Sri Ramana Teachings

In an online meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 1st February 2025, Michael James discusses Bhagavan Ramana's Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verses 26 and 27 . This episode can be watched as a video either on YouTube or ad-free on our Vimeo video channel , and a compressed audio copy in Opus format can be downloaded from MediaFire . 

Michael explains the essential import of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu and all of Ramana's teachings in 8 key points -- 8 talks (videos). This is the fifth talk with the fifth point: We can eradicate ego only by attending to ourself exclusively. After explaining this point, Michael answers questions related to Ramana's teachings. This episode can be watched as a video on YouTube . A more compressed audio copy in Opus format can be downloaded from MediaFire . Ad-free videos on the original writings of Bhagavan Ramana with explanations by Michael James, and songs of Sri Sadhu Om with English translation can be accessed on our a Vimeo video channel

This episode can be watched as video on YouTube . A more compressed audio copy in Opus format can be downloaded from MediaFire . Ad-free videos on the original writings of Bhagavan Ramana with explanations by Michael James, and songs of Sri Sadhu Om with English translations can be accessed on our Vimeo video channel .

In an online meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 25th January 2025, Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai  ஸ்ரீ அருணாசல நவமணிமாலை verse 6: காமாரி யென்றுநீ யன்பரா லென்றுமே கதித்திடப் படுகின்றா யாமாமெ யுனக்கிது வாமாவென் றையுறு மருணாச லேச்சுரனே யாமாயி னெங்ஙனத் தீரனே சூரனே யாயினும் வல்லனங்கன் காமாரி யாகுமுன் காலரண் சரண்புகு கருத்தினுட் புகவலனே. kāmāri yeṉḏṟunī yaṉbarā leṉḏṟumē kathittiḍap paḍugiṉḏṟā yāmāme yuṉakkidu vāmāveṉ ḏṟaiyuṟu maruṇāca lēśśuraṉē yāmāyi ṉeṅṅaṉad dhīraṉē śūraṉē yāyiṉum vallaṉaṅgaṉ kāmāri yāhumuṉ kālaraṇ śaraṇbuhu karuttiṉuṭ puhavalaṉē. பதச்சேதம்: காமாரி என்று நீ அன்பரால் என்றுமே கதித்திடப்படுகின்றாய். ஆம், ஆம், மெய். உனக்கு இது ஆமா என்று ஐ உறும், அருணாசலேச்சுரனே. ஆம் ஆயின், எங்ஙன் அத் தீரனே சூரனே ஆயினும் வல் அனங்கன் காமாரி ஆகும் உன் கால் அரண் சரண்புகு கருத்தினுள் புக வலனே? Padacchēdam (word-separation): kāmāri eṉḏṟu nī aṉbarāl eṉḏṟumē kathittiḍappaḍugiṉḏṟāy. ām, ām, mey. uṉakku idu āmā eṉḏṟu ai uṟum, aruṇācalēśśuraṉē. ām āyiṉ, eṅṅaṉ a-d-dhīraṉē śūraṉē āyiṉum val aṉaṅgaṉ kāmāri-y-āhum uṉ kāl araṇ śaraṇbuhu karuttiṉuḷ puha valaṉē? அன்வயம்: அருணாசலேச்சுரனே, காமாரி என்று நீ அன்பரால் என்றுமே கதித்திடப்படுகின்றாய். ஆம், ஆம், மெய். உனக்கு இது ஆமா என்று ஐ உறும். ஆம் ஆயின், தீரனே சூரனே ஆயினும், எங்ஙன் அவ் வல் அனங்கன் காமாரி ஆகும் உன் கால் அரண் சரண்புகு கருத்தினுள் புக வலனே? Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): aruṇācalēśśuraṉē, kāmāri eṉḏṟu nī aṉbarāl eṉḏṟumē kathittiḍappaḍugiṉḏṟāy. ām, ām, mey. uṉakku idu āmā eṉḏṟu ai uṟum. ām āyiṉ, dhīraṉē śūraṉē āyiṉum, eṅṅaṉ a-v-val aṉaṅgaṉ kāmāri-y-āhum uṉ kāl araṇ śaraṇpuhu karuttiṉuḷ puha valaṉē? English translation: You are always described by devotees as the slayer of carnal desire. Yes, yes, true. I doubt whether this is suitable for you, Arunachaleswara. If it is suitable, how is that mighty bodiless one, though he is indeed brave and powerful, able to enter within a mind that takes refuge in the fortress of the feet of you, who are the slayer of carnal desire? Explanatory paraphrase: Arunachaleswara [God in the form of Arunachala], you are always described by devotees as kāmāri [the slayer of kāma, carnal desire]. Yes, yes, true. [However] I doubt whether this [name] is suitable for you. If it is suitable, how is that mighty [or skilful] Anangan [‘he who is bodiless’, namely Kama, the god of carnal desire], though he is indeed brave and powerful, able to enter within a mind that takes refuge in the fortress of the feet of you, who are kāmāri [the slayer of Kama]? This episode can be watched as a video on YouTube . A more compressed audio copy in Opus format can be downloaded from MediaFire . Ad-free videos on the original writings of Bhagavan Ramana with explanations by Michael James can be accessed on our Vimeo video channel .

In an online meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 5th January 2025, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. This episode can be watched as video on YouTube. A more compressed audio copy in Opus format can be downloaded from MediaFire. Ad-free videos on the original writings of Bhagavan Ramana with explanations by Michael James can be accessed on our Vimeo video channel

In an online meeting with Kartik, Michael answers questions about Bhagavan Ramana's teachings. This episode can be watched as video on YouTube. A more compressed audio copy in Opus format can be downloaded from MediaFire . Ad-free videos on the original writings of Bhagavan Ramana with explanations by Michael James can be accessed on our Vimeo video channel: https://vimeo.com/ramanahou/albums .

