Sri Ramana Teachings

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 1st October 2023, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. Devotee #1: When doing self-enquiry, when asking in whom is this thought occurring, the answer is, in me. And when asking, who am I, you understand this is not a question to be answered but to be explored or investigated. But if I were to answer, would it be correct to say that I am the observer of the illusory mind/body Susan? To explain, I, Susan am walking down the street, I follow Ramana’s teachings and so I say to myself, I, the I, as in I am is observing Susan walking down the street, and I am now observing Susan stopping to by a cup of coffee. Devotee #2: No matter how much I try, I am unable to pursue the path of athma vichara with dedication. Firstly, it is very hard to practice self inquiry. Secondly, on those very few occasions when I actually sit and try and focus, I don’t know what to expect when I close my eyes and observe my thoughts because I am not sure how “self” even feels. Is the thoughtless state the actual self, because I am unable to go beyond that? How do I not fall into the trap of frustration and keep persevering? 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 30th September 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.

Michael answers the following question in this video: I’m still confused. Who is aware? I thought it was ego that is the only thing that is aware. It’s the reflected consciousness. When I say I’m aware of these thoughts, these feelings, these emotions, this body, this mind, who’s really aware? Isn’t it really the false awareness ego? Yes I understand underneath the underlying assumed reality is the real self but we don’t really realize that until we annihilate ego completely. Until then everything is ego. Can you please expound on this. 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.

Michael answers the following questions in this video: A monk recently told me that it is well known in India that thieves use this udumbu lizard to help them climb up buildings to help them in their thieving work! Isn’t the ego the same? With no form or substance of its own, the apparent ego borrows the light of the Self to grasp form and feed its mischief! Note: This question seems to have been asked in reference to verse 130 of Guru Vācaka Kōvai: உடம்போ டுலகை யுறுதியெனப் பற்றி மடம்படுவோன் சாந்தி மடுத்தல் — மடம்பேர்ந் துடும்புபோன் றுள்ளத் துயிர்நிலையுற் றோவான் இடும்பையுற லென்று மில. uḍambō ḍulahai yuṟudiyeṉap paṯṟi maḍambaḍuvōṉ śānti maḍuttal — maḍambērn duḍumbupōṉ ḏṟuḷḷat tuyirnilaiyuṯ ṟōvāṉ iḍumbaiyuṟa leṉḏṟu mila. பதச்சேதம்: உடம்போடு உலகை உறுதி எனப் பற்றி மடம் படுவோன் சாந்தி மடுத்தல் [என்றும் இல]. மடம் பேர்ந்து உடும்பு போன்று உள்ளத்து உயிர்நிலை உற்று ஓவான் இடும்பை உறல் என்றும் இல. Padacchēdam (word-separation): uḍambōḍu ulahai uṟudi eṉa paṯṟi maḍam paḍuvōṉ śānti maḍuttal [eṉḏṟum ila]; maḍam pērndu uḍumbu pōṉḏṟu uḷḷattu uyirnilai uṯṟu ōvāṉ iḍumbai uṟal eṉḏṟum ila. English translation: One who is ensnared in ignorance, clinging to the body and world as real, [will not ever] achieve peace. Leaving ignorance, one who like an uḍumbu steadfastly does not let go of the real nature of the soul in the heart will not ever experience suffering. Explanatory paraphrase: One who is ensnared in ignorance, clinging to the body and world as uṟudi [stable, permanent, certain or real], [will not ever] achieve peace. Leaving [such] ignorance, one who [clinging firmly] like an uḍumbu [a variety of monitor lizard noted for its ability to cling firmly to any surface] steadfastly does not let go of the real nature of the soul in the heart will not ever experience suffering. [Therefore, if we wish to attain peace and be eternally free of suffering, we need to give up considering the body and world to be real, and instead need to cling firmly like an uḍumbu to our own real nature, namely sat-cit, pure being-awareness, which is what is always shining in our heart as ‘I am’.] 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.  

Śrī Ramaṇa Varuhai is a 360-verse poetical work composed by Sri Sadhu Om when he was anguishly longing to see Bhagavan Ramana in form after Bhagavan left his body in 1950. Selections from the book 'The Path of Sri Ramana' 2023 Ed., a free video copy of which is available here . A free copy of the Tamil book of Ramana Varuhai can be accessed here . A full English translation is currently not available. Music: Pond5 This video was originally presented in the 2023 International Advent Day Celebrations. 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.  

