THE REAL SELF | PART 13 OF 14 | IWGR I | RAMA राम

" Where is your place ? "

And heir named the metropolis of the state .

" That is my place . "

O youth , that metropolis of the state is not the only place you have got . The whole state , the whole country is yours . You live in that metropolis , that capital of the state , while that capital is not the only place that is yours , the whole state is yours , this magnificent landscape , these fairy scenes , this grand Himalayan scenery , all this belongs to you , and not only that particular small town .

This is the mistake made by the people . This intellect or brain may be called the metropolis or the capital of your real Self , the Atman . You have no right to claim this to yourself and deny everything else ; this little metropolis of the brain , this metropolis of the mind or intellect is not the only place you have got . The wide world , the moons , the earths the planets , the milkyways , all these are yours . Realise that . Just regain your birthright ; and all anxiety , all misery ceases .

People talk about freedom ; people talk about salvation . What is it that has bound you first ? If you want to be free , if you want to get salvation , you ought to know what is the cause of your bondage .

It is just like a monkey in the fable . A monkey is caught in India in a very queer manner . A narrow-necked basin is fixed in the ground , and in that basin are put some nuts and other eatables which the monkeys like . The monkeys come up and thrust their hands into the narrow-necked basin and fill their hands with the nuts . The fist becomes thick , and it cannot be taken out . There the monkey is caught ; it cannot come out . Queerly , strangely the monkey is caught .

We ask what it is that binds you first . You yourself have brought you under thraldom and bondage . Here is the whole wide world , a grand magnificent forest ; and in this grand magnificent wood of the whole universe , there is a narrow-necked vessel found . What is that narrow-necked vessel ? It is your brain ; this little brain , narrow-necked . Herein are some nuts and people have got hold of these nuts and all what is done through the agency of this brain or through the medium of this intellect , is owned as one's own .

" I am the mind , "

is what everybody says ; everybody has practically identified with the mind ,

" I am the mind " , " I am the intellect " ,

and has taken a strong grip of these nuts of this narrow-necked vessel . That is what makes you slave , that is what makes you slave to anxiety , slave to fear , slave to temptations , slave to all sorts of troubles . That is what binds you ; that is the cause of all the sufferings in this world .

If you want salvation , if you want freedom only let go the hold , free your hand . The whole forest is yours , you can jump from tree to tree and eat all the nuts and eat all the walnuts and all the fruits in the wood , all being yours . The whole world is yours ; just get rid of this selfish ignorance and you are free , you are your own saviour .