In a Zoom meeting of the ‘Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK’ on 11th December 2021 Michael James discusses the twentieth paragraph of Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?) sentence by sentence:

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தானெழுந்தால் சகலமு மெழும்;

tāṉ eṙundāl sakalam-um eṙum;

If oneself rises [or appears] [as ego or mind], everything rises [or appears];

தானடங்கினால் சகலமு மடங்கும்.

tāṉ aḍaṅgiṉāl sakalam-um aḍaṅgum.

if oneself subsides [disappears or ceases], everything subsides [disappears or ceases].

எவ்வளவுக்கெவ்வளவு தாழ்ந்து நடக்கிறோமோ அவ்வளவுக்கவ்வளவு நன்மையுண்டு.

evvaḷavukkevvaḷavu tāṙndu naḍakkiṟōmō avvaḷavukkavvaḷavu naṉmai-y-uṇḍu.

To whatever extent sinking low [subsiding or being humble] we proceed [or conduct ourself], to that extent there is goodness [benefit or virtue].

மனத்தை யடக்கிக்கொண் டிருந்தால், எங்கே யிருந்தாலு மிருக்கலாம்.

maṉattai y-aḍakki-k-koṇḍirundāl, eṅgē y-irundālum irukkalām.

If one is [continuously] restraining [curbing or subduing] mind, wherever one may be one can be [or let one be].

While discussing this paragraph Michael discusses the meaning and implications of various other passages from Bhagavan’s writings, including Nāṉ Ār?, Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, Upadēśa Undiyār, Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai, Śrī Aruṇācala Aṣṭakam and Guru Vācaka Kōvai.

This episode can also be watched as a video, 2021-12-11a Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: Michael James discusses Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?) paragraph 20, and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.

After discussing this twentieth paragraph of Nāṉ Ār? Michael answers questions about this and other aspects of Bhagavan’s teachings, particularly the practice of self-investigation and self-surrender, and this part of the meeting is recorded in a separate episode: Nan Ar? (Who am I?) paragraph 18 Q&A.