Guest guest Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Question: I want to ask one last question. What is the significance of Arunachala? Last night was full moon. So many people went round the hill. I also went. Annamalai Swami: It is not an ordinary hill. It is not like other hills in the world. It is a spiritual hill. Those who associate with it feel a magnetic pull towards the Self. Though it is in the form of a hill, it has the full energy of the Self. Seekers who come to this place with the intention of realising the Self can be much benefited by going round the hill. Walking round the hill can help you a lot with your sadhana. There is water everywhere under the ground, but there are some places where it is easier to get at. Likewise, the Self is everywhere. There is no place that is without it, but it is also true that there are certain places, certain people, around which and around whom the presence of the Self can be easily felt. In the proximity of this hill, the presence of the Self is more powerful and more self-evident than anywhere else. However, the great glory of this hill cannot be explained in words. One has to experience it for oneself. We often say, ‘I slept happily,’ but if someone asks you to explain in words the happiness you felt in that state, what can you say? You can experience it, but you can’t really explain it. This is how the Self is. You can experience it, you can become it, but you cannot explain this state through words. The same thing can be said about this hill. You can experience it, but you can’t explain it in a satisfactory way. In Indian mythology we have a wish-fulfilling tree. If you find this tree and tell it what you want, your wish will be granted. Arunachala also has this reputation. That is why so many people come here on a full moon night and walk around it. But very few people come here and ask for enlightenment, for undisturbed peace. All beings are ultimately searching for undisturbed peace, but who asks for it here? It you are ready to receive peace, Arunachala can give it to you. This peace is already within us, but people don’t appreciate this, so they go looking for it all over the place, in external locations. Annamalai Swami, Final Talks edited by David Godman picture taken from www.ramana-maharshi.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Dear Vicky, thank you for the beautiful photograph of the magic red hill. My Lord Shiva. And for the words of Annamalai Swami. It was through Godman's book on him, that I got my first Upadesa and it was the cover photo of Arunachala, that led me home. When I was a small girl, I always felt that I was not living in my real home. I knew that my home was near a mountain and that it was a warm and magical place. So every mountain I saw when on holidays with my parents or later on my own I scrutinized for signs of recognition. Years passed, but I always was convinced life woud lead me to it. That day came, when in 1995 while browsing the shelves of an pleasantly airconditioned bookstore in midsummer Trivandrum, my eyes fell on Godman's " Living by the words of Bhagawan " with Arunachala dominating the cover. I recognized my mountain instantly and when I saw Maharshi 's beautiful face, everything fell into place. Search for home and Guru was over. Id love Arunachala. When you travel by car to Thiruvannamalai, the excitement starts after leaving the Chennai highway, because I know that I will be able to see Arunachala any minute now a long long way in the distance. At first its tiny, but it grows as you get closer until it looms large when you reach the city. It feel as if the world ends right there at the Arunachaleswar Temple. You have the temple and the mountain and thats it. What joy to arrive in Thiruvannamalai and what sorrow when you have to leave. My neck always aches from turning around in the taxi so that I can see my mountain until the very last minute. Arunachala beloved, when will these eyes see you again? Chris On Oct 28, 2004, at 20:20, viorica weissman wrote: > > <aruna_75.jpg> > > > Question: I want to ask one last question. What is the significance of > Arunachala? Last night was full moon. So many people went round the > hill. I also went. > > > > Annamalai Swami: It is not an ordinary hill. It is not like other > hills in the world. It is a spiritual hill. Those who associate with > it feel a magnetic pull towards the Self. Though it is in the form of > a hill, it has the full energy of the Self. Seekers who come to this > place with the intention of realising the Self can be much benefited > by going round the hill. Walking round the hill can help you a lot > with your sadhana. > > There is water everywhere under the ground, but there are some > places where it is easier to get at. Likewise, the Self is everywhere. > There is no place that is without it, but it is also true that there > are certain places, certain people, around which and around whom the > presence of the Self can be easily felt. In the proximity of this > hill, the presence of the Self is more powerful and more self-evident > than anywhere else. However, the great glory of this hill cannot be > explained in words. One has to experience it for oneself. > > We often say, ‘I slept happily,’ but if someone asks you to > explain in words the happiness you felt in that state, what can you > say? You can experience it, but you can’t really explain it. > > This is how the Self is. You can experience it, you can become > it, but you cannot explain this state through words. The same thing > can be said about this hill. You can experience it, but you can’t > explain it in a satisfactory way. > > In Indian mythology we have a wish-fulfilling tree. If you find > this tree and tell it what you want, your wish will be granted. > Arunachala also has this reputation. That is why so many people come > here on a full moon night and walk around it. But very few people come > here and ask for enlightenment, for undisturbed peace. All beings are > ultimately searching for undisturbed peace, but who asks for it here? > It you are ready to receive peace, Arunachala can give it to you. > > This peace is already within us, but people don’t appreciate > this, so they go looking for it all over the place, in external > locations. > > > > Annamalai Swami, Final Talks > > edited by David Godman > > picture taken from www.ramana-maharshi.org > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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