Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi - An Illusory Being Watching an Illusory World

Query: When will the realization of THE SELF be gained?

Bhagavan: When the world which is what-is-seen has been removed, there will be realization of THE SELF which is THE SEER.

Query: Will there not be realization of THE SELF even while the world is there (taken as real)?

Bhagavan: THERE WILL NOT BE.

Query: Why?

Bhagavan: The seer and the object seen are like the rope and the snake. Just as the knowledge of the rope which is the substrate will not arise unless the false knowledge of the illusory serpent goes, so the realization of THE SELF which is the substrate will not be gained UNLESS the belief that the world is real is REMOVED.

Query: When will the world which is the object seen be removed?

Bhagavan: When the mind, which IS the cause of ALL cognition's and of ALL actions, becomes quiescent, THE WORLD WILL DISAPPEAR.

Extract is taken from:
Who Am I? (Naan Yaar?)
The Teachings of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi
Translation by Dr. T. M. P. Mahadevan from the original Tamil.