'Cutting of the knot’...

Ramana Gita gems- Ch-9. Questions by Ganapati Muni

Verse 1: I questioned Maharshi ‘on the cutting of the knot’, regarding which even the learned have doubts.
V2: The effulgent Bhagavan, listened, meditated for a while, & spoke in his divine way
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Verse 3:The ‘knot’ is the link between the Self & the body, Awareness of the body arises because of this link.

Verse 4:The body is a matter, the Self is consciousness. The link between the two is inferred through the intellect.

V5: Body functions by diffused light of consciousness. Since there is no awareness of the world in sleep/swoon, location of Self is to be inferred.

V6:Just as the unseen current passes through visible wires, the flame of consciousness flows through the various channels of body.

Verse 7:The flame of consciousness, taking hold of a centre, lights up the entire body just as the sun illuminates the whole world.

Verse 8:It is because of the spreading of consciousness that one becomes aware of the body. Sages say that the centre of radiation is the Heart.

V9:The flow of consciousness is inferred from play of forces in the channels. The forces course through the body, each hugging a particular channel.
V10:The channel through which consciousness flows is termed ‘susumma’. It is also called ‘atma nadi’, ‘para nadi’ & ‘amrita nadi’.

V11:Because consciousness pervades entire body, one gets attached to body, treat it as the Self, &views the world separately.

V12:When the discriminating one becomes detached & gives up the idea that one is the body, single-mindedly enquires, the churning of the channels happens

Verse 13:On such churning of the channels, the self gets separated from them and shines forth by clinging to the supreme channel.

Verse 14:When consciousness stays in the supreme channel only, then ‘Self alone shines’.

Verse 15:Even though the objects are near they are not seen as separate. He is aware of the Self as clearly as the ignorant one of his body.

Verse 16:The one to whom the Self alone shines, within, without & everywhere, as name and form would for the ignorant, has cut the knot.

V17:Knot is 2 fold, one of the channels/other of mental attachment. The perceiver, though subtle, sees entire gross world through the channels.

V18:When the mind is withdrawn from other channels &is in supreme channel alone, then link with the body is cut &one abides as the Self

V19:Body of one who abides in the Self through self-enquiry is resplendent just as a heated iron-ball appears as a ball of fire.

V20:Latent tendencies of the past pertaining to body-mind complex are destroyed. There is no sense of doership because there is no body consciousness.

Verse 21:It is said that the karma of such a one is destroyed due to the absence of the sense of doer ship. No doubts arise since the Self only exists for him.

Verse 22:The one whose knot is cut can never again become bound. This state is one of supreme power and peace.