In an online session during global Sri Ramana Jayanti celebrations, on 19th January 2025 Michael James discusses mangalam verse 1of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu: https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2017/10/ulladu-narpadu-tamil-text.html#unm1 This episode can be watched as a video on YouTube . A more compressed audio copy in Opus format can be downloaded from MediaFire . Ad-free videos on the original writings of Bhagavan Ramana with explanations by Michael James can be accessed on our Vimeo video channel .

In an online meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 11th January 2025, Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai verse 5. ஸ்ரீ அருணாசல நவமணிமாலை: Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai Verse 5 சீரான சோணகிரி சிறக்க வாழுஞ் சிற்சொருப னாமிறையே சிறிய னேன்றன் பேரான பிழையெல்லாம் பொறுத்துக் காத்துப் பின்னுமிவன் பாழிதனில் வீழா வண்ணங் காரான கருணைவிழி கொடுப்பா யின்றேற் கடும்பவத்தி னின்றுகரை யேற மாட்டே னேரான துண்டோதாய் சிசுவுக் காற்று நிகரற்ற நலனுக்கு நிகழ்த்து வாயே. sīrāṉa śōṇagiri śiṟakka vāṙuñ ciṯsorupa ṉāmiṟaiyē siṟiya ṉēṉḏṟaṉ pērāṉa piṙaiyellām poṟuttuk kāttup piṉṉumivaṉ pāṙidaṉil vīṙā vaṇṇaṅ kārāṉa karuṇaiviṙi koḍuppā yiṉḏṟēṟ kaḍumbhavatti ṉiṉḏṟukarai yēṟa māṭṭē ṉērāṉa duṇḍōtāy śiśuvuk kāṯṟu niharaṯṟa nalaṉukku nihaṙttu vāyē. பதச்சேதம்: சீர் ஆன சோணகிரி சிறக்க வாழும் சித் சொருபன் ஆம் இறையே, சிறியனேன் தன் பேரான பிழை எல்லாம் பொறுத்து, காத்து பின்னும் இவன் பாழ் இதனில் வீழா வண்ணம் கார் ஆன கருணை விழி கொடுப்பாய். இன்றேல், கடும் பவத்தினின்று கரை ஏற மாட்டேன். நேர் ஆனது உண்டோ தாய் சிசுவுக்கு ஆற்றும் நிகர் அற்ற நலனுக்கு? நிகழ்த்துவாயே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): sīr-āṉa śōṇagiri śiṟakka vāṙum cit-sorupaṉ ām iṟaiyē, siṟiyaṉēṉ-taṉ pērāṉa piṙai ellām poṟuttu, kāttu piṉṉum ivaṉ pāṙ-idaṉil vīṙā-vaṇṇam, kār āṉa karuṇai viṙi koḍuppāy. iṉḏṟēl, kaḍum bhavattiṉiṉḏṟu karai-y-ēṟa māṭṭēṉ. nēr-āṉadu uṇḍō tāy śiśuvukku āṯṟum nihar-aṯṟa nalaṉukku? nihaṙttuvāyē. அன்வயம்: சீர் ஆன சோணகிரி சிறக்க வாழும் சித் சொருபன் ஆம் இறையே, சிறியனேன் தன் பேரான பிழை எல்லாம் பொறுத்து, பின்னும் இவன் பாழ் இதனில் வீழா வண்ணம் காத்து கார் ஆன கருணை விழி கொடுப்பாய். இன்றேல், கடும் பவத்தினின்று கரை ஏற மாட்டேன். தாய் சிசுவுக்கு ஆற்றும் நிகர் அற்ற நலனுக்கு நேர் ஆனது உண்டோ? நிகழ்த்துவாயே. Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): sīr-āṉa śōṇagiri śiṟakka vāṙum cit-sorupaṉ ām iṟaiyē, siṟiyaṉēṉ-taṉ pērāṉa piṙai ellām poṟuttu, piṉṉum ivaṉ pāṙ-idaṉil vīṙā-vaṇṇam kāttu, kār āṉa karuṇai viṙi koḍuppāy. iṉḏṟēl, kaḍum bhavattiṉiṉḏṟu karai-y-ēṟa māṭṭēṉ. tāy śiśuvukku āṯṟum nihar-aṯṟa nalaṉukku nēr-āṉadu uṇḍō? nihaṙttuvāyē. English translation: Lord who are he whose very nature is pure awareness, shining gloriously as the sublime Sonagiri, bearing with all the great wrongs of me, this lowly person, protecting in such a way that this one does not fall again in this desolation, may you give a look of grace, which is a cloud. If not, I will not be able to rise up on the shore from cruel birth. Is there that which is comparable to the unequalled good that a mother does for a child? May you say. Explanatory paraphrase: Lord who are cit-svarūpaṉ [he whose very nature is pure awareness], shining gloriously as the sublime Sonagiri [the Red Hill, Arunachala], bearing with [overlooking or forgiving] all the great wrongs of me, this lowly person, [and] protecting [me] in such a way that this one does not fall again in this desolation [of saṁsāra or embodied existence], may you give [me] [your] look of grace, which is [always showering abundantly like a dark rain-filled] cloud. If [you do] not, I will not be able to rise ashore from the cruel [ocean of saṁsāra, the recurring cycle of] birth [and death]. Tell [me], is there anything that is comparable to the unequalled good that a mother does for [her] child? [You are my mother and I am your child, so take care of me accordingly.] An audio version of this video can be viewed on YouTube and a compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from MediaFire .

