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Re: Advaita (was Re: Siva as yogi?)
kstuart@snowcrest.net (Ken Stuart) wrote:
>On 2 Feb 1996 03:53:52 GMT, Ramakrishnan Balasubramanian
><rbalasub@ecn.purdue.edu> wrote in soc.religion.hindu:
>
>Well, I consider myself fairly well read in Advaita, particularly
>Ramana Maharshi and his disciples.
>
>And, my experience is exactly that of Kurt.
>
>The reason that Self-Enquiry doesn't usually work is due to the
>samskaras, the habitual tendencies that comprise the ego.
>
>Just having one glimpse of the real answer to "Who Am I ?" is
>insufficient to remove the effect of the samskaras, which reassert
>themselves and bring one back into ignorance.
>
>If you look carefully at the biography of Ramana Maharshi, it's pretty
>clear that at the time of his self-realization, he didn't have any
>samskaras - he wasn't distinguished in any way, he didn't have any
>responsibilities, no career, not much of a family, not even any
>interests or hobbies, not even religion. Thus, he was in a unique
>position to benefit immediately from Self-Enquiry.
As Krushchev was fond of saying, nyet, nyet.
1. As a small boy, Venkataraman (Ramana's name) was reprimanded for making
paper boats out of old "case files" of his father. He took it to heart and
disappeared. After a frantic search people found him sitting in meditation
behind the idol of Goddess Sahayavalli (literally the one who offers
solace).
2. Before realization someone mentioned the name Arunachala and Venkataraman
felt awe. He enquired and found out that Arunachala and Thirvannmalai were
the same.
3. Before realization he happened to read the biography of the 63 Saivite
Nayanmars and he prayed fervently for similar grace from Shiva. Shortly
after reading this biography, he attained realization.
4. Someone once mentioned that it was good that Ramana Maharishi had read
nothing, otherwise they would have got a scholar and not a sage, upon which
Ramana remarked that his studies were probably exhausted in a previous life
and hence there was no inclination now.
5. Ramana has also sung about the breaking of the "granthi", usually said to be
experienced by Bhakthas before realization. Since no such thing happened in
his life, Devaraja Mudaliar asked him in which life he had experienced this
for historical completeness. The Maharishi just smiled.
6. He also had quite a big family, mother, father, brothers and scores of
uncles and aunts, hardly something you can call "not much of a family".
Even if I accept your description of the Maharishi's condition before
realization, I'd hardly call it "a unique position to benefit from
self-enquiry". You, more or less described about 95% of my classmates in high
school. Maybe all of them are realized now :-).
There was a saint called Arunagirinathar in T.Nadu. In his younger years he was
very licentious and actually got some venereal disease. When his condition
worsened he went to commit suicide and suddenly he had a vision of Lord
Kartikeya, got cured of his disease and also obtained self-realization. I would
hardly think that he was in unique position to benefit from Bhakthi :-).
Realization happened to these two in some particular way, however it does not
mean anything. Their prarabdha was such that they happened to attain
realization that way.
>On the other hand, if you read what Ramana Maharshi actually said, he
>recommends purification and devotion to a Guru. He states in "Guru
>and his Grace" [from the book 'The Spiritual Teachings of Ramana
>Maharshi']:
[quote about Guru etc deleted]
Again, I quote from the web page in Canada (Paul Brunton's experience)
******begin quote:
"You mean I should follow my inner self?" I asked.
"I don't know anything about your inner self. You should follow the Self.
There is nothing or no one else to follow."
I asked again, "What about religions, teachers, gurus?"
"If they can help in the quest of the Self. But can they help? Can
religion, which teaches you to look outside yourself, which promises a
heaven and a reward outside yourself, can this help you? It is only by
diving deep into the spiritual Heart that one can find the Self." He placed
his right hand on his right breast and continued, "Here lies the Heart, the
dynamic, spiritual Heart. It is called Hridaya and is located on the right
side of the chest and is clearly visible to the inner eye of an adept on
the spiritual path. Through meditation you can learn to find the Self in
the cave of this Heart."
******End quote
>One of two things must be done: either surrender yourself, because you
>realize your inability and need a Higher Power to help you; or
>investigate into the cause of misery, go into the Source and so merge
>in the Self. Either way, you will be free from misery. God or Guru
>never forsakes the devotee who has surrendered himself."
I think if you read the "Talks with .." you'll get a different picture. There
he very clearly states that thinking of the Guru as someone outside is not
what he is talking about. He also clearly states that the GYaani alone is a
true Bhaktha as well as one who has completely surrendered. This is obvious
because, as long as even a vestige of the ego remains one could not have
surrendered. On the other hand, destruction of the ego = self-realization. He
has also made it perfectly clear that the self alone is evident, whereas for
anything else you have to look outside. Thus self-enquiry was recommended to
every one. Ofcourse for the purification of the mind anything like serving the
guru, japa, dhyana, puujaa etc will serve equally well. It purely depends on
what one finds the easiest. All this has been said by the Maharishi himself in
the "Talks". If you are really keen, I can find the exact page numbers. Let me
know.
I am not sure whether what you mean by self-enquiry and what I mean by self
enquiry are the same. Self-enquiry is NOT
"Who am I?
I am the self, the mind is unreal.
Who am I?
I am the self, the mind is unreal."
go on ad-nauseam.
Asking the question "Who am I?" and hoping to realize at once is quite naive.
One has to be quite ripe for that. Self-enquiry on the other hand is watching
where-from the "I" thought occurs. When the mind is still one can observe the
"I" thought. When the source for this is searched, silently and with all
effort, you SUBMIT the mind to the self. Continuing this process for a long
time (perhaps years), one is bound to attain realization.
If the mind wanders there is only one thing to do. Kick it's butt and get it
back to enquiry.
The Maharishi has made it quite clear that self-enquiry is not going on
asking "Who am I?", but seeking the source of the "I".
I am not claiming self-enquiry is very easy for me. It's possible only when
the mind is still. I also do dhyaanaa, japa, etc for the purification of the
mind.
Ramakrishnan.
--
Sitting quietly doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself.
http://yake.ecn.purdue.edu/~rbalasub/
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