Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 6/2/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

Thank you so much for offering your knowledge.

I have been meditating and studying Buddhism for about a year or so.  I also recently stumbled upon the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi and in particular the book "Who Am I?"  I am interested in his approach that the inquiry of Who Am I will ultimately lead to the breakdown of the ego.  I know this is probably a very crude summary, but the concepts seem to be very advanced and sometimes hard to grasp.

My question is are Sri Ramana Maharshi's teachings compatible to Buddhism?  Is it crossing 2 separate teachings that will only leave me confused in the end?

Thanks so much,
Parke

ANSWER: Dear Parke,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

I am not particularly familiar with Sri Ramana Maharishi's teachings. However, from the little you included in your questions, understanding "Who am I?" and what makes us who we are, and what contributes to our sense of ego - is exactly the point of Buddhism. If this is what he teaches, than that is the teaching of Buddhism.

The only difference I can foresee is how he teaches to understand "Who am I?" His technique could be unique or synonomous to Buddhism. I would have to hear more about how he teaches to make an observation.

If you would like to know the Buddha taught to understand, please feel free to ask a follow up question.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: "If you would like to know what the Buddha taught to understand, please feel free to ask a follow up question."

Yes, exactly what did the Buddha teach in regard to the self?  

From my understanding, basically what Ramana Maharishi was saying is that once you undermine the notion of I, than all other harmful intentions , such as greed, envy, jealousy have no real power.  Get rid of the I = Get rid of power of harmful intentions.

I understand the "lack of I" conceptually, but I do not truly feel it as of yet, except in some short lived moments.  I heard one person describe it as "If there is an I, where am I.  I am not this body, I am not this mind that thinks on its own, I am not this seeing, etc."  Finally you exhaust the search and never find the I, so you are left with nothing but bare awareness.

Your response is greatly appreciated.

Answer
Dear Parke,

In regards to the self, the Buddha taught that there is no self as we understand it to be. Our "self" is a result of our misunderstands and misperceptions. We fight for things because we have a self. We love because we have a self. We lust, greed and desire, because we have a self. The sense of self is the cause for ownership. Ownership is the cause of our suffering. So the sense of self is the cause for our suffering. Eliminate the sense of self - you thereby eliminate all suffering.

So what it comes down to is without a notion for "self" or that it exists, there is no subject of misunderstanding. Because we believe there is a self, we see that "others" or "them" exists

We have the belief that the

1. self exists
2. others exist
3. perception belonging to self exist
4. tangible things belonging to self exist
5. perception belonging to others exist
6. 5 aggregates of self exist

All these beliefs are wrong and until we see that, we are subject to the suffering of the world and numerous uncountable rebirths.

All internal (emotions, mental) and external (worldly) problems exist because of the notion of self

internal- our perception compared to the truth
external- our perception compared to others' perception

Yes, you can possibly see the lack of self through the contemplation of where I am in the body, but this does not work for all people, since all people are not attached to the sense of self in the same way or to the same degree, therefore, different people must use different methods to detach and realign their misperceptions with the truth.

I hope I have answered your questions and I welcome any follow-up questions you might have. This is a very involved and deep topic (the cause of all suffering) so-I will be willing to help out any way I can.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo