Guest guest Posted October 8, 2001 Report Share Posted October 8, 2001 Hi, I suppose it's a wonderful thing to have Ken Wilber write the forward to the new edition of "Talks" because he is a very popular author and his name will encourage some new readers to investigate Bhagavan's words for the first time. But I can't help wondering how carefully Ken Wilber has read this book for which he writes the forward. He writes: > One of the many astonishing things about these Talks is how > remarkably unwavering is the tone and style , the voice itself - > not in the sense that it is fixed and rigid , but rather that it speaks > with a full-blown maturity from the first word to the last . > > It is as if - no, it is certainly the case that - Ramana's realization > came to him fully formed - or perhaps we should say , fully formless - > and therefore it needed no further growth. This would make sense if the earliest talk in the book was recorded when Bhagavan was young and the last when he was old, but in fact, all the talks were recorded during a four year period starting when Bhagavan was 55 years old (counting him as zero when he was born, American style -- I think it's figured differently in India). He had already been self-realized for almost 39 years when the first talk was recorded. Why should Ken Wilber be surprised that Bhagavan's understanding was mature at that point in his life? Why would it change? In a larger sense though I think Ken Wilber's point is true. Bhagavan's earliest written works, "Who Am I?" and "Self-Enquiry," seem to contain exactly the same teachings as the ones in "Talks" which were given more than 30 years later. Does anybody know of any differences? Rob - "viorica weissman" <viorica "RamanaMaharshi" <RamanaMaharshi> Cc: "MillionPaths" <MillionPaths> Monday, October 08, 2001 3:50 AM [RamanaMaharshi] The Sage of the Century - 1 > THE SAGE OF THE CENTURY > > from : 'Talks with Ramana Maharshi' > InnerDirections Publishing, 2000 > * Forward by Ken Wilber * > > > I am often asked , "If you were stranded on a desert island and > had only one book, what would it be ? " The book you are now > holding in your hands - Talks with Ramana Maharshi - is one of > the two or three I always mention . And Talks tops the list in this > regard : it is the living voice of the greatest sage of the twentieth > century and , arguably , the greatest spiritual realization of this or > any time. > > One of the many astonishing things about these Talks is how > remarkably unwavering is the tone and style , the voice itself - > not in the sense that it is fixed and rigid , but rather that it speaks > with a full-blown maturity from the first word to the last . > > It is as if - no, it is certainly the case that - Ramana's realization > came to him fully formed - or perhaps we should say , fully formless - > and therefore it needed no further growth. > > He simply speaks from and as the absolute , the Self , the purest Emptiness > that is the goal and ground of the entire manifest world , and yet is not other > to that world. > > - to be continued - > > > > Post message: RamanaMaharshi > Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi- > Un: RamanaMaharshi- > List owner: RamanaMaharshi-owner > > Shortcut URL to this page: > /community/RamanaMaharshi > > Your use of is subject to > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2001 Report Share Posted October 8, 2001 viorica weissman [viorica] THE SAGE OF THE CENTURY from : 'Talks with Ramana Maharshi' InnerDirections Publishing, 2000 * Forward by Ken Wilber * I am often asked , "If you were stranded on a desert island and had only one book, what would it be ? " The book you are now holding in your hands - Talks with Ramana Maharshi - is one of the two or three I always mention . And Talks tops the list in this regard : it is the living voice of the greatest sage of the twentieth century and , arguably , the greatest spiritual realization of this or any time. ***************************************** Absolutely! "Talks with Ramana Maharshi" is the living force of the greatest Sage who ever lived. In the "Talks" Bhagavan Sri Ramana is seen in the natural setting of the Ashram, going about answering all comers without regard. The questions coming from any level are treated with respect, humor, courtesy, sometimes debate, occasionally a little sarcasm, and sometimes silence by Bhagavan. The recorder of the conversation, devotee Munagala S. Venkataramiah (later Ramanaanada Sarswati) thus became the instrument to pass on the blessings of Bhagavan to countless generations. Major Chadwick notes, "Thus we may be sure that we have the exact teaching of the master..." Sri Ramana approved all the notes of the conversations and thus the "Talks" have Bhagavan's seal of approval. The book captures the spirit of everyday Ashram life and the vibrancy of Bhagavan's presence comes fully alive. As Major Chadwick (Sadhu Arunachala) states in the Introduction and I fully agree, that reading the "Talks" itself is a sufficient Sadhana. It draws one within. There is absolutely no doubt that even a simple devotee with faith in Bhagavan can directly gain knowledge of the Heart that is the Self. This is Bhagavan's utterly overwhelming Grace which knows no time or space. As Sri Ramana said when his body was dying, "Where can I go? I am Here." Love to all Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2001 Report Share Posted October 8, 2001 > Why should Ken Wilber be surprised that > Bhagavan's understanding was mature at that point in his life? > Why would it change? > *Perhaps you should think of that statement in contrast to other teachers. Ken Wilber is extremely well read and the statement does make sense in comparison to other "Teachers" he has commented on. Case in point, Franklin Jones - Bubba Free John - Da Free John - Adi Da etc etc. This one has made a career parroting the teachings of Ramana Maharshi making grand pronouncements about being the avatar of the age.... and changing everything including his name around every year or two... Poly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2001 Report Share Posted October 9, 2001 Dear Poly, This is a good point. Ken Wilber may very well be comparing Bhagavan with people like Adi Da. And you're right, the contrast is striking. But even so, I still think Ken Wilber has misread the Talks book. It seems pretty clear to me that he mistakenly believes that it covers most of Bhagavan's adult life. Yours in Bhagavan, Rob - <liquidunknown <RamanaMaharshi> Tuesday, October 09, 2001 3:21 AM Re: [RamanaMaharshi] The Sage of the Century - 1 > > > Why should Ken Wilber be surprised that > > Bhagavan's understanding was mature at that point in his life? > > Why would it change? > > > > *Perhaps you should think of that statement in contrast to other teachers. > Ken Wilber is extremely well read and the statement does make sense in > comparison to other "Teachers" he has commented on. > > Case in point, > Franklin Jones - Bubba Free John - Da Free John - Adi Da etc etc. > This one has made a career parroting the teachings of Ramana Maharshi > making grand pronouncements about being the avatar of the age.... and changing > everything including his name around every year or two... > > Poly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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