Shri Ramakant Maharaj Approach

The Melting Process is Marching Towards Oneness

Watch and wait! The melting process has started. So many experiences will happen that will make you strong. Don’t think, or try to identify with what Ultimate Reality is, and what it is not, asking: "Is this it? Or, is that it?" Forget about the words 'Ultimate' or 'Not Ultimate'. Remove these words from your vocabulary. Your Spontaneous Presence is Ultimate. Your Spontaneous and Invisible Presence is Ultimate, and beyond that.

Upon your Spontaneous Presence, experiences have appeared.

What you are experiencing during this dissolving process, what is happening is correct. It is what is meant to be happening. It is taking its own course. Don't interfere. You have not to question what is happening or not happening.

IT IS THE MELTING PROCESS

THAT IS MARCHING TOWARDS ONENESS.

Some layers of experiences are happening during this melting process that is dissolving you. In the Ultimate Stage, the witnesser, the witness and the witnessing are all totally dissolved. You will not be able to witness anything. This happens, it is the outcome of the meditation. Why I emphasize meditation is because so many thoughts were impressed upon us since childhood till today. Therefore the melting process will take some time. That is the reason meditation is required.

You must have strong 'dedication'. This is the perfect term. You must have strong dedication towards your Self, and dedication to the Master who has shown you that Unidentified Identity.

Why do you require a Master? It is only because of the Masters, that the teachings were preserved. Without Nisargadatta Maharaj, I would not be able to utter a single word. I would still be going to a God temple, looking for happiness and peace. But now, we have strong foundations. What my Master says is “Except your Selfless Self, there is nothing”. When I see myself, there is nothing. What do you want me to convey? This is everything: "Except yourself there is no God, no Atman, Brahman". There is no more to say.

Then everything will be open. The door of Knowledge will be fully open. So this dedication, this Conviction, what is said by Nisargadatta Maharaj is perfect.

Remember the story of the beggar boy? His uncle comes along one day and says, "You are not a beggar, you are really a millionaire. At first, the boy doesn't believe him and says: “You are making a fool of me, you are a liar. This is impossible!” Then the uncle takes him to the bank, and shows him the account with all this money in his name. As soon as he has all the evidence in front of him, he is convinced and accepts it.

Likewise, the Master says: "You are Brahman, Atman". Why are you not believing it, saying: "Sure!" or "No!, you are joking!". How can one be convinced? In order to have the Conviction then you need this process of meditation. The effect of the meditation will be that all illusionary layers will be dissolved. All the illusionary layers will be dissolved. Then you will come across your Perfection: "Oh!I Am That". The Spontaneous Perfection. "Oh! I Am That" (Maharaj gestures with surprise.)

The Master is perfect. Therefore, you are gradually giving greater response to the Master, showing him greater respect and gratitude because the Master has shown you Your Ultimate Truth.

It is not blind faith. You are able to catch Reality because of him, the Master, only. You realize that if you had not come across a Master you would still be roaming here and there, (seeking/reading, etc), gathering this type, and that type of knowledge, that type of person, Guru, this Master, that Master. Except your Selfless Self, nothing is there. Be Strong! (He gestures with clenched fist). How are you to accept the process?

SLOWLY, SILENTLY, PERMANENTLY.

Method Guidelines

Shri Ramakant Maharaj is part of the same lineage of Masters as Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj of the Inchegiri Navnath Sampradaya. The teachings are the same as his Master's, but differ by way of method and expression.

His method of teaching is also radical - again, like his Master before him - with a fresh approach in terms of delivery, and stance - one that is uncompromisingly Absolute.

Maharaj shares 'Direct Living Knowledge'. There are no long-winded explanations that take you round in circles. References to other sources are kept to the minimum. “There is no difference between the Master and you”, he instructs, “you have just forgotten your true identity”. The Teachings are simple. He hammers home the same Truth again and again: “You are not the body. You were not the body. You will not remain the body.” "The body is not your identity." “Your Spontaneous Presence is anonymous, invisible, unidentified identity”. “You are Ultimate Truth, Final Truth. You are the Final Destination”, etc.

