Topics

106

General Discussion / What is Neo Advaita? James Swartz.

« on: March 05, 2016, 10:13:37 AM »

(This article appeared in Mountain Path, April - June 2007)

*

In Eighties, the Western spiritual world became reacquainted with Sri Ramana Maharshi, a great
Sage in Vedic tradition who had achieved international recognition, around the middle of the
20th century but, though greatly respected, did not have a significant following since His death
in the Fifties.  The rediscovery of Sri Ramana roughly coincided with the rise of  'Neo-Advaita',
a Satsangh based 'movement'  that has little in common with Sri Ramana except the idea of moksha,
freedom from the problems of Samsara.

What accounts for the popular of the Neo Advaita movement?  I think it would be fair to say that
the secret lies more in the Sang than the Sat.  The Sanskrit word Sat means 'what is', in other words
the non dual Self.  The word Sang from Sanga means an association or a company of like minded
people.  When Sat and Sanga are combined it means 'keeping the company of truth', the Self,
in other words an inquiring mind fixed on the Self.  Since only a mind that is properly prepared is
capable of achieving this condition and Neo Advaita has no techniques for producing this kind
of mind, we have to look elsewhere to understand its appeal.

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.         

107

General topics / The Unexpected Feast- Smt. T. R. Kanammal

« on: March 02, 2016, 02:21:25 PM »

(The above article appeared in Mountain Path, April - June 2007.)

*

One day two destitute-looking Brahmins entered the Hall.  It was known that they earned their livelihood
by the wretched and socially demeaning occupation of bearing the dead to the cremation grounds.
Both were extremely hungry after having discharged their duties.

Custom demand that anyone entering a house recently visited by death should take a bath immediately
upon leaving.  This stricture applies particularly if one steps into the cremation ground, and more particularly
if one is involved in removing and physically transporting the departed to this place.

A heated argument had ensued between the two men about the propriety of coming to the Asramam to have
a meal without having bathed.  While one of them keenly felt the unseemliness of transgressing this hallowed
custom, the other dismissed it as impracticable in view of their acute hunger.  Assured of a meal in the
Asramam, which was on their way home, they thought they might appease their appetite.  They came to the
Hall and sat down.  One of them excitedly and abruptly said to Bhagavan:

'Swami,  I have been insisting on the customary bath before we sit for our meal.  Is that not but and prosper?'

Bhagavan responded in a very soft tone,'No one can say you are unjust.'  The other at once, is a greatly
agitated voice, burst forth:

'The pangs of hunger are so intense and our entrails are being devoured.  Is it wrong to eat when hunger
is so gnawing?'

Bhagavan quietly replied, 'Who says it is wrong? Not at all.'

Shocked, looking at one another, they asked in one voice, 'But then  who is wrong?'

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.   
     

108

General topics / A Divine Hospital of Medication through Meditation.

« on: March 02, 2016, 01:02:06 PM »

(The above article is by Shilpi Virupakshi Davangere, a civil engineer, who gained solace at the
feet of his Master, Sri Ramana Maharshi.  The article appeared in Mountain Path, Jan - Mar. 2016)

*

It is now way back - twenty five years ago - than an intimate spiritual bond got established between us
and Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.  We visited Sri Ramanasramam in the year 1990.  Fifteen of us
reached Tiruvannamalai from Davangere, Karnataka, by bus to have Bhagavan's darshan.  It was as if
Bhagavan Himself had invited us to His abode.

I had had many divine experiences by then, and at the time my mind was always in an ethereal state.
These cosmic experiences were so new and strange that I felt like exclaiming 'What, what is it...?,
just as Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa did when he first had divine experiences.  The differentiation
between the real and the unreal (Ishvara and Nashwara) was vivid in my being.  The quintessence of
Sri Ramana Maharshi's sayings  -- the 'I' manifested everywhere; and there nothing existing other than
the divine 'I' - became part of my consciousness, leaving me in a permanent state of joyousness (ananda)

My Sadguru, Sri Shishunaala Sherief, was a mystic and divine master from a small village in Haveri
district. Through his spiritual songs and divinity, he made it well known place in India. His songs are
always very dear to me and ever hover on my tongue.  Sri Shishunaala Sherief says, 'Know yourself'
(Ninda nee thiluko).