In an online meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 4th January 2025, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verse 25. The translation of verse 25 by Michael can be found here . Video version of this podcast can be watched on YouTube and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from MediaFire .

In an online meeting with Hyderabad Ramana Centre, Michael James discusses Aruṇācala Tattuvam and Dīpa-Darśaṉa Tattuvam: புத்தியகங் காரம் புலம்பெய்த வோங்கு மத்தியித யந்தான் மறையவனு மாலு நத்தவறி யாது நலங்குலைய வன்னார் மத்தியொளி ரண்ணா மலையினது மெய்யே. buddhiyahaṅ kāram pulambeyda vōṅgu maddhiyida yandāṉ maṟaiyavaṉu mālu nattavaṟi yādu nalaṅgulaiya vaṉṉār maddhiyoḷi raṇṇā malaiyiṉadu meyyē. பதச்சேதம்: புத்தி அகங்காரம் புலம்பு எய்த ஓங்கும் மத்தி இதயம் தான் மறையவனும் மாலும் நத்த அறியாது நலம் குலைய அன்னார் மத்தி ஒளிர் அண்ணாமலையினது மெய்யே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): buddhi ahaṅkāram pulambu eyda ōṅgum maddhi idayam tāṉ maṟaiyavaṉum mālum natta aṟiyādu nalam gulaiya aṉṉār maddhi oḷir aṇṇāmalaiyiṉadu meyyē. அன்வயம்: மறையவனும் மாலும் நத்த அறியாது நலம் குலைய அன்னார் மத்தி ஒளிர் அண்ணாமலையினது மெய்யே புத்தி அகங்காரம் புலம்பு எய்த ஓங்கும் மத்தி இதயம் தான். Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): maṟaiyavaṉum mālum natta aṟiyādu nalam gulaiya aṉṉār maddhi oḷir aṇṇāmalaiyiṉadu meyyē buddhi ahaṅkāram pulambu eyda ōṅgum maddhi idayam tāṉ. English translation: Oneself, the heart, the centre, which surges when intellect and ego suffer anguish, is the actual reality of Aṇṇāmalai, which shone between them, Brahmā and Viṣṇu, when pride was deflated, not knowing as desired. Explanatory paraphrase: The actual reality [truth, tattva, import or signification] of Aṇṇāmalai [Aruṇācala], which shone [forth as a column of light] between them, Brahmā and Viṣṇu, when [their] pride was deflated [or for (their) pride to be deflated or destroyed] [because of their] not knowing [or perceiving its top or bottom] as [they] desired, is oneself, the heart, the centre, which surges [ascends, rises high or is exalted] when intellect and ego suffer anguish [despairing because of their not being able to know their real nature, and thereby becoming humble and willing to subside and surrender]. இத்தனுவே நானா மெனுமதியை நீத்தப் புத்தியித யத்தே பொருந்தியக நோக்கா லத்துவித மாமெய் யகச்சுடர்காண் கைபூ மத்தியெனு மண்ணா மலைச்சுடர்காண் மெய்யே. ittaṉuvē nāṉā meṉumatiyai nīttap buddhiyida yattē porundiyaha nōkkā ladduvita māmey ahaccuḍarkāṇ gaibhū maddhiyeṉu maṇṇā malaiccuḍarkāṇ meyyē. பதச்சேதம்: ‘இத் தனுவே நான் ஆம்’ எனும் மதியை நீத்து, அப் புத்தி இதயத்தே பொருந்தி அகநோக்கால், அத்துவிதம் ஆம் மெய் அகச்சுடர் காண்கை பூ மத்தி எனும் அண்ணாமலை சுடர் காண் மெய்யே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): ‘i-t-taṉuvē nāṉ ām’ eṉum matiyai nīttu, a-b-buddhi idayattē porundi aha-nōkkāl, adduvitam ām mey aha-c-cuḍar kāṇgai bhū maddhi eṉum aṇṇāmalai cuḍar kāṇ meyyē. அன்வயம்: பூ மத்தி எனும் அண்ணாமலை சுடர் காண் மெய்யே அகநோக்கால் ‘இத் தனுவே நான் ஆம்’ எனும் மதியை நீத்து, அப் புத்தி இதயத்தே பொருந்தி, அத்துவிதம் ஆம் மெய் அகச்சுடர் காண்கை. Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): bhū maddhi eṉum aṇṇāmalai cuḍar kāṇ meyyē aha-nōkkāl ‘i-t-taṉuvē nāṉ ām’ eṉum matiyai nīttu, a-b-buddhi idayattē porundi, adduvitam ām mey aha-c-cuḍar kāṇgai. English translation: Giving up the mind called ‘this body alone is I’, that mind subsiding in the heart by self-attentiveness, seeing the light of ‘I’, the non-dual reality, is the actual reality of seeing the light of Aṇṇāmalai, which is called the centre of the world. Explanatory paraphrase: The actual reality [truth, tattva, import or signification] of seeing the light [on] Aṇṇāmalai, which is called the centre of the world, is seeing the light of ‘I’ [or heart-light], the non-dual reality, having given up the mati [mind, which is always aware of itself as] ‘this body alone is I’, [and] that buddhi [mind or dēhātma-buddhi, the false awareness that a body is oneself] having subsided [and merged] in the heart by aha-nōkku [inward look, looking inside, looking at ‘I’ or self-attentiveness]. The video version of this episode can be seen on YouTube 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

In an online meeting with the Chicago Ramana devotees on 29th December 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. The video version of this episode can be seen on YouTube 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

