Guest guest Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 I dont quite understand this part. "Rama was not really blind; but to Rama, the jnani, the prior being of Sita in the hermitage, her disappearance, his consequent search for her as well as the actual presence of Parvati in the guise of Sita, were all equally unreal" Alton: If all was unreal then why did Rama, the jnani call out wailing for the missing Sita? Would you say he liked to play games? LOL. Is God playing games with us? Love, Alton -. RamanaMaharshi, "SAHAHJA QUEST" <leenalton@h...> wrote: > Snipped: > D: There was an anxious search for the photo, which, in the end, could not be found. How does Bhagavan view the mysterious disappearance of the photo just at the moment when it was wanted? > M: Suppose you dream that you are taking me to your distant country, Poland. You wake up and ask me, "I dreamt so and so. Did you also have some such dream or know in some other way that I was taking you to Poland? What significance will you attach to such an inquiry? > D: But, with regard to the missing photo, the whole incident took place in front of Sri Bhagavan. > M: The seeing of the photo, its disappearance, as well as your present inquiry, are all mere workings of mind. > There is a story in the Puranas which illustrates the point. When Sita was missing from the forest hermitage, Rama went about in search of her ,wailing, "O Sita, Sita!" It is said that Parvati and Parameshvara saw from above what was taking place in the forest. Parvati expressed her surprise to Shiva and said, "You praised Rama as the perfect being. See how he behaves and grieves at the loss of Sita!" Shiva replied, "If you are skeptical about Rama's perfection, then put him to the test yourself. Through your yoga-maya transform yourself into the likeness of Sita and appear before him." Parvati did so. She appeared before Rama in the very likeness of Sita, but to her astonishment Rama ignored her presence and went on as before, calling out, "O Sita, O Sita!" as if he were blind. > D: I am unable to grasp the moral of the story. > M: If Rama were really searching for the bodily presence of Sita, he would have recognized the person who was standing in front of him as the Sita he had lost. But no, the missing Sita was just as unreal as the Sita that appeared before his eyes. Rama was not really blind; but to Rama, the jnani, the prior being of Sita in the hermitage, her disappearance, his consequent search for her as well as the actual presence of Parvati in the guise of Sita, were all equally unreal. Do you now understand how the missing photo was viewed? > D: I cannot say it is all clear to me, Is the world that is seen, felt, and sensed by us in so many way something like a dream, and illusion? > M: There is no alternative for you but to accept the world as unreal, if you are seeking the Truth and the Truth alone. > D: Why so? > M: For the simple reason that unless you give up the idea that the world is real your mind will always be after it. If you take the appearance to be real you will never know the Real itself, although it is the Real alone that exists. This point is illustrated by the analogy of the snake and the rope. As long as you see the snake, you cannot see the rope as such. The non-existent snake becomes real to you, which the real rope seems wholly nonexistent as such. > > To be hopefully continued. > "The Spiritual Teachings of Ramana Maharshi..Shambala press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 Snipped: D: There was an anxious search for the photo, which, in the end, could not be found. How does Bhagavan view the mysterious disappearance of the photo just at the moment when it was wanted? M: Suppose you dream that you are taking me to your distant country, Poland. You wake up and ask me, "I dreamt so and so. Did you also have some such dream or know in some other way that I was taking you to Poland? What significance will you attach to such an inquiry? D: But, with regard to the missing photo, the whole incident took place in front of Sri Bhagavan. M: The seeing of the photo, its disappearance, as well as your present inquiry, are all mere workings of mind. There is a story in the Puranas which illustrates the point. When Sita was missing from the forest hermitage, Rama went about in search of her ,wailing, "O Sita, Sita!" It is said that Parvati and Parameshvara saw from above what was taking place in the forest. Parvati expressed her surprise to Shiva and said, "You praised Rama as the perfect being. See how he behaves and grieves at the loss of Sita!" Shiva replied, "If you are skeptical about Rama's perfection, then put him to the test yourself. Through your yoga-maya transform yourself into the likeness of Sita and appear before him." Parvati did so. She appeared before Rama in the very likeness of Sita, but to her astonishment Rama ignored her presence and went on as before, calling out, "O Sita, O Sita!" as if he were blind. D: I am unable to grasp the moral of the story. M: If Rama were really searching for the bodily presence of Sita, he would have recognized the person who was standing in front of him as the Sita he had lost. But no, the missing Sita was just as unreal as the Sita that appeared before his eyes. Rama was not really blind; but to Rama, the jnani, the prior being of Sita in the hermitage, her disappearance, his consequent search for her as well as the actual presence of Parvati in the guise of Sita, were all equally unreal. Do you now understand how the missing photo was viewed? D: I cannot say it is all clear to me, Is the world that is seen, felt, and sensed by us in so many way something like a dream, and illusion? M: There is no alternative for you but to accept the world as unreal, if you are seeking the Truth and the Truth alone. D: Why so? M: For the simple reason that unless you give up the idea that the world is real your mind will always be after it. If you take the appearance to be real you will never know the Real itself, although it is the Real alone that exists. This point is illustrated by the analogy of the snake and the rope. As long as you see the snake, you cannot see the