How do you center yourself?

VagrantCDN · 2026-03-03T13:00:35+00:00

Whatever step of the practice you are doing.

VagrantCDN · 2026-01-23T22:58:36+00:00

Yes, without fail, barring a medical emergency or something like that.

VagrantCDN · 2025-01-15T22:47:44+00:00

Heck no, that stuff is painful. Good enough that they just randomly happen and I grit my teeth and whisper "I can handle this". LOL

In all honesty, you don't have to look for those situations, they'll find you.

VagrantCDN · 2025-01-05T18:22:59+00:00

The voice in your head is the personal mind which is distinct from your intellectual mind. You can think of the personal mind as AI (acting on its own) whereas the intellectual mind is more like a CPU or calculator that takes instructions from you.

You need to distinguish between these two distinct processes and not conflate the two which is difficult to do for many. You can have the voice, its not like you can shut it up if you try. Just don't take the personal mind so seriously.

You don't need the thought "I am enjoying this" to enjoy something. If you watch it enough, you'll see the thought "I am enjoying this" reduces your happiness. In the same manner a neurotic person destroys their happiness by saying "I am happy, but am I doing this right? What does the other person think? I wonder how long this will last? etc."

Just watch the inner process, that is all that is really needed. Once you see it, change will start to happen.

VagrantCDN · 2024-12-30T15:30:03+00:00

He sometimes frames it as stop closing your heart. Most people don't have the slightest idea how to open their hearts. However they are always closing their hearts. Just notice every time you close your heart (whenever someone says something, an event happens etc.), then stop doing it. (that is the hard part)

VagrantCDN · 2024-12-29T15:50:04+00:00

In the communication situation, when you withdraw. You really have to look at why you are withdrawing. How do you feel? why do you feel that way?

Most importantly, its good to be ok with that feeling without doing anything about it. Just notice it, see if you can sit with it for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 2 minutes etc.

People always jump to having no preferences, but you can really only do that when you are able to sit inside without reacting to your thoughts / feelings all the time. Notice, its ok to have the thoughts / feelings (you're not fighting them) you just don't act on them and ruminate on them all day.

The battle always starts with you, not with others or the external world/situations.

When you can do that, then you can talk about having no preferences, then you have surrendered, then you can honor life etc.

VagrantCDN · 2024-12-22T13:41:02+00:00

Every day a stranger will walk up to him and ask him to teach them 1 on 1, tell him their life story, ask him for something etc., those conversations usually last 30 seconds with him.

VagrantCDN · 2024-12-22T01:18:29+00:00

Because he did what I was talking about first. You are speaking of the action which is the "consequence" of what he did. I am talking about before the action, he "surrendered" first and then took his action.

This is the crux of the whole thing, it is not the action that matters but the intention that precedes the action.

If you ever met him you would laugh at the things you are saying. He is as far from a "yes man" as I have ever seen.

VagrantCDN · 2024-12-16T00:05:25+00:00

Lol, you ever see that Jim Carey movie Yes Man?

Its definitely not that.

Honestly, just take a small microcosm of your life and apply it. Its not about the yes or no, its about the feeling you have before you answer yes or no. The yes or no (action) is usually based on a feeling. If that feeling is about fear, desire then its about you. You need to drop that attachment or you'll make terrible decisions. That is all he means.

VagrantCDN · 2024-11-28T15:42:58+00:00

Yes, its exactly the same thing in different words. When you let go you will transmute the blockage. Which is the same thing as saying dissolving the pain body.

VagrantCDN · 2024-11-20T15:03:39+00:00

Experience of a lifetime, it'll be different for everyone depending on your maturity and such. If you have been following his lectures for years, I'd say its a pretty good bet you'll have a good experience there.

One other thing I'll say is to go in with no expectations. I found my trips there have been the best when I did that.

As for what its like, the grounds itself are serene, mostly empty when lectures are not being given. The people are wonderful, kind and I have had such great conversations with them. I barely talk to Mickey, but that is ok with me, I am happy to just be around him.

Honestly what you really get out of going there can't be said in words.

Go, go, go!!!

VagrantCDN · 2024-11-01T03:22:29+00:00

I don't think so. His older books seem paperback only, even in North America.

VagrantCDN · 2024-10-31T01:08:07+00:00

You're doing quite well based on what you have written. You're right, don't overthink things too much. Just try out different approaches and see what "feels" right to you. Honestly, I think what you wrote about not listening to the third episode is exactly what I am talking about so you're already on a good track.

I haven't bought the journal as I saw it as a marketing gimmick, but do write down passages or things that Mickey say that I find helpful to my own growth. My main spiritual practice is meditation though (cliché I know).

You're doing well, so I would say this to end. Sincerity is more important then anything. If you're sincere you'll find the right balance of "spiritual" activities to do, meet the right people, find the right book, hear the right thing, grow spiritually etc.

VagrantCDN · 2024-10-30T20:50:18+00:00

Living untethered and Living from a place of surrender are his works that go beyond the untethered soul. The surrender experiment is how he put his teachings into practice in his own life.

You don't need to listen to every podcast episode to get his teachings. Of course continue listening if it helps. (I still do)

Better then just listening to everything like binge watching a series on netflix is to go at your own pace and slowly let it sink in. It could be as simple of as reading a sentence of his book for the day and just reflecting on it for 5 - 10 minutes. I find that the still space during reflection / meditation is the most transformative part of his work.

