Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt00572)

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RAMANA MAHARSHI AND H.P.B.'S 'DIAGRAM OF MEDITATION'

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Dear Friends,


HPB's "Diagram of Meditation", which proposes a 24-hours-a-day,  
seven-days-a-week form of meditation,  starts thus:

"First conceive of UNITY by Expansion in space and infinite in time. (Either 
with or without self-identification.)"

And then she proceeds to say that by this meditation one must acquire:

"Perpetual presence in imagination in all space and time. From this 
originates a substratum of memory which does not cease in dreaming or 
waking. Its manifestation is courage." (1)

These are the initial and central thoughts present in her Diagram of 
Meditation, a technique  which can be used in parallel with the calm and 
meditative study of "The Secret Doctrine".

These and other ideas in the Diagram are essential also in the teachings of 
Sri Ramana Maharshi.

HPB taught that her philosophy was akin to Jnana Yoga. The word "Jnana" has 
the same root as the words Dhyan, Dhyana, Dzian, and Chan; from 
"Chan"(Chinese form) we have  "Zen" in Japan.

The Study of the "Secret Doctrine" and other books should take us to some 
degree of perception about our fundamental  identity with the kosmos and the 
Universe, of which we are in fact but microcosmic "summaries".

In his dialogues, in his own tecnique of meditation based on the question 
"Who Am I?", Ramana Maharshi investigates all the time  many different, and 
often surprising ways to perceive our basic identity with the universe.

"Brahman" is the Universe, but it also dwells in each and every human heart, 
according to Hindu tradition. Ramana once said:

"The adequate evidence for the fact that 'Brahman', which shines as the 
Self, resides in the hearts of all is that all people indicate themselves by 
pointing to the chest when saying 'I'. " (2)

The image is strikingly simple, outwardly. Yet it has an oceanic depth, 
internally.

The teachings of H. P. Blavatsky and of Sri Ramana Maharshi are two 
different works. They were  produced in different moments, with different 
personal styles and short-term goals. Her work, literary and occult, is much 
vaster then Ramana's work --  if the two can be compared.

Yet they have a whole area in common. This common area, to my view, is far 
from being peripherical.

Of course, HPB's work has much in common with all true religions, traditions 
and fields of human knowledge --  Ramana's teachings being one example among 
many.

Ramana can  help us get to a better understanding  of  her Diagram of 
Meditation.  His book can enhance our ability to get to the  best way of 
studying   "The Secret Doctrine" and "The Voice of the Silence" --  to name 
only two titles.

At least, this has been my own experience so far.


Best regards,   Carlos Cardoso Aveline.


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NOTES

(1) "The Inner Group Teachings of H.P. Blavatsky", a reconstruction of the 
teachings,  by H. J. Spierenburg, Point Loma Publications, 1985, San Diego, 
CA, 188 pp., see p. 130.

(2) "Self-Enquiry", by Sri Ramana Maharshi, published by  Sri Ramanasraman, 
Tiruvannamalai,  S.India, 1990, 42 pp., see p. 09.


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