Guest guest Posted March 2, 1999 Report Share Posted March 2, 1999 Dear Advaitins, I loved the story about the first visit to Sri Ramana Maharshi. It reminds me of a story you may have heard (bear with me if you have). It's about a British officer who went to see Sri Ramana in the early part of the century when Sri Ramana was living under a cliff overhang with about 80 disciples living around him. When the British officer came down from the cliff, having spent four or five hours in His presence, he said, "All I can tell is he isn't his body; his body is just an appendage and the power of God flows through him." At the close of the 20th century when reflecting back, is it correct to say Sri Ramana Maharshi would be considered the primary teacher of this century? (Surely it's so). best wishes, Kym At 07:39 AM 3/2/99 -0000, you wrote: > >Start a new hobby. Meet a new friend. > >Onelist: The leading provider of free email list services >------ >Discussion of the True Meaning of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy focusing on non-duality between mind and matter. List Archives available at: /viewarchive.cgi?listname=advaitin > > > >There are 13 messages in this issue. > >Topics in today's digest: > > 1. Re: Introduction > sadananda <sada > 2. Goodness > Jyothi Vijayakumar <nandini > 3. Re: Goodness > "jb" <kvy9 > 4. Re: Introduction > Madhava Kumar Turumella <madhava > 5. Kunju Swami > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar > 6. Re: Introduction - APOLOGIES > Madhava Kumar Turumella <madhava > 7. Professor and The Sage > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar > 8. Bon Voyage! > Ram Chandran <chandran > 9. Re: Bon Voyage! > "f. maiello" <egodust > 10. Re: Bon Voyage! > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar > 11. Re: Bon Voyage! > "jb" <kvy9 > 12. Re: [K-list] Professor and The Sage > "jb" <kvy9 > 13. Re: [NondualitySalon] Re: [K-list] Professor and The Sage > Harsha <hluthar > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 1 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 06:40:38 -0500 > sadananda <sada >Re: Introduction > >>Vishal Gupta <Vishal > >>But, nothing can beat the joy of realizing the concept of Advaita. And, I >>regard it as not the biggest >but the only achievement so far. And, thus >>would like to humbly introduce myself as Brahma only. > >Welcome to advaitinL Vishal Guptaji - As Brahman to whom are you going to >introduce yourself ! >ekameva advitiiyam brahma - One without a second is Brahman. >-------------- >A short leave from advaitin - My sabbatical plans to IIT, Madras has >finally came though. It looks like Lord has decided that it is safe now >for me to go. I will be taking leave of advaitinL for a while until I >establish an internet account in Madras. Although Shree Ram Chandran has >included my temporary email address k_sadananda , I may not >have access to internet till I settle down in Madras. > >I want to share my joy in recognizing the highly professional manner with >which this list serve has been operating from its inception under the >stewardship of Shree Ram Chandran. My hats off to him. I learned a lot >from the discussions with many members of the group. My pranaams to >everyone. I will be back soon. > >Hari Om! >Sadananda > > > >K. Sadananda >Code 6323 >Naval Research Laboratory >Washington D.C. 20375 >Voice (202)767-2117 >Fax:(202)767-2623 > > > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 2 > Sun, 28 Feb 1999 17:49:19 -0500 > Jyothi Vijayakumar <nandini >Goodness > >Namaste. > >This world was created in desire. (Sah akaamayat-Bahu syaam prajaayeya iti >). > >Desire prompts action. One who eschews action cannot even sustain life >(Shareera yaatraa api BG Ch 3-8). > >The ignorant engage in actions motivated by selfish desire ( Avidvaamsaah >sakthaah BG 3-25). > >Ignorant lead a vegetative life (Asooryaa naama te lokaah ..Aatmahano >Janaah.- Eeshaavaasya Upanishat ) > >Occasionally, one in a thousand yearns for liberation-from desire , from >the miseries of dualities >( Manushyaanaam sahasreshu ...BG 7-3) > >This person is a seeker of truth, the one who attempts to step beyond the >limitations ( Avidyayaa Mrtyum >Teertvaa Vidyayaa Amrutam Ashnute - Eeshaavaasya ). > >His yearning is an earnest one. He is called a Mumukshu . If this person >also has the other three >qualifications viz., a discerning intellect, dispassion and the six fold >discipline Shat sampatti , he is on his way to "Self- Realization". ( >Tattva bodha). > >Now how does this person conduct himself in this world? i.e. What is his >Sva-Dharma ? > >His vision is expanded. Because he is now guided by scriptural study and an >able teacher. His