Ramana Maharshi Commentary

Ramana Maharshi: "True, strong, fresh forever stands The Self.  From this in truth spring forth the phantom body  and phantom world.  When this delusion is destroyed and not a speck  remains, the Sun of Self shines bright and real in  the vast Heart-expanse.  Darkness dies, afflictions end, and bliss wells up." Comments by Richard Clarke

Atma Vidya was written by Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Muruganar was instrumental in the creation of this book.   Muruganar wanted to recast a popular Tamil poem that begins,  “Lo, very difficult is Self-Knowledge.”  This did not express what Ramana taught and experienced directly, and Muruganar wanted Ramana's version. Muruganar started:  "Lo, very easy is Self-Knowledge, Lo, very easy indeed." He asked Ramana to finish it.  Bhagavan's response was to write these five verses called Atma Vidya or “Self Knowledge.”   Here's the first verse  Lo, very easy is Self-Knowledge,  Lo, very easy indeed.  Even for the most infirm  So real is the Self  That compared with it the amlak  In one's hand appears a mere illusion. 

Ramana Maharshi: "If it is said that Liberation is of three kinds, with form or without form or with and without form, then let me tell you that the extinction of three forms of Liberation is the only true Liberation." Comments by Richard Clarke, with a video by Nome, "Beyond name and form" and a guided Self-inquiry led by Richard. 

Ramana Maharshi: "Bondage and Liberation exist so long as thoughts of bondage and liberation exist. These come to an end when an inquiry is made into the nature of he who is bound or free, and the ever-present and ever-free Self is realized." Comments by Richard Clarke. With a short clip from Nome, “Find out if you are bound” and an inquiry guided by Richard.   

Ramana Maharshi: "So long as a man feels himself the doer, he reaps the fruits of his actions. But as soon as he realizes through inquiry who is the doer, the sense of doership drops off and the threefold karma comes to an end. This is the final Liberation." Comments by Richard Clarke, Audio from Nome, "Do you think of yourself as a doer?"

In these verses Ribhu tell us more of what is not true for the jivanmukta, and ends with declarations of what a jivanmukta indeed is. Read by Richard Clarke. 

Ramana's words: "The contention, “Dualism during practice, non-dualism on Attainment,” is also false. While one is anxiously searching, as well as when one has found one's Self, who else is one but the tenth man?" Dualism is false, says Ramana. There is no duality.  Comments by Richard Clarke. Audio from Nome, "You are the Self." With a short guided inquiry. 

In these verses Ribhu tells us what the jivanmukta is not.

Ramana Maharshi's words: "Only if the thought “I am the body” occurs will the meditation “I am not this, I am That.” help one to abide as That. Why should we forever be thinking, “I am That?” Is it necessary for man to go on thinking “I am a man?” Are we not always That?" Commentary by Richard Clarke. Audio clip from Nome, "There is no doubt that you Exist always.” 

Richard Clarke reading The Song of Ribhu, one of Ramana Maharshi's favorite books. From Chapter 8, the definition of the jivanmukta, one liberated while alive. Verses 7 – 12. In these verses Ribhu tell us about the characteristics of the jivanmukta. .

Ramana Maharshi's words: "To seek and abide in the Reality that is always attained, is the only Attainment. All other attainments (siddhis) are such as are acquired in dreams. Can they appear real to someone who has woken up from sleep? Can they that are established in the Reality and are free from maya, be deluded by them?" Comments by Richard Clarke. With a talk by Nome, "Attainment of the ever attained.”  

Ramana Maharshi's words: "It is due to illusion born of ignorance that men fail to recognize That which is always and for everybody the inherent Reality dwelling in its natural Heart-centre and to abide in it," Commentary by Richard Clarke. With an audio from Nome, “Illusion of Duality.”  

Ramana Maharshi's words: "It is ridiculous to say either “I have not realized the Self” or “I have realized the Self,” are there two selves, for one to be the object of the other's realization? It is a truth within the experience of everyone that there is only one Self." Richard Clarke, reviewing and commenting on Sri Ramana Maharshi's book, 40 Verses on Reality.

Richard Clarke reading The Song of Ribhu. I am starting to read from, Chapter 8, the definition of the jivanmukta, one liberated while alive. I'll read the first six verses In these verses Ribhu tell us about the characteristics of the jivanmukta. . Listen to a few verses of the Ribhu Gita before you meditate and inquire. Email ramanacommentary@gmail.com with question or comments.

Ramana Maharshi's words: "Although the scriptures proclaim “Thou art That,” it is only a sign of weakness of mind to meditate “I am That, not this,” because you are eternally That. What has to be done is to investigate what one really is and remain That." Commentary by Richard Clarke, with a discourse by Nome, "Blissfully eternally true."

