a ' s vicdra m e t h o d i n t h e

e n d r e j e ct s o f a ll p o s it i v e id e n t if i ca t io n s , e v e n t h e a p p a r e n t l y s u p r e m e l y p o s i t i v e

i d e n t if i c a ti o n w i th B r a h m a n . I n s te a d , R a m a n . a ' s m e t h o d i s an i n w a r d m o v e m e n t

t o t he s ou r c e o f c on s c i ous n e s s , no t a r a r e f ie d i n t e l le c t ua l p r oc e s s . I t i s a ' dow n-

w a r d ' m o v e m e n t t o d i s c o v e r t h e s o u r c e o f i n te l le c t, n o t a h e a d y , ' u p w a r d '

m o v e m e n t o f in c r e as in g a n a l y s i s a n d a b s t r a c ti o n . S o , h is s i n g l e , p e r s is t en t

q u e s t io n , ' W h o a m 1 ? ,' c a n n o t b e c o n s t r u e d e i th e r a s a m a n t r a i t se l f , tha t i s , as

a de v i c e f o r c onc e n t r a t ion , no r is i t a n i n t e ll e c t ua l t oo l u s e d t o a r r i ve a t p os i t i ve

i d e n t if i c a ti o n s , ' I a m B r a h m a n , ' ' I a m T h a t , ' ' I a m S i v a , ' a n d s o o n . S u c h

s t a t e m e n t s a re s u b j e c ti v e a f f i r m a t i o n s o n c e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e s o u r c e . T h r e e

satsang r e s po ns e s i nd i c a t e h i s e s t i m a t e o f s uc h m e t ho ds ( M a ha r .s i 1992 ) :

E v e n t o r e p e a t a h a m B r a h m a s m i or t h i nk o f it , a do e r i s ne c e s s a r y . W ho i s i t?



Ramana Mahars i : Mys t i c a s t rans la tor / 123

I t i s ' I . ' B e t ha t ' I . ' I t is the d i r e c t m e t hod ( 71 ).

T h e te x t i s n o t m e a n t f o r t h in k i n g , ' I a m B r a h m a n . ' A h a m [ T ] i s k n o w n t o

e v e r y o n e . B r a h m a n a b i d e s a s a h a m in e ve r yone . F i nd ou t the ' I . ' T h e ' I ' i s

a l r e a d y

B r a h m a n .

Y o u n e e d n o t t h i n k s o. S i m p l y f i n d o u t t h e ' I ' ( 7 0 ) .

S i m i l a r l y , t h e b o n d s o f b i rt h a n d d e a t h w i ll n o t c e a s e m e r e l y b y d o i n g m a n y

r e pe t i t i ons o f mahavakyas s u c h a s ' I a m S i v a . ' I n s t ea d o f w a n d e r i n g a b o u t

r e p e a t in g ' I a m t h e s u p r e m e , ' a b i d e a s t h e s u p r e m e y o u r s e lf . T h e m i s e r y o f

b i r t h a nd de a t h w i l l no t c e a s e by voc a l l y re pe a t i ng c oun t l e s s t i m e s , '1 a m

t h a t , ' b u t o n l y b y a b i d i n g a s t h a t ( 1 2 5 ) .

Re t u r n i ng t o h i s tr a ns l a ti on o f t he Vivekacad.ama~.zi, h e m o d u l a t e s a n o t h e r v e r s e ,

6 5 , b y a d d i n g a n o t h e r mahavakya t o i nd i c a t e t he u l t i m a t e i ne f f e c t i ve ne s s o f

' m e r e w or d s ' bu t a ls o o f al l pos i t i ve i de n t i f ic a t i ons : m o r e o ve r , in h i s t r a ns l a ti on

w e a g a i n s ee th e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e g u r u a nd t he f a i l u r e o f i n t e ll e c tua l m e t ho ds

o f a na l y s i s .

W i t h o u t d e s t r o y i n g t h e p e r c e iv e d w o r l d a n d w i t h o u t e x p e ri e n ti a l k n o w l e d g e

o f t he S e l l , t he m e r e ph r a s e ,

brahmaivaham,

w i l l no t p r oduc e l i be r a t i on ,

w h i c h c o n s i s t s o f m e r e l y being Br a hm a n . . .. s o o ne he a r s a r e a l iz e d t e a c he r ' s

e xe ge s i s a nd c ons i de r s i t ; bu t w i t hou t d i r e c t e xpe r i e n t i a l know l e dge a nd

c ons t a n t m e d i t a t i on , a t t a i n i ng t he S e l f , w h i c h is h i dde n by m a y i s

i m p o s s i b l e b y r e a s o n i n g a n d a r g u m e n t ( M a ha r.s i 1 9 8 7 :1 2 2 ; e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) .

