Inner Journey

Vedanta or Hindu philosophy, which is more than just philosophy,is concerned with a way of thinking and behavior ,not easily learnt..As a spiritual path, many westerners wish to learn and 'practize' Vedanta.Advaita is only one system within the Vedanta paths.
   There are plenty of books and CD's available---on basic material as well as specific scriptures or methods.Therefore the problem is one of selection and following graduated steps.Towards this, this web-page may be helpful.

 Again there are two approaches.Some may pitch upon a master ,living or dead;then read and learn their methods , and indirectly approach Vedanta through their lives .works and teachings..Thus many are attracted to Sri Ramakrishna, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Swami Sivananda, Swami Ramdas, Ananda Moyima, Paramahansa Yogananda and others.There are plenty of books on these masters and books by their disciples .See my webpage on books.
 If one gets attracted to a living master or guru, one should be careful...Don't go by what their disciples/chelas say/claim...examine yourself.Don't be fooled by their titles such as "Paramahansa, His Holiness, Pujya Sri, Param Sri, Param Pujya,Jagadguru or  Bhagavan."
'.In most cases, they bestow on themselves these titles  or are given by adoring fans or some swami with whom they would have stayed for a few weeks or months...these titles are worthless!...some titles are given with advancing age and bigger clientele!......
      [ There are more bogus gurus than genuine ones....In fact most gurus are interested in building huge ashrams,boosting their image and helping their own immediate family or kith and kin...They may speak well,quote from scriptures---skills learned in their early years.They may serve only to pass your time with them , but not much spiritual help you can get from them...

Again there are gurus who are well versed in Vedas,Upanishads, the Gita and so on, and give excellent lectures...You can learn scriptures from them, but spiritual training is a different matter altogether..You can 'follow' them literally from one camp to another and become a scholar or write a PhD thesis and start writitng your own books.

 Of course,some gurus promise' instant nirvana' or raise Kundalini in a day....it is better to avoid them like plague..they are the parasites of the Hindu society!......I am writing these only as a warning so that you don't waste your precious years and money!]
{Avoid touching the person of a Guru...The instance of Ammachi,the hugging saint, is different. Avoid  kissing  the feet of a Guru or washing his feet with water and taking the wash water ,[called 'Charana Amrit" nectar of the feet, among Hindus].Such practices had deeper meaning a few centuries ago.You can prostrate before a saint,full length---that is padasevana.}
     Some take the alternate approach, which is to learn the concepts of advaita, the four yogas and work towards a scheme of spiritual practice and observances on their own...they pick things on their way and may hop from one ashram to another,one guru to another....This is a hard path, and I hope these pages are of some help to you.It is like rock climbing---climbing a steep mountain cliff in bad weather.
    For a westerner, a major hurdle is to learn many terms used,especially Sanskrit language terms...With some hard work, you can have good understanding of these,especially through discussions with Indian gurus/teachers, besides books. After all, many western scholars were masters of Sanskrit and Vedanta--Max Muller,Paul Deussen, for instance.Take heart...Start with a glossary of such terms you can get...
Meanwhile I would suggest the following:
    ---read books of Swami Vivekananda lectures on general aspects;also Eknath Easwaran's many books;they are lucid and easy to follow.Also read Bansi Pandit's "Exploring Hinduism" for a lucid summary.Read also the excellent books of Lex Hixon, a Newyorker drawn to Hindu devotional path.[see later in this website about Lex Hixon.]

   ----attempt a few scholarly works on the Gita first.The book by Swami Prabhavananda--"The Spiritual Heritage of India" is a good summary of Vedanta  and a handy reference.[see my web page on books]--You can also read the Gita translation by Swami Swarupananda / Swami Paramananda/Swami Nikhilananda and my short book "Essence of the Bhagavad Gita" --[available through Amazon and other sellers.]
    ---- After a good grinding in the Gita , attempt Upanishads--at this stage Swami Sivananda's books would be most helpful.[See the page on "Upanishads" in this site.]
    ---If you have time, attempt Ashtavakra Gita,Avaduta Gita, Vivekachudamani ,Atmabodham and Panchadasi---these are less   important for a western sadhak; instead read some Puranas like Bhagavatam...there are many moral stories in these about heroes,kings and saints/sages.
----Again don't spend more than a hour or two daily----too much reading of scriptures is a waste of time and energy and agitates the mind.
Your focus must be on some regular practice at fixed times--japa[chanting],meditation,singing hymns...These practices will take you very far! Of course, if you are in India,visit ancient temples,hallowed by numerous saints and sages.

