BHAGAWAN and SANNYASA

Ghambhiram Seshayya one of the ardent devotees of Bhagawan as a Municipal Overseer at Tiruvannamali and used to visit Bhagawan to resolve his doubts on spiritual matters. Bhagawan was only 21 years old and was still living in Virupaksha Cave on the Holy Hill of Arunachala.The Question and Answers during their conversations transformed into a book Vichaara-Sangraham.

The question of Sannyasa raised by Seshayya and Bhagawan explained this in his lucid manner.

Devotee:What is the real purpose of sannyasa?

Bhagawan : Sannyasa is only the renunciation of the 'I' thought, and not the rejection of the external objects.He who has renounced the 'I' thought thus remains the same whether he is alone or in the midst of the extensive samsaara.Just as when the mind is concentrated on some object, it does not observe other things even though they may be proximate , so also , although the sage may perform any number of empirical acts , in reality her performs nothing , because he makes the  mind rest in the Self without letting the 'I' thought arise.Even as in a dream one appears to fall head downwards, while in reality one is unmoving ,so also the ignorant person ie the person of whom the 'I' thought has not ceased , although he remains alone in constant meditation , is in fact one who performs all empirical actions. Thus the wise ones have said.

(Taken from English Translation of Vichara-Sangraham)

Meditaion -Bhagawatham

Although the main aim of my blog is to post about Bhagawan Ramana, I take some freedom to post some thing on meditation.Bhagawan Ramana never encouraged any meditation technique,rather advised everyone to contemplate on the question "Who Am I" .This is not easy and will need strong conviction. In Bhagavath Geetha Arjuna asks Sri Krishna how one can quieten the mind, Sri Krishna agreed that its not that easy ,even for a "Maha Bahu", one who has immense physical strength.He then suggests Arjuna to do Pranayama and Omkaram.

Same Sri Krishna in the 11th Canto of Bhagavatham answers Uddhava and reveals a technique for meditation.


Yevam Pranavasamyuktam pranameva samabyaseth |
dasakrutvasthra shavanam maasadarvaag jithanilaha ||

(From  Bhagavath Ratnakaram by Sri Sri Sri VidyaPrakashananda Giri Swamy page 746 )


Literal meaning : One who does pranayama and recites Omkaram 10 times thrice a day for one month ,will achive control of mind.

This is a very practical technique and will not need a physical Guru, as the Jagadguru Sri Krishna himself advocated this technique.In this age of commercial meditation techniques and Gurus, who will impose a pseudo stress in your life and sell their technique as a medication , this technique is of immense use

I  have been practicing this for the last  few days  and found it really effective. Peaceful mind and a good sleep are the first results in the last two weeks.And I have no doubt this will prove to be immensely helpful in long run.

Pranayama can be done three times ( Poorka , kumbaka , Rechaka ) ,but it is actually done 10 times. Then followed by 10 repetitions of OM.And as it is  not possible for us to do thrice a day, I do it twice.


I hope few of us will start using this technique and benifit from this.

JAI SRI RAMANA

GOD and MAYA

Ramana the embodiment of advaitha and silence is his way of teaching. He has not given any discourses. He neither advised any specific meditation techniques. No long retreats for his devotees or followers. He rarely spoke ,but when he spoke it meant volumes.Smt Suri Nagamma has collected such conversations when Bhagawan spoke to someone.She kept writing to her brother on the day to day activities of Ramanashramam.

GOD -IS HE SOMEONE TO SEE?

Once a young man came to Bhagawan and asked with stern voice.

"Have you seen GOD?" in Tamil (Nee Daivam Pattheyaa?)

The man obviously read a lot about Swami Vivekananda and try to imitate him by asking the question.

Bhagawan ,as he knew everything , with complete innocence replied with a question

"Who is He?" ( Avaru Yaaru)

The young man got startled by the response and left after a while. Bhagawan was teaching that GOD is not something external to SEE ,neither it is something INSIDE.But we ourselves are the DIVINE.

But to realise this we will need the devine grace of Guru either in body or without.The presence of Bhagawan can be felt even by reading his divine Raman Leela.Ramanashramam is wonderful and can feel the Saint's grace.

MAYA - WE ALWAYS FALL INTO

A devotee asked Bhagawan "Bhagawan ,what is Maya?"

Bhagawan sat in silence.After a while Dr.Sarvepalii Radhakrishnan came to Bhagawan and spent some time at His feet.As he was leaving all the ashram staff and devotees followed him. Bhagawan was left alone with the first devotee.

Bhagawan commented "This is Maya".

By this Bhagawan meant that we always keep chasing earthly pleasures leaving behind SELF. The staff and devotees who were serving Bhagawan left with Dr.Radhakrishnan leaving behind HIM.

When the Maya (Ignorance) is swept away we remain as SELF.

Note: This post is just to share few things about Bhagawan.Not that I want to teach anyone.I just like to read ,write and think about Bhagawan.A visit to Ramanashramam has changed my life.

"Namah Skandhaaya Vidmahe Rushi Sakshadhemahi

Thanno Ramana Prachodayaath"

Jai Sri Ramana

At the Feet of the Master-Ramana Maharishi

RAMANA the name rings a bell of Peace and Bliss. Arunachalam a place of knowledge. A uncomparable state while he was in his body. His teaching was through silence. A pure advaitin ,advaitin by experience rather than by books. A compassionate saint radiating love for one and all. Volumes has been written about him, but nothing equals to his silence. His radiating eyes can convey the messege with a single glance.



There is no dogma or doctrine ,no mantra or meditation technique.A simple way , to look inwards. WHO AM I. Its not as simple as that. It needs the grace of the Guru. Ramana never claimed that he is the Guru.

Bhagawan on occassion said


"I have not said that a Guru is not necessary.But a Guru need not always be in a human form.First a person thinks that he is an inferior and theat there is a superior ,all-knowing , all powerful God whos controls his own and the world's distiny and worships him or does Bhakthi.When he reaches a certain stage and becomes fit for enlightenment , the same God whom he was worshipping comes as Guru and leads him on .That Guru comes only to tell him that God is within yourself.Dive within and realize. God,Guru and Self are the Same"



But like Dakshninamurthy he taught who ever came to him with his silence.He never possessed any thing ,but everything is His. He never owned ashrams or branches.No direct diciples to preach and propogate his gospel. He is a great devotee and a great advaitin. Although he did not preach any thing directly, no discourses of Gitas and upanishads and breathing techniques, he encouraged few to study Vashista Gita and Ribu Geetha.



In this blog I would like to share few experiences of his devotees and few of mine. To learn more about Bhagawan's earthly life you can read Krishna Bhikshu's Ramana Leela both in English and Telugu.Another recommended book is Letters From Ramanasharamam by Smt.Suri Nagamma in Enlgish and Telugu


Following websites will give more information about Bhagawan and Arunachalam

http://www.sriramanamaharishi.org/

http://www.arunachala-ramana.org/

www.non-duality.com/ramana.htm

Bhagawan's earlthy life at a glance





JAI SRI RAMANA