Talk 117

25th December, 1935
Talk 117.

A Ceylonese: What is the first step for Realisation of Self? Please help me towards it. There is no use reading books.
Another: This one man's request is that of us all.

Maharshi: Quite so. If the Self be found in books it would have been already realised. What wonder can be greater than that we seek the Self in books? Can it be found there? Of course books have given readers the sense to ask this question and to seek the Self.
D.: Books are utterly useless. They may all be burnt. The spoken word alone is useful. Grace alone is useful.
Others spoke according to their own light, until finally they returned to the original question, but Sri Bhagavan remained silent.

Talk 116 Talk 118