tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post4957851563865949250..comments2023-10-16T13:06:42.360+01:00Comments on Happiness of Being: The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi: The ego seems to exist only because we have not looked at it carefully enough to see that there is no such thingMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-57026608728033705602018-08-25T08:39:48.741+01:002018-08-25T08:39:48.741+01:00When Michael James told the neo-advaitin Frank thu...When Michael James told the neo-advaitin Frank thus:<br /><br />I suggested that we should trust not only Bhagavan but also his advice that ‘we should persevere in looking at ourself until we see that what exists is only pure, infinite, indivisible, immutable and eternal self-awareness’, <br /><br />Neo-advaitin Frank's typical "neo-advaitish" reply to Michael James:<br /><br />This is actually a point of disagreement among us. I am like Hume, I look and I cannot find, which I believe is a statement of self-awareness, rather than ignorance. You have misread me, as you have misread Hume, and this is also the Zen/Buddhist (as well as contemporary) strand of thinking. What do you think? Hume can’t find anything because he is that — philosophers hit on this all the time, throughout the millennia. Bhagavan is not special, though he is to us, in this regard, right?<br /><br />Monday, 30 April 2018<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-87807608909047635522018-08-25T08:21:36.316+01:002018-08-25T08:21:36.316+01:00More "bummer neo-advaita nonsense from Frank&...More "bummer neo-advaita nonsense from Frank" Michael James had to deal with:<br /><br />13. The I who says I can’t find the ego is itself the ego whom it says it can’t find<br /><br />F: Did Bhagavan see egos?<br /><br />M: Bhagavan sees no egos, because he looked at himself carefully and saw that there is no such thing, and hence no other problems. However, since we come to him complaining of problems, he advised us to look carefully at ourself to see whether there is any ego.<br /><br />F: I couldn’t find it.<br /><br />M: The ego seems to exist (even if we mentally or verbally deny its existence) only because we do not look at it carefully enough.<br /><br />F: I see. But I can’t find the ego. Mentally is ego, verbally is ego — so none of it exists, right?<br /><br />M: You say you cannot find it because you haven’t looked carefully enough. If you look carefully enough no one will remain to say I couldn’t find it.<br /><br />F: I agree. But I can’t find it. What to do?<br /><br />M: Look harder until nothing remains to say I can’t find it.<br /><br />F: I can’t find it. It is gone. I can’t even ‘look’ anymore.<br /><br />M: The I who says I can’t find it or I can’t even look is itself the ego whom it says it can’t find.<br /><br />F: I agree. So, I am an ego. Bummer.<br /><br />M: Yes, a real bummer, but a bummer only because we are not yet truly willing to let go of it.<br /><br />F: Oh well, next time.<br /><br />M: So long as we say ‘next time’ we cannot get rid of it. Only when we recognise that we have to look and see its non-existence here and now, not at any other place or time, will we get rid of it.<br /><br />Monday, 30 April 2018<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-88577171081651656722018-08-25T07:58:33.591+01:002018-08-25T07:58:33.591+01:00More examples of the typical neo-advaitin talks( b...More examples of the typical neo-advaitin talks( by Frank) (western non-dualism) Michael James had to encounter:<br /><br />11. Bhagavan focused his teachings on the ego more than on That, because we need to investigate the ego in order to know That.<br /><br />F: Well, I am ignorant of those works you are proficient in. But the Bhagavan I know mentions That more than ego. It doesn’t exist.<br /><br />Obviously I know them, but you’ve read them more than anyone probably.<br /><br />But if we are that, there is no one to do vicāra.<br /><br />M: Are we that? Not so long as we rise as ‘I’, or at least we seem not to be that as long as we rise as ‘I’.<br /><br />F: We are always that — you put more emphasis on illusion than reality, why?<br /><br />M: That is always that, so it is not a problem, and has no problem. The problem is the ego, the one who has all problems, and it can get rid of itself only by focusing on itself.<br /><br />F: I agree, but who has the problems?<br /><br />M: The ego, of course, only the ego.<br /><br />Bhagavan focused his teachings on the ego more than on that, for the reason he explained in verse 27 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu (cited above).<br /><br />F: Yes, but I’m thinking of his spoken teachings.<br /><br />M: Bhagavan’s core teachings are the same, whether written or spoken.<br /><br />But many of his replies are not his core teachings, because they were said in answer to the questions of ‘others’ (as he says in verse 33 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, cited in my latest article).<br /><br />F: Yes, but his answers are still his answers. Beneath them is the Truth, the Presence that allows all to be: Being, the stillness from which his ‘answers’ arise.