A comment was left on the blog of November 29, 09. It read as follows-" When thinking or discussing this topic, I can't help but be stumped by the idea of death. Even though I may be mistakenly identified with this body, I can only be aware of things through it. So when the body dies, so does sight, hearing, etc. It seems that any consciousness left would be locked in a black box so to speak." Indeed, a great comment!! There is sure to be a lot of questioning that follows such a thought process.
To answer any questions on death, would it not be appropriate to first address the question of birth? Since, most of us assume birth to be a reality and a fact, it is natural to question the event of birth. But, are you really born? That is the first question to be answered. However, before launching off into this question, let us once again try to unravel the idea of a world and its contents. An analogy is called for at this point because the mind needs some comparison to 'things' it already knows and can associate with.
Let us look at water. It has several qualities including clarity, colorless, liquid, gaseous (as vapor), solid (as ice), white (as snow and ice) tasteless when pure, some taste if impure,flow in the liquid form, and visibility in liquid and solid forms, but quite invisible in the form of rarefied vapor, among many other qualities. All these qualities are of the same water, which to science is H2O. So, one can see that the same water is assuming different forms and qualities. Now, the ice in the glacier becomes the stream, which then joins another stream to become a river. So, in terms of appearance, the ice is 'dead' and 'reappears' as a stream. However, the content is exactly the same i.e H2O or water. The water still remains water, although in a different form and appearance. The river runs its course and joins the ocean where the water merges with the water of the ocean and once it merges with the ocean, then there is no question of separation of the water of the river from the water of the ocean- it all becomes one huge mass of water of the ocean. Again, the river 'dies' to merge with the ocean. The water from the ocean evaporates and becomes the clouds. The clouds drop the water as rain, which again becomes the stream or the river. The clouds may drop the water as snow or ice and the glaciers are formed in the mountains. In either case, it is the same water which has gone round and round in a cycle, each time assuming a different form and appearance. Each time assuming a different quality i.e. ice is different from river water or cloud. The whole cycle of ice, river, ocean, cloud, rain, snow, ice and so on is constantly going on at all times. There is no beginning point in a circle. So, one cannot say that the river is the starting point for the ocean. If so, what about the water vapor which becomes a cloud and then is it the starting point for the whole cycle? Again, all of the various appearance in this cycle are but only water!! The water is the WHOLE in this analogy. The H2O is the unchanging substratum in this analogy.
Having understood this analogy, we can apply the same to your True Nature or THAT. You say that you were born on so and so date in so and so year. Is that your experience or was that told to you? Did you experience your birth? Obviously not! If you did not experience your birth, is it not true that what you believe you are now is a product of what you were told by your parents or the society? So, in reality, what is born is a concept in the mind. A concept of a "me" with a name and associated with this form called the body. You believe you are this body with a name and a mind. The dictionary meaning of belief is "confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof". Based on this belief, you have built a concept of an individual- an individual who believes that he/she is born, lives for a length of time and must also die in the end. The mind creates the concept of time and in this concept of time is a beginning, a middle and an end. You have created a beginning called birth, a middle called the journey of life and an end called death. The concept of being an individual, with a body and mind, gets built on and added to and in the end this belief is so ingrained in the conditioned mind, that the individual believes that he/she will eventually die and then wonders or questions, "what happens to me after death?"!! It is at this stage of the conditioned mind that you are now reading this blog!!
So, now you know, that what is born is just a concept and the same concept eventually dies. What is called birth and death is nothing but the birth of a concept and death of the same concept. Your True Nature is always the same, unchanging, never born,never dies, and always present. You are the whole and not a part. There is no beginning and an end in the whole, just like there is no beginning and an end in a circle. The water remains the same, that is water, irrespective of what appearance or form it appears in. Therefore, even after the 'death of the river water', the water is still present as more water in the river or as water in the ocean or as water in the clouds or the snow or rain. It is just a constant flow in the present. In the same way, even after the appearance of the form of a body is no longer seen (so called death of a person), the functioning continues though not as that body but as other bodies and forms. Consciousness does not remain locked up in the box after death, so to speak. On the contrary, it continues to function as the Universal Consciousness. If it makes it easier to understand, you can say that the personal consciousness merges with the Universal Consciousness (or impersonal consciousness), on the death of the body. Consciousness expresses itself through the medium of a body. The body is needed for the expression of Consciousness in the form of functioning. It is the hearer behind the ear, the seer behind the eyes, the feeler, the taster, the thinker etc. However, all this discussion is just to make it easy to understand from the reference point of an individual. In reality, all of this functioning is actually just an appearance on the screen of THAT. Once the appearance is gone, the screen still remains untouched and unchanged as THAT. Appearances come and go, but THAT (screen) remains the same (Yet another analogy!). THAT is the WHOLE and there is no beginning or ending in the Whole. You are THAT!