 Please visit my other website too:  Sages and Saints of India

This is the difficult part.For westerners. Hindu forms  of worship,Japa [Chanting], and even meditation may not appeal easily.Going around temples,visiting ashrams, while learning terms and Hindu mythology would  help.[Some of Joseph Campbell's books on Hindu mytholgy [puranas] and Hindu gods and Goddesses are helpful...[Catholics,Jews and Orthodox Church students may find it relatively easier,because of several ritualistic practices they use..]
With perceptive mind, a westerner can easily discern the basic meaning behind the rituals, poojas [worship] and chantings..adopt what appeals to you..For some ,Goddess worship of a particular deity may appeal;but not for others...Note that many of these forms and rituals have come down to us,Indians, over at least 2000 years with a continuity not found in other countries or religions...have respect for this tradition even though they appear meaningless or irrelevant for this century.... Mahayana buddhism is full of rituals adopted from Hinduism..May be you can adopt them in a simpler and direct way!
After all, Buddhism and Chan/Zen meditation travelled from India to China,Japan, Korea,South Asia and lastly Tibet--with lot of changes and distortions....but they still follow the sutras written in India.
   A word about vegetarianism.Almost all Hindu ashrams and gurus will advocate and  provide only veg food...try this...give up animal food slowly and gradually...it is difficult ---like giving up smoking.But some discipline is required....Lay people may take animal food,but those on the spiritual path must give up animal food which involves purposeful killing of the animals and rearing them for butchery---it is inhuman.Vegetarian food develops calm and serene mind, and leads to compassion to a greater degree...Try not eating animal food on one or two days of the week...start with this pracitce.

  There is much spiritual literature in local languages in India---on both bhakti and Jnana...try to read some of them....they are more direct and less polemical,easy to follow...there are many moral/ethical principles in them.These are easier stuff than Sanskrit texts.
As a general note,there are many points of similarity between Hindu concepts and Buddhist concepts, especially in meditation practice.Buddhism emphasizes mindfulness and compassion.A major point of difference is that Buddhism does not accept the concept of Soul or Atman;it is called 'anatma' religion,but stops with 'pure mind' and goes on to 'Sunyata'  [void]state.

   VEDANTA & FEARS

   Humans carry many fears in their earthly life---fear of darkness to fear of evil spirits,hell , sickness and death...many fear death with advancing years...Vedanta does not admit fears of any kind....There is no need of fear for death, as it is not only inevitable, it is only a change of state for the soul or Atman.. .these concepts are ,of course, difficult to fully comprehend and absorb in our minds....I must admit that some Acharyas introduced the concept of hell and eternal damnation for certain souls into Hindu doctrines, especially Madhwa Acharya of 13th century...This was certainly a later addition/distortion ,to instill fear and make people more ethical and moral...They derived their ideas from the Bhagavad Gita [chapter 16] which talks of asuric sampath or demonic tendencies among humans!..Many scholars consider this chapter to be a later addition to the Bhagavad Gita,and I tend to agree with them.....

In pure Vedanta ,there is no heaven or hell---it is all in this world and in our minds---we create hell through bad actions and their reactions---going back to Karma theory.....Therefore one need not invent heaven with angels and spirits ,and hell with devils...but much was introduced through puranas or mythical stories which were later elaborated by some Acharyas....may be this development was meant to be part of popular religion.!

SAT-CHIT-ANANDA SWAROOPA

If we can give a word -description for formless Brahman or the Absolute or the One without a second, it is Sat-chit-ananda....Well..... it is actually a three-word thing---I am again caught up in the net of duality or trilogy---

Sat or Truth is the aspect of Brahman sought by Jnani, Chit is the consciousness aspect talked about by a Yogi or Raja Yogi and Ananda or Joy or Bliss is the inner joy of a devotee or Bhakta....thus there are three different aspects of the Brahman...You can immediately see how the present day gurus and discourse-givers  tag on to the middle one..chit or "Consciousness" --a word that can be discussed for hours together.

