ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY–pt97

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Sections appended below derive from Sri Ramana's Teaching.]

Freedom from fear, & increasing Bliss act as a continuous drawing to realize it conclusively, so that there is no interruption in it. To be free continuously, & to thus be happy, or blissful, continuously without a break, is the motivation that, when we did not know better, manifested as fear. The Wise know how to make good use of the experience without placing emphasis on only the objective portion of the experience, so that we do not think of the experience as "solid" or as a thing in itself.

But the Self alone is Infinite, & Causality is not real. One cannot actually recall when this ego, the root of Maya, began, was created, or was born, though there is the knowledge of perpetual existence, which is of the Self alone, for never was there a time when you were not, and never will there be a time when you will cease to be. Thus, the Self is ever the Unborn—neither coming from another state or thing nor giving birth to any—and the ego is unborn as it never comes to be. This may also be regarded as the final significance of the Maharshi's inquiry as to “Whence am I?" graciously given to show the method of tracing inwardly from where the identity of "I" derives, as well as "Who am I ?"  

How can there be the Ego's Effect (Delusion), when the supposed Cause itself has never come to be ?  The Ego is an assumption.  Who assumes this assumption ?  No one.  Who knows the Knowledge of the Self ?  The Ego-"I" cannot know the Self since the Self alone is capable of knowing (anything). 

The Ego-"I" is inert, & the Known is a mere notion, a vacuous imagining, & an assumption that is non–existent.  There is no Ego to be ignorant or to be bound, to attempt to know the Self, or to return to it or unite with it.  The Self is what you are, & it is innately Ego–less.  This Ego–less Knowledge of the Self is the Knowledge of the Non-Dual, indivisible nature of the Self, the only true "I"  in which there is never an individual "I".

[Ramana]

In comparing oneself to a Sage, the difference implied in the terms "he" & "I" are obstacles to Self-Knowledge,  jnana.

Sankara in Vivekachudamani says that after the dissolution of the physical "sheath" the liberated man becomes like "water poured into water & oil into oil."

It is a State in which there is neither Bondage nor Liberation. Taking another Body means throwing a veil, however subtle, upon Reality, which is Bondage. Liberation is Absolute & irrevocable.

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/

ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY–pt96

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Sections appended below derive from Sri Ramana's Teaching.]

The unreal cannot know the Real. The Ego is un–real, & as long as we take up our position, as it were, in the Ego, our knowledge of things is un–real. If we want to know what is what, we must know who is who. The undifferentiated, doubtless state is that which has abandoned the objective outlook. The highest Bliss, the most profound Happiness.  Profound Happiness is remaining in that state in which one is just the Absolute, with no separate identity, no Ego-"I"-notion, no being drawn toward an "I"-notion, & no conception of an objective World.

That the Ego is said to rise from the Origin, or Substrate, of the Self is expedient teaching for those desirous of Liberation intended to guide them to the Origin, the one Substrate, in order to realize its Ego–less nature. Such instruction should not be interpreted as about the Ego really being born or the Self actually giving birth to it.  The Ego cannot be self-produced, for to imagine so would be to suppose its pre-existence, which is absurd.  And that would lead to the consequent question as to what caused that pre-existent Ego. This in turn would lead either to the Delusion regarding the Effects causing the Cause or a modification in the eternally, changeless Self.  Those possibilities have already been negated by Self-Inquiry, or relegated to an infinite regression.

[Ramana]

What is Bliss but your own Existence ?  You are not apart from Existence which is the same as Bliss. You are now thinking that you are the Mind or the Body which are both changing & transient.  But you are unchanging & Eternal. 

Ignorance must go.  Who says, "I am ignorant ?"  He must be the "witness" of Ignorance.  That is what you are.

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/

ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY–pt95

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Sections appended below derive from Sri Ramana's Teaching.]

Our focus should be the Knowledge of the Self & not an attempt to determine what "this" is without first knowing "I".  If we attempt to determine what "this" is, without first knowing the "I", the best that we can hope for is one of those doctrinal suppositions mentioned previously. While that might be regarded as useful for some people as some kind of stepping stone, it would be a stepping stone to actually inquiring into the “I” and knowing the Self as it is, for in that way, alone, does one know Reality. This is so because the Reality, alone, can know the Reality.

The Ego is not produced by the World, the Body, the Senses, the Prana, or the Mind. These produce phenomena, sensations, physical, subtle & mental experiences, & thoughts.  These appear after the Ego is differentiated, & so they cannot produce the Ego, for the Effect does not produce the Cause.  The Ego is not produced by the Self, which is the Absolute.  The Absolute Self does not produce or create at all but ever just exists.

