Guest guest Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 Dear Friends, I need your help, I know that perhaps this is not the right place to post but I could not find anyone in India chat rooms to help me find information. I am a truth-seeker 24 years of age, male from Egypt. I want to devote my life in learning the Advaita Vedanta tradition in India, but I do not know anyone there to keep in touch and guide me to a spiritual teacher. If you can get me in contact with a spiritual teacher, or organization that can adopt me as their son as a servant.. to teach me this tradition and help me attain (Sahaja Samadhi), I will really be thankful to you. Sincere request, arto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 , " arto " <iamarto wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > I need your help, I know that perhaps this is not the right place to > post but I could not find anyone in India chat rooms to help me find > information. > > I am a truth-seeker 24 years of age, male from Egypt. I want to devote > my life in learning the Advaita Vedanta tradition in India, but I do > not know anyone there to keep in touch and guide me to a spiritual > teacher. > > If you can get me in contact with a spiritual teacher, or organization > that can adopt me as their son as a servant.. to teach me this > tradition and help me attain (Sahaja Samadhi), I will really be > thankful to you. > > Sincere request, > arto Namaste, Buy a book on Ramana Maharshi, and start there. Nobody on any forum is going to assist you in the way you want. More than likely you will end up with a fraud somewhere.......Do your reading first, also read any books on Sankaracharya.......And when you think you understand it intellectually then go and search-----if you have a guru they will find you..........Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 Dear arto, I am sure you may benefit much from Ramana Maharshi's teaching. You can learn from the Ramana-books - many are for free download on the page of Ramanasramam. Especially " Who am I? " and " Talks " are of interest - but all the others likewise. They also contain the essence from the Advaita Vedanta tradition and you will learn all from them what is needed. It is good to donate time for a regular reading and pondering over it, so it can ripen. If a guru is needed he will show up. Perhaps you just find in Ramana your guru. The body is dead, but the spirit still very much alive. I am unsure about organisations and official gurus. It can be much waste of time. If one dedicates one life to the goal - certainly it will all become all right. How could it be otherwise? Kind regards Gabriele perhaps this link helps: http://ramana.library.googlepages.com/ Wishing everyone a blessed and good New Year!!! , " arto " <iamarto wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > I need your help, I know that perhaps this is not the right place to > post but I could not find anyone in India chat rooms to help me find > information. > > I am a truth-seeker 24 years of age, male from Egypt. I want to devote > my life in learning the Advaita Vedanta tradition in India, but I do > not know anyone there to keep in touch and guide me to a spiritual > teacher. > > If you can get me in contact with a spiritual teacher, or organization > that can adopt me as their son as a servant.. to teach me this > tradition and help me attain (Sahaja Samadhi), I will really be > thankful to you. > > Sincere request, > arto > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 " arto " <iamarto wrote: > > I am a truth-seeker 24 years of age, male from Egypt. I want to devote > my life in learning the Advaita Vedanta tradition in India, but I do > not know anyone there to keep in touch and guide me to a spiritual > teacher. Dear Arto, I agree with both Tony and Gabriele that the Guru will find you. As a flower opens and the bee start coming, not when the flower is still closed. As for my experience, being Bhagavan Ramana my guru, I like to go to Arunachala, be in the Ramanashramam and wait the guidance to come from inside, as it did for me. You can always start by moving in a certain direction (the opening of the flower). I don't know, but I guess that in Egypt there's not much Advaita going on, right? So a trip might be necessary. There are some advaitic teachers still alive that really embody the Advaita Teaching for their understanding and clarity of the way they present their teaching. One of them is Swami Paramarthananda, who lives in Chennai and gives classes every week (it's the traditional Advaita Vedanta according to Shankara and Gaudapada). You may always start from there, besides visiting Arunachala and reading a lot of advaita. I remember you posted also in the Advaitin List a few weeks ago and got interesting responses. Wishing you good luck, Yours in Bhagavan, Mouna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Dear Mouna, I did not read the replies on that list because I un-d before they reply to me because I thought that my post was totally un-appropriate within the very mental/scholar/philosophical discussions that was happening there. However, please kindly send me those replies if you can copy-paste them in a mail to me, because I'm no longer a r.. I'll be thankful. Dear All, I really do understand the importance of reading non-duality books.. and actually I already did. However, you need to rest assure that there isn't much to say about Advaita from Maharshi, all he says is " do breath regulation to calm the mind ask yourself who am I? " Which is for me the sum of all practical sayings, as for the rest it was all philosophical/theoretical knowledge that helps in attainment in terms of " imagination " and " undoing " or " unlearning " all what the Egos false programming through life. But I have some difficulty into believing that Self Realization is as easy as asking " who am I? " . One of the genuine author examples for me was Mouni Sadhu, who wrote three books preparing the students to attain the final state " Samadhi " . First one was " In Days of Great Peace " , and second " Concentration " , and third " Samadhi " . All