Reality 36

Mind (continued)

Self-Knowledge is not merely a “blank mind” in which thought activity is temporarily stilled.  For Self-Realization one should know the Self’s freedom from thought & the true nature of the Mind.  Inquiring, “For whom is this thought ?” & “For whom is this Mind ?”,  One should seek the knowledge of the Self, beyond all mental modes & States of Mind [Waking, Dream, & Deep Dreamless Sleep].

Inquiring “Who am I ?”, one should know that true Existence, interior to any thought, more formless than any thought, transcendent of all thought, & ever free from all thought.

Checklist points demonstrating that the Self never connects with, never really relates to the Mind.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & the Mind (a partial Checklist):

(1) Change

a) The Self is changeless.

b) Thought is changeful.

(2) Qualities

a) The Self is singular, state–less, & mode–

b) Thought is multiple, appearing ultimately as thoughts, modes, and states.

(3) Homogeneous

a) The Self is homogeneous.

b) Thought has many

(4) Continuity

a) The Self is continuous Existence–

b) Thought is sporadic & each thought is momentary.

(5) Disappearance

a) The Self does not rise and has no disappearance.

b) The rise and fall of thought can be observed by anyone who meditates with depth.

(6) Objectivity

a) The Self is the Knower, the silent non–objective Witness of all thought. The Self is Consciousness, which is the Knower, the so-called “Knower of the field”.

b) The Mind is the so-called “field” [from the Bhagavad-Gita].

(7) “I”

1. The Self, the True “I” knows thought.
2.  Thought does not know the “I”.

How then can thought pertain to the Self ?  How then can thought defined the Self ?  The Mind cannot be equated with the Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 35

Mind

Inquiring to liberate the Self from every mis–identification with thought requires thought–transcendent Knowledge.  Such is the Revelation of the Self, beyond all of the Mind.  Initially this may be the Revelation of the Self as the pure, unchanging, Witnessing Consciousness.  In Realization, the Self which is indivisible Consciousness alone is.

Those who are introspective, observing the changeful nature of thoughts in States of Mind, & desiring to be free of the Mind, are intent upon discerning the inconceivable Self that is not to be mis–identified with thought.  Liberation from thought means Abidance as Pure Consciousness. Such Abidance is Freedom from all States of Mind [Waking, Dream, & Deep Dreamless Sleep] & their content.  It is awakening from this Waking Dream.  It is the Realization of that which is not a State.

“Mind” signifies all thought, & Liberation from the Mind means Freedom of all thought of every kind.  There are innumerable permutations of thought.  Some deal with the Senses & some are associations with the impressions past impressions of the Senses.

Some thoughts are more subtle and some are abstract thoughts.  Some thoughts are Memories.  Some thoughts may appear as emotions of various kinds.  Thoughts that are more clear which are sattvic in character (of the nature of the guna: sattva), they point towards Knowledge.  Self-knowledge is Liberation from all of those thoughts.

The Mind may be understood in terms of its aspects, such as manas & buddhi (choosing, imaging Mind & Intellect), or else as manas, buddhi, and chitta [mindstuff] (Mind, Intellect, & Memory).

Inquiring to know the Self, one can see that thought is a power capable of appearing in multiple ways or permutations with varied content.  The same power of thought may appear individually in patterns, in modes, or as States of Mind.  Knowing this one can take Sri Ramana Maharshi’s direct approach [vichara atma, Self-Inquiry] of liberating the Self from all of the Mind at once.

Free oneself from the Mind, from thought, release it realizing that all Duality, which is all experience other than the Self, is a creation of the Mind.  Such creation is due to thoughts & is composed of thoughts.  Abidance free from thought requires one to abide free of Dualistic notions regarding the Mind itself the unmoving Self does not travel through the Mind & thought does not drag the ever–still, transcendent Self about.  The Self is Silent and untouched, endowed with the Supreme solitary power of Reality.  It is not contend with thought, as if thought were an enemy with its own power.  Self-Inquiry entails freedom from the pursuit of delusive thoughts, that in the form of tendencies or vasanas, form samsara.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 34

Body (continued)

Continuing Checklist points demonstrating that the Self never connects with, never really relates to the Body.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & the Body (a continued partial Checklist):

(1) Location

a) The Self is not located in a Body. The Self is not located in relation to a Body. That is the Self is not in or out of the Body. The Self has no location.  Existence is neither a particular part of the Body nor confined inside a Body. If it were a spot or in a spot, the spot could be pointed out, & that very Form would be the Self, or would contain the Self.  But then the Self would neither be Existence or Real, neither Infinite nor Eternal, & there would be no Liberation from Bondage. Then the very declarations of the wise Gurus would become false.  This result & these causes are not reasonable.  The Self is not the Body & is not in the Body. There is no Birth or Death the Self.  The Self does not enter into or exit out of the Body. The self is not in relation to a Body. The Self is not in the Body now, nor is it out of the Body at some other time.  The Self is locationless

b) If the Self would be located throughout the Body or in a bodily spot, such a location would be objective. The Self, though non–objective, & the non–objective cannot have an objective location or other objective attributes.  If the Self were located in the Body, when that part of the Body underwent change or decay, so would Existence itself.  If that part of the Body would be lost, the Self would be lost.  The Self is always present. If the Self would be located throughout the Body exists, Existence would diminish and change as the cells of the Body change.  If one part were lost, even a single hair are cell, Existence would diminish accordingly.  This though is not so, for the self is changeless & ever undiminished.  The Self is not located in the body.  The entire assumption of being located in the Body, as if the body were a container of the Self, is simply not true.

(2 ) Modification, Possession, & Relation

a) The Self is ever as it is with no modifications what the Self is it is always. The Self does the Self possess a Body. For otherwise, the Self would always have the Body, which is not so.

b) Possession of a Body is not in the nature of the Self, & the Self being Reality never changes its nature. The Self does not have a body, as possession implies division or the Duality of the possessor & the possessed, & posits there relation. Existence is Non-Dual & indivisible.  Existence is Absolute & infinite.  Existence is not in relation to anything.

(3) Attribute

a) There is not anything to which the Self could have a relation, as a finite object might the Self does not have a Body, as an attribute can only be for a thing, and pure existence is not a thing. The Self does not have a body. In this lies the Self’s great freedom.

b) The Body with its transience & change, is not an attribute of the Self. The Body does not possess, or have as an attribute, the Self. The attributes of the Body are not the attributes of the Self.

(4) Form

a) The Self is formless. The formless does not have a form in any manner. The Self is Infinite & space–like, ever the same, & bodiless.  The Infinite does not wear a Body, and the space–like has no Form.

b) The Body is a Form. The Body does not possess the Self, & the Self does not possess a Body.

The Body cannot be equated with the Self.

The above themes & 2000 pages more are freely available as perused or downloaded PDF’s, the sole occupants of a Public Microsoft One Drive / Skydrive “Public Folder” accessible through:  

www.jpstiga.com/

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

or directly:

short-cut: http://sdrv.ms/YPOgkX or http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

link directly to free E-book PDF files

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 33

Body (continued)

Continuing Checklist points demonstrating that the Self never connects with, never really relates to the Body.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & the Body (a continued partial Checklist):

(1) Characteristics

a) The Self is not the Body. The Self is bodiless, unchanging, indivisible, unborn, undying, indestructible, ever–existent, continuous, formless, partless, beyond the elements or matter, non-dependent, & self–existent forever. This is beyond doubt.

b) The Body is changing, divisible on, is born, dies, is indestructible, falsely–existent, dis-continuous, with form, part, made of elements of matter, dependent, & not self–existent.

