Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi (December 30, 1879 – April 14, 1950) was a great Hindu mystic of the Advaita Vedanta stream and is widely regarded as one of the greatest saints of Hinduism. He lived in the sacred Tiruvannamalai hill near Chennai. The core of his teachings was the practice of atma-vichara (self-enquiry). Ramana Maharshi - Maharshi's Life. Ramana Maharshi was born in a village called Tirucculi near Madurai in southern India. He was given the name Venkataraman. His f ...

Including:

• Ramana Maharshi - Maharshi's Life
• Ramana Maharshi - His Teachings
• Ramana Maharshi - Teachers in the tradition

Read more here: » Ramana Maharshi: Encyclopedia - Ramana Maharshi

Ramana Maharshi taught a method called self-inquiry in which the seeker focuses continuous attention on the I-thought in order to find its source. In the beginning this requires effort, but eventually something deeper than the "self" takes over and the mind dissolves in the heart center. He is an acknowledged Hindu master of the Advaita Vedanta stream of Vedic thought, and has many followers throughout India and abroad. This system of philosophy endorses the view that the 'true being' within each one of us is the Ultimate, sublime reality, t ...

See also:

Ramana Maharshi, Ramana Maharshi - Maharshi's Life, Ramana Maharshi - His Teachings, Ramana Maharshi - Teachers in the tradition

Read more here: » Ramana Maharshi: Encyclopedia II - Ramana Maharshi - His Teachings

As a teenager, Venkataraman (that was the Sri Ramana Maharshi 's given name) had no inclination towards any form of devotion. At 16 years, self-realisation just happened. Sitting in a room Venkataraman felt as if he were dying.

Later, he recounted saying to himself: "This body is dead. It will be carried stiff to the burning ground and there be burnt and reduced to ashes. But with the death of body, am 'I' dead?

(See also: Sri Ramana Maharshi , Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Sri Ramana Maharshi: Discovering the 'I' In Sixty Minutes  

Ramana Maharshi:

Ramana Maharshi. Indian sage, 1879 1950, who taught the path of self-inquiry.

(See also: Ramana Maharshi , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Ramana Maharshi Dictionary

Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950): A spiritual master who left home at sixteen years of age after an experience of enlightenment to spend the remainder of his life at Arunachala Mountain, meditating and teaching those who came to him. Ramana Maharshi is considered to be the last of the line of authentic sages of the ancient tradition. Somerset Maugham visited the sage in 1938, and later used him as the model for the holy man in The Razor's Edge.

(See also: Ramana Maharshi , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Ramana Maharshi Dictionary

According to Kalki Bhagavan, teachings and sadhanas (spiritual practices) has never brought anyone to liberation or enlightenment, at the most they will create a transformation. Kalkis advice is to be fully aware of who we are, to confront ourselves and to fully experience the pain inside of us. This will lead to joy and be the best preparation for enlightenment.

Read more here: » Kalki Bhagavan on the path to Liberation (Mukti)

Agni and the Fire of Self-Inquiry

Self-inquiry (Atma-vichara), such as taught by Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, is regarded as the simplest and most direct path to Self-realization. However, Self-inquiry is also very subtle and can be hard to accomplish even after years of dedicated practice. It depends upon a great power of concentration and acuity of mind along with an intense longing for liberation. One might say metaphorically that Self-inquiry requires a certain flame. It requires that we ourselves become a flame and that our lives become an offering to it. Without such an inner fire, Self-realization may elude us whatever else we may attempt. Therefore, it is important to look at Self-inquiry not simply as a mental practice but as an energetic movement of consciousness like the rising up of a great fire.

Read more here: » Agni: Agni and the Fire of Self-Inquiry

Mauna: Silence Please, It's Mauni Amavasya

Indian tradition emphasises the concept of mauna or silence as an ideal trigger for introspection and reflection. Derived from the word muni , an ascetic who practises silence, mauna ideally symbolises a state of oneness with the Self.

Mauna has been described by Sankara as one of the three essential attributes of a sanyasi , along with balya or childlike state and panditya or wisdom. According to Ramana Maharshi, mauna is a state beyond speech and thought, it is "living without the ego-sense". He made silence the medium of spiritual instruction.

Read more here: » Mauna: Silence Please, It's Mauni Amavasya

The mind as a separate live entity does not exist, for it is an instrument in the hand of God. The only thing that remains is 'Being', which covers both existence and non-existence, which is beyond words or ideas. Pure awareness dawns through an understanding of one's own nature. The sage's instruction demands no strenuous effort either through physical rigour or austere practices such as chanting.

(See also: The Mind , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » The Mind: Discover the 'I', Be One With God  

Shivaratri is a festival of fasting, worship and prayer. Fasting is undertaken to get rid of one's ego. Once the ego is destroyed, the Shiva hidden within gets revealed.