In the west,this has become a common mode of hooking on people with little preparation to Advaita,Monism or abstract philosophy, with the prospect  of quick realization or "Enlightenment" by listening to someone or some tape or reading some book. This has become a craze or fad  which will also pass away...meanwhile this process may spread the word of Vedanta --however distorted it might be..In this media-controlled commercial world, there is space for many such 'gurus' . 

 I do appreciate and honor , however,persons like Lex Hixon or Arthur Osborne who had turned many people to genuine paths of Vedanta without claiming instant realization.Please read other pages as well.

Whichever path you follow or Guru you may choose,certain basic steps are important:
--Lead a simple life, reduce your possessions--including books;reduce your clothing---you don't have to wear sack cloth and ashes,though.
--Practice silence as much as possible---reduce talking---[Silence has deeper meaning too.][Don't talk while taking food!]
---Practice daily some form of chanting [Japa] ,prayer and meditation [some form]---even if you follow 'pure Advaita" or Atma Vichara.
---Have Satsangha [holy company]---again be discriminating with the group

  ---Read some scriptures daily at least for 30 minutes...and/or biographies of saints/sages.
----Write a spiritual diary or journal every day.Even this you may give up later.

----Give up smoking,drugs and reduce coffee/tea intake and animal food.

---Respect all religions and saints/sages of all nations from today.
---Never ,Never compare one saint/sage with another.
----Help others as much as you can.
----Keep yourself cheerful, inwardly...You need not smile like toothpaste-advertiser in an artificial way!

---You can read wholesome things from websites/internet to substitute for Satsangha.! or use CD/DVD's.[There are plenty of books and articles for free in the internet.]

----Above all, thank God/Self for all the things [good and bad] as your allotted life.

----When the time comes ,you will be enlightened...When and how --- no one can tell---then you would not claim anything!

What is awakening?  A practical view is as follows:
   When one feels that he/she has wasted one's time/years  in trivial,mundane aspects of life instead of reflecting,medititating and chanting on the Lord, then one is awakened to spiritual life.

Many are troubled by suffering ---personal suffering --in one's life and also seeing suffering at different levels in the society and the world at large.Suffering is a means of teaching us ' to  behave'.It is  a means of expatiating for our wrong doings in this life and earlier lives--our 'karmas' in the Hindu lexicon..I take the simple view that we are born here to learn spiritual lessons---suffering of various kinds -from simple headache or knee pains to acute suffering and abject poverty-- is a means of learning our place in the Universe. and humbling ourselves...Learn to endure all that calmly,peacefully ,possibly with a smile,with the thought that all the suffering will pass away.

Suffering is a means to remind us that we MUST  serve others--in small and big ways..set aside some time and some money to help others...Look around and you will find situations where you can help..

 " Some ,by meditation ,behold the Self in the Self by the Self;others by yoga of Knowledge [Sankhya] and others by Work[Karma]"

                                                                    ----Bhagavad Gita (13-24)

Meditation on chakras and Kundalini yoga, with centres on spinal cord, had become very popular.Yet, there are many misconceptions from Indian Gurus and teachers....Some notes I have given in the page on "Goddess Worship"...the reader is advised to study them...Kundalini yoga and Shaktipat, while very attractive ,is fraught with problems [physical and mental].This path activates enormous energy for which many modern men and women are ill-prepared.[It is like passing a 11Kilovolt electric current through your 110 V 220V house wiring.]
    While Kundalini shakti or energy can be aroused by several means, I would suggest disciplined devotional path as the easy means and appropriate for modern seekers....Half-baked gurus ,while well-intentioned,have often misled the seekers with "quickie" methods, often harming the body/mind of seekers.The misconceptions have increased many folds in the recent times.
THe Bhakti path, with devotion and focussing on certain centres and using chants have been practised for centuries in India...the results are not easy to achieve in a short time---say, in weeks or months.! The rapid fire techniques are harmful and in most cases, not real!!

