Question: Is liberation to be achieved before the dissolution of the body or can it be had after death?
Bhagavan: Is there death for you? For whom is death? The body which dies, were you aware of it, did you have it, during sleep? The body was not, when you slept, but you existed even then. When you awoke, you got the body and even in the waking state you exist. You existed both in sleep and waking. But the body did not exist in sleep and exists only in waking. That which does not exist always, but exists at one time and not at another, cannot be real. You exist always and you alone are therefore real.
Liberation is another name for you. It is always here and now with you. It has not to be won or reached hereafter or somewhere. Christ has said, “The Kingdom of God is within you” here and now. You have no death.
Bhagavan: Is there death for you? For whom is death? The body which dies, were you aware of it, did you have it, during sleep? The body was not, when you slept, but you existed even then. When you awoke, you got the body and even in the waking state you exist. You existed both in sleep and waking. But the body did not exist in sleep and exists only in waking. That which does not exist always, but exists at one time and not at another, cannot be real. You exist always and you alone are therefore real.
Liberation is another name for you. It is always here and now with you. It has not to be won or reached hereafter or somewhere. Christ has said, “The Kingdom of God is within you” here and now. You have no death.
~Ramana Maharshi
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