, an influential expounder of the Vedanta.]] Vedānta (Devanagari: , ) was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal [end] of the Vedas." By the 8th century CE, the word also came to be used to describe a group of philosophical traditions concerned with the self-realisation by which one understands the ultimate nature of reality (Brahman).

Vedānta is also called Uttarā Mīmāṃsā, or the 'latter enquiry' or 'higher enquiry', and is often paired with Purva Mīmāṃsā, the 'former enquiry'. Pūrva Mimamsa, usually simply called Mimamsa, deals with explanations of the fire-sacrifices of the Vedic mantras (in the Samhita portion of the Vedas) and Brahmanas, while Vedanta explicates the esoteric teachings of the s (the "forest scriptures"), and the Upanishads, composed from ca. the 9th century BCE until modern times.

Vedanta is not restricted or confined to one book and there is no sole source for Vedāntic philosophy.

History

In earlier writings, Sanskrit 'Vedānta' simply referred to the Upanishads, the most speculative and philosophical of the Vedic texts. However, in the medieval period of Hinduism, the word Vedānta came to mean the school of philosophy that interpreted the Upanishads. Traditional Vedānta considers scriptural evidence, or shabda pramāna, as the most authentic means of knowledge, while perception, or pratyaksa, and logical inference, or anumana, are considered to be subordinate (but valid).

The systematization of Vedāntic ideas into one coherent treatise was undertaken by Badarāyana in the Vedānta Sutra which was composed around 200 BCE . The Vedānta-sūtra are known by a variety of names, including (1) Brahma-sūtra, (2) Śārīraka, (3) Vyāsa-sūtra, (4) Bādarāyaṇa-sūtra, (5) Uttara-mīmāṁsā and (6) Vedānta-darśana. The cryptic aphorisms of the Vedanta Sutras are open to a variety of interpretations, resulting in the formation of numerous Vedanta schools, each interpreting the texts in its own way and producing its own sub-commentaries. Consistent throughout Vedanta, however, is the exhortation that ritual be eschewed in favor of the individual's quest for truth through meditation governed by a loving morality, secure in the knowledge that infinite bliss awaits the seeker. Nearly all existing sects of Hinduism are directly or indirectly influenced by the thought systems developed by Vedantic thinkers. Hinduism to a great extent owes its survival to the formation of the coherent and logically advanced systems of Vedanta.

Source texts

All forms of Vedānta are drawn primarily from the Upanishads, a set of philosophical and instructive Vedic scriptures. "The Upanishads are commentaries on the Vedas, their putative end and essence, and thus known as Vedānta or "End of the Veda". They are considered the fundamental essence of all the Vedas and although they form the backbone of Vedanta, portions of Vedantic thought are also derived from some of the earlier āranyakas.

The primary philosophy captured in the Upanishads, that of one absolute reality termed as Brahman is the main principle of Vedanta. The sage Vyāsa was one of the major proponents of this philosophy and author of the Brahma Sūtras based on the Upanishads. The concept of Brahman – the eternal, self existent, immanent and transcendent Supreme and Ultimate Reality which is the divine ground of all Being - is central to most schools of Vedānta. The concept of God or Ishvara is also there, and the Vedantic sub-schools differ mainly in how they identify God with Brahman.

The contents of the Upanishads are often couched in enigmatic language, which has left them open to various interpretations. Over a period of time, several scholars have interpreted the writings in Upanishads and other scriptures like Brahma Sutras according to their own understanding and the need of their time. There are a total of six important interpretations of these source texts, out of which, three (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita) are prominent, both in India and abroad. These Vedantic schools of thought were founded by Shri Adi Shankara, Shri Ramanuja and Shri Madhvacharya, respectively. It should be noted, however, that the Indian pre-Shankara Buddhist writer, Bhavya, in the Madhyamakahrdaya Kārika describes the Vedānta philosophy as "Bhedabheda". Proponents of other Vedantic schools continue to write and develop their ideas as well, although their works are not widely known outside of smaller circles of followers in India.

While it is not typically thought of as a purely Vedantic text, the Bhagavad Gita has played a strong role in Vedantic thought, with its representative syncretism of Samkhya, Yoga, and Upanishadic thought. Indeed, it is itself called an "upanishad" and thus, all major Vedantic teachers (like Shankara, Rāmānuja, and Mādhvāchārya) have taken it upon themselves to compose often extensive commentaries not only on the Upanishads and Brahma Sutras, but also on the Gita. In such a manner, Vedāntists both old and new have implicitly attested to the Gitā's importance to the development of Vedantic thought and practice.

Sub-schools of Vedanta

Advaita Vedānta

Advaita Vedānta was propounded by Adi Shankara and his grand-guru Gaudapada, who described Ajativada. According to this school of Vedānta, Brahman is the only reality, and the world, as it appears, is illusory. As Brahman is the sole reality, it cannot be said to possess any attributes whatsoever. An illusory power of Brahman called Maya_(illusion) causes the world to arise. Ignorance of this reality is the cause of all suffering in the world and only upon true knowledge of Brahman can liberation be attained. When a person tries to know Brahman through his mind, due to the influence of Māyā, Brahman appears as God (Ishvara), separate from the world and from the individual. In reality, there is no difference between the individual soul jīvātman (see Atman) and Brahman. Liberation lies in knowing the reality of this non-difference (i.e. a-dvaita, "non-duality"). Thus, the path to liberation is finally only through knowledge (jñāna).

Vishishtadvaita

Vishishtadvaita was propounded by Rāmānuja and says that the jīvātman is a part of Brahman, and hence is similar, but not identical. The main difference from Advaita is that in Visishtadvaita, the Brahman is asserted to have attributes, including the individual conscious souls and matter. Brahman, matter and the individual souls are distinct but mutually inseparable entities. This school propounds Bhakti or devotion to God visualized as Vishnu to be the path to liberation. Māyā is seen as the creative power of God.

See also

Monistic idealism

List of teachers of Vedanta

Notes

Further reading

The System of Vedanta by Paul Deussen. 1912. Reprint 2007.

The Eye of Shiva. New York, William Morrow & Co. 1981. Amaury de Reincourt

Forgotten Truth: The Primordial Tradition by Huston Smith

Theology After Vedanta by Francis X. Clooney

Sankara and Indian Philosophy, by Natalia Isayeva

A History of Early Vedanta Philosophy by Hajime Nākāmura

Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies and "Vedanta Sutras of Nārāyana Guru" by Karl Potter and Sibajiban Bhattachārya

Isherwood, Bowles, Vedanta, Wicca, and Me by Lee Prosser. 2001. ISBN 0-595-20284-5

The Upanishads by Sri Aurobindo . Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. 1972.

Vedanta Treatise- The Eternities by Swami Pārthasārathy

Vedanta: A Simple Introduction by Pravrajika Vrajaprana

Swami Bhoomānanda Tirtha Narayanashrama Tapovanam

Three Upanisads of The Vedanta by J.L. Bansal

Category:Hindu philosophical concepts Category:Indian philosophy Category:Sanskrit words and phrases Category:Metaphilosophy Category:Vedas Category:Philosophical traditions Category:Ancient philosophical schools and traditions Category:Philosophical schools and traditions

Name	Trevor Hall
Landscape	No
Background	solo_singer
Origin	South Carolina, USA
Instrument	Vocals, guitar
Genre	AcousticRockAlternative
Occupation	Singer, musician
Years active	2001–present
Label	Vanguard Records
Associated acts
Url	http://www.trevorhallmusic.com, http://www.Myspace.com/trevorhall

Trevor Hall is an American singer, lyricist and guitarist. He is most often noted for his song "Other Ways" which was a part of the .

