śrī rāma hṛdayam

Sri Ganeshaya Namah. Sri Mahadeva (Shiva) speaks: Then Rama himself addressed the approaching Hanuman — 'Listen, I shall now impart to you the secret teaching...'

Just as the sky is perceived in three apparent divisions — the great unbroken sky (mahakasha), the sky as reflected in a body of water, and the sky seemingly enclosed within a container — so too is pure consciousness (chit) of three kinds.

Consciousness as limited by the intellect is one form; the full unlimited consciousness is another; and the reflected-consciousness (abhasa) is the third, as the original (bimba). Thus awareness is of three kinds.

The sense of doership (kartritva) is superimposed by error on the witness-consciousness, which is in reality unchanging and unlimited. Similarly, the state of being an individual soul (jivatva) is superimposed by the ignorant.

The reflected-consciousness (abhasa) is called a false product of avidya (ignorance); the undivided Brahman is called unlimited. Any apparent division from Brahman is only imagined.

The undivided jiva gains identity with the full Brahman through the Mahavakyas such as 'Tat tvam asi' (That thou art). And through 'aham asmi' (I am), the reflected-consciousness also realizes that identity.

When knowledge of the unity between the individual self and Brahman arises through the Mahavakya, then avidya together with all its products is destroyed without doubt.

The devotee who truly knows this attains oneness with Me. For those averse to My devotion, wandering lost in the thickets of mere scripture — there is neither true knowledge nor liberation.

This is My secret Heart, proclaimed directly to you by Me Myself, O sinless one. This must not be given by you to one devoid of devotion to Me, nor to a deceitful person — not even under pressure from Indra or any other.

Thus ends the Sri Rama Hrudayam from the Balakanda of the Adhyatma Ramayana. (Colophon)