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Summer 2014 Trip to the NY Arunachala Ashram for Guru Purnima – Part 2

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Guru Purnima was celebrated in friendship and joy among Bhagavan Ramana devotees on Sunday, July 13 at the NY Arunachala Ashram. A large gathering of devotees attended the puja. By late afternoon, when the main Pooja was ending, many devotees had arrived for the dinner/prasad.

Here are some pictures of devotees on the day of Guru Purnima conversing joyfully and eating. The times given on the pictures are approximately one hour ahead. The ordering of the pictures is from later in the day with everyone eating prasad at the end of puja to earlier in the day with people having breakfast at the start of Guru Purnima.

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Summer 2014 Trip to the NY Arunachala Ashram for Guru Purnima – Part 1

Seeking Satsang with other Bhagavan Ramana devotees, on July 12, my daughter and I arrived at the Arunachala Ashram in Jamaica, NY, for Guru Purnima scheduled for Sunday, July 13.

Bhagavan Shrine at the NY Arunachala Ashram

We had visited the Arunachala Ashram in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the summer of 2013 and had very fond memories of that. We soon met and were greeted by some of the residents of the Ashram including Margo-ji, Ran-ji, Bandhu-ji, and Dennis-ji.

SRI DENNIS-JI

DENNIS-JI STANDING WITH MIRA-JI

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The Enlightenment Business: Wisdom For Sale

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By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

Dr. Luthar listening to a presentation

Religion and spirituality today are a big business. Generally the spiritual teachers, preachers, and the so called enlightened masters of the day are really motivational speakers and self styled self-help expert who are engaged in entrepreneurial ventures aimed at financial and commercial success.  Every year people spend billions of dollars buying the books, CDs, and self-help programs offered by such teachers.

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What Is Witness Consciousness? By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

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Anandmayi Ma with Swami Yoganand

Witness consciousness as a concept and a spiritual practice has become better known now in the West. In the psychology of Advaita and Yoga of thousands of years ago, it has always been a fundamental tool for self development and self understanding on the path to Self-Realization.

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The Significance of a Reference when Posting a Quote of Bhagavan Ramana: By Dr. Evan Keith

I am fortunate to be a member of the family of sincere devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi in which we share our heart-melting love for Bhagavan with each other. Not only are we siblings in Bhagavan, but more than that Bhagavan is found inside everyone of us as the true Self.

Since every word Bhagavan spoke was an utterance from God appearing as a man, every submission of Bhagavan’s words is an act of Bhakti and is an aid to anyone who reads it. To me there are three important reasons that we provide a reference for every quote by Bhagavan that we share by posting online: Continue reading

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Recommended Books for Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

Why Worry

Dear Friends:

The most frequent question that I am asked, especially from newcomers to Bhagavan Ramana’s teachings, is: “What books do you recommend for studying the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi”?

Here is my answer. Please keep in mind that everyone has their favorite sources for Bhagavan Ramana’s teachings and I am simply sharing mine. In addition, my attempt is to keep the list of recommended sources small for the most practical benefit of people just getting introduced to Bhagavan’s teachings. So there is an element of subjectivity here. However, I am happy to add to this list as Bhagavan devotees give me feedback as to what sources they would personally recommend.

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What Is Enlightenment? By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

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What Is Enlightenment?

“The state we call realization is simply being oneself, not knowing anything or becoming anything. If one has realized, he is that which alone is, and which alone has always been. He cannot describe that state. He can only be That.”  Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

What is Enlightenment? Did you know that it is simply the state of being your self. Does this sound too simple to you?

There is so much talk about Enlightenment these days. Gurus, teachers, self-help experts, and personal development specialists go on talking about the wonders of Enlightenment. Well why not? They are selling something, a vague but an attractive idea of bliss and happiness; and there are plenty of buyers.

My friends, where is the glamor in being one’s own Self?

That is all what Enlightenment is. But we run from this simplicity.

There are many extraordinary Samadhis, visions, and powerful…

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Understanding Bhagavan Ramana’s Teachings: By Alan Jacobs

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Introduction

In his seminal Crest Jewel of Discrimination, the Self-realized philosopher, Shankara, spoke of the three high gifts bestowed through the grace of God. Firstly, to be born in a human body, secondly, to aspire to liberation, and thirdly, to be associated with a great sage.

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On Death and Dying: Words of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

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Bhagavan Ramana as a youth Bhagavan Ramana as a youth

The devotees know that Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi had an intense experience of death in his seventeenth year. After the experience ended, he was established in the realisation of his true Self and the illusion of death died forever.

Here is in part Bhagavan’s description of what happened:

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Professor and the Sage – Part 2

Professor and the Sage – Part 2

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Interview with Prof. N. R. Krishnamurthy Aiyer

Concluding from Part 1. Summary:

At the age 16, Professor N.R Krishnamurthy had darshan of Bhagavan Ramana. That was in 1914. Eight years later in 1922 Professor Krishnamurthy had completed his M.S. in Physics. He went and met Bhagavan again. By this time Professor Krishnamurthy was an agnostic and put a question to Bhagavan that he felt could not be answered. Bhagavan, however, answered with a counter question that transformed Professor Krishanmurthy but also created fear in him of Bhagavan. Professor Krishanamurthy did not go see Bhagavan Ramana for 12 years.  He was then a Physics Professor. Now the interview continues.
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