Sri Ramana Teachings

Is self-investigation a mental activity?

In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 12th August 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. 

How to return to oneself during periods of spiritual dryness or aridity?

In a Zoom meeting of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 9th August 2023, Michael James was asked: How to deal with periods of spiritual dryness or aridity and that we have to remember and reinforce as well as trying to return again and again to oneself? He answers this and several other related questions.

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. 

What is the relationship between self-investigation and self-surrender?

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 6th August 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings.

In this meeting the book 'Ramana Maharshi's Forty Verses on What Is' is mentioned, based on Michael's writings and talks. You can download a free book sample here.

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 4 and 5

In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 8th August 2023 Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verses 4 and 5.

Verse 4

தாபந்தண் சந்திரனாற் றைனியநற் கற்பகத்தாற் பாபந்தான் கங்கையாற் பாறுமே — தாபமுத லிம்மூன்று மேகு மிணையில்லா சாதுக்க டம்மா தரிசனத்தாற் றான்.

tāpandaṇ candiraṉāṯ ṟaiṉiyanaṯ kaṯpakattāṯ pāpantāṉ gaṅgaiyāṯ pāṟumē — tāpamuda limmūṉḏṟu mēhu miṇaiyillā sādhukka ṭammā dariśaṉattāṯ ṟāṉ.

பதச்சேதம்: தாபம் தண் சந்திரனால், தைனியம் நல் கற்பகத்தால், பாபம் தான் கங்கையால் பாறுமே. தாபம் முதல் இம் மூன்றும் ஏகும் இணை இல்லா சாதுக்கள் தம் மா தரிசனத்தால் தான்.

Padacchēdam (word-separation): tāpam taṇ candiraṉāl, daiṉiyam nal kaṯpakattāl, pāpam tāṉ gaṅgaiyāl pāṟumē. tāpam mudal i-m-mūṉḏṟum ēhum iṇai illā sādhukkaḷ tam mā dariśaṉattāl tāṉ.

English translation: Heat will be destroyed by the cool moon, poverty by the good wish-fulfilling tree, and sin itself by the gaṅgā. All these three, beginning with heat, will depart just by the great sight of peerless sādhus.

Explanatory paraphrase: Heat will be destroyed [or removed] by the cool moon, poverty by the good kalpaka [the heavenly wish-fulfilling tree], and pāpa [sin or demerit] itself by the gaṅgā [the holy river Ganges]. All these three, beginning with heat, will depart [slip off or cease] just by the great darśana [seeing or sight] of peerless sādhus [namely jñānis, those who know and abide as sat, pure being].

Verse 5

கம்மயமாந் தீர்த்தங்கள் கன்மண்ணாந் தெய்வங்க ளம்மகத்துக் கட்கிணையே யாகாவா — மம்மவவை யெண்ணினா ளாற்றூய்மை யேய்விப்ப சாதுக்கள் கண்ணினாற் கண்டிடவே காண்.

kammayamān tīrtthaṅgaḷ kaṉmaṇṇān deyvaṅga ḷammahattuk kaṭkiṇaiyē yāhāvā — mammavavai yeṇṇiṉā ḷāṯṟūymai yēyvippa sādhukkaḷ kaṇṇiṉāṯ kaṇḍiḍavē kāṇ.

பதச்சேதம்: கம்மயம் ஆம் தீர்த்தங்கள், கல், மண் ஆம் தெய்வங்கள் அம் மகத்துக்கட்கு இணையே ஆகா ஆம். அம்ம! அவை எண்ணில் நாளால் தூய்மை ஏய்விப்ப; சாதுக்கள் கண்ணினால் கண்டிடவே காண்.

Padacchēdam (word-separation): kammayam ām tīrtthaṅgaḷ, kal, maṇ ām deyvaṅgaḷ a-m-mahattukkaṭku iṇaiyē āhā ām. amma! avai eṇṇil nāḷāl tūymai ēyvippa; sādhukkaḷ kaṇṇiṉāl kaṇḍiḍavē kāṇ.