Guru Ramana's philosophy begins with the same thought  - Who am I?

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.             

109

General topics / Yoga - Mountain Path, Aradhana 2007 (April - June 2007)

« on: March 02, 2016, 12:46:41 PM »

YOGA:

Sanskrit - union of jivatma with paramatma, jiva-brahma aikya;  recognition of the oneness of the Self;
absorption of the mind in the Self;  self mastery; integration of personality; aligning of body, mind and
speech in purity and truthfulness.

*

Yoga is a most popular word these days but not necessarily completely understood in its full scope
and depth, partly because of its multiple limbs and partly because it carries many layers of meaning,
unlike Jnana, which has a single meaning, namely enlightenment.  At its highest level, Yoga has the
same connotation as Jnana because the the 'union of jivatma with paramatma' can be only in the form
of seeing the falsehood of individuality (Jiva bodha) in the wake of Self Knowledge, (Siva bodha).  For there are NO two selves to begin with and there is  really no lower self (jivatma) that exists independently, in order
to merge with the higher self (paramatma).   Jiva bodha is merely a spurious notion that has arisen mysteriously from causal ignorance (avidya), and it evaporates in the light of knowledge of one's true
identity following self inquiry.

Yoga comes from the root 'yuj' which means 'to unite'. The English word 'yoke' also derives from Yoga
meaning 'union';  therefore the word 'union' is a metaphor (aupachaarikam)  to represent that enlightenment
which bestows liberation from Samasara (transmigratory existence).

contd.,


Arunachala Siva.         

110

General topics / Poems from Mountain Path, Jan.-Mar. 2016:

« on: March 01, 2016, 04:06:24 PM »

Notes to Self - by Upahar:

Inestimable form of things;
 time, and the whirling stars;
these dancing, dying bodies; children of earth,
 our clamor and cry;
river of thought in the shadow land of dream  --
 Love, none of this can veil you.

Invisible the root of this appearing,
 unthinkable the flower;
within, without; belonging still to no one,
 and yet most gladly, marvelously here.

Knowing, unknowing; the empty heart mysteriously
 abounding; a moon through clouds, a blossoming  -
 Love, all of this reveals You.             

***

Arunachala Siva.

111

General topics / Sundaram Iyer's Day - 2016:

« on: February 27, 2016, 03:01:40 PM »

Sundaram iyer, father of Sri Bhagavan was a pleader in a local court.  He was known for his honesty
and taking up only the rightful cases for pleading their cause.  He had a house in Tiruchuzhi where one
portion was kept vacant for the visitors. His wife Alagmmal was a nice lady serving all including the
visitors with good and tasty food.

The couple had three sons and a daughter.  Nagasami, aged 14; Venkararaman (Bhagavan was 12),
and Nagasundaram 6. The daughter Mangalam was still younger.  At this time, in 1892, Sundaram Iyer
attained Siva-padam. 

Once the kriyas for the father were over, Venkaraman and Nagasami lived with their uncle at Madurai.
The other brother, the daughter and mother Alagamma were living with another uncle.

At this juncture Venkataraman left for Tiruvannamalai.

Now the question is whether Sundaram Iyer attained Mukti.  Yes.

Because:

1. He himself was a great Siva bhakta and lived rightful life.

2. He son Venkatraman (Bhagavan) was also instrumental in Sundaram Iyer attaining Mukti.

The date is today, as per tithi:


Arunachala Siva.     

112

The teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi / Demystifying the term ' Sphurana' - Michael James - Part I, II, III.

« on: February 25, 2016, 01:22:32 PM »

(The article has appeared in Mountain Path,  January - March 2016)

*
The original version of this article was written at the request of Alasdair Black, the editor of the newsletter
published by the Ramana Maharshi Foundation, UK and was published in their Autumn 2013, Newsletter.

