Sri Ramana Teachings

Who or what is Bhagavan?

During the international celebration of Bhagavan Ramana’s 127th Advent (anniversary of the day he came to Arunachala on 1st September 1896) organised by Arunachala Ashrama, New York, on 17th September 2023 Michael James answers several questions asked by Kumar Saran about Bhagavan Ramana, all centred around the question who or what he actually is.

While answering these questions he discusses the verse Arunachalaramanan composed by Bhagavan:

அரியாதியி தரசீவர தகவாரிச குகையில் லறிவாய்ரமி பரமாத்தும னருணாசல ரமணன் பரிவாலுள முருகாநல பரனார்ந்திடு குகையார்ந் தறிவாம்விழி திறவாநிச மறிவாயது வெளியாம்.

ariyādiyi tarajīvara dahavārija guhaiyil laṟivāyrami paramāttuma ṉaruṇācala ramaṇaṉ parivāluḷa murugānala paraṉārndiḍu guhaiyārn daṟivāmviṙi tiṟavānija maṟivāyadu veḷiyām.

பதச்சேதம்: அரி ஆதி இதர சீவரது அக வாரிச குகையில் அறிவாய் ரமி பரமாத்துமன் அருணாசலரமணன். பரிவால் உளம் உருகா, நல பரன் ஆர்ந்திடு குகை ஆர்ந்து, அறிவு ஆம் விழி திறவா, நிசம் அறிவாய்; அது வெளி ஆம்.

Padacchēdam (word-separation): ari ādi itara jīvaradu aha-vārija guhaiyil aṟivāy rami paramāttumaṉ aruṇācalaramaṇaṉ. parivāl uḷam uruhā, nala paraṉ ārndiḍu guhai ārndu, aṟivu ām viṙi tiṟavā, nijam aṟivāy; adu veḷi ām.

English translation: Aruṇācalaramaṇa is the ultimate self rejoicing as awareness in the cave of the heart-lotus of different souls beginning with Hari. Heart melting with love, reaching the cave where the sublime supreme dwells, the eye that is awareness opening, you will know what is innate; it will be exposed.

Explanatory paraphrase: Aruṇācalaramaṇa is paramātman [the supreme spirit or ultimate self of all] rejoicing as awareness in the cave of the heart-lotus of [all] different jīvas [souls or sentient beings] beginning with Hari [Viṣṇu]. Heart melting with love, reaching [or merging in] the cave where the sublime supreme dwells, the eye that is awareness opening, you will [thereby] know what is innate [or one’s own, namely your own real nature, the indwelling Aruṇācalaramaṇa]; [because] it will be exposed [opened, disclosed or made clear] [meaning it will shine forth, devouring ego and everything else is the infinite clarity of pure awareness].

And also verse 274 of Guru Vācaka Kōvai:

பராகாய மாகப் பயின்றிடா நின்றே நராகார மாத்தோன்று ஞான குருவை நிராகார னென்றுணர் நெஞ்ச மிலாதார் துராசார பாப துரந்தரர் தாமே.

parākāya māhap payiṉḏṟiḍā niṉḏṟē narākāra māttōṉḏṟu ñāṉa guruvai nirākāra ṉeṉḏṟuṇar neñja milādār durācāra pāpa dhurandharar tāmē.

பதச்சேதம்: பர ஆகாயம் ஆக பயின்றிடா நின்றே நர ஆகாரம் ஆ தோன்றும் ஞான குருவை நிராகாரன் என்று உணர் நெஞ்சம் இலாதார் துராசார பாப துரந்தரர் தாமே.

Padacchēdam (word-separation): para ākāyam āha payiṉḏṟiḍā niṉḏṟē nara ākāram ā tōṉḏṟum ñāṉa-guruvai nirākāraṉ eṉḏṟu uṇar neñjam ilādār durācāra pāpa dhurandharar tāmē.

English translation: Those who do not have mind to know the jñāna-guru, who seems to be a human form, actually remaining firmly as the supreme space, to be the formless one, are indeed the foremost in wicked conduct and sin.

