New member introduction

[Guest guest]

List Moderators' Note: Welcome Sri Chandana to the advaitin list. We look forward to your active participation with your thoughtful insights. We request other new members to provide an introduction similar like this which will be beneficial to all.

My namaskaarams to the moderators and members of the Advaitins group...My name is Chandana. I have completed my Engineering (B.Tech.) studies last year and am presently a housewife. I am an ardent devotee of Adi Shankaracharya and have high respect and admiration for His works, the Advaita philosophy and other great spiritual masters like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Ramana Maharshi and Swami Vivekananda . I am definitely not an expert in either understanding or realizing the truths of the Advaita Vedanta, but I am a spiritual seeker and wish to know more about the philosophy and the works of Adi Shankaracharya. I am looking forward to learn more from the knowledgeable members of this group.With Regards...Chandana.

[Guest guest]

List Moderators' Note: Welcome Sri Gavin to the advaitin list. We look forward to your active participation with your thoughtful insights. We request other new members to provide an introduction similar like this which will be beneficial to all.

 

Hi my name is Gavin, I'm 28 and I have been on 'the spiritual path' for at least three years. I started reading Neo-Advaitan books (to give them a name). That is the works of Eckhart Tolle and Adyashanti. There was a quality to reading these books, I felt an emotional change after reading them, put another way - I had been moved. The problem, however, was that I felt like a dog chasing my tail. What I wanted was to know that I was on the track, or facing in the right direction.

 

A book or the book that made me focus my attention on Advaita was "Enlightenment - The Path Through The Jungle" by Dennis Waite. This made me realise that simply reading Advaitan literature might not be the only or most effective way of acheiving what I want and what is referred to as 'Enlightenment' (I'm still not sure what this is). "The Path through the jungle" left the distinct impression that a guru is needed. In the chapter - 'Need for a guru' reference is made to Swami Chinmayananda when asked why we simply can't study Vedanta ourselves in the library. He answered "Ask that question to the library." I would happily seek out a guru, even travel to India to find this - however I would want to be sure that I was with the right guru and I would make the abslute best of my time I have a finite amount of money!

 

So my questions - how do I get on the right path? How do I know? Is finding a guru a matter of trial and error? Should I just keep reading? Why does so much of Advaita Vedenta seem so academic, who much of the path is academic?

 

I appreciate I am a little out of my depth in regards Advaita, I can assure you my intentions are sincere and wish to give 100% of myself to what I believe to be the truth. I would greatly appreciate any help or advice in my quest.

 

Kind Regards

Gavin

[Guest guest]

Hi Gavin,

As I tried to point out in the book you mention, the recommended,

and only sure path is to commit to a prolonged period of learning with a

qualified teacher. And it is ‘prolonged’! We are talking many years

for most seekers (the scriptures even speak of ‘lifetimes’, though

this obviously necessitates a faith in reincarnation!) It is not categorically

impossible that you might gain self-knowledge simply through reading and

discussion; it is simply considerably more difficult. You also need to be very

judicious about which books you choose. Many can give you the ‘taste’

but few can give you any real guidance about how to make progress. You have

certainly made a good first step in joining this group!

Do not be put off by the many ‘academic’ discussions.

There are many members of the group. Some are ‘into’ academic but,

almost certainly, most are not. (It is difficult to know this with certainty

since the vast majority are ‘silent’ members. We attempted to

discover the relative experience/knowledge of members a few years back but most

simply did not respond to the poll.)

It is said that, when you are ‘ready’ for a teacher (i.e.

have the requisite degree of commitment and desire to attain enlightenment),

then one will ‘appear’. Personally, I have to confess to some skepticism

here! If you tell us whereabouts you are based, I or others can attempt to

provide a recommendation. You would be lucky indeed if you lived near a teacher

in Swami Dayananda’s lineage for example, but there could well be a Chinmaya

Mission in your vicinity.

