David Frawley - Ramana Maharshis Essence of Self-Realization

Ramana Maharshis

Essence of
Self-realization

Translation and Commentary By
David Frawley

VEDIC WISDOM PRESS

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American Institute
of Vedic Studies

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Copyright 2018 by David Frawley

Edited by Dr Narasimha B. Bhat

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ISBN: 9781719899345

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Table of Contents

Teachings of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi
and the tradition of Advaita Vedanta
My Connection to Bhagavan Ramana
Background of Upadesha Saram

Ritual, Mantra and Meditation:
The Three Foundation Practices

Abidance in the Heart, the Essence of All
the Yogas

Meditating on the Shakti behind
Mind and Prana

Self-Inquiry: Asking the Question
Who am I?

Discrimination Between the Seer
and the Seen

Merging God and the Soul into
the Supreme Self

Note on Translator/Commentator

Sri Ramanasramam Contact Information

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi (1878-1950) is probably the most renowned and respected sage of modern India, the very embodiment of the highest spiritual wisdom. He experienced his full Self-realization when a youth of only sixteen years and maintained that transcendent state of awareness throughout his life. Ramana can easily be compared to the greatest spiritual masters of humanity, most who had to labor much longer and face many more difficulties before reaching their full realization. Such an exalted teacher is extremely rare over the centuries and should be honored as a light for all humanity. Ramana is one of the main gurus for the world as a whole for years to come, spreading the transformative message of Self-inquiry, Self-knowledge and Self-realization for all, with clarity, compassion and grace.

The Maharshi mainly taught through silence and only answered questions at certain times of the day. Yet his was never any ordinary silence consisting of a mere absence of sound or lack of verbal communication. It was the profound inner silence and immutable stillness of the spiritual heart, reflecting an unwavering abidance in our true Self and Divine essence beyond all names, forms, words and expressions. Ramana was fully present and guiding others from within, even when externally he appeared silent, with eyes closed. His presence remains accessible to devotees and disciples even today.

The highest reality of pure Consciousness transcends body, mind and world. It is not the content of any idea, imagination or concept. It can only be approached through direct awareness and unmediated seeing, which is its very nature; just as the pure light of awareness. We may be able to communicate it to some degree by putting it into words; but we risk distorting it. We may misinterpret a mere verbal comprehension as a true comprehension of this very subtle and formless teaching. Therefore, as we strive to understand the words of the teachings, we should never forget that the transcendent silence behind them is the eventual goal.

The Maharshi did not read many books and composed few written teachings of his own during his life. His native language was Tamil but he did create a few short texts in Sanskrit as well. These were composed with the support of Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni, a great Yogi and Sanskrit scholar of the highest order in his own right, and one of Ramanas earliest and most important disciples. The Maharshis teachings placed in such Sanskrit verses are beautiful and poetic and yet reflect the highest truth and deepest insights with clarity and simplicity. They are gems of wisdom to be contemplated upon throughout ones entire lifetime. His shorter works are like the new sutras of Self-realization for generations to come.

My Connection with
Bhagavan Ramana

I have attempted to follow the teachings of Bhagavan Ramana, as best as I am able, for nearly fifty years now. This began with discovering his teachings when I was around twenty years of age. Subsequently I began meditating upon both his teachings and his radiant picture that has entranced so many people. Ramana became my spiritual father as it were, long before I first went to India. Later I visited the Ramanashram in India many times and wrote several articles for its journal, the Mountain Path.

As one who loves mountains, the sacred mountain of Arunachala, said to be the fire form of Lord Shiva that Ramana worshipped, particularly inspired me. I was similarly inspired by the monumental Shiva and Devi temple at Tiruvannamalai where Ramana stayed when he was a youth. I felt a strong connection to the Devi or Divine Mother there whose presence I could feel and communicate with.

For me, Ramana expressed the teachings of Advaita Vedanta and the great teacher Adi Shankara in clear contemporary terms. I studied the works of Shankara and Ramana together. I see Ramana as the Shankara of today, though teaching more through silence than through commentaries and hymns, which was Shankara's approach centuries ago. In addition, during my meditations I came to recognize Ramana as Lord Skanda/Murugan, Lord Shivas son born of fire, the destroyer of all ignorance; and came to appreciate the power of his teachings to take us beyond death and sorrow. Ramana holds that fiery power of tapas that can purify us from all karmas.

At the Ramanashram I experienced the light of Ramana, which still powerfully illuminates the ashram and the entire sacred mountain; and over time, I met with many of the luminaries and senior devotees there. Notably, I received important guidance from Sri K. Natesan for many years. Natesan passed away in 2009 at the age of ninety-six, having been connected to Ramana since his childhood. He explained the teachings of Ramana to me in simple and direct terms, and provided me a living link with Ramana.

Natesan was also associated with Ganapati, and provided a living link with the Munis teachings as well, whose Sanskrit works he carefully collected for decades and eventually published in twelve volumes, completing this monumental task shortly before his passing. These volumes included the Sanskrit versions of Ramanas works and related commentaries and poems by the Muni on Ramanas teachings, as well as the many other hymns, poems, chants, mantras, sutras and philosophical works of the Muni himself, extending to profound studies of the ancient Vedas.