Biography

Trevor Hall born on November 28, 1986 is originally from Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he resided until he was 16 years old. His parents, Jeff and Wendy, still reside in South Carolina. He has a younger sister named Chloe. He began writing and performing when he was around 11 years old, around the same time he got his first guitar. His introduction to music was from his father's drum kit and the harmonica his father gave him at the age of 11. His father was not only a drummer but a musician who inspired his son to write and love music as he did. Trevor claims to have always been surrounded and absorbed by music. It was on his 15th or 16th birthday when his father gifted him a recording session in his friend's studio. It was then that he recorded his first album, which was sold mostly to family and friends. After that, Trevor and his family began taking his music more seriously. At the age of 16, Trevor moved to California to attend Idyllwild Arts Academy, in the San Jacinto Mountains east of Los Angeles. He attended this school from grades 10 through 12. While a student at IAA, he studied classical guitar, and met people from all around the world who influenced his life in a profound way.

During his senior year, Trevor signed a record deal with Geffen Records. He continued to focus on his music after graduation, moving to Los Angeles and working with such producers as John Alagia and the Laboriel Brothers. Other than an EP, none of the records that Trevor recorded were released. Geffen dropped him from the label in 2008.

Immediately after his departure from Geffen, Trevor began to write more music. He soon had 14 new songs under his belt along with his good friend/percussionist Chris Steele. They released their new album, "This is Blue" in 2008. Over the years, Trevor Hall has toured with many artists including: Jimmy Cliff, Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Matisyahu, Stevie Nicks, Ben Harper, Colbie Caillat, Los Lobos, Ziggy Marley, Rusted Root, and many others. He cites Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Ben Harper and Björk as his main influences.

Trevor has found his inspiration through meditation and his trips to India. He has helped out an Indian school there with donations from his shows. He is also a committed vegetarian.

Albums

Trevor's first album is entitled "Lace up your Shoes." and was released on July 12, 2004. He then released a 4-song EP entitled, "The Rascals Have Returned" on January 4, 2006. Trevor is featured on a tribute album of The Band entitled, "The Endless Highway." He then released his second live album (The first being "Trevor Hall Live"), "Alive & on the Road (With Chris Steele)" on October 18, 2008, and another album, "This is Blue", on October 22, 2008. An album titled "The Elephants Door" was scheduled for release, but was canceled when Trevor's record label had dropped him from their network. It has since leaked onto the internet. His latest self titled album was released on July 18, 2009 after being signed by label Vanguard Records. The first single from this album is titled "Unity" After the first week of the album's release, it had debuted at #199 on the Billboard 200 album chart, also debuting at #7 on the Billboard Heatseeker's chart.

Discography

Lace Up Your Shoes (2005)

Trevor Hall Live (2005)

The Rascals Have Returned (2006)

The Elephant's Door (2007) - never commercially released

Alive & On The Road With Chris Steele (2008)

This Is Blue (2008)

Trevor Hall (2009)

Chasing The Flame - On The Road With Trevor Hall (Live - 2010)

Notable Songs

Anthem

Other Ways

Lime Tree (Co-Written by Samuel Markus)

Beautiful Lunatic

Lady Love

My Beating Heart

Om Shakti Om

Giri's Song

Stinky's Song

Ghosts

Unity

Where's the Love

The Rascals Have Returned

On This Train

Under The Blanket

31 Flavors

Origami Crane

Proof of Destruction

Well I Say

Volume...

House

References

External links

Trevor Hall Myspace music page

Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:People from Hilton Head, South Carolina Category:American male singers Category:American guitarists

Name	Swami Rama
Birth-year	1925
Birth-place	Northern India
Birth-name	Brij Kishore Dhasmana
Maha samadhi	1996
Religion	Hinduism
Guru	Bengali Baba
Honors	Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham
Quote	"Be happy and fearless. Remember that you are a child of Divinity. Loss and gain cannot even touch your shadow."

Swāmī Rāma (1925–1996) was born Brij Kiśore Dhasmana or Brij Kiśore Kumar, to a northern Indian Brahmin family in a small village called Toli in the Garhwal Himalayas. He became the lineage holder of the Sankya Yoga tradition of the Himalayan Masters. From an early age he was raised in the Himalayas by his master Bengali Baba and, under the guidance of his master, traveled from temple to temple and studied with a variety of Himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of Tibet. From 1949 to 1952 he held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham (also Karveer Peeth or Karweer Peeth) in South India. After returning to his master in 1952 and practicing further for many years in the Himalayan caves, Swami Rama was encouraged by his teacher to go to the West, where he spent a considerable portion of his life teaching, specifically in the United States and Europe.

He is especially notable as one of the first yogis to allow himself to be studied by Western scientists. In the 1960s he allowed himself to be examined by scientists at the Menninger Clinic who studied his ability to voluntarily control bodily processes (such as heartbeat, blood pressure, body temperature, etc.) that are normally considered to be non-voluntary (autonomic).

First ashram

After leaving the post of Shankaracharya and going back to the master, he afterwards travelled to Nepal in the Himalayas barefoot with nothing but a kamandalu and tiger mat. It was here he created his first ashram. It is at the outskirts of Kathmandu on the way to Dulikhel on the mountain of Janagal. He later granted it to Swami Vishuddha Dev. The ashram is known as Hansada Yoga Ashram. Now it is the headquarters of the Characterlogy movement. However, other programs are also conducted there. Sri Akshunnanath Mahaprabhu, better known as Lord Sri Akshunna and simply called upon as Lord/Prabhu, was there for 9 days in 2007 to give the secret tantrik teaching of Kundalini for 7 whole and 2 half days.

Organization and achievements

He was the founder of the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, which has its headquarters in Honesdale, PA, and branches in the USA, Europe, and India. Swami Rama also founded other teaching and service organizations, some of which are linked below. One of his significant achievements is the establishment of a large medical facility in the northeastern part of India (Dehradun) to serve millions of poor people in the nearby mountains. Until about 15 years ago the rural poor in this region did not have access to health, water, sanitation, and education. Dedicated disciples of Swami Rama have contributed to make his dream of a region free of poverty come true. Stories of his leadership style and the way he achieved his goals are documented in several books about Swami Rama. He demonstrated development impact that attracted attention from all over the world .

Swami Rama's concept of "wellness" and not "medical repair" of the human being is gaining ground in many countries in North America and Europe. He demonstrated the impact of holistic health approaches on the Dehradun campus. On that campus he also established a medical university with his most senior disciple Swami Veda Bharati (holding a Ph.D. from The Netherlands) being the Chancellor, Vijay Dhasmana as the Vice-Chancellor, and one of his most development orientated disciples—Ms. B. Maithili (Director of the Rural Development Institute)—as the Registrar.

Swami Rama authored several books in which he describes the path he took to becoming a yogi and lays out the philosophy and benefits behind practices such as meditation. One of the common themes expressed in such books as Enlightenment Without God and Living with the Himalayan Masters is the ability of any person to achieve peace without the need for a structured religion. He was critical of the tendency for yogis to use supernatural feats to demonstrate their enlightenment, arguing that these only demonstrated the ability to perform a feat.

