David:Dear Rory I do have a couple of questions which if you are willing to answer I would be most grateful. Once one has...
Satsang is a compound Sanskrit word that means “keeping the company of the Self.” The Self, Awareness, is the true nature of everyone and one keeps company with it by continually meditating on it in many ways. One of the most effective methods involves discussing non-dual teachings with someone whose knowledge of his or her identity as Awareness is doubt-free, to get clarity with reference to Self inquiry. The satsangs posted here are answers to the questions of many people around the world who are interested in enlightenment and committed to Vedanta as their preferred means of Self knowledge.
Now that Vedanta is well known in Western spiritual circles, it has become commonplace for unqualified “teachers” to identify with it. A qualified teacher is called a mahatma, someone immersed in the Vedic tradition who has been taught the methodology by someone who has been properly taught in an unbroken chain of teachers, through Shankaracharya, back to the Upanishads, the source texts themselves. My teacher, Swami Chinmaya, seen here with his teacher, Swami Tapovan Maharaj, satisfies this qualification. I have not strayed from the tradition since my introduction to it in 1968 and teach traditional Vedanta, although not in the traditional monastic format.
Chinmaya Teaching in a Traditional Setting
David:Isvaracreates the phenomenal universe out of the power of hismaya. This necessitates that all sentient beings being caught in a long drawn out cycle...
Sandra: Due to a botched surgery done to my back, I’ve experienced chronic pain for years. Regardless I’ve continued to try and meditate in...
Manfred:About two+ years ago I wrote to you, while trying to get out of a very depressed and nihilistic state. This very gloomy sense...
If life is eternal, death is eternal. Though neither are real, they come and go and they depend on each other. We know we...
Questioner:Dearest Ramji, forgive me, as I see I am sending you what seems to be too many questions. I will completely be okay if...
Erin:I feel that we are being deeply challenged and that the outcome may well be positive and creative, but in the meantime so many...
Questioner:Greetings, Sundari, I hope all is well with you and Ramji! I’m emailing you to find out if there’s anything (featured articles or video)...
Student:Dear James, does this statement work? I’m trying to address theyogaaudience and clarify any erroneous belief thatnirvikalpa samadhiandnididhyasanaare an equal means of Self-knowledge. Also,...
Mike:Dear James, a spare moment to write! I’ve just returned from two months in Tiruvannamalai but I hit a sort of plateau. Tiru has...
Dear James, It has been a long time since the last time we talked. Your guidance and teaching was extremely helpful to me and...
James:This email came from a long-time inquirer who was recently diagnosed as an Asperger’s sufferer. If you are having trouble making sense of the...
Betty:If there is ultimately no free will, which is what I believe, then how can it be a choice to “follow” one’s illusionarysvadharmaor not?...
Dear Sundari, I wanted to profoundly thank you for your last advice to me. It helped me so much in ways I can’t even...
Betty:If there is ultimately no free will, which is what I believe, then how can it be a choice to “follow” one’s illusionarysvadharmaor not?...










