Bhagavan and the Bible
Sri Ramana Maharshi said that during his youth he read only two books and bits of a third. One of the two that was his companion in youth was the Holy Bible.
During later years, as Bhagavan guided and inspired the hearts of thousands, he often quoted from the Bible, placing its importance as one of the principle scriptures in the world.
Collected here are quotes from Bhagavan containing the words of Jesus, which themselves continue to inspire and uplift mankind to seek:
“The Way, the Truth and the Light.”
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D.: May we read the Bible?
Maharshi: The Bible and the Gita are the same... In the Bhagavad
Gita it is said that it is the nature of the mind to wander. One must bring one’s thoughts to bear on God. By long practice the mind is controlled and made steady.”
D.: The Bible says that the human soul may be lost.
M.: The ‘I-thought’ is the ego and that is lost. The real ‘I’ is “I am
That I Am.”
D.: I feel that I am transplanted into some other land than the earth.
Sri Bhagavan, while looking into some correspondence, heard it, smiled
and said: This is the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven
mentioned in the Bible and this world are not two different regions.
“The Kingdom is within you,” says the Bible. So it is. The realised
being sees this as the Kingdom of Heaven whereas the others see it as ‘this world’. The difference lies only in the angles of vision.
D.: What is meant by taking the name of God? How to reconcile the
following two ideas?
The Bible says: “Do not take the name of God in vain.”
The Hindu sastras enjoin taking the name of God all the time.
M.: One should not use the name of God artificially and superficially
without feeling. To use the name of God one must call upon Him
and surrender to Him unreservedly. After such surrender the name
of God is constantly with the man.
Bhagavan: “The Bible says, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Stillness
is the sole requisite for the realisation of the Self as God.
The whole Vedanta is contained in the two Biblical statements: ‘I AM THAT I AM’, and ‘BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD’.”
D.: “What is Moksha (liberation)?”
Bhagavan: “Moksha is to know that you were not born. “Be still and know that I am God.” To be still is not to think. Know, and not think, is the word.”
Posted by Swami Sadasivananda at 6/19/2008 11:49 AM 
Categories: Eastern and Western Spiritual Writing
Categories: Eastern and Western Spiritual Writing
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