The following is taken from Aham Sphurana 27th September 1936:

Questioner: If the Self will reveal Itself only to those whom It chooses, what then is the use of our effort?

[Tom: The phrase ‘The self can be gained by He whom the Self chooses’ is one translation of verses found in both the Mundaka Upanishad (Verse 3.2.3) and the Katha Upanishad (Verse 1.2.23)]

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi: The Self will draw unto Itself an aspirant only when he becomes totally introverted. So long as he is extroverted in the slightest, Realisation would remain altogether impossible.

Q.: So to make myself eligible for Realisation, I have to introvert the mind?

B.: Yes; total introversion is needed so as to bring about Realisation; the same can be achieved only gradually.

Q.: Please mention any 5 unique characteristics, features or attributes of the Self.

B.: [no response]

Q.: So silence is Its only quality?

B.: Yes. The silence of the Self is not inertness; it alone is Life.

Q.: ‘Giving to others is giving to oneself.’ What is the meaning of this statement?

B.: There is no multiplicity of selves. There is no myself, yourself and himself. All there is, is only One Impersonal Absolute Self.

Q.: How to become aware of this Absolute Self?

B.: There are no two selves, so that they may take it in turns to be aware of each other. What IS, is only that One. There can be no reaching Him. All attempts to reach Him will end only in futility. The thing to do is to surrender to Him without reserve.

Q.: If there be no multiplicity in truth, why do we observe that in actual practice there are many persons in the world?

B.: They appear to be there only when you appear to be there to observe them.

Q.: So this vast cosmos is only my own mental creation or projection?

B.: Undoubtedly.

Q.: How then does the mindless Sri Bhagawan see the world?

B.: Why not Realise the Self and find out for yourself?