A s u m m a r y o f th e s e q u e n c e o f th e p a t h t o l ib e r a ti o n (mok~ya catan_a kira m am ) is

s ugge s t e d i n Vivekacad.a m a n i 69 a nd 70 a nd i nc l ude s v i r t ue s he ld i n e s t e e m by

a l l t r a d i ti ons o f V e d a n t a : de t a c hm e n t (vairagya), t r a nqu i l l i t y (gama), se l f -cont ro l

(dama) , a n d f o r b e a r a n c e (titiks.a); t he s e a r e i m por t a n t be c a us e t he y c on t r i bu t e t o

t he r e f a s h i on i ng o f w i ll a nd a f f e c t ne c e s s a r y f o r the r e ve l a t i on o f t he S e l f . O ne

s i m p l y c a n no t e xpe r i e nc e i n f in i t e a w a r e ne s s i f on e i s obs e s s i ve l y p r e oc c up i e d

w i t h t e m por a l s a t i s f a c t i ons , s o a pa r t ic u l a r c u l t u r e i s ne c e s s a r y t o a s s i s t i n t he

s ha p i ng o f a f f e c t a nd w i l l.

H o w e v e r , w i th Vivekacad.amani 70 w e c a n onc e a ga i n s e e t he a pp e a l o f t he

Vivekac~d.aman. f o r Ra m a n .a : f o l low i ng t he t ra d i t i ona l s e que nc e o f t he p r a c ti c e

o f v i r t ue s , he a r i ng a nd r e f l e c t i ng , a nd m e d i t a t i on , t he a u t ho r o f t he Viveka-

cCM.amani

w r i t e s : ' T h e n t h e w i s e o n e , h a v i n g a t t a i n e d t h e i m m u t a b l e S u p r e m e ,

e x p e r i e n c e s , h e r e a n d n o w , t h e b l i ss o f nirvana. T h e k e y h e r e i s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y

f o r r e a l i z a t i on ' h e r e a nd now ' ( ihaiva), a no t he r t he m e t ha t Ra m a n . a r e pe a t e d l y

s t r e s s e d . S t i l l , h e m odu l a t e s t he ve r s e a s w e l l , u s i ng w or ds t ha t c a r r y e x t e nde d




i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r h i m . H e w r i t es : T h e d i s c ri m i n a t i n g o n e e x p e r i e n c e s t h e

u n e n d i n g b l is s o f li b e r a ti o n r ig h t h e r e a n d n o w , t h r o u g h t h e i m m e d i a t e a n d

d i r e c t a w a r en e s s o f B r a h m a n ; t h is e m e r g e s t h r o u g h

nirv ikalpa samadhi ,

in

turn prod uce d by incessan t m edi ta t io n (Mahar. si 1987: 123) . The re a re severa l

th ings t o no te he r e . F i r s t R a man .a a dds muc h , bo th b y w or ds a nd e m pha s i s . He

u n d e r s c o r es t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f li b e ra t i o n i n o n e s l i f e ti m e b y a d d i n g a d o u b l e

e m p h a t i c s u f f i x

it.attiley~),

wh ic h sugge s t s a bso lu t e c e r t a in ty tha t th i s i s t he

c a s e . S e c o n d , h e a d d s t e r m s th a t a r e n o t p r e s e n t in th e v e rs e : i m m e d i a t e ( T a m i l

caksatkara), d i r e c t ( Ta mi l aparOk.sa) , a n d a b s o r p t i o n w i t h o u t co n c e p t u -

a l i z a t ion nirvikalpa samadhi) . Ag a in , the a dd i t i on o f t he qua l i f i e rs i s o f no

g r a ve c onse que nc e , f o r i t a c c o r ds w i th t r a d i t iona l g lo s se s o f t he e x pe r i e nc e o f

l i be r a t ion . And we sa w e a r l i e r how R a ma n .a a ppe a l s t o

nirv ikalpa samadhi

in a

m a n n e r d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e s c h o o l s o f Y o g a . . B u t h i s i n c l u s i o n o f t h is m e d i t a t iv e

s t a t e i n t e r je c t s a n e p i s t e molo g ic a l t ru th , whe r e t he S a nsk r i t sugge s t s on e o f

o n t o l o g y . I n t h e l a t t e r , t h e S u p r e m e i s u n c h a n g i n g avikalpa) n a t u r e . B u t

R a ma n . a sugge s t s t ha t t he u l t ima te s t a t e is vo id o f thoug h t , vo id o f ima g ina t ion .

A n d , u n l i k e s o m e o f h is m o r e p i t h y satsai~g s t a t e me n t s , he r e he doe s sugge s t a n

e x t e n d e d p r o c e s s o f l i b e r a t i o n : c o n s t a n t m e d i t a t i o n camatinik.yt.anatal) leads

to nirv ikalpa sam~dhi , wh ic h in tu r n i s t he c a use I b r t he b l i s s fu l p l e a su r e o f

nonduali ty (Mahar .s i 1987: 157) .

W ha t I w i sh to s t r es s a m ong the se a dd i t i ons t o the S a nsk r i t i s t he non -

c ogn i t i ve ( a t l e a s t i n t he t r a d i t i ona l s e nse o f t he t e r m) d ime ns ion o f r e a l i z a t ion .