To learn about Gods and Goddesses. read: W J Wilkins--Hindu Gods and Goddesses.Dover Pub [originally pub in 1882]

A few great Hindu Vedantic scholars  and devotees in the  West had cut across narrow formal religions [born either Christian or Jewish] had made great impact and influenced thousands in the West.In that short list of great men and women, Lex Hixon finds a secure place.

Lex Hixon [1941-1995] explored several religious traditions and culled the gems of practice. As a deep student of Sri Ramakrishna ,he was a disciple of Swami Nikhilananda of Vedanta Centre of RK Mission in New York.He also became a Sufi master and explored five traditions including Zen..In a short span of 55 years, he packed much spiritual adventures and guided many thousands of men and women..He received doctorate working on 'Gaudapada's Karika' from Columbia University at the instance of Swami Nikhilananda.He wrote several books ,the most well known being: 1] 'Coming Home,the experience of enlightenment in Sacred traditions' and 2 ] 'Mother of the Universe-Visions of the Goddess'. 3]the Great Swan--about Sri Ramakrishna .He was instrumental in founding the  Sarada-Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Association in the USA,which has several centers now.He died of cancer at 55 years ,much like his master Sri Ramakrishna.Lex was born   on Christmas day in 1941.He passed away on All Soul's day..What a short,but great life! View Lex Hixon Website

To learn more about the Blind children school at Bangalore,supported by our trust,

click here:Mathru-School Bangalore

If you want to learn about Advaita or non-dual philosophy and its practice, I would suggest you read books by Arthur Osborne..A Britisher, he came to India with his family during World War 2, and settled in Thiruvannamalai, as a disciple of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.He was also in a prison in Thailand before seeing the Bhagavan while his wife and children were already in Ramana's ashram....Later he stayed in a cottage in Thiruvannamalai for the rest of his life.His book on 'Sri Ramana maharshi and the path of Self-knowledge' ,'The collected works of Ramana Maharshi' and other short works compiling the teachings of Bhagavan are veritable source books on Advaita, with liberal doses of devotion or Bhakti path also...You will find authentic as well clear information,though some recent authors have cast doubts on his interpretations!

.I had the good fortune  of seeing him sometime in 1959 or 1960 while I was a college student in Chennai.[Madras] A thin man of medium height,he had a serene face and calm manners.He also wrote a remarkable book on Shirdi Sai Baba--"The Incredible Sai Baba". published by Orient-Longmans.While Sai Baba did numerous miracles to help his devotees, Bhagavan Ramana shunned miracles ,though a few are attributed to him by his devotees.There are pointed differences between the Sage of Shirdi and the Sage of the Holy Hill of Arunachala. Osborne studied Baba's life with keen intellect and wrote a perceptive biography. A recent book on his own life is: 'My Life and My Quest' is published by Sri Ramanasramam.There are numerous articles and books by Osborne ,easily available today.See the page on 'Books' in this website. The entire book " The Path of Self-knowledge" by Osborne is available free in www.scribd.com.

The auto-biography of Arthur Osborne is available from Sri Ramanasramam: "My Life and Quest" [Pub 2000],preserved and edited by his daughter: Katya Douglas.[price Rs 60/-]

Maurice Frydman[1900-1976], a Polish Jew,born in Warsaw,came to Bombay in 1930.He escaped the horrors of World war 2, and the holocaust.He did some business as an engineer. he worked for sometime as chief engineer in Mysore Porcelain Factory in Bangalore under the Maharaja of Mysore.Affected by the Freedom Struggle, he joined Mahatma Gandhi's ashram in Wardha. He designed and  made the first few spinning wheels ['charka'] used by Gandhiji and his followers.The 'charka' was a mighty weapon against the British rule---- it led to a fall of import of cotton goods from England and made Lancashire mills suffer considerably.!

Frydman induced the Raja of Aundh to relinquish his powers and make a republic at the instance of Gandhiji in 1939, called 'Aundh experiment'----that is before Indian Independence. While in Mysore, he made frequent visits to Thiruvannamalai.

