Sri Ramana Teachings

In a Zoom meeting with Ernesto, Carlos and José of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 2nd November 2022, Michael James is first asked, ‘How can the conviction that all this is a dream be developed more powerfully (apart from the practice of self-inquiry itself)?’, so he answers this and several other related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-11-02b Yo Soy Tu Mismo: Everything is impermanent and hence unreal, except ourself as ‘I am’, 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 2nd November 2022, Michael James is first asked, ‘Bhagavan talks in many verses about the final annihilation of ego, whereas in other fragments or verses, such as in Arunachala Aksharamanamalai or in some fragments of Nan Yar, he describes some of the difficulties we may come across on this path with which we naturally feel identified: if instead of lamenting and weeping: oh, I’m a sinner, how can I be saved? / Is it possible to dissolve so many vasanas?, etc. How does Bhagavan know about the difficulties of the jiva on the path with such detail?’, so he answers this and several other related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-11-02a YSTM: Bhagavan knows everything as himself, so we cannot comprehend his omniscience, 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 29th October 2022 Michael James first discussed the meanings and deep implications of verse 15 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 15. ----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, 2022-10-29b Ramana Foundation UK: Michael answers questions on Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai 15, 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 29th October 2022 Michael James discusses verse 15 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- கண்ணுக்குக் கண்ணாய்க் கண்ணின்றிக் காணுனைக்       காணுவ தெவர்பா ரருணாசலா kaṇṇukkuk kaṇṇāyk kaṇṇiṉḏṟik kāṇuṉaik       kāṇuva devarpā raruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: கண்ணுக்கு கண் ஆய் கண் இன்றி காண் உனை காணுவது எவர்? பார் அருணாசலா. Padacchēdam (word-separation): kaṇṇukku kaṇ āy kaṇ iṉḏṟi kāṇ uṉai kāṇuvadu evar? pār aruṇācalā. English translation: Arunachala, who can see you, who, being the eye to the eye, sees without eyes? See. Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, who can [by means of what eye] see you, who, being the eye to the eye [the real awareness that illumines the seeming awareness called mind, just as the sun illumines the moon], sees without eyes [that is, who sees (the reality of) everything without seeing (the appearance of) anything]? See [me] [so that I may see you by seeing myself as you see me]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-10-29a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 15, 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 15 Q&A.

In a Zoom meeting with ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 16th October 2022, Michael James answers questions about the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender and other aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-10-16 Yo Soy Tu Mismo: The root of all diseases is ego, the false awareness ‘I am this body’, 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 October 2022 Michael James discusses the meaning and implications of verses 27 and 28 of Upadēśa Sāraḥ: ----more---- Upadēśa Sāraḥ verse 27: ज्ञान वर्जिताऽ ज्ञान हीनचित् । ज्ञान मस्तिकिं ज्ञातु मन्तरम् ॥ २७ ॥ jñāna varjitā’ jñāna hīnacit jñāna mastikiṁ jñātu mantaram पदच्छेद: ज्ञान वर्जिता अज्ञान हीन चित् ज्ञानम्. अस्ति किम् ज्ञातुम् अन्तरम्? Padacchēda (word-separation): jñāna varjitā ajñāna hīna cit jñānam. asti kim jñātum antaram? English translation: Awareness devoid of knowledge and bereft of ignorance is knowledge. Is there another to know? Explanatory paraphrase: Cit [awareness] devoid of jñāna [knowledge or awareness (in the sense of knowledge or awareness of other things)] and bereft of ajñāna [ignorance (in the sense of ignorance of other things)] is jñāna [knowledge or awareness (in the sense of true knowledge or real awareness)]. Is there another [anything other than awareness] to know [or what else is there to know]? Upadēśa Sāraḥ verse 28: किंस्व रूपमि त्यात्म दर्शने । अव्य याऽभवाऽऽ पूर्ण चित्सुखम् ॥ २८ ॥ kiṁsva rūpami tyātma darśanē avya yā’bhavā” pūrṇa citsukham पदच्छेद: किम् स्वरूपम् इति आत्म दर्शने अव्यय अभव आपूर्ण चित् सुखम्. Padacchēda (word-separation): kim svarūpam iti ātma-darśanē avyaya abhava āpūrṇa cit-sukham. English translation: On seeing oneself, what one’s own real nature is, imperishable unborn full awareness-happiness. Explanatory paraphrase: When one sees oneself [by investigating] what svarūpa [one’s own real nature] is, [what will exist and shine is only] avyaya [immutable and imperishable], abhava [unborn], āpūrṇa [full, whole or complete, implying what is infinite] cit-sukham [awareness-happiness]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-10-09 Ramana Kendra, Delhi: Michael James discusses Upadēśa Sāraḥ verses 27 and 28, 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 8th October 2022 Michael James first discussed the meaning and deep implications of verse 14 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 14. ----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, 2022-10-08b Ramana Foundation UK: Michael answers questions on Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai 14, 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 8th October 2022 Michael James discusses verse 14 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- ஔவைபோ லெனக்குன் னருளைத் தந்தெனை       யாளுவ துன்கட னருணாசலா auvaipō leṉakkuṉ ṉaruḷait tandeṉai       yāḷuva duṉkaḍa ṉaruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: ஔவை போல் எனக்கு உன் அருளை தந்து, எனை ஆளுவது உன் கடன் அருணாசலா. Padacchēdam (word-separation): auvai pōl eṉakku uṉ aruḷai tandu, eṉai āḷuvadu uṉ kaḍaṉ aruṇācalā. English translation: Arunachala, like a mother, giving me your grace, taking charge of me is your duty. Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, like a mother, giving me your aruḷ [grace, love, affection, kindness and compassion], taking charge of me [as your own] is your duty [obligation or responsibility]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-10-08a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 14, 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 14 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 5th October 2022, Michael James discusses the nature of salvation and answers related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-10-05b Yo Soy Tu Mismo: What is salvation?, 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 5th October 2022, Michael James is first asked, ‘If our actions are driven by two forces, our will and God, and we can’t tell and nor we need to tell one from the other, can we really be responsible for our actions? What if I try to be swayed by a subha-vasana and I end up doing some immoral action because God made me do that action in order for me to experience some fruit? Could it be possible that God made me lie even though that wasn't my intention just because I was made to do that by God?’, so he answers this and several other related questions. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-10-05a Yo Soy Tu Mismo: Are we responsible for our actions?, 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.