Visit to Ramanasram

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

 

Have not been able to post for a few days.

 

To give you an idea of the visit so far, I am writing some of

the 'story' of the visit. The visit is not about the story, though.

I have been moved by many of the places I have visited, especially

those that have particular signifigence to Ramana. I am also moved

by the spiritual focus of the area. This has been a major spiritual

center for hundreds of years, probably thousands if I knew the

history better.

 

We arrived after a five-hour 250 KM drive from Bangalore. Most of

the group is staying at a nice new Ramanasramam guest house, off the

grounds, but near by. My wife and I ended up a a nearby guest house,

Daya Dharma guest house. It has a nice meditation room, and best of

all, the rooftop space faces Arunachala. So my days start with

meditation in this hall and then up to the rool to meditate with

Arunachala.

 

Then we go to Ramanasramam, maybe meditate in the old hall until the

breakfast bell, then breakfast, then meet with Nome to see what he

has planned for the day.

 

The first day we walked up the hill to Skandanasramam and meditated.

 

The next day we walked to Virupakshu Cave, and Mango Tree Grove Cave.

 

The next day we went to Arunachala Swara, the main Siva temple. We

saw Ramana sites: the thousand pillered hall, the dark area

underneith where Ramana stayed, the pond into which Ramana

threw 'all his worldly possessions.'

 

Today we walked round Arunachala.

 

In afternoons, we may meet with Nome where we will talk about our

meditations and experiences. Nome will not give satsang here, since

the only guru here is Ramana.

 

My wife and I will be here a few more days. We leave Friday

afternoon. The rest of the group will be here one more week.

 

My wife and I think enough of what we see and feel here that we are

considering moving here. The main idea would be to better focus on

practice. Certainly this place supports spiritual practice. It would

be hard to move away from Nome, harder than I can tll you. But they

record his satsangs, and, as 'distant' members, would send us CDs or

DVDs of them.

 

Please excuse what are probably many spelling errors of the Indian

words.

 

More later,

 

Not two,

Richard

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Richard,

 

Thank you for the account of your visit and stay at Arunachala. It is always

thrilling to read such accounts. I missed meeting you at the Ashram as I had to

return after the Sri Vidya Havan on Jan 17. I had told Sri Alan (Sri Alan Adams

Jacobs) who is in Tiruvannamalai now, that you will be visiting. Sri Alan would

be happy to meet you (He stays in a guest house some distance from the Ashram.

Ashram office will know his contact tel. number.) May be you could look for him

during the lunch time (11.30 AM to 12 Noon)

 

May you visit be a very memorable one.

 

om gurave namah

suriTired of

spam? Mail has the best spam protection around

[Guest guest]

"The main idea would be to better focus on practice."

 

who you are needs no practice....you already are That which you search for

 

 

 

 

 

"Surrendering all the concepts of love is, in fact, surrendering to love.

Surrendering all demands for love is surrendering to love. Surrendering all

hopes is surrendering to love." ~ Gangaji

 

----Original Message Follows---- "rclarke95125"

<rclarke95125 RamanaMaharshi To:

RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] Visit to Ramanasram

Mon, 24 Jan 2005 09:52:43 -0000 Dear Group, Have not been able to post

for a few days. To give you an idea of the visit so far, I am writing some

of the 'story' of the visit. The visit is not about the story, though. I

have been moved by many of the places I have visited, especially those that

have particular signifigence to Ramana. I am also moved by the spiritual

focus of the area. This has been a major spiritual center for hundreds of

years, probably thousands if I knew the history better. We arrived after a

five-hour 250 KM drive from Bangalore. Most of the group is staying at a

nice new Ramanasramam guest house, off the grounds, but near by. My wife and

I ended up a a nearby guest house, Daya Dharma guest house. It has a nice

meditation room, and best of all, the rooftop space faces Arunachala. So my

days start with meditation in this hall and then up to the rool to meditate

with Arunachala. Then we go to Ramanasramam, maybe meditate in the old hall

until the breakfast bell, then breakfast, then meet with Nome to see what he

has planned for the day. The first day we walked up the hill to

Skandanasramam and meditated. The next day we walked to Virupakshu Cave, and

Mango Tree Grove Cave. The next day we went to Arunachala Swara, the main

Siva temple. We saw Ramana sites: the thousand pillered hall, the dark area

underneith where Ramana stayed, the pond into which Ramana threw 'all his

worldly possessions.' Today we walked round Arunachala. In afternoons, we

may meet with Nome where we will talk about our meditations and experiences.

