REALIZING NON–DUAL LIBERATION, ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY – pt4

Ramana disciple - Nome

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi]

Every idea such as "this is" or "I exist" depends on the fact that anything at all does exist in the first place, on the fact of  Existence itself.  Mundane thinking assumes that Existence is divided into different "things" whereas Advaita Vedanta (the Teaching of Non-Duality) affirms that Existence is One, or even beyond "one", that Non-Dual, 1–without–a–2^nd.  We could not even have the idea that "something is" if it were not for that Non-Dual Existence.  This Pure Existence is itself the Absolute Reality, Brahman,  Existence-Consciousness-Bliss (Sat–Chit–Ananda) & at the same time Atman, the Non-Dual Self.  You are that Non-Dual Existence, no more, no less.

Much overlooked, because it is just too obvious, Existence itself is the sole Reality, Brahman.  And for this reason, inwardly following the "trail" to one's own sense that "I exist", one's own sense of "I".  Inwardly tracing this "I", this sense that "I exist" to its non-objective or "trans–subjective" source or origin, such is called Self-Inquiry, Atma–vichara.  From an occasional spiritual practice, this Self-Inquiry progresses to a continuous "state of mind", or rather, direct, transcendent Knowledge beyond any imagined Mind.

The above themes & 2500 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through  www.jpstiga.com 

short-cut: http://sdrv.ms/YPOgkX or http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58  link directly to free E-book PDF files

www.jpstiga.com/

http://jstiga.wixsite.com/nonduality/

This blog is also available on:

jstiga.wordpress.com/

“There is no Creation, no Destruction, no Bondage, no longing to be freed from Bondage, no striving for Liberation, nor anyone who has attained Liberation. Know that this to be Ultimate Truth.”
–  the “no creation” school of Gaudapada, Shankara, Ramana, Nome – Ajata Vada
 for very succinct summary of the teaching & practice, see:  www.ajatavada.com/

REALIZING NON–DUAL LIBERATION, ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY – pt3

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Mahatshi

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi]

"Abidance in the Self", which is pure, direct Self-Knowledge is never what we "think". Thought is an evanescent appearance or apparent phenomenon (each lasting how long [in milli-seconds] ?) that is considered to be "unreal" in Advaita Vedanta (the Teaching of Non-Duality). Ultimate Self-Knowledge and the already certain knowledge of one's own existence – these are other that thought, thought which only "appears" in Consciousness, without any real foothold there, any real inherent reality. "The already certain knowledge of one's own existence" is currently evident.  If suddenly aroused from Deep Dreamless Sleep, & immediately questioned: "do you exist ?", all experience that instant affirmation, faster than thought: "yes, I definitely do exist."

That same sense of identity, now firmly & undeniably evident as one's existence, does also, in Liberation, Awakening, Enlightenment becomes established as just the Pure Existence with is Pure Consciousness & Bliss. This Existence is what we always are. It is eternally the same. Only imagination gives rise to a contrary concept. Those are the limited views of being something else, such as an “I," an object, and the assumption that somehow the Existence is divided.

To truly know your self, to know the One Self, one's very sense of identity, one's very sense of existence, should "abide" as, or be absorbed in, that Pure Existence, which is Absolute. No longer "think" of yourself in any manner whatsoever. No longer imagine yourself to be limited by, or defined by, anything conceived in the Mind. You are the One Existence. Let there be no mistake about this !  Such must be firm conviction in Non-Dual Existence.

The above themes & 2500 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through  www.jpstiga.com 

short-cut: http://sdrv.ms/YPOgkX or http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58  link directly to free E-book PDF files

www.jpstiga.com/

http://jstiga.wixsite.com/nonduality/

This blog is also available on:

jstiga.wordpress.com/

“There is no Creation, no Destruction, no Bondage, no longing to be freed from Bondage, no striving for Liberation, nor anyone who has attained Liberation. Know that this to be Ultimate Truth.”
–  the “no creation” school of Gaudapada, Shankara, Ramana, Nome – Ajata Vada
 for very succinct summary of the teaching & practice, see:  www.ajatavada.com/

REALIZING NON–DUAL LIBERATION, ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY – pt2

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi]

For Realization of the invaluably precious opportunity of the "Final Teachings", for a conclusive revelation of Reality "as it is", one must investigate, inwardly study, scrutinize, "inquire" into the very definition of oneself, the nature of that certainty "I exist".  By relinquishing the notion of being an Ego, we remain in our Real Nature. Such Self-Inquiry is actually to be maintained constantly whether thought, sense experience, or apparent bodily actions continue or not. The deepening experience of Self-Inquiry is said to be "immediate" experience, in the sense of "direct" without a "mediate" process intervening between the experience of Truth & oneself.