(2) Motion & Action

a) The Self is motionless & actionless. The Self is not affected by the actions of the Body. The Self does not act, move, or change by the results of motions & actions of the Body. Abidance in this Knowledge alone constitutes the truly still & actionless State. This alone is truly Liberation from karma, which can never be achieved within the context of “I am the Body” notion & its corollary concept “I am the doer”.  The Self is free of Birth to Death inclusive of everything in between. The Self is Existence–Consciousness & is never non–existent or in– In Delusion one thinks that the Self, of the nature of existence consciousness parishes rather than that the bodily definition, being with a beginning & being false, cannot last.  Existence–Consciousness as it is purely, is bodiless and has neither Life nor Death.  In Knowledge, this is self-evident.  Thus one who abides in this Knowledge of the Self abides in imperturbable Bliss

b) The Body moves & acts. All physical experience, from Birth to Death inclusive of everything in between, is only for the Body. The Body is inert & not endowed with Consciousness. Existence–Consciousness plus bodily definition is falsely called “Life”, which not being Eternal or True has a corresponding Death.

The Body cannot be equated with the Self.

The above themes & 2000 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 31

Body (continued)

Checklist points demonstrating that the Self never connects with, never really relates to the Body.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & the Body (a partial Checklist):

(1) Change

a) The Self is changeless Existence.

b) The Body changes continuously, even if this change is noticed only after some time.

(2)  Birth

a) The Self is itself the Absolute & is never absorbed into anything. That with actually exists, always is. That which can be absorbed, or which has a beginning & an end, is an unreal appearance, & ultimately does not exist.

b) The Body Birth, growth, & decay.

(3) Death

a) The Self is deathless. There is no time when Existence is not, & non–Existence cannot even be imagined without oneself existing to imagine so. If one Self did not exist at some point of non–Existence, who is there to know that non–Existence, & how can it even be spoken about.

b) The Body is transient & is subject to Death.

(4) Parts

a) The Self is partless, indivisible, inhomogeneous, pure Existence. The Existence is beyond its name & more than just its name or designation.

b) The Body is a multiplicity of elements & organs, a conglomerate of cells, apart from which there is no entity that can be inferred to as a Body. There are trillions of cells with quadrillions of interconnections in nerve cells alone.

(5) Matter

a) The Self is immaterial.

b) The Body is matter. How can the Body is composed of matter, the very same that is contained in the food consumed, why should one regard that as oneself ? Before eating the food matter is not regarded as oneself. After eating, it is by Delusion regarded as oneself, provide it provided one does not regurgitate it.  After passes through the system of digestion, the remnants are certainly not regarded as oneself.  Similarly is it with the parts of the Body.  They regarded as oneself only so long as they are connected with the rest of the Body.  Snipping of the nails, cutting of the hair, even loss of a limb, does not result in identification with that missing part.  The mis-identification is thus arbitrary, & delusive layouts associated with proximity to the rest of the form of the Body.

(6) Permanence

1. ) The Self is not momentary but permanent without a moments interruption. Its Existence does not cease even in the absence of Perception.
2. ) The Body is momentary. It endures but for only one Lifetime, at most. It actually appears only in the moments of Perception.

(7) Objectivity

1. ) The Self is non-objective & ever is the Knower.
2. ) The Body is objective & always is only the Known.

(7) Attributes

1. ) The Self is attributless Existence.
2. ) The Body is known by its perceived attributes, apart from which there is no Body.

The Body cannot be equated with the Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 30

Body

For Self-Realization, it is necessary to know that the Self is transcendent of bodily form & limitation.  By liberating oneself from the ignorant mis–identification with the Body & its attributes, one abides as the Infinite & the Eternal.

Seek Self-Realization that is not a bodily state, & be neither enamored nor ashamed of the Body.  Seek to discern the Self’s freedom from the Body & its attributes.  One should know the Self’s transcendence of all bodily definition.  The results of this Self-Knowledge, Knowledge of the Self’s freedom from the limitations of the Body & its attributes, are Bliss & Peace that are undisturbed by bodily conditions, spiritual freedom from: birth, growth, decay, illness, & death; & transcendence of action.

Intent on the Supreme Knowledge, remain detached from the Body, its attributes, & its activities.  Utilize the bodily form, while it is alive, as an instrument for selfless activity inspired by Wisdom, by the desire for Liberation, & by the immensity of Grace, acting with corresponding equanimity, purpose, & devotion.  The bodily activities are used as an instrument that expresses the Divine.

By contemplation on its wondrous working, the Body may be viewed as a reminder of Supreme Consciousness by which it appears, as does appear the entire Universe.  The emphasis is placed, not on the reminder, that is the Body, but on that of which one is reminded, the Self.  Abide unmoved by Pleasure & Pain, motion & inactivity, & Birth & Death.  For invariable Bliss know one’s Freedom from the body & all bodily attributes.  Knowledge is Realization.

Self-Realization is neither something done nor is it any bodily transformation, but it is the comprehension of what is Truth.  The self is formless, birth, deathless, and unchanging.  The Self is Eternal & Infinite Existence-Consciousness-Bliss.  Realization of this results from liberating the Self, by the essential Discrimination inherent in Self-Inquiry, from illusory bondage of Ignorance, which is composed of the delusive assumption that the Self is something other than the True Existence that it is.  It possible to realize this True Existence only if one is thoroughly free of the Ignorance that consists of mis–identification with the Body, for body has form, birth, death, change, & does not last forever, and is not Infinite.

As long as there is any mis-identification with the Body, the Real Nature of the Self will not be known, while the Self is mis-conceived in terms of the limitations of the Body.  When Such mis-conception is relinquished by deep Self-Inquiry into one’s actual Existence, the nature of the Self is self-evident.

The Body cannot be equated with the Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 28

Life Force, Aliveness, Vitality, elan Vital, Energy, Life, Prana

To go beyond the illusory boundary of Life & Death, to go beyond the limitations of Life, & to not wish to suffer death, clearly discriminate between Existence or Consciousness & prana or Life–Energy.

Prana  signifies the Life–Energy, that which seems to animate the Body & the Senses, without which they are inert.  Prana in various combinations with the Body, Senses, & the Mind is that which is responsible for the experience is called “physical” & “subtle/ astral”.  Without such animating Energy, there is no bodily or Sensory experience.  A corpse has no experience.  The Sense organs, though perhaps intact, are not animated & do not produce any experience.

The result of Self-Inquiry to know the Self is Abidance as pure Existence–Consciousness, which transcends the animate & the inanimate, but which never dies.  This is Abidance in the invariable State of the Self.  As long as one is identified with the prana, there will be a differentiation of living & dead, & the one Existence which ever will appear “veiled” by the darkening, obscuring, inertial, tamasic principle of Ignorance, avidya, ajnana (avarana, avritti).  When this mis–identification is destroyed through Self-Knowledge, this Duality vanishes.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & Prana (a partial Checklist):

(1) Fluctuation

a) Existence does not fluctuate.

b) Prana undergoes fluctuations from Birth to Death, in health & sickness, & varies according to lifestyle & activities. Even such every day experiences as feeling bad, feeling sick or worn out, feeling exuberant, or hung-over, energized, or withdrawal, all such can be attributed to ups & downs in prana.The Senses cannot be considered to be the Self.

(2) Objectivity

a) It is not being alive that enables one to be conscious, but Consciousness that knows the state of being alive.

b) The animating prana is objective. It is something experienced & not the Consciousness that knows it prana.

(3) the Body

a) The Self is not located in a Body or spatial in any manner.

b) The Life–Energy seems to locate itself throughout the Body.

Prana cannot be equated with the Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 27

Senses (continued)

Continuing Checklist points demonstrating that the Self never connects with, never really touches the Senses.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & the Senses (a continued partial Checklist):

(1) the Body

1.  The Self is bodiless & is not part of the Body or associated with a location in relation to a Body, unlike the Senses.
2.  The Senses are part of the Body. The Body is perceived only by the Senses & has no reality apart from them. Each illusion depends upon the other (Dependent Origination, Boot–Strapping). Such Illusion is like the painting of a wall that is painted on the wall depicted when the wall itself has yet not yet been built.

