Maharshi's self-realization experience

August 7, 2001

Does anybody know if there's a description of

Ramana Maharshi's self-realization experience (when

he lay on the floor and pretended he was dying)

besides the one in the book "Self Realization" by

Narasimha Swami?

Thanks for any help.

August 7, 2001

Hi Rob,

there's a video called the Sage of Arunachala (i believe)

it's been many years since i've seen it. if you're interested, let me know

(i still have access to the person, who loaned it to me).

warmest regards,

jessica

-

"Rob Sacks" <editor

Tuesday, August 07, 2001 6:00 AM

[RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

> Does anybody know if there's a description of

> Ramana Maharshi's self-realization experience (when

> he lay on the floor and pretended he was dying)

> besides the one in the book "Self Realization" by

> Narasimha Swami?

>

> Thanks for any help.

>

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August 7, 2001

on namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

Dear Sri Rob,

The famous "death experience" is described in the book on "Bhagavan Ramana" by T

M P Mahadevan which is available on the web. The Ramansramam web-site will tell

you how to access it. The death experience is described in some detail in the

preface of the book " The collected works of Ramana Maharshi" by Sri Arthur

Osborne, a Sri Ramanasramam Publication.

Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

suri

Rob Sacks <editor wrote: Does anybody know if there's a

description of

Ramana Maharshi's self-realization experience (when

he lay on the floor and pretended he was dying)

besides the one in the book "Self Realization" by

Narasimha Swami?

Thanks for any help.

Post message: RamanaMaharshi

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August 7, 2001

Hi Jessica,

That's very kind of you. Thanks for offering.

Does the video tape have an interview with

somebody on that particular subject? If it

does, then I'll order a copy for myself.

Best regards,

Rob

-

"Jessica White" <ellam-ondre

Tuesday, August 07, 2001 5:01 PM

Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

> Hi Rob,

>

> there's a video called the Sage of Arunachala (i believe)

> it's been many years since i've seen it. if you're interested, let me know

> (i still have access to the person, who loaned it to me).

>

> warmest regards,

> jessica

>

> -

> "Rob Sacks" <editor

> <RamanaMaharshi>

> Tuesday, August 07, 2001 6:00 AM

> [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

>

> > Does anybody know if there's a description of

> > Ramana Maharshi's self-realization experience (when

> > he lay on the floor and pretended he was dying)

> > besides the one in the book "Self Realization" by

> > Narasimha Swami?

> >

> > Thanks for any help.

> >

> > Post message: RamanaMaharshi

> > Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi-

> > Un: RamanaMaharshi-

> > List owner: RamanaMaharshi-owner

> >

> > Shortcut URL to this page:

> > /community/RamanaMaharshi

> >

> > Your use of is subject to

> >

>

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>

August 7, 2001

Dear Sri Suri,

Thank you so much for this speedy answer

to the question. I am deeply appreciative.

Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

Rob

-

"suri suryanarayan" <suri_suryanarayan

Tuesday, August 07, 2001 11:22 PM

Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

>

> on namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

> Dear Sri Rob,

> The famous "death experience" is described in the book on "Bhagavan Ramana" by

T M P Mahadevan which is available on the web. The

Ramansramam web-site will tell you how to access it. The death experience is

described in some detail in the preface of the book "

The collected works of Ramana Maharshi" by Sri Arthur Osborne, a Sri

Ramanasramam Publication.

> Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

> suri

> Rob Sacks <editor wrote: Does anybody know if there's a

description of

> Ramana Maharshi's self-realization experience (when

> he lay on the floor and pretended he was dying)

> besides the one in the book "Self Realization" by

> Narasimha Swami?

>

> Thanks for any help.

>

> Post message: RamanaMaharshi

> Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi-

> Un: RamanaMaharshi-

> List owner: RamanaMaharshi-owner

>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/RamanaMaharshi

>

> For regular News updates go to News

>

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August 7, 2001

Dear Sri Suri,

I just followed up these two leads and

discovered that both accounts are taken from

Narasimha Swami's (Professor Mahadevan's

is slightly condensed while Arthur Osborne's

is verbatim).

Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

Rob

-

"suri suryanarayan" <suri_suryanarayan

Tuesday, August 07, 2001 11:22 PM

Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

>

> on namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

> Dear Sri Rob,

> The famous "death experience" is described in the book on "Bhagavan Ramana" by

T M P Mahadevan which is available on the web. The

Ramansramam web-site will tell you how to access it. The death experience is

described in some detail in the preface of the book "

The collected works of Ramana Maharshi" by Sri Arthur Osborne, a Sri

Ramanasramam Publication.

> Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

> suri

August 7, 2001

In case anyone else besides me is interested

in the question of Bhagavan's description of

his death experience, I'll post additional bits

and pieces as I find them.

Here is a paragraph from "Letters from Sri

Ramanasramam" by Suri Nagamma published

by Sri Ramanashramam.