Ramana Maharshi's words: "For Him who is immersed in the bliss of the Self, arising from the extinction of the ego, what remains to be accomplished?" Commentary by Richard Clarke, with a dialog from Nome, "There is nothing else to be known."

Ramana Maharshi's words: "If one enquires “Who am I?” within the mind, the individual “I” falls down." You do not need to do anything to make the Self more real; the Self is already entirely real. The Self is just hidden, like the sun behind clouds. Clear away the clouds and the sun appears. It has always been there. Comments by Richard Clarke, and an audio from Nome, "Reality of the Self."  

Ramana Maharshi's words: "The only enquiry leading to Self-realization is seeking the Source of the “I” with in-turned mind and without uttering the word ‘“I.” Meditation on “I am not this; I am That” may be an aid to the enquiry but it cannot be the enquiry.." Commentary by Richard Clarke, with a short talk by Nome. 

In these verses Ribhu summarizes this chapter about discrimination; that the individual, the world, and the idea of a higher power are all only appearances and of the nature of the undivided supreme. Read by Richard Clarke. 

Ramana Maharshi was one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the 20th century. In this verse, he said, "Just as a man would dive in order to get something that had fallen into the water, so one should dive into oneself, with a keen one-pointed mind, controlling speech and breath, and find the place whence the “I” originates." Commentary by Richard Clarke, with a talk by Nome, "Inquire." 

Ramana Maharshi's words: "The State of non-emergence of “I” is the state of being THAT." Comments by Richard Clarke, with a talk by Nome, "Inquiry to know oneself. "

In these verses Ribhu talks about the mind, what it is and what it is not. Read by Richard Clarke. Respond to ramanacommentary@gmail.com 

Ramana Maharshi's words: "If the ego is, everything else also is. If the ego is not, nothing else is. Indeed, the ego is all. Therefore the enquiry as to what this ego is, is the only way of giving up everything." Commentary by Richard Clarke, with a talk by Nome, "Inquire," and a short guided inquiry. 

Richard Clarke reads a favorite of Ramana Maharshi, The Song of Ribhu, Chapter5, Verses 25 – 30 In these verses Ribhu talks about thought, ideas and Sankalpas - concepts, and  intentions  Here is a line, "Whatever thought is, that indeed is all."  Email ramanacommentary@gmail.com with question or comments.

Ramana Maharshi's words: "It comes into being equipped with a form, and as long as it retains a form it endures. Having a form, it feeds and grows big. But if you investigate it this evil spirit, which has no form of its own, relinquishes its grip on form and takes to flight." Commentary by Richard Clarke. With a video discourse by Nome, "Beyond Name and Form,"

Ribhu says, "The idea that concludes "I am the body" Is not a whit real, all that exists is Brahman." Read by Richard Clarke. 

Ramana Maharshi's words: "This inert body does not say “I.” Reality-Consciousness does not emerge." Commentary by Richard Clarke. With a talk by Nome, "The body is inert and does not know.”

Richard Clarke reads The Song of Ribhu, Chapter5, Verses 13 – 18 In these verses Ribhu continues with his negations, saying that various appearances are unreal, like the horns of a hare, then starts to reveal the wisdom, All if Brahman.”

Richard Clarke reading The Song of Ribhu, Chapter 5, Verses 7-12. In these verses Ribhu continues with his negations, saying that various appearances are unreal, like the horns of a hare. Listen to a few verses of the Ribhu Gita before you meditate and inquire. Email ramanacommentary@gmail.com with question or comments.

Ramana Maharshi's words" "The body does not say “I.” No one will argue that even in deep sleep the “I” ceases to exist. Once the “I” emerges, all else emerges. With a keen mind inquire whence this “I” emerges." Commentary by Richard Clarke. With a talk by Nome, Inquire." 

Ramana's words: "The Divine gives light to the mind and shines within it. Except by turning the mind inward and fixing it in the Divine, there is no other way to know Him through the mind. Commentary by Richard Clarke, ramanacommentary@gmail.com. From https://www.free-ebooks.net/religious/Forty-Verses-on-Reality-with-Comments 

From these verses: "All objects seen are like the horns of a hare. The seer, too, is like the horns of a hare." Read by Richard Clarke., from Song of Ribhu, the Tamil Ribhu Gita, most used by Ramana Maharshi. Available from publisher: https://satramana.org/web/bookstore/sat-publications/the-song-of-ribhu/  Comments to ramanacommentary@gmail.com

From these verses, Ramana's words: "Why should we forever be thinking, “I am That?” Is it necessary for man to go on thinking “I am a man?” Are we not always That?" Read by Clay Lomakay from https://www.free-ebooks.net/religious/Forty-Verses-on-Reality-with-Comments

Ramana Maharshi's words:  "How can one see one's Self? If, since one is a single being, one cannot see one's Self, how can one see God? Only by becoming a prey to Him." Commentary by Richard Clarke. With an audio from Nome, “Knowledge is Non-objective, Mind is Not.”  

