Mira Prabhu's Blog, page 48
July 6, 2016
The Obstacle Is In The Mind. Comments on Sri Ramana By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar
“The obstacle is the mind. It must be got over whether at home or in the forest. Renunciation is always in the mind, not in going to the forest or solitary places, or giving up one’s duties. The main thing is to see that the mind does not turn outward but inward.” Ramana Maharshi. Read more of this profound post – and thank you Dr. Harsh Luthar and Richard Clarke for sharing!
Once Sri Ramana was asked, “How does a grihastha (householder) fare in the scheme of Moksha (liberation)?” The Maharshi said, “The obstacle is the mind. It must be got over whether at home or in the forest. Renunciation is always in the mind, not in going to the forest or solitary places, or giving up one’s duties. The main thing is to see that the mind does not turn outward but inward.” (Talk 54).
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July 4, 2016
Arunachala – Exploring West, North Side and East Side
For those of us passionately in love with the sacred hill Arunachala – and those of us who are beginning our affair with Ultimate Consciousness. Do you know that “Arunchala” signifies the perfection of existence-consciousness and bliss? Thank you for these beautiful images, Richard Clarke!
Living in the Embrace of Arunachala
There are many interesting places and areas on the west, north. and east sides of Arunachala, off the inner Path, to walk through and explore. I spent hundreds of hours over several years exploring and photographing Arunachala. I wrote a number of blog posts about this. Now that these areas are restricted, due to the Forest Department ban on walking the Inner Path, I want to make these posts readily available, so that people who love Arunachala can get a sense of what is there and what they are missing.Enjoy these. Maybe you can explore, too?
West Side
Arunachala’s Secret Places – Holy Feet
Secrets of Arunachala – Kattu Siva Cave
“Monkey Temple” – relic from Arunachala’s past
Secrets of Arunachala – Kattu Siva Meditation Perch
Secrets of Arunachala – Kattu Siva Inner Path Renewal – Part 1
Secrets of Arunachala – Kattu Siva Inner Path Renewal – Part 2
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“Mind Your Own Business”, said Ramana Maharshi
Minding our own business…not an easy business! But necessary once one dives deeper into the practice of Self-Inquiry. Why? For one thing, because none of us are omniscient and we really have no clue whether the advice we are so ready to give is the right advice…I know I’ve erred in this area thousands of times…perhaps I will learn! Thank you, Harsh Luthar, for a great reminder to keep us on the path.
One day, one of the devotees came to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and said in an excited whisper, “Look, Bhagavan! Just look at that man! ” Everyone turned to look. We saw a gentleman who was asleep, swaying back and forth. The devotee who had approached Bhagavan complained, “I have been watching him for the past few days. He always sleeps in Bhagavan’s presence.”
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Some history of Arunachala and the efforts to protect it
If, like me, you have grown to love Arunachala, you might enjoy reading this…thank you Richard Clarke!
Living in the Embrace of Arunachala
There have been struggles to preserve and protect Arunachala that date back to the times of Ramana Maharshi. These include a court appearance by Ramana Maharshi, a legal effort in the late 1990s, various efforts to protect encroachment of the inner path, environmental recovery around Arunachala, and then in 2012 a series of fires on Arunachala that resulted in the Inner Path closure, which continues to this day.
Old photo of Arunachala
Below are links, first to David Godman’s website, then to an Arunachala Samudra artecle on the legal battles in the late 1990s, and a series of posts on this blog.
Together they show a long lasting concern about how to protect Arunachala. That effort continues to this day with the recent protests that stopped – for now – destructive tree cutting and digging on the pradakshina route.
Bhagavan’s Deposition on Arunachala
Environmental concerns and the courts – 2001
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July 3, 2016
Chaos, confusion, despair…something good can come out of it, said Somerset Maugham Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
The beautiful life is the perfect work of art.
~ Somerset Maugham
Thank you, Bridget Whelan.
I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then men create out of the chaos. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Of all these the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art.
Somerset Maugham
July 2, 2016
GIRIVALAM ROAD – PLEASE SAVE OUR TREES!
UPDATE (2nd July 2016)
GREAT NEWS!!! Collector Suspends Felling of Trees along Girivalam Road (edited excerpt from The Hindu)
About a hundred activists and concerned devotees assembled on the Girivalam Road on the morning of July 1st to halt the destruction of the beautiful old-growth forest which the authorities claim is necessary in order to widen the road. Forming a human chain, they resolved to transform the situation without resorting to violence. As a result of this concerted protest, the Collector of Tiruvannamalai, A. Gnanasekaran has suspended the order on felling these trees until he further investigates the issue. He has assured the people of Tiruvannamalai that he will explore the possibilities for alternative alignment. Although the protesters seek total withdrawal of the project, they welcomed the gesture of the Collector.