R ama .na r e j e c t s a l l m e n ta l i de n t i f i c a t ions , bu t , a d d i t i on a l ly a nd f ina l ly , he

re jec ts the m ind a l tog e the r . In th is r ega rd , Raman.a aga in sha res a f f in i t ie s wi th

e a r li e r Y o g a a n d A d v a i t a t h e o r ie s o f m i n d . T h e m i n d , o w i n g t o t h e p e r v a s iv e

i n f l u e n c e o f adv idya , is t h e p r i m a r y e n g i n e i n t h e d i c h o t o m i z i n g p r o c e s s w h i c h

p r oduc e s e x i s t e n t i a l s e pa r a t ion a nd i t s c onse que n t su f f e r ing . Th i s p r oc e s s , wh ic h

i s sue s i n s epa r a te e go s a nd pe r sona l i t i e s , i s o f c ou r se f unda m e n ta l ly i l l u so r y .

T h e m i n d i t se l f i s a f o r m l e s s g h o s t ; i n d e e d , a c c o r d in g t o e a rl ie r Y o g a a n d

Ad va i t a s c he m a t i z a t ions , t he m ind i s a c tua l ly i ne rt , bo r r ow ing , a s i t w e r e ,

c ons c ious ne s s f r om i ts ge nu ine sou r c e , t he S e l f . R a m a .na s g oa l i n th i s c a se c a l ls

f o r a b a n d o n i n g t h e m i n d r e t u r n i n g t o i ts s o u r c e . T h e q u e s t i o n b e c o m e s t h e

e x t e n t o f t h e use o f t h e m i n d , h o w e v e r l im i t e d , f l a w e d ( o r e v e n i n e rt ) i t m a y b e ,

i n o r d e r fi n a l l y t o g e t b e y o n d t h e m i n d . I f o n e is o p t i m i s t i c a b o u t t h e m i n d s

use f u lne s s f o r l i be r a tion , one m igh t e m p lo y e i t he r a pos i t i ve o r ne ga t ive a pp roa c h

i n v e r s i o n s o f A d v a i t a sadhana. Raman.a re jec ts a l l pos i t iv e iden t i f ica t ion s

o u t r i g h t , e v e n s u p r e m e i d e n ti fi c a ti o n s s u c h a s I a m B r a h m a n o r I a m S i v a .

A d d i t i o n a l ly , h o w e v e r , h e r e j e c ts t h e n e g a t i v e

way- - ne t i - ne t i v~da- - - o f

classica l

Adva i t a be c a use i t t oo r e ma ins a t t he l e ve l o f i n t e l l e c t . The a s sumpt ion in t he

t r a d i t iona l p r a c t i c e i s t ha t by pe e l ing a w a y a ll i de n t i f i c a t ions , t he r e al | m a y be



R a m a t .l a M a h a r s i : M y s t i c a s tr a n s l a t o r /

125

e xpe r i e nc e d ; i nde e d , t h i s i s a d r i v i ng t he m e i n t he V i v e ka c a d . d m a n i . H o w e v e r ,

Ra m a n . a r e pe a t e d l y w a r ne d o f t he i n t e l l e c t ua l i s m o f t he p r a c ti c e , s a y i ng t ha t i t

w a s a m e n t a l a c t i v i ty t h a t c o u l d n o t d e f i n i t iv e l y t a k e o n e b e y o n d t h e m i n d .

S uc h a c t s o f d i s c r i m i na t i on s u s t a i n , i n a r e s i dua l a nd s ub t l e m a nn e r , t he ' l -

t h o u g h t ' ; a l t h o u g h d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i n t e n d s t o e l i m i n a t e m i n d a n d b o d y , t h e

ve r y a c t o f d i s c r i m i na t i on r e t a i n s a r e s idua l e g o w h i c h c a nn o t e l i m i na t e i t s e l f

( M a ha r. si 1992 : 68 ) . A c c o r d i ng t o Ra m a n . a , p r a c t i c e s w h i c h s u gge s t a f f i r m a t i on

( ' I a m B r a h m a n ' ) o r n e g a t i o n ( n e t i - n e t i ) s h a re a n a s s u m p t i o n t h a t th e S e l f c a n

b e d i s c o v e r e d th r o u g h t h e s e m e n t a l p r o c e s s e s ; b u t c o n c e r n i n g t h e s e a p p r o a c h e s ,

R a m a . n a w a s u n c o m p r o m i s i n g . T h e g o a l i s t o d e s t r o y t h e m i n d , n o t t o e m p l o y

i t in the s e rv ice o f the Se lf '. s C on cer n in g

n e t i - n e t i

m e di t a t i on , R a m a n . a on c e s a i d :

N o - - - t ha t i s no t m e d i t a t ion . F i nd t he s ou r c e . Y o u m us t r e a c h t he s ou r c e

w i t hou t f a il . T h e f a l s e ' | ' w i l l d i s a p pe a r a nd t he r e a l T w i l l be r e a l iz e d . T he

f o r m e r c a nno t e x i s t w i t hou t t he l a t t e r .

