New Member Introduction: Welcome to Sri Venkatraman

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

Let us welcome Sri Venkatraman, a new member to the list. We can look forward

to his active participation with this thoughtful insights.

 

warmest regards,

 

Advaitin List Moderators

 

============================

"venkat52" <venkat52

"advaitin Moderator" <advaitin-owner>

 

Namste and greetings to all members of the Advatin, an electronic discussion

group on Advaita Philosophy. I joined the group today and indeed deem it a

privilege to be admitted into its membership. A brief introduction about

myself.

 

My name is S. Venkatraman, am 49 years old, happily married and living in

Mumbai, India. I have one son who just commenced his college education in

Electronic engineering. I work as 'Controller of Accounts' in Mahindra and

Mahindra Ltd, which is a Rs 4500 crore (roughly One billion US $) company

engaged in Automotive and Tractor Industry.

 

I have always been a spiritual seeker in my life. But the seeking received

the much needed direction when I walked into Shanmukhananda hall in December

1985 on the 8th day of Swami Dayananda Saraswati's 9 day lecture series on

'Ten Essential Verses of Bhagwad Gita'. Since then I have attended almost

all the lectures the Swamiji gave in Mumbai. I have completed his 'Gita Home

study course' and have also read almost all his books. Off and on, I have

also attended classes conducted by his disciples. Though I have always

wanted to go to Swamiji's Gurukulam in Coimbatore, India so far it has not

been my good fortune to do so. I think I did not try hard enough.

 

Despite all this there was a void. I found that while all my Sadhana in the

form of reading of scriptures and attending of lectures, clearly described

for me the destination, it did not show me the way to it. It was in such a

state of mind that two years back I chanced upon the book 'The Monk and the

Philosopher' which is in fact a record of the discussions between a son who

was a scientist turned into a Buddhist monk and his father who was a French

Philosopher. I was amazed at the parallels between Buddhism and Advaita. In

Buddhism's structured regimen of meditation and simple and practical advice

on Five precepts (Abstain from stealing, drinking intoxicants, lying,

killing of any living creature and sexual misconduct) , I thought I had at

last found the way. I did the 10 day Vipassana meditation course in

Igatpuri, near Mumbai in June 2000 and have since then been regularly

meditating every day.

 

Meditation and the observance of the five precepts did a lot to me. I became

a much more calmer, peaceful and helpful human being than what I was before.

But what I wanted was not mere calmness but something much deeper. I can

never tell if I might have found 'It' had I continued my journey with

Buddhism. Because the jouney floundered against the rock of Buddhism's

doctrine of 'Anatta' - ie no Self or Atman. I thought I will make peace with

the doctrine by interpreting the doctrine as meaning 'no ego'. But the more

I read, the more I was convinced that the buddhists by this doctrine really

meant 'no Self or Atman'. This I simply could not accept. How can I mistake

the rope for a snake, without there even being a rope?

 

It was in such a state of confusion that I came upon Ramesh Balsekar's 'The

Advaita, the Buddha and the Unbroken whole'. I thought the book will solve

the conundrum for me. But it did not. It was a discussion between Balsekar

and a Buddhist monk. Unfortunately for reasons I cannot understand, the monk

did not defend Buddhism enough and simply accepted Balsekar's arguments. But

the book did something else. It brought me back to Advaita. Since begining

of November this year I have started attending on weekends Balsekar's daily

satsanghs in Mumbai. That took me to the path of Ramana and his method of

self-enquiry which I am trying to incorporate in my daily meditation

sessions.

 

This is my current state of evolution in the spiritual path. I look forward

to learning from each one of you and at appropriate times will share with

you

all whatever little I have myself picked on the way. Such of you who may

want to give me some specific advice based on the above introduction,

without disturbing the rest of the group members, may do so (if permitted by

the group's code) through my email address venkat52. Please

feel free to call me 'Venkat'.

 

Regards,

 

Venkat.