The Master's method needs some clarification for new visitors to these teachings. The aim of his method is to cut through body-knowledge and body identity as quickly as possible and get down to the business of Reality.

Ramakant Maharaj

Ramakant Maharaj defines PRESENCE as:

"S P O N T A N E O U S, I N V I S I B L E,

A N O N Y M O U S, U N I D E N T I F I E D

I D E N T I T Y."

GUIDELINES

1. The Master teaches using carefully selected, specific words, as in the above phrase, that have an undefinable quality, : 'invisible', 'anonymous', 'spontaneous', 'unidentified'. These words allude to that which is hidden, and come close to the 'unknown', close to the 'unrevealed', coming close to the 'Reality', beyond all words. These words cannot easily be grasped by the 'mind'. Instead, they disarm the mind and prevent the imagination from conjuring up any associated thoughts and concepts.

2. He 'acts' like an exterminator of all your concepts, clearing them, bypassing them and speaking directly to the denuded essence That You Are. This nameless 'Source' that you are has been given many names such as the Ultimate, Ultimate Reality, Ultimate Truth, etc. The Master is speaking directly to the 'Invisible Listener' beyond words. This means that he is speaking to that which ultimately cannot be named - the ineffable.

3. The Master's method of teaching is unique in that he is not giving YOU instructions, instead, he is reawakening and regenerating your Inner Master. “I am addressing the Invisible Listener in you”. HERE IT IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE INVISIBLE SPEAKER AND THE INVISIBLE LISTENER ARE ONE AND THE SAME. (see next page)

4. The Master's approach is direct. It is the shortest cut to Self-Realization. From beginning to end he hammers the same message: “You are Ultimate Truth, Final Truth. You are nothing to do with this illusory world”. He cuts through all 'body-knowledge'. DON'T EXPECT HIM TO BE INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS, CONCEPTS, MEMORIES, EXPERIENCES. He teaches: “The entire world is illusion, including the body. You are not the body, you were not the body, and you will not remain the body”, therefore engaging in any body-related knowledge and body-related spirituality is time-wasting.

5. Words are only indicators. DON'T TAKE THE MASTER'S WORDS LITERALLY. Focus on the meaning, the essence of the message, or using the Master's words, the “gist” of the message.

6. The Master's method of working means that he is always speaking to your Reality, your Ultimate Reality. He is not addressing you as John, Ravi or Sita with all your body identifications. WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS THE MASTER IS ADDRESSING THE 'INVISIBLE QUESTIONER'. He will say that “ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS ARE BODY-BASED”.

7. The Master teaches that “We created language. We created knowledge. Prior to Beingness/Consciousness, Nothing was there. You were unknown to you. There were NO WORDS. You did not even know the word 'KNOWLEDGE'. THIS IS A USEFUL POINTER TO HELP YOU PUT ASIDE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE GATHERED TO DATE.

8. “Nothing has happened. You are talking about the Unborn Child”, he says. This message is another reminder for you: Try and resist the temptation to talk about 'YOUR PERSONAL STORY', 'YOUR KNOWLEDGE', including 'YOUR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE'.

9. The Master is speaking to the 'Invisible Listener' in you. To maximise the flow from SOURCE to SOURCE, PREPARE YOURSELF! THIS MEANS BE QUIET, OPEN AND RECEPTIVE. Put the mind, ego, intellect aside. Being, as it were, like a blank screen will free up your attention and increase the chances of benefitting from the teachings. And if the ego doesn't like it and rises up, so be it. Let it be bashed, including the 'spiritual ego'.

10. When the Master talks about Knowledge, he is not talking about intellectual knowledge, literal knowledge, book knowledge, dry knowledge, experiential knowledge, or any kind of knowledge that is second-hand. It has nothing to do with information that has been sourced from outside yourself and/or accumulated from books via the body-form. True Knowledge/Self-Realization is non-intellectual. It is simply “KNOWING YOURSELF IN A REAL SENSE”. Knowledge means 'SELFLESS SELF KNOWLEDGE'. This definition may assist you in NOT talking about your body-based 'knowledge'.