(2) Dependence

1.  The Self is not a Sensation or a product of Sensations. The Self exists as it is, innately independent of the Senses. This is the highest state of Detachment.  As pure Existence, one is always detached from the Senses & thus, to the whole World.  The Self is not the Senses & is not experienced by the Senses.
2.  The Senses depend on the Self. The Senses are capable of perceiving Sense objects only, & the Self is not a material object.  The Sensory experience is only that of Sensation, & not of a separate Sense & an object.  [This indicates that the Object’s existence is not proven at all by the Senses, since the Senses only consist of a Sensation,.  The presumed existence of an Object that they “study” is an unfounded, unprovable assumption.]

(3) Eye of the Eye

1.  The Self is the Eye of the Eye, unseen by the eye. The Self, which is formless Existence– Consciousness cannot be sensed & does not have Senses. The Self is not some “sensing entity conceived as the nexus of all the sensations“, but instead is ever Pure Consciousness.  The Self is all–seeing but Eyeless.
2.  In truth, the Senses do not exist. The Senses are only a figment of the Mind, which is in the Infinite Consciousness.

(4) the Background

1.  Upon the “background” of the Self, which is Existence–Consciousness, the Senses, which are only thought of those Senses, are unreal principles that only seem to appear. The Existence–Consciousness “background” is Reality, which is unchanging. There is no actual creation of the Senses in that Consciousness. By this Knowledge one remains identified as the Self & not identified with the Senses which are unreal.
2.  The corresponding Sense Objects do not separately exist, but only appear to exist in the Senses. The Senses vanish, leaving the “background” of Existence–Consciousness unaffected.

The Senses cannot be considered to be the Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 26

Senses (continued)

Also by reason of the Checklist points enumerated below, the Self never connects with, never really touches the Senses.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & the Senses (a partial Checklist):

(1) Multiplicity

1. The Self is singular & indivisible Existence.
2. The Senses are multiple & divided.

(2) Objectivity

1. The Self is non-objective, ever the Knower, of the nature of Existence–
2. The Senses are objective, the Known, just as the Sense objects are.

(3) Change & Permanence

1. The Self is changeless, continuous, permanent Existence..
2. The Senses are changeful, discontinuous, & impermanent. The Senses are lost, dulled, or altered in illness, old age, & death. The Senses change during one’s Lifetime, from infancy until the death of the body.  The Senses are changing all the time, transforming into dull & acute states, subject as they are to the 3 gunas – the qualities of Tamas (inertia), Rajas (agitation), & Sattva (~ knowledge).  Each Sense takes a turn being dominant in fades due to a change of the Sense organ, the mental attention, & similar factors.

(4) the 3 States

1. The Self, Existence is always wholly Present, in Waking, Dream. & Deep Dreamless Sleep.
2. The Senses appear only in the Waking State. With each State of Mind they change (Waking, Dream-senses. Deep Dreamless Sleep). Upon the Death of the Body, which is not the Self, the Senses are lost entirely.

(5) Continuity & Conditions

1. The Self is steady, self–existent Reality, permanent, & not a function of some other thing. The Self is steady, self–existent Reality, permanent, & not a function of some other thing. It is Existence & not a doing or activity.  The Self is not determined by any conditions & is itself without any conditions whatsoever.  Part of the existence of Sense experience, which is the Self, is beyond the changeful appearances in the Mind.
2. Rarely are all the 5 Senses active, or experienced, simultaneously. The Senses are just a momentary function. The Senses are determined by conditions such as the condition of the Sense organ, & the environment.  As if a split in Consciousness – there appears separately the Object & the Sense instrument used to know the Object.  This experience & the mental attention given to or removed from the Senses is dis-continuous.  From a higher view, in one in the One Mind, all 3 changing factors [object, sense-instrument, attention] appear to be determining the 5 sense experiences.

The Senses cannot be considered to be the Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 26

Senses (continued)

Also by reason of the Checklist points enumerated below, the Self never connects with, never really touches the Senses.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & the Senses (a partial Checklist):

(1) Multiplicity

1. The Self is singular & indivisible Existence.
2. The Senses are multiple & divided.

(2) Objectivity

1. The Self is non-objective, ever the Knower, of the nature of Existence–
2. The Senses are objective, the Known, just as the Sense objects are.

(3) Change & Permanence

1. The Self is changeless, continuous, permanent Existence..
2. The Senses are changeful, discontinuous, & impermanent. The Senses are lost, dulled, or altered in illness, old age, & death. The Senses change during one’s Lifetime, from infancy until the death of the body.  The Senses are changing all the time, transforming into dull & acute states, subject as they are to the 3 gunas – the qualities of Tamas (inertia), Rajas (agitation), & Sattva (~ knowledge).  Each Sense takes a turn being dominant in fades due to a change of the Sense organ, the mental attention, & similar factors.

(4) the 3 States

1. The Self, Existence is always wholly Present, in Waking, Dream. & Deep Dreamless Sleep.
2.  The Senses appear only in the Waking State. With each State of Mind they change (Waking, Dream-senses. Deep Dreamless Sleep). Upon the Death of the Body, which is not the Self, the Senses are lost entirely.

(5) Continuity & Conditions

1. The Self is steady, self–existent Reality, permanent, & not a function of some other thing. The Self is steady, self–existent Reality, permanent, & not a function of some other thing. It is Existence & not a doing or activity.  The Self is not determined by any conditions & is itself without any conditions whatsoever.  Part of the existence of Sense experience, which is the Self, is beyond the changeful appearances in the Mind.
2. Rarely are all the 5 Senses active, or experienced, simultaneously. The Senses are just a momentary function. The Senses are determined by conditions such as the condition of the Sense organ, & the environment.  As if a split in Consciousness – there appears separately the Object & the Sense instrument used to know the Object.  This experience & the mental attention given to or removed from the Senses is dis-continuous.  From a higher view, in one in the One Mind, all 3 changing factors [object, sense-instrument, attention] appear to be determining the 5 sense experiences.

The Senses cannot be considered to be the Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 25

Senses (continued)

Know that the Senses do not & cannot provide Happiness, & that attachment to the Senses or their objects is Bondage.  Know that the Senses are neither Bliss nor immortal, & that the purpose of Life is not fulfilled by any kind of sensory experience.  Know that Liberation is not any kind of sensory experience & that Realization is not a particular kind of sensation.  Realization is not an increase in sensation, & not a decrease in sensation.  One’s freedom from the Senses must be firm & natural for there to be Realization.  This necessitates the Knowledge of the Self’s transcendence of the Senses.

The Self is infinite Consciousness, unchanging Existence, perfectly full Bliss, vast, & space-like, formless & unconditioned.  The Self is of immense silent Peace, ever shining & motionless.  Within the Self, without activity occurring, there is imagined the realm of objective experience manifesting as the World perceived by the 5 Senses.  There appeared to be 5 Senses with their corresponding kinds of Sense objects.  Within the realms of the Senses, great variety of sensations & apparently uncountable number or Sense objects arise.  These are the Sense experiences of living beings. The living beings appear to be multiple & differentiated from one another due to mis-identification with the Body.

Like the surface ripples & foam on the waves in the Ocean of Consciousness, like clouds in the Sky of pure Being, so are the Senses.  The Self is Existence–Consciousness.  To confound the Self with any of or all of the Senses in any way is Ignorance.  Freedom from mis-identification with the Senses is True Knowledge.  Since True Knowledge is Liberation, & since one seeks to know Reality & not merely try to create it, for it always is therefore, one should discern clearly the Self, it’s in a Freedom from the Senses, & is Freedom from all limitations of the Senses.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://Being-as-Consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 24

Senses

Those who would know the Self by Self-Knowledge cease to regard the Senses as the measure of Reality of the Self.  This non–sensory Self-Knowledge reveals the Self’s freedom from the Senses & sets one free of the limitation of the Senses.  Those who know there is neither permanence in the Senses nor Happiness by the Senses, who do not equate pleasure with Happiness, or pain with Suffering, but recognize that Happiness & Suffering are determined respectively by Knowledge of the Self or Ignorance of the Self.

