Sunday, August 30, 2009

Arunachala And Ramana

Arunachala Ramana


Arunachala temple
Arunachala temple from Arunachala hill



Ramana Maharishi's words
Shri Ramana Maharishi's words to be remembered for ever.

Correcting oneself is correcting the whole world.
The Sun is simply bright. It does not correct anyone.
Because it shines, the whole world is full of light.
Transforming yourself is a means of giving light to the whole world.

Arunachala's Ramana Maharishi

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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Guru Ramana



Guru Ramna's ShrineGuru Ramna's Shrine


Guru RamanaGuru Ramana

Ramana considered his own guru to be the Self, in the form of the sacred mountain Arunachala.

Sacred Mountain ArunachalaSacred Mountain Arunachala

Sri Ramana did not publicize himself as a guru, never claimed to have disciples, and never appointed any successors.


Some important teachings of him:

• As all living beings desire to be happy always, without misery, as in the case of everyone there is observed supreme love for one's self, and as happiness alone is the cause for love, in order to gain that happiness which is one's nature and which is experienced in the state of deep sleep where there is no mind, one should know one's self. For that, the path of knowledge, the inquiry of the form "Who am I?", is the principal means.

• Knowledge itself is 'I'. The nature of (this) knowledge is existence-consciousness-bliss.

• What is called mind is a wondrous power existing in Self. It projects all thoughts. If we set aside all thoughts and see, there will be no such thing as mind remaining separate; therefore, thought itself is the form of the mind. Other than thoughts, there is no such thing as the world.

• Of all the thoughts that rise in the mind, the thought 'I' is the first thought.

• That which rises in this body as 'I' is the mind. If one enquires 'In which place in the body does the thought 'I' rise first?', it will be known to be in the heart [spiritual heart is 'two digits to the right from the centre of the chest]. Even if one incessantly thinks 'I', 'I', it will lead to that place (Self).

• The mind will subside only by means of the enquiry 'Who am I?'. The thought 'Who am I?', destroying all other thoughts, will itself finally be destroyed like the stick used for stirring the funeral pyre.

• If other thoughts rise, one should, without attempting to complete them, inquire, 'To whom did they arise?', it will be known 'To me'. If one then enquires 'Who am I?', the mind (power of attention) will turn back to its source. By repeatedly practicing thus, the power of the mind to abide in its source increases.

• The place where even the slightest trace of the 'I' does not exist, alone is Self.

• Self itself is the world; Self itself is 'I'; Self itself is God; all is the Supreme Self (siva swarupam).



His method of teaching was characterized by the following:

1. He urged people who came to him to practice self-inquiry;

2. He directed people to look inward rather than seeking outside themselves for Realization. ("The true Bhagavan resides in your Heart as your true Self. This is who I truly am.");

3. He viewed all who came to him as the Self rather than as lesser beings. ("The jnani sees no one as an ajnani. All are only jnanis in his sight.");

4. He charged no money, and was adamant that no one ever ask for money (or anything else) in his name;

5. He never promoted or called attention to himself. Instead, Sri Ramana remained in one place for 54 years, offering spiritual guidance to anyone of any background who came to him, and asking nothing in return;

6. He considered humility to be the highest quality;

7. He said the deep sense of peace one felt around a jnani was the surest indicator of their spiritual state, that equality towards all was a true sign of liberation, and that hat a true jnani did was always for others, not themselves.

8. He urged people who came to him to practice self-enquiry;

9. He directed people to look inward rather than seeking outside themselves for Realization. ("The true Bhagavan resides in your Heart as your true Self. This is who I truly am.");

10. He viewed all who came to him as the Self rather than as lesser beings. ("The jnani sees no one as an ajnani. All are only jnanis in his sight.");

11. He charged no money, and was adamant that no one ever ask for money (or anything else) in his name;

12. He never promoted or called attention to himself. Instead, Sri Ramana remained in one place for 54 years, offering spiritual guidance to anyone of any background who came to him, and asking nothing in return;

13. He considered humility to be the highest quality;

14. He said the deep sense of peace one felt around a jnani was the surest indicator of their spiritual state, that equality towards all was a true sign of liberation, and that what a true jnani did was always for others, not themselves.



Sri Ramana maintained that the purest form of his teachings was the powerful silence which radiated from his presence and quieted the minds of those attuned to it.

He gave verbal teachings only for the benefit of those who could not understand his silence.

His verbal teachings were said to flow from his direct experience of Consciousness as the only existing reality.

When asked for advice, he recommended self-enquiry as the fastest path to moksha. Though his primary teaching is associated with Non-dualism, Advaita Vedanta, and Jnana yoga, he highly recommended Bhakti, and gave his approval to a variety of paths and practices.


A long article about Ramana’s death in the New York Times concluded: "Here in India, where thousands of so-called holy men claim close tune with the infinite, it is said that the most remarkable thing about Ramana Maharshi was that he never claimed anything remarkable for himself, yet became one of the most loved and respected of all.

ArunachalaArunachala
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Thursday, January 8, 2009

Ramana And Arunachala


ramanaRamana


Dear Readers,

I am a devotee of Lord Arunachala and the Ramana Maharishi . Every year during the Karthikai Festival I visit Arunachala temple and Ramana Ashram. I do Girivalam during the vist to the holly place. In future posts I will be sharing about the holy pace Arunachalam.


ArunachalaArunachala
Lord Arunachala is my Guru and Bahavan Ramana maharishi's teachings and his silence is my guide.

Let my visits bee beneficial to all.

Ohm Arunachala Shivaya Namha!
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