'concentrate on the original purpose of your coming here '

[Guest guest]

It is inevitable, I suppose, that in an ashram some people will end up

quarrelling with others. It is also inevitable that outsiders will find some

pretext to quarrel with the ashram. Sri Bhagavan taught us all to stay away from

disputes that were none of our

 

business, and in particular, to avoid taking an interest in matters that were

solely the concern of the ashram management.

 

 

 

 

 

Once, for example, some awkward problems concerning the ashram management

cropped up. Without being directly concerned, I was worried about them, as I

felt that failure to solve them satisfactorily would impair the good name of the

ashram. One day two or three devotees went to Sri Bhagavan and put some of these

problems before him. I happened to enter the hall while they were talking about

it, and he immediately

 

turned to me and asked me why I had come in at this time and why I was

interesting myself in such matters. I did not grasp the meaning of the question,

so Sri Bhagavan explained that a person should occupy himself only with that

purpose with which

 

he had originally come to the ashram. He asked me what my original purpose had

been.

 

 

 

To receive Sri Bhagavan's grace,' I replied.

 

 

 

Then occupy yourself with that alone,' he said.

 

 

 

After a pause he continued by asking me whether I had any interest in matters

concerning the ashram management when I first arrived. I told him that I had

not.

 

 

 

Then,' he said, 'concentrate on the original purpose of your

 

coming here.'

 

 

 

>From Power of the Presence by David Godman

 

( Reminiscences by Kunju Swami)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Rishi,

 

Well timed post. The only aim of a seeker ought to be their own

practice. Disputes or assertions do not contribute to the lessening

of ego and ego-identifications. It is the removal of ego that brings

freedom and inner peace.

 

We are Not two,

Richard

 

RamanaMaharshi, "Rishi" <rishikesh_m@s...> wrote:

> It is inevitable, I suppose, that in an ashram some people will end

up quarrelling with others. It is also inevitable that outsiders will

find some pretext to quarrel with the ashram. Sri Bhagavan taught us

all to stay away from disputes that were none of our

>

> business, and in particular, to avoid taking an interest in matters

that were solely the concern of the ashram management.

>

>

>

>

>

> Once, for example, some awkward problems concerning the ashram

management cropped up. Without being directly concerned, I was

worried about them, as I felt that failure to solve them

satisfactorily would impair the good name of the ashram. One day two

or three devotees went to Sri Bhagavan and put some of these problems

before him. I happened to enter the hall while they were talking

about it, and he immediately

>

> turned to me and asked me why I had come in at this time and why I

was interesting myself in such matters. I did not grasp the meaning

of the question, so Sri Bhagavan explained that a person should

occupy himself only with that purpose with which

>

> he had originally come to the ashram. He asked me what my original

purpose had been.

>

>

>

> To receive Sri Bhagavan's grace,' I replied.

>

>

>

> Then occupy yourself with that alone,' he said.

>

>

>

> After a pause he continued by asking me whether I had any interest

in matters concerning the ashram management when I first arrived. I

told him that I had not.

>

>

>

> Then,' he said, 'concentrate on the original purpose of your

>

> coming here.'

>

>

>

> From Power of the Presence by David Godman

>

> ( Reminiscences by Kunju Swami)

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Richard and Rishi:

Well said. I noticed with my self even when I deserved reproach, if I

did not respond with defending, the fires went out quickly. Even when

one gets the posts via email, they can quickly delete them without

reading the ones that are disruptive.

Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya,

Copio Ramana formerly Alton

 

 

RamanaMaharshi, "richard_clarke95125" <r_clarke@i...>

wrote:

> Rishi,

>

> Well timed post. The only aim of a seeker ought to be their own

> practice. Disputes or assertions do not contribute to the

lessening

> of ego and ego-identifications. It is the removal of ego that

brings

> freedom and inner peace.

>

> We are Not two,

> Richard

>

> RamanaMaharshi, "Rishi" <rishikesh_m@s...> wrote:

> > It is inevitable, I suppose, that in an ashram some people will

end

> up quarrelling with others. It is also inevitable that outsiders

will

> find some pretext to quarrel with the ashram. Sri Bhagavan taught

us

> all to stay away from disputes that were none of our

> >

> > business, and in particular, to avoid taking an interest in

matters

> that were solely the concern of the ashram management.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Once, for example, some awkward problems concerning the ashram

> management cropped up. Without being directly concerned, I was

> worried about them, as I felt that failure to solve them

> satisfactorily would impair the good name of the ashram. One day

two

> or three devotees went to Sri Bhagavan and put some of these

problems

> before him. I happened to enter the hall while they were talking

> about it, and he immediately

> >

> > turned to me and asked me why I had come in at this time and why

I

> was interesting myself in such matters. I did not grasp the meaning

> of the question, so Sri Bhagavan explained that a person should

> occupy himself only with that purpose with which

> >

> > he had originally come to the ashram. He asked me what my

original

> purpose had been.

> >

> >

> >

> > To receive Sri Bhagavan's grace,' I replied.

> >

> >

> >

> > Then occupy yourself with that alone,' he said.

> >

> >

> >

> > After a pause he continued by asking me whether I had any

interest

> in matters concerning the ashram management when I first arrived. I

> told him that I had not.

> >

> >

> >

> > Then,' he said, 'concentrate on the original purpose of your

> >

> > coming here.'

> >

> >

> >

> > From Power of the Presence by David Godman

> >

> > ( Reminiscences by Kunju Swami)

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

RamanaMaharshi, "Rishi" <rishikesh_m@s...> wrote:

 

 

>It is also inevitable that outsiders will find some

pretext to quarrel with the ashram.

 

 

))) the "Us & Them" game, huh?

 

Yep, seen it around these holy parts pretty

regularly, although we didn't expect it at

a site committed to Beloved's Inquiry --

shows up in force around the cultish belief

in self and other, you & me, divided on some

imaginary pretext of presumed separation in

the gaze of the same One we all love to say

we love but few ever dare to take seriously,

but would like to think so, if only the infidels

would just be quiet so they could think!

 

Hey, it's actually rather a religious cliche, whether

around any saint or sinner, the game goes on,

wheel spins, roles dance and prance upon a stage

of division called Maya, lovers show up, speaking

in tongues not commonly heard, triggers

called anger, jealousy, and hate flare, soon

rocks are lifted into hands that perhaps once touched

other hands in innocence, the group nods assent,

the image of their fear shimmers

in the air, the lovers begin twirling,

praising Love, praising the Very One

before them now, the Radiant One,

rocks are kisses raining down in light,

then a nervous silence as everyone

gets very quiet, sure in their

minds they've done right, but

maybe not.

 

 

LoveAlways,

 

b

 

 

 

 

"O Arunachala ..... O Bliss born out of love! What is there for me to

say? Your will is my will and your will is itself my happiness."

 

~ Arunachala Pathikam

Verse 2

 

 

"Having inquired into (the nature of) all the states, (wakeful,

dreaming and deep sleep), and ever holding steadfastly at heart

to that state supreme which is absolute and which is free from

illusion, play in the world, O Raghava, the hero!

You have realized that in the heart which is the substratum of

truth of all appearances.

Therefore, without ever abandoning that (right) perspective,

play in the world just as you like.

That which is the source of all,

that in which all live, and

that into which all finally merge,

is the heart."

 

~ Absolute Consciousness