*

In English books on the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana, and also among many of His devotees and
followers, a lot of mystery and confusion seems to surround the Sanskrit word ' Sphurana', so
much so that some aspirants agonize over whether or when they are going to experience the mysterious
and elusive thing that this word is imagined to denote.  In this context, therefore, the first thing that needs
to be clarified is that what we are seeking to experience when we practice Atma Vichara or self investigation
is not anything mysterious or previously unknown, but is only 'I', ourself, with which we are already
more familiar than we are with any other thing.

We already experience this 'I', of course, but what we are now trying to experience other than it, but is
just the same 'I' but with a greater degree of clarity -- in fact, with absolute clarity.  At present the clarity
with which we experience  'I' is less than perfect, because we experience it mixed with other things that
we mistake to be 'I', such as our body and mind, and hence our current experience of 'I' is confused and
clouded by our experience of those extraneous adjuncts as 'I'.  Therefore, we clearly know that I am,
we do not clearly know what I am, so Sri Bhagavan advises us to investigate and find out who or what
we actually are.

What then is the meaning of this term 'Sphurana', and why did Sri Bhagavan occasionally uses it?
Unsurprisingly, all that this word  denotes in the context in which He used it is just to clarity of self
awareness  - the very clarity that He advises us to seek.  Therefore Sphurana is not anything other
than 'I', but is only the greater degree of clarity with which we are not trying to experience 'I'.

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.               

113

General topics / Fool's Gold - Editorial - Mountain Path, Jan. - Mar. 2016:

« on: February 25, 2016, 11:04:03 AM »

Fool's Gold: any yellow metal, esp. pyrite or chalcopyrite; fig. something deceptively attractive,
profitable, etc., in appearance.

*

Suddenly, out of a daydream we may see a possibility that seems too good to be true.  Usually it is.
We must learn not to be taken in by glitter and we must recognize the true glow of gold.  Even though
superficially glitter sparkles and casts a deceptive lure, it actually has nothing to offer. Some people
sadly seek the glamour of superficiality without recognizing what it is they are seeking.  In fact, it is
fool's gold. We are so lucky to be in touch with Bhagavan Ramana who embodies the depth and worth
of true light.

Our foolishness lies in the false logic that we can get something for nothing.  It is not like that at all.
Bhagavan said that we are neck deep in Grace and it all depends on the size of our vessel.  If we bring
a pot to Him, we cannot receive more than that.  If we bring a cauldron we accept the the appropriate
amount.  In other words, we get what we put into it with interest!  Bhagavan is no miser or fussy
accountant;  He is beneficent beyond our wildest dreams.  The problem is we cling to our petty dreams
and ambitions as if these pretty pebbles are all we have or want.  The question is how to let go of our
small mindedness?

Deep down in our hearts we know that it is only by our own instruments of body, heart, mind, and labor
that we can obtain real gold.  We know nothing is free in this world and we learn from bitter experience
that anyone who tells otherwise is deluded.   

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.           

114

General topics / My Reminiscences of Sri Bhagavan - Swami Ramanananda -

« on: February 25, 2016, 10:51:19 AM »

(The above article appeared in Mountain Path, Jan. - Mar. 2008)

(Sri Ramanananda is formerly known as T.N. Venkataraman, who was President of the Asramam.)

I was blessed with very first Upadesam (instruction) of Sri Bhagavan, when I was all of five years old.
That was in 1920, at Skandashram.  A plate of fruit and sweets had been put aside for the monkey,
'Nondi' but when nobody was looking I went to the plate, took a sweet and put it in my mouth. All
of a sudden a monkey appeared, limped towards me, slapped me and grabbed the plate.

My grandmother Alagammal pleaded with Nondy not to harm me.  Then Bhagavan Ramana came into the
room and said, 'This is a lesson for you;  now understand that we should not desire things which belong
to others.'  I fully understood the profound meaning of that Upadesam long afterwards when I was President
of Sri Ramanasramam.

