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@@pinkifloyd7867 and yet you had to write this message and assert your competitive nature which means you were thinking. Maybe stop the new age nonsense and spiritual virtue signalling because you make yourself look silly.
Enquiry is just questions. "Yoga Vasistha" has the answers. An essay inspired by Yoga Vasistha : eternal-entropy.blogspot.com/2024/04/oneness-in-spirit-one-in-god.html
It's all about $$$. Conning people to buy back their birth right. Ramana and Nisargadatta never took payment. These conmen have the briefest glimpse and then turn it into a business. Bad karma.
@@pw4444 you are welcome 🙏 How are you now? Feeling better? I am from India and pray for world peace and well being of everyone ( all living creatures on the Earth and other worlds). Please take care. Regards.
This is excellent, I never liked Neo-Advita as I just saw a bunch of non duel parrots, but I couldn't put it into words, it was mostly just instinct. This really clarifies things for me.
I had met Swami sarvapriyananda in india when my school ramakrishna mission vidyapith deoghar was celebrating its centenary year he was invited as chief guest there and his lecture was "6 pillars of mind"...
Thats why Sri ramana said there is no jnani without bhakti. If you seek the true self through inquiry w/o sincere devotion you will be stuck. Thats what these western teachers completely ignore.
I search neo advaita teachers and I was surprise to see listed are some of my favourite teachers like eckhart tolle, Rupert Spira, ramana maharsi, etc. Apart from ramana maharsi I don't believe the other teachers have a guru-disciple program. In other words their teachings are not mean to be complete in itself. They are just authors and speakers. They don't call themselves guru. So I really don't understand why jason is so worked up.
@@alvinyong9370his video is very important. There are some very real and potentially detrimental risks with misunderstanding Advaita. In the context of Neo-A, without the preparation and proper understanding, the seeker can fall into a trap, where they essentially create a “witness” state within the ego/mind while thinking they are touching the reality of Atman. It can lead to psychological dissociation, repression/suppression, absolution from values and responsibility, etc. It can really lead people astray, all while thinking they are awakened.
@@nicommmmm Thank you for your response. You are right. After doing more research into neo Advaita I realise there is a danger for those who are not ready. And Especially true if neo advaita is the sole practice of the seeker. I've never done self enquiry myself. But I know I'm not the body or my thoughts or feelings. That knowledge alone helps me tremendously in overcoming my ego.
@@alvinyong9370 Totally agree, it is very helpful to have that knowledge. In Advaita terms, discerning between mithya ("unreal", dependent) and satya (real, independent existence). This is a critical part of Self-Knowledge. While at the same time, recognizing that this "relative" existence is also happening. A trap I see in many Neo-A groups is the misapplication of "Who is it that is experiencing this?" as a way of bypassing the mithya-reality.
You do not stay in the inquiry as the inquiry finally leads you beyond the mind. Ramana many times said that he was very lucky that he was never entangled in any study of any books. As he said, the books can only give you the indication to find the self.
Not luck but by the grace of Arunachal ( the mountain in Tiruvannamalai) . He praises the mountain in his works which were sung by his disciples to beg for alms. He gives all the credit to the mountain. At one place he mentions that Lord Arunachal by your grace and compassion you stilled my mind and made me realise my true self. Not only him but Vallalar or Swami Ramalingam and Jnana Samabandhar called Arunachal The mountain of light and Mountain of fire or jnana respectively. So , you can affirm that bhagwan Ramana Maharshi's guru was the mountain Arunachal. God bless
@@saharshsingh5864 lucky are his words. Strange affirmation somebody would speak for him and correct him. Arunachala was Shiva himself said Ramana in very occasions . All men who reach the self is due to Shiva.
"All men who reach the self is due to Shiva" or Arunachala? Are you sure about that? In my humble opinion it was just because of the Self. Names, concepts and forms like Shiva, Arunachal, a lingam will al dissapear when one realises his true nature. All this concepts are only there to point towards something which cannot be described. Although Ramana felt a very intense pull towards Arunachala i can't believe that he would give all the credit for his Self realisation to this mountain, simply because that creates a duality instead of union. He also taught the principle of "Ajata" or non-creation. So it would be pretty funny when he would have said something like, that in ultimate truth there is no world at all except Arunachala or Shiva :-) . In Self realisation you become everything and yet no-thing. We tend to take everything literally instead of discerning what is being pointed at. Taking things literally in combination with philosophy or religion never became fruitfull with Christianity as a great example, many wars are fought by devotees who took things literally without contemplation. It's the same principle as that Ramana kept explaining that he isn't that body/mind but still many devotees where devestated when his body died. Saharshsing stated "Lord Arunachal by your grace and compassion you stilled my mind and made me realise my true self" I strongly believe that this is not the case, or maybe just a part of the story. His pull towards Arunachala has to be seen in a greater context like many lifetimes, reincarnations and a riping of consciousness before. His pull towards Arunachala since he heard about it triggered something, but that might have been a trigger it isn't the mountain but instead a ripening that took way longer then that. (before the pull towards Arunachala he had a intense fear of death, This also triggered something and might have put things in motion, like the pull towards Arunachala). But at the same time all the credits can be given to Arunachala as Ramana also taught that all is pre-destined, so his longing and pull towards Arunachala were also destined but again in my humble opinion The Self is the only ONE that can be be given credits as it's our true being/Brahman who writes the script. Arunachala might have been the last "thing" that triggered the last and final chapter to come forward. Ramana suggested to discard our books and not to cling to it, but Ramana already realized the Self which is different then someone like a seeker. From my own experience there had been a sudden awakening into my true nature without a longing for it, I needed books in the beginning like the Bhagavad Gita or many other books to sort of explain what happened, i also shopped everywhere else like the course in miracles for example. I shopped around and the ego happily accepted anything that wasn't a threat while at the same time the ego itself became a threat and became destructive (more then it did before) Then the first stage of discarding books arrived and i had to put my trust in the actual experience instead of what the mind had made of it. I have never heard of Advaita Vedanta before until this awakening experience, so i was kinda forced to stick to it as i knew this whas the path destined to follow, then later on i needed more serious books like the Ashtavakra Gita or Avadhuta Gita but they never thaught me some-ting new, instead they affirmed what has been seen in that ultimate experience. Books aren't there to teach us anything anymore but are there to reassure that what has been seen is correct (it goes the other way round)
@@innocenzz The self is not reached because of the self like a hand can not take it self. In this case all creatures would be enlightened right now. The self is reached by destroying the mind with the mind revealing its false nature and when revealed it submerge in the self. But you can not make that happen. The Buddha said, you can not free yourself, you must be freed. Nisargadatta said help has to come, in this form or that form but help has to come. Christ said knock and there will be opened. Ramana said it will happen when you have the merit. I believe this is always shiva , for all creatures that the calm mind is possible. Shiva not as a believe as you understand it or as a Hindu god. The Hindus just gave the child a name. Shiva , this energy, when it fills the heart the mind is calm. But it is up to shiva.
