[NDS] ramana, kundalini expert?

September 4, 2003

Dear Karta,

It is as described. As an experienced person in these matters, you

already know that the body is a beautiful network of energy circuits

and patterns. These exist everywhere starting from the toes and going

up to the head.

>From Muladhara to Sahasarara goes the Sushmana. It can bypass centers

(Chakras) along the column or enliven them. This channel has back door

elevators and front door elevators which lead to the Sahasarara through

many routes. Visions and experiences of celestial regions occur through

these different doors. Reaching the top, again many option are open to

the Shakti and these are determined by latent tendencies or karma.

If by grace, the Shakti enters the most subtle nadi, more subtle

then Sushmana, then even the slight mental consciousness remaining, the

sense of I, the sense of identity, descends into the Spiritual Heart

and the mind is lost into the Heart, and there is only the Heart. It is

Here that the Observer and Observed and process of observing become

One.

Sri Ramana has said that the Heart thus is the center upon which all

centers depend for their existence. Sri Ramana often talked about the

Heart at many different levels and this included the physical. It all

depended on the nature of the question and where the questioner was at.

True Inquiry does not have to involve actual concentration or

meditation on the Heart. It is simply being clear awareness, keeping

the "I" in view by the "I". Sri Ramana has said that the Heart comes

into play automatically in the final stages. This is my experience as

well.

Love,

Harsha

mi_nok wrote:

dear Harsha,

please elaborate on this:

Hridaya described as 'the literal, actual, physical seat of the intuition

of the Self' has the meaning explained above. Perhaps the words 'physical seat'

may create some confusion

What it really means is that there is

a center of Pure Consciousness in the physical body. It is related to the

physical, but is not itself physical.

The word Hridaya is a composite of hrid and ayam - "centre, this". It is

the centre on the right, which we reach as a result of meditation. From

the Hridaya, consciousness arises to

the sahasrara through the sushumna and from there spreads out to all the

parts of the body through the several

'nadis'. Then alone we become conscious of the

objects around us. Man, due to the illusion that these have real existence,

experiences suffering, as he strays far away from his Self. The seat from

where all these arise and manifest is the Hridaya.

September 4, 2003

Dearest Gregji!,

It's always wonderful to hear from you! You must be busy these days.

Yes, Swami Sivananda always had this optimistic streak to him. He

could be tough though but was understanding when people made

mistakes. My favorite advice that he gives in his book is, "Plod on

like an ass!" Swami is not being derogatory. He's just saying "keep

going forward like a mule, even if life gives you many kicks".

Yes, Swami Sivananda was a remarkable person. Being a former

physician, he emphasized health issues. Whenever my father wrote to him

asking advice to help him along, he always had good suggestions on

which herbs, foods, and asanas to try. These were were very helpful.

Swamiji might have even given advice once on how to make powder for

brushing teeth because I remember my father crushing some charcoal

along with soda, salt, and some herbs and making this brownish powder.

Well we all brushed our teeth with it for a while and it was pretty

good. My father is 78 and still has most of his original teeth. Making

the powder was a lot of work, and eventually my father gave it up and

we went back to toothpaste.

I still like baking soda once in a while though.

Love to all

Harsha

Greg Goode wrote:

Hi Harsha-ji,

Thanks for your note on Swami Sivananda. He's always been one of my

favorites, irrepressibly upbeat. One of his greatest teachings is

his slogan:

"Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate,

Realize!"

This is the kernel of all the yogas boiled into 6 words.

--Greg

At 01:54 PM 9/4/2003 -0400, Harsha wrote:

Thanks

Sarojini,

Did you know Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh? You mentioned him. I read

all

or most of his books when I was young. My father used to correspond

with

him in the 1950s and 1960s and Swamiji always responded promptly

writing

beautiful letters and giving advice on health and spiritual matters.

There was no Internet in those days. It was all slow mail.

My father loves Swami Sivananda. Swami Sivananda was a physician before

he became a monk at the age of 37. He spent many years in meditation

and

penance and later attracted some brilliant students of yoga who became

well known in the west. Swami was very compassionate and dedicated his

life to serving others. He continued giving diet and medical advice and

established health clinics after he was a monk.

Love,

Harsha

Sarojini wrote:

Dear

Harsha:

Thank you so very much for your reply. That was so kind of

you. I went directly to your Site that you mentioned and have

allowed your gracious wisdom to flow gently over me. I hope others

will go there as well. It explains so well what Ramana was saying -

the three different concepts of "Heart', and the idea of Hridyam,

a"pure presence without edges". I just love

those 4 words! It puts so beautifully into words that which

actually can't be put into words.

I, too, have to go and teach soon but look forward with great

anticipation for more of your wise thoughts on this

issue.

Thank you once again.

Peace and Love Always,

Sarojini

-----

Original Message -----