Sri Ramana Teachings

In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 11th June 2022 Michael James discusses verse 6 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- ஈன்றிடு மன்னையிற் பெரிதருள் புரிவோ       யிதுவோ வுனதரு ளருணாசலா īṉḏṟiḍu maṉṉaiyiṟ peridaruḷ purivō       yiduvō vuṉadaru ḷaruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: ஈன்றிடும் அன்னையில் பெரிது அருள் புரிவோய், இதுவோ உனது அருள் அருணாசலா? Padacchēdam (word-separation): īṉḏṟiḍum aṉṉaiyil peridu aruḷ purivōy, iduvō uṉadu aruḷ aruṇācalā? English translation: Arunachala, you who bestow kindness greater than the mother who gave birth, is this your kindness? Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, you who bestow aruḷ [grace, love, kindness and compassion] greater than [that given by] the mother who gave birth [to one], is this your aruḷ? Alternative meaning [when இதுவோ (iduvō) is split as ‘இது ஓ’ (idu ō), ‘this, oh’ or ‘ah, such’]: Arunachala, you who bestow aruḷ greater than [that given by] the mother who gave birth [to one], ah, such is your aruḷ! This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-06-11a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses 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. 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 6 Q&A.

In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 28th May 2022 Michael James first discussed various meanings and deep implications of verse 5 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 5. ----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, 2022-05-28b Ramana Foundation UK: Michael answers questions on Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 5, 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 28th May 2022 Michael James discusses verse 5 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- இப்பழி தப்புனை யேனினைப் பித்தா       யினியார் விடுவா ரருணாசலா ippaṙi tappuṉai yēṉiṉaip pittā       yiṉiyār viḍuvā raruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: இப் பழி தப்பு. உனை ஏன் நினைப்பித்தாய்? இனி யார் விடுவார்? அருணாசலா. Padacchēdam (word-separation): i-p-paṙi tappu. uṉai ēṉ niṉaippittāy? iṉi yār viḍuvār? aruṇācalā. English translation: Arunachala, escape this blame. Why did you cause to think of you? Now who will leave? Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, escape this blame. Why did you make [me] think of you? Now [or henceforth] who will [or can] leave [or let go]? [You cannot leave or let go of me, and I cannot leave or let go of you.] This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-05-28a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 5, 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 5 Q&A.

In a Zoom meeting on 18th May 2022, Matei and Michael discuss various aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings, including the practical value of his teaching that our current state and all we experience in it is just a dream, the gentle nature of his path of self-investigation and self-surrender, the need for love and perseverance, and the nature of his grace. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-05-18 Matei & Michael: the practical value of Bhagavan’s teaching that all this is just a dream, 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 14th May 2022 Michael James first discussed the meaning and deep implications of verse 4 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 4. ----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, 2022-05-14b Ramana Foundation UK: Michael answers questions on Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai 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 14th May 2022 Michael James discusses verse 4 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai: ----more---- ஆருக் காவெனை யாண்டனை யகற்றிடி       லகிலம் பழித்திடு மருணாசலா āruk kāveṉai yāṇḍaṉai yahaṯṟiḍi       lakhilam baṙittiḍu maruṇācalā பதச்சேதம்: ஆருக்கா எனை ஆண்டனை? அகற்றிடில் அகிலம் பழித்திடும் அருணாசலா. Padacchēdam (word-separation): ārukkā eṉai āṇḍaṉai? ahaṯṟiḍil akhilam paṙittiḍum aruṇācalā. English translation: Arunachala, for whom did you take charge of me? If you reject, the whole world will blame. Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachala, for whom [or for whose sake] did you take charge of me? If you reject [banish or abandon] [me], the whole world will blame [ridicule or revile] [you]. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-05-14a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai 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. 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 4 Q&A.

