tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post2409541324955091058..comments2023-10-16T13:06:42.360+01:00Comments on Happiness of Being: The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi: Sleep is our natural state of pure self-awarenessMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-71831729695819407662016-04-19T16:11:47.794+01:002016-04-19T16:11:47.794+01:00Michael,
do you think you would find at some time ...Michael,<br />do you think you would find at some time or other to reply at least succintly to the above comments of Tiruchuli (27 December 2015) till Ninive (30 December 2015)?<br />If you do not intend or it is not possible to reply perhaps I may prepare the elaboration of a revised version of the essential or central questions.mind-polishernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-60976616229651929412015-12-30T18:29:29.168+00:002015-12-30T18:29:29.168+00:00Michael,
it is really asthonishing that this ego ...Michael,<br />it is really asthonishing that this ego seem to have the power to mix our self-awareness which<br /> a) alone is what exists in all of our three states and<br /> b) remains in its pristine natural condition of our pure state of pristine self-awareness<br />with any body-awareness. Apparently in our self-ignorance we act under a hidden compulsion or on an irrestible impulse. In that circumstances it is not surprising that the daily subsidence of our ego happens due to tiredness or exhaustion. Our poor ego seems to overstrain itself.<br />Oh Arunachala, our ego needs urgently and strongly to experience its permanent subsidence by recognising that it does not actually exist. Why could I ever give self-investigation a wide berth ? Ninivenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-53527378359205727842015-12-30T17:30:02.428+00:002015-12-30T17:30:02.428+00:00Michael,
section 10,
you write that the ignorance...Michael, <br />section 10,<br />you write that the ignorance of sleep is a phenomenon that seems to exist only in the view of our ego in waking or dream.<br />May I put the ingeniuos question why should we have no direct access to our own pure self-awareness in sleep (atma svarupa) in whose view or perspective no ego has ever existed or could ever exist ? <br />If it is true that sleep is eternal and is never interrupted by either waking or dream why on the other hand should we be dependent on the support or testimonial of our ego or mind to know if in sleep is ignorance or our pure self-awareness ?Parmenidesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-70088354700283311652015-12-29T22:57:20.633+00:002015-12-29T22:57:20.633+00:00Michael,
section 10,
"Therefore when he says ...Michael,<br />section 10,<br />"Therefore when he says that sleep is not ignorance but ...our natural state of pure self-awareness. And when he says,'Your real nature covers both ...and extends beyond'...that pure self-awareness, which is our real nature, exists not only in sleep but also in waking and dream, because it transcends the illusory appearance of these three alternating states."<br />Why is (sleep as) the pure self-awareness, which is our real nature, called here now an illusory appearance of one of three alternating states ?<br />I cannot comprehend the necessity of introduction of a fourth state in view of the fact that sleep as the third state is actually the one real state that underlies the appearance of both waking and dream.Eudaimonianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-47518393803053435342015-12-29T22:14:11.735+00:002015-12-29T22:14:11.735+00:00Michael,
section 10,
as Osiris already suspects in...Michael,<br />section 10,<br />as Osiris already suspects in his comment above:<br />If it is true that we exist in sleep as ourself as we really are and sleep is our eternal pure state why do we not remember it in waking and dreaming ?Titicacanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-4662551979111997822015-12-29T21:52:17.349+00:002015-12-29T21:52:17.349+00:00Michael,
as you write in section 9,our self-invest...Michael,<br />as you write in section 9,our self-investigation must begin with investigation of this ego.<br />That means: the one portion of awareness of a body or anything else must investigate the other component (its essential self-awareness).<br />Within this body-mixed self-awareness called ego we - as the actually non-existent ego - must try to isolate and experience only its essence, our actually existing pure self-awareness. <br />Is not that task from the outset beyond the capability of the ego ?<br />How can an (the) actually nonexistent thing isolate and experience the actually existing thing ? In that point I do not understand the feasibility of the 'direct path'.Alamara Sunainoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-30417179597702368532015-12-28T00:11:27.031+00:002015-12-28T00:11:27.031+00:00Michael,
section 8,