During the international celebration of Bhagavan Ramana’s 127th Advent (anniversary of the day he came to Arunachala on 1st September 1896) organised by Arunachala Ashrama, New York, on 17th September 2023 Michael James answers several questions asked by Kumar Saran about Bhagavan Ramana, all centred around the question who or what he actually is. While answering these questions he discusses the verse Arunachalaramanan composed by Bhagavan: அரியாதியி தரசீவர தகவாரிச குகையில் லறிவாய்ரமி பரமாத்தும னருணாசல ரமணன் பரிவாலுள முருகாநல பரனார்ந்திடு குகையார்ந் தறிவாம்விழி திறவாநிச மறிவாயது வெளியாம். ariyādiyi tarajīvara dahavārija guhaiyil laṟivāyrami paramāttuma ṉaruṇācala ramaṇaṉ parivāluḷa murugānala paraṉārndiḍu guhaiyārn daṟivāmviṙi tiṟavānija maṟivāyadu veḷiyām. பதச்சேதம்: அரி ஆதி இதர சீவரது அக வாரிச குகையில் அறிவாய் ரமி பரமாத்துமன் அருணாசலரமணன். பரிவால் உளம் உருகா, நல பரன் ஆர்ந்திடு குகை ஆர்ந்து, அறிவு ஆம் விழி திறவா, நிசம் அறிவாய்; அது வெளி ஆம். Padacchēdam (word-separation): ari ādi itara jīvaradu aha-vārija guhaiyil aṟivāy rami paramāttumaṉ aruṇācalaramaṇaṉ. parivāl uḷam uruhā, nala paraṉ ārndiḍu guhai ārndu, aṟivu ām viṙi tiṟavā, nijam aṟivāy; adu veḷi ām. English translation: Aruṇācalaramaṇa is the ultimate self rejoicing as awareness in the cave of the heart-lotus of different souls beginning with Hari. Heart melting with love, reaching the cave where the sublime supreme dwells, the eye that is awareness opening, you will know what is innate; it will be exposed. Explanatory paraphrase: Aruṇācalaramaṇa is paramātman [the supreme spirit or ultimate self of all] rejoicing as awareness in the cave of the heart-lotus of [all] different jīvas [souls or sentient beings] beginning with Hari [Viṣṇu]. Heart melting with love, reaching [or merging in] the cave where the sublime supreme dwells, the eye that is awareness opening, you will [thereby] know what is innate [or one’s own, namely your own real nature, the indwelling Aruṇācalaramaṇa]; [because] it will be exposed [opened, disclosed or made clear] [meaning it will shine forth, devouring ego and everything else is the infinite clarity of pure awareness]. And also verse 274 of Guru Vācaka Kōvai: பராகாய மாகப் பயின்றிடா நின்றே நராகார மாத்தோன்று ஞான குருவை நிராகார னென்றுணர் நெஞ்ச மிலாதார் துராசார பாப துரந்தரர் தாமே. parākāya māhap payiṉḏṟiḍā niṉḏṟē narākāra māttōṉḏṟu ñāṉa guruvai nirākāra ṉeṉḏṟuṇar neñja milādār durācāra pāpa dhurandharar tāmē. பதச்சேதம்: பர ஆகாயம் ஆக பயின்றிடா நின்றே நர ஆகாரம் ஆ தோன்றும் ஞான குருவை நிராகாரன் என்று உணர் நெஞ்சம் இலாதார் துராசார பாப துரந்தரர் தாமே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): para ākāyam āha payiṉḏṟiḍā niṉḏṟē nara ākāram ā tōṉḏṟum ñāṉa-guruvai nirākāraṉ eṉḏṟu uṇar neñjam ilādār durācāra pāpa dhurandharar tāmē. English translation: Those who do not have mind to know the jñāna-guru, who seems to be a human form, actually remaining firmly as the supreme space, to be the formless one, are indeed the foremost in wicked conduct and sin. Explanatory paraphrase: Those who do not have [the clarity of] mind [or heart] to know that the jñāna-guru, who seems to be [or appears as] a human form [even though always] actually remaining firmly as the supreme space [of sat-cit, pure existence-awareness], is [in fact] the formless one [namely brahman], are indeed the foremost in wicked conduct and sin. 