11. You will have questions that need to be asked at the beginning. ASK QUESTIONS AND CLEAR YOUR DOUBTS. You will find that these dry up, the more the Master hammers your Reality into you. His method has the effect of silencing you. You will notice the emergence of Spontaneous Silence.

12. The Master is sharing RARE KNOWLEDGE, TRUE KNOWLEDGE, IRREFUTABLE KNOWLEDGE. Understand therefore that this Knowledge is not up for debate. Master advises to AVOID DISCUSSIONS, ARGUMENTS, COUNTER-ARGUMENTS. It is helpful for you to know that this Knowledge is not coming from the realm of ideas. It is REALITY, YOUR REALITY. THAT YOU ARE! Ultimate Reality is speaking to Ultimate Reality.

13. The Master tells you to be calm and quiet. “Don't stress the brain! Your inner Master is listening, analyzing and recording all that the Master is teaching.” What this means is that there is a flow between the Master and you that is spontaneously happening. Ultimate Truth is reaching and reawakening the Ultimate Truth in you. DON'T TRY TO GRASP THE TEACHINGS. JUST BE!

If you follow the Master's instructions WITH TOTAL FAITH AND ACCEPTANCE, then slowly, silently, permanently your 'Spontaneous Presence' that is invisible, anonymous, unidentifiable identity, will merge with Selfless Self.

The following are pointers/guidelines only:

Maharaj says:

"In reality there are no pointers, no guideliness, no process is there! No Master, no disciple, no outer or inner Master".

The language that is used here, is for the purpose of understanding. Nor does the 'process' operate in a linear fashion:

"Do not take the words literally, as they are only indicators, like the flashes emitted from a lighthouse".

Also:

"Not to compare different Masters and different teachings. This is not a comparative study. It is Direct Knowledge."

The process is one of making you a Master. As Shri Ramakant Maharaj's Master, Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj, before him said:

"I am not making you disciples,

I am making you Masters."

The Master gives instructions and guidance. He asks the disciple to follow these. He guides the disciple from illusion to Reality, from the Outer Master to the Inner Master. He does this by addressing the “Silent Invisible Anonymous Unidentified Identity”, which is our Reality, saying at the same time that:

"The invisible speaker in ME and the invisible listener in YOU are One and the same".

Oneness is always there, but is hidden, covered by the 'ash' of illusory concepts.

Maharaj describes the process as one from:

DEVOTEE

↓

DEVOTION

↓

DEITY

"There is a statue of the deity within you", says the Master. "It is already there. It just needs to be uncovered".

The Master gets to work on the sculpture. He needs to get rid of the unwanted parts that are covering it. The Master hammers and hammers and chips away, going deeper and deeper until all the unwanted coverings have been removed. The work is done when spontaneously, the deity in all its splendour is revealed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1. Reawakening: Maharaj will say that there is no difference between the Master and the disciple, except that the Master knows that he is not the body, whereas the disciple does not know. He explains that Self-Realization simply means to know oneself in a Real Sense:

"We are knowing ourselves in the body-form, this is not our real identity".

The Master begins the process of convincing the disciple.

2. Direct Knowledge: We have forgotten our true identity. This is covered by the ashes of illusory concepts. The Master's Direct Knowledge reminds us of our true identity.

3. Self-Enquiry: Master tells you what you are not:

"You are not the body, you were not the body, you are not going to remain the body".

"You are not a man, nor a woman".

"The mind, ego and intellect are your babies", etc.

He asks you to find this out for yourself through Self-Enquiry.

4. Meditation: The Master defines meditation as a 24 hour practice. Total self-involvement is needed:

"You are boiling, you are on fire to find out the Reality, to uncover the Source. Nothing will stop you finding out, 'Who am I'?"

