Sri Ramana Maharshi (Tamil: ரமண மஹரிஷி)
December 30, 1879 – April 14, 1950


Ramana was born as Venkataraman Iyer on December 30, 1879.   Later in his life he was given the name Ramana, which simply means that which resides in the Heart of all beings. Today, he is known throughout the world for his Silence and the profound gift of Self-inquiry. He did not start a new religion, or peace movement, nor did he make any effort to change the world.  He was simply, quietly, emanating the Love, Freedom, and Peace of pure Being. His presence and guidance changed thousands of people's lives and continues to this day changing the lives of thousands of people around the world.

On July 17, 1896, not long after his father's death, at the very young age of sixteen, a profound awakening happened within him; the deep recognition of that which is never touched by death drove his mind inward to such a degree he was Silent for eleven years; only communicating when necessary through the writing. 

He rarely spoke of what happened to him and on one rare occasion, when reflecting on this experience, he said, "Inquiring within 'Who is the see-er' I saw the see-er disappear leaving That alone, which stands forever. No thought arose to say, 'I saw.' How then could the thought arise to say, 'I did not see?' 

He when on to describe his experience in detail: "It was in 1896; about 6 weeks before I left Madurai for good [His sudden unexplained dearture to Tiruvannamalai India] that this great change in my life took place. I was sitting alone in a room on the first floor of my uncle's house. I seldom had any sickness and on that day there was nothing wrong with my health, but a sudden violent fear of death overtook me. There was nothing in my state of health to account for it nor was there any urge in me to find out whether there was any account for the fear. I just felt I was going to die and began thinking what to do about it."

"It did not occur to me to consult a doctor or any elders or friends. I felt I had to solve the problem myself then and there. The shock of the fear of death drove my mind inwards and I said to myself mentally, without actually framing the words: 'Now death has come; what does it mean? What is it that is dying? This body dies.' And at once I dramatized the occurrence of death. I lay with my limbs stretched out still as though rigor mortis had set in, and imitated a corpse so as to give greater reality to the enquiry. I held my breath and kept my lips tightly closed so that no sound could escape and that neither the word 'I' nor any word could be uttered."
 
'Well then,' I said to myself, 'this body is dead. It will be carried stiff to the burning ground and there burn and be reduced to ashes. But with the death of the body, am I dead? Is the body I? It is silent and inert, but I feel the full force of my personality and even the voice of "I" within me, apart from it. So I am the Spirit transcending the body. The body dies but the spirit transcending it cannot be touched by death. That means I am the deathless Spirit.' All this was not dull thought; it flashed through me vividly as living truths which I perceived directly almost without thought process."
 
"I was something real, the only real thing about my present state, and all the conscious activity connected with the body was centered on that I. From that moment onwards, the "I" or Self, focused attention on itself by a powerful fascination. Fear of death vanished once and for all. The ego was lost in the flood of Self-awareness. Absorption in the Self continued unbroken from that time. Other thoughts might come and go like the various notes of music, but the "I" continued like the fundamental Sruti note ["that which is heard" i.e. the Vedas and Upanishads] a note which underlies and blends with all other notes."
 

Not long after this experience he stole money meant for his brothers' college tuition and boarded a train for Tiruvannamalai, where he would spend the rest of his life. His Silence was so profound that an inexplicable energy emanated from the young sage and people began to gather in his Presence. He communicated only in Silence and written word for eleven years and spent a great deal of that time in a deep meditative state known as Samadhi. 

His primary teaching is Self-Inquiry or the primary question 'Who am I?' Ramana advised mentally placing this question in your Heart and repeating it regardless of what answer would arise. With repeated use, the mind will eventually turn deeply inward to see the see-er, the life force or source at the core of your being. It is This source, known as the Self, that is the abode of true fulfillment and lasting happiness. Different versions of this same basic inquiry are employed by many teachers in this lineage.

​Ramana never advised leaving your religion or abandoning your religious beliefs. He maintained that true happiness and fulfillment in life directly correlates to your own inquiry into the Truth of who you are. In this discovery, the depth and profundity of all scripture ever written points to the eternal freedom of your true nature.

Kosi Reflects on Her Direct Experience of Ramana Ashram In Tiruvannamalai India (December 2010)

Ramana was so focused on the Truth of himself he radiated that pure presence to such a degree that people were transformed simply by sitting in his Presence. To this day, Ramana's Presence is a palpable experience at Ramana Ashram in Tiruvannamalai. 

