Not relief of mind, but destruction of the mind's centre || Acharya Prashant, on Raman Maharishi(2019)

In deep sleep mind is merged and not destroyed. That which merges reappears. It may happen in meditation also. But the mind which is destroyed cannot reappear. The yogi’s aim must be to destroy it and not to sink in ‘laya’ (merging). In the peace of dhyana (meditation), laya ensues but it is not enough. It must be supplemented by other practices for destroying the mind. Mind’s destruction is the non-recognition of it as being apart from the Self. Even now the mind is not. Recognize it. How can you do it if not in everyday activities. They go on automatically. Know that the mind promoting them is not real but a phantom proceeding from the Self. That is how the mind is destroyed.

~ Ramana Maharshi

Questioner (Q): Acharya Ji, please help me understand the meaning of last paragraph here, and also please shed some light on what is meant by ‘destroying the mind’.

Acharya Prashant (AP): The last paragraph — I’ll re-read, because the emphasis is on that in the question.

Mind’s destruction is the non-recognition of it as being apart from the Self, true Self. Even now the mind is not. Recognize it. How can you do it if not in everyday activities.