The Fundamental Flaw of Neo-Advaita | The Bastardization of Eastern Spirituality
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- The bastardization of Eastern spirituality has continued in full force since the counterculture movement of the 1960s in the West. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the Western misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the great Indian spiritual tradition of Advaita Vedanta. This warping of Advaita Vedanta is due to a lack of knowledge of the teachings of the great 20th-century sage, Ramana Maharshi, from modern so-called spiritual teachers, leading to a dry and flavorless fake teaching known as Neo-Advaita, minus the essential knowledge of Vedanta. In this episode of Enlightenment Today, I will explain the fundamental flaw of Neo-Advaita and the so-called spiritual teachers who continue to distort the original teachings due to an obsession with a famous preliminary practice rather than the actual knowledge of Vedanta.
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Just be and stop thinking, its so simple 😅
You wrong 😂😂
@@pinkifloyd7867 and yet you had to write this message and assert your competitive nature which means you were thinking. Maybe stop the new age nonsense and spiritual virtue signalling because you make yourself look silly.
@docwhammo its freely available in the neo circles.
Enquiry is just questions. "Yoga Vasistha" has the answers.
An essay inspired by Yoga Vasistha : eternal-entropy.blogspot.com/2024/04/oneness-in-spirit-one-in-god.html
Lying in hospital bed after a 4 hour operation, feeling blessed to to able to listen to you Jason ,bless you brother.💜🧡🙏
I know that feeling... Jason's words will speed up your recovery☯️🙏🏻☯️
Get well soon !
I pray God for your speedy recovery sir/ madam.
@@Mnlakshmi Thank you ,💜🧡🙏
@@pw4444 you are welcome 🙏
How are you now? Feeling better?
I am from India and pray for world peace and well being of everyone ( all living creatures on the Earth and other worlds).
Please take care.
Regards.
Spirituality has been heavily commercialized for public consumptions in the West...
yes, so man believe that they can buy their way into spiritual enlightenment
Feeding the capitalist their own pudding 😅
And money, pursuit of profit, contaminates everything as usual and is most unsuitable for spirituality.
Anything goes to west gets corrupted.
It's all about $$$. Conning people to buy back their birth right. Ramana and Nisargadatta never took payment. These conmen have the briefest glimpse and then turn it into a business. Bad karma.
This is why I love the Vedanta Society. They study Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Bhagavad Gita AND Patanjali Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga 🙏
Kriya yoga?
@@AnanthaNathPrasad16 We don’t emphasize Kriya Yoga, but we do incorporate many tantric influences. :)
@@AnanthaNathPrasad16SRF and YSS focus on Kriya Yoga
Certainly .. glad that vedanta society and its teachers like swami sarvapriyananda exist
But I don't understand what Gurus is the person in this video is referring to..
Thats why Sri ramana said there is no jnani without bhakti. If you seek the true self through inquiry w/o sincere devotion you will be stuck. Thats what these western teachers completely ignore.
Which Western teachers, specifically?
I search neo advaita teachers and I was surprise to see listed are some of my favourite teachers like eckhart tolle, Rupert Spira, ramana maharsi, etc. Apart from ramana maharsi I don't believe the other teachers have a guru-disciple program. In other words their teachings are not mean to be complete in itself. They are just authors and speakers. They don't call themselves guru. So I really don't understand why jason is so worked up.
@@alvinyong9370his video is very important. There are some very real and potentially detrimental risks with misunderstanding Advaita. In the context of Neo-A, without the preparation and proper understanding, the seeker can fall into a trap, where they essentially create a “witness” state within the ego/mind while thinking they are touching the reality of Atman. It can lead to psychological dissociation, repression/suppression, absolution from values and responsibility, etc.
It can really lead people astray, all while thinking they are awakened.
@@nicommmmm Thank you for your response. You are right. After doing more research into neo Advaita I realise there is a danger for those who are not ready. And Especially true if neo advaita is the sole practice of the seeker. I've never done self enquiry myself. But I know I'm not the body or my thoughts or feelings. That knowledge alone helps me tremendously in overcoming my ego.
@@alvinyong9370 Totally agree, it is very helpful to have that knowledge. In Advaita terms, discerning between mithya ("unreal", dependent) and satya (real, independent existence). This is a critical part of Self-Knowledge. While at the same time, recognizing that this "relative" existence is also happening. A trap I see in many Neo-A groups is the misapplication of "Who is it that is experiencing this?" as a way of bypassing the mithya-reality.
This is excellent, I never liked Neo-Advita as I just saw a bunch of non duel parrots, but I couldn't put it into words, it was mostly just instinct. This really clarifies things for me.
If one doesn't clarify it, another might be a closer fit, since everyone's expression is different.
I listen to swami sarvapriyananda every day. (On youtube, NY Vedanta Society)
He’s one of the best along with Swami Tadatmananda ji
Me too
Swami Sarvapryananda and Rupert Spira are the best teachers I’ve found.
I had met Swami sarvapriyananda in india when my school ramakrishna mission vidyapith deoghar was celebrating its centenary year he was invited as chief guest there and his lecture was "6 pillars of mind"...
Unfortunately he brings Christianity and sermons on the mound regularly in his talks.
The greatest flaw with Neo Advaita is that they downplay the role of all Sadhana.
As an Indian I do not have any person in my circle who are interested in these kind of talks. Hope I could find someone or even better a Group of like minded people to discuss and study🙏🙏🙏.
