vichara a little help -- for Alakeshwar

[Guest guest]

Dear Alakeshwar;

 

Greetings! Let me share some things that may or may not help you. I

am unsure if my "practice" or "approach" is the right one per the

books or the perspective of Ramana and his disciples.

 

All I can say is that my burden has been lightened. In America we

say "the proof is in the pudding". Know the technique by its

result. I can speak of my results but the technique I do not know.

In other words I don't know what self enquiry is, quite frankly, nor

do I wish to know what it is. Because when I am in a peaceful state

my mind does not operate very well, nor do I wish to activate it when

I am in that state. I have studied the descriptions of self inquiry

and quite frankly whenever I have tried it, it seems quite alien and

mental to me. Doesn't quite address the Heart for me.

 

To me self enquiry is about annihilating the ego, or the false self.

 

Bhakti and inquiry are the same thing to me.

 

I would really ask you, why do you wish to get into self inquiry?

 

If your answer is you wish to experience peace, something much deeper

than our everyday reality, seek God, etc., then my answer might help

you. If you wish to get some specific result mentioned in the Ramana

literature, then my answers may be the wrong ones for you.

 

My approach to quieting my mind is to simply sit in silence. I ask

the Divine Father, the Universe to help guide me. When in this mode

many thoughts come to my mind but over time they subside and what

remains is a unified field, a feeling of oneness, a knowing of who I

am, a peaceful place. A place in which I need nothing nor seek after

anything. In the Christian faith they speak of "be still and know

that I am God." I feel that my experience approximates the intent of

these words.

 

So how to still the mind? This is what the scriptures and teachings

are all about. Letting go of concepts, ideas, burdens, concerns.

Living in a way such that your heart is constantly open to the

universe and its guidance. Surrendering any idea that you have about

your control over life, or your self. These are all attitudes that

contribute towards the quietness. Practicing these attitudes in some

small way each day will help you in your meditation, vichara, I

believe.

 

To quiet the mind is to not think about anything. Not even the idea

that you have an ego. Don't activate your mind at all for the time

that you sit in meditation. Some people cannot do sitting

meditation. Perhaps walking, exercising or doing something physical

or repititive may be a good time for you to think of God repeatedly.

 

Everything is a meditation if we do it in a relaxed way and be aware

of the source that is facilitating this moment, and this activity.

 

So for me, vichara is about integrated living, a way of life that is

fed by a heart-felt experience and knowledge and practice of That

which is Peace, and inside us. The peace that passeth understanding,

this is our nature, and my experience on a daily basis. But for most

of us it requires patience, practice, perseverance. We persevere for

so many things, why not persevere for the Source of all Things? The

key here is that we are persevering so as to not persevere. In other

words there is no outward result. We are limiting our inner

furniture so that we can see the beauty of the room within. We are

not trying to acquire more furniture to beautify this room.

 

I would agree that japa, pranayama, relaxation techniques, guided

visualizations, are all very effective contributors towards stilling

the mind. One cannot control the mind. What you resist, persists.

It actually gains more energy. Simply don't pay attention to what is

arising. Be steady in keeping your focus on nothingness. For

beginners they have to focus on something before graduating to

nothing. So a mantra, the form of Ramana, or however you view God,

that may be of some assistance to you.

 

Well, if there are other questions regarding this message, feel free

to ask. I apologize for not using Ramana's words or techniques, but

I can only speak from my own experience. Also I am only a

practitioner, not a guide, so test my words and see what works for

you.

 

Best wishes to you,

 

Ashish

 

RamanaMaharshi, "alakeshwar" <alakeshwar>

wrote:

> Dear friends,

> I think doing the vichara can be difficult,especially if you

> don't know how to go about it.This is how I am practicing the

vichara

> these days.As advised by Sri Miles I am using the query method"for

> whom is this thought, me, who is this me? or who am I."Well it is

ok

> but I seem to have a great number of thoughts arising without any

> end.It is like a tide and my mind never seems to quieten down.It

can

> also be tiring because the me or I is always lurking in the

> background when there is'nt a clearly discernible thought.I keep

> changing the words too I sometimes ask "who is watching the mind?

or

> is this who I am?,who is thinking? Should I keep at it until I

> clearly experience the no mind state? Another thing I do not

> understand is how can one experience a state in which the sense" I

am

> watching" ceases even for a split second.Well the "I" is really not

> ready to take off in a hurry. I hope my brothers in Ramana will

help

> me with some solid advice instead of quoting endlessly from some

old

> book they've read.No offence meant. We are all brothers and sisters

> so let us try to help one another with some practical tips which

will

> enable us to make a genuine break through as regards the vichara.

> Best wishes.

> yours

> alakeshwar

> p.s. I wan't to know if any of you have had the same frustrating

no

> breakthrough ,reaching a plateau experience.