Guest guest Posted May 4, 1997 Report Share Posted May 4, 1997 8 July 2001 Dear fellow travellers I humbly offer a few personal insights and some wisdom to be gained from reading Ramana Maharishi. He scorned discipleship and gave his teachings freely to all. Such is the beauty of Grace. When you practice meditation you become aware of your thoughts interrupting your intention of keeping your mind focussed - either on a mantra, japa,candle,cross etc. The witness to all of this is your Self. At the gross level of awareness all sensory faculties are "open" and we can mutually share our coarse experiences. At the subtle level of awareness, when our senses are "closed " , we become aware of our thoughts and no one else can witness them. The Witness to all of this is the Self/Soul/Atman. At the causal level of awareness, the witness becomes Self -aware. Self awareness cannot be willed. The mind cannot be used to achieve this - it is only when the "stick that is used to turn the embers in the fire is burnt" that the Self is revealed. The mind has to be released completely in meditation , mantra , , japa,etc for this to happen. All of this is declared repeatedly in the scriptures. Our brief existence as body / mind is the gift of life given to us by the Divine.Consider it a holiday so that the Witness within you comes briefly into existence to playfully see this world , its people , your body , and the way your mind interacts with it and the world. When the witness identifies with the body , mind, world - it takes on Ego. This is attachment , and is the cause of pleasure and pain - the Witness solely identifies with the mind and its senses and becomes bound. (Krishna says this in the Gita.) The Witness becomes aware of all of this interaction but does not interfere - there is no "free will". The mind mistakenly thinks it is free - similar to an image in a mirror thinking it is free. Ramana says the only freedom the mind has is to " go within", ie Self -enquiry. Ramana states that correct food also will lead to liberation. I have followed this and have felt great benefit. I am a medical practitioner for 25 years. For what it is worth, may I offer some simple, cost - free nutritional advice. It will help the mind achieve clarity and contentment in a short time. You have to have the correct attitude (of sacrifice) and discipline for it to help. Avoid Tamasic Food at all costs - garlic, alcohol, onion, peanuts, fermented foods, preserved foods, yeasty foods. They all promote depression and sloth. Reduce/avoid rajasic food - it is true that rajasic food promotes anger, lust, irritability, and aggresiveness. Chilli, pickles, excessive meat, cheeses, wheat and other gluten cereals, tomato, citrus juice, and most foods that are "acidic" or PITTA aggravating. Rice ( brown rice is a bore), fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, coconut, almonds and cashews, (repeatedly soaked and drained) boiled legumes. A SIMPLE MENU Breakfast : Summer Large bowl of finely chopped fruit Small amount of youghurt Sesame seeds, sunflower sedds chopped almonds, linseed for calories Winter Heat together in a saucepan or microwave Pre - cooked rice Sultanas Soya- milk Sliced banana Sesame seed,pumpkin seed,almond,linseed ( premixed in a jar) Brown sugar as needed Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to stimulate digestion Lunch : Summer A large mixed vegetable salad All types of lettuce -as many as possible Chopped parsley Fetta cheese Cucumber Tomato - optional Boiled egg - optional The following may only be convenient bottled or canned: Beetroot Asparagus Artichokes Corn Winter Cooked vegetables and rice Fried rice Noodles and vegetables eg Laksa Evening Meal Keep it light - spare the liver Steamed / Cooked vegetables Rice Dhall The best exercise is walking - 1 to 2 kilometres daily. Suriya Namasker done with an attitude of surrender to the Divne is also good. It is not hard to learn and it can be gently modified to suit all ages and constitutions. Arthritics can even do it in a chair as needed. Hope this helps as many of you as possible. Thank you for listening. May the Divine help us all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2001 Report Share Posted July 8, 2001 Dear VPillay That was a wonderful posting. A very good synopsis of the philosophy of the Gita in short. I was impressed and educated by it. Das Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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