tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post787102097935643560..comments2023-10-16T13:06:42.360+01:00Comments on Happiness of Being: The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi: Names and forms are all just thoughts, so we can free ourself from them only by investigating their root, our egoMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-63470604371839494082016-07-14T23:19:02.454+01:002016-07-14T23:19:02.454+01:00thanks Mouna, Ha!thanks Mouna, Ha!Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886674544129003153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-51617691913115634412016-07-14T23:14:27.338+01:002016-07-14T23:14:27.338+01:00Although it might be a different spelling, and to ...Although it might be a different spelling, and to avoid misunderstandings, it is better to consider the spelling Nirguna <b>Brahman</b> (or Saguna Brahman), Roger, not "Brahmin" Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-872611686630417512016-07-14T22:46:40.920+01:002016-07-14T22:46:40.920+01:00roger Part 2
However, there is also God Immanent, ...roger Part 2<br />However, there is also God Immanent, The Relative, The Manifest God which appears as creation, with Form.<br /><br />It would appear that Bhagavan is pointing to this high state (pick your favorite term from above) as the way and as the ultimate reality, that the clear conscious experience of this will result in freedom, and will result in destruction of DUALITY or the individual ego. Bhagavan speaks as if from this state.<br /><br />So... on experiencing this, yes, the world disappears in awareness, and... if you have realized this, you can go back there any time.<br /><br />However, the point that seems to be overlooked is that while you are associated with a body, that is until your body dies, clearly you can not stay in Nirguna Brahmin Consciousness all the time, you have to come out to eat etc... And... when your awareness switches from Nirguna Brahmin back to the apparent world, the world is once again projected through the brain. This does not mean in any way that the personal ego is present. Of course, it may be possible to experience a unity of Form and Formless... but that is way beyond me.<br /><br />Bhagavan sitting with eyes open but absorbed in Nirguna Brahmin is 100% egoless and free and "one with the father", there is no world, time and space no longer exist.<br />But Bhagavan talking, walking, eating.... is still 100% egoless and free, but now aware of the body and the "world idea" projected through the brain.<br />Both states exist!!!<br /><br />In another way: it is realized that the world is more like a dream because the substance of the world rather than being material and concrete is realized to be more like a thought (see PBs mentalism http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21 ).<br />And... when the identification with Duality drops away and you realize non-duality... the world is like a dream because whatever happens in the world has no more impact on you in waking state than if it had happened in a dream.<br />So... there are subtler layers to the world.... but.... the world still exists, even if it is only like a thought.<br />And... even when your body dies... this is just a personal event, the "world idea" continues to exist because "world" is more pervasive than your personal body. Obviously people die all the time... but the world (God Immanent, God Manifest, Form) continues. Perhaps after your body dies, you may continue to observe subtle Form (Idea).... just from another perspective. Bhagavan did say that he would be more active in the ashram after he left the body.Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886674544129003153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-27136390275510974942016-07-14T22:45:23.348+01:002016-07-14T22:45:23.348+01:00Roger Part 1
Hi Noob and Bob,
I'm putting most...Roger Part 1<br />Hi Noob and Bob,<br />I'm putting most of my attention on responding to Michaels new blog which also covers this issue... but regarding:<br />Noob says: <i><br />If the waking state is the same as the dream state., i.e. is a mere projection of ego then as soon as the ego is dissolved the world should immediately be dissolved at the same time. Saying otherwise would amount to admitting that your dreams are going on somewhere after you had already woken up. Seeing many worlds populated by many people/creatures is a feature of ego. In fact, is there anyone but you in your dreams? even if you see a mountain or an iron bridge in your dream, what is it made of? It is made of your awareness (consciousness) and nothing else. Many people that you maybe talking to in your dreams are also no one else but yourself, even your parents and beloved ones are in fact made of your essence that is awareness. Dreams cannot exist independent of the dreamer. If I am THAT and thou are THAT then I am You. </i><br /><br />Note: I will speak as though I know what I am talking about. However, mentally put "it appears from my current limited understanding that...." in front of all sentences. And please propose corrections if you think I am off base.