He says that the meditation is an essential discipline in the early stages. It is the foundation of the whole process and practice.

This practice is also an illusion but,

"We have to use one thorn to remove another thorn".

Later on, the whole practice is dropped.

5. Final Truth: The Master teaches that everything is within you. You are Ultimate. There is nothing else, nothing beyond. He tells you what you are:

"Your Spontaneous Presence is silent, anonymous, invisible, unidentified identity. You are unborn. There is no birth and no death for you, it is only the body that dissolves. The entire world is the Spontaneous Projection of your Spontaneous Presence".

He asks you to accept this Reality, your Reality.

6. Prior to Beingness: The Master reminds you: "Your Presence was there prior to beingness. It will be there after beingness. It is there now as the holder of the body".

He explains that all our knowledge is body-knowledge, which started after "the spirit clicked with the body". Then came the impressions, conditioning, pressures and illusory concepts which we accepted. These kept us trapped in the circle of body-knowledge.

7. Dissolving Body-knowledge: The next step is for us to get rid of all illusion. The Master instructs us as to why this is necessary:

"Ultimate Reality will not emerge until all body-knowledge has been dissolved".

As we do the self-enquiry, the Master gives us a useful tool, the Master Key, the Lineage Naam Mantra which will help to "erase the memories", and "regenerate the inner Master". We recite the mantra which means, "I am Brahman, Brahman I am". At the same time, the Master continues with the direct hammering, to further convince:

"You are Brahman,

You are Brahman, You are Brahman".

Also included in this dissolution process is the singing of bhajans, devotional songs with high meaning. This makes the whole undertaking a living, flowing and happy one. While singing these, the meanings and vibrations uplift the spirit, and we forget about the body.

8. Surrender and Acceptance: Momentum increases. You feel more and more driven to uncover the Source within, to find the Reality. Our trust in the Master and in ourselves increase simultaneously. We accept his teachings without question. Conviction is established.

9. Absorption: The Knowledge deepens. We ask questions, receive answers, and any lingering doubts are cleared up. Knowledge is being absorbed slowly, silently, permanently. As Self is dissolving, and the veil is beginning to lift, the unadorned purity of Selfless Self begins to shine forth.

The Master cautions us:

"Always be alert! Don't let illusion back in!

Keep doing the practice!"

10. Spontaneous Conviction: The Master tells us not to think about what is happening, and not to make any effort. "Don't stress the brain! The conviction that You are not the body, will arise spontaneously. Then, you will KNOW, I Am That!"

11. Merging: At this time, as well as at other times, the feeling of separation between the Master and disciple dissolves. Again:"The invisible speaker in me and the invisible listener in you are one and the same". A merging, so to speak, into Oneness is taking place. As Maharaj says:

"The melting process is marching towards Oneness."

12. Be With Selfless Self: At this stage the Master actively prompts the Inner Master directly, saying: "Talk to your Inner Master. Demand answers! Your Inner Master will respond and give you instructions. Your Masterly essence will guide you. Embrace Selfless Self".

Your Inner Master is reawakening:

"You are Ultimate Truth. You are Ultimate Reality. You are Final Reality".

There is nothing more. Words are now redundant. Knowledge has served its purpose. It has removed the illusion of ignorance. Likewise, the illusion of Knowledge must also be dissolved:

"Total Knowledge is absorbed in Oneness."

13. Be Within the Selfless Self: The process from illusion to Reality has, as it were, ended.

"Be calm and quiet. Be happy. Enjoy the exceptional peace, exceptional silence. Be intoxicated with the nectar of Selfless Self"

14. Bowing to the Master:

Spontaneous gratitude arises, and devotion to the Master continues unabated. He has shown that the disciple is Ultimate Reality, Final Truth. Selfless Self is revealed. Jai Guru!

Master repeats and emphasizes again and again that:

"Except your Selfless Self there is no God, no Brahman, no Atman, no Paramatman, no Master."