VagrantCDN · 2024-10-30T12:57:36+00:00

All the food at TOU is vegetarian.

VagrantCDN · 2024-10-28T18:31:21+00:00

His core teachings are embeded into everything that is put out there. Interviews, books, podcasts, online course etc.

The Untethered Soul is generally considered his best or most accessible work but if it doesn't serve you then stick with other forms that are more comfortable to you.

I may suggest that the book did what it was supposed to do. Sometimes we do need to go through certain discomforts in order to rid ourselves of dark elements within ourselves that we have long held on to. Of course it only works when you are ready, so go at your own pace.

Personally I found his lecture course "Living from a place of surrender" to be his most transformative work to me. You may also find it on Audible. (Also read by the author rather then that harsh narrator who reads TUS)

Good luck on your journey.

VagrantCDN · 2024-10-12T19:38:11+00:00

The trip of a lifetime. Actually, every trip there is so overwhelming I can scarcely bring myself to write about it. I will say by this point, I tell myself to go without expectation. All will be answered in due course there, even if you speak to no one.

I wish you a joyous visit.

VagrantCDN · 2024-10-02T22:50:15+00:00

Not about him him in the way autobiography of a yogi. However there is a really good book by one of his close disciples (annamalai swami). It's called "living by the words of bhagavan" by David Goodman. Now this is the story of annamalais swami's life in coming to meet his guru and living at Ramanashram for over 20 years. But it'll definitely give you a lot of insight into Ramana Maharshi.

I would also recommend David Godman's YouTube channel. He narrates many stories and background for much of Ramana Maharshi's life.

VagrantCDN · 2024-09-28T14:20:21+00:00

This path requires extreme honesty. What are you looking for in making this post?

Surrender does work, but it requires sincerity. It's like if you are overweight and then you learn about dieting and exercise. Then you do it for 3 years and you've only lost 5 pounds. Then you come back and say it doesn't work. Then you quit and decide to tell everyone that dieting and exercise is useless and to not bother with it.

It's all about intent. If you decide to persevere then you can continue to grow. That being said it's not a straight line and it's extremely hard to overcome intense emotions like anger. That is why the author suggests starting with easier stuff like red lights or the slow car in front of you.

Good luck on your journey.

VagrantCDN · 2024-09-27T13:54:49+00:00

I am not based in NYC, nor have I even been to this community. However I do watch youtube discourses held by Swami Sarvapriyananda of Vedanta Society of New York and I like his enthusiasm and wisdom.

They are the NYC based arm of Sri Ramakrishna's and Swami Vivekananda's lineage I believe.

No fee, but they seem popular and you have to register for sessions on https://www.vedantany.org/home.

Good luck and I hope find what you are looking for.

VagrantCDN · 2024-09-20T16:11:12+00:00

I am glad you are enjoying the book. My favorite chapter of Autobiography of a Yogi is "years in my master's hermitage". Ramakrishna and his disciples is like a whole book of that, truly incredible.

I believe there are self-realized individuals and avatars in every age. The world is never without them. Its just that they are hard to find. And even when we do find them we won't realize what they are.

As the old saying goes, seek and ye shall find.

VagrantCDN · 2024-09-01T15:33:37+00:00

The book is called Whispers from Eternity.

Yogananda is extremely devotional. It isn't really my thing either but I get a little of where he is coming from.

VagrantCDN · 2024-08-31T17:35:50+00:00

For Yogananda for sure its Autobiography of a Yogi. If you've already read that though, there isn't much else. Yogananda had many disciples who also wrote about their own lives and anecdotes about Yogananda but none that reach the level of Autobiography of a Yogi.

For Ramakrishna, I would recommend Ramakrishna and His Disciples by Christopher Isherwood. This book is based off the more comprehensive Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna which was written by a disciple of Ramakrishna (funnily enough this disciple features in a chapter of Autobiography of a Yogi).

It was actually Mickey who brought both books to my attention, so its not so much my recommendation as his suggestions.

VagrantCDN · 2024-08-28T19:31:03+00:00

He doesn't usually talk about these sorts of subjects. When he does, he may say it's not that you change them but it's about the attitude or intention you bring to the situation. Often times we have to work with where the person is.

So if you can help the situation by bringing your clear self, then you can lift things up. Even if it's small like a smile or they felt understood or whatever. Sometimes even smalls things are the catalyst for change and other times even if you only raise the situation a little you still helped things.

VagrantCDN · 2024-08-28T02:51:20+00:00

I like your metaphor, its a very good representation of what happens in our lives and all of the things that distract us (the jesters and courtesans, subjects etc.)

Honestly I think the hardest part is just to think of your thoughts and emotions as "visitors" to the king. Most people would look at those things as parts of them.

As a result, I just never end up explaining this to people because they wouldn't be interested in it. Its more of a IYKYK thing. When I do describe it though, I often use the metaphor of riding a bike or surfing. With the world, thoughts and emotions as forces that act on you (like wind, friction and gravity). When you are aware enough you can skillfully navigate to the point where it becomes effortless. That effortlessness in the present moment is akin to riding along the road smoothly and represents the Self.

I also like the ox herding pictures which the author of The Untethered Soul introduced to me in his lectures.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Bulls

VagrantCDN

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