Ramana Maharshi
Study Group
Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness
Q: How do I see myself as I really am?
A: Who is asking the question?
Posed to nearly every aspirant who came to the master, this simple query of who is asking lies at the heart of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings.
One of the most revered sages of modern times, who operated with a “sense of universal equality and heart-melting love,” Ramana Maharshi taught the practice of self-inquiry whose central teaching was the question “Who Am I?” He believed that by constantly inquiring into the nature of the self, one could dissolve the ego (the separate self) and realize one’s true nature as Self.
His words and presence remain a timeless treasure, guiding seekers toward the realization of their innermost Self.
“All that is required to realize the self is to be still.”
– Ramana Maharshi
Program
When we turn our attention inward, stillness and clarity arise.
In this group we'll be studying from the book Talks With Ramana Maharshi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness. [Kindle | Paperback | Free PDF]
(If you're interested in sourcing independent of Amazon, here are some sites to consider.) [Used Paperback | Paperback from Ramana's Ashram]
There is profound congruity between Ramana Maharshi and the Law of One —as both are, at heart, non-dual paths— but in Ramana’s teaching there is little in the way of cosmology, chakra development, healing distortions, polarity in consciousness, and so forth. Though we will examine Ramana through the lens of the Law of One at times, Ramana was little concerned for theory or philosophical discussion.
His method of self-inquiry instead asks for sustained investigation into the “I,” asserting that by seeking its source, it will vanish, revealing the eternal “I am” presence, which we already are.
Together, we will study and directly apply the teachings of Ramana Maharshi by engaging in the practice of self-inquiry as we go in search of the root of what Ramana called the “I-thought.” In this practice we will discover the stillness and clarity that arise when we turn our attention inward. We will develop a sustained inquiry that becomes an unbroken line of contemplation, aided by a mantra-like focus on this central practice of asking the question “Who Am I?”.
For each study session, participants are asked to have read the assigned portion and arrive ready for meditative contemplation of the material as we re-read each week's chapter together.
“Talks with Ramana Maharshi is the living voice of the greatest sage of the twentieth century.”
– Ken Wilber
Schedule
Bi-weekly study and practice
This group will meet bi-weekly for meditation, reading, and discussion of the material with a focus on how we apply it in our own lives.
The meetings will take place every other Wednesday 7:30–9:00pm Eastern, beginning January 15th, 2025. Our first session will be an introductory orientation, held on the auspicious 44th anniversary of the Ra contact!
The aim of the group is to foster both the study and the direct experience of our true, essential nature. And then to be in touch with the implications of this direct experience, watching the effects ripple out to the rest of our lives and our experience of the world.
In that way, our study and practice container extends beyond our meeting times. We'll have a private Telegram chat for this study group's participants to stay connected between meetings.
To foster a sense of connectedness and intimacy for this group, we'll use this private chat to communicate the Zoom link for our group calls. Find the link to join us on Telegram at the bottom of this page.
“That which is eternal is not known to be so because of ignorance. Ignorance is the obstruction. Get over this ignorance and all will be well. The ignorance is identical with the ‘I-thought’. Find its source and it will vanish.”
– Ramana Maharshi
Facilitators + Attendees
This is a public offering for TOTOH Collective members and friends.
Meetings are co-facilitated by TOTOH Collective faculty member, BJ Harden Jones and our very good friend Gary Bean of L/L Research. The meetings will be held virtually on Zoom. The link will be communicated in our Telegram chat group, linked below.
The Ramana Maharshi Study Group is a free public offering for both TOTOH Collective members and unaffiliated friends. Membership in the TOTOH Collective is not required to attend this special collaboration.
For those interested, membership in TOTOH is available to all positive seekers. A monthly subscription is required, priced on a sliding scale, though all payment is optional. Learn more and join here.
While there is no cost for this study group, donations are always welcome to TOTOH and L/L Research.
Join us on Telegram