The influence of Sri Bhagavan was to turn one from the pleasure and pain, the hope and anxiety, that are caused by circumstances to the inner happiness that is one’s true nature

To put it quite simply, the seeming austerity was not in quest of Realization but as a result of Realization. He has explicitly said that there was no more sadhana (quest or striving) after the spiritual Awakening at his uncle’s house at Madura.

The expression ‘it is breath-taking’ really means ‘it is thought-taking,’ for the source of thought and breath is the same, as Sri Bhagavan explained when speaking of breath-control. The truth is that the individuality is not lost but expanded to Infinity.

the awakening current of awareness mentioned at the end of Chapter One, vibrating as the very essence of one’s being and yet impersonal. By constant practice this is to be made more and more frequent until it becomes continuous, not only during mediation but underlying speech and action also.

Sri Ramana Maharshi gives us the outlines of a religion based on the Indian Scriptures which is essentially spiritual without ceasing to be rational and ethical.

Lectures may entertain individuals for hours without improving them; silence, on the other hand, is permanent and benefits the whole of mankind.”

Complete absorption in the Self with resultant oblivion to the manifested world is termed nirvikalpa samadhi.

Whatever states, whatever powers, whatever perceptions or visions may come, there is always the question of to whom they come until the Self alone remains.

the mind is merely an organ of conception or of appreciation of certain sides of God.