Mind & Happiness 89

Who am I ?

 In order for us to determine the means by which we can discover who or what we really are, it is necessary for us first to gain a clear theoretical understanding of what we are & what we are not. We can gain such an understanding only by carefully & critically analyzing our experience of our self.  For such an analysis to be complete & thorough, we must consider our experience of our self not only in our present Waking state, but also in each of our other 2 States of Consciousness, Dream & Deep Dreamless Sleep.

First we carefully consider all the already known facts about the subject under investigation in order to formulate a reasonable hypothesis that can explain those facts, & then they proceed to test that hypothesis by rigorously conducted experiments.  The hypothesis formulated by Sages is that we are not the Body composed of unconscious Matter.  Nor are we the Mind consisting of Thoughts, Feelings, & Perceptions, but that we are the essential underlying Consciousness by which the Body & Mind are both known.

This hypothesis has been independently tested & verified by many Sages before us, but these findings cannot be demonstrated objectively.  Therefore, to be truly benefited by this Self-Knowledge, we each have to test & verify this hypothesis for our self. In order to do so, we must each see whether or not the Consciousness that we experience as “I” can stand alone without our Body or Mind.

If we are able to remain as Consciousness in the absence of any kind of Body or Mind, we will prove to our self that we are neither of those 2 objects known by us.  In order to remain as our mere Consciousness “I exist” without any awareness of our Body or Mind, it is necessary for us to know our Consciousness in its pure form, devoid of any contents – devoid of any objects of knowledge.

We are so accustomed to identifying our Consciousness “I exist” with our Body & Mind that it may initially appear difficult for us to distinguish our essential Consciousness from these objects known by it.  Because of this identification of our Consciousness with its objects or contents, our knowledge of it appears to be clouded & unclear. Therefore, in order to distinguish between our Consciousness & its objects, we must gain a clear Knowledge of it as it really is.

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

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

www.jpstiga.com/

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

Different blogs (but with graphics) are 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/

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

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

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