Another analogy is presented here. The electricity is the one that makes the functioning of various appliances possible. The appliances are variable and the effects of their functioning is variable, but the electricity is the same. Meaning, the same electricity makes the fan move and blow air, the air conditioner change the temperature of a room, a bulb to provide electricity, a motor to move a machine, a furnace to provide heat, a stove to provide heat for cooking, a radio or a stereo to produce sound. Even though all these appliances are variable in their appearance and functioning, the electricity is the same and the background upon which the various appliances function. The cause (electricity) is the same and the effects (functions of various appliances) are multiple. No electricity, no functioning. If the appliance is "dead", the electricity cannot function through that appliance. It does not mean that the electricity is "dead". The electricity is still there. In the same way, there are many forms and bodies in this universe, and although they all appear different in form and function, they all function because of the Consciousness (same as the electricity!). Again, after the "death of a body", the functioning is no longer possible through that body. Yes, only through that body. It does not mean, that which makes the functioning possible (i.e the consciousness) is "dead".
A concept is not real as it can change at any time. For centuries, mankind had the concept that the earth is flat and now we know it is round and upon gaining this knowledge the concept that the world is flat got demolished, so to speak. In the same way, once the Knowledge of your True Nature or who you really, really ARE, gets established, the concept of being an individual, an individual who is born and who will die gets abolished. One KNOWS that he/she is neither born nor dies. One just always IS. So, can there be any fear of death for one who KNOWS his/her True Nature?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
So, Who is Writing these and for What Purpose?
This posting is to answer the three questions from one Anonymous reader in the previous post titled "Just Stop and Be". The questions were related to this Author's notes under the "About Me" part of the Blog. The questions were related to the description by this Author under the "About me" where this Author mentions that 'the absence of individuality is the reason for these postings'. The questions were as follows: If the above mention About Me is true, then (1) Who is it that posts these writings? (2)And to Whom and (3) For What purpose?
Great questions, no doubt. These are actually not uncommon questions in the field of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. Before we move on to answer the questions, few things have to be clarified. One of the greatest doubts that many seekers and others have about Advaita is how to apply this teaching in day-to day life. On realizing your True Nature, you realize that you are NOT what you see, what you hear, what you sense, what you feel or what you taste. However, it DOES NOT MEAN that you cannot see, you cannot hear, you cannot sense, or you cannot feel or taste. This means that the body, the senses, the thought processes etc. continue despite a deep Understanding of one's own True Identity. This is well described by several teachers in the analogy with the sky. We all know that the sky is actually not blue (it is colorless!), yet we cannot deny that it appears blue. In another analogy, we all know that the water is colorless, yet the sea appears blue and that cannot be denied. So, the loss of one's individuality does not mean that the individual (or individuality) ceases to exist to others. It just becomes clear that the individual is just an appearance, appearing in THAT. Yes, the sense of "I am this body" continues with the difference that previous to the Realization it was confined to just one body. However, after Realization (if there is anything like that), there is clarity that now "I am all the bodies and every-thing". Yet, again, there is no denying that every-body appears separate and apart and distinct.
This needs to be further qualified. All questions must be answered in the state in which they are posed. Meaning, that if a question is asked in the dream state, i.e. a dream question, the answer would also be in the dream state. The answer to a dream question cannot be given in the wakeful state. The mind and duality arise simultaneously in the wakeful state. Do you ask any questions in the deep sleep state? Are you worried about who is posting these writings, for whom and for what purpose? Do you ask what will happen to the world and you? Why not? Because there is no sense of a "me" or this "world" in the deep sleep state!! There is no sense of duality in the deep sleep state. So, these questions are being posed in the wakeful state by a "you", in this dualistic state of mind, which "you" falsely believe to be the true state. Yes, in this state of dualism called the wakeful state, "you" are the "seeker" who reads these postings posted by "another body-called Advaitin", get all "blissful and happy" and then when this "you" falls asleep and goes into deep sleep state, there is no "you", no "Advaitin", no "Advaita Talk", "no feelings of bliss, etc."and yet you EXIST! Not only that, in the absence of the "you", there is actually peace and contentment ( and none of these persistent doubts or questions about Advaita!). Ask anyone about their experience of deep sleep and they answer ' I slept happily'. However, this answer is given in the wakeful state. In their state of deep sleep, can one answer " I am sleeping happily in my deep dreamless state"?!!!
In the deepest sense of Understanding about one's True Nature, there is no one posting these writings (since there is no real "you' or a "me" or "them"), no one reading these writings (since all of this is just an appearance in THAT!), and no real purpose of these writings (if all is ONE, then who is to benefit from this teaching?)!!! There is just THAT. The writer, the writings and one reading the writings are all ONE. In the same way, the knower, the knowing and the known are all ONE. So, the question of who is writing arises only in this state of wakefulness, where duality is an accepted fact. Since mind and duality go hand in hand, the DUAL MIND CAN THEREFORE NEVER COMPREHEND NON-DUALITY. It is only when the mind just gives up, the True Nature (which is Non-dual) becomes very obvious. JUST STOP AND BE! When the thoughts are absent, that is your True Nature. In the absence of thoughts, can anyone describe that state (of absence of thoughts)? How is it ever possible?