Ramanna didint know that those books, those gurus/rishies who wrote those books, created thousands of realized ppl, while Ramanna could create none, those books give you the truth "atman and braham are one, all is divine" not Ramanna... there is a reason why India can create 100 times better spirituality and realized ppl- these books/traditions...
I am a trained Inuit shaman, ya we dont express much in the world. These mind exercises of self inquiry are only the preparation for the experience of Atma or Soul. The preparation is to reveal that the minds need to understand before the experience is not only not necessary, its what's blocking you from that experience. The experience and its familiarity with repeating it, are the real seeking, for within that experience is any point of attention revealed wHoly, the inhabiting of that point of attention. This is Atma, Bliss, Soul, the zero point of Consciousness. Tradition is mountain you leap from and land on with the discovery of your potential in a point of attention. Tradition is not that experience. And a tradition can be as simple as a child's point of attention when wondering, its complexity and understanding aren't what accesses the experience, its orientation of not knowing and anticipation of knowing are its requisites. This is a simple version, but its application is even simpler because you have it as a memory already, and triggering that memory you will recognize that experiences familiarity. So a teaching isn't ever required, just a guide who can trigger this memories familiarity. I know folks love their mental exercise, but LOOK at a baby who finds Bliss in it's simple wonderment, Look at it Bliss, and you will recognize that's what you seek, the Bliss of a wonder fulfilled. By the way, the science of Bliss is known, maybe this understanding will help you realize, you dont need to understand Bliss, to KNOW Bliss and its repetition
Os Pensamentos são todo o Mundo Físico, Astral e Mental. Os Pensamentos são como cordas que nos amarram a Manifestação e são por si próprios a própria manifestação. A prática da Atenção é você mudar sua atenção de um objeto para "outro". Você vai controlando tudo por meio da atenção, no momento que "vocês cortas algumas cabeças de Ravana", conforme você tira sua atenção das diversas coisas que ela está desviada, você vai perceber algo que sempre esteve lá, você vai perceber uma "luz/sabedoria/Bem Aventurança". E isso é chamado de Samadhi Conforme você corta mais cabeças do Demônio mas essa Luz se torna visível. Quando a Mente vai sendo cortada as cabeças do Demônio, então essa Luz que é Deus também é chamada de Budhi e Sattva.
As an Indian I do not have any person in my circle who are interested in these kind of talks. Hope I could find someone or even better a Group of like minded people to discuss and study🙏🙏🙏.
Hey! I'm Indian. Yes, we all should meet dude. But I've found simialr ppl - Indians in Chennai, Banglore, kerela, thiruvannamalai, Delhi, Bir, Dharamshala, Mumbai.. You will find your tribe when you put the intention and trust me, Indian people know wayyy more than anyone else.
Don't worry, when you yearn, like minded people will come in your life. Basically rather than discussing, Sadhna Bhakti is vital. Anubhav is very Personal. One may bcom Pandit by reading all these literature but not Saadhak.
People should visit the Shankaracharya mathas in India, like Sringeri mainly. The Shankaracharya’s Dashanaami Sampradaya with an unbroken Guru-Shishya parampara from the time of Adi Shankaracharya (the original propagation Advaita VEDANTA!). Learning and reading the Vedanta and being there in the proximity of a true Guru, one will realise the true value of what Advaita Vedanta has to offer. Not everyone who has a beard and calls themselves a Guru can be a Guru until they know the Shrotriyam and Brahmanishtam.
The problem with the shankara mutts is their rigid brahminical system which doesn't encourage non brahmins to 'learn'. Without the Neo advaitins efforts, you all wouldn't be talking about vedanta now. They brought these out from the clutches of Brahmins
@@Raguram... Sorry but I have to strongly disagree with what you are saying and if you had actually been to the shankara mutts like the ones I mention above, you will be able to ask the people themselves, the ones who learn there. Like a pilot has to train himself into learning how to be fit for the job both physically, mentally and emotionally, so is the process of learning vedas. Every food you eat, every activity you do, alters your state of consciousness, your brain chemistry (for source of this, if you feel our texts exaggerate, refer to western medicine research papers). The practice you follow, affects the ability of you to excel at that task. Like a sprinter cannot expect to live on his whims of eating chips and dips, you are expected to follow certain procedures. Your statements here mentions a very caste-based approach which is contrary to what Sanatana Dharma says. Brahmins are expected to follow the rigid system (and mind you, they follow it, so ANYONE can be initiated into the Brahminical system, as long as they stick to the process) to truly understand the texts in its entirety which is why the rules exist. You may term it however you want according to your political alignment, but if you have never tried it, I am not sure what your are espousing is even true. I can say this because I follow this as a non-brahmin.
@@Raguram... Regarding the point on "Without the Neo advaitins efforts, you all wouldn't be talking about vedanta now. They brought these out from the clutches of Brahmins" shows very Periyar-isque mindset and agenda. Dont spoil the name of Shankara mutts because of some wayward Brahmins. There are many Brahmins who lost their lives to invaders to secure you and those who were not Brahmins. As far as your argument on Neo-advaitins saving the Vedanta, is far from accurate. Advaita Vedanta is a concept and ideology based on unifying principle which was already secured and kept in all the shakti peethas, chatur-amnaya peethas and the other mathas. So Neo-advaitins took it international but didnt fully espouse the vedanta part which makes incomplete knowledge, which is dangerous my friend.