<br /><br />M: Many of his ‘answers’ contradict his core teachings, because they were meant for ‘others’.<br /><br />F: I agree, but what is that core? Being, not thinking, writing, speaking.<br /><br />The base of ego is self, we are to focus on Self, not fluctuating phantom.<br /><br />M: We mistake ourself to be ego, so we must focus only on ego. Ego cannot know its real nature (ātma-svarūpa), so it must focus on itself in order to dissolve in its real nature. When we see a snake, we don’t see any rope, so we must focus on the snake in order to see the rope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-40779128807535616932018-08-25T07:01:58.869+01:002018-08-25T07:01:58.869+01:00Typical neo-advaitin (Frank) (western non-dualism)...Typical neo-advaitin (Frank) (western non-dualism) Michael James had to encounter: <br /><br />7. Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 27: the state in which ‘I’ does not rise is the state in which we are that, and unless one investigates where ‘I’ rises, how to abide in that state in which it does not rise?<br /><br />F: I disagree. In his spoken teachings he emphasizes “I am That” more than anything else. Ego is false, reality is real. So, you are That, no worries, just be.<br /><br />M: For the ego ‘I am that’ is a mere thought, so dwelling on it sustains the ego. As he says in verse 27 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, the state in which one exists without ‘I’ [the ego] rising is the state in which we exist as that [brahman, the fundamental substance, which is the one infinite whole], and unless one investigates the place from which ‘I’ rises, how to abide in the real state in which it does not rise — the state in which it is annihilated and we are therefore that?<br /><br />The non-rising of ‘I’ is what is called just being (summā iruppadu), and in that state there is no one to think or say ‘I am that’.<br /><br />F: Nothing there to eradicate, obviously, and you already know this, right?<br /><br />M: The ‘you’ or ‘I’ who believes it already knows that there is nothing to be eradicated is itself what needs to be eradicated.<br /><br />8. The ego will not cease except by self-investigation (ātma-vicāra)<br /><br />F: I disagree. Hahaha. I would never be so arrogant. The ego being that is the greatest absurdity. I would be humiliated to say it before you. No, We are That — I amness. We both know That, because is it not us?<br /><br />M: The ego will not cease by sophistry, by repetition of what it has heard or by claiming to know anything, but only by vicāra [self-investigation]. This is the core message of Nāṉ Ār? (Who am I?), which is the crest-jewel of his spoken teachings.<br /><br />F: I agree. But what is to do vicara?<br /><br />M: The ego, of course. Who else needs to do vicāra or could do it?<br /><br />Monday, 30 April 2018<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-20981043409807389022018-08-25T02:43:21.503+01:002018-08-25T02:43:21.503+01:00Another very articulate post by Sanjay Lohia which...Another very articulate post by Sanjay Lohia which was ridiculed by a mere "ahankar" proudly posing as the all knowing and only knowledgeable Jnani of this website.<br /><br />Sanjy lohia said:<br /><br />Salazar writes: Yes I agree, love is important for vichara, however some may misunderstand what kind of love and where it is coming from. Does is come from the mind or [physical] heart? I don’t believe so.<br /><br />Can love be cultivated? Well who would do the cultivating? Can an ego really love? An ego can only “love” an object in the form of attachment. So it “loves” a loved one, an item like a car or a piece of jewelry, or a specific place, etc.<br /><br />Reflections: Bhagavan sings in Verse 101 Sri Arunachala Aksharamanamalai: <br /><br />Arunachala, like ice in water, lovingly melt me as love in you, the form of love.<br /><br />Who is this ‘me’ who aspires to be merged as love in Arunachala? It is obviously the ego. So the ego can love itself be attending to itself. Salazar asks, ‘where it is coming from. Does it come from the mind or [physical] heart? I don’t believe so’. There is only one real existence which we can call by various names. Let us call it Arunachala here. As Bhagavan says, Arunachala is the form of love and as only Arunachala really exists, there is no love apart from or other than Arunachala. <br /><br />What is this ego? It is chit-jada-granthi. That means it is a combination of Arunachala, which is pure love, and various jada adjuncts. This ego therefore already contains love, because part of it is pure love. However, this love is defiled or has lost its purity, so to speak, when it is mixed with various jada adjuncts. So it makes all efforts to regain its original purity, because pure love is also pure happiness. As we know, all our actions are in search of perfect happiness. <br /><br />However, instead of turning within, the ego turns outside in an erroneous belief that it can thereby regain its pure love or happiness. This outward movement of mind is called 'desire', but when it turns within to look at itself, this inward moment is called love. In a way, this ego borrows some love from Arunachala and misuses it to play with outside things. In contrast, when it turns within, it returns this borrowed love back to Arunachala, the rightful owner of love.