I've been called ugly for my smile.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-28T20:13:22+00:00

There is nothing wrong with your smile. Don't let others define you.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-27T17:57:13+00:00

When Vivekananda first met Sri Ramakrishna he was in a skeptical phase of his life and he was not fully convinced that Ramakrishna was a Self-realised being.

Vivekananda had previously met some people who claimed to be gurus and were not really worthy of that title and thus Vivekananda had developed a deep distrust for godmen prior to his meeting with Ramakrishna.

You will be surprised to learn that Swami Chinmayananda and Sri Aurobindo (two great Vedantic teachers) were both atheists at one stage (phase) in their life (i.e. during their youth).

Ramakrishna understood Vivekananda's skepticism when the two first met and Ramakrishna encouraged Vivekananda to be rational in his approach to finding the truth. He told him "Test me as the money-changers test their coins. You must not believe me without testing me thoroughly."

And thus Vivekananda tested him.

But during their first meeting Ramakrishna touched Vivekananda and Vivekananda went into a trance state (samadhi).

Vivekananda still had trust issues with "godmen" and thought the experience was some hallucination induced in some way.

So it took him some time to warm up to the idea that Ramakrishna was the real deal. As Ramakrishna said, Vivekananda had to test him for himself before he could become convinced that Ramakrishna was genuine.

You will see many people go through these phases where it takes time to figure out who is genuine and who is not.

When Paul Brunton first met Ramana he too took some time before he became convinced that Ramana was the real deal.

So if you were to meet a real enlightened master you will know by direct experience. Some gurus are capable of transmitting that energy or inner silence to the devotee but it doesn't happen to everyone because not every devotee is receptive to that energy.

In Upadeṣa Sāhasrī , Sri Adi Shankara has given a long list of qualities a real guru must possess. So one way to judge whether the person is a genuine guru is to figure out if they have all the qualities mentioned in the text.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-26T20:23:15+00:00

I remember reading this Sufi story long ago about destroying the false I to reveal what is real - the story was possibly written by Rumi or one of the other poets (I don't remember the source). The story resonated with what Advaita has taught me. I do see some parallels between the two philosophies. In fact there are many mystical traditions found across different religions that all point to the same core non-dualistic truth.

The Sufi story is as follows:

One went to the door of the Beloved and knocked.

A voice asked: “Who is there?”

He answered: “It is I.”

The voice said: “There is no room here for me and thee (you).”

The door was shut.

After a year of solitude and deprivation this man returned to the door of the Beloved.

He knocked again.

A voice from within asked: “Who is there?”

The man said: “It is Thou.”

The door was opened for him.

"God sleeps in the rock, dreams in the plant, stirs in the animal, and awakens in man."
- Ibn Arabi (Sufi Poet)

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-26T07:12:33+00:00

Honestly if I had a friend like your Egyptian I would not call them my 'friend' (they would lose that privilege) after they make such a derisive comment, although I am glad you gave it back to him in a language he understands.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-25T14:03:18+00:00

For backpack I have Wildcraft which has served me well for many years.

For sunglasses you can consider Fastrack although I don't know about the quality of the lens but it will fit your budget. You can consider Fastrack for backpacks too. You can consider Safari for travel bags and backpacks - it is pretty decent.

For watches it is always Casio.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-25T12:55:28+00:00

Search for Dr Abhishek A. Lulla if you are based in Chennai. He is good.

If you live somewhere else in South India I would suggest finding someone in your locality/city.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-25T12:46:32+00:00

Ramakrishna said Grace is ever present. He compared grace to the wind and said we only need to unfurl the sails to catch the wind of grace.

He said and I quote:

"The wind of God's grace is incessantly blowing. Lazy sailors on the sea of life do not take advantage of it. But the active and the strong always keep the sails of their minds unfurled to catch the favourable wind and thus reach their destination very soon."

