Freedom is only knowing the Self within yourself. Ramani Maharshi

Freedom is only knowing the Self within yourself. 

Every being yearns to be happy. Yet due to ignorance of the real nature of [their] own being, which is happiness itself, people flounder in the vast ocean of material existence. 

People think freedom is somewhere yonder and should be sought out [side]/

They are wrong.

Freedom is only knowing the Self within yourself.

Concentrate and you will get it. 

There is no greater mystery than this:

Being reality ourselves, we seek to gain Reality.

Our real nature is liberation. But we imagine we are bound. 

We thus make strenuous efforts to become free while all the while, we are free. 

We will be surprised that we were frantically trying to attain something which we have always been and are. 

To be the Self that you really are is the only means to realize the bliss that is ever yours. 

The Self you seek to know is verily yourself. Bliss is not added to your nature, it is merely revealed as your true and natural State.

Bliss of the Self is always with you.

And you will find it for yourself if you seek it earnestly. 

You will know in due course that your glory lies here you cease to exist.

The ego is like a very powerful elephant which cannot be brought under control by anything less powerful than a lion, which in this instance is no other than the Guru, whose very look makes the elephnat-like ego tremble and die.

In order to gain that state, you should surrender yourself.

Then the Master sees that you are in a fit state to receive guidance, and  He guides you. 

After the Rain, Silent Encounters with Ramani Maharshi

Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai 2012

Ramani Maharshi was  a Hindu sage. He was born in December 1879 in India. At 16 he reached enlightenment, aware of himself as awareness itself. He left his home in 1896 and went to reside at Arunachala, a sacred hill in India where he lived until April 1950. I purchased this book at Hridaya France, a Yoga School and Retreat Center. Their guru, Sahajananda carries on the teachings of Ramani Maharshi in the west.