<br /><br />Clearly, the waking state is not entirely the same as the dream state. This is ridiculous. What is being said is that there are similarities between the two and this is used to point to higher states.<br /><br />When you say that "as soon as ego is dissolved the world should immediately be dissolved at the same time".<br /><br />This is correct from a very important perspective... but not correct from others.<br /><br />There is a final state, you might call it nirguna brahmin, the supreme reality without form or qualities as YOU. Or perhaps you might call it the nirvikalpa samadhi state but with awareness (I am proposing, I can't support this by scripture and not from experience). Or you might call it God Transcendent, The Absolute, The Unmanifest God, The Formless etc...<br /><br />You might realize: I am THAT.<br /><br />Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886674544129003153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-14016725561683579402016-07-14T22:43:59.666+01:002016-07-14T22:43:59.666+01:00Hi Bob and Noob,
IMO you are Grace too.Hi Bob and Noob,<br />IMO you are Grace too.Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886674544129003153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-38924228176899216492016-07-13T21:43:44.312+01:002016-07-13T21:43:44.312+01:00Noob said: [In my opinion Bhagavan's teachings...Noob said: [In my opinion Bhagavan's teachings are the work of Grace.]<br /><br />Yes I agree Noob, Bhagavan's teaching is telling us to turn within and attend to ourself compared to turning our attention outwards and attending to things other than ourself. It is my understanding that this is grace just like you say.<br /><br />How blessed we are Bhagavan has come into our lives.<br /><br />Take care <br />Bob. Bob - Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-76971529222892675142016-07-13T16:51:44.070+01:002016-07-13T16:51:44.070+01:00Roger, I have replied to your reply to my previous...Roger, I have replied to <a href="#c6680841217337564170" rel="nofollow">your reply</a> to <a href="#c3444964130729249883" rel="nofollow">my previous comment</a> in a separate article: <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2016/07/asparsa-yoga-is-practice-of-not.html" rel="nofollow"><i>Asparśa yōga</i> is the practice of not ‘touching’ or attending to anything other than oneself</a>.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-45130420862546225102016-07-13T10:28:16.900+01:002016-07-13T10:28:16.900+01:00In my opinion Bhagavan's teachings are the wor...In my opinion Bhagavan's teachings are the work of Grace. Noobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797750547512929881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-53154192105416816232016-07-13T09:28:52.444+01:002016-07-13T09:28:52.444+01:00Noob says:
[If the waking state is the same as th...Noob says:<br /><br />[If the waking state is the same as the dream state., i.e. is a mere projection of ego then as soon as the ego is dissolved the world should immediately be dissolved at the same time. Saying otherwise would amount to admitting that your dreams are going on somewhere after you had already woken up.]<br /><br />Yes what you say makes sense to me with regards my own understanding of Bhagavan's teaching. <br />In appreciation. <br />Bob <br /><br />Bob - Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-8167112374877859662016-07-13T09:21:04.078+01:002016-07-13T09:21:04.078+01:00Therefore no one is left behind.Therefore no one is left behind.Noobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797750547512929881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-8619374738176490812016-07-13T08:57:49.465+01:002016-07-13T08:57:49.465+01:00Dear Roger,
If the waking state is the same as the...Dear Roger,<br />If the waking state is the same as the dream state., i.e. is a mere projection of ego then as soon as the ego is dissolved the world should immediately be dissolved at the same time. Saying otherwise would amount to admitting that your dreams are going on somewhere after you had already woken up. Seeing many worlds populated by many people/creatures is a feature of ego. In fact, is there anyone but you in your dreams? even if you see a mountain or an iron bridge in your dream, what is it made of? It is made of your awareness (consciousness) and nothing else. Many people that you maybe talking to in your dreams are also no one else but yourself, even your parents and beloved ones are in fact made of your essence that is awareness. Dreams cannot exist independent of the dreamer. If I am THAT and thou are THAT then I am You.Noobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797750547512929881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-34128487690093623882016-07-13T03:35:56.602+01:002016-07-13T03:35:56.602+01:00Hi Noob,
