Sri Ramana Teachings

Sri Ramana Center of Houston

Philosophy and practice of self-investigation (ātma-vicāra) and self-surrender (ātma-samarpana) as taught by Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. read less
Religion & SpiritualityReligion & Spirituality

Episodes

Āṉma-Viddai verse 4 continued with Q&A
May 19 2024
Āṉma-Viddai verse 4 continued with Q&A
In a Zoom meeting with Ramana Kendra, Delhi, on 12th May 2024, Michael James continues the discussion of the meaning and implications of verse 4 of Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪 and answers questions about Bhagavan's teachings. The link to this verse is: https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2023/11/anma-viddai-verse-4-self-investigation.html கன்மா திகட்டவிழ சென்மா திநட்டமெழ வெம்மார்க் கமதனினு மிம்மார்க் கமிக்கெளிது சொன்மா னததனுவின் கன்மா திசிறிதின்றிச் சும்மா வமர்ந்திருக்க வம்மா வகத்திலான்ம —    சோதியே; நிதானு பூதியே; இராது பீதியே;       இன்பவம் போதியே.      (ஐயே) English translation: For the bonds beginning with action to be untied, to rise from the devastation beginning with birth, more than whatever path, this path is what is exceedingly easy. When one just is, resting without the least action of mind, speech or body, ah, in the heart the light of oneself alone. The eternal experience. Fear does not exist. The ocean of bliss alone. (Ah, extremely easy, ...) Explanatory paraphrase: For the bonds beginning with karma [that is, the bonds of action and of all that results from it] to be untied, and to rise [or be resurrected] from the devastation beginning with birth [that is, to transcend and become free from the miseries of embodied existence, which begins with birth and ends with death], more than whatever [other] path, this path [of ātma-vicāra] is what is exceedingly easy. When one just is, resting [calmly as pure awareness] without the least karma [action] of mind, speech or body, ah, in [one’s] heart the light of oneself alone [will shine forth clearly as ‘I am I’]. [Having thereby drowned and lost oneself (namely ego) forever in this perfectly peaceful and infinitely clear state of pure awareness, it will be clear that this is one’s] eternal experience. Fear does not [or will not] exist. The ocean of [infinite] bliss alone [will remain]. ([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.
Śrī Aruṇācala Padigam verse 2
May 14 2024
Śrī Aruṇācala Padigam verse 2
This video begins with Sadhu Om singing verse 2 of ஸ்ரீ அருணாசல பதிகம் (Śrī Aruṇācala Padigam), ‘The Eleven Verses to Arunachala’, then Michael James explains and discusses its meaning: அன்புரு வருணா சலவழன் மெழுகா யகத்துனை நினைத்துநைந் துருகு மன்பிலி யெனக்குன் னன்பினை யருளா தாண்டெனை யழித்திட லழகோ வன்பினில் விளையு மின்பமே யன்ப ரகத்தினி லூறுமா ரமுதே யென்புக லிடநின் னிட்டமென் னிட்ட மின்பதெற் கென்னுயி ரிறையே. aṉburu varuṇā calavaṙaṉ meṙuhā yahattuṉai niṉaittunain duruhu maṉbili yeṉakkuṉ ṉaṉbiṉai yaruḷā dāṇḍeṉai yaṙittiḍa laṙahō vaṉbiṉil viḷaiyu miṉbamē yaṉba rahattiṉi lūṟumā ramudē yeṉpuha liḍaniṉ ṉiṭṭameṉ ṉiṭṭa miṉbadeṟ keṉṉuyi riṟaiyē. பதச்சேதம்: அன்பு உரு அருணாசல, அழன் மெழுகாய் அகத்து உனை நினைத்து நைந்து உருகும் அன்பு இலி எனக்கு உன் அன்பினை அருளாது ஆண்டு எனை அழித்திடல் அழகோ? அன்பினில் விளையும் இன்பமே, அன்பர் அகத்தினில் ஊறும் ஆர் அமுதே, என் புகலிட? நின் இட்டம் என் இட்டம்; இன்பு அது எற்கு, என் உயிர் இறையே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): aṉbu uru aruṇācala, aṙaṉ meṙuhāy ahattu uṉai niṉaittu naindu uruhum aṉbu ili eṉakku uṉ aṉbiṉai aruḷādu āṇḍu eṉai aṙittiḍal aṙahō? aṉbiṉil viḷaiyum iṉbamē, aṉbar ahattiṉil ūṟum ār amudē, eṉ puhaliḍa? niṉ iṭṭam eṉ iṭṭam; iṉbu adu eṟku, eṉ uyir iṟaiyē. English translation: Arunachala, the form of love, [after] taking possession [of me] does it befit [you] to ruin me [by] not granting your love [love for you] to me, who do not have love in which one melts, softening like wax in fire thinking of you in [one’s] heart? O happiness born [ripened or grown] in love, O satiating [or enduring] ambrosia, which wells up in the heart of devotees, what to say? Your iṣṭam [will, wish, desire or liking] is my iṣṭam; that is happiness for me, Lord of my soul [or life]. While discussing the meaning of this verse, Michael explained each sentence of it: அன்பு உரு அருணாசல, அழன் மெழுகாய் அகத்து உனை நினைத்து நைந்து உருகும் அன்பு இலி எனக்கு உன் அன்பினை அருளாது ஆண்டு எனை அழித்திடல் அழகோ? aṉbu uru aruṇācala, aṙaṉ meṙuhāy ahattu uṉai niṉaittu naindu uruhum aṉbu ili eṉakku uṉ aṉbiṉai aruḷādu āṇḍu eṉai aṙittiḍal aṙahō? Arunachala, the form of love, [after] taking possession [of me] does it befit [you] to ruin me [by] not granting your love [love for you] to me, who do not have love in which one melts, softening like wax in fire thinking of you in [one’s] heart? அன்பினில் விளையும் இன்பமே, அன்பர் அகத்தினில் ஊறும் ஆர் அமுதே, என் புகலிட? aṉbiṉil viḷaiyum iṉbamē, aṉbar ahattiṉil ūṟum ār amudē, eṉ puhaliḍa? O happiness born [ripened or grown] in love, O satiating [or enduring] ambrosia, which wells up in the heart of devotees, what to say? நின் இட்டம் என் இட்டம்; niṉ iṭṭam eṉ iṭṭam; Your iṣṭam [will, wish, desire or liking] is my iṣṭam; இன்பு அது எற்கு, என் உயிர் இறையே. iṉbu adu eṟku, eṉ uyir iṟaiyē. that is happiness for me, Lord of my soul [or life]. Other credits: Extro Song: Lakshmi, Houston Extro Music: Pond5 Editing/Video: Kumar Saran, Houston - Produced by Sri Ramana Center of Houston ----more---- 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 verse 14
May 9 2024
Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham verse 14
In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 4th May 2024, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verse 14. The following is Michael's translation of this verse: வினையும் விபத்தி வியோகமஞ் ஞான மினையவையார்க் கென்றாய்ந் திடலே — வினைபத்தி யோகமுணர் வாய்ந்திடநா னின்றியவை யென்றுமிறா னாகமன லேயுண்மை யாம்.   viṉaiyum vibhatti viyōgamañ ñāṉa miṉaiyavaiyārk keṉḏṟāyn diḍalē — viṉaibhatti yōgamuṇar vāyndiḍanā ṉiṉḏṟiyavai yeṉḏṟumiṟā ṉāhamaṉa lēyuṇmai yām.   பதச்சேதம்: வினையும், விபத்தி, வியோகம், அஞ்ஞானம் இணையவை யார்க்கு என்று ஆய்ந்திடலே வினை, பத்தி, யோகம், உணர்வு. ஆய்ந்திட, ‘நான்’ இன்றி அவை என்றும் இல். தானாக மனலே உண்மை ஆம்.   