Children

Swami Rama is reportedly survived by one daughter and two sons. Two of these children have been acknowledged in "At the Eleventh Hour," a biography of Swami Rama written by the current spiritual leader of the Himalayan Institute of the USA, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (see also Tigunait's 2001 interview with Yoga Chicago). These children are his son, Mohit Kumar (or Mohit Dhasmana), and daughter, Devyani Mungali, by his former wife in India, Lilu Kumar, whom he married after leaving the post of Shankaracharya. Lilu and Mohit Kumar have been involved in several lawsuits in India (notably Original Suit No. 865 of 1997 filed in The Court of the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Dehradun), challenging the current leaders of the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, founded by Swami Rama.

Robert Walter, an American registered securities broker, claims to be the younger son of Swami Rama. He and his mother, Shirley Walter, plan to publish a double memoir of their relationships with Swami Rama and their involvement with the Himalayan Institute, "Son of a Swami: A Life of Lies." Shirley Walter was a founding director of the Himalayan Institute USA, according to the original incorporation papers filed with the Illinois Secretary of State. Her yoga center became Swami Rama's first base of operations in the United States (also described in "At the Eleventh Hour" by Tigunait).

Another woman, Miranda Marbaniang of Shillong, claims she is Swami Rama's oldest daughter.

Swami Rama's followers have not acknowledged either Robert Walter or Miranda Marbaniang as the guru's children, as he was supposed to have taken vows of celibacy.

Sexual misconduct controversy

On September 4, 1997 in the United District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania a jury returned an award against the defendant Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of the U.S.A. (“Himalayan Institute”) in the amount of $275,000 in compensatory damages and $1.6 million in punitive damages for the sexual misconduct of the Himalayan Institute's former “spiritual leader,” Brijkishor Kumar, popularly known as the “Swami Rama.” Answering special verdict questions, the jury found that Swami Rama (a) had engaged in sexual relations with the plaintiff who was 19 years old at the time of the sexual abuse; (b) had abused his position as the plaintiff's guru to secure her consent to the sexual relations; ( c) had breached the standard of care and fiduciary duties inherent in the relationship between him and the plaintiff; (d) had intentionally inflicted emotional distress on the plaintiff; (e) had acted maliciously and with conscious disregard for the welfare of the plaintiff; (f) and was acting within the scope of his agency relationship with the Himalayan Institute when engaging in sexual relations with Patel. In addition to holding the Himalayan Institute liable for compensatory and punitive damages on a respondent superior theory, the jury also imposed direct liability on the Institute, finding that (a) it had been negligent in allowing Swami Rama to be a sexual predator for a number of years; (b) the actions and inactions of Himalayan Institute constituted the intentional infliction of emotional distress; and (c) the Himalayan Institute had acted maliciously and with conscious disregard for the welfare of the plaintiff.

Swami Rama, in relation to accusations made against him while alive, said "Do not defend me" as part of the discipline of Asian yogis to live up to the ideal of non-violence.

Selected bibliography

Books by Swami Rama

Enlightenment Without God (Mandukya Upanishad) (ISBN 0893890847)

Living with the Himalayan Masters (ISBN 0893891568)

The Science of Breath: A Practical Guide (ISBN 089389057X)

Meditation and its Practice (ISBN 0893891533)

Freedom from the Bondage of Karma (ISBN 0893890316)

Spiritual Journey (ISBN)

Biographies

At the Eleventh Hour: The Biography of Swami Rama, by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (ISBN 0893892122)

Walking with a Himalayan Master: An American's Odyssey, by Justin O'Brien (ISBN 0936663197)

Other works

Science Year: The World Book Science Annual—1974, describing scientific research done on Swami Rama

Nature Science Annual, pages 103–110, Article of Gerald Jones, describing scientific research done on Swami Rama

—

References

External links

Swami rama articles

The Truth About Swami Rama

Himalayan International Institute

Himalayan Institute Hospital founded in India by Swami Rama

Swami Rama Center at the Himalayan Institute Hospital in India

Interview with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies International

Swami Veda Bharati, disciple of Swami Rama

Hansada Yoga Ashram

Himalayan Yoga Tradition in Australia

Category:Yogis Category:People claiming to have psychokinetic abilities Category:1925 births Category:1996 deaths

Swami Parthasaraty (ca. 1927 – ) is a modern exponent of Vedanta. His multi-disciplined academic base includes post-graduation from the University of London. For a period of over half a century, he has dedicated himself to the study, research and propagation of Vedanta and its practical application to life. He established his Vedanta Academy in 1988 amidst the hills of Malavali, 108 km from Mumbai, and offers a full-time residential course on Vedanta to students, who affectionately refer to him as Swamiji. the Academy offers continual three-year residential courses on Vedanta. Men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 are eligible for enrolment irrespective of nationality, race or religion. English is the medium of instruction.

Parthasarathy has authored several books, presenting scriptural truths in contemporary thought and language. He has authored commentaries on the Bhagavad-Gita, Upanishads and others. Two books, Vedanta Treatise- The Eternities and Symbolism of Hindu Gods and Rituals, have earned best-selling status in India. His other books would be "The Fall of the Human Intellect" and "Governing Business and Relationships". His work is significantly derived on the lucidations of former vedantins like Swami Rama Tirtha

Parthasarathy actively tours the world, giving discourses on Vedanta to the public, as well as conducting corporate seminars.

External links

http://www.vedantaworld.org

http://www.vedantamalaysia.org

http://www.vedanta-edu.org

http://www.vedantausa.org

http://www.vedanta.org.uk

http://www.vedanta-kolkata.org

http://www.vedanta.org.au

Videos of interviews with Swami Parthasarathy

Category:Vedanta philosophers Category:Alumni of the University of London Category:1927 births Category:Living people

Name	Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Colour	yellow
Birth date	April 17, 1897
Birth place	Bombay (Mumbai), Maharashtra
Birth name	Maruti Shivrampant Kambli
Death date	September 08, 1981
Death place	Bombay (Mumbai),
Philosophy	Advaita Vedanta

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (birth name: Maruti Shivrampant Kambli) (April 17, 1897 – September 8, 1981) was an Indian spiritual teacher and philosopher of Advaita (Nondualism), and a Guru, belonging to the Inchgiri branch of the Navnath Sampradaya.

One of the 20th century's exponents of the school of Advaita Vedanta philosophy (nondualism), Sri Nisargadatta, with his direct and minimalistic explanation of non-dualism, is considered the most famous teacher of Advaita since Ramana Maharshi .

In 1973, the publication of his most famous and widely translated book, I Am That, an English translation of his talks in Marathi by Maurice Frydman, brought him worldwide recognition and followers .

Biography

Early life

Sri Nisargadatta was born on April 17, 1897, at break of dawn, the full moon in the month of Chaitra, to a devout Hindu couple Shivrampant Kambli and Parvatibai, in Bombay. The day was also the birthday of Lord Hanuman, hence the boy was named 'Maruti', after Lord Hanuman himself . Maruti Shivrampant Kambli was brought up in Kandalgaon, a small village in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, where he grew up amidst his family of six siblings, two brothers and four sisters, and deeply religious parents . His father, Shivrampant, worked as a domestic servant in Mumbai and later became a petty farmer in Kandalgaon.

In 1915, after his father died, he moved to Bombay to support his family back home, following his elder brother. Initially he worked as a junior clerk at an office but quickly he opened a small goods store, mainly selling bidis – leaf-rolled cigarettes, and soon owned a string of eight retail shops .

In 1924 he married Sumatibai and they had three daughters and a son.