"Bhagavan said, 'In the vision of death, though

all the senses were benumbed, the aham sphurana

(Self-awareness) was clearly evident, and so I

realized that it was that awareness that we call

"I", and not the body. This Self-awareness never

decays. It is unrelated to anything. It is Self-

luminous. Even if this body is burnt, it will not

be affected. Hence I realized on that very day

so clearly that *that* was "I".'

(From Letter 2 on page 3.)

August 7, 2001

Hi Rob,

there is no interview with anyone on that tape (or the other one/2nd video

for that matter). the experience is only mentioned in passing (showing

re-enactment). a lot of footage of the Maharshi at Arunachala.

i can call the local Vedanta bookstore (which carries both tapes and many

books about him) tomorrow and ask the nuns if they know of any such

interviews (not taken from Narasimha Swami's)

will let you know what i find out.

love,

jessica

-

"Rob Sacks" <editor

Tuesday, August 07, 2001 9:25 PM

Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

> Hi Jessica,

>

> That's very kind of you. Thanks for offering.

> Does the video tape have an interview with

> somebody on that particular subject? If it

> does, then I'll order a copy for myself.

>

> Best regards,

>

> Rob

>

August 8, 2001

There's another account of Bhagavan's

realization experience in "Maha Yoga"

by Who (K. Lakshmana Sarma) on

page 4.

August 8, 2001

Bhagavan is quoted a few times in the big

book, "Talks With Sri Ramana Maharshi,"

on the subject of his realization experience:

403. "In the incident mentioned in the book

'Self-Realization' that I became unconscious

and symptoms of death supervened, I was

all along aware. I could feel the action of the

physical heart stopped and equally the action

of the Heart-centre unimpaired. This state

lasted about a quarter of an hour."

(I don't understand the first sentence of this.

It's ungrammatical, which is unusual for this

well-edited book. I wonder if a line has

been omitted from my edition. Also, the

mistake in the book 'Self-Realization' which

Bhagavan seems to be correcting does not

occur in my copy of that book. Maybe it

was corrected in later editions due to this

very remark.)

408. "Again during the incident related in

the book 'Self-Realization' I had a very clear

vision and experience. All of a sudden a

light came from one side erasing the world

vision in its course until it spread all round

when the vision of the world was completely

cut out. I felt the muscular organ on the left

had stopped work; I could understand that

the body was like a corpse, that the circulation

of blood had stoped and the body became

blue and motionless. Vasudeva Sastri embraced

the body, wept over my death, but I could not

speak. All the time I was feeling that the Heart

centre on the right was working as well as ever.

This state continued 15 or 20 minutes. Then

suddenly something shot out from the right

to the left resembling a rocket bursting in air.

The blood circulation was resumed and normal

condition restored. I then asked Vasudeva

Sastri to move along with me and we reached our

residence."

August 8, 2001

om namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

namaste Sri Rob,

I am sorry I could not verify wheteher there was any thing new or additional in

the accounts given in the books cited by me, over that given by B V Narasimha

Swami in the book "Self Realization" as my copy of the latter is currently

borrowed by another devotee.

will send you mail if I do discover such a reference.

Yours in Sri Bhagavan

suri

Rob Sacks <editor wrote: Dear Sri Suri,

I just followed up these two leads and

discovered that both accounts are taken from

Narasimha Swami's (Professor Mahadevan's

is slightly condensed while Arthur Osborne's

is verbatim).

Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

Rob

-

"suri suryanarayan" <suri_suryanarayan

Tuesday, August 07, 2001 11:22 PM

Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

>

> on namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

> Dear Sri Rob,

> The famous "death experience" is described in the book on "Bhagavan Ramana" by

T M P Mahadevan which is available on the web. The

Ramansramam web-site will tell you how to access it. The death experience is

described in some detail in the preface of the book "

The collected works of Ramana Maharshi" by Sri Arthur Osborne, a Sri

Ramanasramam Publication.

> Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

> suri

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August 8, 2001

In Dr Mahadevan's book, Sri Ramana comments further on the 1912, VirUpAksha

death-experience (note: this is not the 1896 episode on the first floor of

His uncle's house):

"My usual current of awareness still continued in that state also. I was not

in the least afraid and felt no sickness at the condition of the body. I had

just sat down near the rock in my usual posture, closed my eyes and was not

leaning against the rock. The body, left without circulation or breathing,

still maintained that position. This state continued for some ten or fifteen

minutes. Then a shock passed suddenly through the body and circulation

revived with enormous force and breathing as well, while the body perspired

from every pore. The colour of life reappeared on the skin. I then opened my

eyes, got up and said; "Let's go." We reached VirUpAksha Cave without

further trouble. This was the only fit I had in which both circulation and

breathing stopped."

Dr T.M.P. Mahadevan adds:

We may note here that while in Madurai it all started with the fear of

death, there was no such fear now and that this time the circulation and

breathing actually stopped. Throughout, as in the Madurai experience,

awareness continued like the basic Sruti (musical note) without let or

hindrance.

Ever Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

Miles

August 9, 2001

Dear Sri Suri,

I hope I didn't give the impression that I

was criticizing the references you provided!

I was very grateful to you for the help and I

didn't mind looking at the books myself. I only

wanted to let you know what I found when I

followed up.

Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

Rob

-

"suri suryanarayan" <suri_suryanarayan

Wednesday, August 08, 2001 1:12 PM

Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

>

> om namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

> namaste Sri Rob,

> I am sorry I could not verify wheteher there was any thing new or additional

in the accounts given in the books cited by me, over

that given by B V Narasimha Swami in the book "Self Realization" as my copy of

the latter is currently borrowed by another devotee.

> will send you mail if I do discover such a reference.

> Yours in Sri Bhagavan

> suri

>

> Rob Sacks <editor wrote: Dear Sri Suri,

>

> I just followed up these two leads and

> discovered that both accounts are taken from

> Narasimha Swami's (Professor Mahadevan's

> is slightly condensed while Arthur Osborne's

> is verbatim).

>

> Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

>

> Rob

>

> -

> "suri suryanarayan" <suri_suryanarayan

> <RamanaMaharshi>

> Tuesday, August 07, 2001 11:22 PM

> Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

>

> >

> > on namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

> > Dear Sri Rob,

> > The famous "death experience" is described in the book on "Bhagavan Ramana"

by T M P Mahadevan which is available on the web.

The

> Ramansramam web-site will tell you how to access it. The death experience is

described in some detail in the preface of the book "

> The collected works of Ramana Maharshi" by Sri Arthur Osborne, a Sri

Ramanasramam Publication.

> > Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

> > suri

>

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August 9, 2001

om namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

Dear Sri Rob,

No. There was no indication of any criticism whatsoever in your mail. You were

just making a statement of fact. It so happened that my copy of the book on

"self realization" was borrowed. So it was not possible for me to verify, though

I had the desire to do so. This time I have an excuse!

All the same, I am given to making mistakes. Sometimes I explain it away by

attributing it all to work, shortage of time, fatigue etc. But often it is due,

merely to a lack of attentiveness. I do wish that I get pulled up for that.

Criticisms are welcome. May be by a personal mail, or as a common post as is

appropriate. Every message, every mail, every criticisam is His Grace.

Salutations to Bhagavan Sri Ramana, salutations to all his devotees,

salutations to all the votaries of the devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana,

salutations to all those who sing His praise and salutations to all who hear

them.

Here is a clipping from an earlier posting that sums up how I feel towards you

and every member of this group.

> "anbodun nAmangEL anabardamanbaruk

> kanbanA yidavaruL aruNAchalA" (in Tamil)

>

> arunAcala aksharamaNamAlai, verse number 104.

> (The Marital garland of letters)

>

> Translation of this verse from the book "The collected works of Ramana >

Maharshi - By Arthur Osborne is given below.

>

> "Let me the votary of the votaries of those who hear

> Thy name with love, Oh Arunachala!"

namaste sri Rob.

namo ramaNA!

suri

Rob Sacks <editor wrote:

Dear Sri Suri,

I hope I didn't give the impression that I

was criticizing the references you provided!

I was very grateful to you for the help and I

didn't mind looking at the books myself. I only

wanted to let you know what I found when I

followed up.

Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

Rob

-

"suri suryanarayan" <suri_suryanarayan

Wednesday, August 08, 2001 1:12 PM

Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

>

> om namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

> namaste Sri Rob,

> I am sorry I could not verify wheteher there was any thing new or additional

in the accounts given in the books cited by me, over

that given by B V Narasimha Swami in the book "Self Realization" as my copy of

the latter is currently borrowed by another devotee.

> will send you mail if I do discover such a reference.

> Yours in Sri Bhagavan

> suri

>

> Rob Sacks <editor wrote: Dear Sri Suri,

>

> I just followed up these two leads and

> discovered that both accounts are taken from

> Narasimha Swami's (Professor Mahadevan's

> is slightly condensed while Arthur Osborne's

> is verbatim).

>

> Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

>

> Rob

>

> -

> "suri suryanarayan" <suri_suryanarayan

> <RamanaMaharshi>

> Tuesday, August 07, 2001 11:22 PM

> Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Maharshi's self-realization experience

>

> >

> > on namo bhagavate SrI ramaNAya

> > Dear Sri Rob,

> > The famous "death experience" is described in the book on "Bhagavan Ramana"

by T M P Mahadevan which is available on the web.

The

> Ramansramam web-site will tell you how to access it. The death experience is

described in some detail in the preface of the book "

> The collected works of Ramana Maharshi" by Sri Arthur Osborne, a Sri

Ramanasramam Publication.

> > Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

> > suri

>

> Post message: RamanaMaharshi

> Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi-

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>

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>

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August 9, 2001

Thanks Miles. Just came back yesterday and caught up with the thread. I was

going to mention the same thing. The two experiences are not the same. The

one in 1896 was the beginning and the end. In 1912 incidence, there is no

fear or inquiry involved as the Sage of Arunachala was established in the

Self. He watched the whole physical process unfold and simply observed it.

Later when questioned, he described it.

Love to all

Harsha

Miles Wright [ramana.bhakta]

Wednesday, August 08, 2001 5:56 PM

RamanaMaharshi