Those who desire to experience the spiritual Truth beyond the Senses, take recourse to Self-Inquiry to know the Self.  By such Self-Inquiry, the Knowledge of the Self is innately transcendent of the Senses and not bound by the Senses in any manner.  The knowledge of the Self it is itself free from limitations of the Senses, as is the Self itSelf, and those who abide in this knowledge remain unmoved by whatever happens to the Senses.  By knowledge of the Self, which is Knowledge of Reality, one brings about the destruction of the foundations of the Delusion of believing in the existence of an external World.

Vedanta World–views

The Dream analogy is similar to Drishti-Srishti Vada, in that the seen Dream–World is united with & arises from the Seer.  Not entirely Non-Dual, Drishti-Srishti Vada, “simultaneous”–creation whereby the Seen, the World is united with & arises from the Seer, the Self, is a “working hypothesis” that can initially help one to see the World as an unreal projection of the Mind. When the World thus loses its attraction, this facilitates Self-Inquiry.  A similar term is Yugapat-Srishti Jada “instantaneous”–creation, with a moment by moment version espoused by some Buddhists.

Exoteric, Dualistic, traditional, organized, Western religions adhere to Big–Bang–like  divine Gradual–Creation with 2 names Srishti-Drishti or Krama-Srishti Vada.  Non-Dual Advaita Vedanta‘s pinnacle is the Ajata Vada, No– Creation school.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.com/

Duplicate 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/

Whence a World ?

Fundamentally, we trade in formless non-dimensionality for a more objective idea of a “space”.

Mocking the infinite subjective & dimensionless “space” of Consciousness, the reflected light of Mind careens off the apparent 0-D objective “space” of Ego–“I”, the individual, false self.

Starting with the simplest, that 1-D objective “space” of Thought–flow streams forth from the 0-D objective reference Origin of Ego. Even more objective is the echo of 1-D Thought–flow we sense as “Time”. Sequence of Sound, Music, Communication, etc. similarly parallel the 1-D flow of Thought & Time.

Perhaps 2-D would be the inner Screen of the Mind, the mental “windshield” also represented in cinema, TV, monitors, etc. with perspective suggesting 3-D in each.

True 3-D Space is just another version of the same concept, onlt upping the dimension each time. There I also a 3-D Stage or theater of the Mind where 3-D events are envisioned. If there was a Brain, we’d have to say that each space consists merely of electrical activity in the Visual Cortex & so on. The same basic idea is repeated & adapted to each context, repeated over & over again.

Space, Time, Mind, & other big-container concepts comprise the foundation for one’s World-view & much of all thought. Hiding in plain sight is the fact that one single, small Idea is the repeated blueprint for each & every one of these big-container concepts. For the most part, 1-D (Time, Thought-flow, etc.) or 3 dimensions, 3-D (Space, World, etc.) model the “Container” concepts, with the exception being the Visual “TV/Cinema–Screen of the imaging Mind”. The latter is most easily modeled as the familiar 2-D Cartesian Container Coordinate Space learned in school for “graphs”.

The “empty graph paper” is the Cartesian Container Coordinate Space, the core constituent sub-concept of all these Ideas. [Descartes’ Graph reflected that sense of a “Space” with the grid from fishnets & later Greek geodesy (latitude–longitude).] The Graph’s particular 2-D Space is also the TV or Cinema Screen, the Visual Screen of Image in the Mind (or on computer) [with 3-D suggested by perspective as in a drawing]. This one same empty expanse is the Container Space for all the big-category concepts & is repeated for each one. Empty Space is like empty Time or empty Mind, all just thought, & essentially the same thought. We’re just not used to recognizing that similarity because we project Space & Time to be more than the thought of them. We project them to be objective realities “on the outside”.

Each Container contains Coordinate Points or minute entities like Moments, Locations, Thoughts or pieces of an Image, a Sound, or other Sense Percept. But every such entity is undefined without reference to a Central Origin, which on a Graph is the (0, 0) crossing point of 2 Axes [3 in 3-D, 1 in 1-D]. The 1-D single Axis has a Central Origin, (0), 3-D has (0, 0, 0). The single Axis of Time serves also for Sound Sequence or Thought Flow.

Space may use for its Horizontal Axis [for X abscissa] West-to-East. Its Vertical Axis [for Y coordinate] may be East-to-North, while its out-of-the-page [Z] Axis could be Down-to-Up.

Thoughts or pieces of an Image, a Sound, any Sensation or Thought–form are [somehow] arranged entities characteristic of a given Cartesian Container Coordinate Space, all defined with reference to their respective Origins. So 2-D locations on the TV/Cinema/Visual–Screen of the Mind are referenced to the Origin of Central Focus or mental “Here”. More proper 3-D locations in “Physical” [perceived that way] Space are referenced to the Origin of Physical Here. Thoughts are referenced in Mind to the Ego–I or Me Origin. The 1-D Linear Thought–flow & Sound–sequence are referenced, just as is Time itself to the Origin of the Now Moment. The 3-D Tactile & Visually Scanned World of Objects in Physical Space could be said to have one’s Body as the “Origin” which in this case is not an infinitesimal 0-D Coordinate Point like the other Origins.

To flesh out that additional detail [among a number of imagined others] of these Container Coordinate Spaces, we can see the Body as a small Micro-Container-Space in itself. The boundaries of a Micro-Container-Space constitute the line dividing Inner from Outer, in that latter case between the physically inner Me & the Outer World. A Micro-Container-Space in 3-D Physical Space might be one’s Vicinity, in 1-D Time it might be one’s Lifetime. A Micro-Container-Space around a 2-D map of Mind’s thought or a 3-D or 4-D Space-Time of such thoughts could be the Personality enclosing Ideas close around the Ego–Origin.

Back in the 3-D or 4-D World of Objects, where the Body, a Micro-Container-Space in itself, serves as the best practical Macro-Origin for Objects outside that Body. Similarly, the Lifetime Micro-Container-Space could be a Macro-Origin for a longer scale of Time, just as the Vicinity Micro-Container-Space could be a Macro-Origin for a larger scales of Distance. The infinitesimal Now & Here Origins still serve as Origins within the Time & Vicinity Micro-Container-Spaces. If pressed for a “more infinitesimal” Origin within the Body Micro-Container-Space which alone best serves as a Macro-Origin for the World of objects, then such a more inner Origin might be the Brain within the Body, or the Cortex, neither completely infinitesimal, but still rather discrete. Each Macro-Origin/ Micro-Space is the same kind of “local neighborhood” in each case. Body – Planet – Star system – Galaxy – Groups etc. are successively larger Macro-Origin/ Micro-Spaces or “local neighborhoods”.

Mathematical categories & curiosities aside, the point of these simplistic models is to suggest that Mind, Time, Space, & the World are not objective “givens” with fixed qualities. Different people experience these differently, & each of us also does so differently at different times. However modeled, or not, these big-category concepts are mental projections, not fixed realities. The Coordinate Space models suggest that the same old “space with a center” Idea is repeated over & over again for Mind, Time, Space, & the World. More importantly, these represent the net of Illusion that distracts us from recognition of our core Identity, the Non-Dual Brahman, the Self of Absolute Existence, pure Non-Dual Consciousness, & complete Happiness, Love, Bliss, Peace, & Liberation

Mind of course includes all of those . But specifically focusing on Mind itself as one of the Container-Spaces, ever with Thoughts as the Coordinate Points & the Ego– I or Me as there reference Origin, models for Mind appear in 5 different dimensional aspects:

0-D for the core [false] Ego Identity, Me

1-D for the sequence of Thought

2-D for the visual screen of the Mind

3-D for the theater of the Mind

4-D for lifetime identity Personality, born, growing, dying in Waking State Time

The 1-D Space of Time overlaps somewhat with the Mind’s 1-D for the sequence of Thought, with Moments for the points on the Timeline with Now another Origin along with Ego. Sound & other Sequences compare as well, with Auditory Sense most aligned with this 1-D as in the chart up above. Almost by default Olfactory & Gustatory Senses matched up with 0-D, in some vague way. Olfactory especially aligns a bit with Ego, or at least the Limbic System in terms of fear & other Emotions.

