Episodes

  • Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verses 23 and 24
    Dec 21 2024
    In an online meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 2nd November 2024, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verses 23 and 24: Verse 23: அதுவேமுக் கியவிதய மதன்கண்ணிவ் வகிலமுமே யமர்ந்தி ருக்கு மதுவாடி யெப்பொருட்கு மெல்லாச்செல் வங்கட்கு மதுவே யில்ல மதனாலே யனைத்துயிர்க்கு மறிவதுவே யிதயமென வறைய லாகுஞ் சிதையாநிற் குங்கற்போற் சடவுடலி னவயவத்தோர் சிறுகூ றன்றால். aduvēmuk khiyavidaya madaṉgaṇṇiv vakhilamumē yamarndi rukku maduvāḍi yepporuṭku mellāccel vaṅgaṭku maduvē yilla madaṉālē yaṉaittuyirkku maṟivaduvē yidayameṉa vaṟaiya lāhuñ cidaiyāniṯ kuṅgaṯpōṯ jaḍavuḍali ṉavayavattōr siṟukū ṟaṉḏṟāl. பதச்சேதம்: அதுவே முக்கிய இதயம். அதன்கண் இவ் அகிலமுமே அமர்ந்து இருக்கும். அது ஆடி எப் பொருட்கும். எல்லா செல்வங்கட்கும் அதுவே இல்லம். அதனாலே, அனைத்து உயிர்க்கும் அறிவு அதுவே இதயம் என அறையல் ஆகும். சிதையாநிற்கும் கல் போல் சட உடலின் அவயவத்து ஓர் சிறு கூறு அன்று; ஆல். Padacchēdam (word-separation): aduvē mukkhiya idayam. adaṉgaṇ i-vv-akhilamumē amarndu irukkum. adu āḍi e-p-poruṭkum. ellā selvaṅgaṭkum aduvē illam. adaṉālē, aṉaittu uyirkkum aṟivu aduvē idayam eṉa aṟaiyal āhum. sidaiyāniṯkum kal pōl jaḍa uḍaliṉ avayavattu ōr siṟu kūṟu aṉḏṟu; āl. English translation: That alone is the principal heart. In it this entire universe is residing. It is the mirror for all things whatsoever. It alone is the home for all riches. Therefore it, the awareness for all sentient beings, is what is declared as the heart. It is not a small portion in part of the perishable, stone-like insentient body. Explanatory paraphrase: That alone is the principal [first, foremost, primary and preeminent] heart. In it this entire universe is residing. It is the mirror for all things whatsoever [the mirror in which each and every thing appears]. It alone is the home for all [spiritual] riches [everything of real value]. Therefore it, [which is] the awareness [the original and fundamental awareness, ‘I am’] for all sentient beings, is what is declared as the [real] heart. It is not a small portion in part of the perishable, stone-like insentient body [the body, which is perishable (or mortal) and insentient like a stone]. Verse 24: ஆதலினா லறிவுமய மாஞ்சுத்த விதயத்தே யகத்தைச் சேர்க்குஞ் சாதனையால் வாதனைக ளொடுவாயு வொடுக்கமுமே சாருந் தானே. ādaliṉā laṟivumaya māñśuddha vidayattē yahattaic cērkkuñ sādhaṉaiyāl vādaṉaiga ḷoḍuvāyu voḍukkamumē sārun tāṉē. பதச்சேதம்: ஆதலினால், அறிவுமயம் ஆம் சுத்த இதயத்தே அகத்தை சேர்க்கும் சாதனையால், வாதனைகளோடு வாயு ஒடுக்கமுமே சாரும் தானே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): ādaliṉāl, aṟivumayam ām śuddha idayattē ahattai sērkkum sādhaṉaiyāl, vādaṉaigaḷoḍu vāyu oḍukkamumē sārum tāṉē. English translation: Therefore by the means of fixing the mind in the pure heart, which is composed of awareness, complete dissolution of breath along with inclinations will be achieved automatically. Explanatory paraphrase: Therefore by the sādhana [means or steady and persistent practice] of fixing the mind [attention] in the pure heart, which is composed of awareness [the clear, infinite and eternal awareness ‘I am’], complete [and hence permanent] dissolution [or cessation] of vāyu [breath, prāṇa or life] along with vāsanās [inclinations, namely viṣaya-vāsanās, inclinations to seek happiness in anything other than oneself] will be achieved automatically [or spontaneously]. This episode can also be watched in ad-free video format on our Vimeo channel or on our YouTube channel.
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    1 hr and 50 mins
  • To destroy all vāsanās, persistent practice is necessary
    Dec 6 2024

    In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 1st December 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings.

