Question for group.

April 20, 2006

I recently found this group and I must say that the tought of having

people with same interests to talk about is very refreshing. And

that is mostly because fot 2 years now, my life is considerably

diferent. I find myself stuck in this search for Truth and it seems

that I cannot escape.

Now, the problem is that people that used to be called friends look

at me like some kind of freak. That is ofcourse of no importance to

me but still the question remains.... Is this a normal thing to

happend? Am I on the rigth path?(whatever that is). I lost interest

in almost all the things that used to be my life, and now I can't

get rid of this constant preocupation for "who I am"...

When I go deep in this self inquery I have a strange felling, like

everything that was certain to me becomes a joke, the "I" thought

seems to be just a dirty glass that modify the perception of

reality. And the only thing that remanis is "I am", with no other

word worthy to be put after this sentence.

Anyway, what is important is what to do now? Sould I pretend to be

somebody else just to please people around me or sould I do what I

feel, and that is to let things happend and not worry?

PS: Please excuse my english:}

April 21, 2006

thing to happend? Am I on the rigth path?(whatever that is). I lost interest in

almost all the things that used to be my life, and now I can't get rid of this

constant preocupation for "who I am"... When I go deep in this self inquery I

have a strange felling, like everything that was certain to me becomes a joke,

the "I" thought seems to be just a dirty glass that modify the perception of

reality. And the only thing that remanis is "I am", with no other word worthy

to be put after this sentence. Anyway, what is important is what to do now?

Sould I pretend to be somebody else just to please people around me or sould I

do what I feel, and that is to let things happend and not worry?PS: Please

excuse my english:}

Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

April 21, 2006

Dear Cristimard,

What I think is important is that you choose activities and associates that

bring you closer to the peace within.

Agitation can come from other associations. This agitation is of the mind

and can be accompanied with more identification with the illusions and

imaginations that you are starting to see through.

Are there Ramana groups where you are?

You may also find as you open yourself to this teaching, that you will find

others of the same orientation.

Some would say that to have lost "interest in almost all the things" is a

sign of spiritual progress. The great Sage, Sankara, in 'Viveka Chudamani,'

taught of the 'four qualifications' of a seeker. These are:

Viveka - Discrimination (of the Real and unreal).

Vairagra - dispassion (what I think you are talking about for yourself)

The "six virtues:

Sama - Peace of mind, tranquility

Dama - Self control (control of mind)

Uparadhi - Detachment

Thithiksha - Fortitude or endurance

Sraddha - Faith, Deep conviction

Samadana - Deep mediation,

Mumukshuta - desire for liberation

Also, as you see, this group is a place where you can come and share with

those of like orientation, and ask questions, and help deepen your practice.

That you are drawn to "Who am I?" is great Grace. This is great blessing.

Not two,

Richard

Original Message:

-----------------

cristimard cristimard

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 05:49:34 -0000

RamanaMaharshi

[RamanaMaharshi] Question for group.

I recently found this group and I must say that the tought of having

people with same interests to talk about is very refreshing. And

that is mostly because fot 2 years now, my life is considerably

diferent. I find myself stuck in this search for Truth and it seems

that I cannot escape.

Now, the problem is that people that used to be called friends look

at me like some kind of freak. That is ofcourse of no importance to

me but still the question remains.... .....

April 22, 2006

Going deeper into that "I am" has revealed sages that eventually there are no

'others'. Does that help?

Sachin

----

cristimard

04/21/06 12:08:40

RamanaMaharshi

[RamanaMaharshi] Question for group.

I recently found this group and I must say that the tought of having people

with same interests to talk about is very refreshing. And that is mostly

because fot 2 years now, my life is considerably diferent. I find myself stuck

in this search for Truth and it seems that I cannot escape.Now, the problem is

that people that used to be called friends look at me like some kind of freak.

That is ofcourse of no importance to me but still the question remains.... Is

this a normal thing to happend? Am I on the rigth path?(whatever that is). I

lost interest in almost all the things that used to be my life, and now I can't

get rid of this constant preocupation for "who I am"... When I go deep in this

self inquery I have a strange felling, like everything that was certain to me

becomes a joke, the "I" thought seems to be just a dirty glass that modify the

perception of reality. And the only thing that remanis is "I am", with no other

word worthy to be put after this sentence. Anyway, what is important is what to

do now? Sould I pretend to be somebody else just to please people around me or

sould I do what I feel, and that is to let things happend and not worry?PS:

Please excuse my english:}

April 24, 2006

Dear Sachin,

The 'true state of being' is 'Mouna' and Mouna is beyond thought and

mind. I have the following thoughts to offer, to add to the confusion!:

The desire to 'search for Truth' arises for reasons that cannot be

easily explained. Is it curiosity? Is it wonderment? Is is frustration

with the material world? Is it an interest in the mystical? Is it the

meeting with a 'Noble Soul'? The reasons could be any and many. Did

any of us consciously desire that we shall now be in search of

'Truth'? It is just that it has happened to us?! There are millions of

people who respond differently to similar situations in life and don't

bother about any 'search'.

