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A Joy Rises In My Heart

On the swing

When I pushed forward, I was whirled about.
When I stayed in place, I sank.
And so I crossed the flood
without pushing forward,
without staying in place.

Buddha (Ogha-tarana Sutta, Samyutta Nikaya)

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All Life Is Sacred

All life is sacred

Ahimsa (Nonviolence) is listed as the highest principle among all others in the ancient Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras of Maharishi Patanajali.

Indeed, it is the universal declaration of sages in all spiritual traditions that one should not harm other living beings as the same life energy permeates everyone.

All beings love life, want to be happy, and thrive. According to the law of karma, what one gives to others, one gets as well. Therefore, the secret to happiness is simply to support others in finding their joy.

Namaste.

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You Have No Caste!

You have no caste. No duties bind you.
Formless and free,
Beyond the reach of the senses,
The witness of all things.
So be happy! ~ Ashtavakra Gita (1:5)

You have no caste

Ashtavakra Gita is a classic ancient Advaita scripture that is uttered by a great sage from a radical nondual perspective. This was one of Sri Ramana’s favorite scriptures and he used it as a teaching tool in some conversations. Photo art found on John Wassenberg fb page.

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Enter the Heart

When you enter the Heart, you become the Heart. That is the true silence.

You know that you know nothing.

A man asked the Maharshi to say something to him. When asked what the man wanted to know, he said that he knew nothing and wanted to hear something from the Maharshi. Bhagavan then said to the man, “You know that you know nothing. Find out that knowledge.” (See Talk 12 in “Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi).

Bhagavan used to say that the only direct knowledge we have is that “I Exist”. All other knowledge is via inference. Hence the Self-Inquiry, “Who Am I?” was advised by Bhagavan as the primary spiritual practice.

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The Glow Of Contentment

I have left all my practices, and words of the wise
now sound like noises in the city at lunch time.
On entering the heart of awareness, I saw that
joy is simply the glow of contentment devoid of longing. ~ HKL

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Sri Ramana Maharshi in the picture above.

 

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Your Nature is Peace and Happiness ~ Sri Ramana

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Sri Ramana says, “Your Nature is Peace and Happiness.” This quote as well as the quotes in the picture are from Sri Ramana speaking in Talk 462 in “Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi”. Photo art is from John Wassenberg fb page. Bhagavan is saying that happiness and joy are our very nature and revealed when we turn our mind within and inquire as to the original source of the mind.

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Tilopa’s “The Song of Mahamudra”

Tilopa_s

Cut the root of a tree
And the leaves will wither;
Cut the root of your mind
And Samsara falls.

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Essential Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

Harsha's avatarLuthar.com

In the following extract from Gems from Bhagavan, we are reminded of the essence of Bhagavan Ramana’s teaching and inspired to realize the True Self.

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What is Saguna and Nirguna Brahman? By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

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Harsh K. Luthar in Madison, WI

Questioner: What is meant in Hinduism by “Saguna Brahman” and how is that different from “Nirguna Brahman”

Answer: The term Saguna means “with attributes”. The term “Saguna Brahman” implies that God has a name and form and other attributes. Many Savikalpa Samadhis give rise to the (living) form of the Ishta Devata. Ishta Devta is one’s favored way of visualizing the divine. It might be Krishna, Jesus, Rama, the Goddess or some other Deity of choice.

Nirguna means “without attributes”. The term “Nirguna Brahman” implies that God as the Absolute Spirit and Pure Consciousness has no name and form or attributes. Nirvikalpa Samadhi reveals the Nirguna nature of the Self.

There are a number of books on Hinduism that discuss Saguna and Nirguna Brahman. Classic yoga texts like Patanjali’s yoga sutras explain various types of Samadhi states. All of such concepts and topics of discussion can also be found in…

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Thoughts Change But Not You ~ Sri Ramana Maharshi

Thoughts change but not you
Photo art from John Wassenberg’s fb page.

Sri Ramana Maharshi says in Talk 524 (Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi), “You must exist in order that you may think. You may think these thoughts or other thoughts. The thoughts change but not you. Let go the passing thoughts and hold on to the unchanging Self. The thoughts form your bondage. If they are given up, there is release. The bondage is not external.”

Devotee says: But it is not easy to remain without thinking.

Sri Ramana replies: You need not cease thinking. Only think of the root of the thoughts; seek it and find it. The Self shines by itself. When that is found the thoughts cease of their own accord. That is freedom from bondage (Talk 524).

Bhagavan Ramana teaches that any thing that appears and disappears is not you. That which remains always, is you. The Advaitic system of Neti, Neti (not this, not this) is based on that. The aspirant analyzes everything that he or she perceives and says, “I am not the body, I am not the senses, I am not the mind, etc. Whatever can be perceived is not me as I am the one perceiving it.”

Continuing to reflect on this and doing Neti, Neti, (I am not this, I am not this), finally, that subjective pure awareness remains which cannot be denied. The Subject cannot deny It Self. Hence Advaita Vedanta declares that when you firmly reach the pure Subject which is only Awareness, you should abide in that. That You Are. Thou Art That. That I AM!