In an online meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 28th December 2024, Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai verse 4. ஸ்ரீ அருணாசல நவமணிமாலை: Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai Verse 4 அண்ணா மலையுனை யெண்ணா னெனவெனை யண்ணாந் தேங்கிட வெண்ணாதே மண்ணா மலவுட லெண்ணா வகமென மண்ணா மாய்ந்திட வொண்ணாதே தண்ணா ரளிசெறி கண்ணா டொருகிறி பண்ணா தென்னிரு கண்ணாளா பெண்ணா ணலியுரு நண்ணா வொளியுரு வண்ணா லென்னக நண்ணாயே. aṇṇā malaiyuṉai yeṇṇā ṉeṉaveṉai yaṇṇān dēṅgiḍa veṇṇādē maṇṇā malavuḍa leṇṇā vahameṉa maṇṇā māyndiḍa voṇṇādē taṇṇā raḷiseṟi kaṇṇā ḍorukiṟi paṇṇā deṉṉiru kaṇṇāḷā peṇṇā ṇaliyuru naṇṇā voḷiyuru vaṇṇā leṉṉaha naṇṇāyē. பதச்சேதம்: அண்ணாமலை, உனை எண்ணான் என எனை அண்ணாந்து ஏங்கிட எண்ணாதே. மண் ஆம் மல உடல் எண்ணா அகம் என மண் ஆ மாய்ந்திட ஒண்ணாதே. தண் ஆர் அளி செறி கண் நாடு ஒரு கிறி பண்ணாது, என் இரு கண் ஆளா. பெண் ஆண் அலி உரு நண்ணா ஒளி உரு அண்ணால், என் அகம் நண்ணாயே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): aṇṇāmalai, uṉai eṇṇāṉ eṉa eṉai aṇṇāndu ēṅgiḍa eṇṇādē. maṇ ām mala uḍal eṇṇā aham eṉa maṇ ā māyndiḍa oṇṇādē. taṇ ār aḷi seṟi kaṇ nāḍu oru kiṟi paṇṇādu, eṉ iru kaṇ āḷā. peṇ āṇ ali uru naṇṇā oḷi uru aṇṇāl, eṉ aham naṇṇāyē. அன்வயம்: அண்ணாமலை, உனை எண்ணான் என எனை அண்ணாந்து ஏங்கிட எண்ணாதே. மண் ஆம் மல உடல் அகம் என எண்ணா மண் ஆ மாய்ந்திட ஒண்ணாதே. என் இரு கண் ஆளா, ஒரு கிறி பண்ணாது, தண் ஆர் அளி செறி கண் நாடு. பெண் ஆண் அலி உரு நண்ணா ஒளி உரு அண்ணால், என் அகம் நண்ணாயே. Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): aṇṇāmalai, uṉai eṇṇāṉ eṉa eṉai aṇṇāndu ēṅgiḍa eṇṇādē. maṇ ām mala uḍal aham eṉa eṇṇā maṇ ā māyndiḍa oṇṇādē. eṉ iru kaṇ āḷā, oru kiṟi paṇṇādu, taṇ ār aḷi seṟi kaṇ nāḍu. peṇ āṇ ali uru naṇṇā oḷi uru aṇṇāl, eṉ aham naṇṇāyē. English translation: Aṇṇāmalai, do not think me to pine away looking upwards like one who has not thought of you. It is not at all appropriate to perish as earth thinking that the filthy body, which is earth, is I. Beloved of my two eyes, not making any trick, cool love-filled eyes look. Lord, form of light unreached by forms of male, female and those who are neither, may you abide in my heart. Explanatory paraphrase: Aṇṇāmalai [Aruṇācala], do not think [of leaving] me to pine away looking upwards [with longing or in despair] like one who has not thought of you. It is not at all appropriate [for you to allow me] to perish as earth [or physical matter] thinking that the filthy body, which is earth, is I. Beloved of my two eyes, without playing any trick [mischief or deception] [on me], [may your] cool love-filled eyes look [at me]. Lord, form of light [the infinite light of pure being-awareness, ‘I am’] unreached by [or transcending] [the finite appearance of all differences such as the] forms of female, male and those who are neither [entirely female nor entirely male], may you abide in my heart. A more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from MediaFire . Video version of this podcast can be viewed on YouTube .