All through our lives, the mind has been conditioned to refer to the

bodily manifestation (with life force driving it) as the "i".When you

talk of 'I'(the capital), somehow there is a subtle allusion to the

'body'(lets call it 'Sachin') We all know that there is a constant

awareness of the body ( it can be seen, felt, even smelled), awareness

of emotions that arise and also 'shake' the body, there is awareness

of thoughts (but thoughts move so rapidly that they seem to bring out

emotions and actions through the body at a rapid pace, continuously)

and there is awareness of things beyond the body ( call it the World,

if you wish). The question is 'who' is aware of all these? It is easy

to say 'Of course me', not realising that we are unconsciously

refering to the body.

The thoughts 'my body, my feelings, my thoughts' etc are a conditioned

flow of symbols out of the brain, or is it the mind? We have no

control over the thoughts. We can't predict what thought would be

entertained, say two minutes hence. Yet, we never ask the question -

If there is no control over the flow of thoughts, who puts the

thoughts there in the first place?

When thoughts temporarily stop, even emotional upsurges temporarily

stop and the involuntary and voluntary movements of the body become

limited. Unfortunately the mind being restless, thoughts keep flowing

incessantly and rare are such moments of quietitude. Of course we do

believe that with practice such moments and their span increase.

Investigation reveals that there are many questions which cannot be

answered and even if someone gives a reply the mind cannot comprehend

the reply.

For example:

Is individual consciousness discrete or is it one of the millions of

such patches in a Universal Consciousness?

Does the desire for seeking TRUTH occur by some design or is it a

meaningless random event?

Is there a standard path for anybody to follow, to succeed in reaching

the 'destination'?

Am I designed for success on this path? Can confidence, faith,

perseverance automatically lead me to the end?

Out of every one thousand followers of Bhagavan, how many reach there?

Can I know if I have the qualities to continue in my search for Truth?

Can the meeting with an enlightened soul guarantee results?

What can't be understood at a rational plane is explained by Karma

Theory, that things happen according to ones deeds, past and present.

But it is not clear who keeps track of all the deeds and works out the

details of the consequences that have to be experienced by each of the

billions of souls.

The Universal Consciousness ( The Self or Atman or call it the

Omnipresent God, if you like)is described in the Upanishads as Sat,

Chit and Ananda - meaning Truth i.e., something that does not undergo

any transformation, Consciousness and Bliss.

The Self that Bhagavan refers to is this very Satchidananada. Hence

you don't seek the Self. It is always there!

All that the mind is capable of doing is 'trying' to focus its

energies on the imaginary spot inside the head, from where thoughts

are emerging. While doing so, start with a conditioned thought that

the 'source' of the thoughts that flow from no where and which keeps

the body in a constant flux is the 'Self'and the 'Self'alone. This

prepararedness and practice is probably a pr-requisite for reaching

the so-called destination.This is what probably Bhagavan meant by

'Enquiry of the Self'

Interestingly the destination is the cessation of thoughts and the

sublimation of the mind. In other words, 'Sachin' has to 'die' even

before the body perishes! The death of the mind is the culmination of

the Sadhana or Spiritual Efforts.

Thus Bhagvan refers to the end as a 'realization that the Self already

exists'. Of course he does not say who realises that it exists.

Obviously the SELF that always exists and is aware of ITSELF does not

need any realisation. Thwe mind, which is a product fot eh SELF cannot

comprehend the SELF. When you raise this question, He asks you to

enquire as to who wants to know?

The Self, that exists Alone, is always aware of ITS existence. hence

no realisation of this sort is warranted.

We would be raising questions and looking for answers that Bhagavan

had given, without understanding the full import of His statements.

The best thing to do is keep the desire for the Ultmate burning, try

to spend whatever time is possible delving within ourselves and

becoming a witness to our thoughts, remaining aware that the

fountainhead of the thought stream is none other than the SELF..

Hopefully this practice should, someday, stop the flow of thoughts,

dissolve the mind and stop raising all the questions that arise now!

There is no guarantee that it will happen. But we need to resolve that

whetever happens we shall keep pursuing.

May Bhagavan bless us all and guide us!

Sivaramakrishna

>

Visit your group " Terms of Service.

April 25, 2006

When replying to long posts with only a few words, please shorten the post to which you are replying, as has been done here.

~ ~ ~Moderator

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Well put Siva.

Sachin

----

mallela_srkrishna

04/25/06 05:29:45

RamanaMaharshi

[RamanaMaharshi] Re: Question for group.

Dear Sachin,

The 'true state of being' is 'Mouna' and Mouna is beyond thought and

mind. I have the following thoughts to offer, to add to the confusion!:

The desire to 'search for Truth' arises for reasons that cannot be

easily explained. Is it curiosity? Is it wonderment? Is is frustration

with the material world? Is it an interest in the mystical? Is it the

........

Visit your group " Terms of Service.

April 25, 2006

Answer to one of your questions below:

"Search for truth" (or the desire for it) is a part of the "evolution

process" . Sri Aurobindo has dwelled on this evolutionary aspect in great

detail.