Experience
“Intellectual understanding is not enough, it is only knowing ‘about’ a thing. It is the booby prize. You must experience whatever it is you think you know. Only by thoroughly and completely experiencing your experience will genuine Completion actually occur.” — Arunachala Ramana
EXPERIENCE the Experience and...
Be Replenished From The Source Within…Experience is the only way to freedom. As A. Ramana says above, “understanding is the booby prize.” When we “think about” something, anything, we are separating ourselves from it. While thinking is occurring we are in the mind, which is in time and space, not Here and Now in the experience — i.e., we are either in memory as past, or in anticipation or expectation as future — we are not Here, not present Now… we are not in the Heart of Being, or abiding in our true Self-nature.
Meditation – as we in AHAM use and mean the term – is a Conscious Process where attention is directed inward onto pure Awareness, the true Self, the infinite and eternal I AM, which is always, already present prior to the usual confusion, contradiction, conflicts, and distractions of the seeming “individual self” (the ego) that is apparently living day-to-day in time and space.
EXPERIENCE MEDITATION NOW!
Experience any of the following meditation processes for awakening to the freshness of NOW, and be replenished from your own Source, Within…
- Breath Awareness© (under construction)
An easy way to relax the body and calm the thoughts.- I AM Centering Process™©
Locate the still balance point within you, free of the thoughts and experiences of the day.- Self-Inquiry Experience©
The ultimate process for merging completely into the natural state - into the presence of NOWIf you would like to learn how to do these processes for yourself, see Our Calendar of Scheduled Programs and our Program Catalog in the Living Free Section of our site.
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The Essence of AHAM’s Teaching
The basis and primary method of AHAM's Conscious Teaching is Self-Inquiry.
The Ultimate Realization
“One's True Self, being not different from Universal Awareness – the One Absolute Reality that is Real God – alone is. Everything else only seems to be, but really is not; it is all only an appearance, an illusion occurring in the ego-mind, or imagination. It is in fact not different in essence than a dream one has while sleeping.”
Said in Vedantic terms: “The non-dual transcendental state alone is real; it is infinite and eternal. The ordinarily conceived and perceived states of waking, dreaming and sleeping are not in themselves real, but are merely states of consciousness or mind. They temporarily appear in and as time and space, the world, or this dream of mortality as long as one remains identified with the body-mind as being oneself.”
Said in Biblical terms: “The true Self is the infinite and eternal I AM, not different from Moses’ realization, ‘I AM That I AM,’ (Exodus 3:14) and Jesus’ statement, ‘I (Self) and the Father (God, the Source, or Pure Awareness) are one.’ (John 10:30) Jesus also said, ‘Before Abraham (or time) was, I AM,’ (John 8:58) and ‘My kingdom (true being) is not of this world, (John 18:36) ‘The kingdom of God is within you.’ ‘Seek and abide only in It’.” (Matthew 6:33)
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
What Does the AHAM Teaching Reveal and Say?
Actual Spiritual Enlightenment, Awakening to Pure Awareness, or Radical Realization of the true Self reveals that identification with the body-mind (or ego) and taking it to be oneself is what the scriptures mean by “living in sin.” It is ignorantly believing oneself to be a separate entity living in the world of time and space, apart from God and the Allness of being. This is the meditation of a seperate-self identity. Living as a individual entity apparently in a state of seperation from the Source (God) is called “sin.” This is spiritual ignorance, or not knowing the true nature of the Self we actually are.
So, simply stated, spiritual ignorance is “sin” or “unrighteousness,” which is simply “not knowing the Truth.” If we are identified with the body-mind as being the “self,” the results are that all our actions, our intentions, our very life itself is in fact suffering – whether we realize it or not. It is being ruled by and at the effect of desire and fear. We are ever subject to pain, loss, anger, worry, limitation, doubt, and all other forms of upset.
Jesus said, “Whosoever commits sin (lives in spiritual ignorance) is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34).