noob says Whichever path is the fastest a...Hi Noob,<br />noob says <i>Whichever path is the fastest and least complicated for ego on its way to destruction is for sure the path shown by Grace</i><br /><br />I like that a lot, I believe it's the truth. Actually, even such descriptions as "the 'I' thought" etc... are just pointers, it has to be discovered in practice. And... it would appear that the inner guide will reveal it in personal experience directly, if there is enough passionate practice.<br /><br />noob says <i>When my ego dies body is dead too, ...but can there be a body without an ego? And more importantly, who is going to see that body when there is no ego and no world projected by it? It is said here that there are many enlightened people lingering in their bodies, but it is only my ego who sees that in this waking state, in my dream the same ego sees other bodies and another world... </i><br /><br />So I think you're saying that when you become Self Realized, reach enlightenment... your ego and body die and the world also no longer exists.<br /><br />What happens to your body from the perspective of us left behind?<br /><br />If your body dies, then we'd see your corpse. If you go "POOF!" then we'd at least miss you or witness your exit. These events would be sensational, they would generate huge interest.... and we see none of this sort of thing either now or in the vedas. Major ashrams with enlightened Masters would also have a crematorium in the back yard. There would be a new category on death certificates "death by Self Realization".<br /><br />There is the great saying:<br />I am THAT.<br />Thou are THAT.<br />All this is THAT.<br /><br />But you are saying that once "I am THAT" is realized... then "thou" and "all this" no longer exist. It does't seem to make sense to me.<br /><br />I believe that the world and body do not die with enlightenment. What was a limited understanding of duality just no longer exists, it has been supplanted by a higher Realization. The non-dual understanding of the body and world continue. At least in my version... we don't need a way to dispose of corpses.<br /><br />Ramakrishna said something like "there is enough ego left to exist in the world".<br />Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886674544129003153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-75095291719987401462016-07-12T20:24:53.572+01:002016-07-12T20:24:53.572+01:00Whichever path is the fastest and least complicate...Whichever path is the fastest and least complicated for ego on its way to destruction is for sure the path shown by Grace. Noobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797750547512929881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-3186995791400059842016-07-12T20:09:07.113+01:002016-07-12T20:09:07.113+01:00When my ego dies body is dead too, as there may be...When my ego dies body is dead too, as there may be one ego with different bodies as in this waking state and then in a dream, but can there be a body without an ego? And more importantly, who is going to see that body when there is no ego and no world projected by it?<br /><br />It is said here that there are many enlightened people lingering in their bodies, but it is only my ego who sees that in this waking state, in my dream the same ego sees other bodies and another world...Noobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797750547512929881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-71420458643180584192016-07-12T19:41:23.957+01:002016-07-12T19:41:23.957+01:00Hi Noob,
Ok, what does "noob" stand for?...Hi Noob,<br />Ok, what does "noob" stand for? or is it your name? And thank for the comments on Love.<br /><br />noob says: <i>We eat what we are destined to eat and die when we are destined to die, there is no food when the body is dead.</i><br /><br />This could be an egoic or mental projection of imagined events in the future.<br />If your ego dies before your body dies... then how can you say that 'you' die?<br />If you say "the world disappears with the ego..." Not so: It is clear that Bhagavan's ego evaporated long before his physical form.<br />If you say "no food when the body is dead"... how do you know that after your body is gone that you might not subsist on subtler food such as love and light?<br /><br /><b><br />"I am luminous,<br />I am like ether,<br />I am formless,<br />pure and bodiless.<br /></b><br />"This should be your intense and speechless meditation every day, before going to sleep at least. And in course of time you will certainly attain to the state. This is what your Guru says, do not forget it. Whatever you intently meditate on in the hypnoidal state you are sure to realize." <br />Nisargadatta Maharaj<br /><br />Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886674544129003153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-62937534397233698992016-07-12T16:35:58.144+01:002016-07-12T16:35:58.144+01:00Continued from previous comment..