I’ve been fortunate to have been able to study with swami’s in the Ramakrishna Order for many years. Their knowledge of Vedantic texts is very deep but they never forget the value of Bhakti. They helped me learn how to get outside of my own head and appreciate the way of the heart. While Ramana Maharshi is almost always remembered as a teacher of Atma Vichara he also recommended Bhakti and the practice of surrender. I recommend his Upadesa Saram to learn about his complete path. 🙏
Ramakrishna himself was a great devotee of Maa Kali. So, this separation between Bhakti and Gyan marg is really phony. Premanand ji Maharaj explains it very nicely though his discourse is in Hindi and may not reach the target audience of Vedantists.
In Buddhist practice this is referred to as having established a clinging to the method. Instead of letting the method act as a catalyst for true insight the mind lack confidence and starts to cling to the method and thus closes the door to what the method was intended to do. The practitioner must be instructed in how to let go of clinging at every moment of the practice. Just like all phenomena also our methods of inquiry must be embraced by letting go as its true nature is empty of any true existence. This becomes especially important to understand and practice wile in any of the four stages of Samadhi. Only if our Samadhi practice is combined with the insight of emptiness does it have the capacity to give rise to the kind of insight and wisdom that liberates us from samsara. According to Buddhist beliefs there’s a lot of beings being trapped in different samadhi-type concentrations for eons without being any closer to being liberated from samsara. This is due to a fundamental lack of understanding of emptiness and thus having established an fundamental clinging to the method of samadhi as the imagined highest state, or goal. Unfortunately, this state is still within samsara and subject to the causes and conditions of karma and will thus eventually wane off and the practitioner will fall right down to any of the lower realms again. It is for this reason it is of outmost importance to only follow a genuine guru that we know encompass the full scope of the teachings, if liberation from the ocean of suffering is our objective and what we strive for. For a Buddhist to accomplish the state of no-self is only the first step. Full accomplishment of no-self is called Arhat(hood) and is indeed a very high form of realisation. It is said to ensure no more return to samsara but it is not anywhere near full enlightenment or Buddhahood. What must be accomplished alongside the no-self is also the realisation of the empty nature of all phenomena in order to give rise to the full Primordial Wisdom. This is taught in its entirety within the Mahayana schools of teachings. And within the special methods of Varjayana teachings as well. Varjayana is unique in that it is designed to utilise the special capacities in certain students that have the capacity to meditate on the “result” rather than other methods of purifications and accumulations. But only when the practitioner have the capacity to practice on the “enlightened result” in combination with an innate understanding of emptiness will any result arise. In fact, enlightenment or the Buddha Nature is never separated from emptiness, not even for a single moment is it not embraced by emptiness. For us to start to get a grasp on what the Buddha meant with the term “emptiness” we need to study his teachings on Prajnaparamita. In that perspective there’s neither a self, nor a non-self. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Any form of affirmation or rejection is missing the point. True nature of reality cannot be described or be held within any type of conceptual formulation. It is for this reason the Buddha never confirmed the existence of either athman nor Brahman either. The words “Buddha Nature” is only understood properly if the full scope of Prajnaparamita is completely understood. ONLY THEN IS NON-DUALITY an applicable term used as a relevant term within a Buddhist context. A practice of inquiry into the nature of self is a very good start but must be understood to be followed by many other steps and stages if full enlightenment is sought for within a Buddhist context.
I disagree that you need a detailed understanding of all the Vedanta texts to be able to practice self enquiry. Ramana himself said, “You may go on reading as many texts as you want on Vedanta and they will tell you only one thing realise the self”. Nisargadatta also said, “The ultimate point of view is that there is nothing to understand. So when we try to understand we are only indulging in acrobatics of the mind. Whatever you have understood you are not. Why are you getting lost in concepts? You are not what you know you are the knower”. If you have read all the Vedanta texts and it is beneficial to you in practicing self enquiry then that’s ok but I don’t think it’s a necessary prerequisite.
No one asked if you agree or disagree. Why do you overestimate your opinion so much? It must make you so mad to be wrong. Here are some facts from me a Tamil person who grew up with the tradition. Ramana learned the brahmavidya from his brahmin uncles at a young age. Ramana read the scriptures to his sangha every night and recommended them to read them as well. Ramana also read the newspaper every morning. So nothing that was said in this video is wrong, unless you are trying to protect your view of our tradition and or a fake neo teacher. There is only the tradition, the same that Ramana learned and taught. Also just because you use a Nisargadatta quote to back up your false claim doesn't make it correct. You should probably put the work in to understand what we understand on your own instead of reading quotes. Try reading the works of Shankara. In conclusion you do need to understand the Vedanta, unless you think you are better than millions before you or maybe you have a high opinion of yourself. Either way it is strange that westerners can't learn the teachings and always want to take shortcuts. Maybe you need to understand at a beginner level that it is not a competition and the whole guru thing isn't related to your celebrity culture in the west.
Hi Andy. I agree with you that reading all the vedanta text is not the necessary prerequisite to practise self enquiry. However if we go straight into self enquiry we lack the "foundation" such as the basics beliefs of Hinduism and the four yoga namely karma, bhakti, jnana, and raja yoga mentioned in the Gita. Why are those important? Because as human, we are not able to practise self enquiry perfectly 100% of the time. When we lose our focus there's nothing to fall back on. If we start with a broad understanding of the sanatana dharma we can always fall back on our practice of meditation or on our mindset of love and compassion cultivated throughout our spiritual journey, etc. To me self enquiry is like a PhD course. The icing on the cake. But you have to bake the cake first. That's just my thoughts 🙂
@@spiritworld6655 that’s a very angry response to me simply stating my opinion. Who cares if I’m right or wrong and what does it matter? Let’s be clear if somebody posts a video on RU-vid then it is open to people who may have a different opinion. Go practice self enquiry a little more it might help with your anger issue.