Understanding sin for what it actually is – in truth – it is far more debilitating than “doing” wrong things, such as being badly behaved, delinquent, malicious, wicked or evil, or demonstrating these socially unacceptable traits, qualities, or patterns of behavior in life, or as one’s lifestyle. For, in fact, all these unwanted or undesirable qualities and traits are simply the result of living in spiritual ignorance, or at the effect of the conditioned body-mind or ego as being oneself. All of these debilitating factors easily and naturally drop away – without effort – when their true underlying cause is seen and known, and the Real Self is awakened to, realized and lived.
The mind is always restless, with no lasting or true peace. Satisfaction from one’s achievements in the world – regardless of their recognizable importance or significance, or their number or nature – is only short-lived. After every achievement, we soon look for something else to give us another or renewed sense of satisfaction, increased happiness, or sense of importance. And, we compulsively avoid that which we dislike or fear, that which is unpleasant. Eventually, perhaps after years of incessant seeking after true fulfillment, we look for a solution to this continual discontent by taking up the quest for the Truth, or by praying to God. The latter is usually (with many people, if not most) based on a strongly held, yet limited concept of the Supreme Being believed to exist “in heaven,” or “up in the sky” somewhere, like “another world” believed to exist in some “place” separate from or “beyond” this world, or ourselves. When the focused desire for Truth, or freedom from the mind’s suffering, becomes one pointed and in earnest – i.e., pure, and not contaminated by other interests, such as the wish for “more,” “better” and “different” experiences in this world – then Real God, being the One Reality, or True Self ever abiding within, in His/Her/ITS infinite mercy manifests in the outer form of a living Guru, or a truly Conscious Teacher.
If you approach this Guru, Teacher, or pure Teaching with an open mind and receptive Heart, He/She or It will awaken and infuse in you the Living Truth, or Infinite and Eternal Divine Presence, by igniting and illuminating the One True Self. This Awakened Presence and Power is the real Light of Grace. This re-discovered Presence and Inner Peace is where one finds true Contentment, or the real sense of Completion or Satisfaction and Safety. There is no longer insecurity or dissatisfaction. It is the healer of all sores, sorrows and suffering. It is our very true Being. In IT, the ego or little “self” is melted and consumed. One is reestablished in pure Silence, Stillness and Peace, while being always, already vibrantly alive!
Christians might refer to this as “Being saved.” Jews might think it is the coming of the Messiah; however, Jews are mostly looking for a world savior, like Christians are looking for Jesus to return again, physically. Muslims might feel it is the working of Allah the Merciful, which in a manner of speaking it would be. Buddhists might say it is “Awakening to the Dharma,” or to the “Buddha Mind.” This is the closest to it. But none of these notion are it, they would be only held concepts among the believers of these religions; that is, if this Awakening to the True Self is not real, or a genuine, lasting experience. Such would be only religious beliefs based on intellectual concepts, usually held with intense emotion or fervor among their adherents.
The true Guru in essence says, “Be still and know that I am (Self is) God. (Psalms 46:10). This knowing is beyond believing; it is the re-Awakened, Clear Understanding of the transcendental Absolute. It is also, simultaneously, being fully aware of the limited, relative values of apparent personal life. The I AM (pure Being is) exalted even in the world of relativity. This is lasting Fulfillment or true Completion. For abiding in the true Self (or Real God) is always, already enough; there is no longer any “need” or inclination to further seeking.
For growing numbers of sincere spiritual seekers, this has fortunately already occurred; or, it is now presently occurring by way of their discovery and association with AHAM and its Conscious Teaching.
How and why is this? Because of AHAM’s unique presentation of the pure Teaching of Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, which also clearly discloses the transcendental meaning and message of the pure Teaching of Jesus Christ, both of whom are AHAM’s primary spiritual resources, or Supreme Preceptors. This is also not different from the pure Teaching of the Buddha and all other Sages or Enlightened Teachers.
Just what is this Teaching and its understanding? It is the distinctive Knowledge of the One Reality, the infinite and eternal, unchanging Truth of the One Being, the True Self, which is pure Awareness, free of body-mind identification, yet living freely in the body and mind.