T he r e i s no w w r o ng i de n t i f ic a t i on o f the S e l f w i t h the bod y , s e ns e s , e tc . Y ou

pr o c e e d to d i s c a r d t he s e , a nd t h i s i s n e t i . T h i s c a n o n l y b e d o n e b y h o l d i n g

o n t o t h e o n e w h i c h c a n n o t b e d i s c a rd e d . T h a t i s i t i (Mahar .s i 1992: 70) .

W h a t is t h e r e al ' 1 ,' a n d h o w d o e s o n e r e a ch it w i t h o u t t he m i n d ? H o w d o t he

n u a n c e s o f R a m a n . a ' s p h i l o s o p h y s q u a r e w i t h t h e

Vivekacad .~mat . f f ?

Afte r a l l ,

d i s c r im i n a t i o n i s t h e p r e m i e r v i r t u e in t h e S a n s k r it t e x t, a n d m a n y v e r s e s w h i c h

de m on s t r a t e w ha t the S e l f is no t na t u r a l l y e xe r c is e t ha t v i r t ue . M or e ove r ,

p r o t e s t s n o t w i th s t a n d i n g , R a m a n . a h i m s e l f m u s t a d m i t a t l e a s t a p r o v i s i o n a l u s e

o f t he m i nd ; one m us t a f t e r a ll s t a r t s om e w he r e . I nde e d , t h is i s the c a s e in h i s

t r a ns l a ti on o f t he V i v e k a c a d ~ m a n . i. F or e xa m pl e , h i s r e c o r d o f t he r e qu i s i t e s t b r

A d v a i t a s a d h a n a a ga i n s l i gh t l y m odu l a t e s t he S a ns k r i t . Ra m a n . a w r i t e s : ' W h o i s

f i t f o r i nqu i r y i n t o t he S e l f ? T he i n t e l l i ge n t one , w ho , be s i de s t he o t he r qua l i t i e s

c i t e d i n s c r ip t u r e , i s c ha r a c t e r i z e d b y a f o r c e f u l a b i l i t y to p i c k ou t t he une s s e n t i a l

and grasp the es se n t i a l ' (Mahar .s i 1987: 116) . M enta l capa c i ty and m enta l

f unc t i on a r e c l e a r l y i m p l i e d he r e a s s o m e p r oc e s s o f e l i m i na t i on i s ne c e s s a r y t o

p i c k ou t t he ' e s s e n t i a l a nd une s s e n t i a l . ' I nde e d , R a m a n . a l a te r i n t e r po l a t e s t he

t e r m n e t i - n e t i a s a r e qu i r e m e n t f o r t he k o g a m T m a m s a t ha t be g i n s i n V i v e k a -

cad .amat . t i

151 ; Ra m a n . a w r i t e s t ha t one m us t ' r e m ove , w i t h s ha r p i n t e l l e c t , t he

ob j e c t i ve f i ve s he a t h s f r om the S e l f , s a y i ng , no t th i s , no t t h i s ' ( M a ha r s i

1987 : 134 ). B y t h i s ' p r oc e s s o f r e m ova l

( t a l l . u rn apavar t ta l )

o n e c o m e s t o

r e a l i z e t ha t t he e f f u l ge n t S e l f i s ' d i s t i nc t f r om a ll f o r m s s uc h a s bo dy a s a s t a l k

o f gra s s in i ts shea ths of l ea f ' (Mahar.s i 1987: 134) . Th e imp or tan ce o f the

i n t e ll e c t is onc e a ga i n s how n i n Ra m a . na ' s t r a n s l a ti on o f V i v e k a c a d . a m a n . i 136;

m or e o ve r , t h is ve r s e i s i m p or t a n t be c a us e i t i s t he on l y S a ns k r i t c on s t r uc t i on




wh ic h pa ra l l e l s R a m a n .a 's pe c u l i a r t e r m f o r t he inne r S e l l t he ' I - I . ' W h i l e t he r e

is a c tua l ly n o o th e r S a nsk r i t u se o f t he t e r m ' I- I " in t he Vivekacad. a ma t.zi , Rama.na

in t e r po la t e s i t f r e qu e n t ly in h is t ra ns l a t ion , t r y ing to d r a w a t t e n t ion to sou r c e o f

c o n s c i o u s n e s s f r o m w h i c h t h e l o c a li z e d T e m e r g e s ; h e , o f co u r s e , u s e d t h i s

t e r m o f t e n in h i s o the r wor ks a nd in h i s satsaizg c o n v e r s a t i o n s a s w e l l . I w o u l d

s u g g e s t t h a t t h i s a m o n g t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t r e a s o n s w h y R a m a n . a w a s d r a w n t o

t h e t e x t , f o r i t f u e le d R a m a n a ' s n o t i o n o f a s o u r c e o f a n o n d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s

f r o m w h i c h a ll il l u s o ry e g o s s p r in g . T h e f o l l o w i n g i s S a n s k r i t Vivekaca(l .~man.