Best wishes,

Dennis

 

 

 

 

advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf Of Gavin

Andrews

Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:44 PM

advaitin

Re: New member introduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<<I have been on 'the spiritual path'

for at least three years. I started reading Neo-Advaitan books (to give them a

name). That is the works of Eckhart Tolle and Adyashanti. There was a quality

to reading these books, I felt an emotional change after reading them, put

another way - I had been moved. The problem, however, was that I felt like

a dog chasing my tail. What I wanted was to know that I was on the

track, or facing in the right direction…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So my

questions - how do I get on the right path? How do I know? Is finding a guru a

matter of trial and error? Should I just keep reading? Why does so much of

Advaita Vedenta seem so academic, who much of the path is academic?>>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste Shri Gavin,

 

Welcome to this group.

 

advaitin , Gavin Andrews <gavandrews80 wrote:

 

> So my questions - how do I get on the right path? How do I know? Is

> finding a guru a matter of trial and error? Should I just keep reading?

> Why does so much of Advaita Vedenta seem so academic, who much of the path

> is academic?

 

Please refer to an excellent answer (to a similar question) that has been

answered by Shrimati Durga-ji who is a member of this list. The mails

explain a lot about teaching in Vedanta, importance of traditional teaching,

intermingled with her own Vedantic search. Here are the links to the

replies.

 

advaitin/message/42646

advaitin/message/42649

 

praNAms to all Advaitins,

Ramakrishna

[Guest guest]

Dear Gavin,

 

Once someone asked Sri Ramana

Maharshi this exact same question, “How can I find my Guru?” The

reply of Sri Ramana was, “through intense meditation.”

 

To your question, everyone will

answer in their own way, according to their own predispositions and

understanding of what a Guru is and what Realization is etc. Sri Ramana was

saying that the answer to your question must come from the intensity of your

own meditation. The term used by Bhagavan, is not meditation but “intense

meditation.” The intensity of your meditation is proportional to your

focus on Self-Realization.

 

According the scriptures and

sages, the quality of “Mumukshutva” is important in a Sadhaka (an

aspirant). It refers to intense longing for liberation. If that is there, Bhagavan

himself will show up as the Guru at your door. You should have absolutely

no doubt about that. Complete faith and conviction in the words of the Guru leads

to Self-Realization.

 

Namaste and love

 

Yours in Bhagavan

Harsha

 

 

 

 

 

 

advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf Of Gavin

Andrews

Sunday, March 29, 2009 6:44 PM

advaitin

Re: New member introduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

List Moderators' Note: Welcome Sri Gavin to the advaitin list. We look forward

to your active participation with your thoughtful insights. We request other

new members to provide an introduction similar like this which will be

beneficial to all.

 

Hi my name is Gavin, I'm 28 and I have been on 'the spiritual path' for at

least three years. I started reading Neo-Advaitan books (to give them a name).

That is the works of Eckhart Tolle and Adyashanti. There was a quality to

reading these books, I felt an emotional change after reading them, put

another way - I had been moved. The problem, however, was that I felt like

a dog chasing my tail. What I wanted was to know that I was on the

track, or facing in the right direction.

 

 

 

 

 

A book

or the book that made me focus my attention on Advaita was " Enlightenment

- The Path Through The Jungle " by Dennis Waite. This made me realise that

simply reading Advaitan literature might not be the only or most effective way

of acheiving what I want and what is referred to

as 'Enlightenment' (I'm still not sure what this is). " The Path

through the jungle " left the distinct impression that a guru is needed. In

the chapter - 'Need for a guru' reference is made to Swami Chinmayananda when

asked why we simply can't study Vedanta ourselves in the library. He answered

" Ask that question to the library. " I would happily seek out a

guru, even travel to India to find this - however I would want to be sure that

I was with the right guru and I would make the abslute best of my time I have a

finite amount of money!

 

 

 

 

 

So my

questions - how do I get on the right path? How do I know? Is finding a guru a

matter of trial and error? Should I just keep reading? Why does so much of

Advaita Vedenta seem so academic, who much of the path is academic?