Ego-boundary now includes all beings ( Yah tu sarvaani >bhootaani aatmani sarva bhooteshu aatmaanam anupashyati - Eeshaavaasya ) . >( BG 6 29-31). > >His actions now are driven by a new found awareness ( Udaara charitaanaam >tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam ). > >One fine day , let us say his realization becomes 'Total'. > >One would expect that he has no actions to perform ( Tasya kaaryam na >vidyate BG 3-17). > >But he also continues to work "to keep the world together" ( Loka sangraha >artham BG 3 25 ). > >That is why great teachers like Shankara have defined Dharma as follows: >Jagatah sthiti kaaranam praaninaaam saakshaat abhyudaya nih shreyasa hetuh >yah sah Dharmah. > >A wise man -Jnaanee is capable of knowing what is good for this world ( >Jnaaninaa charitum shakyam samyak raajyaadi loukikam - Vidyaaranya ). > > Hence, others should follow a jnaani's lead and certainly "do good to this >world". It is only natural to follow the leader ( Yat yat aacharati >shreshtthah tat tat iva itaro janaah BG 3 21). > >Pranaams >Vijayakumar > > > > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 3 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 12:49:11 -0000 > "jb" <kvy9 >Re: Goodness > >> K Kathirasan ADM NCS <kathirasan >> >> >> > > > Namaste >> > > > >> > > > If I desire to attain moksha, then my sadhana can be considered evil >> > or >> > > > bad if accepted as stated above. ??? >> > > > >> > > > Regards. >> > > > >> > > > Om Shanti >> > > > Kathi >> > >> >The desire to attain moksha isn't a real desire, as moksha cannot >> be >> >attained. It is comparable to the desire to see for a blindfolded >> man. If he >> >removes the blindfold, he can see and the desire appears to have >> been based >> >on ignorance; if before removing the blindfold he bumps in to >> obstacles and >> >gets injured, this is due to his ignorance. Likewise, the desire >> for moksha >> >could propel one into foolish actions. >> >> >Jan >> >> >> Namaste >> >> What I was trying to say was that every action has a motive. Just >> like from the above example cited by Sri Jan-ji, the act of removing the >> blindfold itself has a motive. > >It need not be so; the blindfold can be removed by a branch of a shrub when >the bearer comes near to it (without seeing the shrub). >> >> I have more doubts with the above statement by Sri Jan-ji which is: >> "Likewise, the desire for moksha could propel one into foolish actions." >> Then, what is mumukshutvam? Isn't it necessary for one in order to know >> thyself. Please tell me. >> >> Om Shanti >> Kathi > >I agree with the dictum "know thyself"; one of the consequences of this >knowledge is to acknowledge the illusionary nature of desire without loosing >steadfastness of sadhana. > >Jan > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 4 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 16:38:10 +0300 > Madhava Kumar Turumella <madhava >Re: Introduction > >Dear Sadanandagaru, > >Hari Om! > >Just give me your address in Madras I am visiting Madras next month. I >am there for a week or so. I would like to meet you just to say Hari Om >in person. > >I wish you all the best during your sabbatical > >Regards, Madhava > > > >> >> sadananda [sMTP:sada] >> Monday, March 01, 1999 2:41 PM >> advaitin >> Re: Introduction >> >> sadananda <sada >> >> >Vishal Gupta <Vishal >> >> >But, nothing can beat the joy of realizing the concept of Advaita. >> And, I >> >regard it as not the biggest >but the only achievement so far. And, >> thus >> >would like to humbly introduce myself as Brahma only. >> >> Welcome to advaitinL Vishal Guptaji - As Brahman to whom are you going >> to >> introduce yourself ! >> ekameva advitiiyam brahma - One without a second is Brahman. >> -------------- >> A short leave from advaitin - My sabbatical plans to IIT, Madras has >> finally came though. It looks like Lord has decided that it is safe >> now >> for me to go. I will be taking leave of advaitinL for a while until I >> establish an internet account in Madras. Although Shree Ram Chandran >> has >> included my temporary email address k_sadananda , I may >> not >> have access to internet till I settle down in Madras. >> >> I want to share my joy in recognizing the highly professional manner >> with >> which this list serve has been operating from its inception under the >> stewardship of Shree Ram Chandran. My hats off to him. I learned a >> lot >> from the discussions with many members of the group. My pranaams to >> everyone. I will be back soon. >> >> Hari Om! >> Sadananda >> >> >> >> K. Sadananda >> Code 6323 >> Naval Research Laboratory >> Washington D.C. 20375 >> Voice (202)767-2117 >> Fax:(202)767-2623 >> >> >> >> >> ---- >> -- >> If you like orange and blue, then you will love our new web site! >> >> Onelist: Fostering connections and information exchange >> ---- >> -- >> Discussion of the True Meaning of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy >> focusing on non-duality between mind and matter. List Archives >> available at: /viewarchive.cgi?listname=advaitin >> > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 5 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 09:30:59 -0500 > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar >Kunju Swami > >Harsha: The following might be of interest to some. > >Kunju Swami, after he had glimpses of the Self in Ramana Maharshi's >presence, went home to his village. But after a while he came back >unsatisfied. Later he remembered. > >"I, however, asked Bhagavan why I could not get the experience when I >meditated in my house. Bhagavan said: "You have read Kaivalya Navaneeta, >have you not? Don't you remember what it says ?" And he took up the book >and read the relevant verses." > >"Sri Bhagavan then explained to me at great length the purport of these >verses. They relate to the doubt raised by the disciple about the need to >continue spiritual practices even after one has had the supreme experience. >The disciple wonders whether the spiritual experience once gained could be >lost. The Guru says that it would be until he took care to practice sravana, >manana and nididhyasana, that is hearing from the Guru the Truth, reflecting >over it and assimilating it. The experience would occur in the presence of >the Guru, but it would not last. Doubts would arise again and again and in >order to clear them the disciple should continue to study, think and >practice. These would be done until the distinction of the knower, the >object of knowledge and the act of knowing no longer arise. In the view of >Sri Bhagavan's explanation I decided to stay always by Bhagavan's side and >practise sravana, manana and nididhyasana. " > > > > > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 6 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 18:18:06 +0300 > Madhava Kumar Turumella <madhava >Re: Introduction - APOLOGIES > >My sincere apologies for sending a personal mail on Advaitin. > >> >> Madhava Kumar Turumella [sMTP:madhava] >> Monday, March 01, 1999 4:38 PM >> advaitin >> Re: Introduction >> >> Madhava Kumar Turumella <madhava >> >> > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 7 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 12:40:36 -0500 > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar >Professor and The Sage > >Professor N. R. Krishnamoorthy Aiyer 's first visit to Ramana Maharshi. It >is a very funny account. > >Harsha > > >Professor Krishnamoorthy Aiyer speaks in his old age: I am now ninety-two >years old and I first met the Maharshi in the summer of 1914. > >I had a question for the Maharshi. At that time I was an agnostic. I thought >nature could take care of itself, so where is the need for a Creator? What >is the use of writing all these religious books telling 'cock and bull' >stories, which do not change the situation. I wanted to put to him straight >questions: is there a soul? Is there a God? Is there salvation? All these >three questions were condensed into one: Well sir, you are sitting here like >this - I can see your present condition - but what will be your future >sthiti ? The word sthiti in Sanskrit means 'state' or 'condition'. > >The Maharshi did not answer the question. "Oho," I thought, "you are taking >shelter under the guise of indifferent silence for not answering an >inconvenient question!" As soon as I thought this the Maharshi replied and I >felt as if a bomb had exploded under my seat. > >"Sthiti, what do you mean by the word sthiti!" he exclaimed. >I was not prepared for that question. "Oho, this man is very dangerous, very >dangerously alive. I will have to answer with proper care," I thought. >So I said to myself, "If I ask him about the sthiti or 'state' of the body >it is useless: the body will be burned or buried. What I should ask him was >about the condition of something within the body. Of course, I can recognize >a mind inside of me." Then I was about to answer "By sthiti, I mean mind," >when it struck me what if he counter-questions with "What is mind?" This I >am not prepared to answer. >As all this was passing through my mind he was sitting there staring at me >with a fierce look. > >I then questioned within me, "What is mind? Mind is made up of thoughts. >Now, what are thoughts?" I landed in a void. No answer. I then realised that >I could not present a question about a mind which did not