Spiritual Teachers and Teachings

Tiruvannamalai attracts both spiritual seekers and teachers. This page shows articles on teachers and their teachings. This is not an exhaustive catalog by any means, but rather shows some of these teachers, usually ones with which we have had some experience.

Articles are from several sources. These include richardarunachala, luthar.com, arunachalagrace and wikipedia. Website links are also provided.

Comments on Neo Advaita

This is an important article by Alan Jacobs that describes the teaching methods of some present day teachers who follow in the footsteps of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. This article sheds light on important aspects of these teachings, called by some, “Neo Advaita,” to differentiate it from the pure Advaita teachings of Ramana.

This should be read by all who are interested in the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Advaita Vedanta.

Sri Ramana’s Teachings and Western Neo Advaita

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

In Tiruvannamalai, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi continues to draw people from all over the world.

Ramanasramam is visited by hundred of people each day, thousands on major occasions. Ramanasramam continues to feed hundreds each day, and is one of the best run ashrams in India. Rooms are available for devotees.

There is a wealth of information about Sri Ramana and Ramanasramam on the web. Here are some of the best.

Wikipedia Article on Ramana Maharshi
Sri Ramanasramam Web Site
Extensive Material on Ramana Maharshi
David Godman’s Ramana Maharshi Site
Arunachala Dhyanam Video – A walk to Skandashram

Nome

Nome is my spiritual teacher. I have attended satsang and other teaching events with Nome since 1990. We visited India with Nome in 2005. It was then that we decided to move to Tiruvannamalai. Nome is,we think, the clearest, the most eloquent teacher of Sri Ramana’s Self-inquiry.

While Nome does not offer satsang in Tiruvannamalai directly, we play audios of his teaching at our house each week to interested seekers.

SAT Website SAT, in Santa Cruz, CA, is where Nome offers satsang and other spiritual teaching events.

Nome, an American Teacher of Ramana Maharshi’s Self-Inquiry

Satsang Discourse and Meditation Instructions – Transcripts

The Knowledge Essence
The Mind
The Quintessence of Meditation
Nonobjective Self
Content
Within
The Knower and the Known
Nirguna Brahman
With the rise of “I”
Undifferentiated
Satsang with Nome: Reality of the Self 
Satsang with Nome: The Real Ever is 
Satsang with Nome: What do you consider yourself to be? 
Satsang with Nome: Beyond the Mind

From the SAT Temple

At SAT Temple in Santa Cruz
Fiery Nataraja
Sri Ramana Self-Realization Retreat at SAT 
Nome and Max
Mahasivaratri at the SAT Temple

 

From email dialog:

Inquiry for walking Arunachala – When I move, what within me is motionless?

V Ganesan

V Ganesan is one of three living grand nephews of Sri Ramana Maharshi. He has dedicated himself to spiritual practice and teaching. He offers satsangs sometimes in Tiruvannamalai, only he does not call it satsang, rather he calls it ‘sharing.’ It is important to Ganesan that he not put himself above others. He says that Ramana never did. Sharing is between people, not sometime given from on high.

Sharings with Ganesan offers deep teaching, interspersed with stories of Ramana and devotees. We find them most special. He is a gentle man, humble and warm.

Ganesh spent years locating everyone he could who had deep experiences with Ramana, and encouraging them to tell their stories. Many books and articles resulted from this work. These experiences light up his sharing.

Satsang with Ganesan in Tiruvannamalai

Transcripts of 2009 Sharing in Tiruvannamalai

The Inexhaustible Elixir – The Ribhu Gita
The Ribhu Gita – No. 2
The Ribhu Gita – No. 3

Self-Nature, Faith and Attention

All is One – No. 1
Wisdom and Action – No. 2
Wisdom and Action – No. 3

Mooji

Mooji offers satsang in Tiruvannamalai for a few weeks each winter. These are, by far, the best attended satsangs in Tiruvannamalai with 200 – 300 people sitting in the rooftop satsang space each day.

Mooji relates with a warmth that attracts people. The satsangs are questions and answers, no discourses.

What some people like the best about Mooji are his morning walks and impromptu satsangs along the way.

About Mooji:

Mooji’s web site
Mooji Blog
Mooji satsangs on YouTube

Nannagaru

Nannagaru is from Andra Pradesh. He visits Tiruvannamalai several times each year, accompanied by devotees from Andra. He has an ashram here, and when here is available for silent satsang each day. People come and sit with him to meditate and to be in his presence. Usually these are silent, sometimes there are questions, but these often are in Telegu. Upon leaving, he may notice you and have a few words with you.

Some have had deep experiences with Nannagaru. I found sitting and meditating with him to be very good – quiet and peaceful.

Nannagaru website. This includes the travel schedule.
Website by Nannagaru Devotee offering teachings and information about Nannagaru

The following articles are from a devotee of Nannagaru who lives in Tiruvannamalai

Sri Nannagaru at Arunachala
Visit of Sri Nannagaru

Others

A Ramana

A Ramana founded AHAM, in North Carolina, and also has an ashram in Tiruvannamalai. Satsang and instruction in Self-Inquiry are offered. A Ramana taught at both locations until his mahasamadhi in 2010. Instruction in Self-inquiry continues.

AHAM Web Site

Articles on interment and rites for A Ramana

Interment of A Ramana into Samadhi
A. Ramana Shradha

Papaji

Papaji is an influential teacher, who found Self-realization in dialogs with Ramana Maharshi. Video satsangs are offered weekly in Tiruvannamalai.

Papaji Sites: Papaji Satsang, Papaji’s Avadhuta Foundation

Papaji Devotee Article:Papaji

Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a guru famous within India and internationally, with his main ashram in Karnataka, about 200 km northwest of Tiruvannamalai. There are a number of Sathya Sai Baba devotees in Tiruvannamalai. Often they are involved with ‘good works’ projects. The ashram in Puttaparthi is a popular destination for those visiting Tiruvannamalai. Some see him as a saint who offers boons to devotees, some see him as a controversial figure.

International Sai Organization Web site

Here are two blog entries:

Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Visiting Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s at Puttaparthi Ashram

Swami Suddhananda

Swami Suddhananda is a teacher of Advaita Vedanta who started teaching in 1982, and now has a global presence. He has an ashram in Adi Annamalai Village in Tiruvannamalai where he sometimes resides and teaches. Accommodations are available at this ashram.

Swami Suddhananda web site

An Interview with Swami Suddhananda 

James Schwartz: Vedanta Classes in Tiruvannamalai