Awakening

In 1933, he was introduced to his guru, Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, the head of the Inchegiri branch of the Navnath Sampradaya, by his friend Yashwantrao Baagkar. His guru told him, "You are not what you take yourself to be..." . He then gave Nisargdatta simple instructions which he followed verbatim, as he himself recounted later:

"My Guru ordered me to attend to the sense 'I am' and to give attention to nothing else. I just obeyed. I did not follow any particular course of breathing, or meditation, or study of scriptures. Whatever happened, I would turn away my attention from it and remain with the sense 'I am'. It may look too simple, even crude. My only reason for doing it was that my Guru told me so. Yet it worked!"

Following his guru's instructions to concentrate on the feeling "I Am", he utilized all his spare time looking at himself in silence, and remained in that state for the coming years, practising meditation and singing devotional bhajans .

After an association that lasted hardly two and a half years, Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj died on November 9, 1936 , though by that time he had done his task. Maruti had reached self-awareness. Soon he adopted a new name, 'Nisargadatta' meaning the one who dwells in the natural state. He was also appointed as the spiritual head of the Inchegeri branch of Navnath Sampradaya, the 'Nine Masters’ tradition, a place he retained through his life .

In 1937, he left Mumbai and travelled across India . Through realising the shortcomings of a totally unworldly life and the greater spiritual fruitfulness of dispassionate action, he eventually returned to his family in Mumbai in 1938 . It was there that he spent the rest of his life.

Later years

Between 1942-1948 he suffered two personal losses, first the death of his wife, Sumatibai, followed by the death of his daughter. He started taking disciples in 1951, only after a personal revelation from his guru, Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj .

Style of Teaching

According to Sri Nisargadatta the purpose of spirituality is to know who you are, a viewpoint he expounded in the talks he gave at his humble flat in Khetwadi, Mumbai, where a mezzanine room was created for him to receive disciples and visitors. This room was also used for daily chantings, bhajans (devotional songs), meditation sessions, and discourses .

He talked about the 'direct way' of knowing the Final Reality, in which one becomes aware of one's original nature through mental discrimination, a method which is common to the teachers of the Navnath Sampradaya . This mental discrimination or the Bird's way ('Vihangam Marg') was also presented by Nisargadatta's co-disciple, Sri Ranjit Maharaj; wherein Self-Knowledge is gained just as a bird flying in the sky goes easily from branch to branch, instead of slowly crawling its way up the tree like an ant, as in the 'Pipilika Marg'. Here the disciple reaches straight to truth, without wasting time in long drawn out practices that would take him to the 'fruit' no doubt, only slowly. He proposed to use one's mental faculty to break from the unreal to the real, and the mind's false identification with the ego, simply by listening to and constantly thinking over what the master has said, and knowing that "You are already That" .

The common teaching style of teaching of the Inchgiri Sampradaya masters (beginning with Shri Bhauseheb Maharaj) to Indian devotees was for the Master to select a passage from a traditional text on Advaita Vedanta, most commonly Dasbodh of Saint Shri Samarth Ramdas (as well as the "Yoga Vasishtha", "Saachara" of Shri Shankaracharya, and the "Ecknati Bhagwat" of Saint Ecknath), and to expound upon the meaning and import of that selected passage. Nisargadatta Maharaj and Ranjit Maharaj both deviated from this formal format by giving informal discourses for the benefit of western devotees who did not have access to Dasbodh or the other texts, and who were not familiar with Indian traditions and customs.

Many of Nisargadatta Maharaj's talks were recorded, and these recordings form the basis of I Am That and all of his other books. His words are free from cultural and religious trappings, and the knowledge he expounds is stripped bare of all that is unnecessary.

Summed up in the words of Advaita scholar and a disciple, Dr. Robert Powell, "Like the Zen masters of old, Nisargadatta's style is abrupt, provocative, and immensely profound -- cutting to the core and wasting little effort on inessentials. His terse but potent sayings are known for their ability to trigger shifts in consciousness, just by hearing, or even reading them."

Teachings

.]] Sri Nisargadatta's teachings are grounded in the Advaita Vedanta interpretation of the Advaita idea Tat Tvam Asi, literally "That Thou Art", (Tat = "Divinity", Tvam = "You", Asi = "are") meaning You are (actually) Divinity (who thinks otherwise). He also had a strong devotional zeal towards his own guru .

According to Sri Nisargadatta, our true nature is perpetually free peaceful awareness, in Hinduism referred to as Brahman. Awareness is the source of, but different from, the personal, individual consciousness, which is related to the body. The mind and memory are responsible for association with a particular body; awareness exists prior to both mind and memory. It is only the idea that we are the body that keeps us from living what he calls our "original essence", the True Self, in Hinduism referred to as Atman.

He describes this essence as pure, free, and unaffected by anything that occurs. He likens it to a silent witness that watches through the body's senses, yet is not moved, either to happiness or sadness, based on what it sees.

For Nisargadatta, the Self is not one super-entity which knows independently, regardless of things; there is no such super-entity, no Creator with infinite intellect. God does not exist independently from creation. What does exist is the "total acting" (or functioning) of the Ultimate or Absolute Reality along the infinite varying forms in manifestation. This Absolute Reality is identical to the Self.

Nisargadatta's teachings also focus on our notion of causality as being misinterpreted. He understood that the interconnectedness of varying forces in the universe is so vast and innumerable that the notion of causality, as presently understood, is wasted. The endless factors required for anything to happen means that, at most, one can say everything creates everything; even the choices we make are predetermined by our genetic code, upbringing, mental strivings and limitations, our ethical and philosophical ideals, etc., all of which are uniquely combined to each person and recontextualized accordingly.

This leads to the radical notion that there is no such thing as a "doer". According to him and other teachers of Vedanta, since our true nature or identity is not the mind, is not the body, but the witness of the mind and body, we, as pure awareness, do nothing. The mind and body act of their own accord, and we are the witness of them, though the mind often believes it is the doer. This false idea (that the mind is the self and responsible for actions) is what keeps us from recognizing our Self. Nisargadatta cautions:

:'"The life force [prana] and the mind are operating [of their own accord], but the mind will tempt you to believe that it is "you". Therefore understand always that you are the timeless spaceless witness. And even if the mind tells you that you are the one who is acting, don't believe the mind. [...] The apparatus [mind, body] which is functioning has come upon your original essence, but you are not that apparatus." - The Ultimate Medicine, (pp.54 - 70)

Among his most known disciples are Sailor Bob Adamson . , Stephen Wolinsky , Jean Dunn, Alexander Smit, Robert Powell, Timothy Conway, and Ramesh Balsekar,Jack kornfeild.

Quotes of Nisargadatta Maharaj

"All you can teach is understanding. The rest comes on its own.".

"Truth is not a reward for good behaviour, nor a prize for passing some tests. It cannot be brought about. It is the primary, the unborn, the ancient source of all that is. You are eligible because you are. You need not merit truth. It is your own. Just stop running away by running after. Stand still, be quiet ." - Interview with Sri Nisargdatta Maharaj

"My advice to you is very simple – just remember yourself, ‘I am’, it is enough to heal your mind and take you beyond, just have some trust. I don’t mislead you. Why should I? Do I want anything from you? I wish you well – such is my nature. Why should I mislead you? Common sense too will tell you that to fulfill a desire you must keep your mind on it. If you want to know your true nature, you must have yourself in mind all the time, until the secret of your being stands revealed ." - I Am That

"There is only life, there is nobody who lives a life." - I Am That pp. 43

"A quiet mind is all you need. All else will happen rightly, once your mind is quiet. As the sun on rising makes the world active, so does self-awareness affect changes in the mind. In the light of calm and steady self-awareness inner energies wake up and work miracles without effort on your part."