exist! > >Up to that point, the mind was the greatest thing that existed for me. Now I >discovered it did not exist! I was bewildered. I simply sat like a statue. >Two pairs of eyes were then gripping each other: the eyes of the Maharshi >and my eyes were locked together in a tight embrace. I lost all sense of >body. Nothing existed except the eyes of the Maharshi. > >I don't know how long I remained like that, but when I returned to my >senses, I was terribly afraid of the man. "This is a dangerous man," I >thought. In spite of myself, I prostrated and got away from his company. > > > > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 8 > Mon, 01 Mar 1999 13:50:13 -0500 > Ram Chandran <chandran >Bon Voyage! > >Hari Om Sadanandaji: > >Pranams. > >On behalf of the list members, let me wish you Bon Voyage. It is rather >difficult for me to describe your unselfish services to this list in >words. You have displayed the optimal combination of enthusiasm, >scholarship, humility and dedication. From the days of its inception >(August 1998), Advaitin List has been blessed with your active >participation and valuable contributions. Your stimulating discussions >are responsible for the spiritual atmosphere and for the maintenance of >professionalism. The members cherish your responses to questions >related to Shankara's Advaita Philosophy . Your positive mental >attitude and your compassion to the fellow members will always accompany >you wherever you go with happiness and pleasant memories. > >Regards, > >Ram Chandran >List Moderator > >Note: I am posting this mesage to the List for a very good reason. I >believe that the very existence of this list depends on unselfish >services from dedicated members. Sadaji has set up the standards for us >to follow his example! > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 9 > Mon, 01 Mar 1999 14:07:15 -0500 > "f. maiello" <egodust >Re: Bon Voyage! > >hariH OM! Sadaji, > >i would like to reiterate with my own >enthusiasm, what Ramaji has said. your >dedication, in of itself, is an inspiration >to us all. > >have a safe trip. > >shaanthiprem, >frank > >Ram Chandran wrote: >> >> Ram Chandran <chandran >> >> Hari Om Sadanandaji: >> >> Pranams. >> >> On behalf of the list members, let me wish you Bon Voyage. It is rather >> difficult for me to describe your unselfish services to this list in >> words. You have displayed the optimal combination of enthusiasm, >> scholarship, humility and dedication. From the days of its inception >> (August 1998), Advaitin List has been blessed with your active >> participation and valuable contributions. Your stimulating discussions >> are responsible for the spiritual atmosphere and for the maintenance of >> professionalism. The members cherish your responses to questions >> related to Shankara's Advaita Philosophy . Your positive mental >> attitude and your compassion to the fellow members will always accompany >> you wherever you go with happiness and pleasant memories. >> >> Regards, >> >> Ram Chandran >> List Moderator >> >> Note: I am posting this mesage to the List for a very good reason. I >> believe that the very existence of this list depends on unselfish >> services from dedicated members. Sadaji has set up the standards for us >> to follow his example! >> >> ------ >> If you like orange and blue, then you will love our new web site! >> >> Onelist: Fostering connections and information exchange >> ------ >> Discussion of the True Meaning of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy focusing on non-duality between mind and matter. List Archives available at: /viewarchive.cgi?listname=advaitin >> > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 10 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 14:50:19 -0500 > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar >Re: Bon Voyage! > >Let me join Ramji and Frankji and thank you Sadaji for your gentle, loving >and wise presence on this list. Ramji's post speaks of my heart as well. >Thank you for all the gifts. You are always with us. Join us soon from >Madras. > >Harsha > > > >. > > >Ram Chandran [chandran] >Monday, March 01, 1999 1:50 PM >Advaitin List > Bon Voyage! > >Ram Chandran <chandran > >Hari Om Sadanandaji: > >Pranams. > >On behalf of the list members, let me wish you Bon Voyage. It is rather >difficult for me to describe your unselfish services to this list in >words. You have displayed the optimal combination of enthusiasm, >scholarship, humility and dedication. From the days of its inception >(August 1998), Advaitin List has been blessed with your active >participation and valuable contributions. Your stimulating discussions >are responsible for the