Explanatory paraphrase: Those who do not have [the clarity of] mind [or heart] to know that the jñāna-guru, who seems to be [or appears as] a human form [even though always] actually remaining firmly as the supreme space [of sat-cit, pure existence-awareness], is [in fact] the formless one [namely brahman], are indeed the foremost in wicked conduct and sin.

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.

Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪 verse 3 (continued)

In a Zoom meeting with Ramana Kendra, Delhi, on 10th September 2023, Michael James continues the discussion of the meaning and implications of verse 3 of Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪.

Verse 3: https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2023/07/anma-viddai-verse-3-knowledge-of-all.html

தன்னை யறிதலின்றிப் பின்னை யெதறிகிலென் றன்னை யறிந்திடிற்பின் னென்னை யுளதறிய பின்ன வுயிர்களில பின்ன விளக்கெனுமத் தன்னைத் தனிலுணர மின்னுந் தனுளான்ம — ப்ரகாசமே; அருள் விலாசமே; அக விநாசமே; இன்ப விகாசமே. (ஐயே)

taṉṉai yaṟidaliṉḏṟip piṉṉai yedaṟihileṉ ḏṟaṉṉai yaṟindiḍiṟpiṉ ṉeṉṉai yuḷadaṟiya bhiṉṉa vuyirgaḷila bhiṉṉa viḷakkeṉumat taṉṉait taṉiluṇara miṉṉun taṉuḷāṉma — prakāśamē; aruḷ vilāsamē; aha vināśamē; iṉba vikāsamē. (aiyē)

பதச்சேதம்: தன்னை அறிதல் இன்றி, பின்னை எது அறிகில் என்? தன்னை அறிந்திடில், பின் என்னை உளது அறிய? பின்ன உயிர்களில் அபின்ன விளக்கு எனும் அத் தன்னை தனில் உணர, மின்னும் தன் உள் ஆன்ம ப்ரகாசமே. அருள் விலாசமே, அக விநாசமே, இன்ப விகாசமே. (ஐயே, அதி சலபம், ...)

Padacchēdam (word-separation): taṉṉai aṟidal iṉḏṟi, piṉṉai edu aṟihil eṉ? taṉṉai aṟindiḍil, piṉ eṉṉai uḷadu aṟiya? bhiṉṉa uyirgaḷil abhiṉṉa viḷakku eṉum a-t-taṉṉai taṉil uṇara, miṉṉum taṉ uḷ āṉma-prakāśamē. aruḷ vilāsamē, aha vināśamē, iṉba vikāsamē. (aiyē, ati sulabham, ...)

அன்வயம்: தன்னை அறிதல் இன்றி, பின்னை எது அறிகில் என்? தன்னை அறிந்திடில், பின் அறிய என்னை உளது? பின்ன உயிர்களில் அபின்ன விளக்கு எனும் அத் தன்னை தனில் உணர, தன் உள் ஆன்ம ப்ரகாசமே மின்னும். அருள் விலாசமே, அக விநாசமே, இன்ப விகாசமே. (ஐயே, அதி சலபம், ...)

Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): taṉṉai aṟidal iṉḏṟi, piṉṉai edu aṟihil eṉ? taṉṉai aṟindiḍil, piṉ aṟiya eṉṉai uḷadu? bhiṉṉa uyirgaḷil abhiṉṉa viḷakku eṉum a-t-taṉṉai taṉil uṇara, taṉ uḷ āṉma-prakāśamē miṉṉum. aruḷ vilāsamē, aha vināśamē, iṉba vikāsamē. (aiyē, ati sulabham, ...)

English translation: Without knowing oneself, if one knows whatever else, what? If one has known oneself, then what exists to know? When one knows in oneself that self, which is the light without separation in separate sentient beings, within oneself the shining of oneself alone will flash forth. The shining forth of grace; the annihilation of ego; the blossoming of happiness. (Ah, extremely easy, ...)

Explanatory paraphrase: Without knowing oneself, if one knows whatever else, [so] what? [That is, how can such knowledge be reliable, so how can it have any real value?] If one has known oneself, then what [else] exists to know? When one knows in oneself that self [one’s real nature], which is the light [that shines] abhinna [without bhinna: separation, division, difference or distinction] in separate sentient beings [or souls], within oneself ātma-prakāśa [the shining, clarity or light of oneself] alone will flash forth [like lightening]. [This is] aruḷ-vilāsa [the shining forth, amorous play or beauty of grace], aha-vināśa [the annihilation of ego], iṉba-vikāsa [the blossoming of happiness]. ([Therefore] ah, extremely easy, ātma-vidyā, ah, extremely easy!) 