 

 

 

 

 

I appreciate

I am a little out of my depth in regards Advaita, I can assure you my

intentions are sincere and wish to give 100% of myself to what I believe

to be the truth. I would greatly appreciate any help or advice in my quest.

 

 

 

 

 

Kind Regards

 

 

Gavin

[Guest guest]

List Moderators's Note: We once again request new and existing members not to include the entire messages of the previous posters while sending your reply. Keep that part of the message that is relevant and remove the other parts.

 

 

Hi Dennis,

 

Thank you for your message. I think I will read 'The path through the jungle' again, so many things rang true and have forgotten most of it - pen and pad required!

 

I live in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I have been considering a career break and spending time in India, I would gladly spend this time with a credible teacher to ground me in the teaching with a view to continue the study when I return home.

 

Kind Regards

Gavin.

 

 

 

Dennis Waite <dwaiteadvaitin Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 5:52:56 PMRE: New member introduction

 

 

 

Hi Gavin,

As I tried to point out in the book you mention, the recommended, and only sure path is to commit to a prolonged period of learning with a qualified teacher. And it is ‘prolonged’! We are talking many years for most seekers (the scriptures even speak of ‘lifetimes’, though this obviously necessitates a faith in reincarnation! ) It is not categorically impossible that you might gain self-knowledge simply through reading and discussion; it is simply considerably more difficult. You also need to be very judicious about which books you choose. Many can give you the ‘taste’ but few can give you any real guidance about how to make progress. You have certainly made a good first step in joining this group!

Do not be put off by the many ‘academic’ discussions. There are many members of the group. Some are ‘into’ academic but, almost certainly, most are not. (It is difficult to know this with certainty since the vast majority are ‘silent’ members. We attempted to discover the relative experience/knowledg e of members a few years back but most simply did not respond to the poll.)

It is said that, when you are ‘ready’ for a teacher (i.e. have the requisite degree of commitment and desire to attain enlightenment) , then one will ‘appear’. Personally, I have to confess to some skepticism here! If you tell us whereabouts you are based, I or others can attempt to provide a recommendation. You would be lucky indeed if you lived near a teacher in Swami Dayananda’s lineage for example, but there could well be a Chinmaya Mission in your vicinity.

Best wishes,

Dennis

 

 

 

advaitin@ s.com [advaitin] On Behalf Of Gavin AndrewsSunday, March 29, 2009 11:44 PMadvaitin@ s.comRe: New member introduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

<<I have been on 'the spiritual path' for at least three years. I started reading Neo-Advaitan books (to give them a name). That is the works of Eckhart Tolle and Adyashanti. There was a quality to reading these books, I felt an emotional change after reading them, put another way - I had been moved. The problem, however, was that I felt like a dog chasing my tail. What I wanted was to know that I was on the track, or facing in the right direction…

 

 

 

 

 

So my questions - how do I get on the right path? How do I know? Is finding a guru a matter of trial and error? Should I just keep reading? Why does so much of Advaita Vedenta seem so academic, who much of the path is academic?>>

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Gavin,

About the best I can find in Belfast is a branch of SES (27

College Gardens, Malone Road, Belfast.) This is not traditional advaita, though

(at least it wasn’t  when I was there, being mixed up with sAMkhya and yoga).

Progress is also *very* slow and you take pot luck whether you get a

good tutor or not. But it is good for an introduction and, if you do get a good

tutor, you could maybe get some questions answered. SES is also good for sAdhanA

chatuShTaya sampatti (preparing the mind, essentially) and excellent for

Sanskrit.

You don’t actually have to go to India these days, either. There

are some good teachers in the US. Maybe you could continue your career over

there. There is also an Arsha Vidya centre in London (disciple of Swami

Dayananda teaching).

Best wishes,

Dennis

 

 

 

 

advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf Of Gavin

Andrews

Wednesday, April 01, 2009 9:10 PM

advaitin

Re: New member introduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<<I live in Belfast, Northern

Ireland. I have been considering a career break and spending time in

India, I would gladly spend this time with a credible teacher to ground me in

the teaching with a view to continue the study when I return home.>>