Hello James Ramji:
The body is getting older. Because of your teaching–revealing Vedanta‑‑I know I’m not this. Because of work I got tired for a while listening to Vedanta and took a break. Man, I have begun again to listen to you expound Vedanta and I really begin to understand more and more.
I’m new to Vedanta. So listening is of paramount importance. Forget about trying to become a teacher. Most people want to become teachers right away. This is due to the feeling of getting self-importance. Maybe this will happen in a future life?
James: People want to be teachers for two reasons, one selfish and one altruistic. There is virtually nothing more uncomfortable than ignorance. It makes you feel small and inadequate. When Vedanta says you are limitless you feel great and you see people who don’t know it and you want to share this knowledge, which is good. On the other hand if you actually knew what it meant to be the Self you wouldn’t feel the need to teach. So you set out to remove your sense of inadequacy and desire for recognition by teaching because people respect knowledge. And you get attached to being a teacher because it makes you feel valuable.
But this is the exact opposite of the teaching’s intention. You are valuable, the only valuable thing there is. But not because you know something and teach it. You are valuable because you are. Period. When you understand that the Self is just your “I am,†existence shining as consciousness, you go silent. The words stop because you are too full to speak. If they come, they come because someone else wants to know something. And a real teacher knows that Isvara is the teacher so there is no pride in it. He or she just conveys Isvara’s knowledge in such a way that it is understandable.
Jose: I spend my days offering gratitude and doing acts of kindness by feeding the homeless when I can–karma yoga. There are lots of homeless everywhere now. Karma yoga all day long makes meditation way easier.
James: Yes, indeed. That’s why Krishna doesn’t teach Arjuna meditation until he has understood karma yoga. And yes, karma yoga all day long.
Jose: I speak to others about Vedanta and because I’m a Christian I understand the religion from the stand point of Vedanta. So in this culture we must use the religion that is available and point to Iswara, who lives in the heart of all beings by using both. Â
James: Yes, let people worship according to their, just point them to the heart using their own words.
Jose: What I bought from the website is timeless and my teacher is timeless too. Along with daily meditation, before going to work, I listen 1/2 hour a day.
James: That’s perfect. That’s all that is required to get you in the right frame of mind to do karma yoga all day.
Jose: I’m a little afraid of retiring right now due the economic decline world decline. But the body is getting older and because of arthritis I may have to. I have it in the right left hip and the right knee. God, Bhagavan will show me what to do. So there is some fear, of course. But God will provide no matter what. If we love God with all our heart, mind, and might, Bhakti aspect of Karma yoga, everything will be added to you. This is the Christian way of saying what Lord Krishna states in the Gita. It may happen that due to a market crash, the whole USA retirement system may perish?
James: Yes, indeed. Bhagavan is merciful indeed. God always has our backs.  Krishna says, “A little karma yoga removes a lot of anxiety.†Don’t worry about the retirement system. I have it on good authority from Bhagavan that it will not crash. Even the heartless Republicans have given up their attacks on Social Security. Most of their voters are very attached to it, particularly now that there are more working class Republicans.Â
I love you, man! You are the most honest, humble man I know.
Ramji/James