Sri Ramana Teachings

In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 9th July 2022 Michael James discusses verse 8 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- ஊர்சுற் றுளம்விடா துனைக்கண் டடங்கிட       வுன்னழ கைக்காட் டருணாசலா ūrsuṯ ṟuḷamviḍā duṉaikkaṇ ḍaḍaṅgiḍa       vuṉṉaṙa haikkāṭ ṭaruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: ஊர் சுற்று உளம் விடாது உனை கண்டு அடங்கிட, உன் அழகை காட்டு அருணாசலா. Padacchēdam (word-separation): ūr suṯṟu uḷam viḍādu uṉai kaṇḍu aḍaṅgiḍa, uṉ aṙahai kāṭṭu aruṇācalā. English translation: Arunachala, so that seeing you uninterruptedly the mind, which roams about the world, subsides, show your beauty. Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, so that seeing [or looking at] you uninterruptedly [my] mind, which [by its very nature] roams [incessantly] about the world [under the sway of its viṣaya-vāsanās], subsides [settles, submits or ceases entirely and forever] [in you] [thereby being brought under the sway of your grace], show [me] your beauty [the infinite beauty of your real nature, which is unlimited, unalloyed and unceasing happiness]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-07-09a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 8, 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 8 Q&A.

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 3rd April 2022 Michael answers questions about various aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender, and then discusses the sixteenth paragraph of Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?). ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-07-03 San Diego Ramana Satsang: Michael James discusses Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?) paragraph 16, 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 2nd July 2022 Michael James discusses verse 4 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: ----more---- உருவந்தா னாயி னுலகுபர மற்றா முருவந்தா னன்றே லுவற்றி — னுருவத்தைக் கண்ணுறுதல் யாவனெவன் கண்ணலாற் காட்சியுண்டோ கண்ணதுதா னந்தமிலாக் கண். uruvandā ṉāyi ṉulahupara maṯṟā muruvandā ṉaṉḏṟē luvaṯṟi — ṉuruvattaik kaṇṇuṟudal yāvaṉevaṉ kaṇṇalāṯ kāṭciyuṇḍō kaṇṇadutā ṉantamilāk kaṇ. பதச்சேதம்: உருவம் தான் ஆயின், உலகு பரம் அற்று ஆம்; உருவம் தான் அன்றேல், உவற்றின் உருவத்தை கண் உறுதல் யாவன்? எவன்? கண் அலால் காட்சி உண்டோ? கண் அது தான் அந்தம் இலா கண். Padacchēdam (word-separation): uruvam tāṉ āyiṉ, ulahu param aṯṟu ām; uruvam tāṉ aṉḏṟēl, uvaṯṟiṉ uruvattai kaṇ uṟudal yāvaṉ? evaṉ? kaṇ alāl kāṭci uṇḍō? kaṇ adu tāṉ antam-ilā kaṇ. English translation: If oneself is a form, the world and God will be likewise; if oneself is not a form, who can see their forms? How? Can the seen be otherwise than the eye? The eye is oneself, the infinite eye. Explanatory paraphrase: If oneself is a form, the world and God will be likewise; if oneself is not a form, who can see their forms, and how [to do so]? Can what is seen be otherwise [or of a different nature] than the eye [the awareness that sees or perceives it]? [Therefore forms can be perceived only by an ‘eye’ or awareness that perceives itself as a form, namely the ego or mind, which always perceives itself as the form of a body.] The [real] eye is oneself [one’s real nature, which is pure awareness], the infinite [and hence formless] eye [so it can never see any forms or phenomena, which are all finite]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-07-02 Sri Ramana Center, Houston: Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 4, 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 25th June 2022 Michael James first discussed various meanings and deep implications of verse 7 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 7. ----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, 2022-06-25b Ramana Foundation UK: Michael answers questions on Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 7, 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 25th June 2022 Michael James discusses verse 7 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- உனையே மாற்றி யோடா துளத்தின்மே       லுறுதியா யிருப்பா யருணாசலா uṉaiyē māṯṟi yōḍā duḷattiṉmē       luṟudiyā yiruppā yaruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: உனை ஏமாற்றி ஓடாது உளத்தின் மேல் உறுதியாய் இருப்பாய் அருணாசலா. Padacchēdam (word-separation): uṉai ēmāṯṟi ōḍādu uḷattiṉ mēl uṟudiyāy iruppāy aruṇācalā. English translation: Arunachala, may you be firmly on the mind so that it does not run, deceiving you. Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, may you be [remain, sit down, be seated or be enthroned] firmly on [my] mind so that it does not run [out towards other things under the sway of its viṣaya-vāsanās], deceiving [or cheating on] you [like a promiscuous wife]. Alternative interpretation 1 [when the first two words are split as ‘உனையே மாற்றி’ (uṉaiyē māṯṟi), ‘changing you’, instead of ‘உனை ஏமாற்றி’ (uṉai ēmāṯṟi), ‘deceiving you’ or ‘cheating you’]: Arunachala, may you be [or sit down] firmly on [my] mind so that it does not run [outwards], changing [or transforming] you [by seeing you, who are the one infinite, indivisible and immutable pure awareness, as the numerous objects that constitute both the internal world of mental phenomena and the external world of physical phenomena]. Alternative interpretation 2 [when மாற்றி (māṯṟi) is taken to mean removing, dispelling, repelling or expelling instead of changing, altering or transforming]: Arunachala, may you be [seated] firmly on [the back of this horse, namely my unruly] mind, so that it does not run [away out of control], expelling [or rejecting] you [by throwing you off its back]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-06-25a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 7, 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 7 Q&A.