@@andybrown3016 your opinion doesn't matter and you are condescending in your comment, which is passive aggressive so maybe you are the one who needs self inquiry. It is ironic that you say I'm angry when you are clearly aggressive in your comments and also disrespectful to the traditions. New age people like yourself are too idealistic and just want to change things to suit your inherent weakness. Spiritual is also tough and not about the sensitivity of Westerners. Maybe try growing up first before commenting in a cowardly way.
For many years I worked at a spiritual bookstore that hosted speakers on an at least weekly basis. I saw dozens of Western Advaita teachers. After a long time, what I finally concluded was that Western Advaita does not understand causation and how cause and effect operates in a spiritual context. // Thanks for posting this. Very thoughtful and clear.
@@inthesky7836 maybe both the cause & effect are at a fundamental level, within,..& they play out in our external world as well...that is why it is probably said that whatever we experience is nothing but our karma...result of our actions in the form of even emotions, thoughts & actions
I’ve heard a lot of warnings about Neovedanta but no one ever dares to actually say which teachers/sanghas they’re talking about. If this is so dangerous, then fine. Have the courage to point the finger and give names please.
And what am I leads to a thing. This statement is done due to the misunderstanding of what Ramana means with who am I. The question should not be answered and does not have an answer. The question is made to see what it leads too in the self.
I think there can be a significant difference in following the "who am I?" vs "what is I?" My take is, If "What is I?" Is somewhat uncomfortable, you're on the right path. It should create a sense of discomfort for the ego. It's wonderful to have someone like Jason Gregory helping out with his vast knowledge of nondual schools. I too hope to get more immersed into spirituality. I did start but it's important to go all the way. Thank you Jason for sharing your knowledge.
This is EXACTLY WHY WE NEED so-called Neo-Advaita, aka nonduality, minus the Indian Vedanta mumbo-jumbo. If we have to take a college course on the terminology, concepts and complex relationships of the subject, we are speeding along in the opposite direction we need to go. Which is right into the MIND. What Vedanta people refer to as "neo-advaita" is nothing more than enlightenment by people who are not steeped in Indian religion, vedanta-schmedanta, they don't care because they don't NEED to care. The Indian gurus did not invent awakening. Take all the conceptual mumbo jumbo OUT of it and "neo-adbvaita" is what you get. Of course, Nisargadatta said it just as well, “The ultimate point of view is that there is nothing to understand. So when we try to understand we are only indulging in acrobatics of the mind. Whatever you have understood you are not. Why are you getting lost in concepts? You are not what you know you are the knower”. You are lost in acrobatics of the mind.
I agree with the commenter that in the west it is so commercial and Gurus running around calling themselves Gurus / charging so much money for teachings or calling themselves Gods ( sometimes its the hysterical/fanatical devotees who call them all these holy than holier names with no critical inquiry just follow like sheep). Charge in Dharma teachings were always offered free or otherwise a practice of Dhana aka donation giving was accepted( the donations are basically required as per teachings with multi facets of upgrades lol )it’s just so ugly. I learn mostly from books and you tube Chanel like Jason Gregory offers . Thank You
Ramana Maharshi was a very special case possibly due to his past lives and good karma. The rest of us have to do the work, prepare our nervous system for samadhi. There are no shortcuts for that, intellectual self-realization is completely different in comparison to a real Self-realization where you actually exist in a state of Oneness.
the only porpese of all nondual teaching is convince you to go inside ...when mind go inside the self is revealded in his pure nature...it dosnt matter if the ego do the inquiry or the self it go to the same no place no time no form awarness
Im mostly into theravada and western philosophy but i do love some AV. I like a few AV teachers, mostly swami sarva priyananda, vivekenanda, and swami tadatmananda. Open to any criticism or things to keep in mind with any "guru". I'm a big proponent of nietzche and revaluation of values.
Thank you for your video. Question: Given there is the idea of some possible human experience you can learn about in books or be taught about it from another person, how could one ever be sure they are subjectively having the experience described in the words in the books, or the personal teaching, especially when the experience is a purely subjective mental state? For example, let's use the more mundane so-called mental state of "contentment." We can see the state described in all sorts of literature, including medical psychology. And there could be books and personal seminars on how to get more feelings of contentment in one's life. But how could any person know if how they have changed when they self observed, was this thing called "contentment " as would be felt by others? With the notion of contentment, at least one could talk to many people at length and start to get a sense of what others were experiencing when saying what they felt. The reason I bring up contentment as an example of a subjective mental state and show its difficultly to nail down in an objective sense, is to then ask how much more difficult it would be for a person to "know" if they are even getting close to an impossible to define "transcendent" mental state? Therefore, all tradition, text, teaching lineage, etc, that's geared to create subjective mental state outcomes, have no means of objective verification. What can be attained and then determined is, if the adherents to certain traditions, texts, teaching lineages, etc, overwhelming report having a better life experience after receiving the correct instructions. For example, people in distress with PSTD and depression report overwhelmingly a better sense of life after having single doses of psilocybin. Obviously there must be a physiological brain effect from the drug causing the subjective reporting of relief. That's what the West has something to offer. The physiological brain effects of the masters claiming "realization" need to be scientifically documented so as to enable more objective sensory feedback to people seeking the same outcome. Imagine in the future a meditating "helmet" a person wears to give them feedback helping guide them to a mental state close to the masters.
