David:Pranams,Guruji, dear friend. On February 1, 2016 you accepted my request to be your student, saying, “Assuming that I get all the credit for...
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
Questioner:James, recently after I have finished listening to onesatsangrecording and started a second recording, I experienced the thought that I already listened to the...
Terry:Hi, James. During the seminar I noticed that you frequently praised Carl but didn’t praise others who have served ShiningWorld for many years. This...
Note:People don’t engage the teacher for many reasons. Some idolize him or her and don’t want to have their illusions shattered, not realizing that...
Student:Hi, James. You are very welcome for the donation. I would give more each month if I could – the work you and Sundari...
Questioner:Tomorrow is Father’s Day, and I’m usually very busy with my work, but in any case you are like the father who supported me...
Mark:My ego feels a lot of anger when it gets attacked by a furious customer during rush hour at work. Of course the furious...
Correspondent:Hi, James. I feel like I’m turning into some kind of Ramji/Vedanta clone!☺At least I know what that really means now. How fabulous is...
Dominik:Hi, James. I’m so happy you pointed out my problem: I’ve felt “half cooked” the whole time and could not find the problem. I...
Swami Paramarthananda has discussed this subject in his various lectures. The wordnirvikalpakameans “divisionlessness.” We experience the world in the form of division of “subject...
Cecelia: Dear Ramji, I am writing to you to express my love and gratitude to you. I’ve spent hours and hours listening and reading...
Anna:Hi, Ramji. It is weird how ordinary life is. On a personal level, seemingly silly and somewhat amusing things are still going on. For...
Andy:Hi, James. Namaskaar.I was in Berlin seminar – thanks again; the bliss of awareness is a great topic. It was great – even if...
James:This email is from a very joyful, Self-realized, highly educated, professional person whose brain was damaged by a stroke. All her joy disappeared for...
Randy:Dear Ramji, everything is revealed by awareness. I realized that projection and denial are the usual way I deal with the world. Desires/fears-likes/dislikes are...