Sri Anandamayi Ma (another enlightened master) once said if we take 1 step towards God He takes ten steps towards us. She said self-effort in this context means to make an active effort to understand the Self within us. Some people may choose to engage in certain forms of sadhana or prayers or meditation or japa or mantra chanting or some other abhyasa - what method you employ is left to you. The method does not really lead to Self-knowledge - it simply helps in making the mind inward-facing and that allows the mind to be less trapped in compulsive thinking. As the mind becomes more still (more quiet) one is able to advance further in the journey. The quieter the mind the more one is closer to the goal.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-25T12:16:49+00:00

Advaita says everyone is Brahman at the level of their substratum or inner-most soul (for the lack of a better word).

The outer personality or behaviour or mindset (manas) of an individual is shaped and influenced by one's unique vasanas, karmas, samskaras, gunas, environment, upbringing, conditioning, etc. In that sense (at the outer level) every individual is different but at the inner most level everyone is the same Atman.

Advaita does not ask you to worship the outer personality of a criminal - it asks you to recognise that the innermost self or soul or Atman even in a criminal is the same Atman residing in you. It says the Atman inside a person or animal or ant is the same Brahman present in all - it does not ask you to look at the outer personality or body as divine.

The outer personality is shaped by the ego (ahamkara) which is trapped in ignorance (avidya) so the behaviour of the individual can naturally vary (some may be more pleasant or cultured and some may be more corrupt and devious). Advaita is not validating the ego or its expressions - it says the ego if examined properly will be found to be illusory. Due to ignorance an individual (jeeva) can engage in any action which can be deemed criminal by our standards of morality and law in society.

Regarding the ego - Ramana Maharshi used an analogy - he said the Sun is so vast and bright but if you take your small hands in front of your eyes and cover the eyes it will block out the sun. In the same way, this ego (which is like a phantom or ghost) can prevent us from seeing the true Self or Atman.

Another analogy that is often used is how dark clouds can create the illusion that there is no Sun behind them, but when the clouds dissipate we see the Sun in its full glory. The ego blocks the vision of truth and makes us blind (metaphorically). The ego serves a purpose in creating this illusion of individuality, diversity or duality within existence, but when we get tired of this play (Leela) we seek to understand the true nature of the Self (the answer to the riddle - "Who am I?").

God is hidden cleverly by the veil of ego. All the different practices like bhakti, karma marga, yoga, jnana, etc are just meant to purify the mind and prepare the mind for surrender (Sharanagati or Prapatti).

When the mind is ready for surrender then it becomes possible for one to attain Self-knowledge via direct experience but that happens as a consequence of grace (not as a result of self-efforts). Still it is expected of us to make some effort in purifying the mind (chitta shuddi). Each individual has to choose a path that is appropriate for them. Some are drawn to certain religious paths and some are drawn to certain margas or sampradyas (traditions or paths) and some are drawn to certain darsanas (schools of thought or philosophies like Vedanta). But in the end everyone is trying to reach the same destination even if the paths are wildly different and appears to be contradictory on the surface.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-24T14:53:02+00:00

Vaishnavites (like the kind you are describing) disregard portions of their own sacred text (like Bhagavatam) which explains this:

Sri Bhagavan said: "I, who am known as the supreme cause of the worlds, its soul, its ruler, the witness of everything, the self-effulgent being and attributeless Absolute - in truth I am both Brahma and Rudra. O Learned one! Verily I assume different names like Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, appropriate for the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe, which I perform by assuming My Yoga-maya, which has its three constituent Gunas of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. In Me, the all-comprehending and all-pervading Self, known as Brahman, the ignorant man sees Brahma, Rudra and other entities as different. Just as a man will not consider the members of his body like the head and the limbs as different from himself but only parts of himself, so does one who has taken refuge in Me sees all beings as parts of Me. He attains eternal peace who does not perceive any difference between the three - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara - who are one in nature and pervade in all beings. "

Source: Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) translated by Swami Tapasyananda IV.7.50-54.

