Category Archives: Advaita and Yoga

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Ahimsa Is The Highest Virtue

. ADVAITA & YOGA, Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, PERSONAL, TEACHERS . , , , , , ,

No teaching higher than Self Realization

Ahimsa (nonviolence) is the primary ideal and the virtue to be cultivated on the yogic path to Self-Realization. This is a subtle, deep, and fundamental psychological and spiritual truth.

Why such an emphasis on Ahimsa by the sages?

It is because the perfect and calm state of relaxed awareness is only possible in a mind that is free of all violence.

It is in this state that Grace takes over and allows the pure devotee to surrender fully to God who sits in the Heart, as the Universal Heart, and recognize it to be the Self, one’s very own Self.

 

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What is fear? It is only a thought. ~ Sri Ramana

. Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, PERSONAL, TEACHERS

Bhagavan's smile

“What is fear? It is only a thought. If (only) there is anything besides the Self, there is reason to fear”.  Sri Ramana in Talk 146 (Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi). Highlighting the role of ego as an impediment on the spiritual path, Sri Ramana concludes, “All bad qualities center around the ego. When the ego is gone Realisation results by itself”. 

Sri Ramana’s teaching is that all fear and suffering is ego based. Because the ego views itself as separate from God (the Universal Intelligence), all its energy goes towards maintaining its existence, its identity. The ego based attachments essentially constitute our individual personality. The more intense our attachments to people and things, the more intense our suffering will be.

The natural peace and happiness inherent in the Self dominates when ego identification with actions and thoughts disappears. 

Sri Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita that although the mind is difficult to control, with repeated practice, it gradually subsides. Outlining the path of Karma Yoga to purify the mind, Sri Krishna advises Arjuna to take action but to not be attached to the fruits of the action. In this way also, identification with the ego thins out and one attains Realization of one’s true nature.

Sri Krishna says to Arjuna, “Therefore, always perform your duty efficiently and without attachment to the results, because by doing work without attachment one attains the Supreme. (BG 3.19).

Sri Ramana used to say that spiritual practice should be carried out until the Self becomes spontaneously and effortlessly self-evident in all states of consciousness as being the natural state. 

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Give Up The Sense Of Doership ~ Sri Ramana

. Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, PERSONAL, TEACHERS . , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Give up the sense of doership

Bhagavan Ramana says in Talk 41 (Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi) that one should give up the sense of doership in order to be free from the bondage of birth and death. Bhagavan is saying that karma pertains to the body/mind. If we give up the sense of doership, the karma will go on or drop away. Either way, it is not our concern.

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“Mind Your Own Business”, said Ramana Maharshi

. ADVAITA & YOGA, Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, PERSONAL, TEACHERS . , , , , , , , , , , ,

The sun is simply bright


One day, one of the devotees came to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and said in an excited whisper, “Look, Bhagavan! Just look at that man! ” Everyone turned to look. We saw a gentleman who was asleep, swaying back and forth. The devotee who had approached Bhagavan complained, “I have been watching him for the past few days. He always sleeps in Bhagavan’s presence.”

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Do Not Mind the Mind: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

. Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, TEACHERS . , , , , , , , ,

The mind sees differences everywhere

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God Looks After You Unasked! Said Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi

. ADVAITA & YOGA, Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, Meditation, PERSONAL, Yoga . , , ,

Harsha's avatarLuthar.com

Selected portion of A Devotee’s remembrance. Shantammal speaks of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.

One of the visitors was leaving the Ashram. He stood before Bhagavan with folded hands and prayed: “I am going far away. I do not know when I shall be coming back, and if at all I shall be allowed to see your holy face again in this life. I am so much less fortunate than those who have the benefit of your constant presence. How can you help me, a sinner in a distant corner of the world, unless you think of me? I implore you, give me a place in your mind.”

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Ramana Satsangs in NY and Boston

. Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, PERSONAL, TEACHERS . , , , , , , ,

The Arunachala Ashram is a non profit organization that functions in the U.S. and Canada. They have two formal Ashrams. One is in Jamaica, NY and the other is in Nova Scotia, Canada. Devotees can stay in these Ashrams as guests and enjoy Satsang.

Recently the Arunachala Ashram, with help from the Florida devotees, has started holding annual retreats on Bhagavan’s teachings in Tampa, Florida.

I have visited both the Nova Scotia and the NY Ashrams with my daughter. Being with Bhagavan devotees is like being with family and it is always an enriching and a nourishing time. The Arunachala Ashram website lists Satsangs which are held monthly or weekly around the U.S. and Canada. if one is interested in Bhagavan’s teachings and wants to enjoy Satsang, some of the Satsangs are listed below.

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Ideals of Nonviolence and Universal Love are Sacred

. Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, PERSONAL, TEACHERS

May all beings be happy

There are many things going on in our social/cultural, economic, and political environments. If we are self-aware, we can see clearly the emotional roller coaster of anger, fear, and hate that the media, politicians, and sometimes even the so-called religious leaders invite us to ride.

Any incitement to hate others can only come from ignorance of one’s divine nature.

With deep faith that the same God resides in all hearts, we hold the ideals of nonviolence and universal love for all beings as sacred. In doing so, we remain calm, rational, and logical as we engage in all our work as karma yoga.

Actions taken in the spirit of service to others brighten the pure intelligence within us that lights up our path.

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Know That By Which All Else Is Known: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

. Advaita and Yoga, ART & POETRY, INSPIRATIONAL, Meditation, PERSONAL, TEACHERS . , , , , , , , , , , ,

Know That by which all else is known.

Harsha's avatarLuthar.com

First set yourself rightThe photo art above is from John Wassenberg FB page.
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Some say that Reality is subjective, some say it is objective, and some say it is both objective and subjective, and some say it is neither.

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Kundalini Shakti in the West: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

. Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL, Kundalini, LIFESTYLE, Meditation, PERSONAL, TEACHERS, Yoga . , , , , , ,

Kundalini Yoga in the West

Harsha's avatarLuthar.com

The notion of Kundalini Shakti is at the heart of yoga and is embedded in virtually all Eastern traditions regardless of the name or label that is given. If we carefully examine any school of yoga, tantra, or various traditions (Shakti, Shaivite, Kashmiri Shaivism), there will usually be some descriptions of Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Kriyas, Mudras, Mantras, and different types of meditations on the Chakras (energy centers).

In the Shakti traditions, detailed descriptions are given of the various aspects of the visions of the Goddess that arise in meditation. Even in the school of Advaita Vedanta, which does not depend on the practices associated with Shakti Yoga, we see that the great scholar/saint Adi Shankracharya has written hymns to the Goddess who represents Shakti, the divine power.

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