Nothing Person-al

Nothing Person-al

Bear in mind, Ron, that some of the early Sanskrit material was voicing the nondual perspective, but not all such material. In fact, Shankara’s debates with Brahmins (in which he distilled the essence of Advaita) were centered around the confusions such contradictory doctrines generated. Much of this same kind of confusion exists in Christianity today, where “worship” is directed toward images, persons such as Mary, or Messengers. So, you ask, what is one to say about bhakti (“devotion, worship”); or prayer? Worship can only persist, as Ramana says, “so long as there is a sense of separation.” One is only truly devoted when one has merged one’s “self” into the Absolute. “Then,” Ramana says, “Who is the worshipper? The answer is: the Self.”

Likewise, he says, “There must be an ‘I’ who prays. If ‘God’s Will be done,’ why pray at all? There is no necessity to let Him know your needs: God doesn’t require an intermediary. God is in all, and works through all.”

If you would like to make God laugh, tell him your plans. – Proverb