In a Zoom meeting with Boston Ramana Satsang on 22nd July 2023 Michael explains the basics of Bhagavan's teachings, and answers various questions about his teachings. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.  

In a Zoom meeting with Ramana Kendra, Delhi, on 9th July 2023 Michael James concludes to discuss the meaning and implications of verse 2 of Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪. Verse 2: https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2023/05/anma-viddai-verse-2-thought-i-am-this.html ஊனா ருடலிதுவே நானா மெனுநினைவே நானா நினைவுகள்சே ரோர்நா ரெனுமதனா னானா ரிடமெதென்றுட் போனா னினைவுகள்போய் நானா னெனக்குகையுட் டானாய்த் திகழுமான்ம — ஞானமே; இதுவே மோனமே; ஏக வானமே; இன்பத் தானமே. (ஐயே) Padacchēdam (word-separation): ‘ūṉ ār uḍal iduvē nāṉ ām’ eṉum niṉaivē nāṉā niṉaivugaḷ sēr ōr nār eṉum adaṉāl, nāṉ ār iḍam edu eṉḏṟu uḷ pōṉāl, niṉaivugaḷ pōy, ‘nāṉ nāṉ’ eṉa guhai uḷ tāṉāy tikaṙum āṉma-ñāṉamē. iduvē mōṉamē, ēka vāṉamē, iṉba-tāṉamē. (aiyē, ati sulabham, ...) English translation: Since the thought ‘this, the body composed of flesh, itself is I’ alone is the one thread on which the various thoughts are strung, if one goes within thus: what is the place from which I spread out, thoughts ceasing, in the cave ātma-jñāna alone will shine spontaneously as ‘I am I’. This alone is silence, the one space, the abode of bliss. (Ah, extremely easy, ...) Explanatory paraphrase: Since the thought ‘this, the body composed of flesh, itself is I’ alone is the one thread on which [all] the various thoughts are strung, if one goes within [investigating] what is the place from which I spread out [or: who am I, what is [my] place], [all] thoughts [including the root thought, ‘I am this body’] will cease [or depart], and in the cave [of one’s heart] ātma-jñāna [pure self-awareness] alone will shine spontaneously [or as oneself] as ‘I am I’ [that is, as awareness of oneself as oneself alone]. This alone is silence, the one space [of pure awareness], the abode of bliss. ([Therefore] ah, extremely easy, ātma-vidyā, ah, extremely easy!). This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 8th July 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

In this video filmed in Kensington Gardens on 23rd May 2023 Michael and Geetha were having a general discussion about identification. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 2nd July 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. This episode can also be watched as a video here, and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded here.  