Existence–Consciousness is the One Reality which also is the One Self. We can remember an idea about the Self, but we cannot directly remember the Self as such since the Self is beyond thought. But cannot really forget the Self either, because that Existence is always present, resulting in everyone's firm conviction in it, that "I exist". Nor can the Self be remembered or even thought of, as if it were an object (Reality being non-objective or "trans–subjective").  The Self can neither be forgotten nor remembered. It is not an object, & it is not apart from the one who seeks to know it. The Self is always there, but interior to, & beyond conception by, the Mind.

Yet having heard, or heard of the Teaching, one wants to "know" & "remember" the Self, to be awake to Reality, for not to do so is to "dream" in Illusion. To dream in Illusion is to unnecessarily create Bondage & Suffering. To be awake to Reality is to be happy, blissful, & at Peace. We sense this transcendent Knowledge was originally there, it was always there, but interior to, & beyond conception by the Mind so we want to remember it. (One classical analogy depicts a woman searching for a most precious jewel that seems to be lost. When her searching grasping turns inward towards her heart, she finds the jewel to have been on a necklace the whole time.)

Consider one's Existence very deeply in one's own Self-Inquiry. To know the Self is to be immersed in its Bliss & Peace. While we cannot simply or strictly remember the Self, we are taught that we can "merge", "rest", or "abide" as That, as pure Existence–Consciousness–Bliss which is free of all thought., That is the proper way to know the Self & the only way to "remember" the Self. We abide in That as That Self.

The above themes & 2500 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through  www.jpstiga.com 

short-cut: http://sdrv.ms/YPOgkX or http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58  link directly to free E-book PDF files

www.jpstiga.com/

http://jstiga.wixsite.com/nonduality/

This blog is also available on:

jstiga.wordpress.com/

“There is no Creation, no Destruction, no Bondage, no longing to be freed from Bondage, no striving for Liberation, nor anyone who has attained Liberation. Know that this to be Ultimate Truth.”
–  the “no creation” school of Gaudapada, Shankara, Ramana, Nome – Ajata Vada
 for very succinct summary of the teaching & practice, see:  www.ajatavada.com/

REALIZING NON–DUAL LIBERATION, ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY – pt1

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi]

Self-Realization is said by the Wise, the Sages, to be not–difficult because you, yourself, are the One & solely existing Self, Atman.  What is needed is that we abandon Imagination.  Imagination creates Ignorance, the deluded concepts that make for a classic but unfortunate cross-Superimposition. That is when we superimpose limitation upon the limited Absolute Reality; we superimpose limitation upon the limited Absolute Reality; we superimpose objective appearance & other objective qualities on a Reality that is non–objective, or "trans–subjective" (in the sense of what "subjective" would be if there were no real objects to complete the subject–object duality). We superimpose a Body–concept on bodiless Spirit; we superimpose Death, & before that Birth on the Unborn & Eternal; we superimpose a Mind on that pure Consciousness which beyond Thought.  We superimpose an Ego, a false assumption of an individual "I" upon Brahman, Atman which the sole Non-Dual Existence, the all & only that exists. There thusly exists vastly far too much to be claimed by an individual, and far too "few" to count even the small "one".  Hence Non-Dual does not mean "one", but rather "fewer" than that. If all that Imagination ceases, Ultimate Truth reveals itself, by itself.

Dimensionless Reality & its dimensionless Realization stand outside of unreal Space

(& thus any Universe imagined to be contained therein) & they likewise outside of Time

(& so Realization doesn't "happen" at any time, or to "anybody"). And so there can be no Body involved & certainly no Sense experience. Sense organs require a real "Body", whereas Sense experience is but a form if thought. But the pure Consciousness that is Reality transcends thoughts & the imagined "container" thereof called "Mind".

We cannot expect to comprehend with the Mind what the Self is. Needless to say then, Reality likewise transcends all mental modes & conditions, moods, feelings & the so-called "states" of Mind, referred to as Waking, Dream, Deep Dreamless Sleep, & meditative states like ecstatic Samadhi.  

That Ultimate Truth which "reveals itself, by itself" also self–luminously reveals itself to itself as direct Self-Knowledge without any subject–object duality or intermediary transmission of knowing, perceiving, enlightening, etc. There is no "other" to know the Reality. Differentiation as in the triad of Knower–Knowing–Known & any other Differentiation of any kind is again, merely Imagination, just constructed of thought only, momentary wisps of nothingness appearing as if in that One Consciousness.

