Guest guest Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 Dear Group, Recently I wrote a short book that has been im my mind for some time. I call it "Freeway Zen." It is a book of meditations. I discovered "Freeway Zen" while driving to clients here in Silicon Valley. I learned that I could use this time, that was normally time of frustration and turn it into some of the best time of my day by turning off the radio and meditating. The meditations start with mindfulness practices, then go to inquiry and discrimination. I would like to be able to actually publlish this, but do not know how to go about it. Someone suggested that I find an agent, and I do not even know know to do that either. I will post it here one page at a time. Each page is intended to be one meditation. I start with the introduction: -------------------- Introduction. This is a book to practice, not a book to read. It is written to help you see yourself deeply. The exercises are based on 35 years spiritual practice by the author. They are taken from Zen Buddhist practices, and the Self-inquiry practice taught by Ramana Maharshi in India in the last century. These meditations let you take moments that are often filled with frustration, your daily commute, and transform them into some of your most precious times, suffused with inner peace and joy. Once you learn about these practices you can apply the same approach to other moments where people commonly get impatient, like standing in line at the grocery store, or at a movie. In these practices you are not "doing" anything, rather you are simply "looking" within. Spiritual teachers from around the world since time immemorial have been saying that our greatest treasures are to be found within, but most of us do not know how to go about this looking within. This book is intended to show you how to start this process. You may find, once you start, that it changes your life. Practice these exercises with an open mind and an open heart. I recommend that you stick with each exercise for a while, several days (or more), until you become familiar with what you find. Like all other areas of life, there are skills involved. As you practice, you gain skills at practice. You will also find that as you gain skills, you will be able to go back to beginning exercises and repeat them, and they will become deeper. You may also find that you want to practice in sitting meditation, not just driving. That is fine. Just sit your body someplace where it is comfortable and you can be still and meditate. I noticed something funny sometime after I started this practice. I sometimes got upset if there was not enough traffic, so I arrived at my destination too soon, and the time for meditation was over. If you notice this, it means the meditation is starting to work. Meditation is starting to become something that you want to do. This meditation goes to a deeper level than just the mind. You will be looking within, holding a question where you want the experience, NOT the "answer" to the question. You do continue to use the mind (until the meditation gets much deeper), and you want to use your intellect to support your meditation, not to limit the meditation to your mental concepts. You use the mind by choosing to practice, and by the deep discrimination that you will be taught in this book. The traditional approach to spiritual teaching is: Listen (or read), Reflect, Then deeply meditate. You may start to notice that your experiences in meditation "flow" to other parts of your life. This is natural, and is a sign that you are taking this in deeply. I also want to give credit to my own spiritual teacher, Nome, at the Society of Abidance in Truth, in Santa Cruz, California. I had studied Zen on my own for many years. When I started to hear Nome's teaching of Ramana Maharshi's wisdom, I started to understand in a much deeper way all that I had read before. His teaching has brought me to much greater depth than I was able to find on my own. Finally I started my own serious meditation practice. For years now I practice sitting meditation every day (at my best time of the day), practicing self-inquiry. I also engage in ongoing meditation during much of my day's activity. My goal is to meditate all the time. If there is any wisdom expressed in these pages, it is more likely to be that of my teacher than my own. ------------- We are not two, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 is the book available on internet. if not pl. put. DOD WILL BLESS YOU - Richard Clarke RamanaMaharshi Saturday, March 08, 2003 6:55 AM [RamanaMaharshi] Freeway Zen, intro Dear Group,Recently I wrote a short book that has been im my mind for some time. I call it "Freeway Zen." It is a book of meditations. I discovered "Freeway Zen" while driving to clients here in Silicon Valley. I learned that I could use this time, that was normally time of frustration and turn it into some of the best time of my day by turning off the radio and meditating. The meditations start with mindfulness practices, then go to inquiry and discrimination. I would like to be able to actually publlish this, but do not know how to go about it. Someone suggested that I find an agent, and I do not even know know to do that either. I will post it here one page at a time. Each page is intended to be one meditation. I start with the introduction:--------------------Introduction.This is a book to practice, not a book to read. It is written to help you see yourself deeply. The exercises are based on 35 years spiritual practice by the author. They are taken from Zen Buddhist practices, and the Self-inquiry practice taught by Ramana Maharshi in India in the last century. These meditations let you take moments that are often filled with frustration, your daily commute, and transform them into some of your most precious times, suffused with inner peace and joy. Once you learn about these practices