Sri Ramana Teachings

Self-investigation, self-surrender and prayer

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 5th February 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly about the practice of self-investigation, self-surrender and prayer.

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Clarification on some details in the life of Sri Sadhu Om

At the end of a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 4th February 2023 Michael James clarifies some details in the life of Sri Sadhu Om in response to the many inaccuracies and misinterpretations that somehow unfortunately found their way into a profile of him written in the February 2023 issue of Saranagati, an online newsletter published by Sri Ramanasramam:

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Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 11

In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 4th February 2023 Michael James discusses verse 11 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu:

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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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