So the chart op above loosely links the Senses with big-category concepts/mental-projections. From there the ancient “elements” or phases are, by serendipity, loosely matched to both Senses & characteristic Dimensions, to some degree. Even Fractal Dimensions can be worked into the Concept scheme. For one example, a 2-D sketch could contain edges & outlines. Some 2 ½ Dimension could indicate the shading & texture suggestive of 3-D. Likewise, 4-D Space-Time has with Here & Now at (0,0,0,0) Origin.

So again, the World fills Space with Objects, etc. as points with an extended Macro-Origin reference as the Body. While Hearing naturally parallels Time in Sound & Music, all being mostly 1-D, Vision naturally scans 2-D Screens suggestive of 3-D Space. These Sense Perceptions along with Tactile, etc. Senses concretize a World. While the Body is an extended or Macro-Origin reference Origin for the coordinate space of the World, that same Body can be a Micro-Space in itself, with it own smaller Macro-Origin as perhaps the Brain. The Body-skin marks the inside–outside boundary in the World.

All the Space–Origin concepts are similar. Self-Inquiry traces back along short or long routes from any of the above, especially from Thoughts, questing “Whose thought?” “Mine.” “Who am I ?” “Whence am I ?” which is to say finding the “place” in Consciousness where the Ego-“I” seems to arise. Find it to never arise there. Remain as that Consciousness, the Non–Dual Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.com/

Duplicate blogs available on:

“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/

Reality 22

Happiness

Desire and fear agitate our Mind, and obscure from its view the Happiness that always exists within it. When a desire is satisfied, or the cause of a fear is removed, the surface agitation of our Mind subsides, and in that temporary calm our Mind enjoys a taste of its own innate Happiness. Happiness is thus a state of Pure Existence – a State in which our Mind’s habitual agitation is calmed. The activity of our Mind disturbs it from its calm state of just being, & causes it to lose sight of its own innermost Happiness. To enjoy Happiness, therefore, all our Mind need do is to cease all activity, returning calmly to its natural state of inactive being, as it does daily in Deep Dreamless Sleep.

That “inner place” in which you felt that certainty of your Existence, & also that certainty of your knowing so, your Consciousness, is actually the same “place”. Moreover that “place” is not a place, having size or shape, & has no location in Space, or in Time for that matter. The very same “place” where you are certain of your Consciousness, that “place” is actually your Consciousness itself. As also the very same “place” where you are certain of your Existence, it truly is your Existence, it is what you are, your Self.

And not only your Self, but the same is my Self, & the Self of everyone & all that exist, have ever existed, or will ever exist. That singular Existence or Being is the literal Truth proclaimed by Parmenides & Shankara, by Huang Po, Meister Eckhart, Ib’n al Arabi, Brahmagna Ma, & Ananda Ma. The point being that no culture, gender, creed, or period of history has unique claim to this recognition, this Knowledge known as the Perennial Philosophy.

Further observations include the fact that very same not-a-place “place” or Brahman or the Self is also experienced routinely as the Source of Happiness, Love, Bliss, Joy, Peace, Satisfaction, Freedom & the like. These are all one with Consciousness & Being. Though Happiness–in–full is more often the complete “reference value” we all intuit, perfect Happiness, the goal, whether we currently believe it to be attained or not. That Source of Happiness is the same “place” where true Happiness (not mere pleasure or triumph) is actually felt, routinely. Even the sense of its lack could be said to be felt there along with all negative emotions that seem “negative” so by coloration with conceptual self-delusion.

The Self is inward, Most Inward, totally non-objective.  The Self is the Consciousness “looking out” & nothing can look at that Consciousness.  Trying to turn Consciousness in to look at itself is Self-Inquiry or Self-Attention or Abidance.  Who am I ?  may start as examination of the Individual one imagines oneself to be.  Under scrutiny [to be detailed in later Blogs], the Ego–I vanishes, like dust against the brilliance of the Self, Pure Consciousness. Along with the vanishing, one gains direct “vision” of the Self, but not as an Object.   The Non-Objective is Formless, Limitless, not separate from all that is Real.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.com/

Duplicate blogs available on:

“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/

Reality 21

100 Billion

In order to hint at how serious this Blog is, let the author unequivocally state that the Knowledge here imparted, none of it original, none to be credited to the author, that Knowledge is THE MOST VALUABLE treasure that exists. If hypothetically offered 100 Billion dollars to forgo this Knowledge, that offer or any other would be disregarded in the blink of an eye.  Even with all the good that might be accomplished with $100B, this Knowledge is beyond the World & comes from beyond the Mind. This is no hyperbole.

Time

Time, our sense of flowing Consciousness, is a fundamental analogy for Existence.  We readily use hearing to measure Time as beat & sequence of sounds. Visually marking a series of positions for a “moving” object measures our Time as movement, from everyday objects to the movement of the Sun & Moon to measure Clock & Calendar Time.

But in the short term, even if all our Senses were prevented from functioning for a while, we could still notice the passing of Time through the changing pattern of our thoughts. But what is the “Perception” of Time ?  We do not actually perceive Time as such, but rather only indirectly infer Time from the changes or events we consider to be strung out in Time. And yet again, we do not perceive events only, but also their temporal relations, analogous to the spatial distances & other relations between objects in Space (again a topic for another day).

In fact as we measure the Time between positions along the length of a perceived object we thus estimate that length in terms of the Time of our scan. In this way, our visual sense creates 1-D Space from the Time of the visual scan. The same in a perpendicular directions widens the 1-D length (with the help of similar width) to 2-D area. Repeating the same again in a 3^rd mutually perpendicular direction adds depth & thickens our 2-D area to 3-D volume & thus 3-D Space. Tactile Senses roughen up & ultimately fill out that visually perceived 3-D with a sense of substance. Thus we use the sense of Time to project the sense of Space with the Senses.

But when we turn the Senses at Time & seem to perceive one event following another, what we actually perceive is each Moment as the Present Moment in its own Time. We then mentally apply Memory & Anticipation to stretch out the infinitesimal Present into Past-Present-Future Time. But what we actually perceive, we perceive as Present – as what is going on right Now.

But can we perceive a relation between 2 events without also perceiving the events themselves? No we cannot, but we perceive both events as Present, in which case we must perceive them as simultaneous, & so not as successive after all. There is thus paradox in the notion of perceiving an event as occurring after another. When we perceive B as coming after A, we have, surely, ceased to perceive A. In that case, A is merely an item in our memory. Now if we wanted to construe “perception” narrowly, excluding any element of memory, then we would have to say that we do not, after all, perceive B as following A.

Vision as been lined up internally with the 2-D Screen of the Mind & also 3-D via Perspective & internally in the Theater-Stage of the Mind. But 3-D properly belongs to Tactile [somato-sensory Somesthetic, Proprioception, Nociception, Haptic-touch including lateral motion, pressure, enclosure. contour following] & Vestibular-balance. Yet even Tactile Senses, like Vision creates 3-D one dimension at a time. Using 1-D Time-sense we instinctively measure a visual scan or a feeling by how long it takes in context, all things considered. This gives us the 1-D of Length as a Perceptual Concept. In some orthogonal sense [generalized “perpendicular” ], another Dimension is simultaneously “calculated” as Width & “multiplied so to speak ” by Length to yield 2-D “Area” or general “expanse”. Again in another orthogonal sense a 3^rd Dimension is likewise “calculated” as Depth & “multiplied” again to fill 2-D “expanse” out into tangible “volume” or Mass. In this way Tactile & Visual Sense , create a 3-D World or ant given Object, one Dimension at a time, quick enough to seem simultaneous.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

The Self is the only Seer of the World, if one is seen. The World, in turn, does not itself see the Self. Existence is Consciousness, & the Self is That. There is no existence apart from Consciousness, the Self. Realizing the Truth of the Self, one sees that there is no World. It is not that the Seer of Truth does not see the World, as if this Knowledge were a sensory (deprived one) state, but rather, the Seer of Truth sees that there is no World. The Seer of Truth is the Self, & the Self is indivisible, non–objective, without an exterior, undifferentiated, & 1–without–a–2^nd. Consciousness, infinite & undivided, sees none but itSelf. The which is not Consciousness does not see at all. Lacking Being, it also lacks knowing. As the Self, one does not see the World, & the World does not see oneself.

