Sri Ramana Teachings

In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 7th January 2023 Michael James discusses verse 10 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: ----more---- அறியாமை விட்டறிவின் றாமறிவு விட்டவ் வறியாமை யின்றாகு மந்த — வறிவு மறியா மையுமார்க்கென் றம்முதலாந் தன்னை யறியு மறிவே யறிவு. aṟiyāmai viṭṭaṟiviṉ ḏṟāmaṟivu viṭṭav vaṟiyāmai yiṉḏṟāhu manda — vaṟivu maṟiyā maiyumārkkeṉ ḏṟammudalān taṉṉai yaṟiyu maṟivē yaṟivu. பதச்சேதம்: அறியாமை விட்டு, அறிவு இன்று ஆம்; அறிவு விட்டு, அவ் அறியாமை இன்று ஆகும். அந்த அறிவும் அறியாமையும் ஆர்க்கு என்று அம் முதல் ஆம் தன்னை அறியும் அறிவே அறிவு. Padacchēdam (word-separation): aṟiyāmai viṭṭu, aṟivu iṉḏṟu ām; aṟivu viṭṭu, a-vv-aṟiyāmai iṉḏṟu āhum. anda aṟivum aṟiyāmaiyum ārkku eṉḏṟu a-m-mudal ām taṉṉai aṟiyum aṟivē aṟivu. English translation: Leaving ignorance, knowledge does not exist; leaving knowledge, that ignorance does not exist. Only the knowledge that knows oneself, who is the first, as to whom are that knowledge and ignorance, is knowledge. Explanatory paraphrase: Without ignorance [of other things], knowledge [of them] does not exist; without knowledge [of them], that ignorance [of them] does not exist. Only the knowledge [or awareness] that knows [the reality of] oneself [ego], who is the first [to appear], [by investigating] to whom are that knowledge and ignorance [of other things], is [real] knowledge [or awareness]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-01-07 Sri Ramana Center, Houston: Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 10, 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 an online meeting on 5th January 2023 to celebrate the 143rd Jayanti of Bhagavan Ramana, Michael discusses an important teaching given by Bhagavan, namely ‘Bhakti is the mother of jñāna’, meaning that love or devotion is what gives birth to true knowledge, which is awareness of ourself as we actually are. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-01-05 Hyderabad Ramana Jayanti: Michael James discusses ‘Bhakti is the mother of jñāna’, 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 1st January 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender, after discussing Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?) paragraph 20: ----more---- தானெழுந்தால் சகலமு மெழும்; தானடங்கினால் சகலமு மடங்கும். எவ்வளவுக்கெவ்வளவு தாழ்ந்து நடக்கிறோமோ அவ்வளவுக்கவ்வளவு நன்மையுண்டு. மனத்தை யடக்கிக்கொண் டிருந்தால், எங்கே யிருந்தாலு மிருக்கலாம். tāṉ eṙundāl sakalam-um eṙum; tāṉ aḍaṅgiṉāl sakalam-um aḍaṅgum. evvaḷavukkevvaḷavu tāṙndu naḍakkiṟōmō avvaḷavukkavvaḷavu naṉmai-y-uṇḍu. maṉattai y-aḍakki-k-koṇḍirundāl, eṅgē y-irundālum irukkalām. English translation: If oneself rises [or appears] [as ego or mind], everything rises [or appears]; if oneself subsides [disappears or ceases], everything subsides [disappears or ceases]. To whatever extent sinking low [subsiding or being humble] we behave [or conduct ourself], to that extent there is goodness [benefit or virtue]. If one is [continuously] restraining [curbing or subduing] mind, wherever one may be one can be [or let one be]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2023-01-01 San Diego Ramana Satsang: Michael James discusses Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?) paragraph 20, 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 31st December 2022 Michael James discusses how to investigate who am I and then answers questions about this and other aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-12-31 Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: How to investigate who am I?, 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 on 21st December 2022 Michael answers several questions asked by Indira about Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly about ego, vāsanās, living in the world and the eventual dissolution of the world-appearance. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-12-21 Indira and Michael discuss ego, vāsanās, living in the world and ending its appearance, 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 ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 18th December 2022, Michael James answers the question “Many of those who come to this path interpret that having as a priority the practice of self-inquiry implies a stop to living joy and relationships with others, abandoning professional projects or losing interest in them and a fear that vairagya will lead to start having different kinds of problems. What suggestions and clarifications can you give us from Bhagavan's Teachings and from your own experience in applying the Teaching in your life?” and other questions about Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-12-18 Yo Soy Tu Mismo: Self-investigation is a gentle and joyful process driven by love, 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 10th December 2022 Michael James first discussed the meaning and deep implications of verse 18 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 18. ----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 video. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-12-10b Ramana Foundation UK: Michael answers questions on Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai 18, 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 10th December 2022 Michael James discusses verse 18 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- கீழ்மே லெங்குங் கிளரொளி மணியென்       கீழ்மையைப் பாழ்செய் யருணாசலா kīṙmē leṅguṅ kiḷaroḷi maṇiyeṉ       kīṙmaiyaip pāṙcey yaruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: கீழ் மேல் எங்கும் கிளர் ஒளி மணி, என் கீழ்மையை பாழ் செய் அருணாசலா. Padacchēdam (word-separation): kīṙ mēl eṅgum kiḷar oḷi maṇi, eṉ kīṙmaiyai pāṙ sey aruṇācalā. English translation: Arunachala, gem of light that shines below, above and everywhere, annihilate my lowness. Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, gem of light [the infinitely precious light of pure awareness, ‘I am’] that shines below, above and everywhere [that is, that shines within me at all times and in all states, whether my mind is in a low state of impurity and immaturity or an elevated state of purity and maturity], [by drawing my mind inwards to see you as you actually are] annihilate my baseness [the darkness of my self-ignorance, which is what rises as ego, the false awareness ‘I am this body’]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-12-10a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 18, 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 18 Q&A.

