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

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

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

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

The mind sees differences everywhere

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The Mother of all Chai: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

This morning I skipped breakfast and made instead the “Mother of all Chai”, my special Vegan Chai recipe.

I grated fresh ginger root, grated fresh turmeric root, added five cinnamon sticks (maybe more) and a lot of whole black peppers as well as lot of Fennel seeds, Anise seeds, and Ajwain seeds. Not stopping there, I added many whole Cloves and Cardamom seeds.

The I put the mix in a large pot of water and brought the pot to a boil.

After letting it simmer on low for ten minutes, I added loose black Darjeeling tea to the mix and let it simmer for 5 more minutes.

Using a strainer to pour the liquid in my Chai mug, I added Soy milk and then sweetened the mixture with stevia.

Finally, I sat down and sipped the Chai slowly and watched as this magical potion gently energized me and made me smile and sing.

Mother of all Chai

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Ramana Satsangs in NY and Boston

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

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

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

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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Goddess As The Guru In Tripura Rahasya

Goddess As The Guru

Harsha's avatarLuthar.com

Sri Sri Anandmayi Ma

The classic Goddess scripture Tripura Rahasaya is well known to Sanskrit scholars and now a number of translations exist in English.

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi often quoted from Tripura Rahasya and considered it one of the greatest works that expounded Advaita philosophy. Bhagavan’s close devotee Munagala Venkataramaiah (later known as Swami Ramanananda Saraswathi)  translated Tripura Rahasya into English in 1936. That was the first translation of this classic, I believe. A number of Sanskrt scholars since then have made their own translations into English.

In many Hindu scriptures like Tripura Rahasaya, the ultimate Guru is Devi, the Supreme Goddess.  She gives instructions to the sages so they can know the highest truth of Reality and attain Self-Realization.

In the path of Tantra, the sciences explaining the mystery of mantra, mind, and breath are explored and explained. Tantric texts focus on the nature of the divine energy within the body, also…

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