you can apply the same approach to other moments where people commonly get impatient, like standing in line at the grocery store, or at a movie.In these practices you are not "doing" anything, rather you are simply "looking" within. Spiritual teachers from around the world since time immemorial have been saying that our greatest treasures are to be found within, but most of us do not know how to go about this looking within. This book is intended to show you how to start this process. You may find, once you start, that it changes your life. Practice these exercises with an open mind and an open heart.I recommend that you stick with each exercise for a while, several days (or more), until you become familiar with what you find. Like all other areas of life, there are skills involved. As you practice, you gain skills at practice. You will also find that as you gain skills, you will be able to go back to beginning exercises and repeat them, and they will become deeper. You may also find that you want to practice in sitting meditation, not just driving. That is fine. Just sit your body someplace where it is comfortable and you can be still and meditate. I noticed something funny sometime after I started this practice. I sometimes got upset if there was not enough traffic, so I arrived at my destination too soon, and the time for meditation was over. If you notice this, it means the meditation is starting to work. Meditation is starting to become something that you want to do.This meditation goes to a deeper level than just the mind. You will be looking within, holding a question where you want the experience, NOT the "answer" to the question. You do continue to use the mind (until the meditation gets much deeper), and you want to use your intellect to support your meditation, not to limit the meditation to your mental concepts. You use the mind by choosing to practice, and by the deep discrimination that you will be taught in this book. The traditional approach to spiritual teaching is:Listen (or read),Reflect,Then deeply meditate.You may start to notice that your experiences in meditation "flow" to other parts of your life. This is natural, and is a sign that you are taking this in deeply.I also want to give credit to my own spiritual teacher, Nome, at the Society of Abidance in Truth, in Santa Cruz, California. I had studied Zen on my own for many years. When I started to hear Nome's teaching of Ramana Maharshi's wisdom, I started to understand in a much deeper way all that I had read before. His teaching has brought me to much greater depth than I was able to find on my own.Finally I started my own serious meditation practice. For years now I practice sitting meditation every day (at my best time of the day), practicing self-inquiry. I also engage in ongoing meditation during much of my day's activity. My goal is to meditate all the time. If there is any wisdom expressed in these pages, it is more likely to be that of my teacher than my own. -------------We are not two,Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 Dear Richard: In regard to the following portion of your post: I would like to be able to actually publlish this, but do not know how to go about it. Someone suggested that I find an agent, and I do not even know know to do that either. There is a great book entitled "Writer's Market". This book is updated every year I believe. It has great information about publishers and publishing. It's a terrific place to start for a person who wants to publish; but who is new to the business. michael Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2003 Report Share Posted March 7, 2003 Dear Sri : Bhattathity, I will post it in the newsgroup, one page at a time. there are about 40 meditations. We are not two, Richard RamanaMaharshi, Bhattathity M P <mpmahesh@a...> wrote: > is the book available on internet. if not pl. put. DOD WILL BLESS YOU > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 Dear Richard, thanks for offering your meditations here on the group. If you want to publish it in print look on the book-market and which publishing-houses have similar topics in their program. Make a little study of publishing-houses and their programs. Where could it fit in? Then simply send the manuscript or excerpt out of it directly to the publishing house. Either they are interested in, then the reaction mostly comes soon, if not they will send it back (mostly after a long stretch of time) or will not react at all - LOL That's the experience here. Good luck!! Possibly you have a chance to include it in the SAT-publications in some way? Ever Yours in Sri Ramana Gabriele <<<I would like to be able to actually publlish this, but do not know how to go about it. Someone suggested that I find an agent, and I do not even know know to do that either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 Dear Richard ,I believe there is an American publisher 'Libris'who sets up books on the Internet with out charge and if anyone orders they bind and send you a royalty .you may find them on the Web .Good luck , a great effort , love in the joys of our teaching , Alan > Recently I wrote a short book that has been im my mind for some time. > I call it "Freeway Zen." It is a book of meditations. I > discovered "Freeway Zen" while driving to clients here in Silicon > Valley. I learned that I could use this time, that was normally time > of frustration and turn it into some of the best time of my day by > turning off the radio and meditating. > > The meditations start with mindfulness practices, then go to inquiry > and discrimination. > > I would like to be able to actually publlish this, but do not know > how to go about it. Someone suggested that I find an agent, and I do > not even know know to do that either. > > I will post it here one page at a time. Each page is intended to be > one meditation. I start with the introduction: > -------------------- > Introduction. > > This is a book to practice, not a book to read. > > It is written to help you see yourself deeply. The exercises are > based on 35 years spiritual practice by the author. They are taken > from Zen Buddhist practices, and the Self-inquiry practice taught by > Ramana Maharshi in India in the last century. > > These meditations let you take moments that are often filled with > frustration, your daily commute, and transform them into some of your > most precious times, suffused with inner peace and joy. Once you > learn about these practices you can apply the same approach to other > moments where people commonly get impatient, like standing in line at > the grocery store, or at a movie. > > In these practices you are not "doing" anything, rather you are > simply "looking" within. Spiritual teachers from around the world > since time immemorial have been saying that our greatest treasures > are to be found within, but most of us do not know how to go about > this looking within. This book is intended to show you how to start > this process. You may find, once you start, that it changes your > life. > > Practice these exercises with an open mind and an open heart. > > I recommend that you stick with each exercise for a while, several > days (or more), until you become familiar with what you find. Like > all other areas of life, there are skills involved. As you practice, > you gain skills at practice. You will also find that as you gain > skills, you will be able to go back to beginning exercises and repeat > them, and they will become deeper. > > You may also find that you want to practice in sitting meditation, > not just driving. That is fine. Just sit your body someplace where it > is comfortable and you can be still and meditate. > > I noticed something funny sometime after I started this practice. I > sometimes got upset if there was not enough traffic, so I arrived at > my destination too soon, and the time for meditation was over. If you > notice this, it means the meditation is starting to work. Meditation > is starting to become something that you want to do. > > This meditation goes to a deeper level than just the mind. You will > be looking within, holding a question where you want the experience, > NOT the "answer" to the question. You do continue to use the mind > (until the meditation gets much deeper), and you want to use your > intellect to support your meditation, not to limit the meditation to > your mental concepts. You use the mind by choosing to practice, and > by the deep discrimination that you will be taught in this book. > > The traditional approach to spiritual teaching is: > > Listen (or read), > Reflect, > Then deeply meditate. > > You may start to notice that your experiences in meditation "flow" to > other parts of your life. This is natural, and is a sign that you are > taking this in deeply. > > I also want to give credit to my own spiritual teacher, Nome, at the > Society of Abidance in Truth, in Santa Cruz, California. I had > studied Zen on my own for many years. When I started to hear Nome's > teaching of Ramana Maharshi's wisdom, I started to understand in a > much deeper way all that I had read before. His teaching has brought > me to much greater depth than I was able to find on my own. > > Finally I started my own serious meditation practice. For years now I > practice sitting meditation every day (at my best time of the day), > practicing self-inquiry. I also engage in ongoing meditation during > much of my day's activity. My goal is to meditate all the time. > > If there is any wisdom expressed in these pages, it is more likely to > be that of my teacher than my own. > ------------- > We are not two, > Richard > > > > Post message: RamanaMaharshi > Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi- > Un: RamanaMaharshi- > List owner: RamanaMaharshi-owner > > Shortcut URL to this page: > /community/RamanaMaharshi > > Your use of is subject to > > Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 RamanaMaharshi, "Richard Clarke" <r_clarke@i...> wrote: > Dear Group, > > Recently I wrote a short book that has been im my mind for some time. > I call it "Freeway Zen." It is a book of meditations. I > discovered "Freeway Zen" while driving to clients here in Silicon > Valley. I learned that I could use this time, that was normally time > of frustration and turn it into some of the best time of my day by > turning off the radio and meditating. > > The meditations start with mindfulness practices, then go to inquiry > and discrimination. > please elaborate on discrimination > I would like to be able to actually publlish this, but do not know > how to go about it. Someone suggested that I find an agent, and I do > not even know know to do that either. > > I will post it here one page at a time. Each page is intended to be > one meditation. I start with the introduction: > -------------------- > Introduction. > > This is a book to practice, not a book to read. > > It is written to help you see yourself deeply. The exercises are > based on 35 years spiritual practice by the author. They are taken > from Zen Buddhist practices, and the Self-inquiry practice taught by > Ramana Maharshi in India in the last century. > > These meditations let you take moments that are often filled with > frustration, your daily commute, and transform them into some of your > most precious times, suffused with inner peace and joy. Once you > learn about these practices you can apply the same approach to other > moments where people commonly get impatient, like standing in line at > the grocery store, or at a movie. > > In these practices you are not "doing" anything, rather you are > simply "looking" within. Spiritual teachers from around the world > since time immemorial have been saying that our greatest treasures > are to be found within, but most of us do not know how to go about > this looking