In Non-Duality, Being alone is Real. The World has never come to be, so it is said to be completely unreal. The World never was, is not, & never will be. The uncreated, unmodified, worldless Absolute alone is. That alone is, & That you are. The Real ever is, & the unreal has never come to be. The conclusion about this is known by the Knowers of Truth.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 19

The World appears in Consciousness alone. The World is the known that is known by the knower (apparent individual). The World is also known “in” the knower (the real knower, the Self). The World has no existence apart from the (real) knower which is pure Consciousness. The World appears in Consciousness by the power of Consciousness. The World is composed of Consciousness, & is known or experienced by Consciousness. All of it is just Consciousness. The World has not the least degree of any other existence.

One Existence-Consciousness exists everywhere always. The one Self experiences itself everywhere always. The Self itSelf is in that case just “thought of” as the World, Space, Time, matter, motion & events, moments, eons, things, & people – the animate & the inanimate, moving & still, large & small, living & dead, far & near, atoms & galaxies, root & flower, cause & effect, & all else. The one Self is all. The one Self appears as all this Universe. The Universe appears, in the Self. The Self being Formless & Infinite, does not appear in the Universe. The Self rather appears “as” the Universe, but that Self really undergoes no modifications. The Self always abides as the perfectly full Void of Being. If the World appears, the World & its knower (apparent individual) are only the Self. If there is no appearance of a World, there remains only the Self. In the Knowledge of the unalterable, ever-same Reality, the Self alone is. Thus, in Reality, there is no question of a World ever being created or ever appearing. For whom would a World appear, since there is no 2^nd “Self” but only the 1 Self, forever.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 18

Reality 18

The World is constituted solely of Sense Perceptions, usually made from a supposed bodily locations [dreams, out-of-the-body OOBE experiences, etc. as exceptions]. There is no World apart from these Perceptions. So the World is not “external”.  The “external” is merely a conceptual interpretation of the Sensations. The Senses are known only by & in Consciousness. So what is thought of as “external” is entirely in Consciousness, which is free from the Senses. The “external World” is a mere notion in Consciousness. Within that notion there appears the whole “external” World. That is one notion fragmented into the imagining of endless objects that assumed to exist. That one notion depends on the “I am the Body” belief. The World is a mere notion, an illusory appearance in one’s own Mind. Therefore, the notion is called Maya, Illusion. But Illusion is that which is not.

Since the World is unreal, it can produce no Bondage. Being unreal, the World does not really come to be. It is for this reason that Maya is said to be beginningless [not eternal – like it always was – but rather that it never started, never happened]. Reality does not bring forth the unreal. Being Non-Dual, Reality does not bring forth any other thing that is real either. Ever-existent Being, itSelf Unborn, never creates at all. Nor it the unreal ever “born” [ – but this time because it never comes to be], for the unreal does not exist. Being unreal, the World does not disappear for you (as individual) either, anymore than the Dream World disappears for the Dream character when one (like the real Self) awakens from both (Dream World & Dream character).

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 17

Reality 17

To experience a World is to conceive that World. The World is not actually a Perception, but rather a Conception. To conceive or experience a World, one must first consider oneself as some kind of Body, or as in a Body, or consider the Body as existent & the Body as being somewhere. None of that is true, for such is only imagined in the Mind. For such Illusions of the World, one must also regard the Sensations, not as Sensations or modes of the Mind, but as literally “physical”. Such Sensation is endowed with the Duality of inner & outer, with the apparent object portion of the Sensation considered as separate from knowing aspect. [So there is not only “hearing” but also real “sounds”, not only “seeing” but also real “light”, not only “touching” but also real “matter”]. Since the Body is not oneself, & the Self is not in a Body, the World is not arrayed “around” oneself. The “around” part is imagined in the Mind, & is not really all “around”.

In as much as the view of the World is a mirror image of the view of oneself, as a debt identity of oneself determines the definition of the World, as the seer himself appears as the scene, the “I” as quote “this”, for the purpose of knowing Reality without veils one should inquire to know oneself, giving up the objective outlook as well as the Ego to whom it belongs.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 16

Reality 16

Discernment yields Freedom from the illusory Bondage when the World is apparently perceived as well as when it is not perceived, as in Deep Dreamless Sleep, samadhi, & the interval between thoughts.

By Self-Knowledge, one realizes the Self is not of the World & is not in the World.  The Self is not produced by anything of the World, shares none of its limited qualities, & is not an object within the World.  The Self is neither the Body nor located in the Body.  Once there is deeper Knowledge regarding the Self, the questions about the World’s nature no longer arise.

The Realization of the Unborn (everlasting) Reality is the Realization of no creation.  In the absence of this Knowledge, there may arise confusion such as: “If the World is unreal why does it appear; if the World is unreal why does it not disappear ?”

The confusion is rooted in the delusive supposition that the Senses determine Reality, & the that Knower is conceived as a sensory being engaged in experience that is of the same Sense nature as himself.  Deep Self-Inquiry into the nature of the Knower himself will result in the absence of a defined, separate experiencer & thus the absence of  the World, the supposedly the “experienced” or Known.  This yields the revelation of one infinite Existence of the Self.  The meaning of “all is the Self” or “all as Brahman”  is comprehended in this Non-Dual Knowledge without a trace of anything other.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 15

Somewhat unstated in the last installment, was an initial position of granting some provisional reality to a World so that, even examined on its own terms, such a World reveals inconsistencies that point instead to a higher Truth.  That rhetorical presumption, for the sake of discussion, is even more the case in the next topics.

Subtle thought cannot touch a material object or material World.  So that even if there was a World, thought could not tell us anything true about that World.  Those perceptual thoughts that interpret Sense signals are subject to the same limitation.  So that even if the Senses did provide real information about a real World, the perceptual thoughts by which we process that information, could never connect with, really touch an objective World.  That means we could never prove the actual existence of such an objective World.  In the absence of such proof even being possible, there is no reason to assume the unprovable reality.  There is no reason to think in those terms at all.  In addition, even within the assumption of World, by reason of the Checklist points enumerated below, the Self never connects with, never really touches an objective World.

Comparing & contrasting the Self & the World (a partial Checklist):

(1) Change

a) The Self is changeless.

b) The impermanent World is changeful.

(2) Creation–Destruction

a) The Self is permanent with no creation or destruction.

b) Each of the objects of the World has a creation, a changeful duration, & a destruction. This is true of all objects & for the World as a whole.

(3) Sense–Dependent

a) The Self does not change as the Senses do. The Self is not changed, being unchangeable Existence & Consciousness, & the Witness of the Mind, including sense thoughts; & also Witness of the Senses. The Self is mere unchanging Being, the unchanging Witness of all the changing Senses.

b) The perception of the World depends on the changeful Senses. A change in the Senses brings a change in the object, in the World perceived. A change of mode, or state of Mind, yields a corresponding change in the senses & the perceived World .

(4) Sense–Perception

a) The Existence of the Self is not Sense perceived, but is known more interiorly.

b) The World is composed of innumerable parts & divisions.

(5) Multiplicity of Parts & Divisions

a) The Self is One, partless, & indivisible.

b) The World is perceived only through the Senses.

(6) Form

a) The Self is has no Form and is purely formless Being.

b) The World is composed of forms without which there is no World. There is no formless world.

(7) Subject / Knower –  Object / Known

a) The Self is ever the Subject, the Knower.

b) The World is only the Object, the known.

Therefore the Self has no connection with the World.  The Self shares none of its characteristics or qualities.  The Self is not defined by the World or worldly things.  The Self is not bound by the World or anything of the World.  The Self does not depend on the World in any way in order to exist.

