Guest guest Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 > christiane cameron <christianecameron > April 30, 2005 15:09:17 GMT+02:00 > RamanaMaharshi > Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Re: to Joy > > Dear Joy, > > in answer to your question: I am (still) involved in worldly > activities like earning a living, but my social life has been reduced > to a few good friends. Free time is mainly taking up with study. On > the whole I would say that most of what the world has to offer is of > no attraction to me. The focus has shifted you might say. But that has > been part of a process and not a decision taken in order to bring > about an effect of some sort. > > As Atma Vichara can be done anytime anywhere there is really no need > to stop working or spend less time with your partner. Many people have > asked Bhagwan whether they should give up their jobs and families and > he always discouraged it. > > Maharshi was asked: > > How does a householder fare in the scheme of liberation? Maharshi: why > do you think you are householder. If you go out as a sannyasin, a > similar thought (that you are a sannyasi) will haunt you. Whether you > continue in the household, or renounce it and go to the forrest, your > mind haunts you. ......The mind must be got over whether at home or in > the forest....your efforts can be made even now - whatever environment > you may be in. > > (talks p.59) > > Apart from studying Maharshi's teaching intensively, try and do > vichara as much as you can, that is all that is needed really. You can > do it on the bus, at work, in the garden, in a concert, on the > toilette, wherever. Well thats how I do it as you asked me about it. > And when there is time and a peaceful environment I may sit down and > go deeply into it, but otherwise life continues normally. Hold on to > the feeling of I - being - consciousness as long as you can. When > thoughts carry you away, no problem also. The soon that you remember > you return to holding on. Thats all. > > Best wishes > chris > > > On Apr 29, 2005, at 12:39, Joy Hicklin-Bailey wrote: > >> Dear Chris >> >> >> I am touched deeply by your email this moment, and this question >> arises in me –how much are you still involved in worldly activities >> and responsibilities? Totally/as before you began atma vichara? Or >> have you made changes in your life along with these inner changes? >> What has your ‘intensive sadhana’ involved exactly? >> >> >> I have been with this ‘journey’ for years and feel very blessed. I >> still wrestle sometimes with feelings that come up about how much I >> should be working, how much I have a right to withdraw, the time I >> spend with my partner. I have distaste for the ever changing mundane >> world - though that is feelings arising too - and also in another way >> I love life and I love this life this body lives, especially when my >> mind is still, no doing! And I know the truth is I am not this body. >> Yet I live in the west. I, this being I am, loves my work and my >> partner, and there is also this ‘I couldn't get enough of it’ you >> mention and my whole life feels like a letting go of who I think I >> am, moment to moment, yet…. …it is somehow a desire to compare with >> others experiences, to know how far along – or not – I am. And who >> wants to know…? Who loves…? I would appreciate hearing from you. >> >> >> Thanks >> >> >> In Him >> >> >> Joy >> >> >> Monsoonhouse Int. Kovalam/Kerala contact: christianecameron Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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