2024-09-16 Sandra and Michael Part 4: Understanding Ego as an Erroneous Awareness of Ourself

Michael and Sandra have started a series of talks in which Michael explains the essential import of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu and all of Ramana's teachings in 8 key points -- 8 talks (videos). This is the fourth talk with the fourth point: since ego is an erroneous awareness of ourself, it can be eradicated only by correct awareness of ourself, which means awareness of ourself as we actually are. After explaining this point, Michael answers questions related to Ramana's teachings.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
New Home page SriRamanaTeachings.org
www.sriramanat...
Introduction to Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: blog.sriramana...
Pure intransitive awareness alone is real consciousness and what actually exists
blog.sriramana...
Is there any such thing as a ‘self-realised’ person?
blog.sriramana...
A clearer audio copy of this video can be listened to on Sri Ramana Teachings podcast (ramanahou.podb...) or downloaded from ramanahou.podb... 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.com/...

[@SriRamanaTeachings]

A clearer audio copy of this video can be listened to on Sri Ramana Teachings podcast (ramanahou.podbean.com) or downloaded from ramanahou.podbean.com/e/understanding-ego-as-an-erroneous-awareness-of-ourself 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.com/file/bquhbhuqvh5q5lx

[@gaynorking7806]

O my goodness, I can’t thank you and Michael of course ( Bhagwan) for these videos. I bought the book, and now read each verse and then listen to the KZbin verse, which is incredible. These videos are like gold, and I’m so grateful for the wealth of insight, which just didn’t go deep enough in my understanding in the past years. I pray each time , my insignificant mind can open up, and let go of all its false beliefs - and these talks are a gift for that. 🙏❤️

[@mohanbhaibhad3703]

Thank you very much for this year Sandra and Sir Michael James have made this session very profoundly

[@ricardomusicdoc7227]

🙏 These talks are eye-opening life-lessons. Inspired. I've been practising increasingly to the point where all else is of no interest. All the vasanas seem to be clamped on my abdomen and all suffering previously experienced is gathered there (there's a lot!) Can the devotee overdo things and are there any suggestions please? Thank you Michaelji ❤🎉

[@sandraderksen]

Disclaimer: This book was independently compiled, edited, and published by Sandra Derksen, with full respect for the writings and explanations of Michael James. This work was done with Michael’s permission. While Michael has not reviewed or endorsed the book, he graciously contributed the illuminating introduction to Ramana Maharshi’s Forty Verses on What Is, offering his profound insights into Bhagavan’s teachings. The content aims to faithfully reflect his translations and explanations, in alignment with the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0) on Michael's website. Michael’s introduction is available on his blog, posted on September 10th, 2024.

[@rviswanathan]

🙏

[@nooshinkhalili7277]

❤

[@ricardomusicdoc7227]

🙏 Bhagawan's teachings : Instructions for Life, 2024. Faith not belief. Jut as we don't 'try' to pick up a £50 bill so we don't need to try to let e go. Let go, let God. Bhagawan's Grace - tiger's jaws : Loving embrace. Jump in. Bhagawan's got you, always will, always has 🎉❤

[@stevepalmer-drums]

I particulary appreciated the 'letting go' conversation from around 1 hour 52 minutes

[@svarupa]

46:07 ❤

[@1970uma]

Can someone please point me to the other 3 videos of this series.. namo Ramanaya

[@sandraderksen]

There is a playlist now that has all the videos: 8 Key Points of Ulladu Narpadu 🙏

[@sjain8111]

As Michael here discusses devotion in Advaita and mentions Tota Puri, I was interested to read where in The Great Master, III.2, Bhairavi Brahmani [tantra guru] forbade Sri Ramakrishna from mixing with [Advaita guru] Tota Puri saying, “My child…these people lack devotion, your love and affection for God will then vanish.” But the Master did not heed her advice…he decided to dwell in the unbroken experience of oneness with god. His decision was immediately followed by actualization of it. p.406

[@cindyscott8470]

How does one get an invitation to this live video where we can ask a question?