within. This book is intended to show you how to start > this process. You may find, once you start, that it changes your > life. > > Practice these exercises with an open mind and an open heart. > > I recommend that you stick with each exercise for a while, several > days (or more), until you become familiar with what you find. Like > all other areas of life, there are skills involved. As you practice, > you gain skills at practice. You will also find that as you gain > skills, you will be able to go back to beginning exercises and repeat > them, and they will become deeper. > > You may also find that you want to practice in sitting meditation, > not just driving. That is fine. Just sit your body someplace where it > is comfortable and you can be still and meditate. > > I noticed something funny sometime after I started this practice. I > sometimes got upset if there was not enough traffic, so I arrived at > my destination too soon, and the time for meditation was over. If you > notice this, it means the meditation is starting to work. Meditation > is starting to become something that you want to do. > > This meditation goes to a deeper level than just the mind. You will > be looking within, holding a question where you want the experience, > NOT the "answer" to the question. You do continue to use the mind > (until the meditation gets much deeper), and you want to use your > intellect to support your meditation, not to limit the meditation to > your mental concepts. You use the mind by choosing to practice, and > by the deep discrimination that you will be taught in this book. > > The traditional approach to spiritual teaching is: > > Listen (or read), > Reflect, > Then deeply meditate. > > You may start to notice that your experiences in meditation "flow" to > other parts of your life. This is natural, and is a sign that you are > taking this in deeply. > > I also want to give credit to my own spiritual teacher, Nome, at the > Society of Abidance in Truth, in Santa Cruz, California. I had > studied Zen on my own for many years. When I started to hear Nome's > teaching of Ramana Maharshi's wisdom, I started to understand in a > much deeper way all that I had read before. His teaching has brought > me to much greater depth than I was able to find on my own. > > Finally I started my own serious meditation practice. For years now I > practice sitting meditation every day (at my best time of the day), > practicing self-inquiry. I also engage in ongoing meditation during > much of my day's activity. My goal is to meditate all the time. > > If there is any wisdom expressed in these pages, it is more likely to > be that of my teacher than my own. > ------------- > We are not two, > Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Dear Era, On discrimination: First, basic Advaita Vedanta background: There is an Absolute, call it God, Brahman, SAT-CHIT-ANANDA, Buddha Mind, the Self or what you will. This Absolute is who we are. This is signified by the Mahavakyas-the Four Great Statements: Tat Tvam Asi - That Thou Art Prajanam Brahma - Absolute Consciousness is Brahman Ayamatma Brahma - this Self is Brahman Aham Brahmasmi - I am Brahman Ramana's Self-inquiry is the direct means to see one's own identity with the Absolute. But what does this really consist of? Since we are already That, then it is not a matter of attainment, or purification, or transformation or such. Rather it is a matter of Knowledge. (Here Knowledge is capitalized, signifying that it is NOT mere mental knowledge, but rather the deep Knowledge of Self knowing the Self. This is Knowledge at the same deep level at which you know that you exist.) Sages say this process is really that of removing the "ignorance." An example commonly used is that of the rope, in a dark room, that is seen to be a snake. When the light (of Knowledge) comes into the room, the imagined snake is seen to be the rope it always was. Was the snake transformed into a rope? Discrimination then, is the meditative process of discerning the Real (the Absolute) from the unreal (all that is superimposed onto the Absolute). The short book, "Freeway Zen" is really an introduction into discrimination. Discrimination starts as a mental process. One way to do this is to look at ones own stand, what one holds oneself to be. When one starts this, one commonly finds that they hold themselves to be this body in this time and place, etc. One looks at the assumed identity and the assumptions that underlie it. One then starts to see that these are all objective. One notices that whoever they are, they must be closer to that which knows the objective "thing" than that thing itself. At this point, it is important that the discrimination turn to Self-inquiry, "Who am I?" Inquiry, starting from this point, quickly can come to a "NON-OBJECTIVE" view. Discrimination has been talked about as an important part of practice for thousand's of years. It was one of Sankara four "Requisites for Realization." When one reads "Song of Ribhu" much of what one reads is discrimination of what one's identity is. Discrimination is best practiced in combination with Self-inquiry. IN this practice it has the general form of "I am not this. Who am I?" I have found that the discrimination must be thorough. It is not something to be quickly done, like some affirmation, but rather something that one must focus on deeply. Discrimination is also best done "From gross to subtle." Am I this body? Am I these senses (or a sensing entity)? Am I this life energy? Am I this mind? Am I this "I"-thought? Enough for now. IF you have questions, keep posting them. But most of all, inquire. (And you may want to use discrimination to support your inquiry.) Not two, Richard RamanaMaharshi, "Era" <satkarta7@j...> wrote > > > please elaborate on discrimination > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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