Are there any blocks capable of preventing me from awakening in this life?

This question was recently posed by a sangha member. It goes hand in hand with the question, “What if I am just not destined to awaken in this life?” Both questions presume a deterministic universe.

Ramana Maharshi said, “Whatever is destined not to happen will not happen, try as you may. Whatever is destined to happen will happen, do what you may to prevent it. This is certain. The best course, therefore, is to remain silent.”

This would imply the answer to both initial questions is “yes.” However, if we look more closely, Ramana is answering in this instance from the perspective as an individual. He is saying that as a “you” things appear destined. The solution as Ramana points is to be silent.

Ramana also states, “There is neither creation nor destruction, neither destiny nor free will, neither path nor achievement. This is the final truth.” He further expounded, “When there is no ‘I,’ there is no karma.”

The initially posed questions, therefore, lose their relevance when viewed from the awakened perspective. When viewed as eternal preconceptual awareness, how could a blockage or temporal destiny ever have existed, much less define or confine eternal preconceptual awareness?

All apparent blockages and destinies are simply thoughts believed. Their apparent existence relies on the delusional belief as an individual bound ‘I.’  As Ramana points out, destiny is only relevant when viewed as a “you.”  Be silent, recognize you are that which gives birth to, but is not bound by, all concepts and be free. It is only your belief you are not free that keeps you from freedom.

In Truth, Bec and Steve

Can Destiny Block Awakening?

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