Hey! I'm Indian. Yes, we all should meet dude. But I've found simialr ppl - Indians in Chennai, Banglore, kerela, thiruvannamalai, Delhi, Bir, Dharamshala, Mumbai.. You will find your tribe when you put the intention and trust me, Indian people know wayyy more than anyone else.
Don't worry, when you yearn, like minded people will come in your life. Basically rather than discussing, Sadhna Bhakti is vital.
Anubhav is very Personal. One may bcom Pandit by reading all these literature but not Saadhak.
@@chinuchyan4040 So true I want to do Sadhana for my soul's growth.
@@GrowthwinSpace That is so good that you could find people who are interested in such topics.
You do not stay in the inquiry as the inquiry finally leads you beyond the mind.
Ramana many times said that he was very lucky that he was never entangled in any study of any books. As he said, the books can only give you the indication to find the self.
Not luck but by the grace of Arunachal ( the mountain in Tiruvannamalai) . He praises the mountain in his works which were sung by his disciples to beg for alms. He gives all the credit to the mountain. At one place he mentions that Lord Arunachal by your grace and compassion you stilled my mind and made me realise my true self. Not only him but Vallalar or Swami Ramalingam and Jnana Samabandhar called Arunachal The mountain of light and Mountain of fire or jnana respectively. So , you can affirm that bhagwan Ramana Maharshi's guru was the mountain Arunachal. God bless
@@saharshsingh5864 lucky are his words. Strange affirmation somebody would speak for him and correct him.
Arunachala was Shiva himself said Ramana in very occasions . All men who reach the self is due to Shiva.
"All men who reach the self is due to Shiva" or Arunachala? Are you sure about that? In my humble opinion it was just because of the Self.
Names, concepts and forms like Shiva, Arunachal, a lingam will al dissapear when one realises his true nature. All this concepts are only there to point towards something which cannot be described. Although Ramana felt a very intense pull towards Arunachala i can't believe that he would give all the credit for his Self realisation to this mountain, simply because that creates a duality instead of union.
He also taught the principle of "Ajata" or non-creation. So it would be pretty funny when he would have said something like, that in ultimate truth there is no world at all except Arunachala or Shiva :-) . In Self realisation you become everything and yet no-thing. We tend to take everything literally instead of discerning what is being pointed at.
Taking things literally in combination with philosophy or religion never became fruitfull with Christianity as a great example, many wars are fought by devotees who took things literally without contemplation. It's the same principle as that Ramana kept explaining that he isn't that body/mind but still many devotees where devestated when his body died.
Saharshsing stated "Lord Arunachal by your grace and compassion you stilled my mind and made me realise my true self" I strongly believe that this is not the case, or maybe just a part of the story. His pull towards Arunachala has to be seen in a greater context like many lifetimes, reincarnations and a riping of consciousness before. His pull towards Arunachala since he heard about it triggered something, but that might have been a trigger it isn't the mountain but instead a ripening that took way longer then that. (before the pull towards Arunachala he had a intense fear of death, This also triggered something and might have put things in motion, like the pull towards Arunachala).
But at the same time all the credits can be given to Arunachala as Ramana also taught that all is pre-destined, so his longing and pull towards Arunachala were also destined but again in my humble opinion The Self is the only ONE that can be be given credits as it's our true being/Brahman who writes the script. Arunachala might have been the last "thing" that triggered the last and final chapter to come forward.
Ramana suggested to discard our books and not to cling to it, but Ramana already realized the Self which is different then someone like a seeker.
From my own experience there had been a sudden awakening into my true nature without a longing for it, I needed books in the beginning like the Bhagavad Gita or many other books to sort of explain what happened, i also shopped everywhere else like the course in miracles for example. I shopped around and the ego happily accepted anything that wasn't a threat while at the same time the ego itself became a threat and became destructive (more then it did before) Then the first stage of discarding books arrived and i had to put my trust in the actual experience instead of what the mind had made of it. I have never heard of Advaita Vedanta before until this awakening experience, so i was kinda forced to stick to it as i knew this whas the path destined to follow, then later on i needed more serious books like the Ashtavakra Gita or Avadhuta Gita but they never thaught me some-ting new, instead they affirmed what has been seen in that ultimate experience. Books aren't there to teach us anything anymore but are there to reassure that what has been seen is correct (it goes the other way round)
@@innocenzz The self is not reached because of the self like a hand can not take it self. In this case all creatures would be enlightened right now. The self is reached by destroying the mind with the mind revealing its false nature and when revealed it submerge in the self.
But you can not make that happen. The Buddha said, you can not free yourself, you must be freed. Nisargadatta said help has to come, in this form or that form but help has to come. Christ said knock and there will be opened. Ramana said it will happen when you have the merit. I believe this is always shiva , for all creatures that the calm mind is possible. Shiva not as a believe as you understand it or as a Hindu god. The Hindus just gave the child a name. Shiva , this energy, when it fills the heart the mind is calm. But it is up to shiva.
Ramanna didint know that those books, those gurus/rishies who wrote those books, created thousands of realized ppl, while Ramanna could create none, those books give you the truth "atman and braham are one, all is divine" not Ramanna... there is a reason why India can create 100 times better spirituality and realized ppl- these books/traditions...
