Messages

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General Discussion / Re: Rough Notebook-Open Forum

« on: Today at 12:58:09 PM »

Question: Why should Self-enquiry alone be considered the direct path to Realization?

Bhagavan: Because every kind of path except Self-enquiry presupposes the retention of the mind as the instrument for following it, and cannot be followed without the mind. The ego may take different and more subtle forms at different stages of one's practice but it is never destroyed. The attempt to destroy the ego or the mind by methods other than Self-enquiry is like a thief turning policeman to catch the thief that is himself. Self enquiry alone can reveal the truth that neither the ego nor the mind really exists and enable one to realize the pure, undifferentiated Being of the Self or the Absolute.

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: Today at 10:17:48 AM »

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 17, 2019, 03:18:09 PM »

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General Discussion / Re: Rough Notebook-Open Forum

« on: November 16, 2019, 03:05:08 PM »

THE HARIJAN LADY

I once remember a Harijan lady who for the past twenty-five years was gathering honey to send to Sri Bhagavan. On every occasion she was unable to bring the honey herself and had to send it with someone. After waiting for twenty-five years, she finally found the opportunity to come. The poor lady was in tattered clothes, standing before Bhagavan. Her eyesight was poor and I still vividly recall the unusual way she looked at Sri Bhagavan, calling out "Oh Darling, where are you? I want to see you." Bhagavan in all his graciousness said, "Grandmother, look this way. I am here." Looking at the honey she had brought with her, he said to me, "They are Brahmins, they won't eat this. We will share it, and eat it."

It is often said, Bhagavan did not give direct Upadesa (spiritual teaching), but what else is all this? Although Bhagavan repeatedly pointed out human frailty, people were not prepared to rectify themselves. As if talking to himself, he looked at this poor old woman in ragged clothes and said, "Poor lady, she must be hungry. And where will she go for clothes? Who will offer her food and clothes?" Upon hearing this, Ondu Reddiyar got up and said, "We will give her food and also see that some clothes are purchased." Then Reddiyar took the woman to the Dining Hall and fed her sumptuously. He also sent someone to town to buy her a sari. As the old woman had no money, she had walked a great distance to come here. Bhagavan knowing this, said in an impersonal way, "Would anyone be interested in getting her a bus ticket?" Reddiyar again came forward and said, "We will provide her with a bus ticket and see her off." When this lady returned from the Dining Hall she was touching the ground, and then touching her eyes. That is a way of prostration and thanksgiving.

It is noteworthy that whenever the poor or untouchables came, Bhagavan took a very personal interest in them, which was a moving sight to see.

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 14, 2019, 11:06:02 PM »

You don't have to set aside a time for meditation. You can do it while you're driving your car, while you're at work, while you're playing music. Just be aware of yourself, of who you really are, and realize the rest is a projection of your mind. ~ Robert Adams

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 14, 2019, 06:27:39 PM »

I just saw the above message from Ramana Hridayam FB Post which is also my main source for the Robert Adams quote .I am not must aware of  the so called current controversies about him .I have always loved his quotes and his book SILENCE FROM THE HEART and felt he resonated clearly Bhagavan's teachings and that's why sharing the same . Many people do not study PAPAJI because of his second Marriage etc etc but I was highly benefited by his books written by David Godman .
In the end all the pointers are directed towards the SELF . That is why I started a thread POINTERS TO PRESENCE which does not carry the author of those pointers and we just see whether those Pointers are useful and help us develop clarity without getting trapped about the authors who wrote it and their lifestyle etc etc .
Anyway I am not interested in digging more about Robert Adams and just shared his pointers as I felt they were useful and will do so if I come across such useful pointers .

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 14, 2019, 03:23:16 PM »

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General Discussion / Re: Rough Notebook-Open Forum

« on: November 13, 2019, 11:07:02 PM »

Tayumanuvar, a Tamil saint whom Bhagavan often quoted, wrote in one of his poems: 'My Guru merely told me that I am consciousness. Having heard this, I held onto consciousness. What he told me was just one sentence, but I cannot describe the bliss I attained from holding onto that one simple sentence. Through that one sentence I attained a peace and a happiness that can never be explained in words'.

Annamalai Swami

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 13, 2019, 03:02:31 PM »

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 13, 2019, 02:57:25 PM »

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 13, 2019, 10:42:37 AM »

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 13, 2019, 09:47:15 AM »

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General topics / Re: Robert Adams Quotes and teachings

« on: November 13, 2019, 09:22:10 AM »

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General Discussion / Re: Rough Notebook-Open Forum

« on: November 12, 2019, 03:23:56 PM »

Some jnanis may stay silent; others may talk a lot.

Some are active in the world; some withdraw from it.

Some end up as teachers while others are content to stay hidden.

Some behave like saints, whereas others act like madmen.

The same peace can be found in the presence of all these beings, since this peace is not affected by modes of behaviour, but there may be no other common factors.

Annamalai Swami.

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General topics / Re: Quotes from Shankaracharya's

« on: November 12, 2019, 08:51:06 AM »