Great questions, no doubt. These are actually not uncommon questions in the field of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. Before we move on to answer the questions, few things have to be clarified. One of the greatest doubts that many seekers and others have about Advaita is how to apply this teaching in day-to day life. On realizing your True Nature, you realize that you are NOT what you see, what you hear, what you sense, what you feel or what you taste. However, it DOES NOT MEAN that you cannot see, you cannot hear, you cannot sense, or you cannot feel or taste. This means that the body, the senses, the thought processes etc. continue despite a deep Understanding of one's own True Identity. This is well described by several teachers in the analogy with the sky. We all know that the sky is actually not blue (it is colorless!), yet we cannot deny that it appears blue. In another analogy, we all know that the water is colorless, yet the sea appears blue and that cannot be denied. So, the loss of one's individuality does not mean that the individual (or individuality) ceases to exist to others. It just becomes clear that the individual is just an appearance, appearing in THAT. Yes, the sense of "I am this body" continues with the difference that previous to the Realization it was confined to just one body. However, after Realization (if there is anything like that), there is clarity that now "I am all the bodies and every-thing". Yet, again, there is no denying that every-body appears separate and apart and distinct.
This needs to be further qualified. All questions must be answered in the state in which they are posed. Meaning, that if a question is asked in the dream state, i.e. a dream question, the answer would also be in the dream state. The answer to a dream question cannot be given in the wakeful state. The mind and duality arise simultaneously in the wakeful state. Do you ask any questions in the deep sleep state? Are you worried about who is posting these writings, for whom and for what purpose? Do you ask what will happen to the world and you? Why not? Because there is no sense of a "me" or this "world" in the deep sleep state!! There is no sense of duality in the deep sleep state. So, these questions are being posed in the wakeful state by a "you", in this dualistic state of mind, which "you" falsely believe to be the true state. Yes, in this state of dualism called the wakeful state, "you" are the "seeker" who reads these postings posted by "another body-called Advaitin", get all "blissful and happy" and then when this "you" falls asleep and goes into deep sleep state, there is no "you", no "Advaitin", no "Advaita Talk", "no feelings of bliss, etc."and yet you EXIST! Not only that, in the absence of the "you", there is actually peace and contentment ( and none of these persistent doubts or questions about Advaita!). Ask anyone about their experience of deep sleep and they answer ' I slept happily'. However, this answer is given in the wakeful state. In their state of deep sleep, can one answer " I am sleeping happily in my deep dreamless state"?!!!
In the deepest sense of Understanding about one's True Nature, there is no one posting these writings (since there is no real "you' or a "me" or "them"), no one reading these writings (since all of this is just an appearance in THAT!), and no real purpose of these writings (if all is ONE, then who is to benefit from this teaching?)!!! There is just THAT. The writer, the writings and one reading the writings are all ONE. In the same way, the knower, the knowing and the known are all ONE. So, the question of who is writing arises only in this state of wakefulness, where duality is an accepted fact. Since mind and duality go hand in hand, the DUAL MIND CAN THEREFORE NEVER COMPREHEND NON-DUALITY. It is only when the mind just gives up, the True Nature (which is Non-dual) becomes very obvious. JUST STOP AND BE! When the thoughts are absent, that is your True Nature. In the absence of thoughts, can anyone describe that state (of absence of thoughts)? How is it ever possible?
The mind is however necessary for the sake of understanding one's True Nature. After the Understanding, the mind is still functioning in the state of duality, but it is taken to be just that - a feature of the state of duality. An analogy would be if one is pricked by a thorn, another thorn can be used to remove the thorn and then both are thrown away. In the same way, the mind is used to remove the ignorance and then the mind is "thrown away".
For whom? These writings are for the 'false' seeker. For what purpose? Till such time that the 'false' seeker realizes that he/she is a false entity. Once the seeker realizes that he/she is a false entity, then there is no need for the seeker to read such material. Actually, all of this (the writer, the writings and the reader) is just an appearance in THAT, an illusion, so to speak. The only Reality is THAT, the ONE which is every-thing.
To wrap up, you are already full and complete. There is no one and no-thing that can add or subtract anything to or from you. These writings or teachings are only a means of removal of ignorance and in no way will bring about any glory or greatness to any individual. By imbibing these timeless teachings, one's True Nature is revealed. One does not 'GET' True Nature!
So, you can see that all this discussion is only in the wakeful state and does not apply to the two other states. Just like how "you", the reader, is present now in this state of wakefulness (hopefully this reading did not put you to sleep!), but will not be present in the deep sleep or the dream state. All states come and go and hence are not Real. As Ramana Maharishi said "what comes and goes is not Real". Your True Nature is none of these states, rather it is THAT which is AWARE of these states or AWARENESS itself.