I am a trained Inuit shaman, ya we dont express much in the world. These mind exercises of self inquiry are only the preparation for the experience of Atma or Soul. The preparation is to reveal that the minds need to understand before the experience is not only not necessary, its what's blocking you from that experience. The experience and its familiarity with repeating it, are the real seeking, for within that experience is any point of attention revealed wHoly, the inhabiting of that point of attention. This is Atma, Bliss, Soul, the zero point of Consciousness. Tradition is mountain you leap from and land on with the discovery of your potential in a point of attention. Tradition is not that experience. And a tradition can be as simple as a child's point of attention when wondering, its complexity and understanding aren't what accesses the experience, its orientation of not knowing and anticipation of knowing are its requisites. This is a simple version, but its application is even simpler because you have it as a memory already, and triggering that memory you will recognize that experiences familiarity. So a teaching isn't ever required, just a guide who can trigger this memories familiarity. I know folks love their mental exercise, but LOOK at a baby who finds Bliss in it's simple wonderment, Look at it Bliss, and you will recognize that's what you seek, the Bliss of a wonder fulfilled.
By the way, the science of Bliss is known, maybe this understanding will help you realize, you dont need to understand Bliss, to KNOW Bliss and its repetition
Os Pensamentos são todo o Mundo Físico, Astral e Mental.
Os Pensamentos são como cordas que nos amarram a Manifestação e são por si próprios a própria manifestação.
A prática da Atenção é você mudar sua atenção de um objeto para "outro".
Você vai controlando tudo por meio da atenção, no momento que "vocês cortas algumas cabeças de Ravana", conforme você tira sua atenção das diversas coisas que ela está desviada, você vai perceber algo que sempre esteve lá, você vai perceber uma "luz/sabedoria/Bem Aventurança".
E isso é chamado de Samadhi
Conforme você corta mais cabeças do Demônio mas essa Luz se torna visível.
Quando a Mente vai sendo cortada as cabeças do Demônio, então essa Luz que é Deus também é chamada de Budhi e Sattva.
People should visit the Shankaracharya mathas in India, like Sringeri mainly. The Shankaracharya’s Dashanaami Sampradaya with an unbroken Guru-Shishya parampara from the time of Adi Shankaracharya (the original propagation Advaita VEDANTA!). Learning and reading the Vedanta and being there in the proximity of a true Guru, one will realise the true value of what Advaita Vedanta has to offer. Not everyone who has a beard and calls themselves a Guru can be a Guru until they know the Shrotriyam and Brahmanishtam.
The problem with the shankara mutts is their rigid brahminical system which doesn't encourage non brahmins to 'learn'. Without the Neo advaitins efforts, you all wouldn't be talking about vedanta now. They brought these out from the clutches of Brahmins
@@Raguram... Sorry but I have to strongly disagree with what you are saying and if you had actually been to the shankara mutts like the ones I mention above, you will be able to ask the people themselves, the ones who learn there. Like a pilot has to train himself into learning how to be fit for the job both physically, mentally and emotionally, so is the process of learning vedas. Every food you eat, every activity you do, alters your state of consciousness, your brain chemistry (for source of this, if you feel our texts exaggerate, refer to western medicine research papers). The practice you follow, affects the ability of you to excel at that task. Like a sprinter cannot expect to live on his whims of eating chips and dips, you are expected to follow certain procedures. Your statements here mentions a very caste-based approach which is contrary to what Sanatana Dharma says. Brahmins are expected to follow the rigid system (and mind you, they follow it, so ANYONE can be initiated into the Brahminical system, as long as they stick to the process) to truly understand the texts in its entirety which is why the rules exist. You may term it however you want according to your political alignment, but if you have never tried it, I am not sure what your are espousing is even true. I can say this because I follow this as a non-brahmin.
@@Raguram... Regarding the point on "Without the Neo advaitins efforts, you all wouldn't be talking about vedanta now. They brought these out from the clutches of Brahmins" shows very Periyar-isque mindset and agenda. Dont spoil the name of Shankara mutts because of some wayward Brahmins. There are many Brahmins who lost their lives to invaders to secure you and those who were not Brahmins. As far as your argument on Neo-advaitins saving the Vedanta, is far from accurate. Advaita Vedanta is a concept and ideology based on unifying principle which was already secured and kept in all the shakti peethas, chatur-amnaya peethas and the other mathas. So Neo-advaitins took it international but didnt fully espouse the vedanta part which makes incomplete knowledge, which is dangerous my friend.
I disagree that you need a detailed understanding of all the Vedanta texts to be able to practice self enquiry. Ramana himself said, “You may go on reading as many texts as you want on Vedanta and they will tell you only one thing realise the self”.
Nisargadatta also said, “The ultimate point of view is that there is nothing to understand. So when we try to understand we are only indulging in acrobatics of the mind. Whatever you have understood you are not. Why are you getting lost in concepts? You are not what you know you are the knower”.
If you have read all the Vedanta texts and it is beneficial to you in practicing self enquiry then that’s ok but I don’t think it’s a necessary prerequisite.
No one asked if you agree or disagree. Why do you overestimate your opinion so much? It must make you so mad to be wrong. Here are some facts from me a Tamil person who grew up with the tradition. Ramana learned the brahmavidya from his brahmin uncles at a young age. Ramana read the scriptures to his sangha every night and recommended them to read them as well. Ramana also read the newspaper every morning. So nothing that was said in this video is wrong, unless you are trying to protect your view of our tradition and or a fake neo teacher. There is only the tradition, the same that Ramana learned and taught. Also just because you use a Nisargadatta quote to back up your false claim doesn't make it correct. You should probably put the work in to understand what we understand on your own instead of reading quotes. Try reading the works of Shankara. In conclusion you do need to understand the Vedanta, unless you think you are better than millions before you or maybe you have a high opinion of yourself. Either way it is strange that westerners can't learn the teachings and always want to take shortcuts. Maybe you need to understand at a beginner level that it is not a competition and the whole guru thing isn't related to your celebrity culture in the west.
