Wednesday, September 26, 2007

grazing stealthily on others' estates

Mr. B. C. Das asked why the mind cannot be turned inward in spite of repeated attempts.

Sri Ramana: It is done by practice and dispassion and that succeeds only gradually. The mind, having been so long a cow accustomed to graze stealthily on others' estates, is not easily confined to her stall. However much her keeper tempts her with luscious grass and fine fodder, she refuses the first time; then she takes a bit; but her innate tendency to stray away asserts itself; and she slips away; on being repeatedly tempted by the owner, she accustoms herself to the stall; finally even if let loose she would not stray away. Similarly with the mind. If once it finds its inner happiness it will not wander outward.

~ Talk 213, Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

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