My grandmother Alagammal also came to Bhagavan once and asked for His blessing on her daughter-in-
law Mangalam in order that she should have a son to continue the family line as none of her siblings
had borne any children.  Bhagavan smiled graciously and she took this as His blessing.  I was born a
year later and everyone was sure that it was due to Sri Bhagavan's grace.

My mother Mangalam passed away when I was not yet three and my father Nagasundaram, who later
became Swami Niranjananda and was called Chinnaswami by everybody in Sri Ramanasramam,
left me at the house of my aunt Alamelu and her husband Pichu Iyer at Kunrakudi and went away.
They brought me up with great love.

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.             

115

The teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi / Upadesa Saram - Tr. D.M. Sastri

« on: February 21, 2016, 05:52:07 PM »

(D.S. Sastri might have been related to Suri Nagamma, may be her brother or cousin.)

1. kartur-aajnayaa-praaptyate phalm
    karma kim param karma taj-jadam

By the will of of the Creator,  action bears fruit.  Is action, then, supreme?  No, it
is inert, unconscious.

This is the fundamental answer to the ultimate question.  We cannot perform actions and expect those
actions to result in the desired fruits.  The Creator, Isvara or Siva, is the Lord of Action and determines
what fruits and what subsequent actions will be forthcoming. We not only cannot control the fruits of our
behavior, we cannot even choose the actions themselves since these are influenced by an endless series of
past actions. So action, is, in itself, inert, unconscious.  It and its fruits are Isvara's.  Do we choose our
dream actions?  For the Maharshi, waking and dream have the same degree of reality. (Self Realization,
B.V. Narasimhaswami)

In the Yoga Vasishta, the crow-yogin, Bhusanda, was asked why he had survived for so many ages.
He replied, 'Who will be able to overstep the strict ordinances of Siva?  His will was that I should act
thus and other yogins should act in the way they did.  As every preordained event should work out
its results, such events will inevitably come to pass.  Such is the nature of the law.' (Yoga Vasistha,
Aiyer)

The Sanskrit jada is translated as 'inert'.  Referring to this opening verse, the Maharshi said, 'There
is no truth in the insentient (jada). One whole Consciousness prevails over all alone.' (Talks)

Karta means Isvara.  He is the one who distributes the fruits of action to each person according to his
karma.  That means he is the manifest Brahman.  The real Brahman is unmanifest and without motion.
It is only the manifest Brahman that is named as Isvara. (David Godman, Be As You Are.)

Verse 1 is completed.

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.                     

116

General topics / Dhyana - Jonathan Bader:

« on: February 21, 2016, 02:31:25 PM »

(This article is from Mountain Path issue of April - June 2007.)

*

In the ten Upanishads singled out Sankara, the term Dhyana is virtually synonymous with Upasana,
or simply denotes 'thinking'. (see Chandogya Upanishad 1.3.12).  Sankara does not seem concerned
with distinguishing Dhyana from Upasana.  In Brahma Sutra Bhashya (BSBh) 4.1.7 and 4.1.8.,he
repeats precisely the same explanation for each of the two terms:  'maintaining a uniform train of thought'.

Yet despite their similarity there are obvious differences. Firstly, unlike Upasana, Dhyana does not necessarily
entail a devotional attitude.  Secondly, as Dhyana comes to be associated with yoga practice, the term
is specifically identified with techniques used in controlling the mind. Upasana does not connote a
particular set of mental exercises.  In Upasana, the emphasis is on the object of the meditation, the deity
with whom identity is sought, hence the sense of 'worship'. As the early Upanishads suggest, Dhyana       
is indeed a kind of thinking.  But it is a specialized mode of thought:  'a way of attaining identity', or
'a means of true knowledge'.

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.

117

General Discussion / Punar vasu vaNNam - 19.02.2016

« on: February 19, 2016, 12:59:24 PM »

Today is the punar vasu star day of the month of Masi,(Kumbha), in this year English year 2015. 
Bhagavan was born on a puna vasu star day of Margazhi.  The Asramam celebrates the puna vasu star day
of every Tamizh month, with special pujas for Sri Rmaneswara Maha Lingam. The Lingam, is first
done abhishkham with coconut water, milk, curds, and ghee.  Then alankaram is done with various
flowers and the Lingam is adorned with golden casket, with new dhotis around it. After the puja,
arti is shown.  Thereafter, nice lunch is arranged for inhabitants of the guest rooms and also special
visitors. 