Hi Andy. I agree with you that reading all the vedanta text is not the necessary prerequisite to practise self enquiry. However if we go straight into self enquiry we lack the "foundation" such as the basics beliefs of Hinduism and the four yoga namely karma, bhakti, jnana, and raja yoga mentioned in the Gita. Why are those important? Because as human, we are not able to practise self enquiry perfectly 100% of the time. When we lose our focus there's nothing to fall back on. If we start with a broad understanding of the sanatana dharma we can always fall back on our practice of meditation or on our mindset of love and compassion cultivated throughout our spiritual journey, etc. To me self enquiry is like a PhD course. The icing on the cake. But you have to bake the cake first. That's just my thoughts 🙂
@@spiritworld6655 that’s a very angry response to me simply stating my opinion. Who cares if I’m right or wrong and what does it matter?
Let’s be clear if somebody posts a video on RUclips then it is open to people who may have a different opinion. Go practice self enquiry a little more it might help with your anger issue.
@@alvinyong9370 yes I don’t disagree that having a solid understanding of the Vedanta texts would be beneficial
@@andybrown3016 your opinion doesn't matter and you are condescending in your comment, which is passive aggressive so maybe you are the one who needs self inquiry. It is ironic that you say I'm angry when you are clearly aggressive in your comments and also disrespectful to the traditions. New age people like yourself are too idealistic and just want to change things to suit your inherent weakness. Spiritual is also tough and not about the sensitivity of Westerners. Maybe try growing up first before commenting in a cowardly way.
In Buddhist practice this is referred to as having established a clinging to the method. Instead of letting the method act as a catalyst for true insight the mind lack confidence and starts to cling to the method and thus closes the door to what the method was intended to do. The practitioner must be instructed in how to let go of clinging at every moment of the practice. Just like all phenomena also our methods of inquiry must be embraced by letting go as its true nature is empty of any true existence. This becomes especially important to understand and practice wile in any of the four stages of Samadhi. Only if our Samadhi practice is combined with the insight of emptiness does it have the capacity to give rise to the kind of insight and wisdom that liberates us from samsara. According to Buddhist beliefs there’s a lot of beings being trapped in different samadhi-type concentrations for eons without being any closer to being liberated from samsara. This is due to a fundamental lack of understanding of emptiness and thus having established an fundamental clinging to the method of samadhi as the imagined highest state, or goal. Unfortunately, this state is still within samsara and subject to the causes and conditions of karma and will thus eventually wane off and the practitioner will fall right down to any of the lower realms again. It is for this reason it is of outmost importance to only follow a genuine guru that we know encompass the full scope of the teachings, if liberation from the ocean of suffering is our objective and what we strive for.
For a Buddhist to accomplish the state of no-self is only the first step. Full accomplishment of no-self is called Arhat(hood) and is indeed a very high form of realisation. It is said to ensure no more return to samsara but it is not anywhere near full enlightenment or Buddhahood. What must be accomplished alongside the no-self is also the realisation of the empty nature of all phenomena in order to give rise to the full Primordial Wisdom. This is taught in its entirety within the Mahayana schools of teachings. And within the special methods of Varjayana teachings as well. Varjayana is unique in that it is designed to utilise the special capacities in certain students that have the capacity to meditate on the “result” rather than other methods of purifications and accumulations. But only when the practitioner have the capacity to practice on the “enlightened result” in combination with an innate understanding of emptiness will any result arise. In fact, enlightenment or the Buddha Nature is never separated from emptiness, not even for a single moment is it not embraced by emptiness. For us to start to get a grasp on what the Buddha meant with the term “emptiness” we need to study his teachings on Prajnaparamita. In that perspective there’s neither a self, nor a non-self. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Any form of affirmation or rejection is missing the point. True nature of reality cannot be described or be held within any type of conceptual formulation. It is for this reason the Buddha never confirmed the existence of either athman nor Brahman either. The words “Buddha Nature” is only understood properly if the full scope of Prajnaparamita is completely understood. ONLY THEN IS NON-DUALITY an applicable term used as a relevant term within a Buddhist context. A practice of inquiry into the nature of self is a very good start but must be understood to be followed by many other steps and stages if full enlightenment is sought for within a Buddhist context.
Buddhu copied and pasted from Shiva 😂 he was a cheap ass copy
These are words of liberation! My heart dances in hearing them, recognizing itself. Thank you ❤
I’ve been fortunate to have been able to study with swami’s in the Ramakrishna Order for many years. Their knowledge of Vedantic texts is very deep but they never forget the value of Bhakti. They helped me learn how to get outside of my own head and appreciate the way of the heart. While Ramana Maharshi is almost always remembered as a teacher of Atma Vichara he also recommended Bhakti and the practice of surrender. I recommend his Upadesa Saram to learn about his complete path. 🙏
Ramakrishna himself was a great devotee of Maa Kali. So, this separation between Bhakti and Gyan marg is really phony. Premanand ji Maharaj explains it very nicely though his discourse is in Hindi and may not reach the target audience of Vedantists.
I love you so much man! Thank you for always making videos on outstanding topics!
And what am I leads to a thing.
This statement is done due to the misunderstanding of what Ramana means with who am I.
The question should not be answered and does not have an answer.
The question is made to see what it leads too in the self.
Yep! The answer is not that important really
i love to hear your voice getting loud at 11:42 - it has to be said in this manner - thank you ! 🙏
For many years I worked at a spiritual bookstore that hosted speakers on an at least weekly basis. I saw dozens of Western Advaita teachers. After a long time, what I finally concluded was that Western Advaita does not understand causation and how cause and effect operates in a spiritual context. // Thanks for posting this. Very thoughtful and clear.