English translation: Tīrthas, which are composed of water, and deities, which are stone or earth, are not at all akin to those mahātmas. Ah! Those give rise to purity by countless days, sādhus as soon as they see by eye. See.

Explanatory paraphrase: Tīrthas [sacred bathing places], which are composed of water, and deities [images of God], which are [composed of] stone or earth, are not at all akin [similar, comparable or equal] to those mahātmas [great souls or jñānis]. Ah! See, those [tīrthas and deities] give rise to purity [of mind, heart or will] by countless days [that is, gradually over a long period of time], [whereas] sādhus [jñānis] [do so] as soon as they see by eye.

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Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: An introduction

Recording of an online meeting on 3rd August 2023. Michael talks about what Bhagavan teaches us in Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, and why this work shines as the core and crest-jewel of his teachings, being the quintessence of all of them. 

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.

Disclaimer: The book mentioned in this episode is an independent compilation and publication by Sandra Derksen. Michael James has not read this book prior to its publication and has not endorsed this book. Sri Ramana Center of Houston, too, has not endorsed this book. The episode is published only because it serves as a good introduction to Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, and not for promotion of this book - Sri Ramana Center of Houston

Do we investigate ourself in silence?

In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 29th July 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.

The answer to all questions is to know the truth about ourself

In this video filmed in Hyde Park, London, on 24th May 2023 Michael, Sean and Sandra are having a meeting. Michael answered several spontaneously asked questions about Bhagavan's teachings. The impromptu discussion was recorded on an iPad without the use of external microphones, so this affected the audio quality.

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Understanding the basics of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings

In a Zoom meeting with Boston Ramana Satsang on 22nd July 2023 Michael explains the basics of Bhagavan's teachings, and answers various questions about his teachings.

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Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪 verse 2 concluded

In a Zoom meeting with Ramana Kendra, Delhi, on 9th July 2023 Michael James concludes to discuss the meaning and implications of verse 2 of Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪.

Verse 2: https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2023/05/anma-viddai-verse-2-thought-i-am-this.html

ஊனா ருடலிதுவே நானா மெனுநினைவே நானா நினைவுகள்சே ரோர்நா ரெனுமதனா னானா ரிடமெதென்றுட் போனா னினைவுகள்போய் நானா னெனக்குகையுட் டானாய்த் திகழுமான்ம — ஞானமே; இதுவே மோனமே; ஏக வானமே; இன்பத் தானமே. (ஐயே)

Padacchēdam (word-separation): ‘ūṉ ār uḍal iduvē nāṉ ām’ eṉum niṉaivē nāṉā niṉaivugaḷ sēr ōr nār eṉum adaṉāl, nāṉ ār iḍam edu eṉḏṟu uḷ pōṉāl, niṉaivugaḷ pōy, ‘nāṉ nāṉ’ eṉa guhai uḷ tāṉāy tikaṙum āṉma-ñāṉamē. iduvē mōṉamē, ēka vāṉamē, iṉba-tāṉamē. (aiyē, ati sulabham, ...)

English translation: Since the thought ‘this, the body composed of flesh, itself is I’ alone is the one thread on which the various thoughts are strung, if one goes within thus: what is the place from which I spread out, thoughts ceasing, in the cave ātma-jñāna alone will shine spontaneously as ‘I am I’. This alone is silence, the one space, the abode of bliss. (Ah, extremely easy, ...)

Explanatory paraphrase: Since the thought ‘this, the body composed of flesh, itself is I’ alone is the one thread on which [all] the various thoughts are strung, if one goes within [investigating] what is the place from which I spread out [or: who am I, what is [my] place], [all] thoughts [including the root thought, ‘I am this body’] will cease [or depart], and in the cave [of one’s heart] ātma-jñāna [pure self-awareness] alone will shine spontaneously [or as oneself] as ‘I am I’ [that is, as awareness of oneself as oneself alone]. This alone is silence, the one space [of pure awareness], the abode of bliss. ([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.

What is the best way to deal with loved ones who are suffering?

In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 8th July 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.