tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post955396381758182955..comments2023-10-16T13:06:42.360+01:00Comments on Happiness of Being: The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi: Thought of oneself will destroy all other thoughtsMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-61418792444581542562016-01-18T22:55:04.353+00:002016-01-18T22:55:04.353+00:00Anonymous,
why should the mind/ego end with the de...Anonymous,<br />why should the mind/ego end with the death of this (coarse) body ?<br />How do you know that "awareness is simple" ?<br />How can awareness be "reached" at all ? Is it not said that it is present always and everywhere ?<br />You may consider that "thinking carefully" is in the above context only an other word for "attending carefully".early birdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-33164951713568620542016-01-18T21:52:45.197+00:002016-01-18T21:52:45.197+00:00"As I wrote in my latest article, I do not ex..."As I wrote in my latest article, I do not expect anyone to accept what I write unquestioningly. I put a lot of careful thought into what I write, so it should prompt equally careful and critical thought in the minds of each reader, because no one else can understand his teachings for us, and no matter how carefully they may be explained to us, we cannot understand them correctly unless we think carefully about them and whatever explanations we may read about them."<br /><br />"think carefully" - is what distracts many on Jnana path. This is the biggest pitfall. Bhagavan is simple. God is simple. You are simple. Awareness is simple. There is no need to think anything "carefully". You cannot reach awareness by thinking carefully or any sort of thinking... it is totally on different dimension. This is blasphemy. A jungle. Thinking has its place, same with this body, same with ego/mind. Thinking does not make you any closer to awareness. Please, sirs. Why delude?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-14867621885082272512016-01-18T21:46:03.522+00:002016-01-18T21:46:03.522+00:00Ego will not be destroyed at all. With all these t...Ego will not be destroyed at all. With all these thousands words you only give strength to illusion, to ego. You make it seem real. What is actually being destroyed is identification mechanism. The 'I'ness is destroyed. The self-"centerdness". Mind/ego remains as long as this body remains, without mind/ego - you cannot function in this world at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-86384873643808397212016-01-07T14:42:01.783+00:002016-01-07T14:42:01.783+00:00Sanjay Lohia,
not only "perhaps" you sho...Sanjay Lohia,<br />not only "perhaps" you should read the articles...but in any case you and we all cannot lose in following "this valuable suggestion" of Michael.Flight-takernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-2296432185576775942016-01-07T13:40:01.686+00:002016-01-07T13:40:01.686+00:00Sir, I agree, 'we will get the most out of wha...Sir, I agree, 'we will get the most out of whatever we read if we read it little by little, slowly, thoughtfully and with repeated attempts at being calmly self-attentive'.<br /><br />Yes, I do sometimes tend to read your articles at a very fast pace, and perhaps I should read them, as you say, little by little, slowly, thoughtfully and with repeated attempts at being calmly self-attentive. Thank you for this valuable suggestion.<br /><br />Thanking you and pranams. Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-79761029943705885592016-01-07T11:16:33.368+00:002016-01-07T11:16:33.368+00:00Like said Robert Adams and I think it is a good su...Like said Robert Adams and I think it is a good suggestion is:<br /><br />"""Let me remind you once again the way you should read a transcription.<br />Go through it, the whole thing, the first time.<br />Then take it paragraph by paragraph.<br />Concentrate, cogitate on each paragraph.<br />Even if it takes you all night.<br />Do not go through the transcriptions like you do a book and say,<br />"Where is the next one?"<br />But try to go through each paragraph, intensely, so-to-speak.<br />Try to read between the lines.<br />What does this really mean.<br />Take your time.<br />----------<br />If you spend your time reading the transcripts, practicing Self-Inquiry and coming to Satsang, then you can't lose with the stuff I use.<br />But if you run around all over the place and go from book to book, teacher to teacher, you become confused.<br />You don't know who to follow, what to do?<br />----------<br />Of course the ultimate truth is within yourself.<br />You are the ultimate truth.<br />That is where all the answers are.<br />Sometimes it's better to stay by yourself and read nothing and sometimes it's good to concentrate on certain works for a while.<br />But not to go in one week to thirteen different books and ten different teachers.<br />If you do you will become completely disgusted with the whole spiritual thing."""<br />---------------<br /><br />Every word of Michael are precious, deep, so I read them again and again.... and since my comprehension, practice (so to speak) are deeper and deeper....<br /><br />Namaste... :)investigation de soihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07785467481308543769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-51424395793954297262016-01-07T11:06:24.659+00:002016-01-07T11:06:24.659+00:00Sanjay, what Jacques writes in his comment is a go...Sanjay, what Jacques writes in his <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2015/12/thought-of-oneself-will-destroy-all.html?commentPage=3#c4778467440864641126" rel="nofollow">comment</a> is a good suggestion for you. Since each of my longer articles is divided into sections, each section is in effect an independent article within a series of connected articles, so you could for example read one section a day and think carefully about it before reading the next section the next day or one or two days later. Of course I do not mean that you should follow this suggestion rigidly, but it is one way of approaching a long article, and it is generally better to read slowly and a little at a time in order to consider each of Bhagavan’s verses or my arguments about their implication carefully, because that is the way to form and refine your own understanding.