Do they ignore cause and effect or offer a counter that isnt inline with this spiritual law?
@@inthesky7836 They say it only appears that there is cause and effect.
@@inthesky7836 maybe both the cause & effect are at a fundamental level, within,..& they play out in our external world as well...that is why it is probably said that whatever we experience is nothing but our karma...result of our actions in the form of even emotions, thoughts & actions
*_Thank you for keeping the original tradition safe. ❤_*
Ramana also had teachers of the scriptures visit him and spent many years in study AFTER his initial awakening at the age of 16.
This is a really worthy satsang and delineation between Neo-advaita and advaita vedanta..gratitude and namaste
All is Brahman 🕉
Thx 4 sharing dear bro! Blessings! 🎉
Jason never disappoint 🙏
A brilliant breakdown of neo-advaita and its problem! Thank you Jason!
What the great understanding, I always upset to see How wrong knowlege about Advaita is spreading in the World, I so glad to hear such clear mind. Hare OM!
Such a great description! I am so grateful for you sharing this wisdom and helping to ease the suffering of the world. Deep bow of gratitude to you 🙏
Thank you for sharing this perspective of Neo-Advaita. I’ve been questioning myself as to which path to take to go deeper into to that which I am as, as you state, I’ve started getting the impression of going round in circles; chasing my own tail in analysis.
Reaching that state of empty spaciousness does however seem necessary, at least to me, in order that more light may enter. And in that I welcome it as an opportunity and not a problem.
In gratitude; it is done.
the only porpese of all nondual teaching is convince you to go inside ...when mind go inside the self is revealded in his pure nature...it dosnt matter if the ego do the inquiry or the self it go to the same no place no time no form awarness
Beautiful important share thank you 🙏🏽
Fascinating…thank you! Once again, leave it to western culture to mess things up. Well done J. 👍🕉
Thank You!
You hit the nail on the head Brother...
Thank you for your video. Question: Given there is the idea of some possible human experience you can learn about in books or be taught about it from another person, how could one ever be sure they are subjectively having the experience described in the words in the books, or the personal teaching, especially when the experience is a purely subjective mental state? For example, let's use the more mundane so-called mental state of "contentment." We can see the state described in all sorts of literature, including medical psychology. And there could be books and personal seminars on how to get more feelings of contentment in one's life. But how could any person know if how they have changed when they self observed, was this thing called "contentment " as would be felt by others? With the notion of contentment, at least one could talk to many people at length and start to get a sense of what others were experiencing when saying what they felt. The reason I bring up contentment as an example of a subjective mental state and show its difficultly to nail down in an objective sense, is to then ask how much more difficult it would be for a person to "know" if they are even getting close to an impossible to define "transcendent" mental state? Therefore, all tradition, text, teaching lineage, etc, that's geared to create subjective mental state outcomes, have no means of objective verification. What can be attained and then determined is, if the adherents to certain traditions, texts, teaching lineages, etc, overwhelming report having a better life experience after receiving the correct instructions. For example, people in distress with PSTD and depression report overwhelmingly a better sense of life after having single doses of psilocybin. Obviously there must be a physiological brain effect from the drug causing the subjective reporting of relief. That's what the West has something to offer. The physiological brain effects of the masters claiming "realization" need to be scientifically documented so as to enable more objective sensory feedback to people seeking the same outcome. Imagine in the future a meditating "helmet" a person wears to give them feedback helping guide them to a mental state close to the masters.
Well put. The question is just a device to be posited as the purpose or aim for sitting in Dhyana but for which no answer is to be expected or even thought about. Drig Drishya Vivek is a short and helpful text.
Such a cool perspective 🤙🫡
Good insight ❤
Thank you 🙏 I feel that we are our own best gurus! Papaji 🙏Osho🙏 Mooji🙏
Yogananda 🙏 Ramamaharshi 🙏 John Butler I feel are truly enlightened beings on this planet helping humanity awaken from the dream ! Eckhart Toll is good also for guidance on Just being in the present moment. 🙏
I'm learning a lot from your channel about Indian mysticism ! 💕🌹🕊
Yup. They are very good teachers. Every teacher specialised in something. I learned a lot from them as well as other advaita teachers. Btw I also listen to Christian sermons, Catholic mystic, kabbalah teachers, mahayana and theraveda monks and nuns, read sufi rumi poetry, etc. They have ALL helped me become a better person
✨🙏✨
Thank you, Jason, for clearing the confusion. I totally agree that we must familiarize with *Prasthānathrayi* along with Sādhana.
9:00-9:15 "It might be good for that moment in the Satsang, but you can't take it out into your life..."
I've met many people who have learned how to calm their minds in a sterile environment, but don't have a clue how to live calmly and blissfully in the "outside world"
Thank you 🙏
Excellent! 🙏
THANK YOU, well condensed !!! We're in a "spiritual supermarket" … DISCERNMENT IS KEY :-) As Shankaracharya said (Yeshua and many others, too :-) … "It's ALL WITHIN", where Atman = Brahman, and WITHIN ALL :-) Blessings, love & light
This is very true. Are you experiencing these sage-stages you're talking about past the preliminary inquiry?
I think there can be a significant difference in following the "who am I?" vs "what is I?"
My take is,
If "What is I?" Is somewhat uncomfortable, you're on the right path. It should create a sense of discomfort for the ego.
