Service to the Lord

Sri Ramana advises:

Keeping one's attention on the subtle consciousness that is experienced by the extremely subtle mind, is personal service to me.

-- From Bhagavan's Promises

Does this activity give me only temporary joy ?

Do not waste time in activities that lead only to that which is temporary and therefore futile.

Ask of each activity: “Where can this lead?”

Ask of each activity: “Can this lead to eternal bliss, or does this just lead to that which is temporary?”

Grace manifests itself when ...

"Grace manifests itself when the quest for the Self begins. The quest itself is the result of Grace. There is not a single moment when Grace is not operating in us. Grace is beyond time and space. Grace is always there. It is the beginning, middle and end. Grace is the Self."

-- Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.

Please see quest itself is the result of Grace.

Eagerness for liberation

Eagerness for liberation must be equal to the eagerness someone who is being held underwater has, for trying to rise to the surface.

-- Source.

Desire for freedom

If the desire for freedom is not great enough in you, the ego will always find a way to occupy your time with something other than spiritual practice.

-- Source.

Practice, not concepts

The ego keeps thoughts about spiritual concepts going, to avoid the practice that leads to the ego’s final end.

Spiritual concepts do not lead to freedom.
Only practice leads to freedom.

-- Source.

Meditating on the Lord

Knowing that what abides in your Heart is the Self, my true and real nature, you should search for it there. Only this can be regarded as meditating on me with devotion.

-- From Bhagavan's Promises.

The "I" thought

Thinking that thinking or thought is your self is a delusion, a dream-like illusion.

Thinking that you are a body living in a world is a delusion, a dream-like illusion.

Thought has created those delusions.


All sorrow, suffering and delusions have one single root.
The single root is thought.
The root of thought is the I thought.
The root of thought is the thought, I.

-- Michael Langford.

Bringing sense back to Sri Ramana's teachings

Over the years, Bhagavan Ramana's simple path of "clinging to oneself", or being as you are, holding onto awareness/ the feeling of "I", etc, has been complicated by various authors. This simple path has seemingly been lost in translation.

It is heartening, therefore, that Michael Langford has once again put it in simple words for all, in a manner that cannot be missed or confused. In addition, he puts in several chapters to motivate the reader to remain in self-awareness.

The seeker who has never experienced "the Self", is often confused by instructions such as "abide in the Self", "cling to the Self" etc, now understands that it was the most simple fundamental awareness of oneself that was being spoken of, the awareness that wakes up in the morning, the awareness that is looking at the computer screen at this moment -- focusing on that awareness.

At any rate, let me not confuse the reader again -- it is best to read it directly from Mr. Langford himself.
Link.

Awareness, not thought

Living from thought instead of living from Awareness is the cause of all human suffering.

Ego Tricks

However, to go on and on reading spiritual books is an ego preservation strategy, another of the ego’s tricks.

Most reading, discussing and thinking about spiritual teachings is an ego trick.

The ego keeps thoughts about spiritual concepts going to avoid the practice that leads to the ego’s final end.

Source.

Awareness

Turning one's attention away from thought, the body, the world, etc. and towards awareness watching awareness is the most direct means of ending the ego illusion.
Source.

Remember the Lord

These plaintive words moved Bhagavan, and his eyes became moist. After remaining grave and serious for a while, slowly and steadily these supreme words emerged from his mouth: ‘Hereafter, remember me whenever you face calamities.’

Full story on David Godman's blog.