<br /><br />'Can this love be cultivated', asks Salazar. Yes, surely it can be. Why do we practise self-investigation? It is because we love to practise it, so we have slowly and gradually cultivated this love by our previous practice of self-investigation. Only this ego needs to cultivate love, because Arunachala is already pure and perfect love, and therefore it doesn’t need more love. <br /><br />Yes, when the ego loves objects this love is called 'desire' or 'attachment', but by turning its attention towards itself it reduces these desires and attachments and cultivates the love just to be.<br /><br />30 April 2018 at 19:06Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-61122671732539284232018-05-14T12:07:13.724+01:002018-05-14T12:07:13.724+01:00Hi Salazar,
Thanks very much for the quotes from P...Hi Salazar,<br />Thanks very much for the quotes from Padamalai I haven't read it and they were very helpful and relevant to what we were previously talking about.<br /><br />I like the poem by Sivaprakasam Pillai :)<br /><br />I agree with your reflections on free will and fate, It does make sense to me and I do find it help in helping me turn within.<br /><br />Yes the most effective way to improve the world is to end the dream. We don't worry about a dream world and all the beings in it once we wake up from the nightmare. Bhagavan says the waking state is just a dream so the best remedy is to look carefully at the perceiver of the dream, the dreamer. If we look closely and with enough focus we will see the perceiver was a wrong knowledge of what we really are and like wise the world will also be seen to be nothing but an illusion. Neither of them ever existed it was nothing but a ignorant misperception. What we really are just is, pure being and not aware of anything but itself. Unlimited, eternal self aware happiness.<br /><br />I seem to be rushing around again and time seems to be scarce once more so I will leave it there my friend and wish you nothing but the best until we talk again :) <br /><br />John. John Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-2086840307585277542018-05-13T01:56:33.703+01:002018-05-13T01:56:33.703+01:00Hello John, it is refreshing to read your comments...Hello John, it is refreshing to read your comments. I have found two quotes by Bhagavan to underline the previous points we talked about. They are from Padamalai, pages 293/294. I don't know if you are familiar with Padamalai, it consists of many quotes from GVK and other scriptures by/about Bhagavan and it has many statements and ideas by Bhagavan that have not appeared in any other book about him.<br /><br />From an unpublished poem by Sivaprakasam Pillai: “We have somehow become embodied. Whatever good and bad has been ordained to come, it will certainly come. There is only ONE way to be free from suffering. That is to turn the mind within. So said Ramana.” <br /><br />Question: In the early stages would it not be a help to a man to seek solitude and give up his outer duties in life?<br />Bhagavan: […] The main thing is to see that the mind does not turn outward but inward. It does not really rest with a man whether he goes to this place or whether he gives up his duties or not. ALL that happens according to destiny. [Salazar: How could “free will” possibly change that but just to be expressed as in either liking or disliking it?] <br />ALL the activities that the body is to go through are determined when it first comes into existence. IT DOES NOT REST WITH YOU TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THEM. The ONLY freedom you have is to turn your mind inward and renounce activities there. […]<br /><br />NOTHING happens except that which is divinely ordained. Consequently, it is pointless for people (who want the world to be different) to experience anxiety and to be debilitated by distress.<br /><br />[All capitalization by me]<br /><br />Salazar's manana: It is important to note that even though Bhagavan discusses about the virtues of seeking solitude and he gave even advice to certain devotees if they should seclude or not, HOWEVER, nevertheless it will ONLY happen according to one's destiny and Bhagavan talking about it if there would be actually a choice does not make it so according to Bhagavan's very own statement above.<br />So nothing happens except that which is divinely ordained. That makes the ego/mind totally powerless (in terms of outward action/intention) since it cannot do ANYTHING what has an affect to one's destiny BUT to turn within. ANY outward action is preordained, including if one sits down quietly or not or of one goes into a market place instead or of one uses a cell phone or not. The point of Bhagavan's upadesa is not about what the body is doing or in which environment it is but to turn within NO matter where the body is or what it does. To worry about certain habits is forgetting that these are preordained too. I.e. it is best to be oblivious about if I look too much on a cellphone or not. <br /><br />It is utterly irrelevant what the body does and to be concerned about it shows the ignorance about divine ordination. <br /><br />That's it for now, my best to you old friend. Bye now.Purification of mind does NOT reflect on one’s outward behavior, a purified mind is no mind and any perceived behavior is illusionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03403745904820287115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-59124942308834033112018-05-12T23:20:57.185+01:002018-05-12T23:20:57.185+01:00Hi Salazar,