The project proposes to widen the road by 7 to 10 meter along the 14 km route around the Tiruvannamalai hill and apportion a lane for Girivalam devotees to walk around the hill. Though devotees circumambulate the hill every day, lakhs of people perform it every full moon day.
If you love Arunachala, Ramana Maharshi, Tiruvannamalai, the earth, our cosmos, or simply love the beauty of ancient foliage, please sign the petition (link given below) and share this as widely as possible so we can stop the murder of our gorgeous trees.
https://www.change.org/p/please-do-not-cut-the-trees-on-the-girivalam-path
Here’s the message I received from concerned folks:
The proposed widening of the Arunachala Girivalam / Pradakshina road by the Tiruvannamalai administration will lead to an irreplaceable loss of ancient trees, forest lands, sacred groves, and cause considerable damage to sacred tanks and temples. The farmers whose lands will be acquired for the project will also be severely affected. Any relocation or shift of this ancient walkway, will also be an incalculable loss of our historical and cultural heritage to present and future generations.
The project, which in some places involves re-routing of the road, will cause irreparable damage to the Sona-Giri sacred grove, the only intact sacred grove on mount Arunachala. It is home to Spotted Deer, Langur, Indian Porcupine, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Palm Civet and more. Over 70 species of birds, monitor lizards, numerous snake species and the endangered Indian Star Tortoise can be found there. This rich number and diversity of wildlife, which is already protected under longstanding Indian laws, has been put in harm’s way by the proposed Girivalam Road expansion which will also adversely affect the two sacred thirtams within the grove.
The project will also lead to the loss of a number of ancient tamarind trees that provide shade to the barefooted pilgrims who undertake the Girivalam and many Sadhus who live under them. Even if new trees are planted in their place, they will take decades to reach a similar size and stature. Already some 30 tamarind trees have been lost as a direct result of the pavement construction on the left side of the Girivalam Road in recent years.
The present route of the Arunachala Girivalam path follows one that dates back centuries. It was formally marked during Pandya times centuries ago following a route already long in existence at this time. The marker stones laid down by the king were still visible until recently. Any change in this route will be a loss of cultural and historical heritage, cherished by pilgrims around the world.
The planned expansion of the path also cuts into a number of ‘Rest-a-While’ parks created by the administration for the benefit of pilgrims and local wildlife. These parks provide a tranquil resting spot for those doing the 13 km Pradakshina, and enhance the protective buffer for adjacent Reserved Forest lands.
Unchecked development around the Arunachala hill has already placed extreme pressure on the forest areas and the wildlife therein.
We appeal to the relevant authorities to immediately stop all tree felling, and devise an alternative plan that will preserve the irreplaceable existing forests, avenue trees, and sacred groves; to make improvements to the pilgrimage experience by regulating the vehicular traffic thus creating a peaceful atmosphere, without the loss of forest or revenue land around the sacred hill Arunachala.
June 30, 2016
Yoga And Advaita: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar
“Advaita Vedanta holds that there is no goal to be achieved in terms of Enlightenment. You already are the goal. The Advaita Philosophy in a nutshell is contained in the Mahavakya (great saying), “You are That!” According to Advaita Vedanta, this has to be recognized by the individual through proper reflection and meditation on one’s own nature.” Thank you for another profound post, Harsh Luthar!
These questions came up some years ago. My responses are included. (Photo art above is from Andreas Farasitis).
Question: Is the way and goal of Patanjali’s Yoga and Sri Sankara’s Advaita Vedanta the same?
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June 28, 2016
GIRIVALAM ROAD – PLEASE SAVE OUR TREES!
If you love Arunachala, Ramana Maharshi, Tiruvannamalai, the earth, our cosmos, or simply love the beauty of ancient foliage, please sign the petition (link given below) and share this as widely as possible so we can stop the murder of our gorgeous trees.
https://www.change.org/p/please-do-not-cut-the-trees-on-the-girivalam-path
Here’s the message I received from concerned folks:
The proposed widening of the Arunachala Girivalam / Pradakshina road by the Tiruvannamalai administration will lead to an irreplaceable loss of ancient trees, forest lands, sacred groves, and cause considerable damage to sacred tanks and temples. The farmers whose lands will be acquired for the project will also be severely affected. Any relocation or shift of this ancient walkway, will also be an incalculable loss of our historical and cultural heritage to present and future generations.