Let us read two of the verses of Glance of Grace, from Sri Ramana Sannidhi Murai:

Let us meditate on Ramana
The Teacher of Reality
Who dwells within my inmost Self'
As I, as I,
Bringing in full measure
The joy of silence
Ending the delusive pride
Of a divided self's self love.

*

In one unbroken silence let us dwell
On the twin Feet of the Guru
Glorified above all kings
Because His glance of grace revealed
The Hill of bright Awareness
Shining in a world
Troubled by darkness of desire.

*

I also give one verse of Desika Padigam, the verses which Muurganar tried to read in front of Bhagavan
when he met Him for the first time:



Verse 184 from Desika Padigam:

Guru Ramana, Siva, as once you left
Mount Kailash and the company of Gods
And came to cool Perundurai to drink in
The sparkling words of Vachakgar
Now again you have come to fair Aruna town
Wishing to hearken to this fellow's pueril words.


Arunachala Siva.
           
   

118

General Discussion / The Best of Friends - Bhagavan and Chadwick - Part II -Louis Buss:

« on: February 16, 2016, 04:12:49 PM »

(The first part appeared in Mountain Path, October - December 2015.  I am not able to trace where I posted
that article. Here is the Part  II, from  January - March 2016 issue of Mountain Path.)

*

In the first part of this article, we saw that Alan Chadwick was a priest who missed his vocation then,
went aimlessly wandering the world, as if forever, in search of the treasure he had lost.  On 1st
November 1935, he finally found it.  Once he had entered the Old Hall and set eyes on Ramana Maharshi,
his wanderings were over. If the beginning of his life had been one enormous question, then now his great
thirst for spiritual answers was finally to be satisfied.  A few of his early conversations with Bhagavan were
public events which have found their way into the Asramam literature, but most were private affairs of
which no record remains.  All we can say for certain is that, having found the great fount of spiritual certainty
he had been seeking all those years, Chadwick drank his fill.       

All this, of course, was just what most people go through on first encountering Bhagavan and His teachings.
All of us come to Him with some baggage carried over from our former lives, and there is usually some
last intellectual business to be transferred before we can settle down to work under His guidance.  Like
Chadwick, we all start off by asking questions.  Then like him, we fall silent.


contd.,

Arunachala Siva.   

119

General Discussion / Reply to Balaji:

« on: February 15, 2016, 03:36:36 PM »

My dear Balaji,

I do not know your email ID.

Vel Vaguppu comes under Tiru Vaguppu on  Skanda, Muruga.  You can refer to the website
www.kaumaram.com and you can easily trace this  poem and the meaning,  both in English and Tamizh.

Arunachala Siva. 

120

General Discussion / Communication and Attention - Vidya Sridhar:

« on: February 10, 2016, 03:42:57 PM »

(The above article appeared in July-Sept. 2015 of Mountain Path.)

*

In this era of wireless communication the human race seems to be communicating more, with
the advent of iPhones, video conferencing, internet radio, internet television and the increasing
number of TV channels.  Adults and even children carry around an iPad or tablet and play games,
listen to music, chat over internet, Facebook and Google. It is true that the world has become smaller
and people across the globe communicate  many times more than they did two decades ago.  Most
jobs are even taking place over the internet.  Our ancestors communicated face to face of their friends
or family to telephone, they have to walk to the houses of their friends or family to have a chat.  In the
current trend direct face to face communication is gone and people access their phones, talk through
video techniques, send text messages to even people living with them. College going students say
that their iPhone is a part of them and they cannot stay without it even for a minute.  Children also
have adopted to these gadgets, they become addicted at the young age of 5 or 6 and take them to be
part of themselves.

contd.,

Arunachala Siva.