The above themes & 2500 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through  www.jpstiga.com 

short-cut: http://sdrv.ms/YPOgkX or http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58  link directly to free E-book PDF files

www.jpstiga.com/

http://jstiga.wixsite.com/nonduality/

This blog is also available on:

jstiga.wordpress.com/

"There is no Creation, no Destruction, no Bondage, no longing to be freed from Bondage, no striving for Liberation, nor anyone who has attained Liberation. Know that this to be Ultimate Truth."

–  the "no creation" school of Gaudapada, Shankara, Ramana, Nome – Ajata Vada

 for very succinct summary of the teaching & practice, see:  www.ajatavada.com/

Mind & Happiness 156

[back with re-newed health, a new series very soon & a serious Kindle book after that]

What we mean when we say "I am such-&-such a person" is that we are an individual Consciousness that identifies itself with an adjunct – a particular Body.  This identification of our Consciousness with a particular Body is what defines us as a person or individual. Our individuality or separate & distinct existence is thus nothing other than this adjunct-bound

Consciousness that feels "I am this Body."

By mistaking itself to be a particular Body, this Consciousness confines itself within the limits of that Body, & feels itself to be separate from all the objects & people it perceives outside that Body. This seemingly separate individual Consciousness "I am this Body" is what we call by

various names such as the "Mind", the "Ego", the "Psyche" or the "Soul".  This is the 1^st Thought that gives rise to & experiences all other Thoughts.

In religious terminology, our limited individual Consciousness "I am this Body" is what is called our "Soul", whereas our unlimited fundamental Consciousness "I exist" is what is called our "Spirit", our "Heart" or the "Core of our Soul."  The popular belief that our whole "self" is a compound of these 3 elements, our Body, our Soul, & our Spirit, is rooted in our wrong mis-identification of our Self with a particular Body.

Though we know our Self to be one, because of our mistaken identification of our Self with a Body we wrongly imagine our Self to be all these 3 different things [Body, Soul, Spirit]. T his notion of ours is logically absurd, because since we are 1, how can 3 quite different things be our Self ?

Every day in Deep Dreamless Sleep both our Body & our soul (our Mind or individual

consciousness) disappear, yet we continue to exist, & to know that we exist.  Therefore, since we remain in Deep Dreamless Sleep without either our Body or our Soul, neither of these 2 elements can be our Real Self.  In truth, therefore, these 3 elements [Body, Soul, Spirit] constitute only our false individual self, which is a mere illusion, & not our Real Self. Our Real Self, our whole & complete Self, does not consist of 3 elements [Body, Soul, Spirit], but of only 1 element, the fundamental & Essential element that we call our "spirit", which is our single non-dual Consciousness of our own Existence – our true Self-Consciousness "I exist".

The above themes & 2500 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through  www.jpstiga.com 

short-cut: http://sdrv.ms/YPOgkX or http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58  link directly to free E-book PDF files

www.jpstiga.com/

http://jstiga.wixsite.com/nonduality/

Different blogs available on:

jstiga.wordpress.com/

"There is no Creation, no Destruction, no Bondage, no longing to be freed from Bondage, no striving for Liberation, nor anyone who has attained Liberation. Know that this to be Ultimate Truth."

–  the "no creation" school of Gaudapada, Shankara, Ramana, Nome – Ajata Vada

 for very succinct summary of the teaching & practice, see:  www.ajatavada.com/

[A brief note of explanation – the other Blog noted below is entitled "Non-Duality & Science", & so the more Science oriented pages (from what I like to think of as a "comic book") have been posted there, while other chapters have been posted here. Science is a mental discipline that attracts some worthy admirers & participators.  Some of these, too few, are good prospects for the ancient teaching introduced here in many ways.  Otherwise certain Science topics like the Anthropic Principle, reinforce the general Theism which is a good idea in this materialistic age. A few other topics in Science, such as the Copenhagen II – Max Born – Von Neumann – Wigner model of Quantum Mechanics, are worthy entries to the extent that they introduce Consciousness into the physical Sciences. All that aside, the real topic here is the pinnacle as Advaita Vedanta, Non-Duality – that pinnacle being Ajata Vada, No–Creation. The great Teachers of the same include Sri Shankara & Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Both would support Theism in general & adaptations of Vedanta, such as Vishishtadvaita Vedanta – Qualified Non-Duality, for those not making headway in Ajata Vada, their present course of growth might be better served with a temporary involvement in Qualified Non-Duality. The scientist who perhaps best expresses the influence of Qualified Non-Duality in Science, for instance, would be the quintessential "New–Age" Quantum Physicist, Amit Goswami. And so to that source, & the Quantum Activism he currently advocates [with a 1–course  degree program], along with more than a half-dozen good books & former participation in the controversial What the Bleep movie, to him I extend enthusiastic endorsement, for that Qualified Non-Duality described in the context of Science.  I do not stand so much "with him", as much as nearby saluting his good work. Again, as here, the goal is inserting Consciousness into Science & "saving the World."]

also:  Most of this material will be long searchable via "John Stiga" etc, on the "Wayback Machine" Internet Archive.

