Should I not try to help the suffering world? | Ramana Answers

🪔 This video is made with excerpts taken from Ramana's own teachings from the book "Be As You Are", recorded with a human voice and made by devotees for devotees.

Śrī Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) was one of the most revered sages of modern India. Born in Tamil Nadu, he attained spontaneous Self-realization at the age of sixteen and later lived on the sacred hill of Arunāchala, where seekers gathered in silence. Rooted in Advaita Vedānta, his teachings pointed directly to the question "Who am I?" (Ko 'ham?) as the path to liberation (mokṣa), reflecting a life of stillness, compassion, and the pure radiance of the Self beyond authorship.

In this dialogue from Be As You Are, Ramana is asked about karma yoga—the yoga of selfless action—and how one can serve the world. He explains that true karma yoga is not about doing, but about freeing oneself from the sense of authorship (kartṛtva buddhi). All actions, he says, arise naturally through the Power (Śakti) that sustains the universe. When the ego dissolves, actions flow effortlessly, guided by Divine Will.

When asked how to help the suffering world, Ramana replies, "Who is there to help?" The highest service, he says, is Self-realization itself. When one transcends body and mind, the illusion of "others" disappears, and the realized being perceives only the Self—like a goldsmith who sees only gold in many ornaments. True compassion arises not from effort, but from remaining as pure Consciousness (cit).

The sage teaches that the sage serves the world simply by Being. In the egoless state (ahankāra-rahita sthiti), peace radiates naturally. If we still feel the desire to help, he advises surrendering everything—personal and collective—to God. The Power (Īśvara) that created the world will take care of it. The greatest help to the world is to awaken to That which is ever free—the eternal Self that neither acts nor suffers.

🕉️ Whispers Of Prema is a study group on non-duality.
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