Hendrik,
Hari and Jewell have said well and nothing better can be said.
I wish to clarify the 'Brahma' that the Buddhist monk referred to.He has confused the Brahma (Creator)of the Purana(Mythology) -the Trinity of Brahma(creator) Vishnu(sustainer) and Rudra(the Destroyer) with that of the Upanishads which proclaims 'satyam Jnananm Anantham Brahma'(Pardon me for the use of this phrase from the Upanishads)-It means-'Brahman is Truth consciousness Infinite'-This 'Brahma' of the Upanishads is Brahman and should not be confused with the 'God' of the puranas.Sri Ramana's Self Realization is knowing this 'Brahman' of the upanishads.
What is the Teaching of Sri Bhagavan?He says that whether other things,Gods,States of Liberation,etc exists or not-one may never be sure of;all that is a matter of hearsay or belief.The ONLY thing that one may be sure of and cannot deny is the FACT of one's Existence-the FACT-'I AM'-This PRESENCE.Just Pay full and wholesome attention to this FACT to discover its true Nature.It will then be discovered that this PRESENCE is the INFINTE TRUTH CONSCIOUSNESS(Brahman of the upanishads or Kingdom of God within of the Bible or Nirvana of the Buddhists) beyond the limitations of time and space.
There is nothing like 'ultimate'-There is only something Fundamental and this is not to be gained anew;it is ever within us and with us.We are That all the time;only we do not know this.All the Great Teachers are Saying-'Know This' or 'Discover This' and end all Fear and Feeling of insufficiency.
Fascination is not enough;it must turn into conviction and a dire need to discover -this is what is called Earnestness.This very earnestness will lead one along .This is the Guru.
Even when it comes to ordering food in a restuarant,If we are 'Hungry' any plain vanilla stuff like a bread or Doughnut will do;we will order that,eat that and feel appeased and nourished.
If we are only driven by fancy or artificial appetite,we will run through a big list of Menu and think about what to eat,what to try,what is the 'Best Dish' etc,etc.We may never come to enjoy what we ordered,and what more we may end up with dyspepsia.We then wish that we should have ordered Plain Vanilla-Bread.Quite the same in spiritual Domain as well.
The simpler we are ,the More the earnestness,the humbler our Beginning-We will not Keep our eye or aim at 'Ultimate' Thing.'Oh God,Give us this Day our daily Bread'.'One Step is enough for me'.
We will then be firm in our humble yet SURE beginning and not be distracted or shaken off by what any other person may be saying or attempting,however Great he may be-Let him seek and Get the 'Ultimate'.How does it matter to us?We Stick to our 'Small' Beginning,the very First Step-and if it is well taken,it may well be the Last!This is what happened in Sri Bhagavan's Life as a boy of seventeen or so!
Please do read Sri Ramana's 'Who am I' and all your doubts will be answered.It is a small book and a true Gem.It contains everything in a nutshell.
Wish you the very Best.
Namaskar.