I was asked the following question:
Is Ram a person’s name? If it is, is there any meaning by that name? Why do you use Surya Ram as the name of this meditation? Thank you!
To which I respond:
Beautiful question! All existence emerged from oneness… pure consciousness. Consciousness aware of itself as ‘other’ births duality. Consciousness continues to interact with itself birthing multiplicity. The structure is very precise… One to two to three on to infinity. The self interaction creates movement and vibration… a symphony of sound. Each sound carries a particular quality… a particular aspect of Oneness, of wholeness… of what is called the Veda… of what is called ‘Being’.
The sound ‘Ram’ is the quality of the resplendence and integration of the entire structure of Veda. It permeates everything in creation with the fullness of life found at the source of existence, your existence. Ram awakens all things to their essence… to oneness… to wholeness.
The sound ‘Surya’ means central Sun. Just as the sun is the source of our solar system, Surya emphasizes the central value as it emerges and holds together all of life and existence.
The difference between Ram and Surya is best studied by learning more of each of their natures. Everything in existence has a personified aspect. That is why it is natural to give your boat, car, golf putter, rifle, etc. a name. As your relationship with anything deepens, it takes on a personified quality. So Ram and Surya do have personified aspects which highlight the subtle distinctions between the two. At the same time, Ram and Surya are one and the same… they are both Oneness… pure consciousness.
However, meditation is a mechanic… a technology. It is the sound itself that resonates with the essential nature of the body, mind, and soul. So for the purpose of the mechanic, it is important that it is related to as simply a meaningless sound.
We use the name Surya Ram meditation to emphasize that this meditation awakens you to You… to YOUR true essential nature… to the central Sun of your own unique Being. It imposes nothing. It simply awakens.
goosebumps… I always get goosebumps when something touches me deeply. Got’em right now.
So beautiful. Thank you.
This is such a good morning!
When doing the Ram meditation this morning and, in light of today being Rama’s birthday, I asked myself…am I doing this right?, should I not say “Ram” with devotion, with fervor.? Am I being disrespectful? And then I remembered your having cautioned us, a long time ago, not to attach any meaning or mood to this word, …Ram. But I did feel a slight nagging, as it were.
So your blog “What is the Meaning of Surya Ram?” came at a more than perfect time. All I can say is “magnificent”. And thank you , Michaelji, not only for the timeliness but also how you presented this in such a gentle non dogmatic way. Even a “stranger” to your teachings could not help but feel that.
Exquisite goosebumps 🙂
How perfect that you posted this on Ram Navami. Thank you for the beautiful and full explanation. Every sentence opened a window of feelings. So elegant, so subtly powerful.
More information about Ram Navami: http://shopping.srisomesvara.org/Sri-Ram-Navami-Rama-s-Birthday.html
yes, for me the blog was full of “lightness” yet so very deep, powerful, grounding, welcoming. !!!! It had the feeling of a quiet treasure coming our way…once again.
Wow – so beautiful and powerful. It’s still sinking in. Thank you for sharing with such preciseness. It touches something inside just by reading it.
Practicing Surya Ram has been really transformative. Thank you
Very beautiful. Something that strikes me is that it is “Surya Ram”, not “Ram Surya”. One could almost ask the chicken-or-the-egg question: which came first Surya or Ram? If feels as if Surya naturally flows into Ram. Maybe Ram is the (for lack of better words) ultimate endpoint or expansion? Although, Ram Surya Ram does seem to be a complete circle (vibrationally, that is). Just musing. Thank you, Brahmarshi!