Sri Ramana Maharshi often said that Shiva signifies the Great Dissolution. Where things dissolve, there they must originate. Hence Shiva is the source of the entire creation, including Brahma and Vishnu.

(See also: Shivaratri , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Shivaratri: Lord of Destruction Also Protects Life - about Shivaratri  

What is so special about Kriya yoga? It expands your consciousness; it enables you to move up from the ridiculous to the sublime - from say, matters of state, politics and (Cauvery) disputes to a deeper understanding of nature of the Self.

I got this divine intuition some days ago which prompted me to travel to Babaji's cave in Uttaranchal - he used to meditate there. I've been initiated into practising Kriya yoga through divine dispensation. I'd been through hardly a year's basic training before my intuition took me to Babaji's cave...

(See also: Kriya yoga , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Kriya yoga: From The Ridiculous To the Sublime  

The very concept of God has given rise to many theological disputes and religious warfare. In fact, God is an enduring in-depth experience in the midst of ever-changing mental and sensate experiences - God is the inexhaustible source of love, harmony and peace.

Happiness is sought by everyone. But the search is not focused in the right direction. We waste precious time seeking happiness in the mirage of objects, places and people; in relationships and ideologies; in possessions and wanton indulgences.

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: Self-awareness Can Bring Happiness

In this article, Kiara Windrider, author of “A doorway to Eternity” share his experiences with the teachings of Golden Age Foundation headed by Kalki in India. Kiara Windrider was one of the teachers at the first Oneness Festival that took place August 2-8 2003. The Oneness Festival is a collaboration between the Golden Age Foundation in India and the Experience Foundation in Sweden.

Read more here: » Kiara Windrider on Enlightenment, Kalki and the Golden Age Movement - I

In this first chapter of Kiara Windriders new book; “Enlightenment 2012: Kalki and the Golden Age”, Kiara is giving the background and characteristics of his own spiritual search. Described in a personal way from a personal perspective, it becomes even more universal. The search for inner harmony is probably a trait of all human beings, the exact path is however always individual.

Read more here: » Enlightenment 2012: Kalki and the Golden Age – Chapter 1: The Search

This is the introduction to Kiara Windriders new book; “Enlightenment 2012: Kalki and the Golden Age” and we are very happy to say that we will be able to publish many of its chapters on a regular basis. It will be truly exciting reading for anyone being on the path towards spiritual awakening. We start off with the Introduction.

Read more here: » Enlightenment 2012: Kalki and the Golden Age – Introduction

Spirituality and Business: Corporate & Personal Search for Identity

In a reputed business school, a session on cause-related marketing and social responsibility of business was in progress. Two volunteers from the class had to simply describe themselves as persons as if to Ômarket' that idea like a product or service to the class.

Read more here: » Spirituality and Business: Corporate Personal Search for Identity

The Cauliflower Buddha 

The famous sage of Arunachala, India, Ramana Maharshi, said that when the mind is absorbed at the source from where the ÒI amÓ is springing forth, meditation begins. ÒWhen one is at this source, the separateness of ego dissolves,Ó Ramana proclaimed.

Read more here: » The mind: The Cauliflower Buddha

‘Trataka’ is steady gazing at a particular point or object without winking. Though this is one of the six purificatory exercises, it is mainly intended for developing concentration and mental focusing. It is very useful for the students of Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Trataka: Trataka and Kundalini Yoga

Hinduism and Polytheism

According to the tenets of Hinduism, God is one as well as many. He is to be found every where and in every thing. He is there in the sky, in the rivers, in the plants and trees and even in a particle of dust. He is an enigma, because He is in many things at a time and is many things at a time. He is visible as well as invisible. He is here and He is there. He is above and He is below. He is with forms and also without form. He speaks and He speaks not. He is the self and also the not'self. To say that this is God and this is not is perhaps much more sacrilegious, if there is anything like sacrilegious in the world of God, than seeing God in images and idols and worshipping Him.

Read more here: » Hinduism and Polytheism: Why do Hindus worship so many gods and goddesses?

The Allure of Tantra

Perhaps nothing is more exotic, dramatic and sensational in IndiaÕs Yoga traditions than is the practice of Tantra. No other approach to Yoga has gained such a fascination for the modern mind and its seeking of the bizarre, the entertaining and the enigmatic.

Tantra appears to offer both spiritual and worldly success to a superlative degree. It covers not only internal yogic experiences of chakras, lokas and deities, but also has many important healing practices for body and mind. Most notably, it offers special means of heightening sexual pleasure, making money, gaining recognition and defeating oneÕs enemies - with Tantric methods available for achieving all human desires. There is in Tantra something for everyone, especially those who may be put off by ascetic or renunciate approaches to the spiritual life such as seem to dominate most of the rest of the Yoga tradition.

Read more here: » Tantra Yoga: The Allure of Tantra