[Ramana]

Liberation is our nature. It is another name for us.  Our wanting Liberation is a very funny thing.  It is like a man who is in the shade, voluntarily leaving the shade, going into the Sun, feeling the severity of the heat there, making great efforts to get back into the shade & then rejoicing. We are all doing exactly the same. We are not different from the Reality. We imagine we are different & then undergo great spiritual practices to get rid of the feeling of difference & realise the Oneness. Why imagine or create the feeling of difference & then have to destroy it ?

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/

ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY–pt94

Nome

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Sections appended below derive from Sri Ramana's Teaching.]

If we want to know "what ?" is "what", we must know "who ?" is "who".  The undifferentiated, doubtless state is that which has abandoned the objective outlook. What we all want is that which causes the highest Bliss, that which is truly happy. The highest Bliss, profound Happiness is remaining in that state in which one is just the Absolute Self. This prompts the aspirant to seek Liberation in the World–less, Ego–less state. For those who have realized the highest Truth though, that Truth is everywhere, of the nature of Bliss-Consciousness, & there is not a particle of this Universe that is without this Bliss-Consciousness.

Where is the Ego ?  It is not in the World, which is unreal.  The Ego is not in the Body, which is unreal & it is not the Self.  The Ego is not in the Senses, which are unreal & it is not the Self.  The Ego is not in thought, which is unreal & not the Self.  The Ego is not in the flawless, unmodified, perfect Self.  The Ego is never actually experienced by itself & is not actually experienced in any of these.  The Ego dwells nowhere.  If the Ego is not a thing in itself, does not reside anywhere, & is not inherent in anything, the remaining possibility is that its supposed existence is an effect produced by something else, but only the Self exists & the Self exists produces nothing.

[Ramana]

It is the Mind that veils our Happiness. How do we know that we exist ?  If you say because of the World around us, then how do you know that you existed in Deep Dreamless Sleep ?

The Mind cannot kill itself.  So your business is to find the Real Nature of the Mind. Then

you will know that there is no Mind. When the Self is sought, the mind is nowhere.  Remaining in the Self, one need not worry about the 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/

ENLIGHTENMENT BY SELF-INQUIRY–pt93

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Sections appended below derive from Sri Ramana's Teaching.]

It is a waste of time to dispute in the Mind, because our focus should be the Knowledge of the Self & not an attempt to determine what "this" is without first knowing "I". If we attempt to determine what "this" is (any "this"), without first knowing the "I", the best that we can hope for some doctrinal supposition. Reality alone can know the Reality. Any supposed "stepping stone" would not be an outward or mental dispute, it would be some "stepping stone" to actually inquiring into the "I" & knowing the Self as it is.  For in that way alone, does one know Reality.  This is so because the un–real cannot know the Real. The Ego is un–real & as long as we take up our position in the Ego as it were, our knowledge un–real knowledge of things un–real.

The Ego is not a temporary quality of the Self.  The Truth cannot be like an "unripe fruit becoming a ripe fruit."  Then there would be 2 stages, or States, for the Self, one with an Ego & one without.  The Existence of the Self is Absolute & un-changing. If the Ego were ever part of Pure Existence, or sharing in it in any way whatsoever, Pure Existence would be changeful & transitory & would cease to exist.  Existence is always Ego–less & has no Ego quality whatsoever.

The Body is not the truth, for the Body is only imagined in the Mind. For the Illusion of the World, one must also regard the sensations not as sensations or modes of Mind, but as an actually objective entity endowed with the Duality of inner & outer, & with the apparent object portion of the sensation considered as separate from the knowing aspect (as if there were an independently existing "external" World).  Since the Body is not oneself, & the Self is not in a Body, the World is not distributed out "around" oneself.  "Around" is imagined within  the Mind & is not distributed all "around".

[Ramana]

Realization is already there. The state free from thoughts is the only real state. There is no such action as "realization".  Is there anyone who is not realizing the Self ?  Does anyone deny his own existence ?  Speaking of realization, it implies 2 selves –  the one to realize, the other to be realized.  What is not already realized is sought to be realized. Once we admit our existence, how is it that we do not know our 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–pt92

Sri Ramana's disciple Nome

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Sections appended below derive from Sri Ramana's Teaching.]

Some Wise Sages say that this entire World is false, so that we realize the Truth of Brahman. Without actually contradicting themselves, those same Sages at other times say that this entire Universe is "true", for the Truth of Brahman alone, constitutes all of "this".  Likewise, those same Wise Sages say that all this is inert, so that we realize that which "knows", which is pure Consciousness & which is not of this World.  On the other hand, the Wise Sages also say that this entire Universe is nothing but the Infinite Consciousness, & there is nothing inert anywhere. Similarly, it has been pointed out that this World is a place of suffering. This prompts the aspirant to seek Liberation in the World–less, Ego–less state. For those who have realized the Truth though, that Truth is everywhere, of the nature of Bliss-Consciousness, & there is not a particle of this Universe that is without this Bliss-Consciousness.