From these verses: "I, myself, am of the nature of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, Which is the witness of the world in all its variety."  Read by Richard Clarke. ramanacommentary@gmail.com 

Read by Clay Lomakayu Ramana's words: "If one enquires “Who am I?” within the mind, the individual “I” falls down abashed as soon as one reaches the Heart and immediately Reality manifests itself spontaneously as “I-I”." From Richard Clarke's "Forty Verses on Reality With comments and practice notes." https://www.free-ebooks.net/religious/Forty-Verses-on-Reality-with-Comments 

Ramana Maharshi's words> "He who sees God without seeing the Self sees only a mental image. They say that he who sees the Self sees God."| Comments by Richard Clarke. With a talk by Nome, "The one Self." 

From these verses: "I, myself, am of the nature that is of the supreme Brahman, Beyond the reach of mind and words." Read by Richard Clarke.  https://satramana.org/web/bookstore/sat-publications/the-song-of-ribhu/

Read by Clay Lomakayu Ramana's words: "one should dive into oneself, with a keen one-pointed mind, controlling speech and breath, and find the place whence the “I” originates." From Richard Clarke's "Forty Verses on Reality With comments and practice notes." https://www.free-ebooks.net/religious/Forty-Verses-on-Reality-with-Comments 

Ramana Maharshi's words:  "Only those who have no knowledge of the Source of destiny and free-will dispute as to which of them prevails. They that know the Self as the one Source of destiny and free-will are free from both." Commentary by Richard Clarke, and a talk by Nome, "Bodiless egoless Self."

A line from these verses: "I, myself, am of the nature of the supreme, which is only consciousness." Read by Richard Clarke. ramanacommentary@gmail.com

Ramana Maharshi's words: "Truth shines as the Formless Perfection, and as the Substratum of the world." Comments by Richard Clarke. Talk from Nome, , "If the “I” is formless, who experiences what?"

Read by Clay Lomakayu Ramana's words: "They that know the Self as the one Source of destiny and free-will are free from both." From Richard Clarke's "Forty Verses on Reality With comments and practice notes." https://www.free-ebooks.net/religious/Forty-Verses-on-Reality-with-Comments 

Ramana Maharshi's words:  "To those who have not realized the Self, as well as to those who have, the word “I” refers to the body, but with this difference, that for those who have not realized, the ‘I' is confined to the body whereas for those who have realized the Self within the body the “I” shines as the limitless Self." Comments by Richard Clarke. Discourse on the body by Nome. 

Ramana Maharshi's words: "Apart from us, where is time and where is space? If we are bodies, we are involved in time and space, but are we?" Commentary by Richard Clarke and a talk by Nome, “Inconceivable, Timeless, and Perfectly Full.”

Ribhu says, in these verses: "I am ever the one undivided essence." Read by Richard Clarke. 

Clay Lomakayu read's Richard Clarke Commentary on Ramana Maharshi's "Forty Verses on Reality," Verses 14-18 Ramana Maharshi's words:  "Apart from us, where is time and where is space? If we are bodies, we are involved in time and space, but are we?" https://www.free-ebooks.net/religious/Forty-Verses-on-Reality-with-Comments

Ramana Maharshi's words: "Only with reference to the present can the past and the future exist. They too, while current, are the present." Commentary by Richard Clarke. Extract from a dialog with Nome "Now appears only in the waking state of mind” 

A line from these verses: "All is of the nature of the one undivided essence." Read by Richard Clarke.  ramanacommentary@gmail.com 

Clay Lomakayu reads from Richard Clarke's "Forty Verses on Reality with Comments," verses 10-13. Ramana Maharshi's words from verse 11: "Is it not, rather, ignorance to know all else without knowing oneself, the knower?" https://www.free-ebooks.net/religious/Forty-Verses-on-Reality-with-Comments 

Ramana Maharshi's words: "By enquiring into the nature of the “I,” the “I” perishes. With it “you” and “he” also perish. The resultant state, which shines as Absolute Being, is one's own natural state, the Self." Commentary by Richard Clarke. With a discourse by Nome, "Natural"