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.

Since ego exists by grasping form, is it OK to grasp the form of Ramana

Michael answers the following questions in this video:

1. Since the ego exists by grasping a form, is it OK to allow it to grasp the form of Ramana?

2. You have said that by investigating the ego it will run away. Then who is the investigator?

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.

Why is self-enquiry not like a thief posing as a policeman?

In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 9th September 2023, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings.

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.

Viṣaya-vāsanās and vairāgya

In a Zoom meeting of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 6th September 2023, Michael James was asked to discuss the tenth and eleventh paragraphs of Nan Ar?

Paragraph 10: https://www.happinessofbeing.com/nan_yar.html#para10

Paragraph 11: https://www.happinessofbeing.com/nan_yar.html#para11

Read the rest of this entry »

Do body and world exist if we do not rise as ego?

Michael answers the following questions in this video:

1) Can the world and all phenomena appear if we don’t rise as ego?

2) If we don’t rise as ego, would this body exist?

3) The fact that the body is appearing, does that mean there is ego?

4) Can we ever be free of ego identification while there is a body and world appearing?

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.

How to distinguish the pure ‘I’ from the thought called ‘I’?

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 3rd September 2023, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings.

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.

Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham verses 6 and 7

In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 2nd September 2023, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verses 6 and 7.

Verse 6

தேவனா ரார்மனந் தேருவ னென்மன
மாவியா மென்னா லறிபடுமே — தேவனீ
யாகுமே யாகையா லார்க்குஞ் சுருதியா
லேகனாந் தேவனே யென்று.

dēvaṉā rārmaṉan tēruva ṉeṉmaṉa
māviyā meṉṉā laṟibaḍumē — dēvaṉī
yāhumē yāhaiyā lārkkuñ śurutiyā
lēkaṉān dēvaṉē yeṉḏṟu.

பதச்சேதம்: ‘தேவன் ஆர்?’ ‘ஆர் மனம் தேருவன்?’ ‘என் மனம் ஆவி ஆம் என்னால் அறிபடுமே.’ ‘தேவன் நீ ஆகுமே, ஆகையால், ஆர்க்கும் சுருதியால் “ஏகன் ஆம் தேவனே” என்று.’

Padacchēdam (word-separation): ‘dēvaṉ ār?’ ‘ār maṉam tēruvaṉ?’ ‘eṉ maṉam āvi ām eṉṉāl aṟibaḍumē.’ ‘dēvaṉ nī āhumē, āhaiyāl, ārkkum śurutiyāl “ēkaṉ ām dēvaṉē” eṉḏṟu.’

அன்வயம்: ‘தேவன் ஆர்?’ ‘ஆர் மனம் தேருவன்?’ ‘என் மனம் ஆவி ஆம் என்னால் அறிபடுமே.’ ‘ஆகையால், “தேவனே ஏகன் ஆம்” என்று சுருதி ஆர்க்குமால், தேவன் நீ ஆகுமே.’

Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): ‘dēvaṉ ār?’ ‘ār maṉam tēruvaṉ?’ ‘eṉ maṉam āvi ām eṉṉāl aṟibaḍumē.’ ‘āhaiyāl, “dēvaṉē ēkaṉ ām” eṉḏṟu śuruti ārkkumāl, dēvaṉ nī āhumē.’

English translation: ‘Who is God?’ ‘Who knows the mind?’ ‘My mind is only known by me, who am the soul.’ ‘Therefore, since the Vedas roar “God alone is the one”, you are actually God.’

Explanatory paraphrase:
[Disciple:] Who is God?
[Guru:] Who knows the mind? [implying that whoever knows the mind is God].
[Disciple:] My mind is only known by me, who am the soul [or spirit].
[Guru:] Therefore, since śruti [the Vedas] roar [or declare
emphatically] ‘God alone is the one’ [implying that the one who actually exists is only God, so he is ‘one only without a second’ (ēkam ēva advitīyam), and hence nothing can be other than him], you are actually God.

