Guest guest Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 As regards Satsanga, since we obviously take on the color of the company we keep, the ideal is to live with a Realized Sage; but if that is not possible, then we should choose our company in the best way we can, avoiding undesirable company. He never taught morals, and had no special abhorrence of sex. He once said in answer to a troubled disciple in my hearing,"it is better to do it than to be always thinking about it." This reminds one of the Gita, "Thoughts are acts in fancy." Always thinking of it is repeatedly doing it. He naturally expected Sadhus to lead a decent life and set an example to others. In any case we should practice moderation in all things, even in those that we consider good, and, strange though it may seem, a moderation in our Sadhana also is recommended. Overdoing of austerities and prolonged and unnaturally forced meditation may eventually lead to madness, unless we do such under proper guidance. A Sadhu's Reminiscenses on Ramana Maharshi By Sadhu Arunachala ==================================================================== > Only one who has reached that supra-individual state of Perfect Enlightenment can renounce 'individuality'. Those, however, who only suppress their sense-activities and natural functions of life, before they even have tried to make the right use of them, will not become saints but merely petrified. A saintliness, which is built merely on negative virtues, merely on avoidance and escape, may impress the crowd and may be taken as proof of self-control and spiritual strength; however, it will lead only to spiritual self-annihilation, but not to Enlightenment. It is the way of stagnation, of spiritual death. It is the liberation from suffering at the price of life and of the potential spark of Illumination within us... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 Thanks Joyce for sharing that quote (page 68 for those who are curious). It is one of my favorite because it captures the essential naturalness of Bhagavan. Glad to know that you have all those books. I only had the Talks and got all these a few years ago. Sadhu Arunachala (A.W. Chadwick - Major Chadwick) was from England and a genuine devotee of Sri Ramana. He was a keen observer of Bhagavan's outward personality, and knew Bhagavan's teachings intimately. With his great analytical mind, he noted with unfailing accuracy the environment of the Ashram as well as many of Sri Ramana's responses to people. He talked very openly with Bhagavan about his doubts. Major Chadwick had so adapted himself to the Ashram and the food and everything, I recall that Sri Ramana once commented to a devotee something like, "Oh Chadwick, he is one of us." And he was. Love to all Harsha _____ Lady Joyce [shaantih] Tuesday, October 12, 2004 9:54 PM Re: Spiritual Death As regards Satsanga, since we obviously take on the color of the company we keep, the ideal is to live with a Realized Sage; but if that is not possible, then we should choose our company in the best way we can, avoiding undesirable company. He never taught morals, and had no special abhorrence of sex. He once said in answer to a troubled disciple in my hearing,"it is better to do it than to be always thinking about it." This reminds one of the Gita, "Thoughts are acts in fancy." Always thinking of it is repeatedly doing it. He naturally expected Sadhus to lead a decent life and set an example to others. In any case we should practice moderation in all things, even in those that we consider good, and, strange though it may seem, a moderation in our Sadhana also is recommended. Overdoing of austerities and prolonged and unnaturally forced meditation may eventually lead to madness, unless we do such under proper guidance. A Sadhu's Reminiscenses on Ramana Maharshi By Sadhu Arunachala Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 True confessions here...I do not have all of those books :-) In fact, the only book I have is Upadesa Sara. I have little folders in my email inbox where I save quotes that I especially like on a given topic. This one was in Sangha. The credit for sharing it goes to Vicki (Viorica) She had posted it back in April on Million Paths. I was actually looking in my folders for other reasons and came across this, and thought it was apropos. Thanks Vicki and sorry I did not give credit where it was due :-( . Very often, Vicki gets the books and types out the passages and quotes herself, for which I am thankful. Jai Vicki!!! Jai the the WorldWideWeb!!! Love, Joyce - "Harsha" <> Tuesday, October 12, 2004 10:39 PM RE: Spiritual Death > > Thanks Joyce for sharing that quote (page 68 for those who are curious). It > is one of my favorite because it captures the essential naturalness of > Bhagavan. > > > > Glad to know that you have all those books. I only had the Talks and got all > these a few years ago. > > > > Sadhu Arunachala (A.W. Chadwick - Major Chadwick) was from England and a > genuine devotee of Sri Ramana. He was a keen observer of Bhagavan's outward > personality, and knew Bhagavan's teachings intimately. With his great > analytical mind, he noted with unfailing accuracy the environment of the > Ashram as well as many of Sri Ramana's responses to people. He talked very > openly with Bhagavan about his doubts. > > > > Major Chadwick had so adapted himself to the Ashram and the food and > everything, I recall that Sri Ramana once commented to a devotee something > like, "Oh Chadwick, he is one of us." And he was. > > > > Love to all > > Harsha > > _____ > > Lady Joyce [shaantih] > Tuesday, October 12, 2004 9:54 PM > > Re: Spiritual Death > > > > As regards Satsanga, since we obviously take on > the color of the company we keep, the ideal is to > live with a Realized Sage; but if that is not > possible, then we should choose our company in > the best way we can, avoiding undesirable company. > > He never taught morals, and had no special > abhorrence of sex. He once said in answer to > a troubled disciple in my hearing,"it is better > to do it than to be always thinking about it." > > This reminds one of the Gita, > "Thoughts are acts in fancy." > Always thinking of it is repeatedly doing it. > > He naturally expected Sadhus to lead a decent life > and set an example to others. In any case we should > practice moderation in all things, even in those > that we consider good, and, strange though it may > seem, a moderation in our Sadhana also is recommended. > Overdoing of austerities and prolonged and unnaturally > forced meditation may eventually lead to madness, > unless we do such under proper guidance. > > > A Sadhu's Reminiscenses on Ramana Maharshi > By Sadhu Arunachala > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 , "Lady Joyce" <shaantih@c...