Nome will not give satsang here, since the only guru here is Ramana. My wife

and I will be here a few more days. We leave Friday afternoon. The rest of

the group will be here one more week. My wife and I think enough of what we

see and feel here that we are considering moving here. The main idea would

be to better focus on practice. Certainly this place supports spiritual

practice. It would be hard to move away from Nome, harder than I can tll

you. But they record his satsangs, and, as 'distant' members, would send us

CDs or DVDs of them. Please excuse what are probably many spelling errors of

the Indian words. More later, Not two, Richard ------------------------

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[Guest guest]

om namo bhagavate sri ramanaya

>> "The main idea would be to better focus on practice."

> who you are needs no practice....you already are That which you search for

Indeed. Ramana Maharshi's practice clearly reveals that the one who searches is a myth.

With this in mind:

The practice is what we are and is accomplished when we no longer notice that we practice.

---------

By Sravana. Knowledge dawns. That is the flame.

By manana, the Knowledge is not allowed to vanish. Just as a flame is protected

by a wind-screen, so the other thoughts are not allowed to overwhelm the right

knowledge.

By nididhyAsana, the flame is kept up to burn bright by trimming the wick.

Whenever other thoughts arise, the mind is turned inward to the light of true

knowledge.

When this becomes natural, it is samadhi.

The enquiry 'Who am I?' is the Sravana.

The ascertainment of the true import of 'I' is the manana.

The practical application on each occasion is nididhyAsana.

Being as 'I' is samadhi.

(Ramana Maharshi in Talks; 647)

---------

Kind Regards,

Miles

[Guest guest]

so sweet, the taste of these words in my own mouth

 

 

RamanaMaharshi, Miles <miles.wright@b...>

wrote:

> om namo bhagavate sri ramanaya

>

>

> >> "The main idea would be to better focus on practice."

>

> > who you are needs no practice....you already are That which you

search for

>

>

> Indeed. Ramana Maharshi's practice clearly reveals that the one who

searches

> is a myth.

>

> With this in mind:

> The practice is what we are and is accomplished when we no longer

notice

> that we practice.

> ---------

> By Sravana. Knowledge dawns. That is the flame.

> By manana, the Knowledge is not allowed to vanish. Just as a flame

is

> protected by a wind-screen, so the other thoughts are not allowed to

> overwhelm the right knowledge.

> By nididhyAsana, the flame is kept up to burn bright by trimming

the wick.

> Whenever other thoughts arise, the mind is turned inward to the

light of

> true knowledge.

>

> When this becomes natural, it is samadhi.

> The enquiry 'Who am I?' is the Sravana.

> The ascertainment of the true import of 'I' is the manana.

> The practical application on each occasion is nididhyAsana.

> Being as 'I' is samadhi.

>

> (Ramana Maharshi in Talks; 647)

> ---------

>

> Kind Regards,

> Miles

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

I am still enjoying reading your posts and combined with reading Be

As You Are and meditating. I feel that I can percieve my resistance

to the knowledge that I am being-conciousness-bliss, unchanging,

eternal being, weakening. Some part of me seems to know this, and

has always know this, I feel this clarity is usually obscured by the

chattering of my mind (especially when I am trying to understand

things.

 

Anyway I would like to share some reflections on the recent posts.

These ideas stem from my questioning mind. Ok, firstly this talk

about going and visiting Ramanasram. From the preceding posts it

would seem that there is much to gain in terms of both pleasure and

spiritual insight from visiting these places in india e.g. the pond

where ramana threw his worldy possesions, the old hall, walking

round a big hill and other such activities that have all the

characteristics of worship and pilgramage.

 

In the same way that practicing mindfullness of breathing calms the

mind - I guess this sort of visit would achieve the same.

 

However - (and this is where i would apreciate claification) -

Doesnt all this activity seem to slightly contradict the teachings

of Rammana. For example, if I am eternal being-conciousness-bliss

does that not mean I am the same now as I was when my body was born

and when my body will die? Am I not the same now typing this e-mail

in Ipswich as I would be wandering round various holy sites in india?