Yes, for all practical purposes, the Author is still a human being, with all the trappings that come with being a human! Nothing great about this Author whatsoever. To prevent any diversion from what is being pointed to, the Author decided not to elaborate on his/her story in this Blog. Often, the seeker tries, sometimes unknowingly, to emulate the teacher and his behaviour. It is not uncommon to see many a Guru, who has this calm and peaceful demeanor about him and the seeker wonders if that is how a Realized would behave. In confusion, the seeker, then gets frustrated if he has feelings or thoughts of anger and wonders why he/she should have these feelings but not the Guru. There is no way the seeker can truly know what thoughts or feelings are arising in the mind of the Guru. Or sometimes, the seeker may try to have the same experience that the teacher had on his way to Realization. Or else, the seeker may compare one teacher to another and get confused as to how one teacher behaves in comparison to the other, but then both are teaching and speaking the same stuff. Diversity is the nature of Duality and one has to accept this. Each object appears uniquely different and no two objects are exactly alike, and yet their True Nature is just ONE.
For whom? These writings are for the 'false' seeker. For what purpose? Till such time that the 'false' seeker realizes that he/she is a false entity. Once the seeker realizes that he/she is a false entity, then there is no need for the seeker to read such material. Actually, all of this (the writer, the writings and the reader) is just an appearance in THAT, an illusion, so to speak. The only Reality is THAT, the ONE which is every-thing.
To wrap up, you are already full and complete. There is no one and no-thing that can add or subtract anything to or from you. These writings or teachings are only a means of removal of ignorance and in no way will bring about any glory or greatness to any individual. By imbibing these timeless teachings, one's True Nature is revealed. One does not 'GET' True Nature!
So, you can see that all this discussion is only in the wakeful state and does not apply to the two other states. Just like how "you", the reader, is present now in this state of wakefulness (hopefully this reading did not put you to sleep!), but will not be present in the deep sleep or the dream state. All states come and go and hence are not Real. As Ramana Maharishi said "what comes and goes is not Real". Your True Nature is none of these states, rather it is THAT which is AWARE of these states or AWARENESS itself.
Yes, for all practical purposes, the Author is still a human being, with all the trappings that come with being a human! Nothing great about this Author whatsoever. To prevent any diversion from what is being pointed to, the Author decided not to elaborate on his/her story in this Blog. Often, the seeker tries, sometimes unknowingly, to emulate the teacher and his behaviour. It is not uncommon to see many a Guru, who has this calm and peaceful demeanor about him and the seeker wonders if that is how a Realized would behave. In confusion, the seeker, then gets frustrated if he has feelings or thoughts of anger and wonders why he/she should have these feelings but not the Guru. There is no way the seeker can truly know what thoughts or feelings are arising in the mind of the Guru. Or sometimes, the seeker may try to have the same experience that the teacher had on his way to Realization. Or else, the seeker may compare one teacher to another and get confused as to how one teacher behaves in comparison to the other, but then both are teaching and speaking the same stuff. Diversity is the nature of Duality and one has to accept this. Each object appears uniquely different and no two objects are exactly alike, and yet their True Nature is just ONE.
Yes, in this state of duality (called wakeful state), these writings are being written by a human, for other humans (and perhaps aliens? who knows?!) and for the sole purpose of revealing to these human beings that they are not really, really, really, human beings, but rather being beings!! Hopefully, that answers the questions. If not, the discussion can always continue. Who cares?!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
JUST STOP AND BE
Non-duality is all about simplicity. Unfortunately this message and pointer is not realized by many a seeker and hence the seeking. This is because the seeker, himself a concept, wishes to conceptualize whatever is pointed to. As the seeker reads more and more, hears more and more, visits several "Gurus", reads more Blogs, the more he moves away from the Reality that is being pointed to (although once the True Nature of one's own identity is realized, it becomes obvious that there is no question of anyone moving away or towards Reality!). The seeker is seeking something in the mind. Some 'thing', that the mind can comprehend as a concept. The mind can create infinite concepts and therefore the confusion and frustration keeps on increasing for the seeker. Words are a form of expression and communication. Therefore, words are necessary, yet paradoxically are also an impediment for the seeker. That is the reason why Ramana Maharishi used silence (mouna) as a form of teaching. In silence, one just IS. That is all?!! Unfortunately, many "Gurus", books or websites, and now Blogs, use abstract words like "Bliss", "Spaciousness", "Bliss of Being", "Peace of Being", "Silence" etc., and they are not wrong in using these words, except that the seeker gets more and more entangled in concepts with each word that is used to describe the Reality. Reality is simply WHAT IS!! No word or concept can describe It or get It. Knowing that the seeker, the "me", is itself a concept, a concept with no substance or independent nature, is the end of seeking. One has to stop chasing Reality. One has to STOP RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW AND QUESTION "WHO IS CHASING"? That is it.