The project, which in some places involves re-routing of the road, will cause irreparable damage to the Sona-Giri sacred grove, the only intact sacred grove on mount Arunachala. It is home to Spotted Deer, Langur, Indian Porcupine, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Palm Civet and more. Over 70 species of birds, monitor lizards, numerous snake species and the endangered Indian Star Tortoise can be found there. This rich number and diversity of wildlife, which is already protected under longstanding Indian laws, has been put in harm’s way by the proposed Girivalam Road expansion which will also adversely affect the two sacred thirtams within the grove.
The project will also lead to the loss of a number of ancient tamarind trees that provide shade to the barefooted pilgrims who undertake the Girivalam and many Sadhus who live under them. Even if new trees are planted in their place, they will take decades to reach a similar size and stature. Already some 30 tamarind trees have been lost as a direct result of the pavement construction on the left side of the Girivalam Road in recent years.
The present route of the Arunachala Girivalam path follows one that dates back centuries. It was formally marked during Pandya times centuries ago following a route already long in existence at this time. The marker stones laid down by the king were still visible until recently. Any change in this route will be a loss of cultural and historical heritage, cherished by pilgrims around the world.
The planned expansion of the path also cuts into a number of ‘Rest-a-While’ parks created by the administration for the benefit of pilgrims and local wildlife. These parks provide a tranquil resting spot for those doing the 13 km Pradakshina, and enhance the protective buffer for adjacent Reserved Forest lands.
Unchecked development around the Arunachala hill has already placed extreme pressure on the forest areas and the wildlife therein.
We appeal to the relevant authorities to immediately stop all tree felling, and devise an alternative plan that will preserve the irreplaceable existing forests, avenue trees, and sacred groves; to make improvements to the pilgrimage experience by regulating the vehicular traffic thus creating a peaceful atmosphere, without the loss of forest or revenue land around the sacred hill Arunachala.
June 27, 2016
Adopting Yourself – By: Jason C. Cushman
“When I was two years old my mother left me on a street in front of a police station. In the Korean culture this was translated into the mother no longer wanting the child. I was not alone though, I later found out she left me a hand to hold onto. A five year old sister I have since searched for was also left on that street to hold my hand and wait for a mother that would never return for us. She must have had half a heart though because she did come back for my older sister later on… but left me behind. Sometimes in the night I imagine I can still feel her hand. I often wonder if she remembers me.”
This is Jason Cushman writing poignantly about his journey…I too had a close friend who was adopted and suffered intensely…finally, in his 30s, he tracked down his mother and discovered she was a teenager when she had him, in a southern town in America long long ago, when premarital sex and its consequences was considered unforgivable…i tried to track him down recently but no luck…I just hope he is okay today. Thank you, Jason, for sharing your story with us. You are so fortunate to have been been adopted into a wonderful family…and your honesty will help many.
The ironic part about being an adoptee is that the first and final steps of our lives are the same. Just as we must accept being adopted in the first place, we must also accept ourselves for who we are in the end. That acceptance, that journey, can take a lifetime to occur and not all adoptees ever fully accept who they are. Those people caught between the want of “what ifs” and the “hard place of reality” never fully live life as they should because they are stuck living half their life with regret. I have known that place myself and can recount times in my childhood when I wished for anything but what was real. I wished to be someone else.
Adopting yourself is a lot easier when you know where you came from. You have a starting point and regardless whether that position in life is a…
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12 weird things you might see a narcissist do.
Narcissism…more common a dis-ease than perhaps most of us are aware…important to know how to spot one because its quite possible you know a couple and are flummoxed by their behavior. Now don’t rush to put that label on them, please, but watch out anyway…narcissists can easily ruin lives and your life is precious…thank you Lucky Otter, for dealing with a subject many shy away from.
There are some strange things I’ve noticed narcissists do that aren’t usually mentioned as symptoms of their disorder, but seem to be common enough perhaps they should be included as additional criteria for NPD.
If you know someone who does only one or two of these things, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a narc, but if they do several of them regularly and also seem to fit the more well-known criteria for NPD, these things could be red flags to watch out for.
1. They don’t blink when they look at you.
Some narcs have a penetrating, predatory gaze. If a person of the opposite sex looks at you this way, you may take it as sexual interest (and it could be), but watch carefully: if they do not blink this could mean they are sizing you up as prey. Whether they blink or not, if their stare makes you…
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