135 a nd R a ma n .a ' s t r a ns l a t ion , wh ic h pa r t i a l ly i nc lude s Vivekacad. am an. i 136;

no te w or th y a r e the S a nsk r i t u se o f ' I -1 , ' R a ma n .a ' s u se o f the t e r m , a n d the

i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e m i n d i n t h e p r o c e s s o f l i b er a ti o n .

[Vivek aca d. aman . i:] Th e sup r e m e S e l f d i r e c t ly sh ine s in the th r e e s ta t e s o f

c on sc iou sne s s a s w i tne s s o f the mind , t he I - I ( 35 ) .

|R a ma .na : ] As the w i tne s s t o t he mind in a l l t h r e e s t a t e s o f c onsc iousne ss ,

k n o w t h r o u g h e x p e r i en c e ' T h i s I i s B r a h m a n ' ; t h r o u g h a o n e - p o i n t e d m i n d

k n o w t h e s u p r e m e S e l f w h i c h s h i n e s i m m e d i a t e l y a n d e v e r p r e se n t a s ' I- I'

(Mahar.si 1987: 132).

S o w e n e e d t h e m i n d t o g e t b e y o n d t h e m i n d . I n d e e d , ' W i t h o u t e x p e r i e n c i n g

B r a h m a n

t h r ough

t h e s i n g l e , s u b t l e , m e n t a l m o d e o f

s a m a d h i ,

b y t h o s e o f

s u b t le in t e ll e c t, s a v i n g k n o w l e d g e i s i m p o s s i b l e b y a n y g r o s s o u t w a r d m a n n e r '

(Mahar.si 1987 : 157 ). In this state , ' t h e j ~ dn i e xpe r i e nc e s in the he a r t t he t r ue

" I , " the s ing le to ta l i ty of Bra hm an ' (Mahar.s i 1987: 163) . T his ' I - I ' i s the sea t

o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i n d e p e n d e n t o f a ll m e n t a l m o d i f i c a t i o n s w h i l e n e v e r t h el e s s

i l lu m i n a t in g t h e m . T h e t e r m '1 - I' a p p e ar s t o b e R a m a n a ' s f a v o r i t e e x p r e s s i o n

tb r t he t r ue S e l f i n a l l h i s w or ks a nd in h i s s a t s a h g c onve r sa t ions . I nde e d , i n

the V i v e k ac ad~ m at f i , R a m a n a o f f e r s a T a m i l rnaizgala ve r se tha t r e ve a l s , by

c on te n t a nd by p l a c e , the va lue o f t he ph r a se f o r R a ma n. a . T he be n e d ic to r y ve r se

is p r e m ie r in t he se nse tha t i t i s t e x tua l ly p r io r t o t he t r a ns l a t ion ; bu t i t i s a l so

p r e m i e r i n t h e se n s e o f v a l u e a n d p r e s t ig e a nd s o h i g h l ig h t s t h e c e n tr a l d y n a m i c

in R a man . a ' s t hough t . I n a c l e ve r p l a y on wor ds , R a ma n .a in t e r c ha n ge s the Ta m i l

w o r d ' a k a m ' ( ' i n n e r , ' ' i n t e r n a l , ' ' w i t h i n ' ) w i t h i t s S a n s k r i t h o m o p h o n e ' a h a m '

( ' I ' ) , w i thou t a dop t ing S a nsk r i t o r tho g r a p hy ( be c a use the in t e r voc a l i c ' k ' i n

T a m i i i s p r o n o u n c e d as a n ' h ' ) . S o , ' t h e S e l f s h i n e s w i t h in ( ak a m o l.ir a a t m a) a s

"I-1"

( a k a m a k a m ) ,

w h i c h i n t u rn r e m o v e s th e p r i m a l i g n o r a n c e o f ' T '

( a k a m

en um m ~la vi t ta iy akan__rila ak am akam).

I n th i s p l a y o f w o r d s, w e s e e in a c o n d e n s e d f o r m R a m a n . a 's p h i l o s o p h y . T h e

t r ue S e l f , t he ' I - I ,' a l r e a dy is ' e m be dd e d , ' a s i t we r e , w i th in u s . I t a l r e ady sh ine s



Ramana Mahars i : Mys t i c a s t rans la tor 127

w i t h i n u s ; w e in s o m e s e n s e k n o w t h is so u r c e b e c a u s e w e o p e r a t e f r o m i t m o u r

m un da ne i n f l e c ti ons o f t he f i r s t pe r s o n s i ngu l a r p r onou n . S o t he ' 1 - I ' i s t he

h i dde n s ou r c e o f t he ' I , ' th e e go , w h i c h i n t u r n i s t he f u l c r um f o r o f a ll i de n t i-

f i c a t io n s a n d t h e l o c u s o f i g n o r a n c e. H o w e v e r , s i n ce t h is s o u r c e a k a m a k a m ) is

w i t h i n akam), w e m u s t d i v e in w a r d t o d is c o v e r it. W e m u s t m e r g e o u r m i n d

i n t o t he s ou r c e . I n nu m e r o us p l a c e s Ra m a n . a in t e r je c t s t he t e r m ' I - I , ' u s i ng i t a s

a ve r b a l s ym bo l f o r nonv e r ba l pu r e e xpe r i e nc e ; he u s e s i t in t he m a n g a l a verse

a nd i n t r a ns l a t i ons o f Vivekacad.dmat.zi 124 , 135 , 211 - 12 , 218 , 380 , 408 , a nd