In stopping and looking at the conceptual "me" who is chasing Reality, one literally stops in his tracks, so to speak. Then the process of going backwards begins. Backwards to where the thoughts arise from. Where do thoughts come from? Where did this very thought "I" come from? Can there be a "me" without thinking? If there are no thoughts, do I still exist? (the answer to this last question is obviously, yes). If I exist in the absence of thoughts, am I not this Existence itself?
Put these questions to yourself, right here and right now. Stop what you are doing including reading this material. Just STOP and BE! Let the One which is All, merge the "me"(which is but a thought), into Itself. Remain as THAT ONE.
In stopping and looking at the conceptual "me" who is chasing Reality, one literally stops in his tracks, so to speak. Then the process of going backwards begins. Backwards to where the thoughts arise from. Where do thoughts come from? Where did this very thought "I" come from? Can there be a "me" without thinking? If there are no thoughts, do I still exist? (the answer to this last question is obviously, yes). If I exist in the absence of thoughts, am I not this Existence itself?
Put these questions to yourself, right here and right now. Stop what you are doing including reading this material. Just STOP and BE! Let the One which is All, merge the "me"(which is but a thought), into Itself. Remain as THAT ONE.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Nirvana - as described by Sri Shankaracharya
This is the English translation of one of the works of Sri Shankaracharya, the great philosopher of Non-Dualism. This work points directly to who you really, really ARE. Read the stanzas carefully and ponder over the meaning behind each of the sentences. Remember, the words are just pointers to the Truth/Reality. Words by themselves are not the Truth/Reality. They just point to the Truth of who you really are. On meditating on these pointers at all times, one gains Realization of his/her True Self. Like a cow chewing on the cud, one must constantly keep the mind focused on the nature of one's True Self.
SIX STANZAS ON NIRVANA
1. Om. I am neither the mind, intelligence, ego, nor chitta (seat of memory;
Neither the ears nor the tongue, nor the senses of smell and sight;
Neither ether, nor air nor fire nor water nor earth;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
2. I am neither the Prana (the vital force that sustains life in a physical body), nor the five vital breaths (describing the various functions of prana or vital force);
Neither the seven elements of the body (i.e. water, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow and semen), nor its five sheaths (also called Koshas in Sanskrit, the sheaths of food, prana, mind, intelligence and bliss);
Nor the hands, the feet, nor the tongue, nor the organs of action;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
3. Neither greed nor delusion, loathing nor liking, have I;
Nothing of pride or ego, of dharma or liberation;
Neither desire of the mind nor an object for its desiring;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
4. Nothing of pleasure and pain, virtue and vice, do I know;
Of mantra or sacred place, of Vedas or sacrifice (meaning various rituals);
Neither am I the eater, the food nor the act of eating;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
5. Death or fear I have none, nor any distinction of caste;
Neither father nor mother nor even a birth, have I;
Neither friend nor comrade,neither disciple nor guru;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
6. I have no form or fancy, the All-Pervading am I;
Everywhere I exist, and yet am beyond the senses;
Neither salvation am I, nor anything to be known;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
Need anyone say more? Here the name of Siva is used to mean the Eternal Truth/Awareness/Brahman.
SIX STANZAS ON NIRVANA
1. Om. I am neither the mind, intelligence, ego, nor chitta (seat of memory;
Neither the ears nor the tongue, nor the senses of smell and sight;
Neither ether, nor air nor fire nor water nor earth;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
2. I am neither the Prana (the vital force that sustains life in a physical body), nor the five vital breaths (describing the various functions of prana or vital force);
Neither the seven elements of the body (i.e. water, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow and semen), nor its five sheaths (also called Koshas in Sanskrit, the sheaths of food, prana, mind, intelligence and bliss);
Nor the hands, the feet, nor the tongue, nor the organs of action;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
3. Neither greed nor delusion, loathing nor liking, have I;
Nothing of pride or ego, of dharma or liberation;
Neither desire of the mind nor an object for its desiring;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
4. Nothing of pleasure and pain, virtue and vice, do I know;
Of mantra or sacred place, of Vedas or sacrifice (meaning various rituals);
Neither am I the eater, the food nor the act of eating;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
5. Death or fear I have none, nor any distinction of caste;
Neither father nor mother nor even a birth, have I;
Neither friend nor comrade,neither disciple nor guru;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
6. I have no form or fancy, the All-Pervading am I;
Everywhere I exist, and yet am beyond the senses;
Neither salvation am I, nor anything to be known;
I AM Eternal Bliss and Awareness - I am Siva! I am Siva!
Need anyone say more? Here the name of Siva is used to mean the Eternal Truth/Awareness/Brahman.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
What makes the body sentient?