9:00-9:15 "It might be good for that moment in the Satsang, but you can't take it out into your life..." I've met many people who have learned how to calm their minds in a sterile environment, but don't have a clue how to live calmly and blissfully in the "outside world"
For me daily practice is meditation, QiGong, breath work, and some prayer. . I throw in some Yoga every now and then to help with my sore back from running. I try to breathe and be meditative when I do the QiGong and do a couple of different types of meditations, one very focused mediation that puts me in a trance and traditional Zazen. Whatever happens, happens. ☯️☸️☯️🕉️
Consider reading the authentic teachings of Sri Bhagavan directly, for example, his wonderful book called "Who Am I?" and study with a true devotee of Sri Bhagavan to learn about Atma Vichara. Sri Bhagavan's teachings on Atma Vichara are utterly different than how it's presented here. He taught a very clear sahana and there's little relationship between Neo Advaita and the authentic teachings of Bhagavan. Self-investigation is not a mental practice to wallow in the Ego, but the direct path to the Self. Michael James, a foremost translator of Sri Bhagavan's Tamil and Sanskrit writings, may be of use. Sri Bhagavan wrote very few texts, which, if properly understood and studied and practiced, can lead us to an authentic practice of his teachings and to the dissolving of the Ego, thus allowing us to be the happiness and love which is our true nature, Atma Swarupa. (The books which record his teachings to devotees, like Talks, have far less value.) "Ulladu Narpadu" and "Guru Vacaca Kovai" as examples, as is "Who Am I?". Om Namo Bagavate Sri Ramanaya.
I have read a lot about non-dual Advaita Vedanta and practice meditation daily. Now all the books sound to me in this one non-thought that directly expresses the essence: the Absolute lies beyond knowledge and ignorance, there where not knowing corresponds to knowing the essential, the Parabrahman.
both studying old Indian scriptures and having neodvaitan nondual teachers are just super, can't see any contradiction. i can't see so much difference either, it is not some sort of mystical game, where is there to go? And if you get stuck, who is there to blame?...good evening!
Thank you 🙏 I feel that we are our own best gurus! Papaji 🙏Osho🙏 Mooji🙏 Yogananda 🙏 Ramamaharshi 🙏 John Butler I feel are truly enlightened beings on this planet helping humanity awaken from the dream ! Eckhart Toll is good also for guidance on Just being in the present moment. 🙏 I'm learning a lot from your channel about Indian mysticism ! 💕🌹🕊
Yup. They are very good teachers. Every teacher specialised in something. I learned a lot from them as well as other advaita teachers. Btw I also listen to Christian sermons, Catholic mystic, kabbalah teachers, mahayana and theraveda monks and nuns, read sufi rumi poetry, etc. They have ALL helped me become a better person
THANK YOU, well condensed !!! We're in a "spiritual supermarket" … DISCERNMENT IS KEY :-) As Shankaracharya said (Yeshua and many others, too :-) … "It's ALL WITHIN", where Atman = Brahman, and WITHIN ALL :-) Blessings, love & light
What teachers or saints would you recommend then, and who would you recommend to avoid? I never see this answered by people who make this point, and it would be hugely beneficial
Namaste...as a student/follower of the Advaita Vedanta tradition, I can suggest going to the source: Shri Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavadpada. Even if his teachings can be deep and quite difficult to understand, try with something simple in your daily life like Sadhana Panchakam. Apply it as best of your capabilities and personal reality, remembering that all of those texts were written within a social and cultural context specific to Dharmic cultures like India. Then move on to Atma Bodha, which has beautiful guidance for spiritual seekers. Also, Ramana Maharshi's teachings as a source of Advaita Vedanta for people like us who are living in the 21st century. Begin by reading his fundamental teachings in Be As You Are written by a Western follower (David Godman) in a language that is more suitable for Western minds. What to avoid? That is a tricky question. But, I won't sugarcoat it. Some names that come to my mind are Mooji, GangaJi, Papaji, Nisargadatta. They are not true Advaita Vedanta teachers. True Advaita Vedanta teachers are very, very, very, rare in this day and age. I've traveled to India for the past 33 years and yet haven't met any true Advaita Vedanta teachers in mainstream ashrams. Not one. And the only ones I have met by coincidence they don't teach to the general public.
I left Christianity, in part, because they tell their followers what to read and what not to read. Hinduism or sanatan dharma is not a faith based belief. You can Watch everything and learn something. From everyone.
All spiritual teachers are in error. The ones who help the most appear like mists ( you don't really know who they are) If a man of truth has written a document that becomes popular, it means that scholars/gurus and the like have misconstrued what they said i.e. they are mocking the originator because they are jealous that they do not truly posses what is written and want others to think that they do. Anything that leads us to become selfish, puffed up, vain and causes us to exclude the "non-awakened" and common person is wicked i.e it is not loving our neighbor as ourself.
Inquiry consists in retaining the mind in the Self. Meditation consists in thinking that one’s self is Brahman, existence - consciousness - bliss. -Sri Ramana Maharshi
My experience with meditation is thinking is not involved and I have no idea of any outcome because any such are just conceptions. "Another of the group asked: How are lust, anger, acquisitiveness, confusion, pride and jealousy overcome? Ramana Maharshi: By dhyana. Questioner: What is dhyana? Ramana Maharshi: Dhyana is holding on to a single thought and putting off all other thoughts. (Dhyana is the last limb of Patanjali's 8 limb system.) Questioner: What is to be meditated upon? Ramana Maharshi: Anything that you prefer. Questioner: Siva, Vishnu, and Gayatri are said to be equally efficacious. Which should I meditate upon? Ramana Maharshi: Any one you like best. They are all equal in their effect. But you should stick to one. Questioner: How to meditate? Ramana Maharshi: Concentrate on that one whom you like best. If a single thought prevails, all other thoughts are put off and finally eradicated. So long as diversity prevails there are bad thoughts. When the object of love prevails only good thoughts hold the field. Therefore hold on to one thought only. Dhyana is the chief practice.
Well said - this neo-advaita becomes very masturbatory. I interned at an addiction recovery clinic that taught this new age nondualism… the relapse rates were high because people were doing the lip service, but not the self-reflection, contemplation, meditation, and real world action as a sadhana. In essence, we need to break out of the confines of any kind of system, deprogramming ourselves, and experiencing Life as atma-brahma on our own accord~
I am so inspired by you Jason! I am subscribed to your channel and look forward to reading you books as well! You know Sanatan Dharma inside out! You are so right. I hate the cherrypicking of Hindu principals. Leaving the Vedanta out from a Hindu practice is like taking Shiva out of meditation. Diluted and meaningless. I am a disciple of Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi and have also read I AM THAT by Maurice Friedman and believe in the principals of Advaita Vedanta. There are too many fake unenlightened Guru's out there but my Guru is Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi himself. As Bhagwan said the this body is just a vessel and not the real Self. The real Self was never born and so it will never die ...Real Self is eternal. Bhagwan may not be here in physical body but he is here in spirit and I call upon him when I need guidance. Thank you and Love to you !! 💌
All what Ramana said, with respect, is in the Bhagava'd Gita and Upanishads: never born, so you'll never die, eternal, forever abiding, and immortal, says Lord Krishna.