of which to some extent convey that Self Realization is not really easy, but it requires *effort*. A lot of the other modern non-duality books such as " I Am - Jean Klein " , or " Perfect Brilliant Stillness - By David Carse " , or " Oneness - By John Greven " all of these do not believe in *any effort necessary, but rather *lack of effort*.. but according to my own humble judgment they are less wise than Mouni Sadhu's and the Sages approach of " effort IS needed*, and *having effort in having no effort*, and *try to be aware of awareness* (Michael Langford Awareness Watching Awareness approach) rather than the modern seemingly naive approach *dont even try to be aware, you already IS ALL*. Is the contradiction visible to you now? There are 2 assumptions, one says that you need effort to get to the state of no effort, and the other says you don't need effort to be in the state of no effort. But the first one makes more sense to me.. because the nature of the Ego needs effort to *undo* not *no effort*, because if we act from a state of *no effort* than we're already that *no effort*.. it contradicts itself I believe it's more likely that those modern non-duality authors just forgot how their own Ego driven state was before they Realized their Self, and thus are giving impractical teachings based upon their new state of Realization which lacks wisdom. That was all to reach to one point, that as long as effort is needed even in practicing " no effort at all " , then attainment is not that easy, and being in Presence/Darshan of a Guru will have faster impact than trying to meditate at home.. progress at a slow pace. Well yes, you can say I'm in a hurry cause I am longing so deeply, I feel too old. Finally, I know that this message is too long but I feel the need to understand why there's a difference between a Sage and another, a modern one or the Maharshi, and I will give my own theory for it and please criticize me if I'm wrong.. As far as I understand the Self is just One " Supreme Consciousness " as far as Maharshi's definition, however the properties of the mystical Christian Trinity could be experienced each one separately to a certain degree of Perfection. The Father-God (omnipotence), the Mother-God (Holy Breath, Intelligence), and the Christ Consciousness (Love). For me the difference between a modern non-duality practitioner and the Maharshi will be a difference in degree as to the following: Maharshi & Renowned Sages: 1. Father-God --> Perfect Realization 2. Christ Consciousness --> Perfect Realization 3. Holy Breath --> Perfect Realization Modern Sages: 1. Father-God --> Excellent Realization 2. Christ Consciousness --> Excellent Realization 3. Holy Breath --> Low Realization I believe this is the limitation of consciousness into the Holy Breath quality, which will provide All the Complete Knowledge & Wisdom that the Maharshi was referring to, and which he himself was an example in all his actions and direct perception/understanding of all his surrounding people. Why are people an open book to Maharshi whereas not to modern non-dualers? Whereas modern practitioners will very much feel the Love power in the Self (Christ Consciousness) and the power of Completeness and omnipotence separate from the Ego (Father-God) quality. And that's what I believe I sincerely hope you correct me if I'm wrong as I'm also a seeker of truth. First it appeared to me that all the Self Realized are One, but they aren't.. and that's my own theory about *Why*. Anyway, this discussion was blown away.. I hope you excuse me for the long post thanks a lot, arto , " upadesa " <maunna wrote: > > " arto " <iamarto@> wrote: > > > > I am a truth-seeker 24 years of age, male from Egypt. I want to devote > > my life in learning the Advaita Vedanta tradition in India, but I do > > not know anyone there to keep in touch and guide me to a spiritual > > teacher. > > Dear Arto, > > I agree with both Tony and Gabriele that the Guru will find you. As a > flower opens and the bee start coming, not when the flower is still > closed. > As for my experience, being Bhagavan Ramana my guru, I like to go to > Arunachala, be in the Ramanashramam and wait the guidance to come from > inside, as it did for me. You can always start by moving in a certain > direction (the opening of the flower). > I don't know, but I guess that in Egypt there's not much Advaita going > on, right? So a trip might be necessary. > There are some advaitic teachers still alive that really embody the > Advaita Teaching for their understanding and clarity of the way they > present their teaching. One of them is Swami Paramarthananda, who > lives in Chennai and gives classes every week (it's the traditional > Advaita Vedanta according to Shankara and Gaudapada). You may always > start from there, besides visiting Arunachala and reading a lot of > advaita. > I remember you posted also in the Advaitin List a few weeks ago and > got interesting responses. > > Wishing you good luck, > > Yours in Bhagavan, > Mouna > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 In , " arto " <iamarto wrote: > > Dear Mouna, > > I did not read the replies on that list because I un-d before > they reply to me because I thought that my post was totally > un-appropriate within the very mental/scholar/philosophical > discussions that was happening there. However, please kindly send me > those replies if you can copy-paste them in a mail to me, because I'm > no longer a r.. I'll be thankful. > Dear Arto, All the postings of the Advaitin List are viewable by anybody, go and take a look of the responses you get. Strange that you never took the time to wait for responses... but everyone is different. Anyhow, it's all there. Yours in Bhagavan, Mouna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Dear Arto, Some thoughts, as I understand it... >> However, you need to rest assure that there isn't much to say >> about Advaita from Maharshi, all he says is " do breath regulation >> to calm the mind ask yourself who am I? " My own experience is that all that Bhagavan says lives and breathes 'Advaita'. The more familiar I became with