according to Bhagavan do we ex...Michael,<br />section 8,<br />according to Bhagavan do we experience ourself in sleep, when there is no ego or mind at all.<br />Why is the awareness of sleep not remembered ? Is it not said that the happiness of our true nature is an indescribable or inutterable experience ?<br />How can it be that we cannot /do not remember an ecstatic experience ?<br />Or is the awareness of our natural state in any case unspectacular because it is an everyday occurrence ?Osirisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-34087496305296550642015-12-27T23:22:02.793+00:002015-12-27T23:22:02.793+00:00Michael,
section 7:
Although according to Bhagavan...Michael,<br />section 7:<br />Although according to Bhagavan everything other than our own actual self is just a thought or mental fabrication or an expansion of our ego we are not released of our duty to live and act in our illusory world as it would be real in order to purify our mind.nutcrackernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-42267567665860472912015-12-27T22:54:46.936+00:002015-12-27T22:54:46.936+00:00Michael,
section 5 and 6:
We all experience in wak...Michael,<br />section 5 and 6:<br />We all experience in waking and dream (by means of the thought) 'this body composed of (subtle) flesh' this body as 'I'. Why does Sri Ramana reduce that global and world-widely known fundamental experience to an illusory experience ?<br />Because in waking and dream there are thoughts and consequently there is also a world.<br />When svarupa appears(shines) [as it really is] the world does not appear.<br />Why not leave the appearance or non-appearance to svarupa ?<br />Just as the spider spins out thread from itself and after some days, weeks or months again draws it back into itself, why not let the mind project the world from within itself and again dissolve it back into itself on the last day of its existence ?Mawenzinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-17340699236298151522015-12-27T22:02:47.474+00:002015-12-27T22:02:47.474+00:00Michael,
Section 4, last sentence:
"Therefore...Michael,<br />Section 4, last sentence:<br />"Therefore our current body and current state are each actually just one among our many dream bodies and dream states, and though the body that we experience as ourself in each of theses dreams is different, …".<br />When we are (seeming) waking we currently experience only our "waking" body. Obviously in this waking state we do not experience also simultaneously the dream body of the previous dream state. The question arises whether the dream body was dissolved in the transitional phase from dreaming to waking or where else it has gone?<br /> Does the ego prepare creating the dream body for the next following dream state in the transitional phase from sleeping (gap) to dreaming ?Sardesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-42403520425006801092015-12-27T18:46:16.652+00:002015-12-27T18:46:16.652+00:00Michael,
you write in section 4:
"…our ego is...Michael,<br />you write in section 4:<br />"…our ego is the root cause of everything, and it comes into existence and endures only by projecting and clinging to ‚forms‘, by which term he means phenomena or anything other than our own actual self."<br />Some ideas arise regarding that topic:<br />"Existence" of something is the fact that it is present (in the world as a real thing).<br />"Existing" is used to describe something which is now present, available or in operation.<br />To be able to project forms the ego must have been existing before projecting forms or simultaneously. <br />How is coming into existence by projecting (his own) forms possible ?<br />Projection as the act of projecting (in the sense of making of visible images) demands the help of a projector(machine that projects films or slides onto a screen or wall), screen and a projecting room. So the projector is conventional already existing before starting projecting.<br />When stated in section 3 that svarupa(our ‚ own form‘ or actual self) is the place where the thought called ‚I‘ does not exist even a little then the „projector“ or „projectionist“ could/does not exist in svarupa.<br />From somewhere else does the ego - while functioning as a projecting machine - get the power of projecting ?<br />How came the ego into its seeming existence/being or from where did it emerge/rise ?<br />What else is its seeming genesis or history of the origins ?<br />What is its place of seeming origin ?Tiruchulinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-13716802700212969872015-12-19T09:18:49.121+00:002015-12-19T09:18:49.121+00:00I did read it. Thank you Michael. I appreciate you...I did read it. Thank you Michael. I appreciate your reply. Michal Borkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04537495686942638310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-28154903318366071912015-12-13T19:40:41.101+00:002015-12-13T19:40:41.101+00:00Michal, in a comment on my most recent article, Th...Michal, in a <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2015/12/thought-of-oneself-will-destroy-all.html#c1666960044357549144" rel="nofollow">comment</a> on my most recent article, <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/thought-of-oneself-will-destroy-all.html" rel="nofollow">Thought of oneself will destroy all other thoughts</a>, I have replied to <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2015/11/sleep-is-our-natural-state-of-pure-self.html#c912523662444828568" rel="nofollow">your comment</a> here and to the comments of other friends who supported your suggestion that I should write stories about Sadhu Om and the time I spent in his company.