Vira Chandra: The world has seen many great saints, each expressing their realization in unique ways. Some radiate a soft, motherly love, embracing all in their infinite kindness. Others burn with the fire of intensity, their presence unsettling, their words sharp like a sword. Some are still and silent like the depths of an ocean, while others move unpredictably like a raging storm.
Yet, amidst all these variations, there is one interesting universal hallmark of a truly realized being—a Jnani never argues.
This is not about personality. Some Jnanis appear fiery, others gentle. Some shake the world with their presence, others pass unnoticed. But if realization is total, complete, and irreversible, one thing is certain: there is no one left to defend, no position left to uphold, no concept left to prove.
It is essential to distinguish between fiery saints and those who still engage in argument. Saints like Guru Garu (Swaprakashananda Natha Tirtha Avadhuta), Bhagavan Nityananda, Gorakhnath, and Trailanga Swami were known for their extreme intensity. They sometimes spoke bluntly, even frighteningly, their presence alone enough to shake a seeker to the core. Yet, none of them engaged in debate.
Their fire was not the fire of intellectual battle—it was the fire of direct truth, the fire that burns away the ego upon contact. Their words were like lightning bolts—not meant to prove a point, but to strike directly at illusion, leaving no room for response.
Contrast this with those who engage in constant argument, refutation, and verbal sparring. This behavior suggests that something is still moving within them—some residual trace of identification, some last flicker of "I am right, and you are wrong." A Jnani has no such need.
Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi never argued. No matter how learned the visitor, no matter how insistent the challenge, he remained unshaken. If a scholar came quoting endless scriptures, Bhagavan would simply smile, remain silent, or—if pressed—say something like, "If you want a certificate that you have won, you may take it." One of such episodes was beautifully described by Balaram Reddiar in his memoirs
This was not indifference. This was the absolute disinterest of a being who has nothing left to defend.
His presence alone dissolved all arguments.
Those who approached him with questions often found their minds stilled before they could even speak. Those who came to challenge found themselves struggling to hold on to their own thoughts, as if something in them was already surrendering to the vastness before them. Those who insisted on debate were left debating only with themselves, for Bhagavan would never step into the battlefield of words.
A being who engages in argument, challenges seekers aggressively, or constantly seeks to prove their position is still operating at the level of the mind. They may have powerful insights. They may have profound realizations. But if realization is absolute, there is no need to prove anything.
A Jnani does not convince.
A Jnani does not win debates.
A Jnani does not care if the whole world rejects what they say.
Why? Because truth does not need defending. It simply is.
For seekers, this understanding is vital. In today’s world, there are countless teachers claiming enlightenment. Many of them speak fluent nonduality, using all the right words. Many have deep insights, even genuine mystical experiences. But the test of a true Jnani is not how well they explain the truth—it is whether they feel the need to argue at all.
If someone debates, defends their teaching, tries to prove their realization to others, or reacts to challenges, then there is still an "I" operating. A trace of personal identity remains.
A Jnani simply is. If you see someone arguing, you can be certain—something is incomplete.
A realized being does not fight. A realized being does not insist. A realized being does not care if you believe them or not.
Truth stands by itself.
It needs no champion.
It needs no defender.
Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi remains the gold standard of realization, not just because of what he taught, but because of what he did not need to teach. His silence alone carried the highest transmission. His mere presence answered every question. And when he did speak, his words carried the weight of absolute finality—never shifting, never contradicting, never needing elaboration. This is how you recognize a true Jnani.
Not by how fiery or soft they are.
Not by how many scriptures they know.
Not by how powerful their words sound — it may merely be a charisma.
But by their absolute refusal to argue.
Because truth does not debate — it simply is.
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