"There is nothing to practice. To know yourself, be yourself. To be yourself, stop imagining yourself to be this or that. Just be. Let your true nature emerge. Don't disturb your mind with seeking ."

"When I see I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I see I am everything, that is love. My life is a movement between these two."

"The search for Reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings, for it destroys the world in which you live."

Books

'Sulabh Atmajnana' (Kannada & Marathi) written by Shri Samarth Sadguru Ganapatrao Maharaj published by Adhyatma Bhandar Kannur gives in road to simple Paramartha & Sadhana tips.

'Adhyatma Dnyanacha Yogeshwar' (Vol I & II) written by Nisargadatta Maharaj. 130 talks of Siddharameshwar Maharaj (Marathi), November, 1961 and July, 1962.

Master of Self Realization, An English translation of 'Adhyatma Dnyanacha Yogeshwar' written by Nisargadatta Maharaj, a collection of 130 Talks by Siddharameshwar Maharaj, which also includes a newly revised edition of "Master Key to Self-Realization" which was written by Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj himself. ISBN 978-0578027890

Atmagyana and Paramatmayoga, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Marathi .

Self Knowledge and Self Realization, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Edited by Jean Dunn, 1963.

I Am That, Talks with Sri Nisargadatta, Transcribed and edited by Maurice Frydman. Chetana Publishing, Bombay, 1973. ISBN 0-89386-022-0.

The Nectar of the Lord's Feet: Final Teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: Discourses January-November 1980. Edited by Robert Powell. 1990.ISBN 1-85230-011-6.

Nectar of Immortality, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj Discourses on the Eternal, Edited by Robert Powell. 1987. ISBN 81-208-1733-8.

Seeds of Consciousness: The Wisdom of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Edited by Jean Dunn. (Talks recorded, 1979–1980). Chetana Publishing, Bombay 1990. ISBN 0-89386-025-5.

Beyond Freedom: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, S.K. Mullarpattan, Ed..

Consciousness and the Absolute, The Final Talks of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Edited by Jean Dunn. (Talks recorded, 1981). 1994. ISBN 0-89386-041-7.

The Wisdom of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Blue Dove Press, 1995.

Prior to Consciousness, Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Edited by Jean Dunn. (Talks recorded,1980–1981). Chetana Publishing 1999. ISBN 0-89386-024-7.

The Ultimate Medicine: Dialogues with a Realized Master, Edited by Robert Powell. 1994. ISBN 1-55643-633-5.

I Am Unborn: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj by Pradeep Apte & Vijayendra Deshpande.

The Experience of Nothingness, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj's Talks on Realizing the Infinite. Edited by Robert Powell. 1996. ISBN 1-884997-14-7.

The Wisdom-Teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj, A Visual Journey (Talks recorded,1977–1979). Edited by Matthew Greenblatt. InnerDirections Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-878019-20-1.

Gleanings From Nisargadatta, Mark West, Australia, Beyond Description Publishing, 2006.

The Nisargadatta Gita. Pradeep Apte, India, Lulu.com 2008

I AM(The complete 'I am' quotes of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj),Pradeep Apte,India,Lulu.com 2008

See also

Ramana Maharshi

Ramesh Balsekar

Samarth Ramdas

Further reading

Stephen H. Wolinsky, I Am That I Am: A Tribute to Sri Nisargadatta. 2000. ISBN 0-9670362-5-9.

Peter Brent, Godmen of India. NY: Quadrangle Books, 1972, pp. 136–40.

S. Gogate & P.T. Phadol, Meet the Sage: Shri Nisargadatta, Sri Sadguru Nisargadatta Maharaj Amrit Mahotsav Samiti, 1972.

Neal Rosner (Swami Paramatmananda), On the Road to Freedom: A Pilgrimage in India, Vol. 1, San Ramon, CA: Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 1987, pp. 212–8.

Ramesh S. Balsekar, Explorations into the Eternal: Forays from the Teaching of Nisargadatta Maharaj . 1989. ISBN 0-89386-023-9.

Ramesh S. Balsekar, Pointers from Nisargadatta Maharaj. 1990 . ISBN 0-89386-033-6.

Bertram Salzman, Awaken to the Eternal: Nisargadatta Maharaj: a Journey of Self Discovery. 2006. ISBN 1-878019-28-7.

S.K. Mullarpattan, The Last Days of Nisargadatta Maharaj. India: Yogi Impressions Books, 2007. ISBN 81-88479-26-8.

Dasbodh - Spiritual Instruction for the Servant - Saint Shri Samartha Ramdas, Sadguru Publishing, 2010 ISBN 978-0615373270

DVDs

Awaken to the Eternal, Nisargadatta Maharaj: A Journey of Self-Discovery. 1995.

I Am That I Am, (three part series) Experience the teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. 2005/6/7

Consciousness and Beyond - The Final Teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. 2008

Footnotes

External links

DVD"S about Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

www.maharajnisargadatta.com - a Resource website

www.nisargadatta.net - Nisargadatta web site

Remembering Nisargadatta Maharaj, reflections of David Godman

Various articles on Sri Nisargadatta

Videos about Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Dasbodh.org - Information in English about Dasbodh and Samartha Ramdas

Category:1897 births Category:1981 deaths Category:Advaitin philosophers Category:Hindu gurus Category:Spiritual teachers

Name	Naveen Patnaik
Order	Chief Minister
State	ଓଡିଶା
Birth date	October 16, 1946
Birth place	Cuttack, Odisha, India
Birthname	Naveen Patnaik
Party	Biju Janata Dal
Residence	Naveen Nivas, Bhubaneswar, ଓଡିଶା
Profession	WriterPolitician
Website	Official siteChief Minister of Orissa

Naveen Patnaik () (born 16 October 1946) is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Odisha, India and the chief of Biju Janata Dal, a regional political party in Orissa.

Personal life

Naveen Patnaik was born in Cuttack, Odisha, to former Chief Minister and active freedom fighter of Odisha Biju Patnaik and Gyan Patnaik. At the age of 7 he was sent to Welham Boys' School, Dehradun, but later on shifted to the Doon School from where he obtained his Senior Cambridge Certificate at the age of 17. He attended the Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Arts.

He is a life-long bachelor. His elder brother Prem Patnaik is a businessman while his sister Gita Mehta is a renowned author and is the wife of Sonny Mehta, Editor-in-Chief of Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Political career

Naveen Patnaik is a writer and had for most part of his youth been away from both politics as well as Orissa but after his father's demise he entered politics and a year later founded the Biju Janata Dal which won the state election on alliance with the BJP and formed the government with Naveen Patnaik as the Chief Minister. His mild mannerism, stand against corruption and "pro-poor policies" have resulted in the development of a huge support base in Orissa which has voted him to power in the last three consecutive terms. Like his father he had managed to control the otherwise errant and greedy bureaucracy and have transformed it to a machine for the development of the state.

He joined politics in 1996, after the death of his father Biju Patnaik,leader of the Janata Dal and was elected as a member to the 11th Lok Sabha in the by-election from Aska Parliamentary Constituency in Orissa, India. He was a member of the Consultative Committee of Ministry of Steel & Mines, Member of Standing Committee on Commerce, and Member Library Committee of Parliament. A year later the Janta Dal split and Naveen founded the Biju Janta Dal which in alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) performed well and Naveen Patnaik was made the Union Minister for Mines. However, as the BJD won majority of seats in alliance with the BJP in Orissa Assembly elections, Naveen Patnaik resigned from the Union cabinet and was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Orissa in 2000. Naveen Patnaik is widely projected as pro-poor as well as a "clean" and an "honest" person who did not hesitate to sack many political heavyweights on charges of corruption.