It is impossible to describe life in India other than to say it is a place of such extreme contrast between indescribable beauty and utterly base poverty that it is completely overwhelming to the senses. The transmission from Ramana and Arunachala is so palpable that at times I felt like I would literally be vibrated out of my shoes. It is deeply humbling to be in the Presence of such an indescribable fire of Grace. Everything I thought I knew or understood prior to arriving in India was annihilated from the moment I caught the very first glimpse of the indescribable form of Arunachala Siva—Ramana’s teacher. The living presence of Arunachala is simply all pervasive.

Many experiences in India simply boggled my mind and yet the most boggling of all is the Presence that can be felt when sitting in what is known as the Old Hall or Ramana’s couch room. Naturally I have watched the old black and white footage of his frail body propped up on a couch while streams of people filed past (Please see The Sage of Arunachala in our book store), as well as read many accounts of Ramana’s final days in physical form and his famous quote, “They say that I am dying, but where will I go. I am here.” I always thought this meant that he was here in terms of the totality of Being, which is very true, but I have to report that while sitting in his Satsang hall where he use to teach my direct experience is that he is very much alive giving Satsang in the most sublime unimaginable Silence.

The transmission of Ramana is a force of nature, a fire, a Presence, an Emptiness that is so visceral all that is required is to sit in the Old Hall, to be still, to be quiet and the barriers to full liberation, real or perceived, are burned away by his miraculous living Presence. And although sitting on the floor was excruciatingly uncomfortable, hours passed by in his room in what seems like minutes. 
Devotional video created by Kosi the musich is Deval Premal Love is Space  

I am and was drawn to his Presence like a tiny piece of metal is pulled to a magnet; and while I was in India, was barely able to go anywhere else. It is as if life times have unfolded, replayed, and lived out. A burning like nothing I have ever experienced. It is a quietude that is a ruthless, harsh, radiant unmoving heat and sublimely peaceful all at the same time.

Silence is the true teacher and gives serene rest to the restless nature of mind with absolutely no doing required. Truly, it is like sleeping in Ramana’s heart to simply sit on the floor where so many well known people have been—Author Osborne, Annamalai Swami, Major Chadwick, S.S. Cohen, Paul Brunton, Papaji, Gangaji, David Godman, the list goes on and on—My God, the thought of the profundity of it all evokes complete and total awe. Many times when I was at Ramana Ashram I would open my eyes and gazed in wonderment that people from all over the world are still drawn to this very small room and the magnetizing presence of Ramana Maharshi.

I don’t want to sugar coat this experience. Truly, it is as Gangaji often says about this lineage, ‘It is not for the faint of heart.’ Many times I found myself repulsed by the chaos, disease, and grasping nature of the street. It is so vile that at times I felt physically sickened by the rawness of it all—the stench, the filthy cows, the death that seems to hang in the air, the crazy traffic with the blue vapors of pollution spewing forth from antiquated exhaust systems continually invading ones senses. And in the midst of this rawness I was continually shocked by the beauty and grace of Indian women whose brilliantly colored saris seem completely untouched by all the filth that swirls around them. It is as if the saris itself is a symbol of the Self untouched by the illusory Maya of life. Truly, deeply, nothing can prepare you for the indescribable extreme that is India.

On the ashram grounds incense and frankincense intermingle permeating the air of Ramana’s (as well as his mother’s) Samadhi shrine, giving off an aura of the ancient; and very strangely, is reminiscent of the mystical Christian rituals so prevalent in Catholicism. The vibration of the chanting, the Shakti, the Silent Presence of Ramana, the energy of Arunachala, infused with the Silence Supreme, is simply mind-blowing.

The hugeness of it all was absolutely terrifying, exciting, and at times hilariously funny. If anything, the basic truth that life is simply not in your control is confirmed by this extreme culture. Words simply do not convey this ruthless intensity.

Ultimately, the basic Teaching is so true—Be still. Be quiet. Meet death before death arrives, surrender deeply to the depths of your own Heart and everything, really everything, will be taken care of. Really, very simply, there is nothing to do; even opening is too much effort.

Words are rendered useless in the Presence of the eternal Divine Master—the master of masters—Ramana Maharshi. Mostly, I am deeply humbled by his most Holy Living Presence—truly all thought is rendered absolutely useless in His Endlessness.

May the Silent transmission of Ramana permeate these flat useless words touching you deeply, forever, and always.

Om Ramana, Om Arunachala Shiva, Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.