Sri Ramana Teachings

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 5th March 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly about the practice of self-investigation, self-surrender and prayer. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-03-05 San Diego Ramana Satsang - Investigating ourself is the antidote to our rising as ego, 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 Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 4th March 2023 Michael James discusses verse 12 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: ----more---- அறிவறி யாமையு மற்றதறி வாமே யறியும துண்மையறி வாகா — தறிதற் கறிவித்தற் கன்னியமின் றாயவிர்வ தாற்றா னறிவாகும் பாழன் றறி. aṟivaṟi yāmaiyu maṯṟadaṟi vāmē yaṟiyuma duṇmaiyaṟi vāhā — daṟitaṟ kaṟivittaṟ kaṉṉiyamiṉ ḏṟāyavirva dāṯṟā ṉaṟivāhum pāṙaṉ ḏṟaṟi. பதச்சேதம்: அறிவு அறியாமையும் அற்றது அறிவு ஆமே. அறியும் அது உண்மை அறிவு ஆகாது. அறிதற்கு அறிவித்தற்கு அன்னியம் இன்றாய் அவிர்வதால், தான் அறிவு ஆகும். பாழ் அன்று. அறி. Padacchēdam (word-separation): aṟivu aṟiyāmaiyum aṯṟadu aṟivu āmē. aṟiyum adu uṇmai aṟivu āhādu. aṟidaṟku aṟivittaṟku aṉṉiyam iṉḏṟāy avirvadāl, tāṉ aṟivu āhum. pāṙ aṉḏṟu. aṟi. English translation: What is devoid of knowledge and ignorance is actually knowledge. That which knows is not real knowledge. Since one shines without another for knowing or for causing to know, oneself is knowledge. One is not void. Know. Explanatory paraphrase: What is devoid of knowledge and ignorance [about anything other than itself] is actually aṟivu [knowledge or awareness]. That which knows [or is aware of anything other than itself, namely ego] is not real aṟivu [knowledge or awareness]. Since [the real nature of oneself] shines without another for knowing or for causing to know [or causing to be known], oneself is [real] aṟivu [knowledge or awareness]. One is not void [emptiness, desolation, nothingness or non-existence]. Know [or be aware]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-03-04 Sri Ramana Center, Houston: Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 12, 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 Ernesto, Carlos and José of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 26th February 2023, Michael James is first asked, ‘How can we strengthen our desire to want to self-surrender and what can most effectively convince us to do so?’, so he answers this and several other related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-02-26 Yo Soy Tu Mismo: How can we strengthen our love to surrender ourself, 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 25th February 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly clarifying the practice of self-investigation. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-02-25 Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Clarifying the practice of self-investigation, 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 12th February 2023 Michael James continues to discuss the meaning and implications of verse 1 of Āṉma-Viddai: ----more---- மெய்யாய் நிரந்தரந்தா னையா திருந்திடவும் பொய்யா முடம்புலக மெய்யா முளைத்தெழும்பொய் மையார் நினைவணுவு முய்யா தொடுக்கிடவே மெய்யா ரிதயவெளி வெய்யோன் சுயமான்மா —    விளங்குமே; இரு ளடங்குமே; இட ரொடுங்குமே;       இன்பம் பொங்குமே.      (ஐயே) meyyāy nirantarandā ṉaiyā dirundiḍavum poyyā muḍambulaha meyyā muḷaitteṙumpoy maiyār niṉaivaṇuvu muyyā doḍukkiḍavē meyyā ridayaveḷi veyyōṉ suyamāṉmā —    viḷaṅgumē; iru ḷaḍaṅgumē; iḍa roḍuṅgumē;       iṉbam poṅgumē.      (aiyē) பதச்சேதம்: மெய் ஆய் நிரந்தரம் தான் ஐயாது [அல்லது: நையாது] இருந்திடவும், பொய் ஆம் உடம்பு உலகம் மெய் ஆ முளைத்து எழும். பொய் மை ஆர் நினைவு அணுவும் உய்யாது ஒடுக்கிடவே, மெய் ஆர் இதய வெளி வெய்யோன் சுயம் ஆன்மா விளங்குமே; இருள் அடங்குமே; இடர் ஒடுங்குமே; இன்பம் பொங்குமே. (ஐயே, அதி சுலபம், ...) Padacchēdam (word-separation): mey āy nirantaram tāṉ aiyādu [or: naiyādu] irundiḍavum, poy ām uḍambu ulaham mey ā muḷaittu eṙum. poy mai ār niṉaivu aṇuvum uyyādu oḍukkiḍavē, mey ār idaya veḷi veyyōṉ suyam āṉmā viḷaṅgumē; iruḷ aḍaṅgumē; iḍar oḍuṅgumē; iṉbam poṅgumē. (aiyē, ati sulabham, ...) English translation: Though oneself exists incessantly and indubitably as real, the body and world, which are unreal, arise sprouting as real. When unreal darkness-pervaded thought is dissolved without reviving even an iota, in the reality-pervaded heart-space oneself, the sun, will certainly shine by oneself; darkness will cease; suffering will end; happiness will surge forth. (Ah, extremely easy, ...) Explanatory paraphrase: Though oneself exists incessantly and indubitably [or imperishably] as real, the body and world, which are unreal, arise sprouting as [if] real. When thought, which is pervaded by [or full of] unreal darkness [the darkness of self-ignorance, namely ego, which is the cause for the appearance of the body and world], is dissolved without reviving even an iota [in other words, when it is dissolved in such a manner that it does not ever revive even an iota], in the heart-space, which [alone] is real, oneself, [who is] the sun [of pure awareness], will certainly shine by oneself [spontaneously or of one’s own accord]; darkness [self-ignorance in the form of ego] will cease; suffering will end; happiness will surge forth. ([Therefore] ah, extremely easy, ātma-vidyā, ah, extremely easy!) This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-02-12 Ramana Kendra, Delhi: Michael James discusses Āṉma-Viddai verse 1 (continued), 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 the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 11th February 2023 Michael James first discussed the meaning and deep implications of verse 21 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 21. ----more---- After discussing this, Michael answered questions on this and other aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender, so this second portion of the meeting is posted here as this episode. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-02-11b Ramana Foundation UK: Michael answers questions on Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai 21, 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 the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 11th February 2023 Michael James discusses verse 21 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- கெஞ்சியும் வஞ்சியாய்க் கொஞ்சமு மிரங்கிலை       யஞ்சலென் றேயரு ளருணாசலா keñjiyum vañjiyāyk koñjamu miraṅgilai       yañjaleṉ ḏṟēyaru ḷaruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: கெஞ்சியும் வஞ்சியாய் கொஞ்சமும் இரங்கிலை. ‘அஞ்சு அல்’ என்றே அருள் அருணாசலா. Padacchēdam (word-separation): keñjiyum vañjiyāy koñjamum iraṅgilai. ‘añju al’ eṉḏṟē aruḷ aruṇācalā. English translation: Arunachala, though begging, being a cheat not feeling even the slightest pity. Be gracious saying ‘fear not’. Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, though [I have been] begging [beseeching or entreating] [you] [so piteously that it would melt even a stone], being [like] a cheat [fraud or deceiver] [you] do not feel [or show] even the slightest pity [for me]. [At least now] be gracious saying ‘fear not’. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-02-11a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 21, 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. After discussing this verse of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai Michael answers questions about this and other aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender, and this part of the meeting is recorded in a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 19 Q&A.