<br /><br />As I wrote in my latest article, I do not expect anyone to accept what I write unquestioningly. I put a lot of careful thought into what I write, so it should prompt equally careful and critical thought in the minds of each reader, because no one else can understand his teachings for us, and no matter how carefully they may be explained to us, we cannot understand them correctly unless we think carefully about them and whatever explanations we may read about them.<br /><br />Moreover, our <i>manana</i> (reflective thinking) will always be incomplete without <i>nididhyāsana</i> (self-attentiveness), so while thinking carefully about whatever we read we should also be trying to put it into practice. Therefore we will get the most out of whatever we read if we read it little by little, slowly, thoughtfully and with repeated attempts at being calmly self-attentive.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-54370679774240630802016-01-06T22:20:57.160+00:002016-01-06T22:20:57.160+00:00Michael,
yes I felt too that there were many diffe...Michael,<br />yes I felt too that there were many different comments connected in coherent context.<br />Therefore it was appropriate to answer several of them coherently in separated sections. Hence the result of long articles was not avoidable.ropedancernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-47784674408646411262016-01-06T14:10:48.371+00:002016-01-06T14:10:48.371+00:00Michael all your articles are a very great treasur...Michael all your articles are a very great treasure... short, long or in between.... the long articles are cut into several articles, that make them shorts articles :)...<br /><br />Thanks a lot...<br /><br />Namaste, Jacques Franck...investigation de soihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07785467481308543769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-19036115529624208962016-01-06T12:26:19.738+00:002016-01-06T12:26:19.738+00:00Maya, as I promised in one of my earlier comments,...Maya, as I promised in <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2015/12/thought-of-oneself-will-destroy-all.html#c8074582923890094528" rel="nofollow">one of my earlier comments</a>, I have at last completed writing a reply to the ‘couple of blunt and direct questions’ that you asked in <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2015/12/thought-of-oneself-will-destroy-all.html#c781612758186239654" rel="nofollow">one of your anonymous comments</a>, so you can now read my reply in the earlier sections of my latest article, <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/why-do-i-believe-that-atma-vicara-is.html" rel="nofollow">Why do I believe that <i>ātma-vicāra</i> is the only direct means by which we can eradicate the illusion that we are this ego?</a>.<br /><br />In the same article I have also replied to several comments written by other friends, including some of the earlier ones discussing the efficacy of being in the physical presence of an <i>ātma-jñāni</i> (in section 3, <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/why-do-i-believe-that-atma-vicara-is.html#ss" rel="nofollow">Which kind of <i>sat-saṅga</i> is more efficacious: physical or mental?</a>), two of your later comments and one of Sivanarul’s asking how I was drawn to <i>ātma-vicāra</i> and how it has affected me (in section 11, <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/why-do-i-believe-that-atma-vicara-is.html#convinced" rel="nofollow">How I became convinced about the imperative need for <i>ātma-vicāra</i></a>), the two comments in which another anonymous friend asked me some other ‘blunt and direct questions’ about my motives for writing what I write (in sections <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/why-do-i-believe-that-atma-vicara-is.html#praise" rel="nofollow">12</a>, <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/why-do-i-believe-that-atma-vicara-is.html#repudiate" rel="nofollow">13</a> and <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/why-do-i-believe-that-atma-vicara-is.html#practise" rel="nofollow">14</a>), and some comments in which Sivanarul wrote about <i>manōlaya</i> as if it were a spiritually beneficial state and one that an aspirant needs to attain before <i>manōnāśa</i> (in section 15, <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/why-do-i-believe-that-atma-vicara-is.html#laya" rel="nofollow">Why did Bhagavan teach us that <i>manōlaya</i> is not a spiritually beneficial state?</a>).<br /><br />Regarding the discussion in more recent comments about the length and infrequency of some of my recent articles, especially <a href="http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2015/12/thought-of-oneself-will-destroy-all.html?commentPage=3#c8985250428538031197" rel="nofollow">the one</a> in which Sanjay wrote, ‘Incidentally Michael used to write weekly articles earlier, and it used to appear on this blog every Friday. I think these weekly — relatively smaller articles — were better than reading long articles once in three or four weeks. What do other friends feel?’, I apologise for this, and I am sorry to say that my latest article is again a very long one. I had no particular intention to write such long and less frequent articles, but it has just happened recently that there has been a connection between various different comments so it seemed to be appropriate to answer several of them together, which has resulted in such long articles. I will try in future to write shorter ones more frequently, but I cannot promise that I will always do so, because I sometimes find that a longer one is necessary in order to do justice to a particular subject or several closely related subjects.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-51787442701171550712016-01-06T01:05:03.985+00:002016-01-06T01:05:03.985+00:00Anonymous,