Verse 7

ஒளியுனக் கெதுபக லினனெனக் கிருள்விளக் கொளியுண ரொளியெது கணதுண ரொளியெது வொளிமதி மதியுண ரொளியெது வதுவக மொளிதனி லொளியுநீ யெனகுரு வகமதே.

oḷiyuṉak kedupaha liṉaṉeṉak kiruḷviḷak
koḷiyuṇa roḷiyedu kaṇaduṇa roḷiyedu
voḷimati matiyuṇa roḷiyedu vaduvaha
moḷitaṉi loḷiyunī yeṉaguru vahamadē.

பதச்சேதம்: ‘ஒளி உனக்கு எது?’ ‘பகல் இனன் எனக்கு, இருள் விளக்கு.’ ‘ஒளி உணர் ஒளி எது?’  ‘கண்.’ ‘அது உணர் ஒளி எது?’ ‘ஒளி மதி.’ ‘மதி உணர் ஒளி எது?’ ‘அது அகம்.’ ‘ஒளி தனில் ஒளியும் நீ’ என குரு, ‘அகம் அதே’.

Padacchēdam (word-separation): ‘oḷi uṉakku edu?’ ‘pahal iṉaṉ eṉakku, iruḷ viḷakku.’ ‘oḷi uṇar oḷi edu?’  ‘kaṇ.’ ‘adu uṇar oḷi edu?’ ‘oḷi mati.’ ‘mati uṇar oḷi edu?’ ‘adu aham.’ ‘oḷi taṉil oḷiyum nī’ eṉa guru, ‘aham adē’.

அன்வயம்: ‘உனக்கு ஒளி எது?’ ‘எனக்கு பகல் இனன், இருள் விளக்கு.’ ‘ஒளி உணர் ஒளி எது?’  ‘கண்.’ ‘அது உணர் ஒளி எது?’ ‘ஒளி மதி.’ ‘மதி உணர் ஒளி எது?’ ‘அது அகம்.’ ‘ஒளி தனில் ஒளியும் நீ’ என குரு, ‘அகம் அதே’.

Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): ‘uṉakku oḷi edu?’ ‘eṉakku pahal iṉaṉ, iruḷ viḷakku.’ ‘oḷi uṇar oḷi edu?’  ‘kaṇ.’ ‘adu uṇar oḷi edu?’ ‘oḷi mati.’ ‘mati uṇar oḷi edu?’ ‘adu aham.’ ‘oḷi taṉil oḷiyum nī’ eṉa guru, ‘aham adē’.

English translation: ‘What is the light for you?’ ‘For me in daytime the sun, in darkness a lamp.’ ‘What is the light that knows the light?’ ‘The eye.’ ‘What is the light that knows that?’ ‘The light is the mind.’ ‘What is the light that knows the mind?’ ‘That is I.’ When the guru said, ‘The light in light is you’, ‘I am that alone.’

Explanatory paraphrase:
[Guru:] What is the light for you?
[Disciple:] For me in daytime the sun, in darkness a lamp.
[Guru:] What is the light that knows [or is aware of] the [physical] light [from such sources]?
[Disciple:] The eye.
[Guru:] What is the light that knows [or is aware of] that?
[Disciple:] The light [that knows the eye] is the mind.
[Guru:] What is the light that knows [or is aware of] the mind?
[Disciple:] That is I.
When the guru said, ‘The light in light [namely the light of awareness, which is what shines in all lights, illumining or making them known] is you’,
[Disciple:] I am that alone [or that indeed].

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.

Bhagavan’s Advent in the context of his teachings

In an online meeting on 31st August 2023, to celebrate Bhagavan's advent (arrival) to Tiruvannamalai on 1st September 1896, Michael discusses Bhagavan's return to Arunachala in the context of his teachings.

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.

Ego part 1: Who is aware ‘I am’, and who is to practise self-investigation?

Michael answers the following question of a devotee in this video: 'Who is aware of ‘I AM’? If it’s ego that will be aware of ‘I AM’, then ‘I AM’, i.e. the Self, will become an object for the ego. Still getting confused with who does the practice of investigation.'

This episode can also be watched as a video here 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.