Sorupa Saram, The Essence of One's Own True Nature

[Guest guest]

I received an email

from David Godman.

 

He has made some corrections

to the translation of

Sorupa Saram.

 

He just posted the new version

on his web site on November 11.

 

So, one of the quotes

I quoted just a few days ago

has changed.

 

You can read the new

version of Sorupa Saram

by clicking:

 

http://www.davidgodman.org/tamilt/Sorupa_Saram_new.pdf

 

Or you can click David's website:

 

http://www.davidgodman.org/

 

Then look upper left and click Sorupa Saram.

 

The English title for Sorupa Saram is:

 

"The Essence of One's Own True Nature"

 

It was composed around

the end of the sixteenth century

by Sorupananda, a distinguished Tamil saint and Guru.

 

Sri Ramana Maharshi sometimes refered to this work.

 

If you click the Sorupa Saram link above you will find

a very interesting and lengthy introduction.

 

I have compared the quotes I quoted previously

(12,13,26,60,67,76,81,92)and of these,

I think the only one that has been changed is #12.

 

Here is the new translation of #12:

 

Previously I only gave the answer on #12

and I paraphrased the first line

so I will do that again here:

 

The following are the names for the Self

given by the scriptures (Vedas):

 

Knowledge is 'I';

 

love is 'I';

 

perfect bliss is 'I';

 

being is 'I';

 

consciousness is 'I';

 

tranquility is 'I';

 

purity is 'I';

 

that which is unique

 

and beyond the scope of the Vedas is 'I';

 

pure consciousness, the source of all, is 'I'.

 

This represents quite a big change in that verse.

The previous translation was saying

an abundance of knowledge, an abundance of love, etc.

 

David gave the reason for the big change as follows:

 

"There is a particularly interesting revision of

verse twelve which you quoted. I had originally

taken a Tamil reading of the verse which lead to an

abundance of 'abundance' in the verse. It now seems

that Sorupananda was probably adding a Sanskrit

ending to his Tamil phrases, making them

declarations. It is the same ending that makes

Sivoham mean 'Siva am I' I have therefore rewritten

this verse completely. I enclose the current

version, which I hope is the last."

 

 

 

Take care,

 

with Love,

 

Michael L.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Michael L. and ALL,

 

This post is an excellent example of the problem with

translation. It emphasizes the fact that translation

of scriptures and translations of dialogues can never

be depended upon entirely. Fortunatly, we have access

to sadguru and therefore scriptures are not really

necessary except in early stages of devotional life.

 

Love,

 

michael

 

--- "Michael L." <uarelove wrote:

> I received an email

> from David Godman.

>

> He has made some corrections

> to the translation of

> Sorupa Saram.

>

> He just posted the new version

> on his web site on November 11.

>

> So, one of the quotes

> I quoted just a few days ago

> has changed.

>

> You can read the new

> version of Sorupa Saram

> by clicking:

>

>

http://www.davidgodman.org/tamilt/Sorupa_Saram_new.pdf

>

> Or you can click David's website:

>

> http://www.davidgodman.org/

>

> Then look upper left and click Sorupa Saram.

>

> The English title for Sorupa Saram is:

>

> "The Essence of One's Own True Nature"

>

> It was composed around

> the end of the sixteenth century

> by Sorupananda, a distinguished Tamil saint and

> Guru.

>

> Sri Ramana Maharshi sometimes refered to this work.

>

> If you click the Sorupa Saram link above you will

> find

> a very interesting and lengthy introduction.

>

> I have compared the quotes I quoted previously

> (12,13,26,60,67,76,81,92)and of these,

> I think the only one that has been changed is #12.

>

> Here is the new translation of #12:

>

> Previously I only gave the answer on #12

> and I paraphrased the first line

> so I will do that again here:

>

> The following are the names for the Self

> given by the scriptures (Vedas):

>

> Knowledge is 'I';

>

> love is 'I';

>

> perfect bliss is 'I';

>

> being is 'I';

>

> consciousness is 'I';

>

> tranquility is 'I';

>

> purity is 'I';

>

> that which is unique

>

> and beyond the scope of the Vedas is 'I';

>

> pure consciousness, the source of all, is 'I'.

>

> This represents quite a big change in that verse.

> The previous translation was saying

> an abundance of knowledge, an abundance of love,

> etc.

>

> David gave the reason for the big change as follows:

>

> "There is a particularly interesting revision of

> verse twelve which you quoted. I had originally

> taken a Tamil reading of the verse which lead to an

> abundance of 'abundance' in the verse. It now seems

> that Sorupananda was probably adding a Sanskrit

> ending to his Tamil phrases, making them

> declarations. It is the same ending that makes

> Sivoham mean 'Siva am I' I have therefore rewritten

> this verse completely. I enclose the current

> version, which I hope is the last."

>

>

>

> Take care,

>

> with Love,

>

> Michael L.

 

>

> Protect your identity with Mail AddressGuard

> http://antispam./whatsnewfree

>

 

 

 

 

Protect your identity with Mail AddressGuard

http://antispam./whatsnewfree

[Guest guest]

Quotes will come and go. What do these really mean (without knowing the

Self)?

 

Sri Ramana used to say that without Self-Realization, the advaitic

scriptures and the saying of sages cannot be fully appreciated understood.

 

With Self-Realization, they are not needed.

 

I was fortunate to come across Sri Ramana and understand the original

teachings. The original teachings are so simple. They require maturity

to grasp and faith in the Guru and sincerity of effort.

 

That is all.

 

All the experts. All the experts giving their expertise. Translating

this and that. Everyone has to be doing something.

 

Self-Realization is beyond language. Any language. Therefore it is

beyond translations of any type. It is beyond the mind and imagination

and thought.

 

It is simply one's own being.

 

Sri Ramana used to say that God is the First Person.

 

Sri Krishna has said, "I am in the Heart of all Being".

 

The teaching is simple. Look at the source of consciousness.

 

Love to all

Harsa

 

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