We falsely believe ourselves to be the body. Are you really the body? Let us see why we are not the body. The body itself is insentient, meaning it is inanimate. Modern science has revealed that the body is more than 90% water. The remaining is made up of carbon and other elements, oxygen and space between the molecules. We know that when a person "dies", the body is still there initially till it is buried or cremated. However, it is a non-functioning body. Obviously, something is missing, for the body is no longer sentient. So, what makes the body sentient? What is that some- thing or no-thing, which when it is missing, the body is no longer sentient. Think over this.
Now give careful thought to the following. Since the body is made up mostly of water, elements and oxygen, are these capable of functioning? Can the water speak? Can the water listen? Can the water have any sensations? Can the water think? Can the water have any sense of smell? Can the water itself have the sense of taste? In the same way, can any of the elements or oxygen or space, function in any way similar to a sentient human or animal? Can you deny the fact that the water inside the body is the same as a water that is in the lakes, the river or for that matter in the rainfall? Is the carbon inside the body any different from the carbon that is out there in the world of objects? Is the oxygen inside the body any different from the oxygen in the atmosphere? The answer to all of these questions is 'obviously not'. It therefore becomes quite clear that the body itself is incapable of functioning. There is some-thing or no-thing other than the body that makes the body function and become sentient.
In the same way, since we think and we believe that the mind is in the brain, we can realize that we are not the mind also, since the mind is in the body. What exactly makes one believe that they are the body or the mind? It is obvious that any belief is only a thought. The dictionary meaning of 'belief' is confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof. Therefore, the thought that you are the body or the mind, is precisely that i.e. a thought, a false belief. Since thoughts are transient and have no substance, you have falsely believed yourself to be the body or the mind. Can you have any thoughts without the life essence itself? Meaning, can you have thoughts if you were "dead"? Therefore, thoughts by themselves have no independence apart from the THAT life essence. Does it not imply that the entire belief in the idea that you are an individual with a body and mind, is nothing but just thoughts? Thoughts that have no independent existence by themselves! You are what IS, prior to thoughts. So, if you leave the thoughts alone, your existence is already THAT, pure and simple, unadulterated and beyond any concepts. So, the problem is the thinking that you are an individual, an individual with a body and mind. Stop this delusion and you realize that you are already THAT!!
Now give careful thought to the following. Since the body is made up mostly of water, elements and oxygen, are these capable of functioning? Can the water speak? Can the water listen? Can the water have any sensations? Can the water think? Can the water have any sense of smell? Can the water itself have the sense of taste? In the same way, can any of the elements or oxygen or space, function in any way similar to a sentient human or animal? Can you deny the fact that the water inside the body is the same as a water that is in the lakes, the river or for that matter in the rainfall? Is the carbon inside the body any different from the carbon that is out there in the world of objects? Is the oxygen inside the body any different from the oxygen in the atmosphere? The answer to all of these questions is 'obviously not'. It therefore becomes quite clear that the body itself is incapable of functioning. There is some-thing or no-thing other than the body that makes the body function and become sentient.
In the same way, since we think and we believe that the mind is in the brain, we can realize that we are not the mind also, since the mind is in the body. What exactly makes one believe that they are the body or the mind? It is obvious that any belief is only a thought. The dictionary meaning of 'belief' is confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof. Therefore, the thought that you are the body or the mind, is precisely that i.e. a thought, a false belief. Since thoughts are transient and have no substance, you have falsely believed yourself to be the body or the mind. Can you have any thoughts without the life essence itself? Meaning, can you have thoughts if you were "dead"? Therefore, thoughts by themselves have no independence apart from the THAT life essence. Does it not imply that the entire belief in the idea that you are an individual with a body and mind, is nothing but just thoughts? Thoughts that have no independent existence by themselves! You are what IS, prior to thoughts. So, if you leave the thoughts alone, your existence is already THAT, pure and simple, unadulterated and beyond any concepts. So, the problem is the thinking that you are an individual, an individual with a body and mind. Stop this delusion and you realize that you are already THAT!!
Open up your heart
Very often, a seeker is very frustrated as he/she is not able to grasp what is being pointed to by the teacher. This is not uncommon and we will briefly look at what results in this frustration. The problem is that the person approaches this teaching with his head, i.e. as an individual with an independent mind. From the perspective of the mind, the subject of non-duality is beyond comprehension. For duality is the nature of the mind. Remember the mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts. All thoughts are, by nature itself, in opposites. Meaning one cannot think about black without thinking about it in contrast to white. When one thinks of good, it is the opposite of bad. When one thinks of small, it is the opposite of large. So, don't try to grasp this teaching with the mind. It is only when one stops thinking, that the essence of the teaching becomes obvious. Don't forget, that you already are THAT.