In a Zoom meeting with Ramana Kendra, Delhi, on 8th May 2022 Michael James the meaning and implications of verses 16 and 17 of Upadēśa Sāraḥ. ----more---- Upadēśa Sāraḥ verse 16: दृश्य वारितं चित्त मात्मनः । चित्त्व दर्शनं तत्त्व दर्शनम् ॥ १६ ॥ dṛśya vāritaṁ citta mātmanaḥ citva darśanaṁ tattva darśanam पदच्छेद: दृश्य वारितम्, चित्तम् आत्मनः चित्त्व दर्शनम् तत्त्व दर्शनम्. Padacchēda (word-separation): dṛśya vāritam, cittam ātmanaḥ cittva darśanam tattva darśanam. English translation: Kept back from what is seen, the mind seeing its own knowingness is seeing what is real. Explanatory paraphrase: Kept back from dṛśya [what is seen, perceived or known as an object], the mind seeing its own cittva [its real nature as pure awareness or knowingness] is tattva-darśana [seeing tattva: ‘thatness’, what actually exists or is real]. Upadēśa Sāraḥ verse 17: मान संतुकिं मार्ग णेकृते । नैव मानसं मार्ग आर्जवात् ॥ १७ ॥ māna saṁtukiṁ mārga ṇēkṛtē naiva mānasaṁ mārga ārjavāt पदच्छेद: मानसम् तु किम् मार्गणे कृते न एव मानसम्. मार्गः आर्जवात्. Padacchēda (word-separation): mānasam tu kim mārgaṇē kṛtē na ēva mānasam. mārgaḥ ārjavāt. English translation: When investigation is done what the mind actually is, there is no mind at all. The path because of straightness. Explanatory paraphrase: When one investigates what the mind actually is, [it will be clear that] there is no mind at all. [This is] the path because of [its] straightness [or directness]. 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 and Nāṉ Ār?. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-05-08 Ramana Kendra, Delhi: Michael James discusses Upadēśa Sāraḥ verses 16 and 17, 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 72nd Aradhana (anniversary of the day he left his body) organised by Arunachala Ashrama, New York, on 8th May 2022 Michael James discusses his teaching that bhakti is the mother of jñāna. ----more---- While discussing this Michael also discusses various other passages from Bhagavan’s writings, including Upadēśa Undiyār, Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, Śrī Aruṇācala Aṣṭakam, Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, Śrī Aruṇācala Pañcaratnam, Nāṉ Ār?, Śrī Aruṇācala Padigam, Āṉma-Viddai and Aruṇācalaramaṇaṉ. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-05-08 Sri Ramana Aradhana: Bhagavan’s teaching: ‘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 Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 7th May 2022 Michael James discusses verse 2 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: ----more---- மும்முதலை யெம்மதமு முற்கொள்ளு மோர்முதலே மும்முதலாய் நிற்குமென்று மும்முதலு — மும்முதலே யென்னலகங் கார மிருக்குமட்டே யான்கெட்டுத் தன்னிலையி னிற்ற றலை. mummudalai yemmatamu muṟkoḷḷu mōrmudalē mummudalāy niṟkumeṉḏṟu mummudalu — mummudalē yeṉṉalahaṅ kāra mirukkumaṭṭē yāṉkeṭṭut taṉṉilaiyi ṉiṯṟa ṯalai. பதச்சேதம்: மும் முதலை எம் மதமும் முன் கொள்ளும். ‘ஓர் முதலே மும் முதலாய் நிற்கும்’, ‘என்றும் மும் முதலும் மும் முதலே’ என்னல் அகங்காரம் இருக்கும் மட்டே. யான் கெட்டு, தன் நிலையில் நிற்றல் தலை. Padacchēdam (word-separation): mum mudalai e-m-matamum muṉ koḷḷum. ‘ōr mudalē mum mudalāy niṟkum’, ‘eṉḏṟum mum mudalum mum mudalē’ eṉṉal ahaṅkāram irukkum maṭṭē. yāṉ keṭṭu, taṉ nilaiyil niṯṟal talai. English translation: Each religion initially accepts three fundamentals. Contending ‘Only one fundamental stands as three fundamentals’, ‘Three fundamentals are always actually three fundamentals’, is only so long as ego exists. ‘I’ perishing, standing in the state of oneself is best. Explanatory paraphrase: Each religion [or theistic system of belief] initially accepts three fundamentals [namely the soul, world and God]. Contending that only one fundamental stands as [these] three fundamentals or that [these] three fundamentals are always actually three fundamentals is [possible] only so long as ego exists. [As a result of] ‘I’ [ego] perishing [or being destroyed], standing in the [real] state of oneself is best. 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, Nāṉ Ār? and Upadēśa Undiyār. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-05-07 Sri Ramana Center, Houston: Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 2, 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 and Carlos of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 4th May 2022, Michael James discusses verse 5 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: ----more---- உடல்பஞ்ச கோச வுருவதனா லைந்து முடலென்னுஞ் சொல்லி லொடுங்கு — முடலன்றி யுண்டோ வுலக முடல்விட் டுலகத்தைக் கண்டா ருளரோ கழறு. uḍalpañca kōśa vuruvadaṉā laindu muḍaleṉṉuñ colli loḍuṅgu — muḍalaṉḏṟi yuṇḍō vulaha muḍalviṭ ṭulahattaik kaṇḍā ruḷarō kaṙaṟu. பதச்சேதம்: உடல் பஞ்ச கோச உரு. அதனால், ஐந்தும் ‘உடல்’ என்னும் சொல்லில் ஒடுங்கும். உடல் அன்றி உண்டோ உலகம்? உடல் விட்டு, உலகத்தை கண்டார் உளரோ? கழறு. Padacchēdam (word-separation): uḍal pañca kōśa uru. adaṉāl, aindum ‘uḍal’ eṉṉum sollil oḍuṅgum. uḍal aṉḏṟi uṇḍō ulaham? uḍal viṭṭu, ulahattai kaṇḍār uḷarō? kaṙaṟu. English translation: The body is a form of five sheaths. Therefore all five are included in the term ‘body’. Without a body, is there a world? Leaving the body, is there anyone who has seen a world? Say. Explanatory paraphrase: The body is pañca-kōśa-uru [a form composed of five sheaths, namely a physical structure, life, mind, intellect and will]. Therefore all five [sheaths] are included in the term ‘body’. Without a body [composed of these five sheaths], is there a world? Without [experiencing oneself as such] a body, is there anyone who has seen a world? Say. 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, Nāṉ Ār? and Upadēśa Undiyār. This episode can also be watched as a video, 2022-05-04 Yo Soy Tu Mismo: Michael, Ernesto and Carlos discuss Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 5, 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.