the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, Shankaras commentaries & so on, the more I appreciated how much the great truths illuminated therein fall from the Master's lips in easy phrases and apparently ordinary conversation with devotees. >> But I have some difficulty into believing that Self Realization >> is as easy as asking " who am I? " . One of the genuine author examples >> for me was Mouni Sadhu, who wrote three books preparing the students >> to attain the final state " Samadhi " . First one was " In Days of Great Peace " , >> and second " Concentration " , and third " Samadhi " . All of which to some >> extent convey that Self Realization is not really easy, but it requires *effort*. I think your summary is correct if we clarify that Self inquiry involves more that just asking an intellectual question. I'm not sure that Bhagavan says anywhere that 'self inquiry' is easy, though he does say it is the Direct Path. " Direct " and " easy " are not synonymous. For example, he says: " There is a state beyond our efforts or effortlessness. Until it is realised effort is necessary. " (Talks: 140) However the effort involved in self inquiry is on behalf of the jiva, not the Self. " The ever-present Self needs no efforts to be realised, Realisation is already there. Illusion alone is to be removed. " (Talk 80) By analogy, the sun always shines and is self luminous, one does not need to light another light to see it. Only the clouds (of illusion) need to be removed. This is pure Advaita. D.: How to do it? M.: The 'I' is always there - in deep sleep, in dream and in wakefulness. The one in sleep is the same as that who now speaks. There is always the feeling of 'I'. Otherwise do you deny your existence? You do not. You say 'I am'. Find out who is. D.: Even so, I do not understand. 'I', you say, is the wrong 'I' now. How to eliminate this wrong 'I'? M.: You need not eliminate the wrong 'I'. How can 'I' eliminate itself? All that you need do is to find out its origin and abide there. Your efforts can extend only thus far. Then the Beyond will take care of itself. You are helpless there. No effort can reach it. (Talk 197) The potential problem in modern neo-advaita is that acknowledges the truth of the 'no effort' side of the question as it pertains to the Self, but omits the effort side as it pertains to the jiva. Best wishes, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 , " arto " <iamarto wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > I need your help, I know that perhaps this is not the right place to > post but I could not find anyone in India chat rooms to help me find > information. > > I am a truth-seeker 24 years of age, male from Egypt. I want to devote > my life in learning the Advaita Vedanta tradition in India, but I do > not know anyone there to keep in touch and guide me to a spiritual > teacher. > > If you can get me in contact with a spiritual teacher, or organization > that can adopt me as their son as a servant.. to teach me this > tradition and help me attain (Sahaja Samadhi), I will really be > thankful to you. > > Sincere request, > arto > Namaste,Arto, There is no doubt a lot of Sufi literature in Egypt. People such as Jalaladin Rumi, Din Attar, Ibn Arabi, Chisti, Mansour etc...These are all bhaktis and non dualists in the sakti fashion.....This would all be a good start for you.................Cheers Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Thanks Are you pointing out for the sake of language? arto , " Tony OClery " <aoclery wrote: > > , " arto " <iamarto@> wrote: > > > > Dear Friends, > > > > I need your help, I know that perhaps this is not the right place to > > post but I could not find anyone in India chat rooms to help me find > > information. > > > > I am a truth-seeker 24 years of age, male from Egypt. I want to > devote > > my life in learning the Advaita Vedanta tradition in India, but I do > > not know anyone there to keep in touch and guide me to a spiritual > > teacher. > > > > If you can get me in contact with a spiritual teacher, or > organization > > that can adopt me as their son as a servant.. to teach me this > > tradition and help me attain (Sahaja Samadhi), I will really be > > thankful to you. > > > > Sincere request, > > arto > > > Namaste,Arto, > > There is no doubt a lot of Sufi literature in Egypt. People such as > Jalaladin Rumi, Din Attar, Ibn Arabi, Chisti, Mansour etc...These are > all bhaktis and non dualists in the sakti fashion.....This would all > be a good start for you.................Cheers > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 , " arto " <iamarto wrote: > > Thanks Are you pointing out for the sake of language? > arto > > , " Tony OClery " <aoclery@> wrote: > > > > , " arto " <iamarto@> wrote: > > > > > > Dear Friends, > > > > > > I need your help, I know that perhaps this is not the right place to > > > post but I could not find anyone in India chat rooms to help me find > > > information. > > > > > > I am a truth-seeker 24 years of age, male from Egypt. I want to > > devote > > > my life in learning the Advaita Vedanta tradition in India, but I do > > > not know anyone there to keep in touch and guide me to a spiritual > > > teacher. > > > > > > If you can get me in contact with a spiritual teacher, or > > organization > > > that can adopt me as their son as a servant.. to teach me this > > > tradition and help me attain (Sahaja Samadhi), I will really be > > > thankful to you. > > > > > > Sincere request, > > > arto > > > > > Namaste,Arto, > > > > There is no doubt a lot of Sufi literature in Egypt. People such as > > Jalaladin Rumi, Din Attar, Ibn Arabi, Chisti, Mansour etc...These are > > all bhaktis and non dualists in the sakti fashion.....This would all > > be a good start for you.................Cheers Namaste, No just availability. You live in Egypt but you don't say whether your are a Copt, a Greek or a Muslim, etc. If there are no books on Vedanta, there surely must be books on the Sufis........ You can find all you want online anyway.........Cheers Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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