Attaining Self-Realisation - Ramana Maharshi's Instructions

The Sanskrit term for name is Nama.

When the name signifies a physical object invariably the mind makes a mental image of the Rupa (form) of the object. That’s why Nama and Rupa always go together. We name everything in this universe so that our mind can understand using that name. The name helps us even understand about things that do not have any form, such as oxygen, electricity, love, anger, profit, loss, etc.

Advaita Vedanta uses a term “Jagat” which includes this world, the body, the mind and the thoughts. All the observable, knowable things are Jagat. Advaita calls this Jagat as Anatman (Not-Self). The observer or the knower is Atman (Self).

Our name is used to identify our body and hence it is also part of Jagat.

We attach great importance to our own names as our name is considered as our identity. In a congregation, we rejoice when our name is called out for some recognition. If the ever attention craving ego were to have its ways, one would want the name to be inscribed everywhere, as the name of a street, name of a roundabout, name of a building, etc.

It is common to see that one attaches so much importance to one’s name, but are we really the name? Would we be any different if we were to be called by any other name? Didn’t our friends in school call us by different names like Johnny or Joe? Didn’t parents call us differently to express their love by calling Sweetie Pie, Sugar Candy, etc.? Wouldn’t the spouse call names like Honey, Sweet Heart, etc.? Using legal process also we could change our name. So, does changing the name change us as well? Do we lose our existence by changing our name? No!!

The essence of these discussions is what is captured by the quote from "Romeo and Juliet" of Shakespeare "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".

Advaita Vedanta advices us that there need not be any undue importance given to one’s name and understand the fact that the purpose of a name is just to identify, comprehend, transact and communicate.

We are normally associated with this Jagat and hence are called Jiva which is existing as limited individual Self. When we let go of our attachment with Jagat then we lose our individuality and we could start identifying ourselves with the infinite, eternal, Atman (Self). This is called Self-Realisation.

See Also:

• All the world's a stage