Also related to these topics, there are now 8 Kindle books on "Amazon.com", reference-able by the author "John Stiga", each indicated as non–copyrighted, public–domain, & priced at the minimum $0.99 each.

Mind & Happiness 155

The Mind consists of 2 distinct aspects, namely the Knowing Subject, which is our root thought "I", & the Known Objects, which are all the other thoughts that are formed & experienced by this "I".  However, though it consists of these 2 distinct aspects or elements, the 1 Fundamental & Essential element of our Mind is only our causal Thought "I".

Hence, though we use the term "Mind" as a collective term for both the Thinker & its Thoughts, our Mind is in essence just the Thinker, the basic  thought "I" that thinks all other Thoughts.  This simple but important truth is expressed succinctly by Sri Ramana in Verse 18 of Upadēśa Undiyār:

"Our] Mind is only [a multitude of] thoughts.  Of all [the countless thoughts that are formed in our Mind], the thought 'I' alone is the Root [base, foundation or origin].  [Therefore] what is called 'Mind' is [in essence just this root thought] 'I'."

Just as on analysis our Mind can thus be resolved into Existence in essence only this fundamental thought "I", so on further analysis this fundamental thought "I" can in turn be resolved into being in essence only Consciousness.  Because it knows other thoughts, this thought "I" is a form of Consciousness, but because it rises or is formed only by feeling "I am such-&-such a person" & because it subsides & loses its separate form in Deep Dreamless Sleep, when it ceases to feel thus, it is not our permanent & "real" form of Consciousness, our pure Consciousness "I exist".

Because it can rise only by identifying a physical Body as "I", as it does in both Waking & Dream, it is a mixed & contaminated form of Consciousness, a "consciousness" that confuses itself with a Body, feeling mistakenly "I am this Body, an individual person called so-&-so".

The above themes & 2500 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through  www.jpstiga.com 

short-cut: http://sdrv.ms/YPOgkX or http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58  link directly to free E-book PDF files

www.jpstiga.com/

http://jstiga.wixsite.com/nonduality/

Different blogs available on:

jstiga.wordpress.com/

"There is no Creation, no Destruction, no Bondage, no longing to be freed from Bondage, no striving for Liberation, nor anyone who has attained Liberation. Know that this to be Ultimate Truth."

–  the "no creation" school of Gaudapada, Shankara, Ramana, Nome – Ajata Vada

 for very succinct summary of the teaching & practice, see:  www.ajatavada.com/

[A brief note of explanation – the other Blog noted below is entitled "Non-Duality & Science", & so the more Science oriented pages (from what I like to think of as a "comic book") have been posted there, while other chapters have been posted here. Science is a mental discipline that attracts some worthy admirers & participators.  Some of these, too few, are good prospects for the ancient teaching introduced here in many ways.  Otherwise certain Science topics like the Anthropic Principle, reinforce the general Theism which is a good idea in this materialistic age. A few other topics in Science, such as the Copenhagen II – Max Born – Von Neumann – Wigner model of Quantum Mechanics, are worthy entries to the extent that they introduce Consciousness into the physical Sciences. All that aside, the real topic here is the pinnacle as Advaita Vedanta, Non-Duality – that pinnacle being Ajata Vada, No–Creation. The great Teachers of the same include Sri Shankara & Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Both would support Theism in general & adaptations of Vedanta, such as Vishishtadvaita Vedanta – Qualified Non-Duality, for those not making headway in Ajata Vada, their present course of growth might be better served with a temporary involvement in Qualified Non-Duality. The scientist who perhaps best expresses the influence of Qualified Non-Duality in Science, for instance, would be the quintessential "New–Age" Quantum Physicist, Amit Goswami. And so to that source, & the Quantum Activism he currently advocates [with a 1–course  degree program], along with more than a half-dozen good books & former participation in the controversial What the Bleep movie, to him I extend enthusiastic endorsement, for that Qualified Non-Duality described in the context of Science.  I do not stand so much "with him", as much as nearby saluting his good work. Again, as here, the goal is inserting Consciousness into Science & "saving the World."]

also:  Most of this material will be long searchable via "John Stiga" etc, on the "Wayback Machine" Internet Archive.

