Who is actually seeing? Who is actually knowing? Who is the real perceiver? These are the questions that every seeker for the Truth should ask oneself. The pointers here may make the answers come easier. Remember, the pointers are not the Truth itself.
There is just this knowing, seeing, hearing, thinking, and doing. The eye does not say it is seeing. The ear does not say it is hearing. The body does not say it is doing something. The brain does not say it is thinking and knowing. The organs by themselves do not claim ownership of the function that is being performed through them. The eye cannot see by itself, can it? If it could, then one could take his one eye out and leave it at home and say "I am keeping one eye on things happening at home"! The ear cannot hear by itself. Obviously, this functioning is possible only when some other power is already present.
What is actually happening in that case? Let us take the example of knowing. Knowing is happening as an appearance in this ever present Awareness. The thought "I", which is merely a thought, a thought of a personality, a mental construct of an entity based on memory and conditioning of the mind, comes into play. This "I-thought" cannot exist without attaching itself to some event or object, be it the mind or the body or another thought or object of perception. The "I-thought" interprets the pure knowing as "I am the knower". The object of the knowledge then becomes the known. In this way, what was pure knowing, becomes split into a subject and an object, a knower and the known.
In the same way, there is seeing. The eye does not say "I see". Seeing is happening even without anyone claiming ownership of the function. However, the "I-thought", immediately takes ownership of the function, and claims it as "I am seeing, I am the seer", thereby creating in the thought pattern a subject (seer) and the object (seen). The fact is that a thought cannot see!! Just think over this carefully. Can a thought actually see? Can a thought actually hear? Can a thought actually do anything?
What you think you are is just that. A thought!! If you just stop thinking, even for a moment, you still exist. Try this yourself. Why is that? It is because, you are obviously not a thought. The Awareness that you are, is prior to any thought. It is just that this Awareness, gets translated into a thought, "I am". You do not have to repeatedly remind yourself, " I am, I am" to know that you exist!! Obviously, existence or Awareness is the background on which all thoughts appear including the primary thought "I am". This primary thought "I am" must be investigated for what it is, just a thought. In deep dreamless sleep, there are no thoughts including the thought "I am" and yet you exist. What is your identity then ( in deep dreamless sleep)? In deep dreamless sleep, you still exist despite absence of identity of the body, mind, or the world. For, in the morning, you wake up and with certainty say "I slept". This continuous Awareness, was there throughout the states of deep dreamless sleep, dream sleep and wakeful state.
It is because, one becomes stuck (or firmly believes in) with the identity assumed during the wakeful state, that there is unnecessary suffering. Be free of this false identity assumed during the waking state and see what happens. You realize that everything just is happening spontaneously. Investigate, know and BE.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
With what effort are you existing?
Are you awake at this moment? Can you deny you exist at this moment? Can you say "I am not here" at this moment? Have you ever wondered as to why you can say so with certainty? The knowledge that "you are" was not obtained by any effort on part of the entity called "you". Would you agree with what is written above? If so, then why is this "you" still seeking? Is it not because of your strong ( but false and we will see why "false" later on) belief in the independent existence of the entity called "you". This "you" that you call "me" is the belief that it is the body that is sitting in front of the computer right now. You are very certain that this body is what you call a "me". Let us look at the definition of the word "belief". Belief is defined in the dictionary ( and not by this writer) as " confidence in the existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof".
Now, where exactly or what is the locus (a center or source, as of activities or power- dictionary meaning of locus) of this entity called "me" in the body? Is it in the hands or feet, or is it in the heart or in the stomach or in the brain? Can you find an exact location for this "me"? OK, you say it is in the brain- frequent answer, right? If so, when the brain is in deep sleep mode and there is no"me" (or for that matter no world or any other object) does the heart stop beating or the digestion stop or the other functions of the body halt? OK, alright, let us look at the example of the wakeful state. You say the entity "me" is in the brain (your head!), then can this "me" stop the food once it is beyond the palate and in the throat? Can the "me" say "let me stop the process of digestion since I dislike this digestive process" and actually stop it? Can the "me' stop the formation of urine by the kidneys? Can the "me" decide on which cells the skin must shed today? So on and so forth. The answer is obvious. There is no locus for the "me" anywhere in the body in particular. If so, you would have found it on your own investigation (not based on any belief system or what is written here).
The body itself is formed from a sperm and ovum. The sperm and the ovum are formed from the essence of the food consumed by the parents. The life essence or prana or chi (call it what you like) is present in the sperm and the ovum. Who gives the orders to a particular sperm to make its way up to the uterus? Mind you, there are millions of sperms and only one makes it and that too not everytime there is conjugal love.
This sperm and ovum, then multiply and divide into specialized organ systems, all without the entity called "me" being there. In fact, the original sperm and ovum are no longer even existing in this body that you call "me" sitting in front of the computer and reading this message. In fact, every single moment millions of cells in the body are dying and being replaced by new ones. The body is constantly changing and if indeed you were the body, then you are constantly dying and being born again and again every moment!! But, that is not what you THINK this "me" is. You think the "me" dies only when the body as a whole dies. But, you now cannot deny the fact that the body is constantly changing (dying and recreated every moment). Correct? The "me" is just an imagination, an entity in the mind, a picture in the mind. It has no reality whatsoever.
