Yukio ‘Ramana,’ MA, CCHT, started his study of meditation and psychology in 1967 with Zen meditation and Gestalt Therapy. His studies continued through the 1970’s with a Taoist Master, Chu Fong Chu in Berkeley, California, where he continued his studies in Psychology and Taoist philosophy. In 1977, he was certified as a biofeedback therapist and maintained a private practice and lectured on biofeedback in Berkeley, California. He pioneered a Rolfing/Biofeedback study which confirmed in 1977 that the Rolfing work was stabilized with Biofeedback.
In the early 1980’s, he co-founded the Fellowship of Awakening along with Shakti Gawain (author of 'Creative Visualization'), Tolly Burkan (firewalking teacher to Tony Robbins) and Mark Allen (publisher of Ekhart Tolle's, 'The Power of Now') , teaching creative visualization, affirmation, rebirthing, biofeedback and principles of clearing consciousness. He then obtained Master’s degree is in Psychology and Transpersonal Studies from Norwich University, New Hampshire.
In 1990, Ramana co-founded and was the Education Director of the Transpersonal Hypnotherapy Institute. Here, he brought his skills as a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an NLP Master Practitioner Trainer’s Trainer, an Ericksonian Hypnosis Master Practitioner, a Certified Biofeedback Therapist to help make the training institute one of (then) top three hypnosis and hypnotherapy professional training schools in the United States.
In 1993, Ramana studied with a great Indian saint, Hari Lal Pooja (affectionately known as ‘Papaji’) in the Punjabi district of India. Papaji was a direct disciple of one of India’s greatest saints, Sri Ramana Maharshi. In turn, before Papaji passed, gave Yukio the name ‘Ramana’, after his own beloved master Ramana Maharshi, and encouraged him to carry the message of truth to groups and individuals.
In 1997, Ramana combined his years as a Transpersonal psychotherapist, hypnosis, NLP, biofeedback, Taoist philosophy, creative visualization with his studies of ancient Indian teachings (from masters throughout India) to create “Radical Awakening and the Opening to Heart Consciousness’ which precipitates an opening into the true self of Being. He has found that when Being is in alignment with the true self, the space of unbounded of love and energy emerges, which sometimes opens deep healings at a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level.
Ramana has been teaching and maintaining a private psychotherapy and healing arts practice since 1978. He now resides in both New York and India. Since 1997, he has traveled full-time throughout the United States, Canada and the East sharing his work, Radical Awakening and the Opening to Heart Consciousness, and has trained hundreds of practitioners to continue his work.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded 4/6/2013
Ramana's website
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Ramana, the Diverse Teacher
00:03:41 - Questioning the Natural State
00:07:37 - Looking Back and Finding the Perceiver
00:11:39 - Ramana Maharshi's Teachings
00:15:08 - The Focus of the Radical Awakening Work
00:19:31 - The Function of a Guru
00:23:39 - Power Spots and Energy Signatures
00:29:13 - The Net of Grace
00:32:46 - The Paradox of Multidimensionality of Life
00:36:42 - Shiva, the Destroyer of Dreams
00:41:25 - The Flipping of Primary Identification
00:45:51 - No More Practices
00:49:55 - The Story Behind My Name
00:53:39 - The Significance of Getting a New Name
00:56:18 - The Power of Hindu Names
00:59:23 - The name Yukio Ramana and the story of Hemuna's encounter with Yogi Ram Saratkumar
01:02:40 - Reflections and Karaoke Names
01:06:54 - The Enneagram Workshop and Satsang with Papaji
01:11:07 - The Messenger's Ultimate Function
01:14:53 - Different Approaches to Self-Inquiry
01:19:27 - Influencing States with Words
01:23:15 - The Origin of "Radical Awakening"
01:26:37 - The Opening to the Heart of Consciousness
01:31:04 - Throwing Away the Black Bag
01:35:22 - The Invitation to Stay
01:38:20 - A True Fall from Whatever
01:43:04 - Moments of Grace and Self-realization
01:48:11 - The Spark of Presence in Horrific Circumstances
01:52:48 - The Feminine Aspect and Multidimensional Existence
01:58:11 - The Heart Meditation
02:02:00 - Various Ways to Support the Channel