Gurus, phoneys, teachers and Ramana

[Guest guest]

> I’m not sure what you mean by ‘Self Inquiry’. If you are referring

>

> specifically to the technique advocated by Ramana Maharshi, then

>

> read the recent discussions on this topic during the last couple

>

> of weeks †" it is unlikely *on its own* to be sufficient. If you

>

> mean simply investigating on your own without the help of a

>

> teacher, then this is fraught with difficulties.

 

Namaste M,

 

I really did not have a teacher or a guru. I bought a book of Upanishads and the

Gita from a Theosophical Society bookshop, in Sydney and took off from there. I

did all the usual studies of Bhagavata Purana, Sankara's works etc etc. In fact

the book that woke me up was 'Be as you are'...Ramana edited by David Godman. To

be truthful it took me at least, three readings to grasp all that was in there.

I then read the Gems, Gita, Letters from the Ashram and other works based on

Ramana.

So although I regard the late Ramana as an important Jnani I didn't have a

living guru teaching me anything. I did follow a certain guru that turned out to

less than true, but his teachings were so general, contradictory and eclectic,

that they were based at very early seekers on the path. Combine that with his

less than laudatory personal behaviour and I turned away from the 'Guru

Business'; And more into the teachings of Ramana.

In fact the teaching of Ramana that resonated with me was Ajativada, and the

method of Self Enquiry 'Who am I' resulted in certain blissful 'experiences'

which I knew to be just that. However taking this into my mind, I found that non

conscious meditation was the best adjunct to 'Who am I', for that is where it

took me and still does. Any bliss occurs on coming down, so to speak, and only

then if the mind is conscious as it descends the planes...ecstasy and bliss seem

to be memories only.....

 

So I suppose Ramana is my teacher through his statements and edited books on

him...I don't worship him as he is a Jivanmukta and not here anymore, and wasn't

here for most of his life. Also worshipping him would deflect from the non

duality of his ultimate teachings. I haven't got the quote in front of me but it

had a profound effect....If a God made the world then

[Guest guest]

advaitajnana , " Tony OClery " <aoclery wrote:

>

>

> > I’m not sure what you mean by ‘Self Inquiry’. If you are referring

> >

> > specifically to the technique advocated by Ramana Maharshi, then

> >

> > read the recent discussions on this topic during the last couple

> >

> > of weeks †" it is unlikely *on its own* to be sufficient. If you

> >

> > mean simply investigating on your own without the help of a

> >

> > teacher, then this is fraught with difficulties.

>

> Namaste M,

>

> I really did not have a teacher or a guru. I bought a book of Upanishads and

the Gita from a Theosophical Society bookshop, in Sydney and took off from

there. I did all the usual studies of Bhagavata Purana, Sankara's works etc etc.

In fact the book that woke me up was 'Be as you are'...Ramana edited by David

Godman. To be truthful it took me at least, three readings to grasp all that was

in there. I then read the Gems, Gita, Letters from the Ashram and other works

based on Ramana.

> So although I regard the late Ramana as an important Jnani I didn't have a

living guru teaching me anything. I did follow a certain guru that turned out to

less than true, but his teachings were so general, contradictory and eclectic,

that they were based at very early seekers on the path. Combine that with his

less than laudatory personal behaviour and I turned away from the 'Guru

Business'; And more into the teachings of Ramana.

> In fact the teaching of Ramana that resonated with me was Ajativada, and the

method of Self Enquiry 'Who am I' resulted in certain blissful 'experiences'

which I knew to be just that. However taking this into my mind, I found that non

conscious meditation was the best adjunct to 'Who am I', for that is where it

took me and still does. Any bliss occurs on coming down, so to speak, and only

then if the mind is conscious as it descends the planes...ecstasy and bliss seem

to be memories only.....

>

> So I suppose Ramana is my teacher through his statements and edited books on

him...I don't worship him as he is a Jivanmukta and not here anymore, and wasn't

here for most of his life. Also worshipping him would deflect from the non

duality of his ultimate teachings. I haven't got the quote in front of me but it

had a profound effect....If a God made the world then

>

let him take care of it then.....