The results of atma vichara

[Guest guest]

Earlier this week I replied to a posting to the Atma

Vichara group. My reply stated that " The result of

the practice is most real and profound. " I was asked

to expound upon my statement and I will do so now.

 

But first let me say how much I love reading the

postings of these groups. I read all of them. And I

feel that we are truly blessed, truly blessed to have

access to the Internet so that many of us from all

over the world are able to have sat-sang. Because

sat-sang is a precious thing that cannot be over

emphasized. Thank you all.

 

Also let me say that I am a very ordinary person. I

work a very demanding and challenging job; but I am

able to do so in perfect peace and tranquility as a

result of spiritual practice.

 

Prior to taking up atma-vichara, I practiced various

yogas and spiritual practices for many years. Over

the course of that time I had two human teachers.

But I never surrendered to either as my guru. The

first taught a type of physical yoga that I practiced

very very seriously. And the second is a swami of the

Ramakrishna order who taught me spiritual techniques

and also the Vedanta. It is at this time that I

became acquainted with the life and teachings of

Ramana.

 

During the years of sadhana I practiced like a man

possessed. And I had many wonderful experiences

including the awakening of Kundalini and the

experience of the SELF. But still somehow I was

disturbed because I didn't think that I had achieved

the final condition that I had expected. Really I

didn't know what to expect; but the condition I was

in at the time certainly wasn't it.

 

So, in April of 1996 I left to India for a prolonged

stay so that I could totally concentrate on my

quest. I planned to go to North India first for a few

months and then to South India.

 

I arrived in Delhi and spent the night and then went

to Rishikesh by train. I arrived in Rishikesh and my

first night there I was disturbed by jet lag and

couldn't sleep. I had only a few books with me and

one of them was a book about Ramana. I really can't

remember which book it was; but I randomly opened it

and began to read. I read a couple of short verses

that convinced me that I should take up atma-vichara.

Being quite convinced, I started immediatley.

 

I practiced vichara continually. While walking or

even while talking. This had also been my habit with

mantra. I would keep my mantra constantly every

moment of day. I learned to do this during my work

and play and all of each and every day, from morning

to bedtime. Atma-vichara was quite natural and easy

for me because I had previously experienced the SELF

and this taught me to continually remember that

experience. And in a short while I was remembering

constantly without effort.

 

After a couple of months in Rishikesh, I left for

South India. I took up residence at Aurobindo ashram

in Pondicherry and I had already made arrangements to

spend one week at Ramana Ashrama. When the time came I

left for Ramana Ashrama and when Arunachala came into

sight, I went into Sahaj Samahdi and that condition

continues to this very day.

 

This was my second visit to the Ramana ashrama. I

first went there in 1994 for a one day visit. On this

visit I spent a week there during which time I

performed pradikshina of the holy hill. When I left I

went to Auroville where I spent another month.

 

I came back to the United States in very late August

of 1996. At this point I didn't have a job and I had

sold my home. I found that my mother, a widow, had

purchased a second home in a town where the winters

are warm. She wanted me to help her move some of her

things there and to settle into her winter quarters.

So I went there with her in October and then drove her

car there in January of 1997. After about a month, I

decided to stay there and I rented an apartment. All

the while I am in the state of Sahaj Samadhi.

 

I rented my apartment and on about the fifth day of

being there, I walked out my front door and I then

noticed this huge hill that was very near. As I

looked at it through the power lines and the palm

trees I thought to myself, this hill looks a lot like

Arunachala. And then I wondered if this was the hill

that had a famous rock formation on it called the

" praying monk " . I quickly found out that this was

that hill. It is called Camelback. About a year

later a book about Camelback Mountain was published by

a person I don't know. I was amazed to discover that

Camelback Mountain was the first known place of

worship in this valley. The Native Americans

considered it to be sacred and they had a spot there

in a large cave that they used for their sacred

ceremonies.

 

So, when I am at work I can see my Holy Hill and when

I am at home I can see it and when I drive around this

valley it is also visible from almost anywhere. And

so my natural abidance in the SELF continues

throughout my daily life because I have been given

such a great gift to finally abide in SATCHITANANDA,

the supreme reality.

 

I wanted to post pictures of Camelback Mountain and

the praying monk on ; but Public sharing is no

longer an option unless the owner has Premium Service

and I don't have that. So I have attached some

pictures to his email.

 

There is so much more I could say; but I could never

really express myself the way I would like.

 

God Bless each and evey one of you. Please follow

your heart because the Sat-Guru is within each and

every ONE. And please remember, the meaning of LIFE

is BLISS.

 

michael

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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