B K S Iyengar's Light on Life


Read a sample of B. K. S. Iyengar's Light on Life online here.

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om vacadbhuve namah ॐ वचद्भुवे नमः

I translated this some years ago and it is still available here and there on tinternet . Someone recently asked about the mantra so here is a repost -  ॐ  वचद्भुवे नमः  om vacadbhuve namah the origin of the mantra "om vacadbhuve namaḥ" --------- Chapter 18, verse 10 of sri Ramana Gita - notes below - based on Ganapati Muni's 'gurumantrabhāshyam', also known as 'anubandham 2' (Sri Ramana Gita, Tiruvannamalai; 6th Edition, 1977; p.116) In this verse, Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni, as the Seer, reveals the bījākṣaras (seed syllables and/or letters) which make up Sri Ramana Maharshi's special mantra. This mantra reveals various correspondences and is said to be endowed with śakti (power). vedādi - beginning (and end) of the Vedas - bīja - 'om' pāka damana (indra) uttara - mightier than Indra, the subduer of the demon called Pāka (symbolic of the overcoming of ignorance). Sri Maharshi lies beyond even the Lord of the senses. Lord Indra...
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Essence of Ramana Maharshi's Teaching

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om namo bhagavate sri ramanaya In the second chapter of Sri Ramana Gita, Sri Bhagavan gives, in four lines of Sanskrit, the essence of His teaching. --------- hrdayakuharamadhye kevalam brahmamAtram  hyahamahamiti sAkshAdAtmarupeNa bhAti |  hrdi viSa manasA svam cinvatA majjatA vA  pavanacalanarodhAdAtmanishTho bhava tvam || (Ramana Gita 2. 2)  --------- In the inmost core, the Heart Shines as Brahman alone, As 'I-I', the Self aware. Enter deep into the Heart By searching for Self, or diving deep, Or with breath under check. Thus abide ever in Atman. (This English translation was given by Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi)  --------- The verse reveals the Self and three methods for the Realisation of the Self which encompass Jnana, Bhakti and Yoga. hrdayakuharamadhye kevalam brahmamAtram "In the interior cave of the Heart, Brahman alone shines, no more-no less." This Heart is the seat of the Self. This Heart is none other tha...
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Equanimity is Yoga

It is the universe in its diversity which is generally spoken of as reality. The pairs of opposites (dvandvas) vie for our attention. Good/bad, hot/cold, rich/poor, spiritual/material etc., we give our attention to all of these in order to make judgements on their relative merits. They are the all important opposites. All important because without them the universe as we 'know' it would collapse into Unity. This is how simple the task is. There is no mystery.  Ramana Maharshi appeals to us to sacrifice everything for Truth. It is not that the mind of the jnani (Sage) and the mind of the ajnani (one who 'believes' enlightenment has yet to come) are different. This is simply thought. The sum and substance of the enquiry "Who am I?" is "...to remain still." The wrong identification of Self with body and senses etc. is solved with this enquiry. This state of equilibrium is not unknown to us. To think it is, is again just thought.  samatvam yoga ucy...
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