In an online meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 14th December 2024, Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai verse 3. அருணா சலத்திலுறு கருணா கரப்பரம னருணார விந்த பதமே பொருணாடு சுற்றமொடு வருணாதி பற்றியுள மருணாட லற்று நிதமுந் தெருணா டுளத்தினின லருணாடி நிற்குமவ ரிருணாச முற்று புவிமேற் றருணா ருணக்கதிரி னருணாளு முற்றுசுக வருணால யத்தி லிழிவார். aruṇā calattiluṟu karuṇā karapparama ṉaruṇāra vinda padamē poruṇāḍu suṯṟamoḍu varuṇādi paṯṟiyuḷa maruṇāḍa laṯṟu nitamun teruṇā ḍuḷattiṉiṉa laruṇāḍi niṯkumava riruṇāśa muṯṟu bhuvimēṯ ṟaruṇā ruṇakkadiri ṉaruṇāḷu muṯṟucuka varuṇāla yatti liṙivār. பதச்சேதம்: அருணாசலத்தில் உறு கருணா ஆகர பரமன் அருண அரவிந்த பதமே, பொருள் நாடு சுற்றம் ஒடு வருண ஆதி பற்றி உளம் மருள் நாடல் அற்று, நிதமும் தெருள் நாடு உளத்தினில், நல் அருள் நாடி நிற்கும் அவர் இருள் நாசம் உற்று புவி மேல், தருண அருண கதிரின் அருள் நாளும் உற்று, சுக வருண ஆலயத்தில் இழிவார். Padacchēdam (word-separation): aruṇācalattil uṟu karuṇā ākara paramaṉ aruṇa aravinda padamē, poruḷ nāḍu suṯṟam oḍu varuṇa ādi paṯṟi uḷam maruḷ nāḍal aṯṟu, nitamum teruḷ nāḍu uḷattiṉil, nal aruḷ nāḍi niṯkum avar iruḷ-nāśam uṯṟu bhuvi mēl, taruṇa aruṇa kadiriṉ aruḷ nāḷum uṯṟu, sukha varuṇa ālayattil iṙivār. அன்வயம்: பொருள் நாடு சுற்றம் ஒடு வருண ஆதி பற்றி உளம் மருள் நாடல் அற்று, நிதமும் தெருள் நாடு உளத்தினில், அருணாசலத்தில் உறு கருணா ஆகர பரமன் அருண அரவிந்த பதமே நல் அருள் நாடி நிற்கும் அவர் தருண அருண கதிரின் அருள் நாளும் உற்று, புவி மேல் இருள் நாசம் உற்று, சுக வருண ஆலயத்தில் இழிவார். Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): poruḷ nāḍu suṯṟam oḍu varuṇa ādi paṯṟi uḷam maruḷ nāḍal aṯṟu, nitamum teruḷ nāḍu uḷattiṉil, aruṇācalattil uṟu karuṇā ākara paramaṉ aruṇa aravinda padamē nal aruḷ nāḍi niṯkum avar bhuvi mēl iruḷ-nāśam uṯṟu, taruṇa aruṇa kadiriṉ aruḷ nāḷum uṯṟu sukha varuṇa ālayattil iṙivār. English translation: By a heart that always seeks clarity, being bereft of desiring and mental delusion concerning wealth, country, relatives, caste and so on, those who are steadfast in seeking sublime grace, the red lotus feet of the supreme Lord, the abundant giver of grace, who dwells in Aruṇācalam, always experiencing grace, the rays of the newly risen sun, achieving destruction of ignorance on earth, will subside in the ocean of bliss. Explanatory paraphrase: By [or with] a heart that always seeks clarity [namely the clarity of pure awareness], being bereft of desiring and mental delusion [in the form of] clinging [or being attached] to wealth, country, relatives, caste and so on, those [mature souls] who are steadfast in seeking [or earnestly desiring] the sublime grace of the red lotus feet of the supreme Lord, the abundant giver [source, storehouse or abode] of grace, who dwells in Aruṇācalam, [thereby] always experiencing grace, [which shines brightly dispelling all darkness] like the rays of the newly risen sun, [and thus] achieving destruction of the darkness [of self-ignorance] [while living] on earth, will subside [and drown] in the ocean of bliss. A more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from MediaFire This video can also be watched on YouTube

In an online meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 2nd November 2024, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verses 23 and 24: Verse 23: அதுவேமுக் கியவிதய மதன்கண்ணிவ்      வகிலமுமே யமர்ந்தி ருக்கு மதுவாடி யெப்பொருட்கு மெல்லாச்செல்      வங்கட்கு மதுவே யில்ல மதனாலே யனைத்துயிர்க்கு மறிவதுவே      யிதயமென வறைய லாகுஞ் சிதையாநிற் குங்கற்போற் சடவுடலி      னவயவத்தோர் சிறுகூ றன்றால். aduvēmuk khiyavidaya madaṉgaṇṇiv      vakhilamumē yamarndi rukku maduvāḍi yepporuṭku mellāccel      vaṅgaṭku maduvē yilla madaṉālē yaṉaittuyirkku maṟivaduvē      yidayameṉa vaṟaiya lāhuñ cidaiyāniṯ kuṅgaṯpōṯ jaḍavuḍali      ṉavayavattōr siṟukū ṟaṉḏṟāl. பதச்சேதம்: அதுவே முக்கிய இதயம். அதன்கண் இவ் அகிலமுமே அமர்ந்து இருக்கும். அது ஆடி எப் பொருட்கும். எல்லா செல்வங்கட்கும் அதுவே இல்லம். அதனாலே, அனைத்து உயிர்க்கும் அறிவு அதுவே இதயம் என அறையல் ஆகும். சிதையாநிற்கும் கல் போல் சட உடலின் அவயவத்து ஓர் சிறு கூறு அன்று; ஆல். Padacchēdam (word-separation): aduvē mukkhiya idayam. adaṉgaṇ i-vv-akhilamumē amarndu irukkum. adu āḍi e-p-poruṭkum. ellā selvaṅgaṭkum aduvē illam. adaṉālē, aṉaittu uyirkkum aṟivu aduvē idayam eṉa aṟaiyal āhum. sidaiyāniṯkum kal pōl jaḍa uḍaliṉ avayavattu ōr siṟu kūṟu aṉḏṟu; āl. English translation: That alone is the principal heart. In it this entire universe is residing. It is the mirror for all things whatsoever. It alone is the home for all riches. Therefore it, the awareness for all sentient beings, is what is declared as the heart. It is not a small portion in part of the perishable, stone-like insentient body. Explanatory paraphrase: That alone is the principal [first, foremost, primary and preeminent] heart. In it this entire universe is residing. It is the mirror for all things whatsoever [the mirror in which each and every thing appears]. It alone is the home for all [spiritual] riches [everything of real value]. Therefore it, [which is] the awareness [the original and fundamental awareness, ‘I am’] for all sentient beings, is what is declared as the [real] heart. It is not a small portion in part of the perishable, stone-like insentient body [the body, which is perishable (or mortal) and insentient like a stone]. Verse 24: ஆதலினா லறிவுமய மாஞ்சுத்த      விதயத்தே யகத்தைச் சேர்க்குஞ் சாதனையால் வாதனைக ளொடுவாயு      வொடுக்கமுமே சாருந் தானே. ādaliṉā laṟivumaya māñśuddha      vidayattē yahattaic cērkkuñ sādhaṉaiyāl vādaṉaiga ḷoḍuvāyu      voḍukkamumē sārun tāṉē. பதச்சேதம்: ஆதலினால், அறிவுமயம் ஆம் சுத்த இதயத்தே அகத்தை சேர்க்கும் சாதனையால், வாதனைகளோடு வாயு ஒடுக்கமுமே சாரும் தானே. Padacchēdam (word-separation): ādaliṉāl, aṟivumayam ām śuddha idayattē ahattai sērkkum sādhaṉaiyāl, vādaṉaigaḷoḍu vāyu oḍukkamumē sārum tāṉē. English translation: Therefore by the means of fixing the mind in the pure heart, which is composed of awareness, complete dissolution of breath along with inclinations will be achieved automatically. Explanatory paraphrase: Therefore by the sādhana [means or steady and persistent practice] of fixing the mind [attention] in the pure heart, which is composed of awareness [the clear, infinite and eternal awareness ‘I am’], complete [and hence permanent] dissolution [or cessation] of vāyu [breath, prāṇa or life] along with vāsanās [inclinations, namely viṣaya-vāsanās, inclinations to seek happiness in anything other than oneself] will be achieved automatically [or spontaneously]. This episode can also be watched in ad-free video format on our Vimeo channel or on our YouTube channel. compressed audio in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from MediaFire .