Also related to these topics, there are now 8 Kindle books on "Amazon.com", reference-able by the author "John Stiga", each indicated as non–copyrighted, public–domain, & priced at the minimum $0.99 each.

Mind & Happiness 154

Thus far the Mind–Brain process is very clear-cut & simple to understand.  But then something mysterious  happens.  Our Mind, which is a form of Consciousness that interfaces with our Brain, then somehow interprets all this electro-chemical activity by forming images within itself that we believe to correspond to the shape, color & size of external objects, & to their relative distance from our Body.  But all we actually know when we see something is the image that our Mind has formed within itself.

Our belief that such images correspond to actual external objects, & all our scientific explanations of the supposed process by which Light from those objects stimulates our Mind to form such Umages, are also only Images or thoughts that our Mind has formed within itself.  The same applies to all the Images of Sound, Smell, Taste, & Touch that our Mind forms within itself,

supposedly in response to external stimuli.

Therefore all that we know of the external World is actually only the Images or Thoughts that our Mind is constantly forming within itself.  Do we not have to accept, therefore, that the World that we think we perceive outside our self may in fact be nothing other than thoughts that our Mind has formed within itself, just as the Worlds that we see in our Dreams are ?  Even if we are not ready to accept the fact that the World may actually be nothing but our own Thoughts, must we not at least accept the fact that the World as we know it & as we ever can know it, is indeed nothing but  thoughts ? [ala George Berkekey etc.]

Of all the thoughts that are formed in our Mind, the 1^st is the thought "I".  Our Mind 1^st forms itself as the thought "I", & only then does it form other thoughts.  Without an "I" to think or know them, no other thoughts could be formed.

All the other thoughts that are formed in our Mind are constantly coming & going, rising & then subsiding, but the thought "I" persists so long as our Mind itself persists.  Thus the thought "I" is the root of all other thoughts, & is the one Essential thought without which there would be no such thing as "Mind" & no such action as "thinking".

The above themes & 2500 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through  www.jpstiga.com 

short-cut: http://sdrv.ms/YPOgkX or http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58  link directly to free E-book PDF files

www.jpstiga.com/

http://jstiga.wixsite.com/nonduality/

Different blogs available on:

jstiga.wordpress.com/

"There is no Creation, no Destruction, no Bondage, no longing to be freed from Bondage, no striving for Liberation, nor anyone who has attained Liberation. Know that this to be Ultimate Truth."

–  the "no creation" school of Gaudapada, Shankara, Ramana, Nome – Ajata Vada

 for very succinct summary of the teaching & practice, see:  www.ajatavada.com/

[A brief note of explanation – the other Blog noted below is entitled "Non-Duality & Science", & so the more Science oriented pages (from what I like to think of as a "comic book") have been posted there, while other chapters have been posted here. Science is a mental discipline that attracts some worthy admirers & participators.  Some of these, too few, are good prospects for the ancient teaching introduced here in many ways.  Otherwise certain Science topics like the Anthropic Principle, reinforce the general Theism which is a good idea in this materialistic age. A few other topics in Science, such as the Copenhagen II – Max Born – Von Neumann – Wigner model of Quantum Mechanics, are worthy entries to the extent that they introduce Consciousness into the physical Sciences. All that aside, the real topic here is the pinnacle as Advaita Vedanta, Non-Duality – that pinnacle being Ajata Vada, No–Creation. The great Teachers of the same include Sri Shankara & Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Both would support Theism in general & adaptations of Vedanta, such as Vishishtadvaita Vedanta – Qualified Non-Duality, for those not making headway in Ajata Vada, their present course of growth might be better served with a temporary involvement in Qualified Non-Duality. The scientist who perhaps best expresses the influence of Qualified Non-Duality in Science, for instance, would be the quintessential "New–Age" Quantum Physicist, Amit Goswami. And so to that source, & the Quantum Activism he currently advocates [with a 1–course  degree program], along with more than a half-dozen good books & former participation in the controversial What the Bleep movie, to him I extend enthusiastic endorsement, for that Qualified Non-Duality described in the context of Science.  I do not stand so much "with him", as much as nearby saluting his good work. Again, as here, the goal is inserting Consciousness into Science & "saving the World."]

also:  Most of this material will be long searchable via "John Stiga" etc, on the "Wayback Machine" Internet Archive.

Also related to these topics, there are now 8 Kindle books on "Amazon.com", reference-able by the author "John Stiga", each indicated as non–copyrighted, public–domain, & priced at the minimum $0.99 each.