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Bhagavan
Sri Ramana Maharshi
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Who am I?
"Solve this great problem and you solve all other problems"
- Sri Ramana Maharshi
- Sri Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi Documentary
Ramana Maharshi Books in English
Aham Sphurana – A Glimpse of Self Realisation [Volume 1]

Fascinating dialogues and stories of Ramana Maharshi recorded by Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer in the summer 1936, at Ramana Ashram.
Vichara – Self Enquiry,
Who am I? [Volume 2]

Vichara offers a fresh and focused exploration of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi’s most profound teaching: Self-enquiry.
Sharanagathi – Surrender,
Letting go. [Volume 3]

Sharanagathi explores Bhagavan’s direct and powerful path of dissolving the ego through surrender.





Ramana Maharshi Biography

1879 Dec 30
1896 July
1896 Sept I
1897 Feb
1898
1902
1906-07
1907
1916
1916
1922
1920s
1920s
1927-1942
1930s
1940s
1949
1950 April 14
Born in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu, South India, as Venkataraman
Spiritural Awakening aged sixteen
Arrived at Arunachala aged sixteen
Moved to Gurumurtham
Moved to Virupaksha Cave aged twenty
Gave first recorded teaching Who Am I? aged twenty-two
Recovered his speech
Given the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi
Mother arrived to live at Virupaksha Cave
Moved to Skanda Ashram age thirty-seven
Mother died and later Bhagavan moved down the hill
Bhagavan rewrote and published Who Am I?
Simple bamboо ashram buildings constructed
Stone ashram buildings constructed
Paul Brunton visited
New granite Hall built in front of Mother’s Shrine
Cancer appeared on Bhagavan’s arm Moved very ill to live in Samadhi Room
Bhagavan passed away at 8.47pm

Ramana's Awakening
In 1896 the 16-year-old boy Venkataraman challenged death by a penetrating enquiry into the source of his being. The following awakening intuitively led him to the holy mountain Arunachala in South India. Here he spent years of solitude meditating in temples and caves. Later in life he became known as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and attracted many spiritual seekers to his ashram on the foothill of Arunachala mountain. Every visitor received teachings according to their own level of understanding and priority for freedom. Often, he would simply transmit his teachings through deep silence, or he would teach the method of Self-Enquiry.

“Just drop all seeking, turn your attention inward, and sacrifice your mind to the One Self radiating in the Heart of your very being.”
- Sri Ramana Maharshi

“Arunachala! You root out the ego of those who meditate on you in the heart. Oh Arunachala!"
- Sri Ramana Maharshi


Arunachala Drawing by Ramana Maharshi
Arunachala, oh holy mountain high,
A beacon of light that touches the sky,
In Tamil Nadu, your presence is felt,
A sacred abode where pilgrims melt.
Your peak so majestic, adorned with grace,
A source of wonder for those who trace,
The path that leads to your lofty peak,
A journey of faith that’s truly unique.
From Ramana’s cave to Girivalam’s round,
Devotees seek blessings that abound,
Arunachala, your power so vast,
Transforms lives, with every step they cast.
In the glow of the full moon’s light,
The hill shines bright, a mystical sight,
Arunachala, you hold the key,
To unlock the secrets of eternity.
Your name alone, a mantra so pure,
That touches hearts, and makes them sure,
That the divine resides in your soul,
Arunachala, you make us whole.
So we bow to you, with reverence and love,
And offer our prayers to the heavens above,
For Arunachala, you are the way,
To find the truth, and light our way.
Arunachala
Arunachala Mountain is one of five holy places dedicated to Shiva in South India. Sri Ramana Ashram is situated at its foothills. According to the legend Brahma and Vishnu were arguing over which one of them was superior. To settle the dispute Shiva entered and used his awesome powers to manifest as a column of light which then turned into the form of Arunachala.
Ramana Maharshi said that whereas other holy places such as Varanasi and Rishikesh are important abodes of Shiva, Arunachala Mountain is Shiva himself.
It is a place that provides true self-knowledge (jnana) and because this is not wanted by many people Arunachala remains relatively unknown. To those who truly seek knowledge of the Self, this mountain will always make itself known through one way or the other.
Every year in January, John David offers an intensive Retreat at the feet of the holy hill.
The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi
Self Enquiry: Bringing the Mind Back to the Self
Self-Enquiry is in the words of Ramana Maharshi “the most sacred of sacred.” It is indeed a radical spiritual method. Ramana has explained why this practice is singularly effective: “What is essential in any sadhana [spiritual practice] is to try to bring back the running mind and fix it on one thing only. Why then should it not be brought back and fixed in Self-attention? That alone is Self-Enquiry. That is all that is to be done!”
This question of “Who am I?” comes from a space of deep Stillness, and is also nurtured from the same silence which sometimes spontaneously appear in our mind and in our being. In this way there can occur an instant inner recognition of who we really are.