That which is true of Existence & Consciousness of the Self is also true of the Bliss of the Self.  The 3 are not actually 3, but One & the same.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 14

In the Teaching of Non-Duality, the term “World” means everything that is perceived, whereas other mental activity falls in the category of that which is conceived, as in Dream, day-dream, imagination, feeling, etc.

All objects, all activities, all events, the perceived outer forms of living beings, anything in Space & Time, & anything seen, heard, touched, or sensed in any manner.

Transcendence of the World is liberation from Bondage & Suffering in relation to all of those.  Putting aside perception of the World allows the recognition of Reality as it really is.  Reality is not anything of the World, & is only recognition by Knowledge of the Absolute Non-Dual Self.

Reality is beyond the World, & Self-Knowledge reveals the True Nature of all that is to be the Self.

Detachment from the World & the Senses, dis–identification with the Body, noting the passing, transient nature of all things in the World allows direct experience of the Knowledge of Reality for those who Self-Inquire.  They view the World as transitory, as inert, & as a passing Dream.  They never expect the World to provide us with our own Happiness, Identity, & Reality.

Happiness, the Bliss of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, Sat-Chit-Ananda is Reality, Brahman, non–different from Atman, the Self, one’s own self.  To transcend the World [like the New Testament’s “look I have overcame the World”] is to remain Blissful at Peace, in Freedom in the Knowledge of the unreality of the World.  This is the Self’s freedom from the Illusion of the World.  This is the perception of Reality, Abidance in wordless Existence.

Happiness is not to be found in the World, but only as the inner Bliss of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, Sat-Chit-Ananda.  One’s own Identity is not to be found in the World, but only as the Absolute Consciousness of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, Chit.  Reality is not to be found in the World, but only as the Absolute Reality of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, Sat.  This is true perception, transcendence of the World.

In that the true perception, that transcendence of the World, lies limitless Freedom, unaffected by anything of the World.  This is direct experience of indivisible Reality, the true experience for those who inquire to know Brahman–Atman, which is the sole existent Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 13

[based on Ramana Maharshi’s teaching]

Know the Existence from the Existence itself.  Who remains “outside” to have had Illusion ?  One cannot think about the Self.  Inquiry to Know that Self is for Abidance in That as That Existence itself, which is the vision of Truth.  To see the Reality which is seeing one’s own Self starts by first recognizing the Self’s freedom from Thought.

Distinguish clearly Existence from Thought, be it a Thought of the World, of the Body or one of its attributes, of an activity in a World, or of another subtle or abstract Thought. Distinguish clearly what is merely a Thought & what is Existence, because Existence is free from Thought.

To know Existence disentangle the pseudo-connection between the Self, one’s Identity, & what ever is thought of. Whatever may be the Thought, it not oneself. One has never thought of the Self, & never will. “I” will know my Self, but never think of myself.  There is no reaching the Self.

If Self were to be reached, it would mean that the Self is not here now that it is yet to be obtained.  What is got afresh will also be lost.  So it will be impermanent. What is not permanent is not worth striving for. The Self is not reached.  You are the Self, you are already that.  You are ignorant of your Blissful State.

Ignorance [ajnana, avidya, maya] supervenes & draws a veil [tamasic avarana, aside from rajasic vikshepa projection or vivarta super–imposition ] over the pure Self which is Bliss. Attempts are directed only to remove this veil of ignorance which is merely wrong knowledge.  The Inquirer is the answer to the Inquiry into the Self. 

What is this undeniable sense of Existence ? Certainly I do exist.  What is this “I ” which is known as myself  ?  “Where” does this “I “arise from.  What is the inmost. subjective background of Self ?  Who am I ?

Space

There is no Space which exists prior to any distinguishing characteristic.  If it existed prior to some distinguishing characteristic it would follow that it was without characteristics.  But Space is neither existent nor non-existent, nor is it something characterized nor yet wth a characteristic.

Objects require a Space in which to exist & Space without objects is neither perceivable nor even strictly conceivable.  And so by the principle of Dependent Origination, Space too is a conceptual Illusion.  Even the characteristics of Location & Dimension maintain a reciprocal relationship of Dependent Origination with regard to Space itself.  Such is much like the mutual interdependence of “wind” & on the other hand “air & movement”. 

In fact stripped of such characteristics & the objects it might contain, Space is quite difficult to conceive of.  This inconceivable essence of Space represents one of the best objective analogies for the indefinable subject Reality.

Time & Space

As for Space, this imagined background continuum for the multiplicity of discrete objects is mentally constructed by the Temporal sequence of Visual & other Sensory perceptions.

We note the Time it takes for any Sense mode to scan along an object.  We then transform the Time of visual perception, for instance,  into the concept of Length & in this manner construct 3–Dimension of Space.  Conceiving an opposing” (orthogonal) “direction” we scan & extend a 2^nd direction, & thereby Surface & 2–Dimensional Space.  The same scanning process in yet another direction gives us the sense of Volume & 3–Dimensional Space.  We previously related the sense of time to a sequence of thought.  Now we have a way of understanding how time can be projected into Space, by timing the scanning of Sense perception.

Time & Multiplicity

The concept. of Space serves as headquarters for all perceivable objects. This resembles our own Body which is the headquarters for our perceptions. One could almost say that Space is the imagined Body of the cosmic Personality, God, or at least the sum total of all consciousness beings. Likewise Time is like the Mind of God, or of all consciousness beings. But if God then appears to be a concept, albeit an  exalted concept, there where is to be found the Ultimate or Absolute Reality ?  Only as the true “I”. the Self, Consciousness.

The above themes & 1600 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/  http://jstiga.wixsite.com/nonduality/ 

or directly at:   http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58 

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on: 

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version”

with link: 

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/ 

Reality 12

Methods of “Self-surrender” & “Self-denial” are equivalent to Self-Inquiry, so long as Individuality, Ego is erased.

Self-Inquiry does not change the reality of the self, but only reveals it.

It is clear that one thing can never change into another without the destruction of its essential form. If its essential form is destroyed can the thing remain over ?  Unless it remains over how can it be said that it has changed into another, since its identity is lost, and there is nothing to connect it with the new thing ? Thus a thing can never undergo a change. Consciousness as the only changeless principle. It is the changeless nature of Consciousness that is falsely attributed to the objects of Consciousness.

Duality, or multiplicity is the only in the object of Consciousness The perceiving Consciousness is one and the same throughout.  But because Consciousness is commonly seen connected with the objects, change is attributed to that also by delusion.  Objects can never cause any change in Consciousness.  If Consciousness changed, it could not perceive the variety of objects.  Objects undergo that change called destruction.  Consciousness alone is changeless.  Body, Sense-organs, Mind, Will, & Intellect come under the category of objects.  On account of the inability to see them simply as objects, one supposes them to be changeless through delusion.

Being always the Knower, one can never come under the category of the Known.  Even the word Knower is wrong, because the changeless Knower is Knowledge (prajnanam) Consciousness  itself –  not an embodied being.

Illusions like Time &  Motion

Motion is one graphic example of change for which physical examples of Dependent Origination abound, such as wind which loses all existence in the absence of motion.  Change & Time are both required for motion, which in itself is never experienced.  The Quantum particle trajectory images in a Bubble Chamber are the still cartoon & cinema frames sequenced to induce a sense of motion.  All of these closely parallel the static sense Perceptions which the Mind “smoothes out” to create a sense of motion.  This is much in the same way that the Mind “smoothes out” the black spot on the white page.  The eye loses vision of the spot when that spot is aligned to the optic nerve’s entry on the retina.  But by optical Illusion the Mind views continuous white by assuming that the unfocused spot most likely resembles the background, that is the white page.