To put it simply and clearly, in the words of Sri Bhagavan Ramana, “You are the transcendental Self.” That is the simple Truth, the Reality of everyone's very being.
No one denies his or her own existence. But what is this Self that we do not or cannot deny? This Self that we all are, is in fact the eternal changeless basis of both oneself and the world; it is Pure Being, or pure Consciousness, conscious of (or as) Itself. It is Pure Bliss; i.e., in the sense that in Itself it is not touched or affected by the pleasures and pains of one's varying states of mind. Know that to re-establish oneself in this unaffected Self, and abide as such, unmoved by the fluctuating feelings of pain and pleasure that continuously pass and re-pass before oneself, is the highest or primary purpose of life.
However, there must be no clouded or distorted vision of this. Whatever the nature of ones 'doing' or 'enjoying' – painful or pleasurable – if the abidance is certain and clear there is always the emanation of tranquility from this presence of pure Being, realized as being the direct, distinctive knowledge and truth of oneself. This is the surest Way to Peace, being the very Truth as taught by Sri Bhagavan Ramana, and that is openly stated in the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. But this truth, even though it is eminent, is paradoxically esoteric, or concealed, being not easily discovered in its essence or purity in the sacred writings of Western cultures, including the Bible. It is more clearly stated in the Vedas, Puranas, Smritis, Upanishads and other sacred texts of India, and has been handed down or passed on from enlightened Gurus to their disciples since ancient times. And then, when their disciples themselves also became enlightened and succeeded their gurus, they passed it on to their own disciples. However, this succession is no mere philosophy or belief, it is the actual Awakened Realization or Direct Understanding, and fully lived experience.
This Awakening or Quality of Pure Understanding can ultimately occur by way of Self-Inquiry, which is intentionally withdrawing the mind from its habitual identification with the gross body and mind, to which it has been so long associated and outwardly projecting itself, and turning it inward, towards the Inner or True Self or pure Being. When the mind is trained to be more and more in contact with the Self, there arises perfect understanding and abidance in the Real. You-as-Awareness are then really free and abiding entirely within the Self; the clouds of ignorance and misidentification with the body-mind no longer affect You-this-pure-Awareness. Yet, you are also outwardly active, completing the conditioned tendencies of past karma (actions), which naturally work themselves out to conclusion by their own action, without affecting the real You.
Poetically said: “You the potter have given up your hold on the karmic wheel; but nevertheless the wheel still turns because of the momentum that’s still there, being left in it from before the moment that 'you' dropped identification with the body.”
Life continues the same as before. You still move in the same way, yet as Self “you” don’t move, or you are unaffected by any actions, no longer clinging to them or their results. You act or “do”; yet you feel you are no more the “doer.” You “enjoy” or “suffer”; yet you feel you are no longer the one who suffers or enjoys. You are instead a mere witness of all things in their varying three states: i.e., waking, dreaming and sleeping.”
This is the result of Self-Inquiry, the pure Teaching of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, being fully preserved and presented in its entirety at AHAM, by way of AHAM's Life Transforming programs, and Conscious Teaching.
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VERY SPECIAL! Read Arunachala Ramana’s compilation of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi’s and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj’s pure teaching called: “Realization: the Sum and Substance.”
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NOTICE! We send – as a FREE service – a daily e-mail message for“Transforming the mind and Realizing the True Nature of the Self, or Real God,” to about a thousand devotees and admirers of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. These messages are all taken from his pure Conscious Teaching.
To sign up for this special FREE service, click the “Daily Message” subsection in the Enlightenment section of our site.
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Have a look at our newsletter, HEART to HEART, in the Inspiration section of our site. If you are interested in subscribing to HEART to HEART, e-mail us at Subscribe@aham.com with subject “Heart to Heart” and include your address.
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FREE BOOK OFFER
Sign up for a FREE copy of the book, “Thus Spake Ramana.” To learn more about this very special “Big Little” book, go to the “Free Book Offer” in the Bookstore section. You can sign up for your free copy there, by simply clicking the “E-mail us” button and sending us your request.
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