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 5th February 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly about the practice of self-investigation, self-surrender and prayer. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-02-05 San Diego Ramana Satsang: Self-investigation, self-surrender and prayer, 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.

At the end of a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 4th February 2023 Michael James clarifies some details in the life of Sri Sadhu Om in response to the many inaccuracies and misinterpretations that somehow unfortunately found their way into a profile of him written in the February 2023 issue of Saranagati, an online newsletter published by Sri Ramanasramam: ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-02-04b Sri Ramana Center, Houston: Clarification on some details in the life of Sri Sadhu Om, 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 Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 4th February 2023 Michael James discusses verse 11 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: ----more---- அறிவுறுந் தன்னை யறியா தயலை யறிவ தறியாமை யன்றி — யறிவோ வறிவயற் காதாரத் தன்னை யறிய வறிவறி யாமை யறும். aṟivuṟun taṉṉai yaṟiyā dayalai yaṟiva daṟiyāmai yaṉḏṟi — yaṟivō vaṟivayaṟ kādhārat taṉṉai yaṟiya vaṟivaṟi yāmai yaṟum. பதச்சேதம்: அறிவு உறும் தன்னை அறியாது அயலை அறிவது அறியாமை; அன்றி அறிவோ? அறிவு அயற்கு ஆதார தன்னை அறிய, அறிவு அறியாமை அறும். Padacchēdam (word-separation): aṟivu-uṟum taṉṉai aṟiyādu ayalai aṟivadu aṟiyāmai; aṉḏṟi aṟivō? aṟivu ayaṟku ādhāra taṉṉai aṟiya, aṟivu aṟiyāmai aṟum. English translation: Not knowing oneself, who knows, knowing other things is ignorance; besides, is it knowledge? When one knows oneself, the support for knowledge and the other, knowledge and ignorance will cease. Explanatory paraphrase: Instead of knowing [the reality of] oneself [ego], who knows [everything else], knowing other things is ignorance; except [that], is it knowledge? When one knows [the reality of] oneself [ego], the ādhāra [support, foundation or container] for knowledge and the other [ignorance], knowledge and ignorance [of everything else] will cease [because the reality of ego is just pure awareness, so when one knows oneself as pure awareness ego will no longer seem to exist, and hence all its knowledge and ignorance will cease to exist along with it]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-02-04a Sri Ramana Center, Houston: Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 11, 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.