In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 1st July 2023 Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham verses 1 to 3. ----more---- Verse 1 சத்திணக் கத்தினாற் சார்பகலுஞ் சார்பகலச் சித்தத்தின் சார்பு சிதையுமே — சித்தச்சார் பற்றா ரலைவிலதி லற்றார்சீ வன்முத்தி பெற்றா ரவரிணக்கம் பேண். sattiṇak kattiṉāṟ sārbahaluñ sārbahalac cittattiṉ sārbu sidaiyumē — cittaccār baṯṟā ralaiviladi laṯṟārjī vaṉmutti peṯṟā ravariṇakkam pēṇ. தச்சேதம்: சத் இணக்கத்தினால் சார்பு அகலும்; சார்பு அகல, சித்தத்தின் சார்பு சிதையுமே; சித்த சார்பு அற்றார் அலைவு இல் அதில் அற்றார்; சீவன் முத்தி பெற்றார். அவர் இணக்கம் பேண். Padacchēdam (word-separation): sat iṇakkattiṉāl sārbu ahalum; sārbu ahala, cittattiṉ sārbu sidaiyumē; citta sārbu aṯṟār alaivu il adil aṯṟār; jīvaṉ mutti peṯṟār. avar iṇakkam pēṇ. English translation: By association with being, attachment will leave; when attachment leaves, attachment of the mind will perish; those in whom mental attachment has ceased have ceased in that which is not moving; they have attained jīvanmukti. Cherish their association. Explanatory paraphrase: By association [compatibility or fitting well together] with sat [pure being, ‘I am’, or those who abide as pure being], [outer] attachment [to all other things] will leave [or depart]; when [outer] attachment leaves, attachment of the mind [or will] [namely viṣaya-vāsanās (inclination to seek happiness in objects or phenomena), which are the subtle seeds that sprout as outer attachment] will perish [or be dispersed]; those in whom mental attachment has ceased [perished or been severed] have ceased [or perished] in that which is not moving [namely sat, pure being, which exists eternally without ever moving or undergoing even the slightest change of any kind whatsoever]; they have attained jīvanmukti [‘living liberation’, liberation while the body is still living]. Cherish their association. Verse 2 சாதுறவு சாரவுளஞ் சார்தெளிவி சாரத்தா லேதுபர மாம்பதமிங் கெய்துமோ — வோதுமது போதகனா னூற்பொருளாற் புண்ணியத்தாற் பின்னுமொரு சாதகத்தாற் சாரவொணா தால். sādhuṟavu sāravuḷañ cārteḷivi cārattā lēdupara māmpadamiṅ geydumō — vōdumadu bōdhakaṉā ṉūṯporuḷāṯ puṇṇiyattāṯ piṉṉumoru sādhakattāṯ sāravoṇā dāl. பதச்சேதம்: சாது உறவு சார உளம் சார் தெளி விசாரத்தால் ஏது பரம் ஆம் பதம் இங்கு எய்துமோ, ஓதும் அது போதகனால், நூல் பொருளால், புண்ணியத்தால், பின்னும் ஒரு சாதகத்தால் சார ஒணாது; ஆல். Padacchēdam (word-separation): sādhu uṟavu sāra uḷam sār teḷi vicārattāl ēdu param ām padam iṅgu eydumō, ōdum adu bōdhakaṉāl, nūl poruḷāl, puṇṇiyattāl, piṉṉum oru sādhakattāl sāra oṇādu; āl. English translation: What exalted state one achieves here by clear investigation, which arises in the heart when one takes refuge in sādhu-association, that, which is extolled, is not possible to achieve by a teacher, by the meaning of texts, by virtuous actions, or moreover by any means. Explanatory paraphrase: What exalted state [namely the supreme state of knowing and being what one actually is] one achieves here by clear vicāra [investigation, namely self-investigation], which arises in the heart when one takes refuge in sādhu-association [association with a sādhu, which in this context implies a jñāni, one who knows and abides as sat, pure being], that [exalted state], which is extolled [by the Vedas and other texts as the ultimate goal], is not possible to achieve by [studying under the guidance of] a bōdhaka [a teacher of religious or spiritual precepts], by [learning] the meaning of texts, by [doing any number of] virtuous actions, or moreover by any [other] means [whatsoever]. Verse 3 சாதுக்க ளாவார் சகவாச நண்ணினா லேதுக்கா மிந்நியம் மெல்லாமு — மேதக்க தண்டென்றன் மாருதத் தான்வீச வேவிசிறி கொண்டென்ன காரியநீ கூறு. sādhukka ḷāvār cakavāca naṇṇiṉā lēdukkā minniyam mellāmu — mēdakka taṇḍeṉḏṟaṉ mārutat tāṉvīsa vēvisiṟi koṇḍeṉṉa kāriyanī kūṟu. பதச்சேதம்: சாதுக்களாவார் சகவாசம் நண்ணினால், ஏதுக்கு ஆம் இந் நியமம் எல்லாமும்? மேதக்க தண் தென்றல் மாருதம் தான் வீசவே, விசிறி கொண்டு என்ன காரியம் நீ கூறு? Padacchēdam (word-separation): sādhukkaḷ-āvār sahavāsam naṇṇiṉāl, ēdukku ām i-n-niyamam ellāmum? mēdakka taṇ teṉḏṟal mārutam tāṉ vīsavē, visiṟi koṇḍu eṉṉa kāriyam nī kūṟu? English translation: If one adheres to living with those who are sādhus, for what are all these restrictions? When the air of the excellent cool southern breeze is blowing, you say, what is the purpose of having a fan? Explanatory paraphrase: If one adheres to living with those who are sādhus [benevolent people, which in this context implies jñānis, those who know and abide as sat, pure being], for what are all these niyamas [restrictions or disciplinary practices such as fasting, yōga practices, ritualistic worship, mantra-japa or meditation on anything other than oneself]? When the air of the excellent cool southern breeze is blowing, you say, what is the purpose of having a fan? ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video here, and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 24th June 2023 Michael is asked, "It still feels like there is something missing because where does the 'desire' or 'love' to practice come from? I understand the love grows in relation to how much we practice but what can we do to increase our practice? Its so easy to not bother and spend all day being busy turning outwards. Plus our love to turn inwards is Grace then it feels like we cant do anything to speed up the process. It will happen when it happens. Even the desire to practice feels like it will only happen when its meant to happen. Where does the desire, the love to practice come from? Do we have to some how use our ego to try and consciously make an effort to practice and then as we do practice more then the love from Grace increases and our love to go inwards increases. There seems to have to be some real fight to get started first before our love to go inwards increases. Its a bit like when you know you need to exercise but have no interest to exercise but you have to force yourself to get started, then once you get started you find you quite like it and it gets easier. That effort and inner fight to get started with exercising isn't usually easy, you tend to put it of, find excuses, and it can be a real fight to get started. Is it like that for some of us when it comes to going inwards. You know its something you need to do, practice but your desire to go outwards is so strong its such a huge effort and you constantly put it of and are busy going outwards. Do we have to some how find the fight to make a start and is there any ways or suggestions we can make that easier for ourselves because when its such an effort, like for someone who wants to exercise but doesn't naturally have the desire to do so, then when they try it can be very difficult to sustain, they may try one day then not bother for a few days, or weeks, then try again. It can feel quite hopeless when it doesn't come easily, or naturally. So what can we do to over come our laziness, our strong desire to go outwards to get us started and be able to sustain some kind of practice. Any tips because it feels like a battle. Does the desire to even practice only come from Grace or does it have to actually come from ego? I understand once we get going and we are able to sustain some regular practice then our love will increase but to get going and get a regular practice isn't easy. Also what would you define as a good sustain practice? Once a day, several times a day, even if its only for a few minutes or even seconds? Reason I ask is i do wonder if we don't discuss these things we could find we are having high expectations of ourself and not being realistic which can lead us to think and feel we cant do it because we are struggling", so he answers this and several other related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video here, and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded here.  