rope as such. The non-existent snake becomes real to you, which the real rope seems wholly nonexistent as such. To be hopefully continued. "The Spiritual Teachings of Ramana Maharshi..Shambala press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 A new entrant's (to this group) understanding given below (though familiar with Bhagavan's teachings, the new entrant isn't Truth yet) Even a gnyani perceives physical and emotional feelings, when embodied like other non-gnyanis. The Supreme Self (whose manifestation is the individual soul with a body named Rama ) does not wail. It is the body/mind/intellect embodied concept which is named Rama (by the world) that wails according to natural reasons (of loss of a relationship). But the gnyani (that is the Supreme Soul behind the garb of the body/soul called Rama) neither knows of Sita nor wails at the loss of her; It or Him or Her simply observes. Reminded of another instance from Bhagavan's embodied presence in this world. The same Bhagavan who, at death bed, said 'Where am I going? Do you think Bhagavan is this body? I am here and I will always be here' turned around, many years before, to look at Humphreys when the latter stopped fanning him for a bit. Humphreys was fanning Bhagavan and suddenly thought of something and stopped fanning. Bhagavan turned and looked into Humphrey's eyes. For a few seconds or so both looked at each other and nothing was said. Then both laughed heartily. So, even a gnyani in embodied form had bodily (physical) feeling. But the same Bhagavan's terrible disease in the last months/weeks did not seem to have pained the body that much or if it did, the body/mind/intellect combination did not show it much. As you may think by now, it is confusing indeed; this new entrant thinks this concept (or non-concept) can never be explained with words; words are nothing but an instrument to express human feelings/thoughts. The concept of Supreme Being in embodied form has to be felt personally and realized intuitively and directly. love, RamanaMaharshi, "Alton Slater <leenalton@h...>" <leenalton@h...> wrote: > I dont quite understand this part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 If, in the space of the mind, the body dissolves into pure love and light, the personal self and its boundaries are no more. One is just the space, pure spirit. Others see a body and relate to that, but the jnani just experiences the purest radiance of a transparent world. There is no more differentiation, which is of the mind. Prior to the mind, all is one in the heart, at the Source. The radiance of the Self has dissolved the world. The pure light of the heart shines up through the impuities in the mind, which creates objects/the world dream. A pure mind allows the pure radiance of the Self to shine unbounded. Ramana said that if one believes the world to be real, the mind will always be after it, and will never turn inward to get absorbed by the heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 Dear New entrant: You may be new but you exhibit old wisdom. Thanks for your explanation. Love to who ever you are, Alton RamanaMaharshi, "manof678 <manof678>" <manof678> wrote: > A new entrant's (to this group) understanding given below (though > familiar with Bhagavan's teachings, the new entrant isn't Truth yet) > > Even a gnyani perceives physical and emotional feelings, when > embodied like other non-gnyanis. The Supreme Self (whose > manifestation is the individual soul with a body named Rama ) does > not wail. It is the body/mind/intellect embodied concept which is > named Rama (by the world) that wails according to natural reasons (of > loss of a relationship). But the gnyani (that is the Supreme Soul > behind the garb of the body/soul called Rama) neither knows of Sita > nor wails at the loss of her; It or Him or Her simply observes. > > Reminded of another instance from Bhagavan's embodied presence in > this world. The same Bhagavan who, at death bed, said 'Where am I > going? Do you think Bhagavan is this body? I am here and I will > always be here' turned around, many years before, to look at > Humphreys when the latter stopped fanning him for a bit. Humphreys > was fanning Bhagavan and suddenly thought of something and stopped > fanning. Bhagavan turned and looked into Humphrey's eyes. For a few > seconds or so both looked at each other and nothing was said. Then > both laughed heartily. So, even a gnyani in embodied form had bodily > (physical) feeling. But the same Bhagavan's terrible disease in the > last months/weeks did not seem to have pained the body that much or > if it did, the body/mind/intellect combination did not show it much. > > As you may think by now, it is confusing indeed; this new entrant > thinks this concept (or non-concept) can never be explained with > words; words are nothing but an instrument to express human > feelings/thoughts. The concept of Supreme Being in embodied form has > to be felt personally and realized intuitively and directly. > > love, > > RamanaMaharshi, "Alton Slater > <leenalton@h...>" <leenalton@h...> wrote: > > I dont quite understand this part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 om namo bhagavate sri ramanaya Dear Alton, > I dont quite understand this part. > "Rama was not really blind; but to Rama, the jnani, the prior being > of Sita in the hermitage, her disappearance, his consequent search > for her as well as the actual presence of Parvati in the guise of > Sita, were all equally unreal. In Talks (218) Siva also says: 'Rama is simply acting as a human being would under the circumstances. He is nevertheless the incarnation of Vishnu and deserves to be saluted.' The episode is ended with the following comment from Rama: 'We are all only aspects of Siva, worshipping Him at sight and remembering Him out of sight.' Ever Yours in Sri Bhagavan, Miles --------- > > Alton: If all was unreal then why did Rama, the jnani call out > wailing for the missing Sita? > Would you say he liked to play games? LOL. Is God playing games with > us? > > Love, > Alton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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