some thoughts

[Guest guest]

Dear Murali, dear Vicki, dear All,

 

I am not interested in another polemical discussion, but there are some thoughts

which I want to share with you.

 

There are different ways - even with Ramana. The one is absolutly concentrated

on Him as the only Sat-Guru and allows nothing else besides, the other sees it

in another perspective. When you, Murali, say:

 

"After 'walking' with Sandeep a few times, I have noticed that

> my 'love' for 'Ramana' has not only intensified but I am able to

> understand him better - from a different perspective. And

> whatever 'sadhanas' I have been doing have become more meaningful." -

 

I have no reason not to believe in what you say. It is your way in this moment -

why not!

At the same time I know that this would be no way for me. Not so much because I

feel hurt or offended by Sandeep, but I don't trust so much in his authenticity

to act as a spiritual teacher (which is only my very personal impression and

nobody needs to share; perhaps I am wrong. We need not discuss it here.) but

most of all as Sri Ramana is my master and I need no other. But for you it is

like this and it is of the same value. Absolutely! There is no reason for me to

discuss your statement or convince you that you should do something else. Only

you can feel what is right for you - and only I can feel what is right for me.

And if we go wrong the grace of the guru will surely put us right in time. So no

one needs to correct or convince anyone - but we can be together here, respect

our different ways, enjoy the presence of Ramana and be concentrated on him.

Murali, you wrote: "(Nevertheless there is a photo of Maharshi is hanging on my

bedroom wall and I fall into sleep seeing that face and I wake up to see that

face)." There is also one in my bedroom - and I suppose also in Vickies and

many other bedrooms and other rooms of members - and there we can meet.

 

Besides, being offended and hurt by a spiritual master is not so unusual in

zen-training (with zen-sticks and other means). There are zen-masters which seem

to be very ruthless. For some disciples this is the only chance to awake and if

the zen-master act with violance and distruction he does it out of compassion

fully aware what he is doing and for what means. But the zen-master (Roshi) is

confirmed from another zen-master (he is tested if he is ripe enough to teach,

if he has gained the full understanding...) and is not allowed to teach and

have disciples otherwise. Essential for such kind of teaching is the concrete

master-disciple-relationship, eye in eye and heart to heart. The master knows

what you are in need at that special moment. So violance and distruction is not

so much a general way to teach but more a means to help a certain disciple who

is in a certain situation. The disciple knows he can trust his teacher and

accept this offence and hurt as a chance to go beyond. - This is an example from

another spiritual tradition, which I have joined for some years and which has

opened my inner eye for Ramana. (I also had a zen master, but not of this

violant sort. He was very lovingly).

 

Other disciples need more compassion. Sri Ramana was and is a master of

compassion. His "weapon" (zen-stick) was and is his powerful silence and

darshan which goes directly to the heart. The words from him are hints in that

direction - to this silence. They are meaningful because they show in that

directions, they are powerful because of his presence - but at least even they

cannot express the full truth as no words can. The real teaching can only be

expressed by silence as Dakshinamurti did and as Sri Ramana did. So we need not

glue to his words but at a certain point we must let them behind and move into

this silence beyond words.

 

This are only some thoughts - nothing more. No one should be offended because

his way is different from another. What counts is our purpuse to be together in

Sri Ramanas fold.

 

Love to all

Gabriele