5 3 3 . S o , f o r e x a m p l e , R a m a n . a o f f e r s t h e t b i l o w i n g e x h o r t a t io n : ' K n o w t h r o u g h

e x p e r i e n c e T h i s I i s B r a h m a n , t h a t i s, k n o w b y a s i n g l e - p o i n t e d m i n d t h e

s u p r e m e B r a h m a n w h i c h s h in e s p e r p e t u a l l y a s d i r e c t e x p e r i e n c e , a s t h e I - I , t h e

wi tnes s to the mind in a l l menta l s t a t e s ' (Mahars i 1987: 132) .

S o , w ha t w e ha ve he r e is a s ub t l e va r i a t i on o f a t ra d i t i ona l c a t e go r y i n

A d v a i t a , t h e i n n e r S e lf . T h e ' I - I ' in o n e s e n s e c o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d y e t a n o t h e r

t e r m f o r t h e m a n y p o e t i c g l o s s e s o n o n e ' s r e a l n a t u r e : a tman , B r a h m a n , j a p a ,

d h y ~ n a , m o u n a , and so on . Y e t , Raman .a pre fe rs the t e rm '1 -1 ' a s a ve rba l

e xp r e s s i o n f o r t he u l t i m a t e , w or d l e s s r e a li t y . T o g r a s p o r to r e a l i z e the ' I - I ' doe s

p r e s u m e m e n t a l o p e r a t i o n a n d f i tn e s s o f i n te ll ec t: ' T h e S e l f m a k e s i t se l f k n o w n

a s be i ng , c ons c i ous n e s s , b l i s s a nd i s s e l f - e f f u l g e n t in t he he a r t a s 1 -1 . T h r o ugh

yo ur s ub t l e i n t e ll e c t, k no w t h i s e t e r na l b l i s s fu l a w a r e ne s s to be t he S e l f o r t he

t rue 1 , wh ich a lw ay s sh ines a s '1 -1 in the he a r t ' (Mahar .s i 1987: 142).

S U M M R Y

T hi s s t udy h i gh l i gh t s c on t i nu i t i e s a nd va r i a t i ons be t w e e n t he S a ns k r i t

Vivekacftd.dman. i a nd Ra m a n . a ' s T a m i l t r a n s l a ti on o f it. I n s ho r t , t he T a m i l

ve r s i o n is l a r ge l y i n ke e p i ng w i t h t he A dva i t a r e p r e se n t e d by t he S a ns k r i t t e x t ,

b u t i t a l s o h a s n u m e r o u s v a r i a t i o n s , s o m e m i n o r a n d o f n o g r e a t c o n s e q u e n c e

a nd o t he r s w h i c h a r e m or e i n t e r e s t i ng . T he Vivekacadamar.zi i t s e l f s how s a n

a m b i g u i t y i n it s e p i s t e m o l o g y o f r e l ig i o u s e x p e r i e n c e , d a n c i n g , a s i t w e r e ,

b e t w e e n i n w a rd o r in t e rn a l is t p r o g r a m s o f re l ig i o u s k n o w i n g a n d e x t e r n a li s t

p r o g r a m s w h i c h i n c l u d e s o c i a l l y c i r c u m s c r i b e d s e t s o f b e l i e f - f o r m i n g p r a c t i c e s

( F o r s t ho e f e l 2002 ) . Ra m a n . a ' s t r a n s l a ti on a dd s g l o s s e s a nd e x t e nde d e xp l a na -

t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g ' i n q u i r y ' w h i c h s t re n g t h e n s h i s o w n d e e p l y i n w a r d o r

i n t er n a l is t e p i s t e m o l o g y o f r e l i g io u s e x p e r i e n c e .

O ne c onc l u s i on t o be d r a w n f r om t h i s s t udy i s t ha t t he Vivekacad.dmat.zi is a

t e x t pe r f e c t l y s u i te d f o r Ra m a n . a ' s ta s t e s; i t e nc a ps u l a t e s m a ny t he m e s t ha t

R a m a n . a h a s s p o k e n o f e ls e w h e r e . A b o v e al l, l i b e r a ti o n c o m e s t h r o u g h e x p e ri -




e nc e , no t b y t e x t s o r d i sc u r s ive r e a son ing . Add i t iona l ly , t he p r oc e s s o f l i ber a -

t io n is c l e a r l y in w a r d , a n d m e n t a l a n a l y s i s - - R a m a n . a s p r o t e s ts n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g

- - p e n e t r a t e s t h e n o t - S e l f w i t h d i s c r im i n a t i o n . T h e h e r o o f t h is t a sk is t h e vivekT,

w h o s e e f f o r t s at d i s c r i m i n a t i o n c u l m i n a t e i n t h e r e s o lu t i o n o f a ll c o g n i t i o n s i n t o

b l i s sf u l nondua l a w a r e ne ss , o ne s o r ig ina l s t a t e s aha j a s t h i t i ) .