Well put. The question is just a device to be posited as the purpose or aim for sitting in Dhyana but for which no answer is to be expected or even thought about. Drig Drishya Vivek is a short and helpful text.
Even a charlatan can be a guru to those who have true mumukshutva...the guru is anything that puts you on the path. Know that all is one...be not a seeker...you are what you seek...just be.
All is ONE - there is not two! But to experience this what do you do? For years I’ve given this lots of thought I’ve listened to speakers, to what they’ve taught. Then something hit me, right in the face, It’s all to do with what we call space! The universe is infinite - goes on forever you see. Hubble and James Watt give us pictures for free. Those photos are magic and pull at the heart Gazing at them is where you should start. There’s planets and stars and galaxies and such But that’s only 5 percent - which isn’t that much. The rest we ignore, which is our big mistake, Because we’re missing 95% of the cake! We all want harmony, oneness and love - The secret’s around us, down here not above! Yes the truth is staring us right in the face To experience ONENESS include the space! So make this your mission - your daily goal And with a permanent smile you’ll truly feel WHOLE! It’s all in the oneness (love’s the same thing) Get it in your heart and it will sing! The truth is staring you right in the face To experience ONENESS include the space!
We could also read the Upanishads every day for life but without a practice we're just reading a book. "When the Great Reality is not known the study of the scriptures is fruitless; when it is known, the study of scriptures is also fruitless" Whatever gets you there, that\'s the best path for you. Sometimes it's back to front.
I have to disagree with you , I know nothing of Advanta , Brahma Sutras, Bhagavad Gita , etc . One Sunday afternoon I spontaneously came to realize that the Me /"I" the Ego was just a thought process and instantly the "Me" was see through ! That was 2 years ago now .There's No me ! I still have no interest in the above studies. Life continues and it is abundantly clear that life go on without a me or an I controlling it. I never learned to mediate and no nothing but this insight has removed all fear of death , and life is just fine as it is nobody here to complain ! Peace and goodwill to all.
I had the same in 2018, happened spontaneously and while the bliss and the selfless state lasted nearly 3 years the mind gradually reconfigured the identity again, because latent tendencies were still present. Even though a shift happened it is still possible to get caught by the mind again, there is still a final step that needs to be for ultimate realisation, so now I am looking at the Niddhidhyana books, but all this is also arising spontaneously, meditation and self enquiry is important though to identify the deep rooted sankaras that could reboot the I program.
@@chrisc9725 you have fallen into a trap as the Ego has represented it self as the one that has to get to a "final stage! "There's no you " so who's doing the medications,who has to get to the finnish line? "Your already where you are and there's no you to Go any further! Stick to what was experienced " There's no you"everything is just happening without a me or a you to do anything about it. This apparent happening is occurring without any entities controlling it . this includes a Me or a You. The ego arises here all the time and it does get a long way before it is again realized that this is just another thought process in action."There's no Me"❤️ This manifestation is just a temporary appearance of the one source of everything. Everything is equally this source.
I further wish to advise that I am not in any way claiming to know or be someone with any particular insights on the teachings of Advaita all that is known and stated here is what has happened This insight was very clear and welcome!
@@MachholzMachholz how was thought, sensation and emotion was experienced before and after that realization, I don't mean the presence of an "I", but the presence of non-referential though, sensation and emotion???
@@conexionneuronal8820 everything is exactly the same as before with one main character change! It is clearly "Known" that the character is just a thought process."There's No Me" and emotions and all that stuff is just part of the process , it continues.to be experienced and it is quickly dismissed." I'm not the body nor anything to do with it's functional aspects .I can't be defined and any attempt to label me is corruption of the source!
it seems you dont understand Ramana's teaching. Bhagavan never said to ask " who am i ? ", he said to "investigate" who am i . self investigation is keeping attention on " i am" , not the words " i am " , but what the words represent ... the fundamental pure awareness that shines from the heart as " i am " . you should refer to Michael James youtube channel "Sri Ramana Teachings" for a clearer understanding . Michael will be happy to help you with your understanding of the teaching .
What the great understanding, I always upset to see How wrong knowlege about Advaita is spreading in the World, I so glad to hear such clear mind. Hare OM!
having been around these concepts (Yoga, Vedanta) for about 35 years and a number of trips to India, studying books, meeting Gurus, living in Ashrams etc. I sincerely don't know what's worse... happy go lucky /deluded neo-free-Advaitins or the (western) wanna be, self-entitled Vedantic Brahmanas / scholars with a heavily opinionated ego. It's gotta melt down at some point, dude!
I am a female, and I had a spontaneous awakening! I did go mad. I have pulled myself together. I feel as though I am on tight rope, and I could get lost in a world I haven't been prepared for. I am looking for help and guidance but worried about meeting someone with dark intentions. 3 years ago, I walked into a group it took me a few weeks to it was a toxic cult. Please, please, who can I go to.
Thanks for putting my worries that I was unintentionally practicing neo-advaita to rest. And thank you for always pointing us in the right direction. 🙏
I figured it was self-evident that self-enquiry only goes so far… if life is an experience not a thought, then enlightenment must be a state of experience. The lotus doesn’t think about blooming, it just blooms.
@whatever-cn1xx come on… you know! I Brahman, you Brahman, he she me Brahman. Brahman, Brahman-ing, BrahmanRama, Brahman-ology… the study of Brahman! It’s first grade SpongeBob!!