“Is it really a good news to have so m...Anonymous,<br /><br />“Is it really a good news to have so many noisy comments in a blog which purpose is to make us turn within ?”<br /><br />Your point is well taken and we all can certainly use more silence than noise. But where does one draw the line? What would you say to someone who says that this blog itself is noise? What more does a blog whose purpose is to make us turn within need to say other than 2 words “Turn within” or “Summa Iru”. Aren't all the 200+ articles noise?<br /><br />The Vedas has declared “Aham Brahmasmi”. Just 2 words. Are all the commentaries on Upanishads which run in volumes noise? Couldn’t Bhagavan stopped at just teaching by slience? Was Ulladu Narpadu and Naan Yaar noise? Does Ulladu really need to be narpadu (40) rather than Onru (1)? Is the rest 39 noise?<br /><br />I try to tell myself when I am thinking too much, that I am making noise. Then I realize my saying to myself was only adding to the noise and not helping. If I didn’t say anything, then at least in that second there might be silence. Think about it. We can’t even complain to our self about our own noise without actually making noise.<br /><br />The only way to avoid the noise of trees falling in the forest is to stay very far away from the forest. If trees fall in a forest but if there was no one to hear it, was there really noise made? Is the noise really made by the commenters on this blog or is it made by the readers?<br />Sivanarulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-29630904637042311002016-01-05T23:53:30.192+00:002016-01-05T23:53:30.192+00:00Michael,
section 1,
it is in truth inexplicable th...Michael,<br />section 1,<br />it is in truth inexplicable that a non-existent thing can have/form/hold an "own view".<br />But how do we know that (that) what actually exists has also a view ?apramadanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-66727608569363077192016-01-05T17:55:31.543+00:002016-01-05T17:55:31.543+00:00{I think one of the reasons why these longer, less...{I think one of the reasons why these longer, less frequent articles generate more comments could be because we have more time (say three weeks or more) to comment on these less frequent articles,] <br /><br />Yes very good point!!, What you say makes perfect sense. <br /><br />Warmest regards Sanjay<br />Bob <br />Bob - Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-73989703309849856642016-01-05T17:03:10.647+00:002016-01-05T17:03:10.647+00:00Bob-P, you write, 'With regards Michael's ...Bob-P, you write, 'With regards Michael's articles I see what you mean, it is interesting though that the less frequent longer articles generate more comments and interaction between friends?? Compared to more frequent smaller articles ?? Not sure why?'<br /><br />I think one of the reasons why these longer, less frequent articles generate more comments could be because we have more time (say three weeks or more) to comment on these less frequent articles, and I agree that some his longer articles were real gems, like the one he wrote on <i>bhakti</i>, but somehow the wait for his new articles become too much if Michael posts his articles less frequently. It is because of this reason that I wrote in my last comment that I prefer his articles to appear more frequently, say once a week. <br /><br />But as rightly say, 'Either way we are spoilt !!!' I can't agree with you more... Regards. <br /><br />Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-78884727238423521582016-01-05T16:40:38.583+00:002016-01-05T16:40:38.583+00:00Dear Sanjay
Yes writing comments and reading Mic...Dear Sanjay <br /><br />Yes writing comments and reading Michael's articles although like our Anonymous friend points out do turn our attention from our self to things other than our self I do find it extremely helpful. At least they are in essence pointing us back to investigate our self and keep Bhagavan and his teaching close to our heart. Reading Michael's articles and commenting on them I feel is much more useful than engaging in other activities that take our attention away from investigating our self. Plus they help reinforce the teaching and improve our understanding of it. Constant reminders ....<br /><br />Michael has often said that his writing and helping other friends helps him as it keeps his mind focused on Bhagavan an his teaching. <br /><br />Perfect situation is we are through with reading and writing and spend all our time intensely investigating our self but speaking from my own perspective I have not reached that stage. So Michael's blog and all the friends including you who's comments are such a huge help to me I am eternally grateful.<br /><br />With regards Michael's articles I see what you mean, it is interesting though that the less frequent longer articles generate more comments and interaction between friends?? Compared to more frequent smaller articles ?? Not sure why? <br /><br />I look forward to Michael's articles very much and I am not sure which I prefer to be honest with you Sanjay? <br /><br />Either way we are spoilt !!!