The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: An Integral View
By David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri)
David Frawley Note:
The teachings of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi (1878-1950), the great sage of
Tiruvannamalai, South India, have become popular throughout the world
as part of a new interest in Advaita or non-dualist Vedanta. However,
there is a tendency to oversimplify his teachings as a kind of instant
enlightenment for all that neglects the necessary prerequisites and
support practices to make it really work. The following article attempts
to elucidate the greater tradition behind the Maharshi's teachings to
provide students a better foundation for practice.
Ramana Maharshi, perhaps modern India's greatest sage, recommended
Atma-Vichara or Self-inquiry as the best and most direct approach for
Self-realization. This has caused some to think that he regarded other
yogic practices, like mantra or pranayama, as unimportant or even
useless. However, a careful examination of his teachings reveals that he
recommended various yogic approaches of devotion, mantra or raja yoga -
in fact, he encouraged whatever might aid a person in their sadhana.
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The Maharshi did not put much emphasis on the outer formalities of
practice for Self-inquiry. This has similarly caused some to think that
for Self-inquiry there are no prerequisites - that any one at any stage
of life or following any life-style can do it and succeed. Again, a
careful examination of his life and teachings shows that he never
discountenanced the ethical and ascetic basis for Self-inquiry.
He particularly emphasized a pure vegetarian diet as a crucial aid for
clarity of mind. He noted the importance of satsangha or communion with
spiritual teachers and aspirants. Pilgrimage to holy sites like
Arunachala mountain was very significant to him as well. Daily Vedic
chanting went on in his ashram to create an environment suitable for
meditation.
Though Bhagavan's teaching is simple and direct, it is broad and
flexible. It accepts all helpful yogic practices, even those that it may
not specifically mention. The Maharshi's path follows the integral
approach of Vedic teachings going back thousands of years and,
particularly, the Advaitic and yogic approaches taught by Shankaracharya
(seventh century) that included devotional practices and raja yoga (as
taught in texts like Saundarya Lahiri).
Many people today, particularly in the West, do not understand the
interconnectedness of these various yogic disciplines and fail to
understand their benefits. Simple formless Self-inquiry is difficult to
sustain, except for very advanced aspirants who have well developed
powers of attention and extreme dispassion from all external objects
starting with the body itself.
Such detachment is, of course, extremely rare in this materialistic and
sensate age. Additional practices are usually necessary to build the
competence for this effort, which is said to be as daunting as scaling a
steep rock face of a high mountain.
Actually all yogic practices done rightly are forms of vichara or
inquiry into our true nature. Whether it is asana, pranayama, mantra or
meditation, all prescribed to gain knowledge of the Atman or Purusha,
which is the goal of Yoga as stated in the Yoga Sutras (I.3) as
"abidance in the Self-nature of the Seer." Whatever yogic practices one
does should be performed out of an attitude of inner inquiry or
observation. In this way they all contribute to Self-inquiry and broaden
its practice to encompass all aspects of our life.
In this article we will examine various yogic practices in the light of
Self-inquiry. We will approach these issues in a simple and succinct
manner. For more detail please examine the works of Ramana Maharshi like
Upadesha Saram or Ramana Gita. Ganapati Muni, perhaps the Maharshi's chief disciple, taught many of these additional practices.
Common Root of Thought, Breath and Speech
According to the Maharshi all thoughts are rooted in the I-thought that
arises from the heart. Tracing the I-thought back to the heart one can
merge into the pure I or pure consciousness beyond all thought. But the
heart is the origin of prana and speech as well. In fact it is the
origin of everything. Mind, prana and speech have a common root in the
heart that is the fountain of awareness, energy and creativity.
Just as our thoughts arise from the I-thought in the heart so our breath
arises from the great Prana in the heart. So too, our speech arises
from the Divine Word or unstruck sound (anahata shabda) in the heart,
the I-am-that-I am or OM.
Self-inquiry can work by tracing the origins of prana and speech into
the heart, just as it can be done by following our thoughts.
Inquiry into the Word or Speech: Mantra-Vichara
This practice involves tracing the origin of sound and speech in the
heart. For it one can use any mantra, particularly OM and other bija
mantras (seed syllables) like HRIM, SHRIM or RAM, which exist at the
level of primal sound. One follows the current of sound back to its
origin to the inner silence at the core of our being.
Prana Vichara - Pranayama as Self-inquiry
This involves tracing the origin of the breath and the vital force into
the heart. One can practice a simple effortless pranayama like So-ham
pranayama, meditating upon the mantra "so" on inhalation and "ham" on
exhalation. One should take one's attention along with the breath down
to the heart on inhalation and up from the heart on exhalation, abiding
in the heart on retention, naturally letting the breath deepen.
Another way is to practice any form of Pranayama while holding to the
witnessing Self as the source of Prana in the heart. Alternative nostril
breathing is particularly important for cleansing the nadis or channels
so that our energy is not blocked in peripheral movements.
