Michael Bowes is well known to us as an authentic and genuine and a very experienced yogi and a devotee of Sri Bhagavan Ramana. Internationally, he is well travelled and has been to India. He has visited various Ashrams and Gurus and Swamis in both the U.S. and abroad.
Michael has an uncanny ability to see to the heart of the matter and his spiritual insights pierce through the veils of sentimentality and conceptual baggage. Michael is a long term member of the HarshaSatsangh community and his presence has been a gift.
Given below is the second part of a three part story from Michael about his visit to a Swami in India. This is Part II.
You can see Part I at the following link.
https://luthar.com/2006/01/page/2/
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By Sri Michael Bowes
Many persons would love to meet their guru. Imagine meeting a Swami of the Shankara Order who was…
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By Michael Bowes
One can be certain that one is not alone in this world. As long as we consider ourselves to be a separate, limited, mortal individual in this sometimes bewildering existence, one can be certain that the presence and guidance of the true guru, the eternal guide, is always with us. That loving guide draws us to ItSelf just as the flowers attract the bees.
Have you noticed how persons use expressions similar to the following – “I said to myself”, “I thought to myself”, “I told myself”, “I asked myself”?
Who is the “I” that asks one’s self, who is the “I” that thinks to one’s self, who is the “I” that tells one’s self? And who is the “myself” that “I” tells?
These expressions and questions are subtle indications of the fractured nature of our existence; but they are also indications of the one who is…
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By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar
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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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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“Who is a master? He is the Self after all.” Ramana Maharshi
The company of peaceful Sages (Satsangha) and living in Ahimsa (harmlessness) is considered the primary influence that leads to Self-Realization. The forced attempts to discard various habits and conditioning and practicing different techniques to calm the mind have built in limitations. However, such methods can be pursued with benefit if one is already inclined towards these practices.
When strong inner motivation is present, one is automatically propelled towards Self-Awareness and Meditation. The fog of confusion then quickly evaporates and leads to Self-Seeing, Self-Being, Self-Realization, and Silence of the Heart.
Meditation and mind calming methods, can be effective at many different levels if practiced in the context of a clear understanding. Such practices, however, cannot by themselves end the fundamental agitation of the mind which continues at more and more subtle levels and causes suffering.
The nature of the…
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Bhagavan Sri Ramana used to say, “Ahimsa Param Dharma”. It means that Ahimsa (Nonviolence) is the Supreme Dharma (Duty or Principle). Sri Ramana pointed out to the devotees and yogis that in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Ahimsa is named as the highest virtue above all other virtues. If we are able to understand what Ahimsa means at the deepest level, that clarity itself guides us in discovering the nature of the Self as our own Being.
Ahimsa means to be gentle with others and oneself and all of nature. Ahimsa means to be natural and aware without rushing and pushing and trying to get somewhere quickly. This applies to both the material and the spiritual world. The mental tendency to grab and consume experiences of various types remains, even as people get on the spiritual path. There is nothing wrong with that. However, we should be aware of the tendencies that…
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