   Meanwhile Frydman was also attracted to Hindu philosophy and Advaita. He spent many months with  Sri Ramana Maharshi at Thiruvannamalai .He is credited with the editing of "the Gospel of Ramana Maharshi" though no mention is made in the publication;he liked to remain obscure..In later years, he was a follower of Nisargadatta Maharaj, the Advaita master/Guru ,[ a beedi-seller] who lived in a small apartment in a crowded chawl in Bombay. Frydman was again blessed: he edited the great book " I am That"...the teachings of Nisargadatta , a foundation text for Nisargadatta followers and present -day Advaita teachers worldwide.He is now known more for this work than his earlier contributions...Nisargadatta gave the name: 'Swami Bharatananda' to Frydman.[In the 1950's he was also associated with J Krishnamurthy and his foundation in India.]

The above picture was taken from David Godman's website.You may find more infor on Maurice Frydman in his articles.

He knew Jawaharlal Nehru ,the first Prime -minster of India and counseled him on many things---including the provision of asylum for Dalai Lama when the  Buddhist leader  trekked from Lhasa to Dharamshala in India. Frydman breathed his last in 1976.

You may be wondering why I am writing about Lex Hixon, Arthur Osborne and Maurice Frydman...I admire these men and the service they have rendered to spirituality at large.Further,these men are not celebrities,but can serve as exemplars of sincere spiritual seekers from the west.Their lives can serve as inspiration to many seekers from the west...There are many more I may add in the near future.

 Pure advaita or the path of Jnana [knowledge] is not only abstract,but can be dry and depressing...That is why a modest addition of devotion or bhakti , the emotional aspect, is always added by Gurus in India...Some form of chanting, worship and visiting temples ,offering Pooja or Upasana is entailed in all ashrams and sects...Pure philosophers may frown upon these as deviations/distractions...but they know not the efficacy of this approach,because they have no practical experience in this matter.It is like the case of a medical doctor who does research in laboratory all the time ,but had not examined any patient in the consulting room!

Nisargadatta,the great Advaita master used to perform pooja [worship] five times a day because his guru asked him to do so..Bhagawan Ramana built a temple over his mother's samadhi where regular worship is done....The gurus knew that such things are needed to bring the mind into certain focus and purity....mere abstract reasoning will not do!!

 This unfavorable situation has increased in recent years with more book-learning and discussion groups [text torturing] and satsanghs with intellectuals,rather than evolved yogis or bhaktas.To get 'enlightenment' somehow, seems to be like getting a Ph D degree---select a teacher,follow some steps, attend a few retreats  and acquire 'enlightenment'....The purification of one's mind and development of kindness and compassion through bhakti [devotion] and karma [self-less service] are the first essential steps, not book-learning or discussions or seminars...Books and scriptures have their place,but a very limited one....One's own practice is more important..For a biologist,lab work is important.....,but field trips are far more important.Likewise study/seminars may be important, but spiritual practice is far more important---that is why I emphasize chanting and meditation !Otherwise, pursuing a spiritual journey becomes an intellectual exercise.

 Role of a Guru or preceptor

A guru is someone who takes responsibility for the spiritual progress of his/her disciple or chela,not someone who teaches scriptures or text-book stuff.That is why a real guru will take up a disciple only after much testing ---in the Hindu tradition...Knowing the disciple,the Guru will chastise a disciple,point out the errors and problems the disciple has, and point the way to correct him/her....This is essential..the disciple would follow the path chalked for him/her implicitly.The path may not be the same for all...For one,the guru may ask to do some menial work or karma yoga.For another, he may say: " Go to that neem tree, sit quietly and meditate or chant for 72 hours", and for another, "go and visit this temple " and so on.

  The most common question, a question repeated so often  is this: Do we need a guru? Do we need a living guru?

Yes;You need a guru.But the guru need not be a living person....When the time comes,if you are sincere, a right Guru will reach you...this is the Hindu stand on this question .

[There is a lot of difference between a teacher [of doctrines,scriptures and philosophy] and a guru... We have to distinguish between the two....There are hundreds of teachers out there,but you would have only one chosen guru.

