up:: The Self, Buddhism, Hinduism, Philosophy
Nisargadatta Maharaj
Quotes
- Authorship & Doership via Nisargadatta Maharaj (Beyond Freedom): “Carry out all the activities in the objective world, but do not claim authorship for what is being done. As you begin to realize that all the activities are happening through you and that you are not doing anything, then gradually all your desires…will dwindle. All of that will go away once the sense of ‘doership’ disappears, because at that stage there will be no personality left to take credit for anything.”
- “Moods are in the mind and do not matter. Go within, go beyond. Cease being fascinated by the content of your consciousness. When you reach the deep layers of your true being, you will find that the mind’s surface-play affects you very little.” ― Nisargadatta Maharaj
- I cannot tell what I am because words can describe only what I am not. I am, and because I am, all is. But I am beyond consciousness and, therefore, in consciousness I cannot say what I am. Yet, I am. ― Nisargadatta, I Am That, Chapter 33
- I was undeceived, that is all. I used to create a world and populate it. Now I don’t do it any more. Now I live in the void beyond being and non-being, beyond consciousness. This void is also fullness; do not pity me. ― Nisargadatta, I Am That, Chapter 78
- The mind ceased producing events. The ancient and ceaseless search stopped - I wanted nothing, expected nothing, accepted nothing as my own. There was no “me” left to strive for. Even the bare “I am” faded away. ― Nisargadatta, I Am That, Chapter 78
- The other thing that I noticed was that I lost all my habitual certainties. Earlier I was sure of so many things, now I am sure of nothing. But I feel that I have lost nothing by not knowing, because all my knowledge was false. ― Nisargadatta, I Am That, Chapter 78
- All my knowledge was false. My not knowing was in itself knowledge of the fact that all knowledge is ignorance, that “I do not know” is the only true statement the mind can make. ― Nisargadatta, I Am That, Chapter 78
- All desires are bad, but some are worse than others. Pursue any desire, it will always give you trouble. Why desire at all? Desiring a state of freedom from desire will not set you free. Nothing can set you free, because you are free.— Nisargadatta
- Have your guru always in your heart and remember his instructions - this is real abidance with the true. Physical proximity is least important thing. Make your entire life an expression of your faith and love for your teacher - this is real dwelling with the guru. ― Nisargadatta
- When I look inside and see that I’m nothing, that’s wisdom. When I look outside and see that I’m everything, that’s love. And between these two, my life turns. ― Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
- “Within the mind you cannot, beyond the mind you need not. In the real, the question ‘what is real?’ does not arise.” ― Nisargadatta Maharaj
- You are so accustomed to think of yourselves as bodies having consciousness that you just cannot imagine consciousness as having bodies. ― Nisargadatta Maharaj