" Direct Teaching " - A Review

[Guest guest]

--- For those Members who have expressed an interest in or have met Sri V

Ganesan I enclose a

review of his latest book .He will be giving Satsang in London Sat Sept.13th

..Details on

satsangdiary.com Warmest regards to all , in Sri Bhagavan's Grace,Alan

 

> Book Review

>

> Ganesan Explains Sri Bhagavan's

Teachings

>

>

By P.N. Vijay

> ( Editor : DIRECT

PATH : RAMANA

> GYAN )

>

>

> Shri V. Ganesan is recognised the world over as one of the most authoritative

elucidators and

> interpreters of the teachings of Bhagavan Ramana. Naturally, his latest book

: Direct Teaching

> of Bhagavan Ramana, published by Sri Ramanasramam, has evoked considerable

interest.

>

> The book is divided into four parts. The first is narrative in nature and

describes very

> briefly the

> advent of Bhagavana to Arunachala and has many quotes from various

publications, like, Talks.

> The second and third sections deal with the actual practice of Self-Enquiry,

the key element of

> Bhagavan's approach. The last section is again full of quotations of Bhagavan

in various

> situations and clearing many doubts.

>

> Shri Ganesan has managed to convey a lot in 151 pages. Like his lectures, the

book puts across

> complex ideas with amazing clarity. For example, in the second section, the

Consciousness is

> compared to the electricity that runs through a bulb, a fan, a pump making

them work; without

> the current they are lifeless; yet we never see the current. Shri Ganesan

points, "Since the

> bulb, fan,

> and pump are visible (and not the electricity) their utility aspect engages

one's attention and

> the

> root-cause -- the electricity -- is ignored. Likewise, man's activities

ensnare him and make

> him

> forget his very nature as Consciousness."

>

> In another chapter, he dramatically juxtaposes the Upanishadic warning that,

"To tread the

> path of Self-Knowledge is like walking on a razor's edge", with Bhagavan's own

words,

> "Self-Knowledge

> is an easy thing, the easiest thing there is !" (Atma Vidya, v.1)

>

> Shri Ganesan beautifully reconciles this apparent contradiction by explaining

the nature of the

> mind

> and warning us that by focussing on the mind we get lost. Instead, using the

Direct Path he

> asks us to focus inward, with the key question, "sTo whom is the problem ?"

>

> In the last chapter, we get some lovely quotations from Bhagavan, each a gem.

Space does not

> permit me put them all down. A devotee asks Bhagavan, "However much we try,

this mind does not

> get under control !". Bhagavan quips, "Look, this little finger covers the

eye and prevents the

> whole world from being seen. In the same way, this small mind covers the

whole Univerxse and

> prevents Brahman from being seen. If we follow Bhagavan's teachings,

realising the Self is

> as simple as taking the little finger away !"

>

> The book is a welcome addition to the growing library of Ramana literature.

If one has to find

> a

> shortcoming, it is that we could have had some more of Shri Ganesan's own

words; probably,

> it was his modesty that made him use more quotations and less of his own words

! The quality

> of the publication is very high and the pricing reasonable at Rs.50.

>

> ____

>

> " Direct Teaching of Bhagavan Ramana" By V.Ganesan. Published by Sri

Ramanasramam,

> Tiruvannamalai.

>

> Price: Rs.50. Copies available at Ramana Kendra, Delhi.

>

 

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