Guest guest Posted May 8, 2002 Report Share Posted May 8, 2002 Dear All, I had an idea about something that might be worthwhile for this group. We all participate due to our interest (and love) for Ramana Maharshi, and what he taught seekers from around the world. I thought posting, paragraph by paragraph some of what he actually wrote would be of interest. And in addition, I thought I might add come comments from the point of view of my actual inquiry practice (and what I have learned from Nome and Russ at SAT). I would invite others on this group to add their comments of their own understanding, or their questions. I want to invite us all into a deeper practice of inquiry. I want to review "Who am I?" since this was the basic information that Ramana wanted seekers to read when they came to see him. This material came from answers that Ramana wrote on slips of paper to questions, during his early days at Arunachala when he was not speaking. I have found that this kind of writing is best absorbed in small chunks, and that is how I will present it. The translation that I am using is the one from Osborn's "Collected works of Ramana Maharshi." WHO AM I? Every living being longs always to be happy, untainted by sorrow; and everyone has the greatest love for himself, which is solely dues to the fact that happiness is his real nature. Hence, in order to reside in that inherent and untainted happiness, which is indeed he daily experiences when the mind is subdued in deep sleep, it is essential that he should know himself. For obtaining such knowledge the enquiry, `Who am I?' in quest of Self is the best means. COMMENTS FROM A SEEKER: Where does happiness come from? If we believe that happiness comes from things outside ourselves, or from our activities or thoughts, then this is where we look. When we realize where happiness rally comes from, it intensifies our desire for liberation. The wise say that the desires of the mind cloud our happiness. So when we get something desired, then the mind is quiet for a time and we experience the happiness that we are. After a while, the mind becomes active again, and the happiness is again obscured by clouds. Ramana also uses, again and again, discussions of the "three states" (awakening, dreaming and deep sleep) to talk about who we are. Who we are must be there in all three states. He calls on the deep sleep state here, since during that state there is no mental activity, and this state is universally seen as one of "peaceful" sleep. Where does this sense of peace come from? If the mind is not active, then it cannot come from the mind. Where does this happiness come from? ************************************ We are Not two, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2002 Report Share Posted May 9, 2002 Dear Richard: What a terrific Idea. Also, may I repost these on MillionPaths group? To the group: I find with myself that my happiness, in the past, depended on how my body was feeling. When it is ill I have become either angry or depressed, so I spend a good part of the day making sure that it is in balance. I did notice recently when I got ill that the same old reactions were not present, so maybe my practice too is deepening. Aloha and thanks for any replies. I also read that scientists have found that there is some activity even in deep sleep. I dont think that it challenges Ramana's deep sleep peaceful state though. Alton RamanaMaharshi, "richard_clarke95125" <r_clarke@i...> wrote: > Dear All, > > I had an idea about something that might be worthwhile for this > group. We all participate due to our interest (and love) for Ramana > Maharshi, and what he taught seekers from around the world. > > I thought posting, paragraph by paragraph some of what he actually > wrote would be of interest. And in addition, I thought I might add > come comments from the point of view of my actual inquiry practice > (and what I have learned from Nome and Russ at SAT). I would invite > others on this group to add their comments of their own > understanding, or their questions. I want to invite us all into a > deeper practice of inquiry. > > I want to review "Who am I?" since this was the basic information > that Ramana wanted seekers to read when they came to see him. This > material came from answers that Ramana wrote on slips of paper to > questions, during his early days at Arunachala when he was not > speaking. > > I have found that this kind of writing is best absorbed in small > chunks, and that is how I will present it. > > The translation that I am using is the one from Osborn's "Collected > works of Ramana Maharshi." > > WHO AM I? > > Every living being longs always to be happy, untainted by sorrow; and > everyone has the greatest love for himself, which is solely dues to > the fact that happiness is his real nature. Hence, in order to reside > in that inherent and untainted happiness, which is indeed he daily > experiences when the mind is subdued in deep sleep, it is essential > that he should know himself. For obtaining such knowledge the > enquiry, `Who am I?' in quest of Self is the best means. > > COMMENTS FROM A SEEKER: > > Where does happiness come from? If we believe that happiness comes > from things outside ourselves, or from our activities or thoughts, > then this is where we look. When we realize where happiness rally > comes from, it intensifies our desire for liberation. > > The wise say that the desires of the mind cloud our happiness. So > when we get something desired, then the mind is quiet for a time and > we experience the happiness that we are. After a while, the mind > becomes active again, and the happiness is again obscured by clouds. > > Ramana also uses, again and again, discussions of the "three states" > (awakening, dreaming and deep sleep) to talk about who we are. Who > we are must be there in all three states. He calls on the deep sleep > state here, since during that state there is no mental activity, and > this state is universally seen as one of "peaceful" sleep. Where > does this sense of peace come from? If the mind is not active, then > it cannot come from the mind. Where does this happiness come from? > > ************************************ > > We are Not two, > Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2002 Report Share Posted May 9, 2002 Dear Alton, Go ahead and repost it you want. Thanks for your comments. WE are Not two, Richard RamanaMaharshi, "lostnfoundation" <leenalton@h...> wrote: > Dear Richard: > What a terrific Idea. > Also, may I repost these on MillionPaths group? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2002 Report Share Posted May 9, 2002 Dear Alton, If there are interesting responses from MIllionPaths, perhaps you can repost them here. Also, perhaps you should say that the postings are from RamamaMaharshi Not two, Richard RamanaMaharshi, "lostnfoundation" <leenalton@h...> wrote: > Dear Richard: > What a terrific Idea. > Also, may I repost these on MillionPaths group? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2002 Report Share Posted May 9, 2002 Dear Richard: Thanks and will take your suggestion. Aloha, Alton RamanaMaharshi, "richard_clarke95125" <r_clarke@i...> wrote: > Dear Alton, > > If there are interesting responses from MIllionPaths, perhaps you can > repost them here. Also, perhaps you should say that the postings are > from RamamaMaharshi > > Not two, > Richard > > RamanaMaharshi, "lostnfoundation" <leenalton@h...> wrote: > > Dear Richard: > > What a terrific Idea. > > Also, may I repost these on MillionPaths group? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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