It's wonderful to have someone like Jason Gregory helping out with his vast knowledge of nondual schools. I too hope to get more immersed into spirituality. I did start but it's important to go all the way.
Thank you Jason for sharing your knowledge.
Beautiful explanation
Ramana Maharshi was a very special case possibly due to his past lives and good karma. The rest of us have to do the work, prepare our nervous system for samadhi. There are no shortcuts for that, intellectual self-realization is completely different in comparison to a real Self-realization where you actually exist in a state of Oneness.
An old man in a diaper
Nothing more
People projected him as godly
He wasn’t
@@Daneiladams555 How ignorant.
@@BlondeManNoName go ahead and believe what your told, hes enlightened cause people said so
@@Daneiladams555His life was an open book and is well documented, if that's not enlightenment then it doesn't exist
@@rihhard1072 because you listen to other people
There is no way to prove his enlightenment
Understood what is neo advaita but still didn't get what more is needed to attain brahma Vidya. Would appreciate if you could make a sequel or point me to a video of yours that discusses what else will take me beyond the neo advaita trend. Thanks Jason.
This is a great insight. Thanks
Thanks for the share. I follow Michael James, he's a pure heart and really has worked hard on the transcripts of Ramanaha.
Indeed. He is the preeminent scholar above all others and a gentleman.
Well stated, Jason
Well said. May God bless you.
What teachers or saints would you recommend then, and who would you recommend to avoid? I never see this answered by people who make this point, and it would be hugely beneficial
Namaste...as a student/follower of the Advaita Vedanta tradition, I can suggest going to the source: Shri Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavadpada. Even if his teachings can be deep and quite difficult to understand, try with something simple in your daily life like Sadhana Panchakam. Apply it as best of your capabilities and personal reality, remembering that all of those texts were written within a social and cultural context specific to Dharmic cultures like India. Then move on to Atma Bodha, which has beautiful guidance for spiritual seekers. Also, Ramana Maharshi's teachings as a source of Advaita Vedanta for people like us who are living in the 21st century. Begin by reading his fundamental teachings in Be As You Are written by a Western follower (David Godman) in a language that is more suitable for Western minds.
What to avoid? That is a tricky question. But, I won't sugarcoat it. Some names that come to my mind are Mooji, GangaJi, Papaji, Nisargadatta. They are not true Advaita Vedanta teachers. True Advaita Vedanta teachers are very, very, very, rare in this day and age. I've traveled to India for the past 33 years and yet haven't met any true Advaita Vedanta teachers in mainstream ashrams. Not one. And the only ones I have met by coincidence they don't teach to the general public.
I left Christianity, in part, because they tell their followers what to read and what not to read. Hinduism or sanatan dharma is not a faith based belief. You can Watch everything and learn something. From everyone.
@@alvinyong9370 thank you for your reply Alvin. Love to you on your path 🙏
All spiritual teachers are in error. The ones who help the most appear like mists ( you don't really know who they are) If a man of truth has written a document that becomes popular, it means that scholars/gurus and the like have misconstrued what they said i.e. they are mocking the originator because they are jealous that they do not truly posses what is written and want others to think that they do.
Anything that leads us to become selfish, puffed up, vain and causes us to exclude the "non-awakened" and common person is wicked i.e it is not loving our neighbor as ourself.
I agree with the commenter that in the west it is so commercial and Gurus running around calling themselves Gurus / charging so much money for teachings or calling themselves Gods ( sometimes its the hysterical/fanatical devotees who call them all these holy than holier names with no critical inquiry just follow like sheep). Charge in Dharma teachings were always offered free or otherwise a practice of Dhana aka donation giving was accepted( the donations are basically required as per teachings with multi facets of upgrades lol )it’s just so ugly. I learn mostly from books and you tube Chanel like Jason Gregory offers . Thank You
Even a charlatan can be a guru to those who have true mumukshutva...the guru is anything that puts you on the path. Know that all is one...be not a seeker...you are what you seek...just be.
The faith of the disciple is fundamental. 👍
For me daily practice is meditation, QiGong, breath work, and some prayer. . I throw in some Yoga every now and then to help with my sore back from running. I try to breathe and be meditative when I do the QiGong and do a couple of different types of meditations, one very focused mediation that puts me in a trance and traditional Zazen. Whatever happens, happens. ☯️☸️☯️🕉️
Who is the gentleman in the red and orange gown?
Computer generated images...In a few years these images will become so good at faking, that 99% of the people will not be able to discern true from fake images...Then I will have to quit RUclips and live the old-fashioned life :)
I have read a lot about non-dual Advaita Vedanta and practice meditation daily. Now all the books sound to me in this one non-thought that directly expresses the essence: the Absolute lies beyond knowledge and ignorance, there where not knowing corresponds to knowing the essential, the Parabrahman.
When there is no self, only bliss remains.
But only bliss is boring and just the beginning of so much more.
Great explanation
Thanks for putting my worries that I was unintentionally practicing neo-advaita to rest. And thank you for always pointing us in the right direction. 🙏
I figured it was self-evident that self-enquiry only goes so far… if life is an experience not a thought, then enlightenment must be a state of experience. The lotus doesn’t think about blooming, it just blooms.
@whatever-cn1xx come on… you know! I Brahman, you Brahman, he she me Brahman. Brahman, Brahman-ing, BrahmanRama, Brahman-ology… the study of Brahman! It’s first grade SpongeBob!!
@whatever-cn1xx ruclips.net/video/P1O_cR8WUYA/видео.htmlsi=pheJgOTjHbJywkU5
Im mostly into theravada and western philosophy but i do love some AV.