The body is the...Continued from previous comment..<br /><br />The body is the mechanism of the Mayashakti, the illusive Force of multiplicity.<br />The Divine Grace, holds the Soul like a magnet which holds a piece of iron.<br />The soul which is conscious of the Divine Grace, enjoys peace, bliss and freedom.<br />The soul identifying itself with the mental-vital-material body suffers bondage and the pangs of birth and death.<br />The mirror cannot reflect forms without light.<br />The soul cannot act without Grace.<br />The soul by the force of the Grace behind it,<br />rules as a king over the body,<br />with the mind, intellect, emotive mind and egoism as its ministers.<br />Waking, dream, deep sleep, trance, supertrance<br />are the five states of soul-consciousness.<br />In the superconscious trance, the soul feels its identity with the Divine<br />and attains divinity.<br />The Jiva then enjoys Shivahood.<br />The sun causes seasons, day and night;<br />but it is quite separate from them.<br />Even so Atman is separate from the mind and its modifications.<br />The soul must feel this<br />and be conscious of its eternal unity with the Divine.<br />This conscious living in the Divine is Life Divine.<br />The Divine Grace transforms life into love and love into bliss.<br />That Grace descends in the form of Consciousness.<br />The ordinary physical eye cannot see the Divine.<br />The inner eye alone can subtly feel the Divine presence in the soul.<br />The mind is internalised and concentrated in meditation,<br />With unflagging patience, forbearance, faith and constancy the aspirant must practise meditation.<br /><br />Purity of the heart and one-pointed fixity of the mind enables meditation.<br />As the soul detaches itself from mental modifications, it approaches the Divine Centre.<br />Then Grace takes possession of the pure soul and reveals the Divine presence.<br />The soul must become red-hot in the Divine flame. Then it becomes a shining gold and at last a crown of divinity.<br /><br /><b>The first step is mental purification and concentrated devotion.<br />The next is constant meditation and inner fixity.</b><br />By this the soul feels its at-one-ment with the Divine, the Quintessence<br />of its being.<br />Then it sees the same Divine essence in the universe of beings.<br />From self-consciousness, the soul widens into cosmic consciousness.<br />"Dear one, keep these in mind and renounce everything for the sake of<br />Divinity.<br />Take a pearl-diver-s plunge into the heart.<br />Be centre in and there is the Divine Light to lead you on.<br />Go hence to Chidambaram:<br />Meditate upon Lord Nataraja, the symbol of perfect Divine Truth.<br />Worship Him daily, with songs and he will lead you on! Shivoham!"Sivanarulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-40450813889541236262016-07-12T16:33:16.025+01:002016-07-12T16:33:16.025+01:00Mouna Guru's detailed instruction to Thayumana...Mouna Guru's detailed instruction to Thayumanavar for the single word instruction to take hold:<br /><br />The Master graciously looked at the ripe soul and said,<br />"My darling, your psychic being is ripe enough to receive that yoga.<br />"My son, hear from me the ancient wisdom taught by Sri Mula and Satyadarsi and sing it to humanity.<br /><br />The world of manifold appearances is the multiplicity of one Divine<br />Energy.<br />It is a play in five acts,<br />creation, preservation, destruction, self-absorption and salvation.<br />The play is kept going on by the Cosmic-Force,<br />at the Will of the Witnessing Lord God is All-in-all,<br />all-blissful, allcontaining and impersonal.<br />Grace is His personality.<br />He is omnipotent, omnipresent.<br />He is the Life of lives,<br />the Thinker in the brain,<br />the Feeler in the heart,<br />the Seer in the eye,<br />the Hearer in the ear,<br />the Breather in the lungs<br />and the Speaker in the tongue.<br />He does everything through His Grace<br />and remains an unattached Witness,<br />far beyond the world of modes and dualities.<br /><br />He is as He is.<br />Just as rays spread from the Sun and give light and warmth to the<br />world,<br />Grace radiates from the Divine and plays as the world.<br />There is no language without the first vowel A;<br />there is no world without God's Grace.<br />He is the unique One;<br />there is nothing to be compared with him.<br />He has no birth, no death.<br />His Grace descends into purified souls.<br />Such souls, are lights that lead us godward.<br />Embodied creatures have the taint of egoism, lust and delusion.