Without proper understanding or grounding in Hindu traditions,many young persons hop from one Guru to another seeing yellow pages or Sarlos rating and so on....It is not easy to check on gurus like that...You must 'fall in love' with a guru just as you do in normal romance,but in a spiritual sense....That happens only between the right guru and right chela. 

Advaita or non-dual approach in spiritual pursuit ,is intellectually attractive and enticing....there is also the promise of sudden or instantaneous awakening and Self-realization.But the path is admittedly difficult and meant for those with considerable effort in renunciation...In fact Viveka [discrimination] and Viragya [dispassion/renunciation] go together in this path...Therefore it is meant for those with attraction for renunciation [mentally, that is] and ascetic life...If this is not developed, advaita path degenerates into an intellectual effort or diversion....In fact this seems to be happening in the western circles of Advaita teaching and practice..I am not totally sure on this, but I would think so from what I read in the internet groups...

There is another negative propensity in following the advaita path: intellectual arrogance.Most advaitins tend to think that that they are following a direct,superior,faster [airplane route] path towards self-realization...With clinging to words and books,text torturing, many advaitic scholars/philosophers have a discounting or sneering attitude towards those following Bhakti/Raja[meditation] and other yoga paths...Sometimes I am shocked to hear that only scriptural learning will lead to self-realization,advaita is the final path to culminate in full liberation [freedom from rebirth ] and so on...[with some quotes from scriptures or texts like Vivekachudamani.] All these assertions lead to intellectual arrogance of many advaita practitioners [more in India than outside India]...Strictly speaking, in Hindu tradition,all these assertions are false...Every student of the Bhagavad Gita would learn that devotion/surrender/meditation can all lead to liberation,as much as self-enquiry and advaita....

 What is more, at least in India, no guru or master preaches Advaita alone...He [or she] would always mix considerable effort along Bhakti.meditation and other paths...Paramahansa Yogananda always stressed this..so also advaitic masters like Bhagawan Ramana, Nisargadatta, S hirdi Sai Baba..I am writing this only to emphasize that Advaita is never,never practized exclusively by any Sadhak guided by traditional masters of India.

If some western gurus/teachers have not grasped this and lead their students in mistaken notions of "pure Advaita", 

I only feel sorry for the students .The question of devotion to Guru is also not properly understood by the Advaita scholars and often western teachers may mislead their students..While saying so, I am not suggesting that Indian/Hindu gurus do not make similar mistakes/errors;This tendency is ,however,greater in the case of western gurus picking up some advaita moorings in a brief encounter with Hindu/Indian guru   and beginning to teach their own flavor of Advaita in the West..

As for as I can say, Vedanta or Advaita cannot be learned in a short course or program of 2 to 3 years without proper training in practice    for several years in japa/meditation/enquiry under a tough master..An university type of program or seminary training can train  teachers,especially for  lecturing to others on basic material. But  that is not spiritual ministry of high order.

It is hard to define what is 'Neo-advaita?" May be this stream of spiritual pursuit is still evolving and not consolidated.

The Neo-advaita teachers seem to pick up some approach from Hindu/Buddhist masters from India or inthe west, dilute it with their own knowledge of psychology /counselling experience and make a soup called "Neo-Advaita"...

The problem is less if they profer this as a means of spirutal pracitce or Sadhana in Hindu terminology...Most often the teacher may promise of hope of sudden awakening and "enlightenment"....The students also fondly hope that with very little effort on their part,except attending discourses/retreats popularly called "satsangh"  ,they would be 'enlightened' one day....well,they may be disappointed with the result after say a few months and a few satsanghs...then they may hop to another guru or teacher...this can go on, as there are many gurus/teachers with their own flavor of Advaita or lineage.....This ,in my opinion, is sheer waste of time and money for these seekers....

A disciplined approach to Advaita is required, which is somewhat  lacking in this circuit....

Another point is about "Lineage"...Just because one comes to appreciate and accept the teachings of ,say Bhagwan Ramana, and listen to the teachings of a new guru or teacher, one does not belong to the lineage...he may belong to Ramana's tradition,often misunderstood...Lineage happens only if a Guru formally initiates and authorises one to teach in his tradition...this may happen only in a few cases...Most of the time,the guru these days gives mass-education through popular lectures...this is not lineage at all....

If these points are considered well, I think better perception of Neo-Advaita will be obtained.

Bhakti [devotion] and Jnana [Knowledge] paths are complementary.Endless discussions have gone on: Which is superior? Which is faster path? Which comes first? ---and so on....Both are fast,difficult and go together.

Devotion [bhakti] leads to Jnana[knowledge].  Jnana lead to Bhakti .This is the most important thing to learn.Many academic philosophers,sectarian mutt heads, and half-baked yogis/gurus and preachers put one above the other..Follow any one that suits you...A time will come when you will get both...

The Gita and the Upanishads speak about this in a direct and straight-forward manner....Only narrow minded preachers and philosophers have distorted this in Hindu faith...Endless discussions have gone on about self-effort and grace from God...Do your part first and have faith....Faith can move mountains... 

There are traditonal scholars and gurus who lay emphasis on scriptural study [sravana] as the main or only method for realization.The number of such gurus is very small--since scriptural study takes many years of hard work and discipline...In the Hindu tradition, it could take 12 years, ---may be a few years less if you are an adept at this...Some swamis went through this--for instance, Swami Chinmayananda, under the care of Swami Sivananda and

 Swami Tapovanam of Uttarkashi..The study would include the Vedas, the Upanishads [vedanta] ,the Gita and some puranas [mythology] to round one's learning...It is believed by tradionalists that such study alone can lead to 'understanding' ,resulting in self-realization.One should consider that scriptural study alone will not result in enlightenment or self-realization...One needs Guru's help and grace,some form of self-enquiry [Atma vichara"] and a good lot of devotion to Guru/God/Self in any form that suits one.Without these, scriptural study would result in swollen head and dry philosophy...In fact scriptures occupy a small part in the scheme of instruction or discipline in India.Experience under a guru [living or dead ,physically that is] is essential.

   Lord Krishna is clear on this: Scriptures will not give transcendental experience...only pure-hearted devotion would give that..please refer to 11th chapter ,12th chapter and other places.

   Traditional scholars,swamis and pontiffs [heads of mutts] have a tendency to deprecate mystical expieriences and the attainments of mystics,who were mostly unlettered.But then, they forget that the scriptures they study are nothing but utterance of several mystics and rishis of former times!

Bhagavan Ramana was emphatic on this point.He expressed this in his works: 40 verses ["Ulladu Narpadu" and also given in Ramana Gita: "The seeker of knowledge does not achieve his end merely by a study of the scriptures.Without Upasana there cannot be attainment for him.This is definite, ---Ramana Gita 1.22

I have elaborated on this point because such views that scriptural study is essential is a wrong notion that distorts the concepts of Hinduism and yet preached by many modern gurus.

Western readers would like to know about the process of initiation from a guru.It could be by touch,look ,uttering a mantra in the ear and by giving flower or prasad.....Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi initiated by look or 'drishti'  most of the time.Some like to touch your forehead or the point between eyebrows .It does not matter how you are initiated...the power of initiation will depend on the intensity of effort on the part of Guru...Initiation may involve giving you a mantra or awaken the chakra at certain points in the body.

Some gurus initiate the disciples through dreams...the guru appears in the disciple's dream and gives some cryptic message or command. Will the guru give some message through voices heard from above?--possibly.

Awakening the chakras may be a smooth process and gradual or sudden OR forceful with certain side effects.The guru should explain these matters to the initiate or novice....Do not listen to the disciples or students who may distort the information. The methods of initiation have been discussed by several authors with intricacy...Well, much depends on the Guru and his traditions [sampradaya] and need not be taken too seriously.