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 1st December 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. This episode can also be watched as a video on YouTube 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.

In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 30th November 2024, Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai verse 2. ஸ்ரீ அருணாசல நவமணிமாலை: Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai Verse 2 சத்திய சிற்சுக மன்றிப் பரவுயிர் சாரயிக்க மர்த்தவத் தத்வ மசியரு  ணப்பொரு ளாமசலத் தர்த்தங் கனமது வாகுஞ்செவ் வாடக வாரொளியா முத்தி நினைக்க வருளரு ணாசல முன்னிடவே.   sattiya ciṯsukha maṉḏṟip paravuyir sārayikka martthavat tatva maciyaru  ṇapporu ḷāmacalat tartthaṅ ghaṉamadu vāhuñcev vāṭaka vāroḷiyā mutti niṉaikka varuḷaru ṇācala muṉṉiḍavē.   பதச்சேதம்: சத்திய சித் சுகம் அன்றி பர உயிர் சார் அயிக்கம் அர்த்த அத் ‘தத் த்வம் அசி’ அருண பொருள் ஆம்; அசலத்து அர்த்தம் கனம் அது ஆகும்; செவ் ஆடக ஆர் ஒளி ஆம் முத்தி நினைக்க அருள் அருணாசலம் உன்னிடவே.   Padacchēdam (word-separation): sattiya-cit-sukham aṉḏṟi para-uyir-sār-ayikkam arttha a-t-‘tat tvam asi’ aruṇa poruḷ ām; acalattu arttham ghaṉam adu āhum; cev āṭaka ār oḷi ām mutti niṉaikka aruḷ aruṇācalam uṉṉiḍavē.   அன்வயம்: செவ் ஆடக ஆர் ஒளி ஆம் முத்தி நினைக்க அருள் அருணாசலம் உன்னிடவே, அருண பொருள் சத்திய சித் சுகம் அன்றி பர உயிர் சார் அயிக்கம் அர்த்த அத் ‘தத் த்வம் அசி’ ஆம்; அசலத்து அர்த்தம் கனம் அது ஆகும்.   Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): cev āṭaka ār oḷi ām mutti niṉaikka aruḷ aruṇācalam uṉṉiḍavē, aruṇa poruḷ sattiya-cit-sukham aṉḏṟi para-uyir-sār-ayikkam arttha a-t-‘tat tvam asi’ ām; acalattu arttham ghaṉam adu āhum.   English translation: When one carefully considers aruṇācalam, which is red gold pervading light, and which bestows liberation when one thinks, besides being-awareness-happiness, that ‘That you are’, the meaning of which is the intimate oneness of the Supreme and the soul, is the meaning of aruṇa; the meaning of acalam is completeness.   Explanatory paraphrase: When one carefully considers [the meaning of] aruṇācalam, which is the all-pervading light [of pure awareness], [whose bright lustre is like] red gold, and which bestows mukti [liberation] when one thinks [of it], the meaning of aruṇa [which consists of three syllables, namely a-ru-ṇa] is not only satya-cit-sukham [being-awareness-happiness] but also that [mahāvākya (great declaration)] ‘tat tvam asi’ [That you are], the meaning of which is para-v-uyir-sār-ayikkam [the intimate oneness of the Supreme and the soul, also known as jīva-brahma-aikya]; and the meaning of acalam is ghanam [completeness, fullness, abundance, density, solidity, firmness or permanence]. This episode can also be watched as a video on YouTube 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.

In a Zoom meeting with the Chicago Ramana devotees on 24th November 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. 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 https://mediafire.com/file/ompekha7fy8fu9s.

