--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The state of self-realization, as we call…" description: "\"The state of self-realization, as we call it, is not attaining something new or reaching some goal which is far away, but simply being that which you a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/ramana-maharshi-915_far-away_the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call_130559.jpg" --- # The state of self-realization, as we call it, is not… ![“The state of self-realization, as we call it, is not attaining something new or reaching some goal which is far away, but simply being that which you always are and which you always have been.” quote by Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/ramana-maharshi-915_far-away_the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call_130559.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/ramana-maharshi-915_far-away_the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call_130559.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/ramana-maharshi-915_far-away_the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call_130559.jpg) > “The state of self-realization, as we call it, is not attaining something new or reaching some goal which is far away, but simply being that which you always are and which you always have been.” [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑realization is recognizing one’s true nature, not acquiring something new. **In simple terms:** Being yourself is the goal, not becoming something else. Key Takeaway Recognize your timeless self. Themes philosophy identity spirituality Mood peaceful contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - spiritual retreat - daily reflection Key Concepts non‑duality self‑inquiry Questions to Reflect On - What does your true self feel like? - How can you stay present in your identity? A Different Perspective It can be difficult to let go of the “becoming” mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Far away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-away/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching/) [Realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization/) [Realization Attaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization-attaining-1498546/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-realization/) [Something new](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-new/) [State Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-self-1116898/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [“one is that you attain the goal and realize the shocking realization that attaining the goal does not complete or redeem you, does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/one-is-that-you-attain-the-goal-and-realize-the-shocking-realization/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“The body is pudgal parinaam (the resultant state of that which is continuously undergoing change through the process of input and output) and Swa-parinaam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-body-is-pudgal-parinaam-the-resultant-state-of-that-which-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The supreme law of the State is self-preservation at any cost. And since all States, ever since they came to exist upon the earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/the-supreme-law-of-the-state-is-self-preservation-at-any-cost-and/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [There is an inverse relationship between reliance on the state and self-reliance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/there-is-an-inverse-relationship-between-reliance-on-the-state-and/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [“Gnayakata (to continuously Know and See) is Swaramanata (dwelling in the state as the Self).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/gnayakata-to-continuously-know-and-see-is-swaramanata-dwelling-in-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“To come into the inherent state as the Self is indeed known as liberation (mukti)!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-come-into-the-inherent-state-as-the-self-is-indeed-known-as/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Our opinion is, 'Nobody is at fault.' If someone appears to be at fault, then that is our weakness. The fact that you see somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/our-opinion-is-nobody-is-at-fault-if-someone-appears-to-be-at-fault/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“What is the measure of the fact that one has realized One's own state as the Self (nijswaroop)? It is in accordance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-the-measure-of-the-fact-that-one-has-realized-one-s-own-state/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [I like the state of being self-aware, it's interesting when you start to look at your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/i-like-the-state-of-being-self-aware-it-s-interesting-when-you-start/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [“As individuality develops and blossoms incrementally, and it becomes fully expressed; that is the Absolute state of the Self (parmatma).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/as-individuality-develops-and-blossoms-incrementally-and-it-becomes/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“one state commits an illegal act against another state, and refuses to make reparation or to appear before an international tribunal, there is (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-state-commits-an-illegal-act-against-another-state-and-refuses-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I watch people who are not driven by creativity any more, and I think how dull it must be to produce the same kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-watch-people-who-are-not-driven-by-creativity-any-more-and-i-think/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [We are naturally reluctant as a peace-loving people to reach out to far-away conflicts but, as we know, this conflict has been reaching out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/we-are-naturally-reluctant-as-a-peace-loving-people-to-reach-out-to/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Nearly all mankind is more or less unhappy because nearly all do not know the true Self. Real happiness abides in Self-knowledge alone. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/nearly-all-mankind-is-more-or-less-unhappy-because-nearly-all-do-not/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The 'I' casts off the illusion of the 'I' and yet remains 'I'. Such is the paradox of Self-realization. The Realized do not see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-i-casts-off-the-illusion-of-the-i-and-yet-remains-i-such-is-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) ## More by Ramana Maharshi > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Silence is most powerful. Speech is always less powerful than silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/silence-is-most-powerful-speech-is-always-less-powerful-than-silence/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Meditation is sticking to one thought. That single thought keeps away other thoughts; distraction of mind is a sign of its weakness; by constant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/meditation-is-sticking-to-one-thought-that-single-thought-keeps-away/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The more you prune a plant, the more it grows. So too the more you seek to annihilate the ego, the more it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-more-you-prune-a-plant-the-more-it-grows-so-too-the-more-you-seek/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Think of God; attachments will gradually drop away. If you wait till all desires disappear before starting your devotion and prayer, you will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/think-of-god-attachments-will-gradually-drop-away-if-you-wait-till/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [That which rises and sinks is made up of what it rises from. The finality of the universe is the God Arunachala. Meditating on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/that-which-rises-and-sinks-is-made-up-of-what-it-rises-from-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Food affects the mind. For the practice of any kind of yoga, vegetarianism is absolutely necessary since it makes the mind more pure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/food-affects-the-mind-for-the-practice-of-any-kind-of-yoga/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The mind of one meditating on a single object becomes one-pointed. And one-pointedness of mind leads to abidance in the self. Real attainment is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-mind-of-one-meditating-on-a-single-object-becomes-one-pointed-and/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Eating, bathing, going to the toilet, talking, thinking, and many other activities related to the body are all work. How is it that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/eating-bathing-going-to-the-toilet-talking-thinking-and-many-other/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Knowing the Self, God is known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/knowing-the-self-god-is-known/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Every moment there is creation, every moment destruction. There is no absolute creation, no absolute destruction. Both are movement, and that is eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/every-moment-there-is-creation-every-moment-destruction-there-is-no/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The entire Universe is condensed in the body, and the entire body in the Heart. Thus the Heart is the nucleus of the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-entire-universe-is-condensed-in-the-body-and-the-entire-body-in/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [God illumines the mind and shines within it. One cannot know God by means of the mind. One can but turn the mind inwards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/god-illumines-the-mind-and-shines-within-it-one-cannot-know-god-by/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [We are so engrossed with the objects, or appearances revealed by the light, that we pay no attention to the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/we-are-so-engrossed-with-the-objects-or-appearances-revealed-by-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [As you are, so is the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/as-you-are-so-is-the-world/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) [Explore all 329 Ramana Maharshi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) ## More Far away quotes > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [If I had a dollar for every time you've fucked me over, I'd move far, far away from you, and never see you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-reitz/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-you-ve-fucked-me-over-i-d-move-far/) [Jesse Reitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-reitz/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's often frustrating when you're a war reporter and you're covering these places that far away. You're frustrated by making stories that people can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rowley/it-s-often-frustrating-when-you-re-a-war-reporter-and-you-re-covering/) [Rick Rowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rowley/) > [A ship's engine far away on the water expands the summer-night horizon. Both joy and sorrow swell in the dew's magnifying glass. Without really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-transtromer/a-ship-s-engine-far-away-on-the-water-expands-the-summer-night/) [Tomas Transtromer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-transtromer/) > [“God seems to far away. Does He? Have you noted the splendid display of wildflowers? Have you listened to a child's laughter or watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diann-mills/god-seems-to-far-away-does-he-have-you-noted-the-splendid-display-of/) [DiAnn Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diann-mills/) > [In other countries, it's a common thing to have outcast children running around the streets in packs, and I don't think we're so far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-spheeris/in-other-countries-it-s-a-common-thing-to-have-outcast-children/) [Penelope Spheeris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-spheeris/) > [So here is my story, may it bring Some smiles and a tear or so, It happened once upon a time, Far away, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/so-here-is-my-story-may-it-bring-some-smiles-and-a-tear-or-so-it/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [ Nineteen thousand children \[are\] dying every day. Does it really matter that we're not walking past them in the street? Does it really matter… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/nineteen-thousand-children-are-dying-every-day-does-it-really-matter/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Being an only child, I didn't have any other family but my mom and dad really, since the rest of my family lived quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/being-an-only-child-i-didn-t-have-any-other-family-but-my-mom-and-dad/) [Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I rented an island for Kanye West birthday. A far, far away place where no one can find us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/i-rented-an-island-for-kanye-west-birthday-a-far-far-away-place-where/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [The uniqueness of the United States in human history is the United States is the first global power in human history which emerged far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-davutoglu/the-uniqueness-of-the-united-states-in-human-history-is-the-united/) [Ahmet Davutoglu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-davutoglu/) > [And the voices in the waves are always whispering to Florence, in their ceaseless murmuring, of love - of love, eternal and illimitable, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/and-the-voices-in-the-waves-are-always-whispering-to-florence-in/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Browse all 1,111 Far away quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-away/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The state of self-realization, as we call it, is not attaining something new or reaching some goal which is far away, but simply being that which you always are and which you always have been.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ramana Maharshi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call-it-is-not-attaining/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Far away" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call-it-is-not-attaining/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/ramana-maharshi-915_far-away_the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call_130559.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/ramana-maharshi-915_far-away_the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call_130559.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/ramana-maharshi-915_far-away_the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call_130559.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The state of self-realization, as we call it, is not attaining something new or reaching some goal which is…” — Ramana Maharshi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ramana Maharshi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The state of self-realization, as we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call-it-is-not-attaining/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call-it-is-not-attaining/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```