I like a few AV teachers, mostly swami sarva priyananda, vivekenanda, and swami tadatmananda.
Open to any criticism or things to keep in mind with any "guru".
I'm a big proponent of nietzche and revaluation of values.
Jason, can you share your perspective on Samaadhi and the various levels of Samaadhi?
How about hare krishnA which intetested me in my spiritual journey. Any advice pl. So many paths open it seems which is best
Thank you so much Jason 💓 💗 💛
Much needed. I started by listening to Eckhart tolle and got into the teap of Spiritual Self help for over 15 yrs... Wish I was receptive to this message back then... Thank you
I love eckhart tolle. He's very good. His book, the power of now, got me out of feeling suicidal. And it started me on the path of hinduism and Buddhism.
@@alvinyong9370 Great to hear it... Just that I was too unconscious that I made Enlightenment into a superhuman goal (inspite of Eckhart calling it out) and ended up stagnating my progress for a long time. In context of this video, if one goes by only one aspect of spiritual practice and ignores or worse demonises the practical aspects like I did, it can be hard.
Thank you!
Thanks!
Thank you so much. So true for me.
Remaining silent without thought is the All. (Sri Ramana Maharshi)
Be the unchanging witness of the changing mind, it will be enough for you! (Nisargadatta Maharaj)
@@MaryGwenDungan Yes, move to the Thought Observer.
Beautiful articulation
I am so inspired by you Jason! I am subscribed to your channel and look forward to reading you books as well! You know Sanatan Dharma inside out! You are so right. I hate the cherrypicking of Hindu principals. Leaving the Vedanta out from a Hindu practice is like taking Shiva out of meditation. Diluted and meaningless. I am a disciple of Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi and have also read I AM THAT by Maurice Friedman and believe in the principals of Advaita Vedanta. There are too many fake unenlightened Guru's out there but my Guru is Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi himself. As Bhagwan said the this body is just a vessel and not the real Self. The real Self was never born and so it will never die ...Real Self is eternal. Bhagwan may not be here in physical body but he is here in spirit and I call upon him when I need guidance. Thank you and Love to you !! 💌
All what Ramana said, with respect, is in the Bhagava'd Gita and Upanishads: never born, so you'll never die, eternal, forever abiding, and immortal, says Lord Krishna.
Jason Gregory good on you...well done :)
Could ypu please point to any writings by Ramana Maharishi where it mentions self enquiry is a preliminary stage? Thanks.
I have read his book "who am I" but I haven't come across any statement from him or others that teaches self enquiry is the preliminary stage.
@@alvinyong9370Thanks. So have I and I haven’t come across this in any book I have read of his so far.
My position is this - we can learn from anyone and everyone. Learning from Neo advaita teachers is not a problem to me. In the last 20 yrs I'm watching videos from different traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, catholicism, Sufism, Jewish mysticism, new age, philosophers and still listening to Christian sermons.
@@alvinyong9370 I think Jason may have meant just asking the question is preliminary, which Ramana sometimes said it was, because it is superficial. Ramana said your inquiry had to become increasingly subtle and deeper, more vague and wide like a cloud, like smoke, like a mist in consciousness. This is the nature of the mind as it becomes more transcendental, more of a feeling nature. You feel that sense of self, you don't voice it. You ask a question and then remain quiet without thinking. This is mentioned in the ancient Yoga Vasistha. It is said in yoga, Silence is the means, stillness is the way.
@@moonsod1113 I think you are right. I am an ex evangelical Christian. I used to think I am my body, my history, my thoughts and my feelings. Buddhism and hinduism got me thinking about the real me. I was intrigued. That's the preliminary stage. Since then I have been on this path of studying Buddhism, advaita vedanta and a daily practitioner of karma yoga for the past 12 years. However, although I know I am not my ego sometimes people still gets me upset. I believe the practice of self enquiry will be helpful to get me rooted to the real me in daily living.
I can relate to this from another perspective: I have been in psychotherapy for over a decade (on/off) and also outside therapy analysed myself up to the point of nearly going crazy. Never aware of the "one" that is analysing or thinking these thoughts. Just decomposing the ego and trying to find my self in its pieces. That is a trap and I am glad that period is over.
You didn't mention about vairagya, truthfulness and the practice of non-violence which are supposed to go hand-in-hand with practices like self-inquiry.
Since when is the Jiva only an Ego Persona System? Is it not also through the Jivatma one's personal connection to the devine?
What are your thoughts on original sin, born sinner, eternal damnation, virgin birth, crucifixion, resurrection, salvation?
i want to start learning indian philosophy. where to start. can you create a roadmap video?
Michael James.
1st listen to talk on Hinduism by By Samarpananda, its in the playlist form with 42 videos.
The channel name is Indian Spiritual Heritage with around 107k subscribers.
Well said - this neo-advaita becomes very masturbatory.
I interned at an addiction recovery clinic that taught this new age nondualism… the relapse rates were high because people were doing the lip service, but not the self-reflection, contemplation, meditation, and real world action as a sadhana.
In essence, we need to break out of the confines of any kind of system, deprogramming ourselves, and experiencing Life as atma-brahma on our own accord~
What exactly is the process of learning in this context? How does learning brahma-vidya texts refer to silence and bliss of samadhi?
Without understanding the Scriptural Matrix - you wouldn't know what to do. Without a Sat-Guru, you wont understand anything - excellent video, well explained and my pranams to you for carrying out this noble mission 🙏
So true, without divine intervention, nothing can happen. Ultimately he only picks you and take you there.