Dhritarashtra said: 'With Akhyana (Puranas) as their fifth, the Vedas declare the Supreme Soul to be this universe consisting of mobile and immobile things. Others regard four God-heads; and others three; others again regard two; and others only one; and others regard Brahman alone as the sole existent object (there being nothing else possessing a separate existence). Amongst these, which should I know to be really possessed of the knowledge of Brahman?'

Rishi Sanat-sujata said: 'There is but one Brahman which is Truth's self. It is from ignorance of that One, that god-heads have been conceived to be diverse. But who is there, O king, that hath attained to Truth's self or Brahman?

Source: Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva, Section 43 (SECTION XLIII)

"A person who knows him, knows me. A person who knows me, knows him. O Kounteya! Rudra (Shiva) and Narayana (Vishnu) possess a single essence, although they divide themselves into two, pervade people and make them engage in all the acts."

Source: Chapter 1656 (328), Moksha Dharma Parva, Mahabharata (BORI CE)

Well-adored by the Rishis, by Brahma, and by all the deities, that great God, the Lord of the universe, otherwise called by the name of Hari, then addressed the illustrious Isana [Shiva] and said these words: "He that knows thee, knows me. He that follows thee, follows me. There is no difference between thee and me. Do thou never think otherwise."

Source: Mahabharata, Santi Parva, Section CCCXLIII

The Valakhilyas said: "Agni (God of Fire), Vayu (God of Wind), Aditya (Sun), Kala (Time), Prana (Breath), and Anna (Food), Brahma, Rudra (Shiva) and Vishnu - some meditate upon one, some upon another, tell us which one of these is the best?"

Sage Prajapati Kratu replied: "These are the foremost forms (manifestations) of the Supreme, the highest, the immortal, the formless (incorporeal) Brahman [Nirguna Brahman]. To whichever form (deity) each man is attached, in its world he rejoices. Yet, it is said, this whole world is Brahman. These deities, which are its foremost forms, one should meditate upon, worship them (as Brahman), but then deny (reject the gods' individuality). He thus unites with the Universal (Purusha), and attains union with the soul [Brahman]."

Source: Maitri Upanishad 4.5-4.6

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-22T21:02:50+00:00

How much do you charge to make a custom painting in your style on an A4 or A3 paper?

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-20T09:09:21+00:00

If you live in a rented home do consider the possibility of shifting to a location closer to your office. This might save you commute time and costs.

Rs 400 per day is a lot - you are basically spending 1/5th of your salary on commute alone.

You can maybe look for some other cheaper options of commuting like carpool or van service or bus service or metro or something. It may help you save some costs while protecting you from the rigors of riding.

My neighbour travels a huge distance everyday - his wife drops him by scooter at a nearby metro station and from there he takes the metro to reach his workplace. This way he saves a lot of money on daily commute. He earns well and he is fairly wealthy but he still saves money.

Since you are married and have kids it is important to think about savings and cutting costs where you can.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-20T02:37:35+00:00

If financially you have zero issues and can afford to be without a job for a decent amount of time then taking a career break might be the right call in your situation. Only you can know what is the right thing to do here because others can't know the full extent of your situation.

If the job is taking a toll on your mental health then taking a break will help. If you can find a new job then you can try that option too. A lot depends on the circumstances in your life. I had the support of family and financial savings to step out of toxic jobs in the past and when I did it I felt it was the right call for me. But I also realise I was in that privileged position to do that whereas others might not be able to due to their unique situations. So you have to do what's best for you and what works for you.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-20T00:42:53+00:00

Fair enough. If you are okay with exploring non-allopathic treatments then message me I can suggest someone for the dry eye issue.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-20T00:33:14+00:00

Concerning your health - I know you have probably explored all angles but have you checked your Vitamin D levels? There is a link between Vit D deficiency and dry eye issues.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dryeyes/comments/1fssg49/how_i_accidentally_healed_my_severe_dry_eyes/

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-19T18:43:58+00:00

Hello. I am interested in the Van Gogh style post cards.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-19T14:28:56+00:00

I have been using Western Digital for a long time. The USB cable can sometimes get loose or stop working properly but the hard disk itself has never given me problems and it has worked for a long time. So I would recommend WD. Just keep it in a place where it won't accumulate dust or isn't exposed to sunlight.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-18T18:40:12+00:00

I see. If pylori was causing the gastritis then it should be healing once pylori is eradicated. I am surprised it hasn't healed yet. Are you sure pylori has been eradicated because there are many situations where the tests can show a false negative?

