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| Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi (1879 - 1950) |
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 Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi is regarded as one of the greatest 20th century Hindu saints. Ramana Maharshi taught a method of self-inquiry in which the seeker meditates on the ‘I’ thought in order to find it’s source. He taught that in the beginning the ego puts up resistance but eventually this self-inquiry goes beyond the ego into the heart center. In this way he taught that we trace the thought back to source or what we call God or Self. "To each person that way is the best which appears easiest or appeals most. All the ways are equally good as they lead to the same goal, which is the merging of the ego in the Self. What the Bhakta (devotee) calls surrender, the man who does Vichara (self-enquiry) calls Jnana (knowledge). Both are trying only to take the ego back to the source from which it sprang and make it merge there" (Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi by David Godman).Ramana’s teachings have influenced many teachers in India and abroad. Paul Brunton, Robert Adams, Ken Wilber, Papaji, Lakshmana Swami, and Annamalai Swami are all people who have been touched by his work. He spent much of his adult life in the sacred Tiruvannamalai hills near Chennai, remaining nearly entirely in a constant state of self-realization. |
Date of Birth: 30 Dec, 1879
Location: India
State: Tamil Nadu
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Views: 131
Summary
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharski was born Venkataraman on December 30, 1879 in Tirucculi, Southern India. In 1896, at the age of sixteen he had a near-death experience which awakened an awareness that he was spirit and not his body. A short time later, he left his home giving up all his possessions and he moved to the sacred mountain Arunachala, in Tamil Nadu, South India. There, he became absorbed in the awareness of God and he states this left him oblivious to his body and the world. He remained in this state for a number of years. Eventually, he gradually returned to the physical realm. Over time, Sri Ramana’s internal radiance drew a small circle of followers to him. Although he spoke few words, people came to bask in his radiance. In later years, he did give more verbal instructions. Over time, the community of a few devotees grew and grew with thousands of people flocking to the ashram annually. Sri Ramana was regarded as one of India’s most holy men. His only possessions were a loin-cloth, a water-pot, and a walking stick. He treated everyone equally and he shared equally in the work of the ashram. It is reported that he would get up at 3 am to prepare food for the residents each day. Between 1925 and 1950, Sri Ramana would spend his days sleeping in a communal hall, giving non-verbal teachings and also answering questions. Although Sri Ramana never formally wrote any teachings down, his influential teachings have been spread down from generation to generation. He died of cancer on April 14th, 1950, at the age of seventy.
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Related Links:
www.ramana-maharshi.org
www.onelittleangel.com/wisdom/quotes/ramana_maharshi.asp
www.writespirit.net/authors/ramana_maharshi/life_of_ramana_maharshi
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