I am (THAT) = (Power of) Now

Advaita Vedanta is the highest philosophy and teaching of Hinduism. However, the language is often technical and has many interjections of Sanskrit terminology that cannot find a suitable substitute or translation in the English language.

RAMANA MAHARISHI (and disciples Ganapati Muni, Paul Brunton, Cohen, Godman, Papaji etc.)

The last of the great Jnani teachers of the modern era (last century) who shed new light on the ancient teachings was Ramana Maharishi through his supremely effective weapon of Self-inquiry. Its simplicity made it appealing and easy to practice with non-Hindus. He also put light on the ancient teachings of Advaita through his translations into the Tamil language, and many of his answers to problems were very practical and relevant to modern times. Yet, when it came to the more obtuse aspects of the Vedantic philosophy, the Sanskrit terminology had to still be employed and can appear foreign and dry to non-Hindus.

NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ (and disciples Ramesh Balsekar, Jean Dunn & Robert Powell)

But then along came Nisargadatta Maharaj, "the beedy man", who sold cigarettes next to the dirty by lanes of Bombays' red light district. With little education, he became a fully realised sad-guru established in the Absolute and taught the highest teaching in a most direct, clear and profound way without so much of the confusing Sanskrit language. Perhaps due to his lack of education, his language was totally fresh and from his own experience and contemplation, and rarely refers to other sources of authority in his teaching, nor does he use much Sanskrit terminology. This made him a supremely effective and universal teacher for our contemporary times. His teachings have been most classically recorded for prosperity by Maurice Frydman through the immortal and classic work of "I am That" (Tat Twam Asi) and is the Indian book most bought and read outside of India. His teaching was simple; that we only have 2 properties to realise the Truth: the life force (prana) and the consciousness (made up of the 5 elemental food body) and we can only realise THAT through purifying and abiding in these. His teaching was as his master gave him; which was to hold onto the sense of "I am" and it will unfold everything and take "you" (the "I am" or Consciousness) beyond to THAT.

This fixation on the sense of being, love or the "I am" was the same technique of self-inquiry that Ramana taught; to quest for source of the "I" through the question of "Who am I?". This was not to find an answer but rather get rid of all questions by seeking the questioner. In effect, it was an even more direct approach than the classical "neti neti" approach of the Upanishads that negated all thoughts and sheaths through the dicrimination and detachment from the habit of identifying with them, so as to allow the residual reality to assert itself.

ECKHART TOLLE

And now in our times there is the modern day, living sage of the west, Eckhart Tolle, who introduced his teaching through his best selling book, "The Power of Now". This Now is also applying the same techniques of Ramana and Nisargadatta. But instead of using "Who am I?" or the "I am", Eckhart Tolle uses the word "NOW". The word "I", "Being", "Witness", "Light" or "Here (space) & Now (time - present = presence)" are synonyms for the same thing - consciouness.

BHAGAVAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA
(and disciples Al Drucker, Ratan Lal, James Sinclair, Anil Kumar, Charles Ogada & others)

As swami says, the past is gone, the future is uncertain but the present is a present (gift). It is the only relatively real thing we can be sure of. The rest is inferred from memory. And just as AUM can be related to the 3 gunas and 3 states, the 3 inner subjective states, reflected in the 3 outer states, all rest on the sense of the witness or presence that infers our experiences as apparently real. And this is all happens in the NOW or present and it again the only property we have. In effect, NOW = Consciousness + Life force = synonyms of "am I?" of Ramana, "I am" of Nisargadatta and the Sa-I r-AM of Swami (the Siva-Sakti principle, That & This, Source and Reflection, Alpha & Omega)

However, whilst these words are synonyms for the same thing of consciousness, the use of NOW has more appropriate connotations for the time orientated, left brained structural West as it makes consciousness contextual. And, like the book "I am That" of Nisargadatta, it is written with little references to authorities and is obviously the spontaneous understanding and expression of Eckhart Tolle. The language is simple, clear and as relevant as Nisargadatta too. Thus, these two teachers, teachings and words are, in my opinion, some of the most popular and effective teachers for our modern times.

I am (THAT) = (Power of) Now

Sa-I R-am (NAMAH SIVAYA) = (Source of Grace beyond) Total Consciousness of Mother Nature

However, whilst both acknowledge that words are pointers to the inexpressible Power of THAT, I believe Nisargadatta is deeper and more profound in his teaching but maybe not as easy to assimilate as Eckhart Tolle. Therefore Eckhart is a good beginner (more relevant for people in demands of the 3D environmental world not familiar with concepts of Maya or illusion - but perhaps more so now after movies like the Matrix!)) to get onto the teaching of Nisrgadatta and Ramana Maharishi; a primer so to speak. But, in essence, whilst Nisargadatta says hold onto the sense of "I am", Eckhart says "be still, be here & NOW" much like the Bible said "Be still and know that I am God", "I am That I am" or "the Kingdom of heaven is within".

Anyway, this complete stillness into That, by removing the obstacles to abiding and ripening in the Consciousness of Nowness, comes about by Grace and is called Samadhi. This aspect has been explained by Ramana Maharishi as in different stages; Kevala, Savikalpa, Nirvikalpa and Sahaja (final natural state with the complete loss of ego); and I will send some stuff in the next post