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 10th September 2023, Michael James continues the discussion of the meaning and implications of verse 3 of Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪. Verse 3: https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2023/07/anma-viddai-verse-3-knowledge-of-all.html தன்னை யறிதலின்றிப் பின்னை யெதறிகிலென் றன்னை யறிந்திடிற்பின் னென்னை யுளதறிய பின்ன வுயிர்களில பின்ன விளக்கெனுமத் தன்னைத் தனிலுணர மின்னுந் தனுளான்ம — ப்ரகாசமே; அருள் விலாசமே; அக விநாசமே; இன்ப விகாசமே. (ஐயே) taṉṉai yaṟidaliṉḏṟip piṉṉai yedaṟihileṉ ḏṟaṉṉai yaṟindiḍiṟpiṉ ṉeṉṉai yuḷadaṟiya bhiṉṉa vuyirgaḷila bhiṉṉa viḷakkeṉumat taṉṉait taṉiluṇara miṉṉun taṉuḷāṉma — prakāśamē; aruḷ vilāsamē; aha vināśamē; iṉba vikāsamē. (aiyē) பதச்சேதம்: தன்னை அறிதல் இன்றி, பின்னை எது அறிகில் என்? தன்னை அறிந்திடில், பின் என்னை உளது அறிய? பின்ன உயிர்களில் அபின்ன விளக்கு எனும் அத் தன்னை தனில் உணர, மின்னும் தன் உள் ஆன்ம ப்ரகாசமே. அருள் விலாசமே, அக விநாசமே, இன்ப விகாசமே. (ஐயே, அதி சலபம், ...) Padacchēdam (word-separation): taṉṉai aṟidal iṉḏṟi, piṉṉai edu aṟihil eṉ? taṉṉai aṟindiḍil, piṉ eṉṉai uḷadu aṟiya? bhiṉṉa uyirgaḷil abhiṉṉa viḷakku eṉum a-t-taṉṉai taṉil uṇara, miṉṉum taṉ uḷ āṉma-prakāśamē. aruḷ vilāsamē, aha vināśamē, iṉba vikāsamē. (aiyē, ati sulabham, ...) அன்வயம்: தன்னை அறிதல் இன்றி, பின்னை எது அறிகில் என்? தன்னை அறிந்திடில், பின் அறிய என்னை உளது? பின்ன உயிர்களில் அபின்ன விளக்கு எனும் அத் தன்னை தனில் உணர, தன் உள் ஆன்ம ப்ரகாசமே மின்னும். அருள் விலாசமே, அக விநாசமே, இன்ப விகாசமே. (ஐயே, அதி சலபம், ...) Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): taṉṉai aṟidal iṉḏṟi, piṉṉai edu aṟihil eṉ? taṉṉai aṟindiḍil, piṉ aṟiya eṉṉai uḷadu? bhiṉṉa uyirgaḷil abhiṉṉa viḷakku eṉum a-t-taṉṉai taṉil uṇara, taṉ uḷ āṉma-prakāśamē miṉṉum. aruḷ vilāsamē, aha vināśamē, iṉba vikāsamē. (aiyē, ati sulabham, ...) English translation: Without knowing oneself, if one knows whatever else, what? If one has known oneself, then what exists to know? When one knows in oneself that self, which is the light without separation in separate sentient beings, within oneself the shining of oneself alone will flash forth. The shining forth of grace; the annihilation of ego; the blossoming of happiness. (Ah, extremely easy, ...) Explanatory paraphrase: Without knowing oneself, if one knows whatever else, [so] what? [That is, how can such knowledge be reliable, so how can it have any real value?] If one has known oneself, then what [else] exists to know? When one knows in oneself that self [one’s real nature], which is the light [that shines] abhinna [without bhinna: separation, division, difference or distinction] in separate sentient beings [or souls], within oneself ātma-prakāśa [the shining, clarity or light of oneself] alone will flash forth [like lightening]. [This is] aruḷ-vilāsa [the shining forth, amorous play or beauty of grace], aha-vināśa [the annihilation of ego], iṉba-vikāsa [the blossoming of happiness]. ([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.

Michael answers the following questions in this video: 1. Since the ego exists by grasping a form, is it OK to allow it to grasp the form of Ramana? 2. You have said that by investigating the ego it will run away. Then who is the investigator? 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 9th September 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 a Zoom meeting of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 6th September 2023, Michael James was asked to discuss the tenth and eleventh paragraphs of Nan Ar? Paragraph 10: https://www.happinessofbeing.com/nan_yar.html#para10 Paragraph 11: https://www.happinessofbeing.com/nan_yar.html#para11 ----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.