I have never been to Bristol myself bu...Hi Salazar,<br />I have never been to Bristol myself but I know some one who went there to study and really liked it. I hope your nephew gets on alright down there. I am from Southport a small seaside town in the north west of england. <br /><br />Maybe I will travel to America one day? It is a BIG country !!! I hope so :) <br /><br /><br />Apologies if there any mistakes or typos it's a bit late here.<br /><br /><br />I agree, I think the problem is identifying with things that appear or happen on the screen and thinking I am doing this. If you hit your neighbour the problem is you think it was my hand which is part of my body that hit him. I did this. Then maybe a picture may appear, it might be a replay of what happened then a mental thought may materialise like "I shouldn't of lost my temper I'm out of order. Next a painful feeling may manifest on the screen because I have broken my hand. I identify with the mental chatter as being my thoughts which I am thinking because they are in my head. When it seems to me they are not in my head but out there amongst the scenery. The thoughts just appear on the screen like everything else they just happen and are nothing to do with me but I think they are, I think they are my thoughts and I am thinking them. I am responsible for them. Like wise the painful feeling I identify with as my pain which is located in my hand which is part of my body. <br /><br />Like you said I think it is the identification with things that happen that creates karma no the actions them self. <br /><br />You also said "We can only "improve" the ego in getting rid of it, in realizing it has never existed in the first place."<br /><br />Makes sense, the ego is nothing but a wrong knowledge of what we are, it is the thought I am the body. What we really are is the unchanging screen the ego rises by identifying with some of the things on the screen (the five sheaths) and not other things which it sees as other than itself (duality). The unchanging screen is unaware of all this because it is only aware of itself because nothing else actually exists. The ego is nothing but an ignorant illusory misperception of what we are. Rather than experiencing our self as we are we experience our self as a body in a world ruled by a god and at the mercy of time. We limit our self. <br /><br />You said: <br />"It is also very wrong to adhere to the belief that there is a gradual change or improvement from ego to Self or something like that. No, according to Sadhu Om, at one moment there is the ego and in the next it's gone, for good.<br />All these seemingly improvements of "feeling" better, "understanding more clearly" and what not are just imaginations of the mind and, I guess, part of the process for most."<br /><br />I agree if we try to jump across a pit we either reach the other side or not. If we end up 6 inches away from the other side or 6 feet we still fall down and don't get to the other side. The ego will vanish in an instant when we turn within with enough focus to experience our self alone. Job done so to speak even though in reality nothing needed to be done. <br /><br />"John, Robert liked to say, "do not try to be still" and "do not try to not be still" because both keep us in duality and bound. That is a good example how duality, something we are so used and addicted to, keeps us in delusion.<br /><br />No "trying", just being - huge difference. The former is samsara, the latter freedom"<br /><br />I like that :)<br /><br />All the best and nice talking to you.<br /><br />John. <br />John Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-69230706493252589542018-05-12T21:05:40.454+01:002018-05-12T21:05:40.454+01:00Hello John, if you don't mind, from which area...Hello John, if you don't mind, from which area do you hail from? Greater London maybe, or are you possibly Welsh?<br /><br />I've been a number of times to Britain, Scotland, and Ireland which is a lovely island, but Britain is quite a lovely island too :)<br /><br />My nephew is currently going to the University of Bristol.