“The only useful purpose of the present birth is to turn within and realize the Self”
- Sri Ramana Maharshi
Original Teachings from 1936
Rooting Out the Ego and Persevering on the Path
Danger of Emptiness [shunyastithi]
BE As You Are
Ripe Souls Attain Jnana
How we Sabotage Vichara
Am I doing Vichara Correctly?
Sex and the Self
Complete Cessation of Mental Activity
The Secret of Jnana is Bhakti
Essential Extracts from the Manuscript
A Former Classmate Visiting Bhagavan
Mrs Piggot’s Diary
A Dialogue with a Mature Visiter
Schopenhauer and Renunciation
A Small Wise Boy
The Juggler
How shall we kill the mind?
Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer Ashram Report
Trust in God
Reference Books and Translation
Love Is
Letters to Bhagavan
40th Anniversary Event
Vishwanatha Aiyyer and the Monkey
Obstacles which Hinder Realisation of the Self.
Sri Gajapathi Healed and Attacked
A Dog and A Monkey
Mrs. Piggot Introduces the Ashram And Bhagavan’s Meetings in 1934
A Typical Western Visitor’s In-Depth Dialogue with Bhagavan
The Aghori Sadhu Life Story
Mr. Evans-Wentz’s Visit
The Play Around Bhagavan
Libelling Bhagavan
The Heart
Non-Doing
Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer, Author of Aham Spraruna
The Aghori’s Death and Liberation
Kaushika
An Incident between Bhagavan and the Ashram Manager
Ramana Maharshi on Jesus Teachings
Surrender
Renunciation
Only the Self, No God
Illusion and the Body
The Count
Unrealise the not-Self
Jaws of the Tiger
Samadhi
Realise the Self
Gossip
Destiny
I have a body
Consciousness
J.Krishnamurti’s, Dissolution of the Order of the Star
What is the Purpose of Life?
Guru’s Grace
The Answer is to Enquire,”Who Am I”
Vichara, Self Enquiry
Meditation
Day by Day with a Jnani
Summa Iru
Commentaries on Bhagavan's Teachings
Interviews with Indian and Western Masters on Bhagavan's teachings
During his travels in India and throughout Europe, John David met and interviewed sixteen spiritual masters from India and dozens from the west, capturing unique dialogues about Ramana Maharshi’s teachings. These encounters were filmed and transcribed for the book series Blueprints for Awakening, as part of a search for deeper understanding of the great Indian Saint’s wisdom. Each Master was asked 12 questions. This archive collects the answers each Master has given.
You can watch the 1-2hour interviews by clicking on the photos.
John David’s Connection to Ramana Maharshi
“Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi came into my life quietly, imperceptibly, through a photograph twenty years ago, and has become a central inspiration in my life.
Thank you for the exemplary life you led and for the simplicity and clarity with which you guide us. The question “Who am I?” has provided a golden key to all who wish to know their essential nature.”
– John David

Sri Ramana Maharshi was the teacher of John David’s Indian teacher Papaji. So, it is natural that John David considers Ramana his own root teacher. For 20 years he has conducted a January retreat near Arunachala mountain, and it has been an excellent way to continuously revitalise his heartfelt connection to Ramana.
John David finds Self-Enquiry to be the most direct way of giving spiritual seekers a spontaneous glimpse of the True Self. During retreats John David often dedicates a whole day to intense practice of Self-Enquiry. Participants sit together face to face and ask each other “Who are you?”. Over time that all conceptual answers to the question falls away and a monumental silence permeates the entire room.
Annual Arunachala Pilgrimage Retreat
A Remarkable Retreat with John David at the holy Mountain Arunachala in South India
Retreat Trailer
Practicalities
Prices:
2900€ Standard
2500€ Early Bird
2300€ Concession
1300€ Young Helpers (talk to Indira)
Travel: Chennai or Bangalore in South India, from there 3-5 hour Taxi ride to Tiruvannamalai, at the foot of Arunachala
Contact: Indira
Mobile and Whatsapp: +49 (0)178 289 0814
Email: office@johndavidsatsang.international
1 - 20 January 2027
John David’s deep connection to Sri Ramana Maharshi has drawn him back time and again to the sacred Arunachala Mountain. For the 26th time, he offers a 3-week retreat in this most auspicious of places.
John David will guide us to explore Self Enquiry and introduce us to the wisdom of ancient India. He will provide a supportive and safe retreat environment in which the presence of the Self can touch you at anytime and lead to profound inner transformation. The retreat will take place with a group of about 30 participants, in a small, tranquil ashram, just 10 minutes from the renowned Ramana Ashram. The mountain, which has been a sacred destination for pilgrims for over two thousand years, drew the young Ramana Maharshi after his profound Self-Realisation.
































































