Dear Nagaraj, srkudai,
I agree that Self is ever realized. There is no need to attain anything. There is no bondage, no one bound, no moksha, no mukti etc.,
But member like Ramana is a beginner. He has got some genuine questions. The questions have to be answered in a conventional
manner. If one suddenly says: You are That. Summa Iru, it will put cold water into his enthusiasm to know things. Sri Bhagavan
of course said on a few occasions the direct answer, as above. But He said with a gaze that was penetrating into the hearts of
the devotees and made the quieten the mind, at least in that period of time. Then slowly with Sri Bhagavan's Grace, they understood
the direct path. Whereas in Forum, I cannot look at the questioners with Sri Bhagavan's gaze because I am myself is not fully
successful in self inquiry and I am somewhat in the middle level.
Hence all answers are given in a traditional manner, with of course, including sayings of Sri Bhagavan here and there.
*
One Andhra devotee was sent by Swami Yogananda to Sri Bhagavan because that devotee would not progress in yoga method.
This gentleman came. And asked Sri Bhagavan: What should I do to attain Self Realization? Sri Bhagavan after some silence, gazed
at him and then told him: Vandha vazhiye po...."Go by the way in which you came." The Andhra devotee did not understand anything. He was slightly disappointed thinking that Sri Bhagavan was asking him to back to Andhra! After some days, Muruganar to whom he told his predicament answered: You have been given Upadesam. Sri Bhagavan says: Go by the way in which you came! This means seek
the way inwardly the place where ego sprouted first. The Andhra devotee understood this and began in earnest self attention
and he succeeded. The Gaze did all the trick.
Srii Bhagavan's Gaze (which is nothing but transmission of Grace) helped him.
*
When Kunju Swami came first, he found Sri Bhagavan heating rice powder with water to make a kanji. Three squirrels were
waiting for the food. They were closeted in a basket. Sri Bhagavan said: Catch all the three. Then He said Leave one by one.
The squirrels left one by one took share of their kanji. One squirrel urinated. Sri Bhagavan said: Clean up. Kunju Swami cleaned
up the place with his towel.
Now what does it mean to all of us? Simple instructions to feed the squirrels.
Kunju Swami already steeped in Jnana Marga understood.
Catch the three = the three are ego, karma and maya. Catch hold of all the three.
Leave one by one = leave ego, karma and maya one by one.
Clean up the place = clean up your mind without any trace of these.
Kunju Swami took these as Maha vakyas and pursued his sadhana.
Arunachala Siva.