<br />They are tied to the results of good and bad acts.<br />The mundane world emanates from the Divine Will<br />and evolves from the lowest inertia<br />to the highest superconsciousness<br />according to the results of acts.<br />The sower reaps the fruit of his seed.<br />The field is as it is.<br />Just like husk which covers rice,<br />dirt which stains copper,<br />salt which is in the sea water,<br />the three stains of egoism, delusion and action are in the soul.<br />These form an impression in the mind<br />and the soul departs with it to another birth.<br />Freedom means freedom from these triple stains.<br />Sivanarulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-46879221803816617362016-07-12T16:17:45.273+01:002016-07-12T16:17:45.273+01:00Thayumanavar writes about how that instruction (Su...Thayumanavar writes about how that instruction (Summa Iru) helped him:<br /><br />Obeisance to Mauna Guru (4/10)<br /><br />Holding as real This body that is evanescent<br />Unto the flash of lightning;<br /><br />Holding as real The pleasures of flashy women<br />That intoxicate the senses With their collyrium painted eyes;<br /><br />Holding as heaven The stately mansion and mounting riches;<br /><br />Holding gold as imperishable treasure That waxes high;<br /><br />Putting on false appearances To degree exceeding;<br /><br />Abandoning to winds all virtues -<br />Patience, wisdom, renunciation and charity;<br /><br />To be possessed of greed, miserliness And other devils;<br /><br />To walk about here below Caught in the faith of the materialist;<br /><br /><b>Thou with one single Word prevented me</b><br />From all these, in compassion<br />That I might receive the Grace<br />Of the great Vedanta-Siddhanta accord<br />And enjoy the life eternal.<br /><br />Oh! Thou Jnana Guru!<br />Oh! Mantra Guru! Oh, Yoga Tantra Guru!<br />Mauna Guru that comes in the line of Mula the Holy!Sivanarulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-21121159048781417792016-07-12T13:05:06.294+01:002016-07-12T13:05:06.294+01:00Summa Iru
(from Mountain Path, Jul-Sept 2016 issue...<b>Summa Iru</b><br />(from Mountain Path, Jul-Sept 2016 issue, p. 57)<br /><br />His [Thayumanavar's] guru [Mouna Guru Desikar] then advised him that the essence of all spiritual pursuit (<i>sadhana</i>)is to 'remain quiet' (<i>summa iru</i>). "Remain quiet in silence, without any thought," the Guru exhorted his disciple. Thayumanavar followed this advice very sincerely and he consequently experienced a state of peace and happiness: "As I remained quiet, without thoughts, I was uplifted to a state where, without the difference of 'you' and 'me', the pure and supreme 'I' (Self) alone remained," he wrote later.Viveka Vairagyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-64803702930877962232016-07-12T08:06:40.859+01:002016-07-12T08:06:40.859+01:00Dear Roger:
To answer your question about Love: ye...Dear Roger:<br />To answer your question about Love: yes , it is Love that started the process of polishing this person and made him take a look at what is this that I called myself. Love leads us from birth to death.Love is Grace and Grace is Love. We must love ourself to destroy the ego or "I-thought". At one point there is nothing one can do but to surrender to this scorching heat of love that is destroying our ego. Noobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797750547512929881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-2470101350060017562016-07-12T04:02:28.304+01:002016-07-12T04:02:28.304+01:00Hi Noob,
Noob says: I would say that if Love has...Hi Noob,<br /><br />Noob says: <i> I would say that if Love has a target, i.e. if you direct love to any 2nd and 3rd place objects, it becomes an emotion, has a life span/degrees of strength, has also its dual tween - hate or dislike and can be demonstrated by various actions. </i><br /><br />My speculation:<br />It seems that Love or bhakti is an entirely different spiritual style than inquiry. Love is not something that is directed, except perhaps through surrender. Love may first be known for objects: the love of a spouse, or child. But perhaps at some point there is the realization that Love is not dependent on external objects. Rather than inquiry, Love is more like the intense feeling and longing for unity with the beloved, which eventually is the Lord of all creation.<br />Starting as love for an object... perhaps it grows into realizing that you are love itself, which is God in manifest creation (unmanifest God is different).