When the seeing ego ceased to exist, the mind did not rise to say ‘I saw’. (Ramana Maharshi quote).

Śrī Aruṇācala Aṣṭakam verses 1 and 2: when the seeing ego ceased to exist, the mind did not rise to say ‘I saw’.


(Michael James translation)

When [the seer] investigated within the mind who the seer is, I saw what remained when the seer [thereby] became non-existent. The mind did not rise to say ‘I saw’, [so] in what way could the mind rise to say ‘I did not see’?

Who has the power to elucidate this [by] speaking, when in ancient times [even] you [as Dakshinamurti] elucidated [it] without speaking? Only to elucidate your state without speaking, you stood as a hill [or motionlessly] shining [from] earth [to] sky.

Jesus and the Vine - abidance in the Self.

A reference from the Bible / NT. Make of it what you will, however, read in the light of self-inquiry, self-abidance, stabilising in the "I am" etc., -- it makes perfect sense and perfect instruction.

Jesus the True Vine (John 15)

1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard.

2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.