2004 Elections

All this lead to the rise in the popularity of A B Bajpayee and the BJP, the NDA was again victorious in 2004 and Naveen Patnaik continued as the Chief Minister but the friction between the ruling partners, the BJD and the BJP was getting more and more apparent,especially after the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/08guest.htm in Kandhamal district of Odisha in 2007–2008 and also active participation Bajrang Dal in Riots.Shri Naveen Patnaik is allegedly involved in Vedanta land scam,mining irregularities

2009 Elections

In the run-up to the polls for the Lok Sabha and Orissa Vidhan Sabha elections in 2009, BJD walked out of the NDA and joined the nascent Third Front constituted mainly by the Left Front and few regional parties.

The BJD won a resounding victory in both the Vidhan Sabha as well as the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, bagging 14 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats and 103 of the 147 assembly seats and was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odisha on May 21, 2009 for the third consecutive term.

Naveen Patnaik is also a founder member of the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

Writing career

He has authored three books: A Second Paradise: Indian Country Life 1590–1947, A Desert Kingdom: The people of Bikaner and the Garden of Life: An introduction to the Healing Plants of India, each one published in India, England and U.S..

References

External links

Official site

Notable personalities of Orissa, including Naveen Patnaik, in Orissadiary website

Orissa's Accidental politician, BBC

Category:Indian politicians Category:Dosco Category:Chief Ministers of Orissa Category:People from Orissa Category:1946 births Category:Living people Category:Biju Janata Dal politicians Category:Scindia School alumni Category:Kirori Mal College alumni Category:Members of Legislative Assembly of Orissa Category:University of Delhi alumni

Name	Ami Suzuki鈴木 亜美
Background	solo_singer
Subject name	Suzuki Ami 鈴木 亜美
Birth name	Suzuki Ami 鈴木 亜美 (surname, Suzuki)
Alias
Born	February 09, 1982
Origin	Zama, Kanagawa, Japan
Genre	J-Pop, Dance-pop, Electropop, Eurobeat
Occupation	singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, model
Instrument	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1998–20012004–present
Label	Sony Music Entertainment Japan1998–2001Amity2004Avex Trax2005–Present
Associated acts	Tetsuya Komuro, Nakata Yasutaka (capsule), Aly & AJ, Kirinji, THC!!, Buffalo Daughter,Ai Otsuka, Northern Bright, Scoobie Do, Kihara Ryoutarou, Ueda Kenji, Ken Harada,Kazuhito Kikuchi, Ayano Tsuji, Hideki Kaji, HΛL, Sugiurumn,S.A. (Studio Apartment),Ram Rider, Captain Funk,Tomoe Shinohara☆☆☆, Rocketman featuring You The Rock★, Hoff Dylan, & Yo-King
Url	Ami Suzuki Official Site

is a female singer, songwriter, actress, DJ and dancer from Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Having been discovered at a Sony Music Entertainment Japan audition, Suzuki was one of the most popular female singers as an idol in the late 1990s. However, in 2000 Suzuki faced legal problems with her management company. In 2005, she signed onto Avex Trax and released "Delightful", a dance song that reached No. 3 on the Japanese Oricon charts. Her current style of music, similar to electronic, is vastly different from when she first became a musician.

Biography

Early life

While attending high school, Ami auditioned for Sony Music Japan's talent show Asayan, the grand prize winner of which would be rewarded with a contract with Sony Music.

The TV show became very popular and the number of viewers watching it grew and grew as the series progressed; its popularity was such that soon it was aired in other Asian countries. From 13,500 contestants, only five girls were chosen to be in the final round, and Ami won the competition supported by 802,157 phone calls from the audience. She was only 15 years old.

1998-2000

Sony Music signed Ami to the label, and producer Tetsuya Komuro sponsored her on his own sub-label on Sony, TRUE KiSS DISC, with Komuro as writer and producer on all of Ami's songs.

In April 1998 Ami recorded her first song and single "Love the Island". The song was written and produced by Tetsuya Komuro, who was on the top of his career at that time, working with popular singers like Namie Amuro and Hitomi. Sony Music and the government of Japan made a deal for use of Ami's song "Love the Island" as the main theme of the "Guam Island Campaign Summer '98", which campaigned for an increase in Japanese tourism in Guam. The song was well promoted, with Ami appearing on covers of magazines like Young Jump and even traveling to Guam to promote the song live on the local version of the international music channel MTV. The single was finally released on July 1, 1998, and debuted at No. 5 on the Oricon charts, which was good for a debut single. Ami's second single, "Alone in My Room" was also used for the Guam campaign, and also did well, debuting at No. 3 on the charts and selling even better than the first single.

As the "Asayan" show has already ended its run, Ami made her radio début in October 1998. The show was called , which topped the radio rankings in popularity. She also signed a deal with the Japanese product Kissmark for advertisements and promotion all around Japan, Asia. Sony began promoting her third single, "All Night Long". The dance song was featured constantly at the most famous discotheque of Japan, Velfarre, and was a big hit. It debuted at No. 2 on the Oricon charts. Later that year, Ami Suzuki won various awards including the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist.

In 1999 it started well for Suzuki with the huge success of her first photo book titled Ami-Go, which sold around 200,000 copies. Later in March of that year, her debut album "SA" was released, becoming one of the Top 10 best selling albums of 1999.

Ami was constantly compared with "rival" Ayumi Hamasaki. The two young female singers were often called "enemies" by the tabloids because they began their careers at the same time and each had potential to be the next "Queen of J-Pop". Both Ami and Ayumi have always denied the rivalry existed. It should be noted that Avex President Max Matsuura who ultimately signed Ami, ending her blacklisting, is also Ayumi Hamasaki's friend and manager, so the rivalry seems to be a friendly one.

At the release of her highly-expected 7th single "Be Together" (which was a cover of TM Network), Ami competed with "rival" Ayumi Hamasaki for the first time for the top position in the charts. Ayumi released her ninth single "Boys & Girls" on the same day. Ami went to the first position at Oricon, leaving Ayumi behind in second. However, "Boys & Girls" would go on to become a #1 single itself and eventually outsell "Be Together". This was the first time Ami reached the number one position in the charts with "Be Together" becoming one of the most popular songs of 1999. Her next single, titled "Our Days", also ranked number one in the charts later that year, becoming a huge hit in Japan. At the end of the year, Ami released her eighth and last single in 1999 entitled "Happy New Millennium", which debuted at #2 and sold 364,000 copies, becoming Ami's second lowest single in 1999.

By the end of January Ami released her first single in 2000 "Don't Need to Say Good Bye" and debut at #5 due to competition from Ringo Shiina's "Tsumi to Batsu", her another single "Gibusu", Morning Musume's "Koi no Dance Site" and Southern All Stars's "Tsunami". It became Ami second #5 single during her Sony era. A week after Ami released her second studio album Infinity Eighteen Vol. 1 and sold 1,063,000 copies making Ami's second highest albums rank after "SA" and debut at #1.

As Ami evolved into a more mature artist, she began writing her own lyrics. The first song Ami wrote, with the help of Mitsuko and Tetsuya Komuro, was her tenth and last Sony single "Don't Need to Say Good Bye". The lyrics were influenced by events occurring in her personal life at that time, specifically her upcoming high school graduation.