This list may be useful for a beginning student of Hindu scriptures:

1 Vedas---Rig,yajur,sama,atharva

2 Upanishads--[vedanta]  108 in number,30 are well known--principal upanishads only 19.

3 Ramayana & the Mahabharata [the Epics]

4 The Bhagavad Gita [part of Mahabharata]

5 The Puranas---18 major ones--Srimad Bhagavatam,shiva Purana ,Vishnu Purana are important.

6 Advaitic texts: Ashtavakra Gita ,Avaduta Gita

7 Devotional texts: Narada Bhakti Sutras, Shandilya Bhakti sutras

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Later day texts: 

   Vivekachudamani [Adi Sankara], Panchadasi [Vidyaranya],Atma Bhodam [Adi Sankara],Sri Bhashyam[Sri Ramanuja]

In the context of Advaitic teachings and the method of Self enquiry {Atma Vichara] Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi of Thiruvannamalai occupies a special place....For nearly 50 years he taught thru silence,short sentences to various seekers from all over the world.During the war years around 1935 ,hundreds came from Europe,many  of  Jewish faith.

Bhagwan Ramana did not appoint any successor or create a lineage of gurus.He taught individually to various persons,clarified their doubts and initiated very few with His graceful look or drishti.It is wrong to talk of Ramana lineage...

Yes,One can say that he or she is following Ramana's teachings or His tradition, but not as an ordained  disciple.

There had  been many savants who wrote,held discussions and spread His teachings. It is possible that many had glimpses of Reality through the grace of Ramana. A few may be self-realized masters as well.But the rash of self-proclaimed masters who claim awakening/self realization after attending satsanghs or reading and thinking intellectually Ramana's works seems to suggest that these gurus or 'awakened' teachers are after quick popularity and money to establish themselves as gurus  or self-deluded.

 It is indeed appropriate to write and spread the teachings of Ramana and Advaita with sincere purpose-- whatever may be the degree of 'understanding' one has .I am very keen that the 'knowledge' of Advaita should spread far and wide and immediately accessible in different places and languages, though its proper understanding presents considerable difficulty.. But it is inappropriate to assume that one has attained self-realization or Atma-Jnana or claim the status of a Jnani without considerable renunciation and discrimination [viveka] and dispassion.[vairagya].

 There had been great followers of Ramana in the west who had done yeoman service to the spiritual community ..They did have direct contact with Ramana too. I can mention Robert Adams  among that select few.Robert Adams visited India at the age of 18 in 1946  and spent three years with Ramana.Later he moved about visiting various places for the next 17 years  before settling down in USA...In this he was helped by Arthur Osborne.He spread the message of the Maharshi and practical approaches to advaita.

Paramahansa Yogananda has enormous influence all over the world in  spreading yoga and vedanta .His book "Autobiography of a Yogi" [AOY] and other works, founding of  Self-Realization Fellowship [SRF] near Los Angeles and YSS in Ranchi ,India had been signal factors in this...Apart from the monks of SRF/YSS ,there had been several devout western Yogis of this path who had spread Kriya Yoga and its variants in the west....In recent years,several negative comments have been written about his followers and Yoganandaji in the Internet....These are disturbing and distracting remarks..[Some have even argued trivial things:whether he should be titled "Paramhansa" or "Paramahansa"---both are valid in Indian languages!]

The great service rendered by the master that Yogananada was, is not only just in  spreading Kriya Yoga ,but  in infusing devotion or love of God along with pure forms of advaita/non-duality and some aspects of Hatha Yoga.All these may not suit everybaody,but  the master's approach can be studied by a serious seeker....

 Paramahansa Yogananda

Furthermore, he stayed in USA for the greater part of his life to provide strong foundation in the West..

I    I may mention many great devotees of Yogananda---the "Western Yogis'--whom he trained for several years-- who remained loyal to the Guru and his teachings.The well-known devotees are: Yogacharya Oliver Black in Detroit, Mother Hamilton, Sister Kamala and Roy Eugene Davis...Some of them are married and householders, like Lahiri Mahasay and Yukteshwar in the Yogananda lineage.I have no personal knowledge of any of them.I had brief contact with Swami Bhavananda Giri, a monk of SRF in India.But a reading on these other devotees,with whatever limitations they may have,thows light on the path shown by Yogananda......They have kept the teachings and approach of Yogananda accessible in the west all these years...more than 50 years since the master's passing.It is  instructive to read about them and learn practical aspects of Vedanta in the light  of Yogananda .