    This episode can also be watched as a video on YouTube and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened on the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from MediaFire.

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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai Verse 2
    Dec 3 2024

    In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 30th November 2024, Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai verse 2.

    ஸ்ரீ அருணாசல நவமணிமாலை: Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai Verse 2

    சத்திய சிற்சுக மன்றிப் பரவுயிர் சாரயிக்க மர்த்தவத் தத்வ மசியரு ணப்பொரு ளாமசலத் தர்த்தங் கனமது வாகுஞ்செவ் வாடக வாரொளியா முத்தி நினைக்க வருளரு ணாசல முன்னிடவே. sattiya ciṯsukha maṉḏṟip paravuyir sārayikka martthavat tatva maciyaru ṇapporu ḷāmacalat tartthaṅ ghaṉamadu vāhuñcev vāṭaka vāroḷiyā mutti niṉaikka varuḷaru ṇācala muṉṉiḍavē. பதச்சேதம்: சத்திய சித் சுகம் அன்றி பர உயிர் சார் அயிக்கம் அர்த்த அத் ‘தத் த்வம் அசி’ அருண பொருள் ஆம்; அசலத்து அர்த்தம் கனம் அது ஆகும்; செவ் ஆடக ஆர் ஒளி ஆம் முத்தி நினைக்க அருள் அருணாசலம் உன்னிடவே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): sattiya-cit-sukham aṉḏṟi para-uyir-sār-ayikkam arttha a-t-‘tat tvam asi’ aruṇa poruḷ ām; acalattu arttham ghaṉam adu āhum; cev āṭaka ār oḷi ām mutti niṉaikka aruḷ aruṇācalam uṉṉiḍavē. அன்வயம்: செவ் ஆடக ஆர் ஒளி ஆம் முத்தி நினைக்க அருள் அருணாசலம் உன்னிடவே, அருண பொருள் சத்திய சித் சுகம் அன்றி பர உயிர் சார் அயிக்கம் அர்த்த அத் ‘தத் த்வம் அசி’ ஆம்; அசலத்து அர்த்தம் கனம் அது ஆகும். Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): cev āṭaka ār oḷi ām mutti niṉaikka aruḷ aruṇācalam uṉṉiḍavē, aruṇa poruḷ sattiya-cit-sukham aṉḏṟi para-uyir-sār-ayikkam arttha a-t-‘tat tvam asi’ ām; acalattu arttham ghaṉam adu āhum. English translation: When one carefully considers aruṇācalam, which is red gold pervading light, and which bestows liberation when one thinks, besides being-awareness-happiness, that ‘That you are’, the meaning of which is the intimate oneness of the Supreme and the soul, is the meaning of aruṇa; the meaning of acalam is completeness. Explanatory paraphrase: When one carefully considers [the meaning of] aruṇācalam, which is the all-pervading light [of pure awareness], [whose bright lustre is like] red gold, and which bestows mukti [liberation] when one thinks [of it], the meaning of aruṇa [which consists of three syllables, namely a-ru-ṇa] is not only satya-cit-sukham [being-awareness-happiness] but also that [mahāvākya (great declaration)] ‘tat tvam asi’ [That you are], the meaning of which is para-v-uyir-sār-ayikkam [the intimate oneness of the Supreme and the soul, also known as jīva-brahma-aikya]; and the meaning of acalam is ghanam [completeness, fullness, abundance, density, solidity, firmness or permanence].

    This episode can also be watched as a video on YouTube and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened on the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from MediaFire.

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    1 hr and 54 mins
  • Fix the mind on yourself, do not think of anything else
    Nov 30 2024

    In a Zoom meeting with the Chicago Ramana devotees on 24th November 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings.

    A more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened on the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from https://mediafire.com/file/ompekha7fy8fu9s.