<br /><br />From the Paul Brunton Notebooks:http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks-db/ <br /><i>Where the Greek Orthodox Church regards the Light experience as the highest point reachable by man, the Indian Philosophic Teaching regards it as the last stage before the highest. For anything which is "seen" implies the existence of a "seer" as separate from it. This is not less so even in the case of the Holy Light. Not seeing but be-ing is the final experience according to this Teaching. "<b>You have to go beyond seeing and find out who is the `I' who experiences this light," said Ramana Maharshi to a disciple.</b></i><br /><br />The quote above is a great example of inquiry.<br />But perhaps the experience of love is entirely different. Love may have no interest in the personal "I" at all. Rather from the perspective of Love, it might be:<br />My God, My love, the small "i" in me is but a projection of this very limited mind and body. I see YOU as light, yet you are still separate from me. I can not bear this separation. I beseech thee to take me into thee and remove this unbearable separation. Destroy my limited "i" ego and merge me with Thee into One.<br /><br />So ... you see love is transcendence and Self Realization through expansive feeling, it is not investigation, not inquiry.<br /><br />Noob says: <i>Can you direct Love without directing attention to those objects? Love to ourself cannot be demostrated and is the same as turning our attention away from all the phenomena. </i><br /><br />"demonstrate love" is Barry Long's advice for relationships: if your partner is not demonstrating love to you... then there is a problem in the relationship (and of course there are always problems to clear). He advises partners to inform each other "your behavior does not seem loving, can we clear the issue...". The idea being to keep the relationship clear and focused on love, lead by love.<br /><br />In a relationship, in order to be real, love must be demonstrated.<br /><br />"turn away from phenomena": I don't know if this makes sense for a bhakti (someone who has the innate skill of bhakti): phenomena are not interesting... LOVE is. There is only one phenomena, that is love, and love is the finest expression of God in existence.<br /><br />The question is: have you had the experience of love for something which has stopped your ego, caused you to give up your ego for the beloved? This is different method of destroying the ego. If there is emotion... go deeper, love is 110% surrender.Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886674544129003153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-14996775463807199462016-07-11T22:04:28.768+01:002016-07-11T22:04:28.768+01:00Dear Anonymous thanks for the link to the article....Dear Anonymous thanks for the link to the article.<br /><br />According to Michael's video Bhagavan didn't say you shouldn't eat onions and garlic he just said it can stimulate the mind. He use to tease his mother about eating them I think? I personally avoid garlic as it disagrees with me but I do eat onions now and again and leeks it's just up to the individual to experiment to see what foods agrees with them and with their practise.<br /><br />The one thing Bhagavan did recommend is not to consume flesh.<br /><br />A vegan diet can be very healthy if you make the effort.<br />My doctor recently wanted some blood work done, I real comprehensive M.O.T so to speak and was happy with everything.<br /><br />I personally think purely from a health perspective the human body will be healthier eating fresh organic mostly raw food including meat, fish, eggs and milk. The more variety the better.<br /><br />But from a moral / ethical perspective for me its a very easy choice to make and I am happy to sacrifice some health benefits for doing what I personally feel is right.<br /><br />However there are plenty of vegan athletes who look a picture of health.<br /><br />A vegan diet can be very unhealthy or healthy just like a non vegan diet can be.<br /><br />But I fully appreciate Bhagavan would say what body (lol)!!! <br /><br />Thanks Rodger for your take on it.<br /><br />In appreciation. <br />Bob <br />Bob - Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-40560841337024750092016-07-11T21:21:16.839+01:002016-07-11T21:21:16.839+01:00This teaching that garlic and onions (for example)...This teaching that garlic and onions (for example) should ALWAYS be avoided because they are tamasic is simply CRAP! SHIT! I use these words for emphasis and after all talking about the digestive system.