Tag Archives: Yoga

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Wisdom Eye: The True Guru: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

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

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

. Advaita and Yoga, PERSONAL, TEACHERS . , , , , , , , , ,

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

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

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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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Professor and the Sage – Part 2

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

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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The Professor and the Sage – Part 1

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

The classic story of Professor Krishnamurthy Aiyer meeting with Bhagavan Ramana (Part 1)

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Professor N.R. Krishnamurthy Aiyer Speaks:

I am now ninety-two years old and I first met Sri Ramana Maharshi in the summer of 1914, when I was just a boy of sixteen. We were then on a pilgrimage to Tirupati and had halted in Tiruvannamalai, from where my grandmother hailed. We were not strangers to this town.

In the pilgrim party there were half a dozen boys, all of whom were about my age. We all decided to go up to Virupaksha cave. The Maharshi was then residing there and was attentive to all the activities of us youngsters. I noticed his gaze particularly focused on me.

Bhagvan Ramana in his youth

We were all playing with the conch shell. The sadhus used to blow this shell like a horn when they went into town to beg for alms.

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This Nonsense Makes Perfect Sense

. ART & POETRY, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, PERSONAL . , , , , ,

HKL-Lamp of the Heart

In  2001, one of my students gave me a book “The Enlightened Heart” edited by Stephen Mitchell. Looking through it this morning I came across several beautiful poems. I wanted to share one with you from Lao Tzu that speaks my heart:

Some say my teaching is nonsense.

Others call it lofty but impractical.

But to those who have looked inside themselves,

this nonsense makes perfect sense.

And those who put it into practice

this loftiness has roots that go deep.

I have just three things to teach:

Simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.

Simple in actions and in thoughts,

you return to the source of being.

Patient with both friends and enemies

You accord with the way things are,

Compassionate towards yourself,

you reconcile all beings in the world.

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Upadesa Saram Verse 4: Comments by Dr. Suryanarayana Raju

. Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL . , , , , ,

Sri-Ramana-Maharshi-3

Verse 4: kaya vang manah karyam uttamam pujanam japat chintanam krama
kaya-vak-manah: with body, speach and mind
karyam: acts
pujanam: worship
japa: chanting
chintanam: contemplation
kramat: order
uttama: better

“worship, japa, contemplation are the best activities in that order … performed respectively with body,speech and mind.” Continue reading →

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In the Jaws of the Beloved Tiger: By Dr. Evan Keith

. Advaita and Yoga, Gurus, INSPIRATIONAL, LIFESTYLE, Love, Meditation, PERSONAL, Ramana Maharishi, Spirituality, TEACHERS, Wisdom, Yoga . , , , , , , , , , ,

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I do not know when I first learned of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. I know that at most he was little more than a name to me before my eighteenth birthday and only in the last year has he become of central importance to me. In fact, now I think of Bhagavan as my Guru. Bhagavan never did formal initiation of anyone as a devotee and never even referred to anyone as being or not being his devotee. Nevertheless, he sometimes mentioned that most people needed a guru to overcome their ancient tendencies and “realize” the Self. Sometimes Bhagavan would allude to the Self, itself, or in particular the mountain Arunachala as having been his Guru. In this respect, Bhagavan Ramana is my Sadguru and I am His devotee. Continue reading →

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I Entered the Heart a Stranger: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

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

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For many years, I have been sharing the following quote on Facebook.

“I entered the Heart a stranger and saw that I myself am the Heart.”

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Nirvikalpa Samadhi – Two Different Perspectives: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

. Advaita and Yoga, Gurus, INSPIRATIONAL, Meditation, PERSONAL, Ramana Maharishi, Spirituality, TEACHERS, Yoga . , , , , , , , , ,
Harsh K. Luthar

Harsh K. Luthar

Question On 01/20/2000 From Gausima

I accidentally found this on the internet while searching for something else, and was wondering what type of Nirvikalpa Samadhi it was referring to and if anyone had any knowledge of this.

“once an ordinary person achieves Nirvikalpa Samadhi, he leaves the body in 21 days.”   In the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, on page 245, it says, “Trailanga Swami once said that because a man reasons he is conscious of multiplicity, of variety. Attaining samadhi, one gives up the body in twenty-one days. . . ” (Ramakrishna was talking to his devotees.)

Namaste,
Gasusima

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