<br /><br />As Kalpavriksha <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2015/11/sleep-is-our-natural-state-of-pure-self.html#c6895500172967604496" rel="nofollow">wrote</a>, I prefer to leave storytelling to others, many of whom can probably do it much better than I could, because my primary interest is the teachings of Bhagavan. Suffice it to say, therefore, that most of the time I spent in the company of Sadhu Om we were talking about Bhagavan’s teachings, so my most prominent memories about him are concerning the clarity that he imparted about these teachings, a poor reflection of which I hope I am managing to share through this blog.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-70913900696651726312015-11-17T23:49:52.380+00:002015-11-17T23:49:52.380+00:00Oh Arunachala,
please let me/us understand that ev...Oh Arunachala,<br />please let me/us understand that even at this present moment the ego is not real.<br />Oh, Red Mountain of dazzling light, let me/us see that what actually exists is only ourself and not this illusory ego.<br />Now I remember a bright light some years ago when I descended down at 17 h 30 from a south-west spot around 100 meters below the top of Arunachala the stones of the mountain under my feet glowed in a wonderful fantastic mixture of pink and mauve light some fifteen minutes. I trembled deeply moved. What an experience - although the light was seen mainly only around me and just afterwards also in me.Amritanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-68955001729676044962015-11-16T12:47:45.012+00:002015-11-16T12:47:45.012+00:00Regarding the desire for having Michaels autobiogr...Regarding the desire for having Michaels autobiography I would look forward to it with pleasure and I would be very interested.<br />But some years ago Michael told me that he would be concentrated on trying to impart the correct understanding of Sri Ramana's teachings. He should prefer to leave "story telling " to others.Kalpavrikshanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-77971805901741400222015-11-16T09:26:45.422+00:002015-11-16T09:26:45.422+00:00I think a physical book which could be purchased w...I think a physical book which could be purchased would be a wonderful idea so both the reader and the writer benefit. The amount of help Michael has given completely free of charge is the epitome of generosity. I would buy such a book without hestitation.<br />In appreciation. <br />Bob <br /><br />P.s - If a autobiography doesn't happen another physical book we can buy hopefully will. His book "Happiness and the Art of Being" is absolutely priceless. Bob - Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-70917791456248787912015-11-15T22:23:17.169+00:002015-11-15T22:23:17.169+00:00Michael,
I third the motion for an “Autobiography...Michael,<br /><br />I third the motion for an “Autobiography of Michael James”. You have written an exhaustive collection on Bhagavan’s teachings. While you can certainly write more, there is enough material already for Sadhakas to get started. What is sorely missing is the lifescript of Michael James. Given all the out of earth topics of “Eka Jiva”, “World is a dream”, “Ajata” etc, a lifescript might appear silly and pointless at first glance. But here is why it is more important than any of the out of earth topics.<br /><br />Bhagavan does not give much importance or detail to “typical renunciation (TR)” (physical, mental etc).Instead his prescription is to focus on the renouncer directly thereby making TR moot. Your writings follows Bhagavan’s prescription and you rarely write about “typical renunciation”. Such prescriptions work best for advanced Sadhakas. For beginners, there is a lot of work that needs to be done to weaken the ego. It is akin to preparing the soil, before seeds can be planted. This is where your autobiography (AB) will be of great value. While each jiva’s journey is different and unique, there can be lessons learned from the autobiography that can be used towards TR.<br /><br />Your writings focus heavily on Vichara and very less on Surrender (if it does, it is simply expressed as a reformulation of Vichara). Your AB will close that gap. Here is why. To be able to go from the West to Thiru leaving behind everything, to not have a plan where the next meal will come from, to spend so much time on writing and giving it away for free (without even a voluntary donation box) is a remarkable act of Surrender to God/Self/Bhagavan. The details of such a journey are very valuable for people like me who have adopted Surrender,Medtitation,Japa and Parayana as the Sadhana of choice and are struggling even to do partial surrender (as Bhagavan said).<br /><br />Please consider this request seriously. You have written enough for advanced sadhakas. They are already advanced. They don’t need anything more. <br /><br />It is about time you wrote something for beginners :-)<br />Sivanarulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-67161792782279623922015-11-15T17:12:55.506+00:002015-11-15T17:12:55.506+00:00Dear Michael,
I do agree with Michal that it woul...Dear Michael,<br /><br />I do agree with Michal that it would be very nice and useful, when you will have time, to write about your own experience with Sadhu Om, with Tiruvanamalai, the ashram, old devotees you encountered in your way, etc. A sort of "autobiography" of the sort. I am pretty sure we will all benefit from it. <br />It will give a third dimensional (emotional) aspect to the two dimensional (but nonetheless magnificent) aspect of your understanding of Bhagavan's teachings that you share with us through this blog.<br /><br />yours in BhagavanMounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-9125236624448285682015-11-15T16:27:40.971+00:002015-11-15T16:27:40.971+00:00Dear Michael,
It would be great to hear some of ...Dear Michael, <br /><br />It would be great to hear some of your stories about meeting Sadhu Om. What were some of the questions you asked him about Self Enquiry? Any funny moments? Did you spend a lot of time sitting and practicing with him? It would be so nice to read about some of your memories of the time you spent at Sri Ramanashramam. Michal Borkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04537495686942638310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-71615089429416428592015-11-15T16:26:09.392+00:002015-11-15T16:26:09.392+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Michal Borkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04537495686942638310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-83427518232750153792015-11-14T23:39:19.766+00:002015-11-14T23:39:19.766+00:00Michael,
the ego does not care about Sri Ramana...Michael,<br />the ego does not care about Sri Ramana's teaching that it does actually not exist.<br />It enjoys reading your blog and continues its seeming existence.<br />Although it cannot exist in sleep and even now at all, it smiles in amusement at our consideration. Rather it has the impertinence to exist in defiance of advaita philosophy. What shall we do in such a case ?Karakorumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-43264575335646243272015-11-14T23:00:47.213+00:002015-11-14T23:00:47.213+00:00Noob,
why not ?
Is it not said that self is omnipr...Noob,<br />why not ?<br />Is it not said that self is omnipresent and omnipotent ?<br />So it might be easily take care of everything else and act in whatever way.Zebedäusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-28042526721072039912015-11-13T23:07:32.649+00:002015-11-13T23:07:32.649+00:00Can self reply on a web forum?Can self reply on a web forum?Noobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797750547512929881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-19601874271755662762015-11-13T09:39:45.441+00:002015-11-13T09:39:45.441+00:00Sanjay,
Bhagavan's words you have quoted are ...Sanjay,<br /><br />Bhagavan's words you have quoted are very true. But I am afraid I was saying something else. My point was: sometimes even a <i>slight</i> change in the way in which one describes the practice to a beginner makes a <i>lot</i> of difference to him/her – to get into it and persevere in it.Wittgensteinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-88803889134345065152015-11-13T08:03:33.892+00:002015-11-13T08:03:33.892+00:00Wittgenstein, you write '...This makes us even...Wittgenstein, you write '...This makes us eventually brand atma vichara a difficult and an ‘advanced’ technique for ‘advanced’ sadhakas. Many of us quit and take up other practices'.<br /><br />Is this self-investigation or self-attentiveness difficult? Let us carefully read Bhagavan's advice to Paul Brunton. This is taken from the book <i>A Search in Secret India</i> (1994 edition, page 160):<br /><br />Bhagavan: What it is use of knowing about everything else when you do not yet know who you are? Men avoid this enquiry into the true self, but what else is there so worthy to be undertaken?<br />Paul Brunton: That is such a difficult, superhuman task.<br />Bhagavan: The question of its possibility is a matter of one's own experience. The difficulty is less real than you think.....Admittedly the way to it may be harder for those who are engrossed in worldly life, but even then one can and must conquer. <br /><br />As Bhagavan says, <b>'The difficulty is less real than you think [...] but even then one can and must conquer'.</b> Therefore perseverance is the only answer to all our seeming difficulty in practising self-investigation. Like any other skill, it will appear very easy once we start practising it on a regular basis. Regards.<br /><br />Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.com