Better prepare for devotion.
it seems you dont understand Ramana's teaching. Bhagavan never said to ask " who am i ? ", he said to "investigate" who am i . self investigation is keeping attention on " i am" , not the words " i am " , but what the words represent ... the fundamental pure awareness that shines from the heart as " i am " . you should refer to Michael James youtube channel "Sri Ramana Teachings" for a clearer understanding . Michael will be happy to help you with your understanding of the teaching .
Listening to Nirvana Shatakam, helps you understand the question of ‘who am I’. But one should have a true Guru.
Consider reading the authentic teachings of Sri Bhagavan directly, for example, his wonderful book called "Who Am I?" and study with a true devotee of Sri Bhagavan to learn about Atma Vichara. Sri Bhagavan's teachings on Atma Vichara are utterly different than how it's presented here. He taught a very clear sahana and there's little relationship between Neo Advaita and the authentic teachings of Bhagavan. Self-investigation is not a mental practice to wallow in the Ego, but the direct path to the Self. Michael James, a foremost translator of Sri Bhagavan's Tamil and Sanskrit writings, may be of use. Sri Bhagavan wrote very few texts, which, if properly understood and studied and practiced, can lead us to an authentic practice of his teachings and to the dissolving of the Ego, thus allowing us to be the happiness and love which is our true nature, Atma Swarupa. (The books which record his teachings to devotees, like Talks, have far less value.) "Ulladu Narpadu" and "Guru Vacaca Kovai" as examples, as is "Who Am I?". Om Namo Bagavate Sri Ramanaya.
Good stuff
Sree Narayana Guru's Brahmavidya panchakam a great poem (which only have five stanza )which gives full information on Brahma Vidya.
Anxiety of the resurfacing ego can be quelled by perfect surrender to your Ishta Devata. 🙏
Thanks 🙏.
We could also read the Upanishads every day for life but without a practice we're just reading a book.
"When the Great Reality is not known the study of the scriptures is fruitless; when it is known, the study of scriptures is also fruitless"
Whatever gets you there, that\'s the best path for you. Sometimes it's back to front.
There is a practise I do and it is this. Just ask the question once only, who or what is seeing, hearing, touching and thinking? Then just listen and wait for the answer. If a thought, emotion, feeling or sensation arises, just discard it and continue to listen and wait. You can do this when sitting, walking, shopping or doing mundane things such as the housework. Sometimes a shift in persepctive occurs and sometimes not.
Do you read music? Not enough to hurt my playing
How about Moji? Does he not follow in the footsteps of Ramana Maharchi?
Hell, no. Go and find out about the real Mooji and some of the things he has done. Like what he did to his wife.
The whole “these people have got it wrong” seems to happen within spiritual traditions and movements.
One has to embody the scriptures, not by learning them, but by walking the Path.
It's not always bliss that is the end goal of any practise. A baby is ignorant and doesn't have the full potential to experience thoughts with a diverse spectrum. It's life is devoid of guilts and regrets. But a fully grown human has gone one ride, goes through all thoughts. He wants to escape them and feel at peace. That's the reason they choose drugs to get bliss. The other ones use spiritual practices to choose bliss.
The nature of bliss is, it's not everlasting. For nothing is everlasting here. To stay in that bliss is a concious choice. The will to stay in it. Just like the will to stay in misery or wide variety of emotions. But the trick is to understand it's nature and how much of these emotions your body can withstand. Staying blissed out keeps one non functioning. The ones who shared knowledge will have to come out of it and talk to people from their plane of existence. To let them understand human experience.
Spiritual quest never needs bliss or a belief in a divine or universe of any sort. It is happening out of a questioning tendency to a reality in one exists. Searching truth starts from the Dissatisfaction of the tradition and already figured out answers. Only they are capable of figuring out the truth of why does one have to exist or how does one's body is formed or why does it is experiencing the way it's experiencing life.
It requires the will to just witness without any will to perform or withhold from performing. That's the only way one can figure out how life/reality is unfolding. That's doing nothing. That's enquiring without biases. Real enquiry doesn't need strong logical efficacy.
All this I'm telling if spirituality is considered the quest in figuring out reality unfolding around them.
If bliss or finding my real self or whether I'm brahman and eternal, will all lead one into ego trips. Keeps one constantly in ignorance.
my "first gateway" into advaita vedanta was james
And they are so arrogant, it is unbearable
Inquiry consists in retaining the mind in the Self. Meditation consists in thinking that one’s self is Brahman, existence - consciousness - bliss.
-Sri Ramana Maharshi
My experience with meditation is thinking is not involved and I have no idea of any outcome because any such are just conceptions.
"Another of the group asked: How are lust, anger, acquisitiveness, confusion, pride and jealousy overcome?
Ramana Maharshi: By dhyana.
Questioner: What is dhyana?
Ramana Maharshi: Dhyana is holding on to a single thought and putting off all other thoughts.
(Dhyana is the last limb of Patanjali's 8 limb system.)
Questioner: What is to be meditated upon?
Ramana Maharshi: Anything that you prefer.
Questioner: Siva, Vishnu, and Gayatri are said to be equally efficacious. Which should I meditate upon?
Ramana Maharshi: Any one you like best. They are all equal in their effect. But you should stick to one.
Questioner: How to meditate?
Ramana Maharshi: Concentrate on that one whom you like best. If a single thought prevails, all other thoughts are put off and finally eradicated. So long as diversity prevails there are bad thoughts. When the object of love prevails only good thoughts hold the field. Therefore hold on to one thought only. Dhyana is the chief practice.