<br /><br />Cheers old chap :)Purification of mind does NOT reflect on one’s outward behavior, a purified mind is no mind and any perceived behavior is illusionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03403745904820287115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-17623200935287641432018-05-12T20:50:51.487+01:002018-05-12T20:50:51.487+01:00"Arjuna", there is no need for sarcasm. ..."Arjuna", there is no need for sarcasm. You also imply something what is entirely in your mind and not true. <br />What I said is valid for everyone with no exceptions, you simply did not get what I was saying. So you jumped to that what could only make sense to you and then responded accordingly. <br /><br />Funny, everybody seems to be so sure of the teachings that they simply assume they know instead maybe to ask why I'd say something like that. But that requires humility which I cannot find especially with our Indian friends here on this forum :)<br /><br />So they rather point a finger and put that what they cannot comprehend in the "boast" compartment and the world looks alright again.<br /><br />Frankly, the only Indians I like to communicate on this blog with is venkat, Sanjay Lohia, and in addition one or two where I liked their comments but never had an exchange with. The rest is an odd crowd and I cannot relate at all with their way of reasoning or how they apply Bjhagavan's teachings.Purification of mind does NOT reflect on one’s outward behavior, a purified mind is no mind and any perceived behavior is illusionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03403745904820287115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-11099256198990966762018-05-12T16:03:25.768+01:002018-05-12T16:03:25.768+01:00Sri Arunachala Padigam - verse 1
If You, who by (...<i>Sri Arunachala Padigam</i> - verse 1<br /><br />If You, who by (Your) grace have taken me as Your own, do not (now) graciously bestow upon me Your (true) vision (the vision of Self or Atma-Darsana) what will be my condition if this body leaves (me) after (my) suffering intensely (like this) in the miserable world of darkness (ignorance or mental delusion) longing (for Your true vision) ? Can a lotus blossom without seeing the sun? O (Embodiment of) love called Arunamamalai (the great Aruna Hill), where grace springs forth in abundance and gushes out as a torrent, (You) being the Sun to the sun (the consciousness which illumines everything), can my mind-lotus blossom without seeing Your True Vision?<br /><br />Reflections: Bhagavan is posing here as the one who is close to experiencing <i>svarupa-darshana</i>, but has not yet attained it. So close yet so far! He is describing the inner turmoil of an <i>sadhaka</i> who is trying extremely hard to reach his goal, but somehow his or her <i>vishaya-vasanas</i> are coming in their way. He is pulled in two opposite directions, and this is driving him mad. His heart is torn apart. Though he wants to merge in God, he is not able to surrender fully – so it is a miserable state.<br /> <br />What is the medicine for such a miserable condition? It is only more and more effort to merge back within. All our misery will go only when we see the ‘sun of the sun’ which is Bhagavan, because only such seeing can destroy all our misery. No half-hearted effort will do – we need to put our entire heart and soul into our effort to surrender within completely. <br />Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-50048492269470042042018-05-12T13:30:50.502+01:002018-05-12T13:30:50.502+01:00Sri Arunachala Ashtakam - verse 8
The water showe...<i>Sri Arunachala Ashtakam</i> - verse 8<br /><br />The water showered by the clouds, which rose from the ocean, will not stop, even if obstructed, until it reaches (its) abode, the ocean, (similarly) the embodied soul (the soul which rises as 'I am this body') rises from You (O Arunachala) and will not stop, though it wanders (or suffers) on the many paths which it encounters, until it reaches (or unites with) You. Though it wanders about the vast sky, (in that sky), there is no abode (or place of rest) for the bird; the place (for the bird to rest) is not other than the earth; (therefore) what it is bound to do is to go back the way it came. O Aruna Hill, when the soul goes back the way it came it will unite with You, the ocean of Bliss.<br /><br />Reflections: Bhagavan sings, ‘O Aruna hill, when the soul goes back the way it came it will unite with you, the ocean of bliss’. Once someone came into Bhagavan’s hall and started asking a lot of questions, Bhagavan patiently went on answering these questions. However, this person was not satisfied and it seemed that he was in a mood to argue for the sake of argument. Therefore Bhagavan ultimately told him, ‘go the way you came’, and saying this Bhagavan went out for his walk.<br /><br />The person was confused and somewhat angry. He told those around him, ‘what is this, I have come from so far, and Bhagavan wants me to return the way I came. Is this a proper thing to say?’ Obviously, this person had misunderstood Bhagavan. What Bhagavan meant was that the person should return to his source – because he (the ego) has risen from its source and it needs to merge back in its source, and only if he does so will all his questions end.<br /> <br />Likewise, since by rising as this ego, we have been separated from our source, so we need to return back to our source. It is because until we do so we cannot get the final and complete rest. We are seeking undiluted happiness, and we can experience this only when we return to our source. So somehow we need to get back to our original state.<br /><br />The quickest and surest way of merging back within is to investigate the source from where we have risen. If we undertake any other <i>sadhana</i>, these will eventually take us to the practice of self-investigation, because without self-investigation we cannot merge back within. Bhagavan has made this clear. So why not try to stick to self-investigation right from the beginning? <br />Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-53020429977204764962018-05-12T12:39:00.056+01:002018-05-12T12:39:00.056+01:00Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam - verse 7