<br /><br />Bob <br />Bob - Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-89852504285380311972016-01-05T15:36:36.042+00:002016-01-05T15:36:36.042+00:00Yes, Bob-P, I agree with you and would also like t...Yes, Bob-P, I agree with you and would also like to congratulate our friends for writing more than 400+ comments on this article. Our anonymous friend writes, 'Is it really a good news to have so many noisy comments in a blog which purpose is to make us turn within?' My view is yes, as anyway we are making a lot of unnecessary noise by constantly thinking about so many useless things, therefore when we are thinking of Bhagavan and his teachings we are at least directing or channeling our thinking in the right direction. Therefore all sincere <i>manana</i>, which includes Michael's articles are useful and most welcome.<br /><br />Incidentally Michael used to write weakly articles earlier, and it used to appear on this blog every Friday. I think these weekly - relatively smaller articles - were better than reading long articles once in three or four weeks. What do other friends feel? Regards. <br /><br /> Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-50450663805929407392016-01-05T14:48:29.167+00:002016-01-05T14:48:29.167+00:00Anonymous,
don't make so much noise about tryi...Anonymous,<br />don't make so much noise about trying to mentally/rationally/intellectually understand Sri Ramana's teachings.<br />Are you for your part ready to turn within all day long ?Rattlesnakenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-14210450029224080612016-01-05T14:39:31.103+00:002016-01-05T14:39:31.103+00:00Hi Anonymous, yes while reading it, would seem lik...Hi Anonymous, yes while reading it, would seem like postponing. After reading the comment from Wittgenstein, that moment, I withdrew from reading it and turned to recognize the beingness. And later when I mentioned to give it a try, only meant in the sense will try to recognize the same beingness after waking up from sleep as well. <br /><br />Thank you. Palanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18034312448262280563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-81879861329811820272016-01-05T13:41:47.134+00:002016-01-05T13:41:47.134+00:00Bob said : "I would just like to congratulate...Bob said : "I would just like to congratulate Michael and friends as this article has generated 400 + comments !!<br />In appreciation"<br /><br />Is it really a good news to have so many noisy comments in a blog which purpose is to make us turn within ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-64660079168661955112016-01-05T13:39:08.507+00:002016-01-05T13:39:08.507+00:00Dear Palaniappan Chidambaram,
When you say "T...Dear Palaniappan Chidambaram,<br />When you say "Thanks a lot Wittgenstein. Your clue of the state immediately after sleep is a good one. I will give it a try." you are postponing your practice in the future with the idea to do something... this is imagination. Who is the one who wants to practice this or that in the future ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-9346985635513316512016-01-05T12:51:03.019+00:002016-01-05T12:51:03.019+00:00Thanks a lot Wittgenstein. Your clue of the state ...Thanks a lot Wittgenstein. Your clue of the state immediately after sleep is a good one. I will give it a try. <br /><br />Yes Sivanarul. Surrender helps too. Before I start, I just think of Bhagavan tell him that I'm dropping everything and doing it the best I know. Now it is your responsibility to push from outside while inner Self (which is again you) will pull from inside. I'm just dropping everything and being myself. <br /><br />I did try Rupert Spira "Am I Aware?" But somehow couldn't resonate. It looked there was very thin split second and mind jumps to thinking. I agree, at least at this point in time, am trying to continue chanting to aid vichara. <br /><br />Like Anonymous mentioned, sometimes before sitting for practice as part of surrender, I just drop to pay attention to anything and just be. So trying to explore multiple things to get knack. <br /><br />Thanks again for the time and advises. Palanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18034312448262280563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-90533611155893050222016-01-05T10:47:22.273+00:002016-01-05T10:47:22.273+00:00Bob-P,
hopefully, Michael James has not to rack hi...Bob-P,<br />hopefully, Michael James has not to rack his brains about the large number of comments. May not the flood of our comments cause any oppessive feeling or uneasiness on Michael's side.Anugrahanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-41655403766492618452016-01-05T09:45:30.913+00:002016-01-05T09:45:30.913+00:00I would just like to congratulate Michael and frie...I would just like to congratulate Michael and friends as this article has generated 400 + comments !!<br />In appreciation <br />Bob Bob - Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-24203941827040776342016-01-05T09:15:58.433+00:002016-01-05T09:15:58.433+00:00Keep quiet, be as you are and don't pay attent...Keep quiet, be as you are and don't pay attention to this or that. Be.Anonymouthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-48650020055606433562016-01-05T08:20:45.548+00:002016-01-05T08:20:45.548+00:00In Ramana's language, everything you can be &q...In Ramana's language, everything you can be "aware of" is considered to be a thought. Therefore a feeling or a sensation is also a thought. For example, a feeling of pain in your knee is considered to be a thought. A FEELING OF EMPTINESS OR OF "NO THOUGHT" IS ALSO A THOUGHT ! <br /><br />"Don't pay attention to any thought and abide as yourself is practice."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com