Three months after Infinity Eighteen Vol.1, Ami released her twelfth single, "Thank You 4 Every Day Every Body" in the beginning of April and 3rd studio album, Infinity Eighteen Vol.2 at the end of April. "Thank You 4 Every Day Every Body" sold a total of 234,000 copies at #1 and Infinity Eighteen Vol.2 sold a total of 427,000 copies at #2 and also her lowest studio album during her Sony era.

"Reality/Dancin' in Hip-Hop" was Ami's 12th single released under the Sony Music Japan label, on September 27, 2000. It reached #3 on Oricon weekly chart and sold a total of 211,000 copies.

2001-2004

A compilation album of Suzuki's tracks, Fun for Fan, was released on May 30, 2001. It reached #1 position at the Oricon charts. Ami decided to change her stage name from 鈴木あみ (kanji/hiragana) to 鈴木亜美 (completely in Kanji) to try to make a comeback to the music industry. In April 2004 the singer released a photo book called "Tsuyoi Kizuna" with a CD Single included, published by Tokyo-based Bungei Shunju. She made few appearances on TV shows to promote it, and it sold pretty well despite the low promotion, reaching the No. 1 place of the best-selling non-fiction books. In August of the same year, she released a single called "Forever Love" under her own record label, Amity. The release sold well, ranking #21 on Oricon's General Singles Chart and #1 in Oricon's Independent Singles Chart. In addition, a mini-concert DVD was released. The DVD included the two singles released during the year and was titled 2004 Summer Fly Hight -Ami Shower-.

2005-2006

In 2005, she performed live at the annual festival of her university, Nihon University. At the last performance on Ami's nationwide tour, Ami's Love For You-Live, held on December 30 at Tokyo public welfare annuity hall, the transfer to Avex Trax was officially announced and Ami's return to music after three and a half years began.

On January 1, 2005, Ami's official website under the Avex label was officially opened. The promotion of her first single under the new label, "Hopeful", started as well. The release date was scheduled for February, but was later cancelled for unknown reasons. "Hopeful" was never released as a physical single but was known as the first Avex downloadable ring tone and tune single. Despite of this, a music video for the song was later made with a remixed version by Japanese Trance DJ Overhead Champion; the original version of the song was never released on a regular CD, just on Avex airplay promos.

In March, Ami finally marked her return to the music industry with a "comeback" single (a physical CD single) titled "Delightful", a song produced by German "hands up" trance producer Axel Konrad and whose executive producer was Max Matsuura. The trance song was massively promoted by Avex with a diverse array of releases of the single (CD, CD+DVD, CD+Photobook, CD+Illustration Essay), with a different remix on each version, and also a b-side: a ballad "About You...". The single debuted at number 2 in Oricon's charts its first week and became one of the spring hits of the year. "Delightful" got the 97th place in the Oricon's Yearly Top 500 best singles of 2005.

Her second single under Avex, titled "Eventful", also a dance track, had moderate sales, debuting at number nine on Oricon music charts and it got the 245th place in the list of the top 500 best singles of 2005. Later in the year, "Eventful" won a gold prize for Best New Artist at the 47th Nihon Record Taishou on December 31, 2005. The gold prize is awarded to 10 of the top songs of the year. Other winners of the prize for that year include Ai Otsuka and Kumi Koda.

For the release of Ami's third single, Avex and the artist decided to move away from the dance genre and decided to release a ballad, "Negaigoto". "Negaigoto" did not have achieve much success compared to Ami's previous Avex singles, selling only 22,000 copies and debuting at #13 on the Oricon charts. The B-side included on the single, an upbeat song called "Times", was used as the main theme of a TV commercial of N's Street Online Shopping.

During the same month, her new official "Mobile" (via-cell phone) Fan Club Ami Sapuri was founded, and, on her official website, Ami announced that a live tour for promoting her upcoming album would start in the following months. Later, Ami also participated on the 2005 version of A-Nation, a concert where the most popular artists of Avex Trax get together and sing their hits. During A-Nation, Ami performed her singles "Delightful" and "Negaigoto". This was also the first time that Ami shared a tour and the stage with known rival Ayumi Hamasaki.

In October 2005 Ami released her first studio album in five years, and her debut album on Avex Trax. The album was originally going to be called Hopeful, but ended up being titled Around the World. The album included all the singles that Ami released in 2005: "Hopeful", "Delightful", "Eventful", "Negaigoto" and "Around the World" (the single of this song was released the same day of the album). The album was released in four different formats including a version with a bonus DVD with the music videos. The name of her live tour also was changed from Hopeful Tour Live House Body Shake It! to Around the World Live House Tour. Although the album sales were not too bad, sales did not reach the level of Ami's previous albums, selling only 50,000 copies. Also, it was her lowest debut on the Oricon albums charts at number five. However, album sales were helped by the Around the World tour and "Around the World" had successfully reestablished Ami as an artist once more.

The following month Ami took part on the Japanese 55th Anniversary of Snoopy, officially called Snoopy Life Design Happiness is the 55th Anniversary, by recording a song titled "Happiness Is..." which was sold as a CD Single exclusively at the event, which took place in Tokyo.

2006-2007

On December 7, 2005, Ami released her 5th Avex single, "Little Crystal". The Maxi Single was full of Christmas feeling, including four different ballads by four different arrangers. Two different music videos were made to promote the singles, "Crystal" and "To be Free". This was the first of Ami's Avex label CD+DVD releases that did not include any bonus material. Previously, singles with a bonus DVD included behind the scenes footage. "Little Crystal" had poor promotion by the Avex label for unknown reasons, with only one live performance on Music Fighter and at its release it debuted at #22, selling only 15,000 copies in its first month.

Once she finished promoting her latest Avex album, with her first nation-wide tour in five years, Ami was already recording new material. Just two months and a day after "Little Crystal", and one day before Ami's 24th birthday. "Fantastic", the 6th single, was released. The song was her first to be used as an opening theme on an anime series, as the tune for the TV adaptation of the third season of Blackjack. But just like her previous single, "Fantastic" did not get enough recognition, debuting only at #14 with low sales (only 14,000 copies its first week and only 3,000 more copies its second week). At the moment, the single has sold more copies and did pretty well based on its low promotion and debut. It has outsold "Little Crystal", which at the time was her least successful single.

Ami's first remix album, entitled Amix World, was released on March 29, 2006. It contained a remix of the song "Around the World" and of every single Ami released off Avex except for "Little Crystal", plus remixes of some non-single tracks from Ami's album Around the World. The remixers who worked on the album are some of the most popular and recognized artists from Japan's dance scene these days. They include Sham-Poo, M.O.R., and Ferry Corsten, who remixed the songs "Around the World" and "Fantastic". However, the release is not expected to be a big success or a chart-topper. At the end of its first week of sales, the album peaked at the #78 position on the Oricon charts, making it Ami's lowest-charting album to date.

Ami's 7th single was a different style: a little far from the previous trance style and more pop in nature. The music producer HΛL was chosen to work with Ami in "Alright!", a single released on May 17, 2006, and was considerably more cheaply produced than her previous works with a cheaper video and just a few performances. In the first week the single did not even sell ten thousand copies, being one of the lowest-selling singles for the artist in its first week. However, the song has since then sold more copies, which can be considered good.

The 8th single released under Avex, "Like a Love?", was released July 26, 2006. The single had caught more attention before its release mainly because is the first composition of J-Pop singer Ai Otsuka for another artist besides herself, and it was expected to sell considerably because of that. It was also the first music work of Ami with another female singer. The two girls met at 2006's a-nation and became good friends. The single debuted at #13 on its first day and quickly fell down the charts. It ultimately placed at #23 and sold just under 9,000 copies its first week.

