Ranjit Maharaj and Sri Nisargadatta were both disciples of Sri Siddharameshar Maharaj, a
guru in a long lineage. They had different approaches, Ranjit apparently more devotional
than Nisargadatta, although the latter was not opposed to devotion but simply stressed 
his version of inquiry, while the former taught both, including meditation.  See his
commentaries:  http://www.wayofthebird.com/Commentaries.htm

I found it interesting that finally, after plowing several times through two of John Wheeler's
books, I came upon this  quote, affirming the two different paths, inquiry and bhakti. For
whatever reason it gave me some relief from the strain of jnana which can sometimes
seem dry. It also confirmed to me the validity of other paths or 'methods'. For instance,
Kirpal Singh, who I knew, ostensibly gave out a practice and disciplines and so forth,
but would speak somewhat differently when talking about many of his simpler Indian
devotees. He said, "NO TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED; I love them, and they love me."  He  knew
about jnana, but compared the condition of his simple devotees as that of  iron filings
being helplessly drawn towards a magnet. So there is a higher power (duh) and our
sincerity is the main thing. True bhakti or surrender, imo,  even done "wrong" can lead to
jnana or insight. Anyway, here is the quote:

John Wheeler (from You Were Never Born, p. 140-141)

"In the end, all of the pointers get back to the same fundamental understanding...The
belief  or assumption that we stand separate and apart from the one reality of 'God' is the
beginning of all doubts, fears and problems in life. To dissolve this belief is the essence of
the spiritual life. Because, in truth, all that exists is that one power. That being so, where
is the room for a separate individual, ego, or person? Such a being is a false assumption,
not a reality. Abandoning that wrong assumption leaves only the oneness as the
remainder. That oneness is love itself. Love is the nature of God. Remember the statement
of St. John, 'God is love'.

...When the emphasis is on the supremacy of God alone, the individual is no longer
emphasized. God alone is. The creature is at best an instrument in his hands. When God is
recognized as the only real power, then that power alone is, and that is love. Not 'my' love,
but love itself. There is no longer a reference to 'I' and 'mine'. The concepts of  'I' and
'mine' are the source of suffering and separation. Without 'I' and 'mine', the cause for
suffering is removed. Without suffering, what remains is the pure presence of oneness,
which is God, or love.

The aim is the dissolution of the separate seeker. This is realized by inquiring if the
separate seeker is even present, or else through ackowledgement of the supremacy of the
one power.    [the two paths]

Either way, the separate self is removed from the equation. God or reality alone remains,
the one omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient source. That is nothing but pure love itself.
As St. Francis once said, 'It is by self-forgetting that one finds'. In your true essence, you
are nothing but pure love. You are not a separate person in need of attaining or
manifesting love. But in shedding the false notion of separation, your real nature is
revealed as love itself."

posted to Wisdom-l by Peter Holleran

Lovers have pitched their tents in nonexistence:
they are of one quality and one essence, as nonexistence is.

Rumi

Mathnawi III, 3024

Seeds by Alan Larus

http://www.ferryfee.com/bluesky/Seeds_1.html
 
http://www.ferryfee.com/bluesky/Seeds_2.html
 
http://www.ferryfee.com/bluesky/Seeds_3.html
 
http://www.ferryfee.com/bluesky/Seeds_4.html

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