<br /><br />I hope that I will able to explain this convincingly:<br /><br />The real goal is to have a sattvic physiology. This in most important in facilitating meditation, inquiry and Realization. <br /><br />But this can not be achieved (necessarily) by just eating sattvic (neutral) foods. We must consider the state of the body and it's tendencies, and how to move the body back to a satwic state using food and medicine.<br /><br />It's like you have a car, you have been told to say in the middle of your lane while driving. Therefore, it is falsely taught to always keep the steering wheel centered (sattvic) without turning left (tamasic) or right (rajasic). But obviously this is not going to work. If you find your car drifting left you need to take the steering wheel out of the sattvic neutral position and turn it to the right to counteract, the result being that your car is again centered (sattvic ).<br /><br />For example: if you have the disease of coldness, that is Vata-Kapha in ayurveda. For example, it is winter in Alaska, you can't stay warm, you are anxious, freezing, your body is stiff and painful, contracted, and your digestion is simply not working, you are constipated, have little appetite etc..<br />This indicates an imbalance in the body. If you eat just sattvic food, this food is neutral and does not help to resolve the issue.<br />What you may need (depending on your particular physiology) is to TAKE GARLIC which through its heating and grounding properties alleviate your symptoms. Yes garlic is tamasic.... but in this situation... by taking it... you will correct the imbalance in your body and your body will become healthy and sattvic.<br /><br />Consider a different situation: you have the disease of Heat also known as Pitta in Ayurveda (Michael Jackson and Prince is similar). You live along the equator, it is damned hot. You have given too many rock & roll concerts, too many drugs & wild over stimulating sex all the time. You are emaciated and burning up, feverish, the fire in your body is so high that your body is consuming itself in a sense: fat and muscle are already gone. You can not sleep. You are confined to bed.<br />In this situation, if you take garlic or cayenne pepper, since these will heat you further, increase metabolism further, it may kill you.<br />What you need is cooling therapy and protein (of some form) to balance your body back into a sattvic state.<br />I sympathize with vegan motives, I am mostly vegan myself. And ashima is the highest. But it you come to me in such a state, I would suggest taking some form of easily digestible protein (including meat if possible considering individual preferences) at least temporally till you are out of danger. Possibly allow the chicken to give its life so that you may live. In this condition, if you eat only sattvic foods (vegetables, grains) there is not enough substance there to tame down the raging fire in the body. It's like you have a roaring camp fire and you continue to feed it with kindling & paper so it's getting worse: you need to add a big log to achieve balance. Yes, it would be terrible and a sin to kill a cow, but, if Michael Jackson the vegetarian snacked on a pot roast all day (at least till he was balanced)... he would probably be alive today.<br /><br />Have I been convincing?<br /><br />Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886674544129003153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-11494201689356105292016-07-11T21:05:21.043+01:002016-07-11T21:05:21.043+01:00We eat what we are destined to eat and die when we...We eat what we are destined to eat and die when we are destined to die, there is no food when the body is dead.Noobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797750547512929881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-5252647874936351012016-07-11T21:04:08.154+01:002016-07-11T21:04:08.154+01:00"If everything around us is nothing but our o...<i>"If everything around us is nothing but our own awareness as in a dream, how eating a mango can be different from eating a dog?"</i><br /><br />No different as dream material.<br />But... next time you are hungry, cut a good slice of your own thigh, roast it, salt and peppered it, mke a sandwich out of it and maybe then that will carry you until the evening, where you can slice your other thigh, or under arm, that usually is more tender.<br />By following this diet you will understand the difference.Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.com