It is only when this teaching is approached from the heart rather than from the mind, the simplicity of this teaching becomes obvious. We often hear of people having a heart to heart chat or communication. In a similar way, when one approaches this teaching with an open mind, without any preconceptions, without any preconceived notions, without any thoughts or ideas of "getting it", with an open heart, there is immediately the resonance with what is being pointed to. After all, it is the consciousness itself communicating with consciousness. Upon hearing this teaching, there is immediate resonance somewhere deep within, which is what many teachers point to as the heart. Approach this teaching, with earnest desire and do not worry about the outcome.
It is only when this teaching is approached from the heart rather than from the mind, the simplicity of this teaching becomes obvious. We often hear of people having a heart to heart chat or communication. In a similar way, when one approaches this teaching with an open mind, without any preconceptions, without any preconceived notions, without any thoughts or ideas of "getting it", with an open heart, there is immediately the resonance with what is being pointed to. After all, it is the consciousness itself communicating with consciousness. Upon hearing this teaching, there is immediate resonance somewhere deep within, which is what many teachers point to as the heart. Approach this teaching, with earnest desire and do not worry about the outcome.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Is there really an individual?
The basic problem is not the lack of understanding what is being told by the ancient sages. The problem is the fact that one often approaches the knowledge as an individual. As long as there is an idea or the thought that one is an individual (the dictionary meaning of 'individual' is 'a distinct indivisible entity'-how ironical!), one cannot "get it". Can there really be two selves? Obviously not! There is only one Self and that is unquestionable. In that case, who is this other self who wants to know about the Self? ( In this case Self means the pure I AM, or the Absolute Consciousness or Brahman/ Atman). Therefore, unless and until one establishes the identity of this other self, there is no way the understanding will be complete. So, let us look at who exactly is this individual, the small self, the seeker who wants to know.
One has to track backwards to where the idea of individuality first arose. As an infant there is no idea of individuality. Everything is just as it is, without idea of separation of 'I' and 'not-I'. The infant does not see himself/herself as a separate entity in this world around him/her. It is therefore not uncommon for little children to speak in third person. For instance, a kid may say "Jimmy want water", or "Jimmy hungry", meaning he wants water or that he is hungry. He does not as yet say, "I want water" or "I am hungry". He thinks that since everyone calls the body as Jimmy, he also assumes the body (his body) is Jimmy- a third person. Subsequently, somewhere between 18 months and 3 years of age, repeated reinforcement and conditioning of the mind takes place and establishes the idea that 'I' means this body. The mother may repeatedly enforce the idea that she is the Mommy and he is Jimmy. Slowly, the idea of 'I am the body" and whatever is not this body is "not-I" gets established. This is where the idea of separation starts. Separation of this 'I' from the rest of the world. A creation of a false subject called 'I', the first person, is established. He gets the idea of 'mine' and 'not-mine' or 'theirs' etc. This separation of what is essentially One into multiples is the beginning of suffering. There is thereafter a constant sense of incompleteness and a longing for completeness. This longing for completeness is called suffering. This separation results in a feeling of insecurity and vulnerability. A feeling that someone out there will eventually take away what one has. This results in one closing the open doors to the world out there. The open-ness is no longer there. One becomes more and more encased in an artificially created shell to protect this identity of individuality. The innocence that is associated with early childhood is slowly lost as the sense of being separate is reinforced more and more as the years go by. This results in suffering as there is feeling of incompleteness. The seeking (for fullness and completeness, essentially translated as peace) begins at this early stage of life. A seeking for completeness. A seeking for peace and happiness. A seeking for something, any thing which many don't know what but still look for. Unfortunately, the seeking may result in looking for a thing, an object and this may cause more suffering as it may bring only transient happiness. This seeking may manifest itself as hoarding of objects (called materialism) or plunging oneself into other ventures like religion, spirituality (called spiritualism), drugs, alcohol, relationships, or anything else, that will for a short period of time take away the thought of individuality, thus resulting in transient peace. This peace is what one is constantly seeking. However, one wants permanent peace in the world of transient objects!! Is that really possible?! This seeking for an end to suffering is the reason you are reading this material. What you are really seeking(although unknowingly) is an end to the very idea of individuality.
When one feels happy, it is the absence of individuality, meaning thereby one forgets oneself. In that momentary forgetfulness, there is a feeling of fullness and contentment. The end of separation, however transient as it may be, is what one is looking for. Although, one may not know it! It becomes clear that one can be at peace only when one loses oneself! In fact, this is experienced by all every single day. In deep sleep, there is no idea of 'I am the body' or 'I am the mind', or ' I am a man' or 'I am so and so' . Yet, there is undeniable peace experienced by all in deep sleep. Even though the individual is absent in deep dreamless sleep, one cannot deny that they exist. Who is this one that exists in deep dreamless sleep? Obviously, there is no Jimmy in deep dreamless sleep. The One who exists in deep dreamless sleep is the Real YOU! Yet, you say, I do not know who this One is. This is because, you expect this One to be an object like all other objects. Can the Subject be the object? If so, how can it be called the Subject? Can you please describe objectively your experience in deep dreamless sleep? Obviously, not! What you can say with conviction and certainty is the experience of peace in deep dreamless sleep. Is that not why we look forward to sleeping? Even though we know very well that we will kill the very idea of individuality that we so carefully preserve during the waking hours? If we really cared about the individual, would we ever sleep, knowing that the individual will be lost in deep sleep? Innately, we all want to lose the individuality, since we innately know the peace that comes with losing the sense of individuality, the sense of a separate "I".