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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai Verse 1
    Nov 16 2024
    In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 9th November 2024, Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai verse 1. ஸ்ரீ அருணாசல நவமணிமாலை: Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai Verse 1 அசலனே யாயினு மச்சவை தன்னி லசலையா மம்மையெதி ராடு — மசல வுருவிலச் சத்தி யொடுங்கிட வோங்கு மருணா சலமென் றறி. acalaṉē yāyiṉu maccavai taṉṉi lacalaiyā mammaiyedi rāḍu — macala vuruvilac catti yoḍuṅgiḍa vōṅgu maruṇā calameṉ ḏṟaṟi. பதச்சேதம்: அசலனே ஆயினும், அச் சவை தன்னில் அசலை ஆம் அம்மை எதிர் ஆடும். அசல உருவில் அச் சத்தி ஒடுங்கிட, ஓங்கும் அருணாசலம் என்று அறி. Padacchēdam (word-separation): acalaṉē āyiṉum, a-c-savai-taṉṉil acalai ām ammai edir āḍum. acala uruvil a-c-satti oḍuṅgiḍa, ōṅgum aruṇācalam eṉḏṟu aṟi. அன்வயம்: அசலனே ஆயினும், அச் சவை தன்னில் அசலை ஆம் அம்மை எதிர் ஆடும். அசல உருவில் அச் சத்தி ஒடுங்கிட, அருணாசலம் ஓங்கும் என்று அறி. Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): acalaṉē āyiṉum, a-c-savai-taṉṉil acalai ām ammai edir āḍum. acala uruvil a-c-satti oḍuṅgiḍa, aruṇācalam ōṅgum eṉḏṟu aṟi. English translation: Though being actually he who is motionless, in that assembly hall he dances opposite Mother, who is acalā. Know that when that śakti subsides back in the motionless form, Arunachalam is exalted. Explanatory paraphrase: Though he [Lord Siva] is actually acalaṉ [he who is motionless, being the one immutable ground from which and in which everything else appears], in that assembly hall [of Chidambaram] he dances [in the form of Nataraja] opposite [the divine] Mother, who is acalā [the consort of acalaṉ]. Know that when that śakti [the divine Mother] subsides back in the motionless form [the original, natural and fundamental form of Lord Siva], Arunachalam is exalted [that is, in the motionless form of Arunachalam, which rises high above all his other forms, Lord Siva shines exalted in his natural state as pure being]. Padavurai (word-explanation): அசலனே (acalaṉē): actually motionless, actually he who is motionless {acalaṉ is the masculine form of the neuter acalam, a Tamil form of the Sanskrit acala (the negative and opposite of cala, ‘moving’, ‘moveable’, ‘unsteady’, ‘unfixed’, ‘inconstant’ or ‘fickle’), ‘unmoving’, ‘motionless’, ‘immoveable’, ‘steady’, ‘fixed’, ‘constant’, ‘permanent’ or ‘mountain’; and the suffix ē is an intensifier that in this context implies ‘actually’, ‘definitely’ or ‘certainly’} | ஆயினும் (āyiṉum): though being, though [he] is {ā is a verb that means ‘be’, ‘become’ or ‘come into being’; āyiṉ is a conditional form of it, ‘if being’ or ‘if [anything] is’; and the suffix um when added to a conditional changes its meaning from ‘if’ to ‘even if’ or ‘though’, so āyiṉum means ‘though being’ or ‘though [anything] is’} >>> so ‘அசலனே ஆயினும்’ (acalaṉē āyiṉum), means ‘Though being actually he who is motionless’, thereby implying: Though he [Lord Siva] is actually acalaṉ [he who is motionless, being the one immutable ground from which and in which everything else appears] <<< அ (a): that {distal demonstrative prefix} | சவை (savai): assembly, meeting, council, assembly hall, court {a Tamil form of the Sanskrit sabhā, referring here to the cit-sabhā, the ‘court of awareness’, namely the sacred hall in Chidambaram where Siva in the form of Nataraja danced before his consort, the divine Mother, in order to still her frenzied dance} | தன்னில் (taṉṉil): in it {locative (seventh case) form of the generic pronoun tāṉ, serving here as a case-marking suffix to savai, so a-c-savai-taṉṉil means ‘in that assembly hall’} | அசலை (acalai): she who is motionless, the Goddess as the consort of the motionless Lord Siva {Tamil form of the Sanskrit acalā, the feminine form of acala, ‘unmoving’ or ‘motionless’} | ஆம் (ām): being, who is {future adjectival participle used generically in a present tense sense} | அம்மை (ammai): mother, the divine Mother {an alternative form of ammā} | எதிர் (edir): before, opposite, in front of {adverb} | ஆடும் (āḍum): he dances {third person ...
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    1 hr and 29 mins
  • How to practise silence?
    Nov 9 2024

    In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 3rd November 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings.

    This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham verses 21 and 22
    Nov 7 2024

    In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 2nd November 2024, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verses 21 and 22.

    The translation of verse 21 by Michael can be found here: https://blog.sriramanateachings.org/2024/05/ulladu-narpadu-anubandham-tamil-text.html#una21

    The translation of verse 22 byMichael can be found here: https://blog.sriramanateachings.org/2024/05/ulladu-narpadu-anubandham-tamil-text.html#una22

    This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

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    1 hr and 58 mins
  • Without investigating oneself, how to achieve self-annihilation?
    Nov 2 2024

    In a Zoom meeting with the Chicago Ramana devotees on 27th October 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings.

    This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

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    2 hrs and 4 mins