Is God a Big Bulshitter? I came across thesatsangbelow at your website that fascinates me and I want to ask you a question about...
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
Seeker:Dear Ramji,I’m becoming a student even though we’ve never met. As many others, I’ve been a long-time seeker. But funnily enough, it now feels...
Chris:I believe I am by now fairly acquainted with Vedanta. I did not watch the particular material you listed but I’ve completed 15 hours...
Chris:Samsarais said to be eternal, without beginning or end. Sundari:Samsarais not eternal, but beginninglessMayais.Mayacausessamsara, i.e. the hypnosis, or the superimposition, of duality onto non-duality,...
Graham:Hi, Sundari. Tomorrow I am planning to see James again. As I prepared myself for the seminar, I reread my exchange with James and...
Graham:Is it correct that your main message for me is to love myself whatever the circumstances, whatever the state of mind is, regardless of...
Jack:I have a question aboutIsvara. If I understand the teaching correctly, you make a distinction betweenIsvara1 andIsvara2.Isvara1 is the undifferentiated Self, orsat-chit-ananda. Isvara2 “arises”...
John:To preface my main questions to come in this email, I’d like to state thatkarma yoga, upasana yogaandjnana yogaare in practice. I understandsravana, manana,...
Andrew:I have a little inquiry going here relating toviparayaandadhyaropain relation toavidyaandMaya. Sundari:Viparaya,as James explains it, is the reversal of apprehension thatMayaimposes on the mind,...
Nadine:As I’ve been listening to James’ talks, I’ve had some questions that I’m hoping you can help me with. I feel so grateful to...
Karen:Pranams,Sundari, I hope you and James are well. I know I keep saying this, but I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am to...
Sundari:Note: This is in answer to an inquirer who does not wish for their side to be published, so I have left only my...
Dan:I have heard that the people who were trying to slander Ramji online are still at it with their smear campaign. I find this...
Sonja:The China Studyhas proved that vegetarianism is the healthiest diet. I have seen some of the articles that debunk this, as well as many...
Roger:Why does it seem to be such a natural human inclination to want to have control over our future experiences? Sundari:It should be obvious...