If the ...<i>Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam</i> - verse 7<br /> <br />If the thought 'I' (the ego or mind, the feeling 'I am this' or 'I am that') does not exist, no other thing will exist. Until that (that is, until the thought 'I' is found to be nonexistent), if other thoughts rise, (one should enquire) To whom (do they rise)? To me (then by scrutinizing) what is the rising-place of 'I'?, merge (within). Diving within (in this manner), if one reaches the Heart-Throne, (one will become) verily the Soverign under the shade of one umbrella. (that is, one will become the One non-dual Supreme Reality itself). (Since the thought 'I' will then not exist) the dream (of dyads or dvandvas) known as inside and outside, the two <i>karmas</i> (good <i>karmas</i> and bad <i>karmas</i>), death and birth, pleasure and pain, and darkness and light, will not exist, and the limitless ocean of the light of Grace called Aruna Hill, which dances motionlessly in the court of the heart (in the form of the sphurana'I-I'), alone (will exist).<br /><br />Reflections: Bhagavan says, ‘If the thought 'I' (the ego or mind, the feeling 'I am this' or 'I am that') does not exist, no other thing will exist’. He says the same thing in verse 26 of <i>Ulladu Narpadu</i>:<br /><br />If the ego comes into existence, everything comes into existence; if the ego does not exist, everything does not exist. The ego itself is everything. Therefore, know that investigating what this is alone is giving up everything.<br /><br />However, as long as we experience any phenomena – anything that appears and disappears – we should investigate ‘to whom do they appear?’ As Bhagavan implies in one of earlier verses of <i>Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam</i>, we need to unceasingly polish the mind on the stone called the mind, and we should continue doing this until even a little vestige of any phenomena is left. <br /><br />If we are able to remove all the phenomena from our view, that will be the end of all <i>dvandvas</i> (dyads) such as inside and outside, the two <i>karmas</i> (good <i>karmas</i> and bad <i>karmas</i>), death and birth, pleasure and pain, darkness and light and so on. The irreducible residue that will remain after all these goes is the peerless one, the limitless one, which is one without any second. This is what we actually are. <br />Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-44227369986539753902018-05-12T10:39:44.508+01:002018-05-12T10:39:44.508+01:00All talks about improving the ego will fall away f...All talks about improving the ego will fall away for an individual who happens to be on the brink of suicide (because of their life situation, etc.) (This is not to suggest that people /become/ suicidal in order to achieve realization.)<br /><br />If that person attends to thoughts, the unbearable pain they feel can cause an escalation. Their attention /must/ only be on itself. Attending to other things might not free the individual from the forces of the self-destructive thoughts.ashamed.egonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-54483891204193613732018-05-12T10:28:26.542+01:002018-05-12T10:28:26.542+01:00Salazar very helpful thank you :)
I will get back ...Salazar very helpful thank you :)<br />I will get back to you this evening. (I am in the U.K by the way)<br />I was running around like a headless chicken the last few weeks which is why I took so long to get back to our friend Mouna. But things seem to be slowing down and I appear to have more free time so I am pretty sure I will get back to you tonight. <br />Best wishes.<br />John. <br />John Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-28775570107714403822018-05-12T08:37:24.660+01:002018-05-12T08:37:24.660+01:00Salazar,
