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@Bill W Well see what your own conscience tells you and act accordingly. I'm only doing the same. The expectation should not be to have people's opinions fit our ideal. That is the reason blocking and censorship happens to begin with.

@Joseph Maynor A wiser man than me once said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. These are not simple words, yet they are applicable to any situation no matter how mundane or extreme. Of course, I'm not saying the moderators here a corrupt by any sense of the word, I'm just saying that when you have the power to shut someone up with the click of a button, it's easy to find ways to justify your abuse of power. You might say that this is not a big deal, but you have to understand that the topics being discussed here are potentially dangerous, and they might be coming from less-than-stable minds. Some people here might be looking at this forum as an avenue to fight against the rejection they feel when they try to discuss topics like this in other places. Being rejected and blocked without any good reason, and being called names for asking questions is simply unacceptable behavior. @Bill W We have been give reason, and logic, and a conscience. What good is human life if we don't apply these faculties at all times?

The fact that you guys are so certain that this thread will be locked because it criticizes the moderation team is indicative of some degree of fear, and fear does not occur without reason. All of you - if you are honest - can find at least one or two examples of where a thread was locked seemingly because the discussion was not agreeable to a moderator. Now I do not believe that this thread will be locked because I don't think either of the moderators here are actively malicious (quite the opposite actually), but this thread is a gentle warning that they should not allow their own prejudices to factor into their decision-making when it comes to interpersonal interactions. A teacher who calls you lazy, or stupid, and then blocks your ability to respond, is never a good teacher.

از جمادی مُردم و نامی شدم وز نما مُردم به حیوان برزدم مُردم از حیوانی و آدم شدم پس چه ترسم کی ز مردن کم شدم؟ حملهٔ دیگر بمیرم از بشر تا برآرم از ملائک بال و پر وز ملک هم بایدم جستن ز جو کل شیء هالک الا وجهه بار دیگر از ملک پران شوم آنچ اندر وهم ناید آن شوم پس عدم گردم عدم چون ارغنون گویدم که انا الیه راجعون‎ جلال‌الدین محمد رومی - I died to the mineral state and became a plant, I died to the vegetal state and reached animality, I died to the animal state and became a man, Then what should I fear? I have never become less from dying. At the next charge (forward) I will die to human nature, So that I may lift up (my) head and wings (and soar) among the angels, And I must (also) jump from the river of (the state of) the angel, Everything perishes except His Face, Once again I will become sacrificed from (the state of) the angel, I will become that which cannot come into the imagination, Then I will become non-existent; non-existence says to me (in tones) like an organ, Truly, to Him is our return. - Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī

Louder that words, this thing we call soul Is there with a pulse, louder than words.

That guy is a scam.

@Shakazulu No teaching or text is comprehensive enough to work for every person. Even self-inquiry is not properly done by everyone who practices it. Some people here the truth once and that is enough for them, others need to practice for a long time.

@Serotoninluv Sure, we disagree less than you might think.

@Serotoninluv Value judgments are not a hindrance if there is discernment. I agree with your general statement, but I maintain that conventional knowledge, whether scientific or spiritual - is worthless for self-realization. As Ramana said: Direct knowledge does not require intellectual discourses.

This is a good place to be mentally when it comes to self-realization. People on this forum are for the most part interested in peak experiences. Having a mindset like that is actually a form of vichara - discernment.

Inter-connectedness between two paradigms that are worthless for self-realization is worthless inter-connectedness.

The spirituality they are arguing for is just another science. Worthless as far as self-realization is concerned.

@Shakazulu There is no such thing. It all depends on the maturity of the seeker.

@Preetom Language needs not be deconstructed if it's not indicative of wrong understanding. And yes, if you can reconcile "language can never capture it." with "real grace does not utter a single ignorant sentence." AND you are at peace, then you are good. Grace is why I recommend TSRM over other books and commentaries. The practices you explained for @Jkris is the correct method. Your understanding of self-inquiry is firm.

@Preetom These confusions are absent in dreamless sleep. So what happens in waking that they come about? The Gita says bring sleep into waking and it'll be alright. You see this... ...is still not agreeable. This is still indicative of perceiving separation. It's not just figure of speech, statements such as this will not even appear if understanding is firm. Wisdom is unshakable. It does not admit "I am". Saying I am amounts to saying there is existence. Existence implies duality between existence and non-existence. For "I am" to be truth, there needs to be one that exists. None of this is truth. Mouna - silence - is eternal truth. A dead mind is a blissful mind. A dead mind does not say "I am".

Well one is the Vedanta itself, nobody can really say what it's about with a straight face. Some are treatise about the Self. Scriptures that attempt to teach about enlightenment. A few are Kundalini Yoga books with specific techniques. Neither one is necessary for self-realization, or health.

@Gadasaa

@Preetom No sorry, can't agree with what you wrote. That is still one step removed from the real thing. The "I am" itself merges back into its source and effortless grace replaces it. Of course that might be the case in your experience, can't tell from text, but if you are still searching, then you still got that one last step to take. If not, then great! Enjoy the bliss.

@bejapuskas Oh sorry. I don't think you'll find much about physical health in those texts. For that you want texts on Asana, and stuff like that. Honestly, new age yoga is the best for that stuff.

@Gadasaa Nope. That's still a thought, you see. Be that. Don't talk about it. Ramana says: Silence is eternal speech.

You are also a thought. Follow that one back to its source.

@bejapuskas Well, i would say that for the purposes of realization, that "science" stuff is completely unnecessary, and will probably lead you astray. you can read these if you are really interested tho: Pratyabhijnahridayam Vijñānabhairava Spanda Kārikās Tripura Rahasya Advaita Vedanta etc.

@bejapuskas He is the real deal, but i wouldn't recommend his youtube videos as a reference for realization.

@Preetom He begins his commentary by saying: "The essence of Sri Ramana's teachings is conveyed in his frequent assertions that there is a single immanent reality, directly experienced by everyone, which is simultaneously the source, the substance and the real nature of everything that exists." This is not the case. Having began his commentary with the above assumption, you cannot expect what follows it to be more truthful. The reason is that if the above statement is accepted, then self-inquiry is done with the purpose of bringing about that specific condition, which will not happen - so the effort is wasted. The purpose of self-inquiry is only to cast away doubts, and anything else that might obstruct the Self, not to make proof of any one specific idea the aim. That is why Godman's commentary will most likely lead the seeker astray. Read TSRM.

@Shakazulu Hopefully you have not read too much into the commentary by David Godman because he misses the point. Instead of 'Be as you are' read 'Talks With Sri Ramana Maharshi' which is not commentated. That is the only book you need with regards to self-inquiry.