spiritual atmosphere and for the maintenance of >professionalism. The members cherish your responses to questions >related to Shankara's Advaita Philosophy . Your positive mental >attitude and your compassion to the fellow members will always accompany >you wherever you go with happiness and pleasant memories. > >Regards, > >Ram Chandran >List Moderator > >Note: I am posting this mesage to the List for a very good reason. I >believe that the very existence of this list depends on unselfish >services from dedicated members. Sadaji has set up the standards for us >to follow his example! > >------ >If you like orange and blue, then you will love our new web site! > >Onelist: Fostering connections and information exchange >------ >Discussion of the True Meaning of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy >focusing on non-duality between mind and matter. List Archives available at: >/viewarchive.cgi?listname=advaitin > > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 11 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 23:32:30 -0000 > "jb" <kvy9 >Re: Bon Voyage! > >Dear Sadananda, > >Although nothing can be added to what Ram already said, I enjoyed your clear >exposition of Advaita very much. Wishing you a good trip home and may we see >you back soon from Madras. > >Jan > >> Ram Chandran <chandran >> >> Hari Om Sadanandaji: >> >> Pranams. >> >> On behalf of the list members, let me wish you Bon Voyage. It is rather >> difficult for me to describe your unselfish services to this list in >> words. You have displayed the optimal combination of enthusiasm, >> scholarship, humility and dedication. From the days of its inception >> (August 1998), Advaitin List has been blessed with your active >> participation and valuable contributions. Your stimulating discussions >> are responsible for the spiritual atmosphere and for the maintenance of >> professionalism. The members cherish your responses to questions >> related to Shankara's Advaita Philosophy . Your positive mental >> attitude and your compassion to the fellow members will always accompany >> you wherever you go with happiness and pleasant memories. >> >> Regards, >> >> Ram Chandran >> List Moderator >> >> Note: I am posting this mesage to the List for a very good reason. I >> believe that the very existence of this list depends on unselfish >> services from dedicated members. Sadaji has set up the standards for us >> to follow his example! >> >> ------ >> If you like orange and blue, then you will love our new web site! >> >> Onelist: Fostering connections and information exchange >> ------ >> Discussion of the True Meaning of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta >> Philosophy focusing on non-duality between mind and matter. List >> Archives available at: >> /viewarchive.cgi?> listname=advaitin >> >> >> > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 12 > Mon, 1 Mar 1999 23:33:08 -0000 > "jb" <kvy9 >Re: [K-list] Professor and The Sage > >Harsha, > >This is a funny story indeed. Did professor Krishnamoorthy take the >consequences of the discovery that mind is absent when there are no >thoughts? > >> > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > >Message: 13 > Mon, 01 Mar 1999 18:55:16 -0500 > Harsha <hluthar >Re: [NondualitySalon] Re: [K-list] Professor and The Sage > >jb wrote: > >> "jb" <kvy9 >> >> Harsha, >> >> This is a funny story indeed. Did professor Krishnamoorthy take the >> consequences of the discovery that mind is absent when there are no >> thoughts? >> >> > > >Harsha: Yes, he did Jan. Eventually. But he waited to visit Ramana Maharshi >again for 20 years. The full story is given in the "Newsletters" in his own >words at the official Ramana Website. > > > > > >> ------ >> To from this mailing list, or to change your subscription >> to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at and >> select the Member Center link from the menu bar on the left. > > > > > >_________________________ ____ >_________________________ ____ > > > Chaffin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 1999 Report Share Posted March 2, 1999 At 08:05 AM 3/2/99 -0600, Chaffin wrote: >Chaffin <chaffin >At the close of the 20th century when reflecting back, is it correct to say >Sri Ramana Maharshi would be considered the primary teacher of this >century? (Surely it's so). Depends on what you mean by "primary." Popularity or importance? If in terms of overall popularity, then the Dalai Llama has probably reached more people. If in terms of importance, well that's a different matter altogether, wouldn't you say? --Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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