[@sandraderksen]

Dear Cindy, thank you for your interest! The meetings with Michael are private discussions as part of an 8-video series on key points of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings. However, you're very welcome to submit any questions in the comment section of the announcement video on the Q&A channel of the next meeting. So far, we’ve been able to answer all the questions asked there, and we do our best to continue addressing them in future discussions. Additionally, you can participate in one of the monthly live meetings, such as those in San Diego or the UK. Information about these meetings can be found on Michael’s website. Namo Ramanaya 🙏

[@Ropeorsnake]

If you want to ask the question in person so you can have a conversation with Michael, then best to email one of the monthly live meetings as Sandra tells

[@timnickoll]

Dearest Muchael, what would you say to someone who has come into contact with Bhagavans teachings. and has a degree of knowledge. however the discovery of thus purest truth has created fear and suffering for the ego that previously was functioning, albeit in ignorance. the feeling here is of being in a terrifying purgatory. caught between a rock and a hard place. it is not possible to go back to a state prior to the discovery of bhagavan. there is a seeing that the fruit is nit ripened , head in tigers mouth. the suffering appears to me. I ask who am I and no one is to be found. Life draws ego back to the world and immense shame and frustration is felt. the physical body is deteriorating and there is a feeling of powerlessness. accepting this is praraabda and all is God's will is seemingly only known intellectually. if this is in the heart acceptance must arise Thanks so much for everything you do to elucidate bhagavans guidance. shanti

[@timnickoll]

Ty for this kind and wise response, bless you .

[@menemme]

I'm getting confused, sometimes i hear that we should investigate this I, meaning the ego, the snake. Other times i hear we should be what we really are, meaning the self. Nisargadatta said stay in the i am, yogananda said stay in the self. Same thing.

[@nikibotev5478]

investigate ego. as ego u cannot be what u really are. forget nisargadatta

[@menemme]

I beg ti differ. In Deep medition when the mind Is still you get glimpses of the substratum. Carry that on in Daily activities. If you don't get liberated at least you get peace of mind.

[@Ropeorsnake]

you’re confused because you’re mixing various teachings! We’re meant to follow one teacher, if it’s Sri Bhagavan then best to follow his original writings as explained by Michael James on this channel

[@Iiisgracebestill]

24:58 Micheal says that some people Fully identified as a body. If you can identify yourself as a body ask yourself from where did the discernment of things first appear and to whom? In reality nothing ever appears. One without second. You imagine I am here but without knowing how you came to be. You assume ego has existence because you believe the false appearance here. cx

[@Iiisgracebestill]

48:03 Bhagavan Arunachala Dances in the heart. the doer of things done, appears in the consciousness, where a body appears, acts and thinks I am is you. Arunachala dancing in the heart is the reality of existence. There is nothing other existing in reality not this, not that, not you nor I, nothing has existence only that without a second has existence. You are that nothing alone bliss existence. cx

[@D.K.TyagiYT]

🙏🪔

[@shilpamurdeshwar5788]

Only Bhakti wont bring u close to God so gyana is also imp.Gyana only makes one arrogant n so aham bhav (ego) is hard to give up,so one shd hv Gyana n Bhakti.Maa Kali (Saraswati goddess of knowledge)is the one who introduces jiva to the gyana of self .

[@Iiisgracebestill]

Arunachala Bhagavan this thought I am this body form, appearing and identifying is the something other than oneself. I identifies as nonexistent ego into existence. No one thought ever rises. Everything appears in an instant and comes into existence at this time, in this place. The thought of I being rises, names forms and creates duality consciousness. But Nothing ever rises, nothing ever moves oneself remains formless. Can anyone show ego to the guru? the ego is I am the body knowledge identity. I is not the body, I alone is reality cx

[@Iiisgracebestill]

The snake and rope. Snake is imaginary The rope is reality. Snake sees mountain rope is Arunachala. The rope exists alone always existing alone. A snake appears to be a very convincing rope that is able to confuse the one clinging to the thought I am not that. cx

[@earthstuart]

This is a great video; It shares details explaining words used in various contexts. ❤ for example, two unique meanings of the word mind. OM NAMO BAGAVATE SRI RAMAYANA🎉

[@Iiisgracebestill]

@johnmcdonald260 if one sees himself as a person with a body he will see others also. As long as one take himself to be a person phenomena have to be present. ( phenomena like a place to eat phenomena and drink it too ) Because I thought I am born this world god and individual souls were real. The person born is an illusion, no one has ever been born in reality. Into the illusion of maya a souls imagines I am born. If you were a person, ego would have had to have had an actual real beginning in existence. Reality alone has existence. So you must realise that to be a person thinking, is phenomena itself. All this is you. You are reality imagining you are not reality. Look to Arunachala, seek the grace of guru. You are not the body mind illusion. You are that. There is only self, in grace be still in silence wake up. You are the rope there is no snake. It’s only you imagining a way out of the illusionary ego world you have dreamed up and created out of thoughts. cx