 

If the fourth state (sorry about terminology) trancends deep sleep,

dreams, waking then surely it is my recognition of my unchanging

aspect that leads me to where I am and always have been, not the

identification with the searching aspect of my mind which leads me

further and further into identification with the mind and a belife

in my ability to work it out and get there in the end!

 

Even when we talk about good places to meditate and bad places to

meditate - surely awareness is awareness - If it doesnt exist now,

its not worth persuing?? As ramanna descibes it its more like

getting rid of somthing - because there is nothing more to gain.

 

I still very much identify with the TV programm projected in

conciousness "The Edward Cooper Show" Although I get glimpses now n

again, my mind habitually belives in the future, therefore I am

prompted with ceasless activity to try and improve that future - at

the moment the best way seems Self-Realisation. I like to read and

meditate etc I defintly dont want to leave it all to chance and just

be blown whereever my whims take me! However my current

understanding is that Rammanas teaching are saying to me - Dont

worry your already there, there is nothing more to gain only cease

to identify with the TV programme (you dont even need to turn off

the TV). Therefore isnt it my Tv programme that reads the books,

joins this group, goes here, there, one day ive got it, next day Ive

forgotten it but All I need to do is regognise im the TV not the

programme.

 

Anyway - please continue to have a great trip! All these opinions

are just opinions/ideas ironically even they problbly increase my

identification as the thinker!

 

Also - again these are just thoughts - Beliving that your own ego

will help you destroy your ego is a pretty tricky dificult situation

to transcend, but beliving that someone else's ego is going to help

you seems even trickier not only that but I belive any sense of

dependance on any organisaton/teacherlocation/state of

mind/time of day as a means to self realisation is bound to

encounter problems because all these things come and go - and what

changes isnt worth knowing and may even lead you away from what is

real, unchanging and ever present.

 

In the spirit of not two (it doesnt matter)

 

In the spirit of two (have a great trip, be happy and may it help

you on your journey to where you already are!)

 

Ed Cooper

 

 

 

RamanaMaharshi, "lifeisrosey"

<lifeisrosey@h...> wrote:

>

> so sweet, the taste of these words in my own mouth

>

>

> RamanaMaharshi, Miles <miles.wright@b...>

> wrote:

> > om namo bhagavate sri ramanaya

> >

> >

> > >> "The main idea would be to better focus on practice."

> >

> > > who you are needs no practice....you already are That which

you

> search for

> >

> >

> > Indeed. Ramana Maharshi's practice clearly reveals that the one

who

> searches

> > is a myth.

> >

> > With this in mind:

> > The practice is what we are and is accomplished when we no

longer

> notice

> > that we practice.

> > ---------

> > By Sravana. Knowledge dawns. That is the flame.

> > By manana, the Knowledge is not allowed to vanish. Just as a

flame

> is

> > protected by a wind-screen, so the other thoughts are not

allowed to

> > overwhelm the right knowledge.

> > By nididhyAsana, the flame is kept up to burn bright by trimming

> the wick.

> > Whenever other thoughts arise, the mind is turned inward to the

> light of

> > true knowledge.

> >

> > When this becomes natural, it is samadhi.

> > The enquiry 'Who am I?' is the Sravana.

> > The ascertainment of the true import of 'I' is the manana.

> > The practical application on each occasion is nididhyAsana.

> > Being as 'I' is samadhi.

> >

> > (Ramana Maharshi in Talks; 647)

> > ---------

> >

> > Kind Regards,

> > Miles

[Guest guest]

Dear Ed,

 

<< Anyway I would like to share some reflections on the recent posts. These

ideas stem from my questioning mind. Ok, firstly this talk about going and

visiting Ramanasram. From the preceding posts it would seem that there is much

to gain in terms of both pleasure and spiritual insight from visiting these

places in india e.g. the pond where ramana threw his worldy possesions, the old

hall, walking round a big hill and other such activities that have all the

characteristics of worship and pilgramage.

 

Worship is surely a valuable means. Ramana himself was a big bhakta.

When I went to Arunachala - my experiences have been very mixed and thinking back on

the journey it appears as an unsolved "koan" until today Perhaps one day it

makes the real "klick".

It may be in each case otherwise.

 

When Ramana was in the body people came there to have his darshan ... now this continues such way.

Devotees come to sit in this atmosphere where he lived for so long and doing worship to the Hill,

as Ramana did himself.

The Old Hall surely has a wonderful atmosphere ... also the Hill and the places there.

Visiting give a push towards sadhana, whatever one experiences or not experiences there.

