Sri Ramana Teachings

How can we be firmly convinced that happiness lies only within?

In a Zoom meeting with Ernesto, Carlos and José of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 1st February 2023, Michael James is first asked, ‘We think that happiness lies in objects and because of that belief we constantly allow ourself to be swayed by our vasanas, which are basically tendencies that result in efforts in the form of actions to maximize happiness and minimize suffering in our life. How can we be firmly convinced that this is not so while at the same time we are still perceiving ourself as a body? Do we inevitably have to live in this duality of conviction on a mental level that there is no happiness outside while on an experiential level we still believe we see happiness out there?’, so he answers this and several other related questions.

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Self-investigation and other practices

In a Zoom meeting with Ernesto, Carlos and José of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 1st February 2023, Michael James is first asked, ‘To what extent would it be advisable for an aspirant who has a negative state of mind and a flood of thoughts, to propose some development of vipassana meditation and strengthening of his witnessing position before putting self-inquiry first if he is barely able to attend to himself?’, so he answers this and several other related questions.

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To know what actually exists, we must subside and lose ourself in it

During the global celebration of Bhagavan Ramana’s 143rd Jayanti (birthday) organised by Arunachala Ashrama in New York on 29th January 2023 Michael James discusses many passages of Bhagavan’s teachings in which he clearly implies that to know what actually exists, we must subside and lose ourself in it

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Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 20 Q&A

In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 28th January 2023 Michael James first discussed the meanings and deep implications of verse 20 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 20.

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Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 20

In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 28th January 2023 Michael James discusses verse 20 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai:

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Self-investigation is the culmination of the path of surrender

In a Zoom meeting with Bill and Sonia on 21st January 2023 Michael answers questions about the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender and other aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings, and explains that self-investigation is the culmination of the path of surrender.

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Āṉma-Viddai pallavi, anupallavi and verse 1

In a Zoom meeting with Ramana Kendra, Delhi, on 15th January 2023 Michael James discusses the meaning and implications of the pallavi (refrain), anupallavi (post-refrain) and verse 1 of Āṉma-Viddai:

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Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 19 Q&A

In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 14th January 2023 Michael James first discussed the meaning and deep implications of verse 19 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, and that first portion of this meeting has been posted here as a separate episode: Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 19.

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Turning back within is the only solution for all problems

In a Zoom meeting with Ernesto, Carlos and José of ‘Yo Soy Tu Mismo’ (a group of Spanish devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana) on 11th January 2023, Michael James is first asked, ‘A person is going to separate from 2 wives and finally will not separate from his third wife. Although his not divorcing his third wife is already predestined, to what extent were the awareness and learning that took place in this person after the first two divorces, part of the necessary material for the third divorce not to take place, even though it was already predestined?’, so he answers this and several other related questions.

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Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 19

In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 14th January 2023 Michael James discusses verse 19 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai:

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