In a Zoom meeting of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 21th June 2023, Michael James was asked about "pride, arrogance and spiritual envy and the effects they have on the sadhaka along the path'’, so he answers this and several other related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video here, and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded here.  

In this video filmed in Kensington Gardens on 23rd May 2023 Michael answers the following two questions asked by Geetha: ----more---- "Verses 942 and 943 of Guru Vācaka Kōvai talk about severance of the knot. Does severance of the knot indicate the complete destruction of the ego?" and: "In verse B19 of Guru Vācaka Kōvai [verse 16 of Upadēśa Taṉippākkaḷ], Bhagavan writes: ‘The state of sleep in waking will result by subtle investigation, in which one always examines [or keenly attends to] oneself. Until sleep shines blending in waking [and] in dream, incessantly perform that subtle investigation’. Does severance of the knot described in verses 942 and 943 result in wakeful sleep, or does enquiry continue beyond that until it results in wakeful sleep?" This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

In a Zoom meeting of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 18th June 2023, Michael James is asked, ‘What kinds of experiences have you had going inwards and how have you been able to come out of it? Please Michael, I would like to know all the types of traps I will have to face as I turn more and more and how I can transcend these traps. On the other hand, how can we overcome boredom, apathy and meaninglessness in the early stages where we don’t yet believe we can attend to ourselves with enough love and diligence?’, so he answers this and several other related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video here, and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded here.