This is the case here too.

Not all devotees want to go there or are able to do. This is fine likewise. The

inner journey is not

dependent on going or not. All have to do sadhana in any way ... and some pass

the visible Arunachala on

their journey Wonderful!

I think at times - perhaps I have to go there again - to solve the so far

unsolved "koan" of my first

visit - but who knows??? It will come or not come.

 

So the whole discussion is indeed - as you say yourself - a thing of the questioning mind.

 

Kind Regards

Gabriele

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gabriel,

 

Your response is helpful as were your comments regarding meditation.

 

I guess I am very analytical in my own thinking and the thinking of

others. There is a great link in the Files to an essay about

renunciation and It does go hand in hand that the ego can be

dissolved in consatnt worship/sacrifice/surrender to an external

entity (god/being/self) - Therefore I do understand that this is one

of many valid paths to self-realization. However I think as a form

it may work better for cirtian personality types/cultures better

than others.

 

Coming from a backgound of scientific reasoning I always belive it

is helpful to try and reduce things to there very most essential

essence. Also I belive that things need to be understood and

contemplated before submitting oneself to absolute faith and

surrender.

 

I am still greatly interested in Buddhism for example - However it

always helps to be aware what is the essence of the teachings and

what aspects constitue as extras thrown in to coincide with diffrent

cultures. Is it possible that Rammanas teachings and life will,

despite the simplicity of his message - take on, or have projected

apon peoples own cultures and behaviours in respect of religious

signifigance.

 

The great thing about rammanas teachings is that they seem to

transcend culture.

 

In respect of your and anyone else's travels there - I wouldnt try

and detract at all from that. If I had the resources I would spend

the rest of my days in Satsang, Meditation and visiting these

places - However I feel currently that resources will prevent this,

so i am inclined to try and see if the teachings can give me any

comfort in the absence of such experiences. Luckily they seem to do

just that! I would even suggest that if they didnt I would be

inclined to discard them.

 

What you said about an unresolved koan! - Call it negative thinking

but I can already pre-empt that feeling in myself. Like all great

things in life I feel its a bit like grasping at snowlflakes I cant

help think if I went there it would be a bit like that (as is

anything I desire)

 

I guess whilst duality continues - the world exists and thus we need

to get by - Although I have occasionall observed whilst I used to

march back n forth from work, that the homeless guy in the park

seemed remarkably less stressed than me, I feel that it is a long

way off before I can fully transcend the world n abandon any

concerns for comfort, future or pleasure! Therfore on the dualistic

road anything that helps must be a good thing.

 

Anyway sorry to go on,

 

Thanks for the comments

 

Ed

 

 

 

 

RamanaMaharshi, "gabriele ebert"

<g.ebert@g...> wrote:

> Dear Ed,

>

>

> << Anyway I would like to share some reflections on the recent

posts.

> These ideas stem from my questioning mind. Ok, firstly this talk

> about going and visiting Ramanasram. From the preceding posts it

> would seem that there is much to gain in terms of both pleasure

and

> spiritual insight from visiting these places in india e.g. the

pond

> where ramana threw his worldy possesions, the old hall, walking

> round a big hill and other such activities that have all the

> characteristics of worship and pilgramage.

>

> Worship is surely a valuable means. Ramana himself was a big

bhakta.

> When I went to Arunachala - my experiences have been very mixed

and thinking back on

> the journey it appears as an unsolved "koan" until today

Perhaps one day it makes the real "klick".

> It may be in each case otherwise.

>

> When Ramana was in the body people came there to have his

darshan ... now this continues such way.

> Devotees come to sit in this atmosphere where he lived for so long

and doing worship to the Hill,

> as Ramana did himself.

> The Old Hall surely has a wonderful atmosphere ... also the Hill

and the places there.

> Visiting give a push towards sadhana, whatever one experiences or

not experiences there.

> This is the case here too.

> Not all devotees want to go there or are able to do. This is fine

likewise. The inner journey is not

> dependent on going or not. All have to do sadhana in any way ...

and some pass the visible Arunachala on

> their journey Wonderful!

> I think at times - perhaps I have to go there again - to solve the

so far unsolved "koan" of my first

> visit - but who knows??? It will come or not come.

>

> So the whole discussion is indeed - as you say yourself - a thing

of the questioning mind.

>

> Kind Regards

> Gabriele