B u t

t hose l e s s sk i l l e d

m um uk . s us a r e

no t a lon e in the i r e f f o r t s . A l tho ugh the

S e l f a l o n e is , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e V i v e k a c a d a m a n i a nd R a m a n .a s Ta m i l t r a ns l a tion

o f it, o w i n g t o t h e c o m p l i c a t i o n s o f c o n g e n i t a l i g n o r an c e , t h e m um uk s , u is

a c c o m p a n i e d , a s i t w e r e : g ra c e a n d g u r u se t t he s ta ge f o r t he de l ive r a nc e o f t he

d i s c i p l e . M o r e o v e r , t h e V i v e k ac adam an . i o f f e r s t h e s a m e a m b i v a l e n c e t o w a r d

sc r ip tu r e tha t o f t e n a ppe a r s i n R a ma .na s e x c ha n ge s w i th d isc ip l e s. S c r ip tu r e m a y

be a he lp f u l s t a r ti ng po in t i n t he pa th o f s a lva t ion , bu t i t f i na l ly m us t be e l im i -

na te d a s w i th a l l a spe c t s o f phe nome na l r e a l i t y . W hi l e t he Vivekacad. dm an. i f i r s t

d i smis se s the n p r iv i l e ge s the

m a h a v a k y a s

i n t he e c onomy o f l i be r a t ion , R a ma n .a

r e ma ins c ons i s t e n t in a l l h i s w r i ti ngs tha t s e l f - inqu i r y a lone l e a ds to l i be r a tion .

H e s h o w e d n o i n te r es t i n d e t a i le d h e r m e n e u t i c a i t h e o r y a n d e v e n s u g g e s t e d t h a t

t r a d it i ona l pa t t e r ns o f s c r ip tu r a l r e f l e c t ion c a nn o t t r a nsc e nd the m ind .

B y e xa m in ing R a m a n .a s t r a ns l a tion , w e no te c l e a r c on t inu i t i e s w i th the

S a nsk r i t t e x t bu t a l so su b t l e va r i a t ions w h ic h r e ve a l s nua nc e s in h i s ve r s ion

o f Adv a i t a . R a man .a su c c e s s f u l ly u se s the

Vivekacad. dm at.zi

t o a dva nc e h i s

m e t h o d o f i n q u i r y , t h e i n t r o s p e c t i v e e x a m i n a t i o n o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s w h i c h ,

a c c o r d ing to R a m a na , i s sue s in the d i r e c t e xpe r i e nc e o f t he S e l f . Th i s p r oc e s s i s ,

fo r Raman.a , th e s i n e q u a non f o r r e a l i z a t ion . A l l e x t e r na l me c ha n i sms a r e

h igh ly r e l a t iv i z e d by th i s m e thod , a nd thu s R a ma n .a s i n t e r na l i sm ope ns spa c e

f o r a un ive r sa l p r og r a m o f l i be r a t ion , o ne tha t suc c e s s f u l ly t r a nsc e nds c u l tu r e

a nd i ts va r iou s dox a s t i c m e c ha n i sm s . B y t r a ns l a ting the

V i v e k a c a d a m a n i ,

R a m a na , w ho w a s s i l e n t f o r so m a ny ye a r s a t Aru .n fic ala , none the le s s e n te r s t he

w o r l d o f l a n g u a g e a n d c o n c e p t s w h i l e e m p h a s i z i n g a l i b e r at in g k n o w i n g

b e y o n d k n o w l e d g e . H i s t r a n s la t io n b e c o m e s an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r a s u b t l e

c o m m e n t a r y w i t h n u a n c e d e m p h a s e s i n h i s v e r s i o n o f A d v a i t a ; b y d o i n g t h e

t r a ns l a tion , R a ma n .a no t on ly i s f a i th f u l t o a t ra d i t i ona l H indu pe da gog y bu t

a l so to the c om pa ss iona te sp i r it o f we a k ine f f a b i l i ty ; he sh r e wd ly u se s t r a ns la -

t i on f r o m o ne l a ngua ge in to a n o the r to f a c i l i t a t e t he d i sc ip l e s e sc a pe f r om a ll

l a ngua ge a n d c on c e p tua l i z a t ion . In th is c a se , t he m ys t i c , a s tr a ns l a to r, be c o m e s a

c o n s u m m a t e t e ac h e r.

ote s

1 . F o r a r e v ie w a nd a na lys i s o f t he a ppe a r o f R ama n .a in the W e s t , s e e



R a m a t z a M a ha r,y i: M y s t i c a s t r a n s l a t o r / 129

F o r s t h o e f e l 2 0 0 1 .

