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Ramana Maharshi
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The mountain of Arunachala, and Ramana
Maharshi
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The mountain of Arunachala |
Ramana Maharshi |
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I spent 6 months in India in 1984 on the mountain of
Arunachala. The experience completely changed my life. I was attracted by the "Teacher who
taught in silence", because there were therefore no words or personality to fool
me.
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The following description is from the Ramana Maharshi Website....
"Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, known as The
Sage of Arunachala, is widely recognised as perhaps the most unique spiritual
personality of the 20th Century. His life was a perfect example of simplicity, purity,
equality and equanimity, born from an unalterable experience of supreme peace and oneness.
"The Maharshi's teaching of 'Self-enquiry' ( Pure Advaita )
is simplicity itself, requiring no outward formalities, no outer change of life, only a
simple change in 'point of view' and a sustained effort on the part of the seeker. The
goal is no heaven after death or a faraway ideal, but rather the removal of the ignorance
that prevents us from knowing that we are eternally one with our Source. It is an experience than can be had now.
All that is required is a sincere effort.
"On his deathbed the Maharshi told his grieving devotees,
"You say I am going away, but where can I go? I am always here. You give too much
importance to the body."
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Ramana Maharshi himself summed it up very well, when once a
devotee asked him, "What do I have to do to become enlightened?". Ramana
answered, "You don't have to do anything - you are already enlightened. All you
have to do is get rid of everything that isn't."
He expressed the ultimate in true humility, rising before dawn as long
as he was physically able to help the ashram staff prepare food for the day. Animals
would come to him for help in settling their disputes, as he regarded them as being fully
equal to humans. If anyone brought him anything special to eat, he would refuse to
touch it until everyone present had some of it. All he owned was his
loincloth |
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Sites about Ramana
Maharshi
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Sites about Arunachala &
Tiruvanamalai
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