In a Zoom meeting with Ernesto, Carlos and José of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 7th December 2022, Michael James is first asked, ‘What does following Bhagavan’s path seriously mean and imply?’, so he answers this and various other related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-12-07 Yo Soy Tu Mismo: What does following Bhagavan’s path seriously mean and imply?, 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 4th December 2022 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender, after discussing Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?) paragraph 19: ----more---- நல்ல மன மென்றும் கெட்ட மன மென்று மிரண்டு மனங்களில்லை. மன மொன்றே. வாசனைகளே சுப மென்றும் அசுப மென்று மிரண்டுவிதம். மனம் சுபவாசனை வயத்தாய் நிற்கும்போது நல்ல மன மென்றும், அசுபவாசனை வயத்தாய் நிற்கும்போது கெட்டமன மென்றும் சொல்லப்படும். பிறர் எவ்வளவு கெட்டவர்களாய்த் தோன்றினும் அவர்களை வெறுத்தலாகாது. விருப்பு வெறுப்புக ளிரண்டும் வெறுக்கத் தக்கன. பிரபஞ்ச விஷயங்களி லதிகமாய் மனத்தை விடக் கூடாது. சாத்தியமானவரையில், அன்னியர் காரியத்திற் பிரவேசிக்கக் கூடாது. பிறருக் கொருவன் கொடுப்ப தெல்லாம் தனக்கே கொடுத்துக்கொள்ளுகிறான். இவ் வுண்மையை யறிந்தால் எவன்தான் கொடா தொழிவான்? nalla maṉam eṉḏṟum keṭṭa maṉam eṉḏṟum iraṇḍu maṉaṅgaḷ illai. maṉam oṉḏṟē. vāsaṉaigaḷē śubham eṉḏṟum aśubham eṉḏṟum iraṇḍu vidam. maṉam śubha-vāsaṉai vayattāy niṟgum-bōdu nalla maṉam eṉḏṟum, aśubha-vāsaṉai vayattāy niṟgum-bōdu keṭṭa maṉam eṉḏṟum solla-p-paḍum. piṟar e-vv-aḷavu keṭṭavargaḷāy-t tōṉḏṟiṉum avargaḷai veṟuttal āhādu. viruppu-veṟuppugaḷ iraṇḍum veṟukka-t takkaṉa. pirapañca viṣayaṅgaḷil adhikam-āy maṉattai viḍa-k kūḍādu. sāddhiyamāṉa-varaiyil, aṉṉiyar kāriyattil piravēśikka-k kūḍādu. piṟarukku oruvaṉ koḍuppadu ellām taṉakkē koḍuttu-k-koḷḷugiṟāṉ. i-vv-uṇmaiyai y-aṟindāl evaṉ-dāṉ koḍādu oṙivāṉ? English translation: There are not two minds, namely a good mind and a bad mind. Mind is only one. Only vāsanās [inclinations] are of two kinds, namely śubha [agreeable, virtuous or good] and aśubha [disagreeable, wicked, harmful or bad]. When mind is under the sway of śubha vāsanās it is said to be a good mind, and when it is under the sway of aśubha vāsanās a bad mind. However bad other people may appear to be, disliking them is not proper [or appropriate]. Likes and dislikes are both fit [for one] to dislike [spurn or renounce]. It is not appropriate to let [one’s] mind [dwell] excessively on worldly matters. To the extent possible, it is not appropriate to intrude in others’ affairs. All that one gives to others one is giving only to oneself. If one knew this truth, who indeed would remain without giving? This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-12-04 San Diego Ramana Satsang: Michael James discusses Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?) paragraph 19, 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.