It is not enough to inquire into our Self merely with the outer mind, we should do so with our full vitality or prana.
Tracing the Senses to the Heart
The senses originate from the light of consciousness in the heart. The
light of consciousness from the heart reflects up and outward and
diversifies through the mind and senses like a lamp shining through
various windows. From the one current of the mind the seven currents of
the sensory openings in the head emerge (two eyes, two ears, two
nostrils and mouth).
Another method is to witness the senses. The Self, as the Upanishads
say, is the eye of the eye and the ear of the ear. One can witness the
sense of sound by holding to a state of pure listening or the inner ear.
One can witness the sense of sight by holding to the consciousness of
the seer or the inner eye.
Self-inquiry should be practiced with all the senses. Only if we have
control of the senses can we have control of attention and the mind
itself.
Withdrawal into the Heart: Pratyahara
When the Maharshi gained his Self-realization as a mere lad of sixteen
he first simulated the death experience and then inquired: Who am I?
This simulated death experience is Pratyahara in which one withdraws the
mind, prana and senses into the heart. Such a withdrawal is necessary
for Self-inquiry to be complete. As long as our energy and attention
flows outwardly we cannot merge it back into the inner Self. For this
the aspirant should consciously withdraw his attention from various
limbs of the body back to the heart.
Another method of Pratyahara is practicing silence, not-speaking (mauna). This internalizes the power of attention.
All those practicing Self-inquiry should learn the Pratyahara of the
heart, first placing all attention and energy into the heart as the
foundation for Self-inquiry. This is to die to external involvements on a
daily basis.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion, consists of surrender to the Divine
within the heart. The Maharshi advised this as the most important yoga
path after Self-inquiry and usually recommended it along with it.
Surrender can be done in four ways.
1. To the Supreme Self (Atma-Bhakti)
2. To God or the Cosmic Lord as a formless being (Ishvara-Bhakti)
3.To God in the form of various Gods or Goddesses (Ishta Devata-Bhakti)
4.To God in the form of the Guru (Guru-Bhakti)
The formless approaches of Bhakti are not necessarily better because
Bhakti generally depends upon or starts with a form. As our basic
attachment is to form, to direct our feeling to a Divine form can
reverse this process making us attached to God as the source of our
being. Such a personally chosen deity is called an Ishta-Devata.
Hinduism provides many Gods and Goddesses like Shiva, Vishnu or the
Goddess, which represent different names and forms of Divinity, to
appeal to the different temperaments of individuals. Different avatars
or great teachers, like Rama, Krishna or Buddha, can serve as
Ishta-Devatas as well. In this regard one can choose whatever devotional
form most appeals to one's heart. Usually the name or mantra of the
deity is repeated, along with meditation upon their form or presence as
residing in the heart.
Ramana himself was a devotee of Lord Shiva in the form of the mountain Arunachala. This worship can be done through the mantra:
Om arunachala shivaya namah!
Ramana was also closely devoted to the Goddess or Divine Mother.
Various sages like Bhagavan's great disciple Ganapati Muni saw Ramana as
an incarnation of Lord Skanda, the son of Shiva and the Goddess, who
represents the power of direct insight. He can be worshipped through the
mantras:
shara vana bhava!
vachadbhuve namah!
The first is the standard mantra for Skanda. The second is the special mantra discovered by Ganapati Muni.
Others saw Ramana as the Dakshinamurti form of Lord Shiva, the youthful
sage who enlightened the elderly Rishis through silent discourse alone.
His mantra is:
Om dakshinamurtaye namaha!
Surrender to Ramana as the guru can be done with the Ramana Guru mantra:
Om namo bhagavata sri ramanaya!
However, for all these mantras please make sure that you are connected
to a teacher who can show you how to properly pronounce and use them.
Karma Yoga
We all have to act or work in life. Karma Yoga is the way to use our actions for spiritual growth. It has two forms.
1. Holding to the attitude of the non-doer or witnessing Self in the midst of all actions.
2. Surrendering to God as the real doer in the midst of all actions.
The first Karma Yoga approach is allied to Jnana as a form of Vichara, the second to Bhakti as a form of surrender.
While the Maharshi did not travel or do outer works it should be noted
that Shankaracharya, whom he greatly emulated, traveled throughout India
setting up various ashrams to promote Vedanta. So service works need
not be out of harmony with Advaita. Today, at this time of global
crisis, many Vedantins are taking up more social actions, not as a
substitute for their inner practices, but as an expression of them.
Conclusion
Through employing an integral practice of yoga and vichara the aspirant
will gain a better foundation for sadhana. This need not distract the
seeker from a deeper Self-inquiry, which is seldom easy, but will
provide more power and impetus to it. Self-inquiry, like a high
mountain, requires a broad base.
May all those who attempt the practice gain success!
May all those who begin it persevere whatever the obstacles!
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