Padacchēdam (word-separation): viṉai-y-um, vibhatti, viyōgam, aññāṉam iṉaiyavai yārkku eṉḏṟu āyndiḍal-ē viṉai, bhatti, yōgam, uṇarvu. āyndiḍa, ‘nāṉ’ iṉḏṟi avai eṉḏṟum il. tāṉ-āha maṉal-ē uṇmai ām.   English translation: Investigating for whom are suchlike, karma, vibhakti, viyōga and ajñāna, is itself karma, bhakti, yōga and jñāna. When one investigates, without ‘I’ they never exist. Only being permanently as oneself is what is true.   Explanatory paraphrase: Investigating for whom [or to whom] are those [defects] such as karma [action], vibhakti [lack of devotion], viyōga [separation] and ajñāna [ignorance], is itself [or alone] [what will fulfil the purpose and aims of each of the paths of] karma [desireless action or niṣkāmya karma], bhakti [devotion or love], yōga [joining, yoking or harnessing, particularly in the sense of yoking the mind to the object or target of its meditation or to any spiritual practice, and in this context referring to practices whose aim is to bring about ‘cessation of mental activity’ (citta-vṛtti nirōdhaḥ)] and jñāna [knowledge or awareness in the sense of true self-knowledge, which is awareness of oneself as one actually is]. When one investigates [oneself keenly enough], [the ‘I’ for whom karma, vibhakti, viyōga and ajñāna seem to exist, namely ego, will cease to exist, and] without [that] ‘I’ they [namely karma, vibhakti, viyōga and ajñāna] never exist. Only being permanently as oneself [one’s own real nature, namely pure awareness] is what is true [or real]. ----more---- 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 verse 13
Apr 9 2024
Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham verse 13
In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 6th April 2024, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verse 13. The following is Michael's translation of this verse: தானந் தவம்வேள்வி தன்மம்யோ கம்பத்தி வானம் பொருள்சாந்தி வாய் மையருள் — மோனநிலை சாகாமற் சாவறிவு சார்துறவு வீடின்பந் தேகான்ம பாவமற றேர்.   dāṉan tavamvēḷvi dhaṉmamyō gambhatti vāṉam poruḷśānti vāymaiyaruḷ — mōṉanilai sāhāmaṟ sāvaṟivu sārtuṟavu vīḍiṉban dēhāṉma bhāvamaṟa ṟēr.   பதச்சேதம்: தானம், தவம், வேள்வி, தன்மம், யோகம், பத்தி, வானம், பொருள், சாந்தி, வாய்மை, அருள், மோனம், நிலை, சாகாமல் சாவு, அறிவு, சார் துறவு, வீடு, இன்பம் தேகான்ம பாவம் அறல். தேர்.   Padacchēdam (word-separation): dāṉam, tavam, vēḷvi, dhaṉmam, yōgam, bhatti, vāṉam, poruḷ, śānti, vāymai, aruḷ, mōṉam, nilai, sāhāmal sāvu, aṟivu, sār tuṟavu, vīḍu, iṉbam dēhāṉma-bhāvam aṟal. tēr.   அன்வயம்: தேகான்ம பாவம் அறல் தானம், தவம், வேள்வி, தன்மம், யோகம், பத்தி, வானம், பொருள், சாந்தி, வாய்மை, அருள், மோனம், நிலை, சாகாமல் சாவு, அறிவு, சார் துறவு, வீடு, இன்பம். தேர்.   Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): dēhāṉma-bhāvam aṟal dāṉam, tavam, vēḷvi, dhaṉmam, yōgam, bhatti, vāṉam, poruḷ, śānti, vāymai, aruḷ, mōṉam, nilai, sāhāmal sāvu, aṟivu, sār tuṟavu, vīḍu, iṉbam. tēr.   