> wrote: ==================================================================== > > > Only one who has reached that supra-individual state of Perfect > Enlightenment can renounce 'individuality'. Those, however, who only > suppress their sense-activities and natural functions of life, before they > even have tried to make the right use of them, will not become saints but > merely petrified. A saintliness, which is built merely on negative virtues, > merely on avoidance and escape, may impress the crowd and may be taken as > proof of self-control and spiritual strength; however, it will lead only to > spiritual self-annihilation, but not to Enlightenment. It is the way of > stagnation, of spiritual death. It is the liberation from suffering at the > price of life and of the potential spark of Illumination within us... Namaste, This is one of the most misused quotes of Ramana, especially by sense indulgers. One must always take notice of the audience to whom he speaks etc. Here he is talking about Sadhus that suppress instead of 'rising above the desire', and not doing nishkarma karma. He is talking of some kind of egoistic puritanism, not surrender. I believe he also referred to a couple who abstained from sex but still had the desire. He intimated that this was not useful, for the desire is what has to be risen above not the act or thought. It is like when I first gave up eating meat out of respect for ahimsa and animals. I desired meat all the same and looked for look alike taste alike substitutes. However with meditation and sadhana I overcame the desire, it became a fried memory seed. One cannot meditate too much for true meditation is beyond time and space and there is no time. However in the life a Grihasta there has to be a limit due to time and responsibilities. In the end result pouring the oil of desire on the fire of desire usually builds a greater fire.........ONS...Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Antione, Thank you for posting this. This is a lovely reminder of how deeply embedded in the physical we are, and how our opportunities for enlightenment are offered within the realm of this embodiment. It reminds me of two things: this piece in the Tao Te Ching, here taken from the Stephen Mitchell translation: If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given. This is called the subtle perception of the way things are. And also of something Mahatma Gandhi said about renunciation--something along the lines that you can't ask renunciation of the hungry--one must first have the experience of satiety, fullness, having one's needs met. I have looked through my books but I can't find the quote, so I express it clumsily here. Thank you again for this post. Jill On Oct 11, 2004, at 8:25 PM, Antoine Carré wrote: > A text I like to read from time to time, > > From the Foundation of Tibetan Mysticism, According to the Esoteric > Teachings of the Great Mantra OM MANI PADME HUM, by Lama Anagarika > Govinda > > << To condemn life as evil, before having exhausted its possibilities > for a higher development, before having penetrated to an understanding > of its universal aspect, and before having realized the highest > qualities of consciousness in the attainment of enlightenment, the > noblest fruit and ultimate fulfillment of all existence, such an > attitude is not only presumptuous and unreasonable, but utterly > foolish. It can only be compared to the attitude of an ignorant man > who, after examining an unripe fruit, declares it uneatable and throws > it away, instead of giving it time to mature. > > Only one who has reached that supra-individual state of Perfect > Enlightenment can renounce 'individuality'. Those, however, who only > suppress their sense-activities and natural functions of life, before > they even have tried to make the right use of them, will not become > saints but merely petrified. A saintliness, which is built merely on > negative virtues, merely on avoidance and escape, may impress the > crowd and may be taken as proof of self-control and spiritual > strength; however, it will lead only to spiritual self-annihilation, > but not to Enlightenment. It is the way of stagnation, of spiritual > death. It is the liberation from suffering at the price of life and of > the potential spark of Illumination within us. > > The discovery of this spark is the beginning of the Bodhisattva- > Path, which achieves the liberation from suffering and from the > fetters of egohood not by a negation of life, but by service to our > fellow-beings, while striving towards Perfect Enlightenment. >> > > Antoine > "All spiritual teachings are only meant to make us retrace our steps > to our Original Source." > From The Essential teachings of Ramana Maharshi, A visual Journey. > http://www3.sympatico.ca/antoine.carre/maharshi.htm > > > > > > > > /join > > > > > > "Love itself is the actual form of God." > > Sri Ramana > > In "Letters from Sri Ramanasramam" by Suri Nagamma > > > > > Sponsor > > > <lrec_companion_043004.gif> > <l.gif> > > Links > > • > / > > • > > > • Terms of > Service. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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