Self-Enquiry – Be still; be silent

source: http://www.angelfire.com/space2/light11/diction/ramana.html#19

The whole of Vedanta is contained in the two Biblical statements “I am that I am” and “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ramana Maharshi, GFB, chapter 8.)

“I-Am-That-I-Am” sums up the whole Truth. The method is summed up by “Be still and know that I am God.” What does stillness mean? Cessation of thinking, which is the universe of forms, colours, qualities, time, space, all concepts and percepts whatever. (Ramana Maharshi, GR, 55.)

Stop the thoughts, which are your enemy…, and the mind will remain as your pure being, the immortal “I.” (Ramana Maharshi, GR, 75.)

The thought “who am I?” will destroy all other thoughts, and like the stick used for stirring the burning pyre, it will itself in the end get destroyed. Then, there will arise Self-realization. (Ramana Maharshi, WHO, 14.)

Remaining quiet is what is called wisdom-insight. To remain quiet is to resolve the mind in the Self. Telepathy, knowing past, present and future happenings and clairvoyance do not constitute wisdom-insight. (Ramana Maharshi, WHO, 21.)

When the mind, which is the cause of all cognition and all actions, becomes quiescent, the world will disappear. (Ramana Maharshi in WHO, 12.)

The Self is that where there is absolutely no “I”-thought. That is called “Silence.” (Ramana Maharshi, WHO, 17.)

Everybody, every book says “Be quiet or still.” But it is not easy. That is why all this effort is necessary. Even if you find one who has at once achieved the mouna (silence) or supreme state indicated, you may take it that the effort necessary has already been completed in a previous life. Such effortless and choiceless awareness is reached only after deliberate meditation. (Ramana Maharshi, GFB, chapter 8.)