I agree with what you say. I'm not a follower of Eastern traditions. I am a disciple of Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov and I follow a tradition of spiritual meditation based on Christian esotericism. For some time I was interested in the teachings of a Neo-Advaita guru here in the south of Portugal who is very well known throughout the world and I came to practice some of the methods he taught for searching for who I am and also inner silence. I felt that I was becoming very indifferent to the world, empty and cold. Contrary to what my Master Omraam taught me. I stopped following Neo-Advaita and meditating to follow the principles of Christ: "No one goes to the Father except through me." In other words, to be like Christ: meditating on emptiness is not enough. You have to be compassionate, generous, kind, forgiving, loving, doing good. As you say, the work of meditation must be accompanied by the Holy Scriptures or a Guru who leads us to God through spiritual study.
There is a practise I do and it is this. Just ask the question once only, who or what is seeing, hearing, touching and thinking? Then just listen and wait for the answer. If a thought, emotion, feeling or sensation arises, just discard it and continue to listen and wait. You can do this when sitting, walking, shopping or doing mundane things such as the housework. Sometimes a shift in persepctive occurs and sometimes not.
Understood what is neo advaita but still didn't get what more is needed to attain brahma Vidya. Would appreciate if you could make a sequel or point me to a video of yours that discusses what else will take me beyond the neo advaita trend. Thanks Jason.
Thank you for sharing this perspective of Neo-Advaita. I’ve been questioning myself as to which path to take to go deeper into to that which I am as, as you state, I’ve started getting the impression of going round in circles; chasing my own tail in analysis. Reaching that state of empty spaciousness does however seem necessary, at least to me, in order that more light may enter. And in that I welcome it as an opportunity and not a problem. In gratitude; it is done.
Without understanding the Scriptural Matrix - you wouldn't know what to do. Without a Sat-Guru, you wont understand anything - excellent video, well explained and my pranams to you for carrying out this noble mission 🙏
Michael James points out that "Self Inquiry" is a mistranslation for Atma Vichara". "Attending to the I Am (or Self)" would be a better translation. According to Ramana Maharshi, when the mind gets enmeshed in thoughts, the question "Who am I?, or Who is the one who thinks these thoughts?", is a reminder that we have wandered away from the Self and redirects us back to the Nataural State. It is not to be used as a mantra or used to figure out who the thinker of the thoughts is. It is only to be used for abidance in Self. To experience the Self is a rare event in this world of ego and requires Grace. If that glimpse ever occurs, to abide in Self will require Atma Vichara until it is stabilized. Only to finally Realize what has never not been.....
I heard Michael James say that, while half asleep, the other night. Ramana Maharishi comes across in Arthur Osborne's biography as rather simple minded and easy going. He never knew much, but something happened to him, as a kid, and he stayed in that state. He even said prayers, and I'm sure he'd even support breathing in meditation, for a few minutes, as long as it brought you back to that abiding state of being, where all bliss resides. Those Western Gurus are an off-putting bunch.
I can relate to this from another perspective: I have been in psychotherapy for over a decade (on/off) and also outside therapy analysed myself up to the point of nearly going crazy. Never aware of the "one" that is analysing or thinking these thoughts. Just decomposing the ego and trying to find my self in its pieces. That is a trap and I am glad that period is over.
It's not always bliss that is the end goal of any practise. A baby is ignorant and doesn't have the full potential to experience thoughts with a diverse spectrum. It's life is devoid of guilts and regrets. But a fully grown human has gone one ride, goes through all thoughts. He wants to escape them and feel at peace. That's the reason they choose drugs to get bliss. The other ones use spiritual practices to choose bliss. The nature of bliss is, it's not everlasting. For nothing is everlasting here. To stay in that bliss is a concious choice. The will to stay in it. Just like the will to stay in misery or wide variety of emotions. But the trick is to understand it's nature and how much of these emotions your body can withstand. Staying blissed out keeps one non functioning. The ones who shared knowledge will have to come out of it and talk to people from their plane of existence. To let them understand human experience. Spiritual quest never needs bliss or a belief in a divine or universe of any sort. It is happening out of a questioning tendency to a reality in one exists. Searching truth starts from the Dissatisfaction of the tradition and already figured out answers. Only they are capable of figuring out the truth of why does one have to exist or how does one's body is formed or why does it is experiencing the way it's experiencing life. It requires the will to just witness without any will to perform or withhold from performing. That's the only way one can figure out how life/reality is unfolding. That's doing nothing. That's enquiring without biases. Real enquiry doesn't need strong logical efficacy. All this I'm telling if spirituality is considered the quest in figuring out reality unfolding around them. If bliss or finding my real self or whether I'm brahman and eternal, will all lead one into ego trips. Keeps one constantly in ignorance.
i would strongly suggest people to read jiddu krishnmurthi . ones u read him and understand him ,u will get to know why he rejected all techniques and books
Thank you I started with Neo Advaita and was stuck for like 6 years. I have it up and started visiting the Vedanta Society of NY. Started learning real Advaita Vedanta and I have been having major breakthroughs. Neo Advaita imo should just be the most basic intro for westerners and if you want to take this serious go to the real thing.
As a man thinks so he becomes. We should also remember that the universe “out there” is only ourselves. If you look at for instance yoga. 25 years ago it was very much about asanas. But now because Yoga itself is happy to take root through any of it’s limbs. Many of those who did the practice then grew into deeper understandings of the relationship of mind body and spirit. It is built into even the most cursory practice because it also works on the truth of the nervous system and unconscious. When someone of your great mental stature has accumulated knowledge that is so refined one also has to live in the reality of the truth. See the universe as you want to see it and remember to count yourself as one who deserves the grace of enlightenment. There comes a responsibility to love the world, love all you see. Maybe they are not under fake gurus, but each of these relationships will be the collection of ignorance to be dispelled when they stand before the true guru within. You cannot attain the truth without light acceptance and happiness. Who are we to be more serious than God?
Much needed. I started by listening to Eckhart tolle and got into the teap of Spiritual Self help for over 15 yrs... Wish I was receptive to this message back then... Thank you
I love eckhart tolle. He's very good. His book, the power of now, got me out of feeling suicidal. And it started me on the path of hinduism and Buddhism.
