Guest guest Posted May 5, 2005 Report Share Posted May 5, 2005 11.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:blue"> 11.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:blue"> font-family:Verdana;color:blue">Thank you Chris font-family:Verdana;color:blue">When I read you first email I had a fantasy you did Atma Vichara all day and nothing else. This is very helpful. font-family:Verdana;color:blue">Warm wishes font-family:Verdana;color:blue">Joy RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] On Behalf Of christiane cameron 30 April 2005 14:53 RamanaMaharshi Fwd: [RamanaMaharshi] Re: to Joy 12.0pt"> color>fontfamily>christiane cameron <christianecameron (AT) mac (DOT) com> color>April 30, 2005 15:09:17 GMT+02:00 color>RamanaMaharshi color>Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Re: to Joy fontfamily>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: 12.0pt">Dear Chris x-tad-bigger>bigger>color> 12.0pt"> 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? Totallyas 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? x-tad-bigger>bigger>color> 12.0pt"> 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. x-tad-bigger>bigger>color> 12.0pt"> Thanks x-tad-bigger>bigger>color> 12.0pt"> In Him x-tad-bigger>bigger>color> 12.0pt"> Joy x-tad-bigger>bigger>color> 12.0pt">Monsoonhouse Int. KovalamKerala contact: christianecameron (AT) mac (DOT) com fontfamily> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2005 Report Share Posted May 5, 2005 Sorry, but I am doing atma vichara all day (with a few interruptions when I get thrown out of awareness), it just doesn't stop me from also doing other things. On May 5, 2005, at 08:37, Joy Hicklin-Bailey wrote: > > > > Thank you Chris > > When I read you first email I had a fantasy you did Atma Vichara all > day and nothing else. This is very helpful. > > Warm wishes > > Joy > > RamanaMaharshi > [RamanaMaharshi] On Behalf Of christiane > cameron > 30 April 2005 14:53 > RamanaMaharshi > Fwd: [RamanaMaharshi] Re: to Joy > > > > > > > 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 > > > > Post message: RamanaMaharshi > Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi- > Un: RamanaMaharshi > List owner: RamanaMaharshi-owner > > Our Shortcut URL: > http://www./community/RamanaMaharshi > <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/ramanamaharshi" > rel="tag">ramanamaharshi</a> > > > Links > • > RamanaMaharshi/ > > • > RamanaMaharshi > > • Terms of > Service. > > Monsoonhouse Int. Kovalam/Kerala contact: christianecameron Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2005 Report Share Posted May 5, 2005 Dear Joy, There has been a discussion lately among some of us whether it is all right to share one's sadhana with others. I was one of those saying that it is ok to do so as I feel that it might help people with with their own not as a teacher but as a fellow student, like a study group in college. Problems encountered on the way are usually more or less the same. Providing we are talking about the same sadhana. So reading about anothers experiences might give the courage to hang on. Atma Vichara is not meant for the proverbial 20 minutes a day. It has to become a permanent process. It becomes part of your being. In the beginning a strong distaste for the world and the wish for moksha is necessary. There will be a struggle as you try to get beyond the thoughts that keep coming up, you might feel discouraged then. At that stage japa and bhakti for Maharshi or your Ishta Devata will be of great help. Then comes the day when the thoughtless state of being becomes natural for you. Something takes over. You feel elated and blissful. You might even think this is it. But then you realize that thoughts still rise after some time and have the power to carry you off and away on some dream and you loose awareness of Being. That is the action of your latent tendencies and means that the mind is still active. So jnana is not yet permanent. You have to carry on with the vichara. I recommend reading Maharshi's writings and the commentaries by advanced devotees. They have explained it a lot better than me. But it is a full time job. A full time job that can go on alongside your full time job. Love Chris On May 5, 2005, at 08:37, Joy Hicklin-Bailey wrote: > > > > Thank you Chris > > When I read you first email I had a fantasy you did Atma Vichara all > day and nothing else. This is very helpful. > > Warm wishes > > Joy > > RamanaMaharshi > [RamanaMaharshi] On Behalf Of christiane > cameron > 30 April 2005 14:53 > RamanaMaharshi > Fwd: [RamanaMaharshi] Re: to Joy > > > > > > > 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 > > > > Post message: RamanaMaharshi > Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi- > Un: RamanaMaharshi > List owner: RamanaMaharshi-owner > > Our Shortcut URL: > http://www./community/RamanaMaharshi > <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/ramanamaharshi" > rel="tag">ramanamaharshi</a> > > > Links > • > RamanaMaharshi/ > > • > RamanaMaharshi > > • Terms of > Service. > > Monsoonhouse Int. Kovalam/Kerala contact: christianecameron Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2005 Report Share Posted May 7, 2005 Whewn replying to long posts, will members please take care to edit their replies. Thank you. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ --- christiane cameron <christianecameron wrote: > Sorry, but I am doing atma vichara all day (with a > few interruptions > when I get thrown out of awareness), it just doesn't > stop me from also > doing other things. > Dear Chris, I am glad to know there are people for whom atma vichara is a round the clock activity. I haven't had such luck. I don't seem to have really got the hang of it yet. Can you please elucidate for all of us on this forum how you do it. Don't forget, I am an absolute beginner! let us say you were to meet with an old friend who has absolutely no knowledge of anything religious or spiritual and he suddenly shows an interest in doing atmavichara because you manage to convince him that there is no activity more important for one's well being in the world. Then what would you suggest that he or she do to get started. love and light, alakeshwar > > > > On May 5, 2005, at 08:37, Joy Hicklin-Bailey wrote: > > > > > > > > > Thank you Chris > > > > When I read you first email I had a fantasy you > did Atma Vichara all > > day and nothing else. This is very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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