In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 9th November 2024, Michael discusses Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai verse 1. ஸ்ரீ அருணாசல நவமணிமாலை: Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai Verse 1 அசலனே யாயினு மச்சவை தன்னி லசலையா மம்மையெதி ராடு — மசல வுருவிலச் சத்தி யொடுங்கிட வோங்கு மருணா சலமென் றறி. acalaṉē yāyiṉu maccavai taṉṉi lacalaiyā mammaiyedi rāḍu — macala vuruvilac catti yoḍuṅgiḍa vōṅgu maruṇā calameṉ ḏṟaṟi. பதச்சேதம்: அசலனே ஆயினும், அச் சவை தன்னில் அசலை ஆம் அம்மை எதிர் ஆடும். அசல உருவில் அச் சத்தி ஒடுங்கிட, ஓங்கும் அருணாசலம் என்று அறி. Padacchēdam (word-separation): acalaṉē āyiṉum, a-c-savai-taṉṉil acalai ām ammai edir āḍum. acala uruvil a-c-satti oḍuṅgiḍa, ōṅgum aruṇācalam eṉḏṟu aṟi. அன்வயம்: அசலனே ஆயினும், அச் சவை தன்னில் அசலை ஆம் அம்மை எதிர் ஆடும். அசல உருவில் அச் சத்தி ஒடுங்கிட, அருணாசலம் ஓங்கும் என்று அறி. Anvayam (words rearranged in natural prose order): acalaṉē āyiṉum, a-c-savai-taṉṉil acalai ām ammai edir āḍum. acala uruvil a-c-satti oḍuṅgiḍa, aruṇācalam ōṅgum eṉḏṟu aṟi. English translation: Though being actually he who is motionless, in that assembly hall he dances opposite Mother, who is acalā. Know that when that śakti subsides back in the motionless form, Arunachalam is exalted. Explanatory paraphrase: Though he [Lord Siva] is actually acalaṉ [he who is motionless, being the one immutable ground from which and in which everything else appears], in that assembly hall [of Chidambaram] he dances [in the form of Nataraja] opposite [the divine] Mother, who is acalā [the consort of acalaṉ]. Know that when that śakti [the divine Mother] subsides back in the motionless form [the original, natural and fundamental form of Lord Siva], Arunachalam is exalted [that is, in the motionless form of Arunachalam, which rises high above all his other forms, Lord Siva shines exalted in his natural state as pure being]. Padavurai (word-explanation): அசலனே (acalaṉē): actually motionless, actually he who is motionless {acalaṉ is the masculine form of the neuter acalam, a Tamil form of the Sanskrit acala (the negative and opposite of cala, ‘moving’, ‘moveable’, ‘unsteady’, ‘unfixed’, ‘inconstant’ or ‘fickle’), ‘unmoving’, ‘motionless’, ‘immoveable’, ‘steady’, ‘fixed’, ‘constant’, ‘permanent’ or ‘mountain’; and the suffix ē is an intensifier that in this context implies ‘actually’, ‘definitely’ or ‘certainly’} | ஆயினும் (āyiṉum): though being, though [he] is {ā is a verb that means ‘be’, ‘become’ or ‘come into being’; āyiṉ is a conditional form of it, ‘if being’ or ‘if [anything] is’; and the suffix um when added to a conditional changes its meaning from ‘if’ to ‘even if’ or ‘though’, so āyiṉum means ‘though being’ or ‘though [anything] is’} >>> so ‘அசலனே ஆயினும்’ (acalaṉē āyiṉum), means ‘Though being actually he who is motionless’, thereby implying: Though he [Lord Siva] is actually acalaṉ [he who is motionless, being the one immutable ground from which and in which everything else appears] <<< அ (a): that {distal demonstrative prefix} | சவை (savai): assembly, meeting, council, assembly hall, court {a Tamil form of the Sanskrit sabhā, referring here to the cit-sabhā, the ‘court of awareness’, namely the sacred hall in Chidambaram where Siva in the form of Nataraja danced before his consort, the divine Mother, in order to still her frenzied dance} | தன்னில் (taṉṉil): in it {locative (seventh case) form of the generic pronoun tāṉ, serving here as a case-marking suffix to savai, so a-c-savai-taṉṉil means ‘in that assembly hall’} | அசலை (acalai): she who is motionless, the Goddess as the consort of the motionless Lord Siva {Tamil form of the Sanskrit acalā, the feminine form of acala, ‘unmoving’ or ‘motionless’} | ஆம் (ām): being, who is {future adjectival participle used generically in a present tense sense} | அம்மை (ammai): mother, the divine Mother {an alternative form of ammā} | எதிர் (edir): before, opposite, in front of {adverb} | ஆடும் (āḍum): he dances {third person neuter future form of āḍu, ‘dance’, ‘act’, ‘play’ or ‘move’, but in Tamil third person neuter future forms of verbs (which end with ‘um’ and are the same in both singular and plural) are often used generically in a gender-neutral and partially tense-neutral sense, referring not to the past but to either the present or the future (particularly to express present actions or states that are predictable, typical, habitual, customary or to be expected), so in this context āḍum is used as a third person masculine form of the present tense: ‘he dances’} >>> so ‘அச் சவை தன்னில் அசலை ஆம் அம்மை எதிர் ஆடும்’ (a-c-savai-taṉṉil acalai ām ammai edir āḍum), means ‘in that assembly hall he dances opposite Mother, who is acalā’, thereby implying ‘in that assembly hall [of Chidambaram] he dances [in the form of Nataraja] opposite [the divine] Mother, who is acalā [the consort of acalaṉ]’, and hence this first sentence, ‘அசலனே ஆயினும், அச் சவை தன்னில் அசலை ஆம் அம்மை எதிர் ஆடும்’ (acalaṉē āyiṉum, a-c-savai-taṉṉil acalai ām ammai edir āḍum), means ‘Though being actually he who is motionless, in that assembly hall he dances opposite Mother, who is acalā’, which implies: Though he [Lord Siva] is actually acalaṉ [he who is motionless, being the one immutable ground from which and in which everything else appears], in that assembly hall [of Chidambaram] he dances [in the form of Nataraja] opposite [the divine] Mother, who