David Godman-Ramana's books:authenticity and reliability - repost

[Guest guest]

Dear Vicki,

 

Thanks for posting David Godman's remarks

concerning the reliability of the various books

that set forth Bhagavan's teachings. What a

useful thing to have!

 

Where did you find this document? I looked

on John Maynard's website, but I didn't see it

there.

 

This comment jumped out at me:

 

"I would qualify this by saying that the first piece,

Self Enquiry, does not contain his [sri Ramana's]

own teachings. It is, rather, a summary of other

people's teachings..."

 

This is what I pointed out yesterday in my reply

to Miles about deliberate meditation on the

heart center.

 

Cheers,

 

Rob

 

-

"viorica weissman" <viorica

"RM" <RamanaMaharshi>

Wednesday, September 11, 2002 1:22 AM

[RamanaMaharshi] David Godman-Ramana's books:authenticity and

reliability - repost

[Guest guest]

om namo bhagavate sri ramanaya

 

Dear Rob,

 

This passage was posted some time back on RM list, in a conversation we had.

Perhaps it helps the search for a quotation in which Sri Bhagavan ...

 

> tells people to deliberately focus attention on the

> right side of the chest as a technique

 

"In the course of tracing ourselves back to our source, when all

thoughts have vanished, there arises a throb from the Hridaya on the right,

manifesting as 'Aham' 'Aham' 'I' - 'I'. This is the sign that Pure

Consciousness is beginning to reveal itself. But that is not the end in

itself. Watch wherefrom this sphurana (throbbing) arises and wait

attentively and continually for the revelation of the Self. Then comes the

awareness, oneness of existence." (from a reply, approved by Bhagavan, which

was sent to an English devotee; recorded in 'Moments Remembered' by V.

Ganesan)

 

This is a clear statement...or is it?

 

In any case, it is the experience of some who practice atmavicara that the

irresistible pull to a specific point, namely the Hridaya on the right side,

results in a 'deliberate' watching, followed by a spontaneous revelation.

Even after such episode the throbbing can (but does not always) continue for

a time.

 

As far as this being a technique...who knows? It certainly 'could' be taken

for one. Earlier in this same statement it is stated...'If by meditation or

Vichara we attain to our centre, the Hridaya, and thus are our real Self, we

enjoy unalloyed bliss.' Hridaya is described in various ways in this

piece...i.e. 'the seat of God in us', the seat of Pure Consciousness',

'different from the physical heart', 'has its being on the right side and is

not commonly known or felt', 'the literal, actual, physical seat of the

intuition of the Self''. It goes on to say '...the word 'physical seat' may

create some confusion of thought. What it really means is that there is a

centre of Pure Consciousness in the physical body. It is related to the

physical but is not itself physical.'

 

This is experential. Perhaps one should just take to atmavicara and find out

for oneself. Whether one starts with attention focussed on the Hridaya is

immaterial. It is certainly not a necessity for Vicara. However, it has been

said that it is an inevitable conclusion.

 

Ever Yours in Sri Bhagavan,

Miles

[Guest guest]

Ok ..I found it ..in Goodman's book

the state reached I spoke about where there is not even the desire to

breathe is nirvikalpa..it is, Ramana says, chit--effortless formless

conciousness...he goes on to say that the non rising of differences

(vikalpas)in the dead mind alone is the true nirvikalpa.Samadi 161 Be

As You Are....Bur if you are always identifying and naming these

states you will never reach them they are reached by doing not

thinking about it.

Barbara

 

RamanaMaharshi, "Rob Sacks" <editor@r...> wrote:

> Dear Vicki,

>

> Thanks for posting David Godman's remarks

> concerning the reliability of the various books

> that set forth Bhagavan's teachings. What a

> useful thing to have!

>

> Where did you find this document? I looked

> on John Maynard's website, but I didn't see it

> there.

>

> This comment jumped out at me:

>

> "I would qualify this by saying that the first piece,

> Self Enquiry, does not contain his [sri Ramana's]

> own teachings. It is, rather, a summary of other

> people's teachings..."

>

> This is what I pointed out yesterday in my reply

> to Miles about deliberate meditation on the

> heart center.

>

> Cheers,

>

> Rob

>

> -

> "viorica weissman" <viorica@z...>

> "RM" <RamanaMaharshi>

> Wednesday, September 11, 2002 1:22 AM

> [RamanaMaharshi] David Godman-Ramana's books:authenticity

and reliability - repost