Guest guest Posted May 30, 2005 Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 Hi Rob, Wonderful to hear your story! What I would say now is to suggest that you find ways to be with Baba. At least for me, it has taken many occasions of listening to the teaching, reflecting upon what I had listened to, and deeply meditating to bring the Truth closer to my Heart. Finding a Jnani, a Guru who is That is a rare and precious opportunity! Make the best of the opportunity. TAke the grace and blessings that are available to you. Does Baba come to the US often? Can you visit Baba in India? I suggest that you do whatever it takes. Not two, Richard RamanaMaharshi, "Rob Sacks" <editor@r...> wrote: > Hi Richard, > > Sorry for the delayed reply. > > > I suspect that a part of your issue my be that > > you are not with a jnani who you can keep asking > > about practice. > > At the time you wrote, this was true, but I recently had the privilege of > spending eleven days in close contact with a jnani at a friend's house in > Oregon where he was visiting from India. We had meals together in small > groups and so forth. It was an extraordinary experience to spend time in > close proximity to him. > > There were many remarkable events and experiences but one moment in > particular will be of interest to this group. Baba (as his devotees call > him) had been asked several times over the previous few days in public > appearances why a devotee's mind tends to become quiet in the presence of > human guru. Each time he had replied that the devotee's faith is > responsible, implying that ordinary suggestion is the cause. This answer > didn't entirely satisfy me, so one night at dinner, when only a small group > of close friends was present, I asked whether in addition to faith there is > also some sort of vibration that emanates from the guru's body. At first he > emphasized the devotee's faith again but when I pressed him repeatedly for a > direct answer regarding a physical effect, he closed his eyes, turned his > face away from me, and became silent. For a moment I thought he had lost > interest in answering my question but then a sort of wave of silence washed > over me. There was my answer. The next day, somebody else who was present > told me that the silence had come over him so deeply at that moment that he > could scarcely believe it. He kept talking about the experience for the > next several days until I left Oregon. > > My friends had been trying to introduce me to Baba for several years, but I > resisted for some reason even though I had talked to him on the phone at > length several years ago and was convinced he was in the same state as Sri > Ramana. He also happens to be a very kind man. He's very sweet and > enjoyable to be with. Well, the resistance is over now. I've found my > human guru. It will be interesting to see what happens. > > Cheers, > > Rob > > P.S. If anyone would to know more about Baba or meet him, send me a private > email. > > > RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] > On Behalf Of Richard Clarke > Thursday, April 28, 2005 7:06 PM > RamanaMaharshi > [RamanaMaharshi] Re: self realization of Fuzzie > > Hi Rob, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2005 Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 RamanaMaharshi, "Rob Sacks" <editor@r...> wrote: > Hi Richard, > > Sorry for the delayed reply. > > > I suspect that a part of your issue my be that > > you are not with a jnani who you can keep asking > > about practice. > > At the time you wrote, this was true, but I recently had the privilege of > spending eleven days in close contact with a jnani at a friend's house in > Oregon where he was visiting from India. We had meals together in small > groups and so forth. ...... He also happens to be a very kind man. He's very sweet and > enjoyable to be with. ..... > Dear Rob, I am curious to know who the baba is? If he lives in India I'd like to know his whereabouts and more about him. In Bhagavan alakeshwar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Hi Richard, Baba has been coming to the US once a year, but this custom began only last year when my friends arranged his first trip. According to what I've been told, Baba realized in 1999 and for some years afterward tended to remain in an introverted state, so his travels and teaching began fairly recently. Even now he sometimes begins to sink inward during conversations unless somebody asks him a question, which usually prompts an energetic, attentive reply. It's fascinating to watch. Some of the Americans who have met him on his two trips to the US are talking about raising money and building an ashram for him in Oregon where he might stay for several months each year. Normally he lives in Dehradun, India. > Can you visit Baba in India? I > suggest that you do whatever it takes. The eleven days that I spent with him were so extraordinary that I resolved to go later this year to his existing ashram in Dehradun, India, for several months. More than that, I decided to move to Oregon and help build an ashram there. Now that I've been away from him for a week the exhilaration has died down somewhat -- I was in an almost manic state, and yet my mind was unusually quiet -- and it will be interesting to see whether I follow through on my resolutions. I think I will. > At least for me, it has taken many occasions of > listening to the teaching, reflecting upon what > I had listened to, and deeply meditating to bring > the Truth closer to my Heart. It was a little different for me. I don't think there are any teachings that are of any use to me at this point. The teaching is, "Keep the mind quiet for long periods of time and it will become automatically absorbed in its source." I've known this for six years. What else is there to know? Which is not to say that I didn't love asking Baba to describe the details of his experience. It was tremendous fun to be able to hear these things first hand and to be able to converse about them instead of just reading. But the main reason why I found it useful to listen to Baba was the effect that listening to him had on me. It didn't matter what he was talking about. Whether he was commenting on the Katha Upanishad or telling funny stories about his guru (like Sri Ramana, Baba is an excellent mimic), the mere act of listening to him had striking effects. For one thing, it engrossed my attention to an unusual extent and quieted my mind. For another thing, his mood (that's not quite the right word) is infectious. It's a sort of happy, amused, compassionate, attentive attitude to everything. The more this "mood" absorbed me, the happier I became and quieter my mind got. This "mood" was persistent and grew stronger over my visit of eleven days. And there was another kind of quieting ... the kind that occured during meditation, especially when Baba's own mind was introverted. This effect of his presence was notable and, I imagine, potentially addictive. Best regards, Rob RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] On Behalf Of Richard Clarke Monday, May 30, 2005 3:06 PM RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] Re: self realization of Fuzzie Hi Rob, Wonderful to hear your story! What I would say now is to suggest that you find ways to be with Baba. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Hi Alakeshwar, > I am curious to know who the baba is? If he lives > in India I'd like to know his whereabouts and more > about him. Baba's name is Shivarudrabalayogi. He spends most of his time at the Shivabalayogi Ashram in Dehradun, India. From now until the end of June, he will be traveling in the US and UK. His schedule of public events in those two countries is posted here: http://www.shivarudrabalayogi.com/schedule.html Best regards, Rob RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] On Behalf Of alakeshwar Tuesday, May 31, 2005 10:19 AM RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] Re: self realization of Fuzzie > Dear Rob, I am curious to know who the baba is? If he lives in India I'd like to know his whereabouts and more about him. In Bhagavan alakeshwar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 P.S. I forgot to mention one of the biggest benefits of being around Baba. Probably it's the most important one. He motivates me to practice more. He's a living example that realization is possible. He says in effect, "I did it, and you can do it too," and the statement affects my behavior. RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] On Behalf Of Rob Sacks Friday, June 03, 2005 11:19 AM RamanaMaharshi RE: [RamanaMaharshi] Re: self realization of Fuzzie Hi Richard, Baba has been coming to the US once a year, but this custom began only last year when my friends arranged his first trip... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Dear Rob, It is good to hear your story, and to see that Baba helps you quiet the mind and go within. From your post, it seems that this is just what you need. It also sounds like you see the benefits of association with the Sage, and are motivated to make good use of it. So I am pleased for you. Not two, Richard RamanaMaharshi, "Rob Sacks" <editor@r...> wrote: > Hi Richard, > > Baba has been coming to the US once a year, but this custom began only last > year when my friends arranged his first trip. According to what I've been > told, Baba realized in 1999 and for some years afterward tended to remain in > an introverted state, so his travels and teaching began fairly recently. > Even now he sometimes begins to sink inward during conversations unless > somebody asks him a question, which usually prompts an energetic, attentive > reply. It's fascinating to watch. Some of the Americans who have met him > on his two trips to the US are talking about raising money and building an > ashram for him in Oregon where he might stay for several months each year. > Normally he lives in Dehradun, India. > > > Can you visit Baba in India? I > > suggest that you do whatever it takes. > > The eleven days that I spent with him were so extraordinary that I resolved > to go later this year to his existing ashram in Dehradun, India, for several > months. More than that, I decided to move to Oregon and help build an ashram > there. Now that I've been away from him for a week the exhilaration has > died down somewhat -- I was in an almost manic state, and yet my mind was > unusually quiet -- and it will be interesting to see whether I follow > through on my resolutions. I think I will. > > > At least for me, it has taken many occasions of > > listening to the teaching, reflecting upon what > > I had listened to, and deeply meditating to bring > > the Truth closer to my Heart. > > It was a little different for me. I don't think there are any teachings > that are of any use to me at this point. The teaching is, "Keep the mind > quiet for long periods of time and it will become automatically absorbed in > its source." I've known this for six years. What else is there to know? > > Which is not to say that I didn't love asking Baba to describe the details > of his experience. It was tremendous fun to be able to hear these things > first hand and to be able to converse about them instead of just reading. > > But the main reason why I found it useful to listen to Baba was the effect > that listening to him had on me. It didn't matter what he was talking > about. Whether he was commenting on the Katha Upanishad or telling funny > stories about his guru (like Sri Ramana, Baba is an excellent mimic), the > mere act of listening to him had striking effects. For one thing, it > engrossed my attention to an unusual extent and quieted my mind. For > another thing, his mood (that's not quite the right word) is infectious. > It's a sort of happy, amused, compassionate, attentive attitude to > everything. The more this "mood" absorbed me, the happier I became and > quieter my mind got. This "mood" was persistent and grew stronger over my > visit of eleven days. > > And there was another kind of quieting ... the kind that occured during > meditation, especially when Baba's own mind was introverted. This effect of > his presence was notable and, I imagine, potentially addictive. > > Best regards, > > Rob > > > > RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] > On Behalf Of Richard Clarke > Monday, May 30, 2005 3:06 PM > RamanaMaharshi > [RamanaMaharshi] Re: self realization of Fuzzie > > Hi Rob, > > Wonderful to hear your story! What I would say now is to suggest that > you find ways to be with Baba. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Rob, So one real benefit is the increase in the desire for liberation! Sankara viewed this as the most important 'requsite for realization.' Certainly this is one of the benefits that I get from association with NOme of SAT. Again, I am happy that this Grace has come to you, and that you are ready to receive it. Not two, Richard RamanaMaharshi, "Rob Sacks" <editor@r...> wrote: > P.S. I forgot to mention one of the biggest benefits of being around Baba. > Probably it's the most important one. He motivates me to practice more. > He's a living example that realization is possible. He says in effect, "I > did it, and you can do it too," and the statement affects my behavior. > > > RamanaMaharshi [RamanaMaharshi] > On Behalf Of Rob Sacks > Friday, June 03, 2005 11:19 AM > RamanaMaharshi > RE: [RamanaMaharshi] Re: self realization of Fuzzie > > Hi Richard, > > Baba has been coming to the US once a year, but this custom began only last > year when my friends arranged his first trip... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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