Thus by inquiry into this individual, this "I-thought", one can come to know the falseness of this individual. By knowing what you are not, you know who you really,really ARE. For you already are THAT. Just remove this sense of being a separate individual. Knowing that there is no-one (meaning no individual) here to have knowledge or ignorance is the key to the final Understanding of the sayings of the ancient sages and rishis.
One has to track backwards to where the idea of individuality first arose. As an infant there is no idea of individuality. Everything is just as it is, without idea of separation of 'I' and 'not-I'. The infant does not see himself/herself as a separate entity in this world around him/her. It is therefore not uncommon for little children to speak in third person. For instance, a kid may say "Jimmy want water", or "Jimmy hungry", meaning he wants water or that he is hungry. He does not as yet say, "I want water" or "I am hungry". He thinks that since everyone calls the body as Jimmy, he also assumes the body (his body) is Jimmy- a third person. Subsequently, somewhere between 18 months and 3 years of age, repeated reinforcement and conditioning of the mind takes place and establishes the idea that 'I' means this body. The mother may repeatedly enforce the idea that she is the Mommy and he is Jimmy. Slowly, the idea of 'I am the body" and whatever is not this body is "not-I" gets established. This is where the idea of separation starts. Separation of this 'I' from the rest of the world. A creation of a false subject called 'I', the first person, is established. He gets the idea of 'mine' and 'not-mine' or 'theirs' etc. This separation of what is essentially One into multiples is the beginning of suffering. There is thereafter a constant sense of incompleteness and a longing for completeness. This longing for completeness is called suffering. This separation results in a feeling of insecurity and vulnerability. A feeling that someone out there will eventually take away what one has. This results in one closing the open doors to the world out there. The open-ness is no longer there. One becomes more and more encased in an artificially created shell to protect this identity of individuality. The innocence that is associated with early childhood is slowly lost as the sense of being separate is reinforced more and more as the years go by. This results in suffering as there is feeling of incompleteness. The seeking (for fullness and completeness, essentially translated as peace) begins at this early stage of life. A seeking for completeness. A seeking for peace and happiness. A seeking for something, any thing which many don't know what but still look for. Unfortunately, the seeking may result in looking for a thing, an object and this may cause more suffering as it may bring only transient happiness. This seeking may manifest itself as hoarding of objects (called materialism) or plunging oneself into other ventures like religion, spirituality (called spiritualism), drugs, alcohol, relationships, or anything else, that will for a short period of time take away the thought of individuality, thus resulting in transient peace. This peace is what one is constantly seeking. However, one wants permanent peace in the world of transient objects!! Is that really possible?! This seeking for an end to suffering is the reason you are reading this material. What you are really seeking(although unknowingly) is an end to the very idea of individuality.
When one feels happy, it is the absence of individuality, meaning thereby one forgets oneself. In that momentary forgetfulness, there is a feeling of fullness and contentment. The end of separation, however transient as it may be, is what one is looking for. Although, one may not know it! It becomes clear that one can be at peace only when one loses oneself! In fact, this is experienced by all every single day. In deep sleep, there is no idea of 'I am the body' or 'I am the mind', or ' I am a man' or 'I am so and so' . Yet, there is undeniable peace experienced by all in deep sleep. Even though the individual is absent in deep dreamless sleep, one cannot deny that they exist. Who is this one that exists in deep dreamless sleep? Obviously, there is no Jimmy in deep dreamless sleep. The One who exists in deep dreamless sleep is the Real YOU! Yet, you say, I do not know who this One is. This is because, you expect this One to be an object like all other objects. Can the Subject be the object? If so, how can it be called the Subject? Can you please describe objectively your experience in deep dreamless sleep? Obviously, not! What you can say with conviction and certainty is the experience of peace in deep dreamless sleep. Is that not why we look forward to sleeping? Even though we know very well that we will kill the very idea of individuality that we so carefully preserve during the waking hours? If we really cared about the individual, would we ever sleep, knowing that the individual will be lost in deep sleep? Innately, we all want to lose the individuality, since we innately know the peace that comes with losing the sense of individuality, the sense of a separate "I".
Thus by inquiry into this individual, this "I-thought", one can come to know the falseness of this individual. By knowing what you are not, you know who you really,really ARE. For you already are THAT. Just remove this sense of being a separate individual. Knowing that there is no-one (meaning no individual) here to have knowledge or ignorance is the key to the final Understanding of the sayings of the ancient sages and rishis.
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