one must of course bear in mind that for ...Salazar,<br />one must of course bear in mind that for the highly gifted ones who are descended directly from heaven -(such as you)- special ruling is in force.Arjunanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-77998000908569897072018-05-12T08:20:39.884+01:002018-05-12T08:20:39.884+01:00The only worthwhile endeavour is to know what we r...The only worthwhile endeavour is to know what we really are; everything else we can leave for after that. But after that we will find that there is nothing else to worry about. Bhagavan says that when the atom bomb of <i>jnana</i> falls on the world the entire world disappears, because it is built on such a flimsy foundation – the ego.<br /><br />Everything of value in this world is fleeting. So we should seek what is behind all these things that give them value. That is the reality. That is what we should be seeking; otherwise, we will be disappointed. The world is guaranteed to disappoint us.<br /><br /><i>Edited extract from Michael’s video dated 8th June, 2013</i><br /><br />Note: ‘The world is guaranteed to disappoint us’, says Michael. We need to pay heed to this caution – that is, we need to try and go beyond this world. How? We can do this only by destroying our ego, because it is this flimsy ego which not only projects this world but is also the only thing which is aware of this world. <br /><br />As we know, only self-investigation can destroy our ego. As Michael says, this is the only worthwhile task. Everything else is ultimately a waste of time and energy. Bhagavan would repeatedly emphasise this in so many ways. <br /><br />Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-57957070281402605852018-05-11T22:30:18.951+01:002018-05-11T22:30:18.951+01:00The might be very well from your viewpoint. I, how...The might be very well from your viewpoint. I, however, do not agree. Your last sentence is nonsense.. .https://www.blogger.com/profile/03243347924405863536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-69817125820873578622018-05-11T21:36:44.876+01:002018-05-11T21:36:44.876+01:00"It is also very wrong to adhere to the belie..."It is also very wrong to adhere to the belief that there is a gradual change or improvement from ego to Self or something like that. No, according to Sadhu Om, at one moment there is the ego and in the next it's gone, for good.<br />All these seemingly improvements of "feeling" better, "understanding more clearly" and what not are just imaginations of the mind and, I guess, part of the process for most."<br /><br />Of course we have to undertake gradual improvement in practising and in understanding Bhagavan's teaching more clearly.<br />Other imaginations are only delusion.Arjunanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-2299004795298670382018-05-11T18:21:19.132+01:002018-05-11T18:21:19.132+01:00John, Robert liked to say, "do not try to be ...John, Robert liked to say, "do not try to be still" and "do not try to not be still" because both keep us in duality and bound. That is a good example how duality, something we are so used and addicted to, keeps us in delusion.<br /><br />No "trying", just being - huge difference. The former is samsara, the latter freedom.. .https://www.blogger.com/profile/03243347924405863536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-21247077097950708892018-05-11T18:07:11.869+01:002018-05-11T18:07:11.869+01:00John, I concur with you 100%. Let's say it is ...John, I concur with you 100%. Let's say it is preordained that you'll hit your neighbor (doesn't matter why or how) then that action by itself will not create any karma. However it will create karma when there is even the slightest identification with that act. Because that means that one identifies with that body through the mind and not with consciousness [the screen]. That identification of being the "bad" guy and feeling guilty and remorseful creates new karma which will be added to the boatload of karma we already have. <br /><br />That's why I said in the past that feeling remorse or any other emotional response just keep the eternal karma cycle going. We get raised to be "responsible" and be remorseful and these are good ethical qualities. However they create karma because instead of identifying with the screen, we participate in the movie and that participation will create the script for new movies to come up.<br /><br />That includes intention "to better" oneself, these intentions will just create more karma because these intentions want to improve the dream character in that movie. So in order to prevent that we have to ignore what that dream character does, hitting somebody or not, and turn to the screen and stay there.<br /><br />We can only "improve" the ego in getting rid of it, in realizing it has never existed in the first place. <br /><br />Sadhu Om mentioned several levels of aspirants and the lower ones need to be ethical first and use "aids", worship idols, etc. before they ending up to drop that all and only focus on the screen and nothing else. That's the problem when certain comments by Bhagavan are taken out of context, or those advises given by him to lower level aspirants are taken as valid for everyone what is plain wrong. <br /><br />It is also very wrong to adhere to the belief that there is a gradual change or improvement from ego to Self or something like that. No, according to Sadhu Om, at one moment there is the ego and in the next it's gone, for good.<br />All these seemingly improvements of "feeling" better, "understanding more clearly" and what not are just imaginations of the mind and, I guess, part of the process for most.. .https://www.blogger.com/profile/03243347924405863536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-77087852105523826812018-05-11T17:02:44.070+01:002018-05-11T17:02:44.070+01:00Hello Salazar,