In a Zoom meeting with ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 19th June 2022, Michael James first replies to the request: ----more---- I would be grateful if you could tell us about the different challenges and trials you have experienced along your own path, the most important doubts, fears, attachments and what have been the Keys from the Teachings to go beyond them as well as the main recommendations you would give to those who are landing for the first time on Bhagavan’s Teachings explaining that the cause of whatever challenges we may face while following Bhagavan’s path of self-investigation and self-surrender is ego and its viṣaya-vāsanās (inclinations to seek happiness in and therefore attend to things other than itself), and that the solution to all challenges is therefore to persevere patiently in trying to be constantly self-attentive, and then he answers more questions about this and other aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-06-19 Yo Soy Tu Mismo: Michael James discusses the solution to all challenges on the path, 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 18th June 2022 Michael James discusses verse 3 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: ----more---- உலகுமெய்பொய்த் தோற்ற முலகறிவா மன்றென் றுலகுசுக மன்றென் றுரைத்தெ — னுலகுவிட்டுத் தன்னையோர்ந் தொன்றிரண்டு தானற்று நானற்ற வந்நிலையெல் லார்க்குமொப் பாம். ulahumeypoyt tōṯṟa mulahaṟivā maṉḏṟeṉ ḏṟulahusukha maṉḏṟeṉ ḏṟuraitte — ṉulahuviṭṭut taṉṉaiyōrn doṉḏṟiraṇḍu tāṉaṯṟu nāṉaṯṟa vannilaiyel lārkkumop pām. பதச்சேதம்: ‘உலகு மெய்’, ‘பொய் தோற்றம்’, ‘உலகு அறிவு ஆம்’, ‘அன்று’ என்று, ‘உலகு சுகம்’, ‘அன்று’ என்று உரைத்து என்? உலகு விட்டு, தன்னை ஓர்ந்து, ஒன்று இரண்டு தான் அற்று, ‘நான்’ அற்ற அந் நிலை எல்லார்க்கும் ஒப்பு ஆம். Padacchēdam (word-separation): ‘ulahu mey’, ‘poy tōṯṟam’, ‘ulahu aṟivu ām’, ‘aṉḏṟu’ eṉḏṟu, ‘ulahu sukham’, ‘aṉḏṟu’ eṉḏṟu uraittu eṉ? ulahu viṭṭu, taṉṉai ōrndu, oṉḏṟu iraṇḍu tāṉ aṯṟu, ‘nāṉ’ aṯṟa a-n-nilai ellārkkum oppu ām. English translation: What is the use of disputing: ‘The world is real’, ‘An unreal appearance’; ‘The world is sentient’, ‘It is not’; ‘The world is happiness’, ‘It is not’? Leaving the world and investigating oneself, one and two ceasing, that state in which ‘I’ has perished is agreeable to all. Explanatory paraphrase: What is the use of disputing: ‘The world is real’, ‘[No, it is] an unreal appearance’; ‘The world is sentient’, ‘It is not’; ‘The world is happiness’, ‘It is not’? Leaving [all thought about] the world and investigating [or knowing] oneself, [thereby] putting an end to [all disputes about] one and two [non-duality and duality], that state in which ‘I’ [ego] has [thereby] perished is agreeable to all. While discussing the meaning and implications of this verse and answering questions about it Michael also discusses various other passages from Bhagavan’s writings, including Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, Upadēśa Undiyār and Nāṉ Ār?. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-06-18 Sri Ramana Center, Houston: Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 3, 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 12th June 2022 Michael answers questions about how to practise self-investigation and other related topics. ----more---- During this meeting Michael discusses the meaning and implications of various passages from Bhagavan’s writings, including Nāṉ Ār?, Śrī Aruṇācala Aṣṭakam, Upadēśa Undiyār and Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-06-12 San Diego Ramana Satsang: Michael James discusses how to practise 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 June 2022 Michael James discusses the meaning and implications of verse 18 of Upadēśa Sāraḥ: ----more---- वृत्त यस्त्वहं वृत्ति माश्रिताः । वृत्त योमनो विद्ध्य हंमनः ॥ १८ ॥ vṛtta yastvahaṁ vṛtti māśritāḥ vṛtta yōmanō viddhya haṁmanaḥ पदच्छेद: वृत्तयः तु अहंवृत्तिम् आश्रिताः. वृत्तयः मनः. विद्धि अहम् मनः. Padacchēda (word-separation): vṛttayaḥ tu ahaṁ-vṛttim āśritāḥ. vṛttayaḥ manaḥ. viddhi aham manaḥ. अन्वय: वृत्तयः मनः. वृत्तयः तु अहं वृत्तिम् आश्रिताः. विद्धि अहम् मनः. Anvaya (words rearranged in natural prose order): vṛttayaḥ manaḥ. vṛttayaḥ tu ahaṁ-vṛttim āśritāḥ. viddhi aham manaḥ. English translation: Thoughts are mind. But thoughts depend on the I-thought. Know that ‘I’ is the mind. Explanatory paraphrase: Vṛttis [thoughts] are mind. But vṛttis depend on the ahaṁ-vṛtti [the thought ‘I’]. Know that aham [‘I’, namely ego, the thought ‘I’] is the mind. While discussing these verses, Michael also discusses the meaning and implications of various passages from Bhagavan’s writings, including Upadēśa Sāraḥ, Upadēśa Undiyār, Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, Nāṉ Ār? and Āṉma-Viddai. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-06-12 Ramana Kendra, Delhi: Michael James discusses Upadēśa Sāraḥ 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.

In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 11th June 2022 Michael James first discussed the meaning and deep implications of verse 6 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 6. ----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, 2022-06-11b Ramana Foundation UK: Michael answers questions on Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 6, 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.