Mooji
We are already That which we seek – the eternal. I am continually pointing to that effortless being we already are. We seem not to be conscious of that; instead we identify ourselves as body-mind entities and the programming or conditioning that tells us that we are separate individuals expressing as unique personalities, that we are autonomous, and so on.
– Mooji
Full Interview with Mooji by John David
I first met Mooji in Lucknow in my guesthouse in 1993 on a dramatic evening when one of the guests had become psychotic! Mooji’s sunny Jamaican energy created an immediate friendship – and helped diffuse the situation with the guest! It is great to see how his Tiruvannamalai Satsangs (meetings in Truth) have opened up, and I enjoy the chance to meet up with him every year.
– John David
Questions and Answers
You have given us a profound discourse on awakening. When you meet a passion for awakening, what would your short advice be?
Seekers often have curious ideas about the enlightened state. Please describe your typical day and how you perceive the world.
Sri Ramana’s devotees had tremendous devotion to him, and he to Arunachala. Please say something about bhakti, devotion, in the pursuit of awakening.
It appears essential to meet a guru and stay with that guru. Who is the guru? What is the guru’s role? How to recognise a true guru?
What about Destiny? Do you expect things to simply happen or are you expressing your free will and choosing?
What about vasanas, the tendencies of the mind? Must these be removed before Self-realisation can become permanent? Is it enough to achieve a sattvic (calm and peaceful) state of mind and to know one’s vasanas so that they no longer bind? How to remove the vasanas?
It has been suggested that the mind must be destroyed for liberation to occur, Do you have a mind? Sri Ramana used the term manonasha to describe the state of liberation, meaning destroyed mind. How to destroy the mind?
When Sri Ramana was asked, ‘When will the realisation of the Self be gained?’ he replied, ‘When the world which is what-is-seen has been removed, there will be realisation of the Self which is the seer.” What is the true understanding of the world? How to remove the world?
Sri Ramana said that Self-enquiry is the most direct route to realising the Self. What do you say about Self-enquiry? How to conduct Self-enquiry?
Are there any qualifications for enlightenment? Is sadhana (spiritual practice) necessary? If yes, what form do you advise?
Many Western seekers come to India looking for enlightenment as if it is an experience, What is enlightenment?
Sri Ramana proposed the fundamental question, ‘Who am I?’- Who are you?
Mooji's teachings
Mooji’s teachings focus on the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, which emphasizes non-duality and the belief that our true nature is fundamentally spiritual. He is known for his simple yet profound satsangs, or spiritual gatherings, where he guides seekers in inquiries into the nature of the Self. His approach is direct and compassionate, advocating for an understanding that self-realization need not be a complex or arduous journey.
Mooji teaches that the essence of our being is beyond the mental and emotional constructs that typically define our experience of life. He uses metaphors and personal guidance to help individuals uncover this truth, leading to a liberation from suffering and the realization of inner peace and contentment. His methods often involve questioning one’s beliefs and perceptions to reveal the unchanging truth of who we really are—pure awareness or consciousness.
His works, such as “White Fire,” consist of short sayings and insights that encapsulate his essential teachings, aimed at providing clear, end-of-the-road guidance to spiritual seekers. Mooji’s teachings are accessible to people from various backgrounds, urging them to discover and affirm their innate freedom and true self.
appears in
Blueprints for Awakening – European Masters
European Spiritual Masters
John David has been interviewing fourteen European Spiritual Masters. The result is a compendium of astonishing wisdom about the biggest secret of all times: the Nature of our True Self and how to realise it.
This book answers all questions of the spiritual search and is for everyone who has an inner passion to find out who they are.
Other Ramana Maharshi Books
NEW: Aham Sphurana – A Glimpse of Self Realisation
Fascinating dialogues and stories of Sri Ramana Maharshi recorded by Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer in the summer 1936, at Ramana Ashram.
This book contains a selection from the complete manuscript Aham Sphurana. This selection, a brilliant treasure, speaks for itself. Beside the detailed teachings on Self-Enquiry, Surrender and Jnana, it exposes a new glimpse of Bhagavan’s personal day-to-day life at fifty-six, in his middle age.
The Book is available in English and German, as Ebook and Paperback.
Biography
Mooji is a spiritual teacher who was born in Jamaica on January 29, 1954, under the name Anthony Paul Moo-Young. He moved to the UK where he lived for many years before becoming a spiritual leader. Mooji’s teachings are rooted in the Advaita tradition, which emphasizes non-duality and the belief that our true nature is eternal and unchanging.
He leads satsang, which are gatherings where people seek spiritual guidance by asking questions, and Mooji responds with insights to help them discover their real self, which he describes as pure awareness or ‘the natural Self’. His approach is direct yet gentle, aiming to lead people into self-realization.
Mooji has dedicated his life to serving those who wish to awaken spiritually. He currently resides in Portugal, where he continues his work, guiding many followers worldwide through his talks, retreats, and books. His teachings help individuals to find peace within themselves, encouraging a life of simplicity and truth.
Spirituality is really the sieving out of what is untrue, what is unreal, so that the sense ‘I am’ remains by itself, shining by itself.
– Mooji