Huge thanks for your helpful contri...Hello Salazar,<br />Huge thanks for your helpful contribution my friend.<br />I find Robert Adams very helpful indeed and thank you for your insights on him and his teaching.<br /><br />I would very much like your feedback about the below if possible Salazar in case I have misunderstood your comment, this is very helpful to me thank you. <br /><br />My understanding is all duality is contained within the single field of awareness. This includes all thoughts from subtle thoughts like all mental thoughts, feelings and emotions etc to more gross thoughts like the body and the world. Nothing exists outside this screen so to speak there is only one container in which everything happens. The container never ever changes, change only happens within it. <br /><br />My understanding rightly or wrongly is absolutely everything that happens within this window or on this screen of awareness is pre ordained which would include all thoughts including all bodily actions and all the mental chatter about those actions.<br /><br />From what I understand you say Robert Adams says the bodily actions and all worldly actions are pre written but the mental thoughts about them or the pre and post emotional reactions to them are not pre ordained. So the mental thoughts about the actions can be classed as free will. However regardless of the thoughts about the actions the actions will happen as they are destined to. <br /><br />So for example I am destined to travel to India nothing can be done to prevent it but the mental thoughts linked to that trip whether excitement, or trepidation are not preordained. These thoughts (likes and dislikes) (feelings and emotions) are what creates karma? It is not the pre ordained actions that creates karma it is the mental reaction to the pre ordained happenings that creates karma.<br /><br />I am understanding you right or lost the plot :)<br /><br />Thanks Salazar.<br />John. <br />John Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-57108805305934127092018-05-11T17:00:43.312+01:002018-05-11T17:00:43.312+01:00Hi Mouna,
Thanks very much for your reply and than...Hi Mouna,<br />Thanks very much for your reply and thanks for the quotes too. I have never seen those before. They are very powerful and beautifully reinforce and support what you said: <br /><br />" I don’t have free will but I play the role as if I had it, knowing quite well the script for Mouna is already written."<br /><br />With regards helping minimise mind-noise. It should but as you will see by reading my next nonsensical comment to our good friend Salazar my mind is far from quiet :) <br /><br />Your feedback about it is most welcome if you have time along with anyone else's.<br /><br />What a great blog this is.<br /><br />Thank you Michael.<br /><br />John. John Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-60745576142918679282018-05-11T15:50:53.817+01:002018-05-11T15:50:53.817+01:00John, a clarification, when I said "It will b...John, a clarification, when I said "It will be happening without the involvement of the ego/mind." it meant without the intentional thought process of a do-er/creator/initiator of actions. Of course when the body picks up a phone to make a reservation, the mind is involved at that time. But that is then a spontaneous action which is never prompted by the ego/mind.<br /><br />So back to Robert, that was his way of saying, be in the moment, do not worry about the future even if that future is 10 minutes away. Accepting predetermination according to Robert is aiding, IMO, not only surrender but also, and that goes actually along with surrender, living in the moment.. .https://www.blogger.com/profile/03243347924405863536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-7736813955476217582018-05-11T15:29:24.383+01:002018-05-11T15:29:24.383+01:00John,
I think the letter Bhagavan wrote to his mo...John,<br /><br />I think the letter Bhagavan wrote to his mother it’s an amazing teaching tool (I have it as a picture frame hanging on my wall). If one reflects about it and navigates life according to its meaning everything will be easier, illusory suffering and real pain will be processed very differently.<br /><br />As for the free will/fate conundrum, let’s keep it simple and minimize the mind-noise:<br /><br /><i>’Having investigated various states of being but seizing firmly that state of Supreme Reality, play your part, O hero, in the world. You have known the truth which is at the Heart of all appearances. Without ever turning away from that Reality, play in the world, O hero, as if in love with it.' [Yoga Vasishta, 5 – 18, verses 20-23.]<br /><br />‘Seeming to have enthusiasm and delight, seeming to have excitement and aversion, seeming to exercise initiative and perseverance, and yet without attachment, play, O hero, in the world. Released from all the bonds of attachment and with equanimity of mind, acting outwardly in all situations in accordance with the part you have assumed, play as you please, O hero, in the world.' [Yoga Vasishta, 5 – 18, verses 24-26.]</i><br /><br />Be well my friend<br />MMounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.com