The Ego-"I" is not a quality or attribute of the Self, since it is not invariably related to the Self.   The Ego-"I" does not continue in Liberation or in Deep Dreamless Sleep.  Since the Ego-"I" does not then continue, it must belong to something else & not to the Self. To what does the Ego-"I" belong ?  In Self-Inquiry one will find that the Ego-"I" belongs to nothing.  The Ego-"I" It cannot belong to what depends on it (concepts, vasanas, etc.).  The attributeless Self is homogenous & ever changeless & so will never have an Ego at any time.  If the Ego were an attribute of the Self, the Ego would be Eternal.  In that case, all Liberation, all Scriptures, all spiritual life, all spiritual practice, all sayings of Sages, & such would be futile & false. That would be absurd.  It is better to give up the notion of the Ego than to hold to it as being real.

[Ramana]

It is the thought which builds up layers of Illusion (sheaths) in so many ways. The shadow on the water is seen to be shaking. Can anyone stop the shaking of the shadow ?  If it would cease to shake you would not notice the water but only the Light.  Similarly take no notice of the Ego (shadow) & its activities, but see only the Light behind.  The Ego is the thought "I".  The true "I" is the 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–pt91

[The Teaching  of Non-Duality has been adapted from Master Nome, disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Section appended below derives this time from Vedic analogies.]

All the assertions of the Mind cannot compare to Liberation. If we remain without an "I" or a "this", we can be content. The "I"-less state has no differences.  In the "I"-lessness, in the difference–less, there is no contention. Differences arise after the "I", & they are differences  among things considered as "this".  In the "I"-less state, there is no "this" at all.  Whether we consider something as True or as False, as inert or as Consciousness, as Happiness or as Suffering, & whether these ideas pertain to something in the World or to the World as such, these thoughts are still a consideration about "this", built upon the supposition of "I".

The Absolute is without attributes.  The Absolute is never sensed since one never sees, hears, touches, or has any other sensory impression by the Ego. The Ego is not the word, "I" nor the particular thought of "I".  Realized sages, who are fully identified with the true Self alone, may say "I" but they neither give rise to nor retain any Ego.  The Ego has no form of its own & is never seen by itself as it is.  Though the Ego is assumed  to be a division in Pure Existence, how can Pure Existence be Dual or be divided in Itself ?

The result of Self-Inquiry is remaining as pure Existence-Consciousness, which transcends the animate & the in–animate, & which never dies. This is remaining in the invariable state of the Self.  As long as one is identified with the Prana, there will be the differentiation of living & dead. Then the one Existence which ever is will appear "veiled".  When this Mis-identification is destroyed through Knowledge, the Duality vanishes. Prana undergoes fluctuations from Birth to Death, in health & sickness.  Prana  also varies according to lifestyle & activities.  Pure Existence does not fluctuate. So, how could Prana be equated with the Self  ?  The animating Prana is objective.  Prana is something experienced & not the Consciousness that knows it.

One classic Vedic analogy points to non–objective Consciousness, the singular Reality that we are.

Eyes in a Desert

This analogy that points to non–objective Consciousness refers to "vision" of a man in a desert place with no standing pool of water or shiny metal that might accidentally serve as a mirror.  With no such mirror to reflect an image of the man's eyes, he has no direct, objective experience of those eyes.

And yet, by virtue of his vision of the surrounding terrain, & of part of his own body, this man does know himself to be a "Seer".  So too we know non–objective Consciousness to be the Seer, even though we have no direct, objective experience of that non–objective Consciousness which is the Self, oneself.

That sees all, but cannot be seen because it alone does all the seeing. 

Another classic Vedic analogy refers to a earthen vessel/pot with many holes.  A candle in the bottom casts the impression of many "lights" all deriving from the one candle, many "seers" seemingly shining, but only one candle, One Consciousness.  From any one & all, the One Consciousness that we are cannot only be inferred, but never seen.  Each can ask & then say: Who am I ?  I Am That.

Another classic Vedic analogy refers to a earthen vessel/pot with many holes.  A candle in the bottom casts the impression of many "lights" all deriving from the one candle, many "seers" seemingly shining, but only one candle, One Consciousness.  From any one & all, the One Consciousness that we are cannot only be inferred, but never seen.  Each can ask & then say: Who am I ?  I Am That.

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/