In just this way does the Mind “smooth out” the sense of motion and the entire World process for that matter.  Traditional Indian analogies for such an Illusion include the imagined Snake seen in the coils of a dimly lit Rope.  Likewise there is the fearsome ambush in the night felt to be coming from the peripheral sighting of a Tree Stump in a dark forest. No one actually sees the motion of the Sun or Moon across the Sky, those processes by which we chart Time.  We only presume its slow progress by comparing positions at different times.  When we examine the record of past Memory to find it to be

Sri Ramana:

“You refer to sound, taste, form, smell, etc.  True, the realized Sage appreciates the distinctions, but he always perceives & experiences the one Reality in all of them.  That is why he has no preferences.  Whether he moves about, or talks, or acts, it is all the one reality in which he acts or moves or talks.  He has nothing apart from the Supreme Truth.”

“It is like a Cinema-show. There is the light on the screen & the shadows flitting across it impress the audience as the enactment of some piece. If in the same play an audience also is shown on the screen as part of the performance. the seer & the seen will then both be on the screen. Apply it to yourself. You are the screen. The Self has created the Ego. The Ego has its accretions of thoughts which are displayed as the World, the trees & the plants of which you are asking. In Reality, all these are nothing but the Self. If you see the Self, the same will be found to be all, everywhere & always. Nothing but the Self exists.”

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 11

Transcending the Ego through Atma Vichara, Self-Inquiry was described by Sri Ramana as “like gazing into vacancy or a dazzling crystal or light.”  He added that: “If the Mind is distracted, asked the question: To whom do these disturbing thoughts arise that takes you back to the I promptly. At the end of practice the Mind returns to the present normal state.”

“When Unity is replaced by a variety of phenomena perceived, this is called the outgoing Mind.  The In–going Mind is called the resting Mind.  The process exhibits feeling predominantly.  By force of will with strong faith in the Truth of the Master’s teaching to that effect, all sorts of thought cease when the Mind is turned inward.”

It is not that you become That, as if you had the power to break off from it & return to it at some later date, but, rather, That, the Absolute, is the solitary Existence always, & That is what you are. This is true to such an extent that you are not a part of it, nor is it a part of you, but rather the Self is the Absolute, & the Absolute is the Self; the Absolute is not other, & the Self is not other.    Master Nome

The Analogy of the “Snake & Rope”

Jungle environments provide cobras, asps & other poisonous vipers that terrify the human population to an extent that any elongated sinuous form like a Rope lying in a dark corner. Seeing through the understandable concept of fear, the jungle inhabitant cannot clearly see the true nature of the Rope. Seeing through the unnecessary concept of Ego, the Samsaric [typical less spiritual] being cannot clearly see the true nature of the Self, the Absolute Reality of Pure Being & Consciousness. Seeing through the fear, the inhabitant imagines a dangerous Snake where there is only a Rope. Seeing through the Ego, we imagine a World where there is the Self alone.

Unless the jungle dweller can release the assumption of a Snake, the false superimposition, it is not possible to perceive the Rope. Unless the individual can release the assumption of an Ego & a world, the false superimposition, it is not possible to perceive the True Self.  Dispensing with the Illusion of the Snake, nothing more is needed for the Rope to be clearly known for what it is. Dispensing with the Illusion of the Ego, nothing more is needed for the Self to be clearly known for what it is. Shining a bright light into the dark corner to illuminate the supposed Snake can facilitate recognition of the Rope.

Shining a bright light of Guru’s instruction & Self-Inquiry into the dark corners of the Mind to illuminate the supposed Ego can greatly facilitate recognition of the Self.  Rope –Snakes cannot be seen in broad daylight, nor Rope itself in thick darkness.

In broad daylight a Rope does not look like a Snake.  The Rope itself cannot be seen in thick darkness; so there is no chance of mistaking it for a Snake.

Only in dim light, in the dusk, in light darkened  by shadows or in darkness lighted by dim light does a Rope mistakenly seeming to be a Snake.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/

Reality 10

Transcending the Ego goes deeper to more subtle mis–identifications than the obvious outward distortions of Pride, Arrogance, Vanity, Selfishness, & so on.  Liberation from the very sense of being an Individual, from the very sense that there ever could be an Individual is more to the point.

Like the ancient teachings of the Vashista & Sage Ribhu, & Shankara, the more contemporary Ramana Maharshi taught dis–identification from the Ego as Atma Vichara, partially translatable as Self-Inquiry. Additional meanings & nuances would be included in terms like Self-Reflection, Self-Examination, Self-Investigation, or Self-Scrutiny of our fundamental & essential awareness “I exist” with concentrated power of attention.

When the illusory Ego–I cannot be found, then related terms like Ramana’s Atma Nishta, Self-Abidance or Shankara’s Sva-svarupa-anusandhana, Self-Attention indicate the Real “I”, Atman that remains in non-objective focus, like unseen Eyes that we know because we are seeing.

As in the 1^st pamphlet published that contain containing Shri Ramana’s teachings “Who am I ?” is one indication of the direction of Atma Vichara, purely subjective or, or better yet, non–objective. “Whencc am I ?” or “Where does this sense of I arise ?”, (or not arise, in truth) indicate other aspects of the inner investigation.Since our seeking of Identity, Reality, Happiness is never-ending it can be truly said that all questions really come down to “Who am I ?”

When we attempt to turn our attention away from all objects & towards our fundamental awareness “I”, we are surrendering or denying our individual self, our Ego.  At the same time investigating, seeking to find, probing the identity of the ego I, none is found but behind it as it were an all-around the true I the self is the only reality.  In that sense Self-Inquiry serve to direct the attention from the objective to the more subjective, & ultimately to the fully “trans–subjective” Reality.  More will be said in succeeding installments, but it is sufficient for the moment that we introduce one the several analogies classically used around the topic of Self-Inquiry.

The Analogy of the “Tree Stump Bandit” analogy utilizes the  experience of rural country folk in a dangerous region with bandit or attackers of any kind who might be lurking in the dark forest to pounce upon a passerby. Wary of being caught the rural person might barely pick up the outline of tall tree stump, just vaguely in the corner of his eve, in blurry limits of peripheral vision. Glancing obliquely in the dim light, through fear, the rural person cannot clearly see the true nature of the Stump.  Glancing obliquely in dulled discrimination & focus, through the Ego, the we cannot clearly see the true nature of the Self.

More light would help the traveler to recognize the Stump for what it is, not a bandit at all.  More discriminating awareness would help us to recognize the Self for what it is, with no Ego at all.  Reducing fear & attachment to a security that can yet never be guaranteed can attenuate tendencies to hallucinate.  Reducing all self-concepts & attachments can further attenuate tendencies to identify the Self as the Ego.

Analyzing the actual likelihood of a bandit’s presence at that time & place can be helpful, to a limited extent.  Analyzing the preposterous contradictions inherent in the Ego-idea can be helpful, to a limited extent.

Immediately helpful it would be to face the Stump directly & examine it without oblique peripheral vision.  Immediately helpful it would be to directly inquire into the nature of the Ego to recognize its unreality & make it vanish.

Facing the fear, the “bandit” initiates best self-defense & is in the “same direction” needed to recognize the stump.  Inquiring into the nature of the Ego initiates release of concepts & is in the “same subjective direction” needed to recognize the Self.

Specifically in term if the Body, looking with blinders, the apparent Body [only a jumble of perceptions of such] is taken, in a “side-long glance” to be a “marker”, a symbol for oneself.  But in truth the Body is only an innocent “Tree-Stump”, an inert object.  Instead of being the physical actualization of the “Bandit”, the Ego, this Tree-Stump Body is not a real Ego-thief, stealer of Happiness & producer of Suffering.

More light [Consciousness] would help the traveler to recognize the Stump for what it is, not a Bandit at all. More discriminating awareness [Discrimination] helps one to recognize that the Body is not a knower, a “thief”, & to recognize the Self for what it is, with no Ego at all.  Inquiring into the nature of the Ego initiates release of concepts & is in the “same subjective direction” needed to recognize the Self.

The above themes & 1600 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/

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

or directly at:

http://tinyurl.com/nnyyr58

Duplicate blogs (but with graphics) have been available on:

http://www.blogger.com     as  “Being-as-Consciousness, Non-Duality – new & final version” with link:

http://being-as-consciousness.blogspot.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/