English translation: The condition ‘the body is myself’ being severed is giving, austerity, sacrifice, righteousness, yōga, devotion, space, substance, peace, truth, grace, silence, firmness, death without dying, knowledge, accomplished renunciation, liberation and happiness. Know. Explanatory paraphrase: Know [understand or consider] that dēhātma-bhāva [the body-self-condition or body-self-conviction, namely ego, the false awareness ‘this body is myself’] being severed [ceasing or perishing] is dāna [giving or charity], tavam [tapas, burning, heat, fire, austerity or asceticism], vēḷvi [yāga, yajña, offering, sacrifice, sacrificial fire or worship], dharma [righteousness], yōga [joining, yoking or union, particularly in the sense of yoking the mind to the object or target of its meditation or to any spiritual practice], bhakti [devotion or love], vāṉam [space or sky, implying either the space of pure awareness or heaven], poruḷ [substance or vastu, in the sense of either the one real substance, namely pure being, or wealth], śānti [pacification, peace, tranquillity, calmness or quiet], vāymai [truth or truthfulness], aruḷ [divine grace, kindness, tenderness, affection, love, solicitude, compassion, benevolence, pity, mercy or blessing], mauna [silence, namely the silence of pure being], nilai [standing, fixedness, firmness, stability, permanence or niṣṭhā], sāhāmal sāvu [death without dying], aṟivu [knowledge, awareness, understanding, wisdom or jñāna], sār tuṟavu [accomplished renunciation], vīḍu [mukti, liberation, release, leaving, letting go] and iṉbam [happiness or bliss]. 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 verse 12
Mar 4 2024
Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham verse 12
In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 2nd March 2024, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verse 12. The following is Michael's translation of this verse: இழிவுடல்யா னென்ன லிகந்திடுக வென்று மொழிவிலின் பாந்தன்னை யோர்க — வழியு முடலோம்ப லோடுதனை யோரவுனல் யாறு கடக்கக் கராப்புணைகொண் டற்று.   iṙivuḍalyā ṉeṉṉa lihandiḍuga veṉḏṟu moṙiviliṉ bāndaṉṉai yōrga — vaṙiyu muḍalōmba lōḍudaṉai yōravuṉal yāṟu kaḍakkak karāppuṇaigoṇ ḍaṯṟu.   பதச்சேதம்: இழிவு உடல் ‘யான்’ என்னல் இகந்திடுக. என்றும் ஒழிவு இல் இன்பு ஆம் தன்னை ஓர்க. அழியும் உடல் ஓம்பல் ஓடு தனை ஓர உனல் யாறு கடக்க கரா புணை கொண்டு அற்று.   Padacchēdam (word-separation): iṙivu uḍal ‘yāṉ’ eṉṉal ihandiḍuga. eṉḏṟum oṙivu il iṉbu ām taṉṉai ōrga. aṙiyum uḍal ōmbal ōḍu taṉai ōra uṉal yāṟu kaḍakka karā puṇai koṇḍu aṯṟu.   English translation: Cease considering the wretched body ‘I’. Investigate yourself, who are ever-unceasing happiness. Together with cherishing the perishable body, thinking to investigate oneself is like grasping a crocodile, a raft to cross a river.   Explanatory paraphrase: Cease considering the wretched [base or despicable] body [to be] ‘I’. Investigate [or know] yourself, who are ever-unceasing [or imperishable] happiness [or bliss]. Together with [along with or while] cherishing the perishable body, thinking [or intending] to investigate [or know] oneself is like grasping a crocodile [as] a raft to cross a river. 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.
Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪 verse 4 (continued)
Feb 18 2024
Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪 verse 4 (continued)
In a Zoom meeting with Ramana Kendra, Delhi, on 11th February 2024, Michael James continues the discussion of the meaning and implications of verse 4 of Āṉ𝘮𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘪. The link to this verse is: https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2023/11/anma-viddai-verse-4-self-investigation.html கன்மா திகட்டவிழ சென்மா திநட்டமெழ வெம்மார்க் கமதனினு மிம்மார்க் கமிக்கெளிது சொன்மா னததனுவின் கன்மா திசிறிதின்றிச் சும்மா வமர்ந்திருக்க வம்மா வகத்திலான்ம —    சோதியே; நிதானு பூதியே; இராது பீதியே;       இன்பவம் போதியே.      (ஐயே) English translation: For the bonds beginning with action to be untied, to rise from the devastation beginning with birth, more than whatever path, this path is what is exceedingly easy. When one just is, resting without the least action of mind, speech or body, ah, in the heart the light of oneself alone. The eternal experience. Fear does not exist. The ocean of bliss alone. (Ah, extremely easy, ...) Explanatory paraphrase: For the bonds beginning with karma [that is, the bonds of action and of all that results from it] to be untied, and to rise [or be resurrected] from the devastation beginning with birth [that is, to transcend and become free from the miseries of embodied existence, which begins with birth and ends with death], more than whatever [other] path, this path [of ātma-vicāra] is what is exceedingly easy. When one just is, resting [calmly as pure awareness] without the least karma [action] of mind, speech or body, ah, in [one’s] heart the light of oneself alone [will shine forth clearly as ‘I am I’]. [Having thereby drowned and lost oneself (namely ego) forever in this perfectly peaceful and infinitely clear state of pure awareness, it will be clear that this is one’s] eternal experience. Fear does not [or will not] exist. The ocean of [infinite] bliss alone [will remain]. ([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.
ātma-vicāra is attending to what is permanent, namely ‘I am’
Feb 11 2024
ātma-vicāra is attending to what is permanent, namely ‘I am’
In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 4th February 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. Some of the questions he answered were: 1. During my atma vichara practice I feel like I go through many days of serene calm, then my mind will suddenly grow agitated, latching onto this and that for days on end… Is this normal? Also during these periods of serenity wild things in the world (almost comical things they are so unexpected) will arise as though trying to pull me back… is this my mind manifesting tests, or opportunities for growth? 2. Michael, there is an author Michael Langford who has provided a unique means of turning within.  Michael, you have commented on this in a blogpost. Langford basically has the person shut his eyes and focus on their everyday, ordinary awareness.  If thoughts arise, one is to simply let them pass and try to notice awareness watching awareness. As I recall you commented positively on this approach.  Could you please expand on your thoughts regarding this approach.  Is this akin to comments by Sadhu Om in the Path of Sri Ramana where he uses the analogy of the reflected light from a broken shard of mirror in a dark room that leads one to the pervading light of the sun? 3. At the conclusion of answer 11 of Nan Yar is the following: Thus, when the mind stays in the Heart, the 'I' which is the source of all thoughts will go, and the Self which ever exists will shine. Whatever one does, one should do without the egoity "I". If one acts in that way, all will appear as of the nature of Siva (God). Isn’t the apparent ego the apparent doer? If there is no ego, is there also no doer? Who is the one acting in that case? 4. In the little 40 page "Manual", Nan Yar, Bhagavan, in verse 11, sets out in precisely the way of realising oneself. Some pundits have pronounced this as containing the ultimate guide for Self-enquiry. I find it amazing that there are libraries full of conversations and instructions which veer away from this central guide. That little manual, Nan Yar, states "The thought 'Who Am I' will destroy all other thoughts and like the stick used for stirring the burning pyre it will itself in the end get destroyed. Then there will arise Self-realisation”. I have been hooked onto verse 11 only, for many years. Is this narrow-mindedness? 5. Within the philosophical context of Advaita Vedanta the Ego is the dreamer, not the universal self. So when the ego is dreaming and then awakens, the dream characters were not real.  Advaita Vedanta argues that the Waking state is similar to the Dream state in that in both cases the (illusory) Ego was projecting itself into multiplicity in both.  This is where I get confused. The one Ego projects a dream world and a waking world by the power of Maya so how can each character in the projections of the one Ego experience their independent existence when, according to Advaita Vedanta all is One - ēkam ēva advitiyam? Or perhaps put another way:   You wrote in your amazing book Ramana Maharshi’s Forty Verses on What is: “So long as we are aware of any phenomena or forms other than ourself, we have risen and are standing as ego and we are thereby nourishing the ego. To make it subside back into its source, to starve the ego, we need to give up being aware of anything other than ourself and be aware of ourself alone.” Who is the “We” and “ourself? 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.