2 . Th i s e s sa y , a s a tr a ns l a tion s tudy , e x t e nd s a nd de ve lo ps r e se a r c h tha t i s pa r t

o f a f o r t h c o m i n g b r o a d e r i n v e s t ig a t i o n i n t h e e p i s t e m o l o g y o f r e l ig i o u s e x p e r i-

e nc e in c l a s si c a l a nd m od e m Ad va i t a . C i t a t ions to R a ma n .a s t r a ns la t ion r e f e r t o

Ma har.s i 1987. T r a ns l a t ions a r e m ine , t houg h | a m g r a t e f u l t o F r a nc i s C loo ne y

f o r h i s h e l p a n d s u g g e s ti o n s . T h e r e a re m a n y e d i t io n s o f t h e

Vivekacaglam an. i;

t he t ra ns l a t ions he r e a r e mine , thoug h 1 ha v e c o nsu l t e d e a r l i e r t r a ns l a tions , suc h

a s tha t o f Tu r iya na n da ( 1991 ) a nd Mf idha va na nda ( i 992 ) . Nu m be r e d r e fe r e nc e s

to

Vivekacad. atnat.zi

( f o r e xa m ple , 35 ) i nd ic a t e ve r se .

3 . T r a ns l a t ions f r om R a ma n .a s ¢Sri Ra ma t.~a N at ritat.t.u ( 1987) a r e mine .

4 . R eca l l Ram an.a s se l f - re fe ren t ia l s ta tem ents c i ted ab ov e and th is obs e rva -

t i o n : T h e

j ~ a n i s

m i n d i s k n o w n o n l y t o t h e

j f i ~ n i .

O n e m u s t b e a

j f i gm i

o n e s e l f i n o r d e r t o u n d e rs t a n d a n o t h e r j i i 6 n i . H o w e v e r t h e p e ac e o f m i n d w h i c h

pe r m e a te s t he sa in t s a tmosp he r e i s t he o n ly me a n s by wh ic h the se e ke r unde r -

s tand s the grea tn ess of the sa in t (Mahar.s i 1992: 42) .

5 . In Ram a.na s appea l to des t roy the m ind , no te pa ra l le l s to Vidyf ira .nya s

w o r k ( F o r t 1 9 9 6 : 1 4 1 ).

eferences c i ted

Bhara t i , Agehananda . 1976. T h e l i g h t a t t h e c e n t r e : C o n t e x t a n d p r e t e x t o f

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Ma ha r s i i n t he W e s t . H i n d u - C h r i s t i a n S t u d i e s B u l l e t i n 1 4 : 3 1 - 3 6 .

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r e l ig i o u s k n o w i n g .

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5 2 , 3 : 3 1 i - 2 5 .

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Ha lb f a s s , W i lh l e m . 1992 [ 1988] . I n d i a a n d E u r o p e : A n e s s a y i n p h i l o s o p h i c a l

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M fidhav~nanda, Sv ~m i, trans. 1992 [ 19211. Vivekac~d. amat .z i o f Sr ~ Saizkar~ca r ) ,a .

C a lc u t t a : Adva i t a Ash r a ma .

M ah arsi , Raman.a . 1987 [1972] . ¢ S ri R a m a ~ 3 a N a r r i t a t t u . Ti r uva nna ma la i : S r i

R a m a n a s h r a m a m .

Mahar.si, Raman.a. 1992 [1985].

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M a h a r s h i ( e d. D a v i d G o d m a n ) . N e w D e l h i : P e n g u i n .



130 / Thomas A. Forsthoefel

Mahars.'i, Rama,na. 1993 [1962]. The teachings o f Bha gav an Sri Ramana

Maharshi in his own words (ed. Arthur Osborne). Tiruvannamalai: Sri

Ramanashramam.

Mahar.si, Raman.a. 1994a [1955]. Talks wi th Sr i Ramana Maharshi (ed.

Munagala S. Venkataramiah). Tiruvannamalai: Sri Ramanashramam.

Mahar.si Rama.na. 1994b [1965]. Self-enquiry: The vicarasangraham o f Bha gava n

Sr i Ramana Maharsh i (trans. T. M. P. Mahadevan). Tiruvannamalai: Sri

Ramanashramam.

Miller, Barbara Stoler. 1995. Yoga discipline an d freed om : the Yoga Sutra

attributed to Patanjali. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Milne, Joseph. 1997. Advaita Vedanta and typologies of multiplicity and unity:

An interpretation of nondual knowledge.

Internat ional journal of Hindu

studies 1, 1: 165-88.

Mudaliar, A. Devaraja. 1989 [1952, 1957]. Day by day with Bhagavan.

Tiruvannamalai: Sri Ramanashramam.

Swami, B. V. Narasimha. 1993 [1953]. Self-realization: The life and teachings

o f Sr i Ramana Maharshi. Tiruvannamalai: Sri Ramanashramam.

Turiyananda, Sv~mi, trans. 99 i. Vivekac~d.~mat.ff o f S d Sahkar~cdrya. Madras:

Ramakrishna Math.

THOMAS A. FORSTH OEFE L is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies

at Mercyhurst College, Erie.

mystic as translator

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