Can this thought of a "me" even come up without the life force or consciousness at this very moment? The idea ( and that is all that the "me" is, just an idea, a thought) of a "me" cannot exist independent of the consciousness (or awareness, if you like). As noted above the "me" has no substance whatsoever!
After investigation as above, is it not fair to say that the whole idea of a "me" wanting to "attain" this enlightenment or nirvana or moksha(liberation) or gaining knowledge of the Awareness or Brahman, is but a figment of the imagination? A figment of the imagination of the "me", which in itself is an imaginary entity, with no independent nature or substance whatsoever apart from the Awareness (intelligence energy, life force, Brahman or whatever else you like to call THAT).
Rest in the awareness that you already are. You cannot be anything else (even if you don't like it!!). All there is, IS AWARENESS. You cannot say " I am NOT aware", "I do NOT exist" with certainty.
Now, where exactly or what is the locus (a center or source, as of activities or power- dictionary meaning of locus) of this entity called "me" in the body? Is it in the hands or feet, or is it in the heart or in the stomach or in the brain? Can you find an exact location for this "me"? OK, you say it is in the brain- frequent answer, right? If so, when the brain is in deep sleep mode and there is no"me" (or for that matter no world or any other object) does the heart stop beating or the digestion stop or the other functions of the body halt? OK, alright, let us look at the example of the wakeful state. You say the entity "me" is in the brain (your head!), then can this "me" stop the food once it is beyond the palate and in the throat? Can the "me" say "let me stop the process of digestion since I dislike this digestive process" and actually stop it? Can the "me' stop the formation of urine by the kidneys? Can the "me" decide on which cells the skin must shed today? So on and so forth. The answer is obvious. There is no locus for the "me" anywhere in the body in particular. If so, you would have found it on your own investigation (not based on any belief system or what is written here).
The body itself is formed from a sperm and ovum. The sperm and the ovum are formed from the essence of the food consumed by the parents. The life essence or prana or chi (call it what you like) is present in the sperm and the ovum. Who gives the orders to a particular sperm to make its way up to the uterus? Mind you, there are millions of sperms and only one makes it and that too not everytime there is conjugal love.
This sperm and ovum, then multiply and divide into specialized organ systems, all without the entity called "me" being there. In fact, the original sperm and ovum are no longer even existing in this body that you call "me" sitting in front of the computer and reading this message. In fact, every single moment millions of cells in the body are dying and being replaced by new ones. The body is constantly changing and if indeed you were the body, then you are constantly dying and being born again and again every moment!! But, that is not what you THINK this "me" is. You think the "me" dies only when the body as a whole dies. But, you now cannot deny the fact that the body is constantly changing (dying and recreated every moment). Correct? The "me" is just an imagination, an entity in the mind, a picture in the mind. It has no reality whatsoever.
Can this thought of a "me" even come up without the life force or consciousness at this very moment? The idea ( and that is all that the "me" is, just an idea, a thought) of a "me" cannot exist independent of the consciousness (or awareness, if you like). As noted above the "me" has no substance whatsoever!
After investigation as above, is it not fair to say that the whole idea of a "me" wanting to "attain" this enlightenment or nirvana or moksha(liberation) or gaining knowledge of the Awareness or Brahman, is but a figment of the imagination? A figment of the imagination of the "me", which in itself is an imaginary entity, with no independent nature or substance whatsoever apart from the Awareness (intelligence energy, life force, Brahman or whatever else you like to call THAT).
Rest in the awareness that you already are. You cannot be anything else (even if you don't like it!!). All there is, IS AWARENESS. You cannot say " I am NOT aware", "I do NOT exist" with certainty.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
You impose your own limits
It is once againemphasized that you are already full and complete and apart from clear Understanding of this Knowledge and removal of Ignorance (that you are an individual with a body and mind), nothing else needs to be done. It would be appropriate to bring forth a profound quote from Ramana Maharshi:
"You impose limits to your true nature of infinite being, then, you get displeased to be only a limited creature, then you begin spiritual practices to transcend these non-existing limits. But if you are practice itself implies the existence of these limits, how could they allow you to transcend them?"
Enough said.
"You impose limits to your true nature of infinite being, then, you get displeased to be only a limited creature, then you begin spiritual practices to transcend these non-existing limits. But if you are practice itself implies the existence of these limits, how could they allow you to transcend them?"
Enough said.
Being and becoming
It is very easy for one to not notice the subtle presence that we are. One does not have to do anything to BE. Due to significant conditioning of the mind, and the strong establishment of the entity called "me", one feels the need to do something to find the elusive Awareness/Being that one hears about. Despite several pointers to the fact that one has to BE, before anything else can be "done", many are unable to understand this pointer. The entity called "me 'feels inadequate, feels something is missing, and something must be done to attain this Awareness. They feel that they have to make some effort to "get there". At this very moment, can you deny your existence? At this very moment, can you deny that you are? This very existence, which we call awareness/presence, is very clear and evident to everyone. All thoughts arise as a result of and in this presence-awareness. If you are not present at this moment, you would not be able to read this message! There is nothing that an entity called "me"is doing to be aware. Did you do anything to be awake/aware? Did not wakefulness appears spontaneously this morning?
One cannot become what one already is. One cannot "get to" Being. One is Being.
One cannot become what one already is. One cannot "get to" Being. One is Being.
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