Ami debuted in the bigscreen for the first time in the movie Rainbow Song, produced by Shunji Iwai, and it was released on October 28. Ami played the role of a girl called . In her web-diary, Suzuki said that her role in the film is not as major as had been previously stated, but she still considered it a great way to start an acting career. She said that she would like to sing and act at the same time and hopes to achieve that goal.

After a short break, it was announced that Ami would be coming out with new music. She covered two Disney songs, one from Beauty and the Beast and the other was called "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah". These songs were only available on the Disney Music Store Japan's website starting December 20, 2006.

Shortly after the news of Ami's two new Disney songs, it was announced she would be releasing 3 new singles under a new "joins" project. These singles were her first releases of 2007, each one a collaboration with 3 different artists released 3 weeks in a row, starting February 28, finishing with the second Avex album on March 21. The "joins" singles featured the bands Buffalo Daughter, THC!! and Kirinji and received low promotion, and were only minor hits in the Oricon charts. After that, Connetta, her second Avex album, also called the "join" album, debuted at #26 on the Japanese charts, becoming her lowest-selling studio album.

2007-present

Ami's acting career started more seriously: she starred in the live action drama "Skull Man", and also in the Japanese-Korean movie "Magnolia no Hana no Shita de", in which she shot some scenes in New York and Korea. She was also invited for a third time at 2007's a-nation, where she was chosen as the opening act for the whole tour.

At this time she had already recorded a new single, keeping the line of the "join" project, this time with electronic producer and capsule leader Yasutaka Nakata. Her 4th "join" single, and first Avex double A-side single, "Free Free/Super Music Maker", was released on August 22, 2007. For this single's promotion Ami changed drastically her image, from a cute Pop image for a more mature and sexy-erotic style. Her new look was called as "Ero-Pop" by herself and Japanese media, even comparing Ami to singer Kumi Koda. This single did considerably better than the previous "join" singles, debuting at #32 on the Japanese charts, and achieving more than 8 thousand copies sold, little less than the three previous singles sales together.

Suzuki's "join" single was released on November 28, 2007. It is a collaboration with Aly & AJ on their song "Potential Breakup Song", produced by Japanese DJ and musician Sugiurmn.

Ami released her 3rd Avex studio album (6th overall), Dolce on February 6, 2008.

In July 2008, Suzuki released her first non-joins single since 2006's "Like a Love?", "One", produced by Nakata Yasutaka.

Suzuki's 29th single, "Can't Stop the Disco", was released on September 24, 2008. Her 10th anniversary album - her fourth album with avex -, Supreme Show was released on November 12, 2008. It contains 11 tracks - including a remix of "Super Music Maker". Ami also starred in an AVEX 20th Anniversary musical, 'kokoro no Kakera'. This is her debut on a musical.

Suzuki's 30th single, "Reincarnation", was released on February 25, 2009. It was produced by Taku Takahashi of M-Flo. Suzuki recorded a song called Kiss Kiss Kiss that appeared on HOUSE NATION new compilation called Aquamarine that was released on August 5. Suzuki's 31st single "Kiss Kiss Kiss/aishiteru..." was released on October 28, 2009. "Kiss Kiss Kiss" was produced by World Sketch while the other A-side "aishiteru" was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka of Fantastic Plastic Machine.

In 2010, Ami Suzuki's version of Kylie Minogue's international hit "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" appeared on the compliation "Tokyo Girls Collection" 10th Anniversary Runway Anthem Also, Ami collaborated with Phoenix 2:00am for the song, "Living In The Castle" that appeared on "HOUSE NATION 3rd Anniversary"

Beginning in 2009 during her activities for Supreme Show, Suzuki tried her hand at DJing for the first time. In July 2010, she released the album Blooming, a 15-track collection of her own remixes of songs by various artists as well as her own KISS KISS KISS.

Legal problems

In 2000 the young singer's career came to an abrupt halt when Eiji Yamada, the President of her production company AG Communication, was convicted on tax evasion charges. AG Communication was avoiding tax by underreporting their earnings, and by consequence were underpaying royalties to artists. Suzuki Ami's parents sued AG Communication for termination of her contract on these grounds, and that association would taint her squeaky clean image. The Tokyo District Court found in her favor, but the lawsuit resulted in Ami Suzuki's blacklisting because of an unwritten rule of the entertainment business in Japan: artists who get into legal disputes with their masters are blacklisted. In court documents it was revealed that AG Communication was paying her very little to begin with: Despite eight-figure record sales that year, Ami Suzuki earned just $1500 a month at the start of her career, and a minuscule 0.4% royalty rate on CDs, raised to $9780 and 0.55% in 1999.

Ami was faced with the problem of production companies refusing to sign her in and she tried to make a comeback in the next two years with little to no success. Her relationship with her producer, Tetsuya Komuro, also ceased. Many people were convinced that her chances for making a comeback were nil. In 2003, Ami finally negotiated an out-of-court agreement with Sony. Her contract with the label was scheduled to end in December 2004 with no singles or albums released after 2001 by Sony due to her blacklisting.

Particular credit for covering Suzuki Ami's legal problems goes to music journalists Steve McClure writing for the Japan Times and Rori Caffrey for the Daily Yomiuri. The blacklisting was not discussed in the mainstream Japanese Press, and McClure himself was warned against reporting it.

Discography

Sony studio albums

1999: SA

2000: Infinity Eighteen Vol. 1

2000: Infinity Eighteen Vol.2

Sony compilation albums

2001: Fun for Fan

Avex studio albums

2005: Around the World

2007: Connetta

2008: Dolce

2008: Supreme Show

Avex remix albums

2005: Amix World

2010: Blooming

DVD

1st Concert Oh Yeah! 1999 (originally her 1st concert, but released in 2005)

Amigo's Parlor Shake Shake Shake, November 1, 2000

Ami-Go-Round Tour, December 23, 2000

Video Clips Fun for Fan, July 7, 2001

, November 17, 2004

, February 8, 2006

Books

AmiGo, 1999

, 2000 , 2002

Ami Book, 2003

, April 25, 2004

Awards

Filmography

Movie

Rainbow Song (2006)

XX -Makyo Densetsu- (2007)

TVdrama

Fukaku Mogure -Hakkenden 2001- (2000)

Skull Man (2007)

Magnolia no Hana no Shitade (2007)

Itsumo Kimochi ni Switch wo (2007)

Love Letter (2008)

Oishii Depachika (2008)

Ohitorisama (2009)

References

Japanese Wikipedia - Biography Reference Materials Biography Reference Materials

- "If at first you don't succeed", Steve McClure, Japan Times, January 16, 2002.

- "Women whose work is never done", Steve McClure, Japan Times, July 24, 2002.

"Amigo' Suzuki back in the saddle again", Rori Caffrey, Daily Yomiuri. (Article not available online)

"Amigo finds friend in Avex", Steve McClure, Daily Yomiuri. (Article not available online)

External links

Ami Suzuki Official Website

Suzuki Ami Database — Informations / Suzuki Ami Live info — Live info.

Category:1982 births Category:Avex Trax artists Category:Japanese actors Category:Japanese dancers Category:Japanese female singers Category:Japanese-language singers Category:Japanese pop singers Category:Japanese singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:People from Kanagawa Prefecture Category:Nihon University alumni