Thank You!

[Guest guest]

I have really enjoyed and appreciated the last 23 messages on this list.

I get a digested version in my email so it looks like one long list of

messages.

 

I have really appreciated the clarifications regarding Michael L.'s

"awareness watching awareness" and in particular David McEwen's post on

the words of a 14th century Christian mystic. The words from that

mystic have such a bare-bones Zen-like quality to them. Anytime I come

across something that strips away all the non-essentials, I am fully and

truly in love with that.

 

Somehow for me the question of "Who Am I" has been kind of a mental

exercise that does not engage my core, my full being. Some years ago I

came across a chapter in a book on Sri H.W.L Poonja (aka "Papaji") who

is a disciple of Ramana. This chapter was titled "Summa Iru" which in

Tamil apparently means "Be Still or Keep Quiet". I have visited Papaji

in Lucknow once and many Ramana devotees have spent much time with him

though now Papaji is no longer in his human form. The gist that I am

trying to share here is that through Papaji I got the message: be as you

are. Don't move your mind. Everything is passing into the past. Don't

chase after it. Simply keep quiet.

 

This is the core of my practice. I read the threads on this list out of

curiosity because I am deeply devoted to Ramana though I cannot claim to

understand much of the Who Am I-type publications.

 

This message has saved my life. While I still get mildly anxious from

time to time, I now know clearly that an unchecked mind is to blame for

much if not all of my suffering. Being in stillness, in quietness, is

my elixir and I will keep drinking it until all suffering is gone.

 

Like Robert Adams, Papaji was a very colorful character. The one time I

visited him, and introduced myself in the assembly, I recall that every

word and gesture of his was a cue for the audience to laugh. Even my

introduction was a matter of great laughter and fun. I could not

believe that this man could point others to self-realization. But over

time his message has been seeping in deeper and deeper.

 

I would also like to remind all of us on this list that we are all

seekers and until we have reached the final destination, let us not

judge the path of others. Let us be open to all possibilities even as

we pursue that which appeals to us. Somehow God reaches all of us, and

each of us have our own religion. I know not Father, you please guide

me.

 

To all the ones who show us the way out of suffering,

To all of the ones who dedicate themselves to be out of suffering,

I bow to All of you, to All of Us

 

Thank you, Thank You!

 

Ashish