@@alvinyong9370 Great to hear it... Just that I was too unconscious that I made Enlightenment into a superhuman goal (inspite of Eckhart calling it out) and ended up stagnating my progress for a long time. In context of this video, if one goes by only one aspect of spiritual practice and ignores or worse demonises the practical aspects like I did, it can be hard.
Good thoughts. Yes, it's so crazy that the Neo Advaita people are majorly misguided and lost. I was deeply into all that about "You are the Self, so no spiritual practices or books or mantras needed. Just inquire and focus on the Self"..... sounds awesome, but too bad, just that doesn't work...lol....Once i started incorporating traditional things like Bhakti, mantras, prayer, scriptures, things moved along much better. Neo Advaita is a mess. You mentioned people going crazy.... doesn't surprise me. One becomes super delusional and closed down.
I love Nisargadatta Maharaj book, it's very deep but sometimes contradictory, it seems better for a westener that has not much approach to Vedanta Tradition. But even Godman assumes that he was left stuck with self inquiry.
The intellect can tie the tightest of knots in the quest for authentic inner freedom. It's usefulness should only be truly gauged only by the degree to which thought & passion dissolve, otherwise you just tie a a more tangled knot. Is Advaita Vedanta really suited to this modern mind set ?
I agree, and I would also suggest that 99% of all religious or spiritual practice is this way. Society in general is stuck in the preliminary stage life it self, while consciously believing this warmup is the only goal. This is why human progress is stunted. We are scared to expand beyond the known. Loss of culture, loss of language, loss of rights of passage. Reduced to children in adult bodies.
I was practicing and after two years i started to have panic attacks. I have not practiced in months! I am back to old ways and very unhappy and hooked on anti anxiety meds! I literally have PTSDS now and nerve damage from the trauma of it all! It's super depressing becaise. I experience moments of true happiness and my life finally had purpose. I know i had moments of the bliss of the iam that iam. I want to get back to it but to scared without guru! I dont know if I could live without meds! Something went wrong and I feel like no one can help me! I wish Sri Ramana was alive he would no! It's horrible! Mind just is not the same no more! I guess we are the unlucky ones who go crazy! I don't understand why! Its not fare and I thought it suppose to get you to peace not pychwards! I am American don't know much of the words but I studied all the veda's and great sages but I did something wrong maybe my next life it will get back on the path! Om Tat Sat
My position is this - we can learn from anyone and everyone. Learning from Neo advaita teachers is not a problem to me. In the last 20 yrs I'm watching videos from different traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, catholicism, Sufism, Jewish mysticism, new age, philosophers and still listening to Christian sermons.
@@alvinyong9370 I think Jason may have meant just asking the question is preliminary, which Ramana sometimes said it was, because it is superficial. Ramana said your inquiry had to become increasingly subtle and deeper, more vague and wide like a cloud, like smoke, like a mist in consciousness. This is the nature of the mind as it becomes more transcendental, more of a feeling nature. You feel that sense of self, you don't voice it. You ask a question and then remain quiet without thinking. This is mentioned in the ancient Yoga Vasistha. It is said in yoga, Silence is the means, stillness is the way.
@@moonsod1113 I think you are right. I am an ex evangelical Christian. I used to think I am my body, my history, my thoughts and my feelings. Buddhism and hinduism got me thinking about the real me. I was intrigued. That's the preliminary stage. Since then I have been on this path of studying Buddhism, advaita vedanta and a daily practitioner of karma yoga for the past 12 years. However, although I know I am not my ego sometimes people still gets me upset. I believe the practice of self enquiry will be helpful to get me rooted to the real me in daily living.
Since the vedio is spiritual I would recommend spiritual aspirants to listen to the lecture series of Main kaun Mera kaun And Brahm jeev maya By Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
Yes, from here the self-inquiry was only helpful after a couple of decades of background work and grounding in various practices to loosen the accumulated false concepts of this life and purify the intent. I used "what is this 'I,' really?" as the word "who" quickly felt nonsensical to me. That was the most helpful form of inquiry to start with. Its point was to befuddle the mind so much that it had to stop identifying, leaving it nothing to hold onto. Later there was inquiry into all kinds of subtler realizations and experiences to detect traces of duality still present in them, anywhere a "self" and "other than self" still appeared, however faint. "All is one" was not the end, but only an initial step: at that point, a personal self has only been exchanged for a kind of universal Self. Even where there is frequent steeping in the Absolute, if there is the faintest difference between the Absolute (unmanifest) and the manifest, there is still duality-belief. So many layers of increasingly subtle duality-of-perception to dismantle! Finally, full integration happens, with no trace of difference between unmanifest and manifest: complete joyful is-ness in all this manifestation along with ever-present obviousness of the Real within it and as it, not in any way separate from it. Such a fascinating ride! Av Nerya's spiritual autobiography, _Liberation_, has been helpful in this regard, as well as lots of diving into meditative states with a curious and investigative spirit, fueled by sincerity and bhakti-with-no-object. Of course words can never capture this stuff, and as Ramana Maharshi said, the truest answer is silence...if it can be understood. Shanti shanti shanti ❤💖🙏
No, there is no such thing as an individual Atman. Atman is universal undivided consciousness, infinite in nature, eternal, unborn, boundless and uncreated. In all existence there is only one single Atman, which is Atma, the One Being across eternity, absolute consciousness. But we experience it through the lens of an incarnated individuality. Thus it is not an attainment but a realization. Furthermore, you do not get enlightened; it comes to you. The state of enlightenment is just the Self revealing itself to itself, which is reflected in individual consciousness. Those who say you are already enlightened are talking ignorant rubbish. Only Atman is enlightened; the personality never was and never will be. Only That is free and always was, but it wants to know itself through form. It wants to unfold more of itself, to learn more of itself, to go deeper into itself because it is Awareness knowing itself. And that is the whole teaching of Vedanta, the state beyond the veda, the state beyond knowledge of existence, which is Self-knowing.
