Return Within

Poem by Swami Abhishiktananda (1910 - 1973). Born Henri Le Saux, he was a French monk who, having moved to India in 1948, adopted sannyasa in accordance with Indian tradition. His meetings with the famous Advaitin sage Ramana Maharshi led him to profound advaitic experience as well as to final recognition of the truth of advaita during the last years of his life.

Return within,
to the place where there is nothing,
and take care that nothing comes in.
Penetrate to the depths of yourself,
to the place where thought no longer exists,
and take care that no thought arises there!
There where nothing exists,
Fullness!
There where nothing is seen,
the Vision of Being!
There where nothing appears any longer,
the sudden appearing of the Self!
Dhyana is this!