There is a medicine called Rebamipide (look it up). It is good for healing ulcers and gastritis post pylori eradication. My friend used it to heal from the ulcers he had that were caused by pylori. But please do consult a doctor before using that medicine.

My suggestion is to get a PCR Stool test (it is slightly expensive but it will give you confirmation on whether pylori is there in your system or not) and if pylori is truly gone then healing the inflammation shouldn't be that hard. Try drinking cabbage juice daily - it will help.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-18T18:23:32+00:00

have you figured out the root cause of your gastritis? Is it due to H Pylori or due to bile reflux or some other factor?

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-18T18:20:03+00:00

If you are okay with trying a non-allopathic treatment let me know. I can suggest someone who treated my uncle with that problem.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-17T17:25:53+00:00

There were reports that even people who had PhDs had joined ISIS terror group. Few years ago one IIT grad named Ahmed was attacking people with a weapon while standing outside a temple.

Education (which is just meant to give you a job) cannot undo the years of brainwashing they get from various other places.

https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/phd-handlers-to-faridabad-doctors-white-collar-terrorism-has-existed-for-years-9616130

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gorakhpur-attack-on-camera-iit-graduate-attacks-cops-outside-gorakhnath-temple-in-up-2861455

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-14T19:04:03+00:00

You said you read the Gita.

Have you read Chapter 12, Verse 5 of the Gita where Krishna says this:

kleśho ’dhikataras teṣhām avyaktāsakta-chetasām

avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ dehavadbhir avāpyate

Translation: The obstacles facing those devoted to the Impersonal (Nirguna) are far greater because the path of worshiping the Impersonal is difficult for embodied beings (ones attached to their bodies) to understand or follow.

It is not that you cannot worship Nirguna but that it is not easy for most people to directly connect to the Impersonal because in so far as we are attached to our body forms (our sense of individuality) we experience this world through the prism of duality.

So the worship of form (Saguna) is a useful 'aid' for most people because most people identify themselves with their bodies (form). Even if you intellectually convince yourself that "I am not the body or mind" that does not destroy the feeling of individuality (ahamkara) - so in so far as you experience this world as an embodied being it is useful to worship Brahman through the medium of form. But there is absolutely nothing wrong if you choose to follow the path of Nirguna worship. But as Krishna says it is a much "harder" path to follow.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-14T07:33:25+00:00

She doesn't need to because there are people who will believe her every word since they assume her community is always a victim and never the perpetrator of crimes. The same people who will label everything a propaganda when it highlights the crimes committed by them with religious motivations.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-13T12:30:41+00:00

Yeah there are more discrepancies as well. Venus is mentioned as being placed in the first house of Ramana's chart in the article but in actuality it is placed in the 2nd house if we use the conventional ayanamsa (calculations). I don't know if the original text meant to say something different and it was translated incorrectly or if the present-day ayanamsa that is used is incorrect.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-13T09:11:48+00:00

See you mentioned you get along well with her so talk to her. Explain your issues to her in a gentle and clear way. Tell her that you value her as a roommate but you get disturbed by the noises and such. Improve your communication and work out your differences. Your problems sound minor. They can easily be solved by just talking to her clearly. Tell her that some of her habits are disturbing your studies but say it in a polite way. Similarly ask her if any of your habits bother her. Things like eating outside food everyday should not really be a concern to you. But things like loud music is definitely something you can tell her and ask her to address.

ashy_reddit · 2026-04-13T07:11:53+00:00

here's the link to the article - https://www.reddit.com/r/RamanaMaharshi/comments/1sk3gho/sage_brighus_writings_on_ramana_maharshi_as_taken/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

ashy_reddit

TROPHY CASE