is acalā [the consort of acalaṉ]. <<< அசலவுருவில் (acala-v-uruvil): in the motionless form, in [his] motionless form {compound of acalam, ‘unmoving’, ‘motionless’ or ‘immoveable’, and uruvil [locative (seventh case) form of uru, a Tamil form of the Sanskrit rūpa, ‘form’], ‘in form’} | அ (a): that {distal demonstrative prefix} | சத்தி (satti): Sakti, the Goddess as the personification of divine power {a Tamil form of the Sanskrit śakti, ‘power’} | ஒடுங்கிட (oḍuṅgiḍa): when subsiding, when ceasing, when becoming still, when [she] subsides, when [she] subsides back {infinitive used idiomatically in the sense ‘when subsiding’} >>> so ‘அசலவுருவில் அச் சத்தி ஒடுங்கிட’ (acala-v-uruvil a-c-satti oḍuṅgiḍa) means ‘when that śakti subsides back in the motionless form’, thereby implying: when that śakti [the divine Mother] subsides back in the motionless form [the original, natural and fundamental form of Lord Siva] <<< ஓங்கும் (ōṅgum): rises high, is exalted {third person neuter future form of ōṅgu, ‘rise high’, ‘ascend’, ‘surge’, ‘grow’, ‘increase’, ‘flourish’ or ‘be exalted’, but used here generically in a present tense sense} | அருணாசலம் (aruṇācalam): Arunachala {Tamil nominative (first case) neuter form of the Sanskrit aruṇācala} | என்று (eṉḏṟu): saying {an adverbial participle implying ‘that’, ‘thus’ or ‘as’} | அறி (aṟi): know, be aware {the root of this verb, used here as an imperative} >>> so ‘ஓங்கும் அருணாசலம் என்று அறி’ (ōṅgum aruṇācalam eṉḏṟu aṟi) means ‘know that Arunachalam is exalted’, and hence this second sentence, ‘அசலவுருவில் அச் சத்தி ஒடுங்கிட, ஓங்கும் அருணாசலம் என்று அறி’ (acala-v-uruvil a-c-satti oḍuṅgiḍa, ōṅgum aruṇācalam eṉḏṟu aṟi), means ‘Know that when that śakti subsides back in the motionless form, Arunachalam is exalted’, which implies: Know that when that śakti [the divine Mother] subsides back in the motionless form [the original, natural and fundamental form of Lord Siva], Arunachalam is exalted [that is, in the motionless form of Arunachalam, which rises high above all his other forms, Lord Siva shines exalted in his natural state as pure being]. Note: When Bhagavan was living in Virupaksha Cave, a dikṣitar (one of the community whose members are the hereditary trustees and priests of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple) used to visit him whenever he came to Tiruvannamalai, and since he cherished a desire to take him to visit the Nataraja Temple, he would often talk to him about its greatness. However, though Bhagavan always listened to him with apparent interest, he never showed any sign of wanting to visit there, so eventually one day the dikṣitar told him directly that Chidambaram is even greater than Tiruvannamalai, because among the pañcabhūta-sthalas (five places sacred to Lord Siva, each one representing one of the five elements), Chidambaram is the ākāśa-liṅgam (space-liṅgam, space being the first, most subtle and most fundamental of the five elements) whereas Tiruvannamalai is just the agni-liṅgam (fire-liṅgam), but Bhagavan just smiled and kept quiet, so the dikṣitar asked him to think about it, saying he would return later to ask him whether he would like to visit Chidambaram. Before he returned Bhagavan composed this verse, and showed it to him when he came back. Being a learned person, the dikṣitar understood the import of the verse and accordingly acknowledged the greatness of Tiruvannamalai, so he prostrated to Arunachala and Bhagavan and never again tried to persuade him to visit Chidambaram. There are several stories about the dance of Nataraja, and several variants of each story, but the one that Bhagavan refers to in this verse is briefly as follows: After vanquishing and killing a demon, the divine Mother began to dance in a wild frenzy, thereby endangering the entire universe, so the dēvas and others prayed to Lord Siva to protect them. He therefore took the form of Nataraja and began to dance in front of her, and in her frenzy she challenged him to a dancing competition, so it was only when he won the competition that she was subdued and ceased dancing. However, though he danced in the form of Nataraja in the cit-sabhā (court of awareness) in Chidambaram, his real nature (svarūpa) is pure being, which is eternally and immutably motionless (acala) and therefore devoid of all doing. In Tiruvannamalai, therefore, he remains acala in the form of the great mountain Aruṇācala, and when the divine Mother was drawn to Aruṇācala to do tapas (spiritual austerities), due to her intense love for him she eventually subsided completely in him, as him, thereby being restored to her natural state of eternal oneness with him. As Sadhu

In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 3rd November 2024, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan’s teachings. This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.  

In a Zoom meeting with Sri Ramana Center, Houston, on 2nd November 2024, Michael James discusses Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verses 21 and 22. The translation of verse 21 by Michael can be found here: https://blog.sriramanateachings.org/2024/05/ulladu-narpadu-anubandham-tamil-text.html#una21 The translation of verse 22 byMichael can be found here: https://blog.sriramanateachings.org/2024/05/ulladu-narpadu-anubandham-tamil-text.html#una22 This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.