Being as Consciousness – some Master Nome comments

 Spontaneous, off-the-cuff comments by a World Teacher [even if not so widely recognized as such in his/her lifetime] – in response to questions in Satsang, are typically very deep.

 ” If you deeply, penetratingly inquire within yourself “Who am I ?” you find that you cannot possibly be a body; nor can you be an individualized or separated Mind; nor can you be the idea of “I” which is just an idea & not your essential Being, or the quintessential Consciousness.”                                                                           Master Nome

This perfect summary warrants word-for-word adherence. Examined carefully, without “body-image” prejudice, [typically stronger when the Body is self-appraised as especially beautiful, or the opposite], that trillion-cell, dying sack of unlikely atoms belongs in a zoo or biology lab more than in the center of your Mind as one’s actual Identity. Can I really be this salt-water bag, jammed with muscle-meat & neurons ? Where is my actual self in all that mess ? Where was that Body a hundred years ago ? Where will it be a hundred years from now ? If this Consciousness began decades ago, then how ? How do wet neurons “know”, how do they seen to think ? Will I really soon disappear ? Or could there really be some individual “soul” transported to some fairy-tale Purgatory jail-house, or worse ? Who makes this stuff up ?

How about some “Mind” that is a supposedly invisible, individual ghost that generates unsubstantial thoughts, each lasting for an instant, none with any way to contact other thoughts or some objective outer entities ? Materialist nerve-soup theories are just as flimsy. Am I what I think ? What is a Mind anyway ?

Then there’s that instantaneous notion “I”, the reference for each & every thought – good/bad for “me”, close/far from “me”, & so on. Some inner certainty of Existence is doubtless. But what constitutes any actual self that “I” could refer to ? Can “I” be anything objective at all, or must it not be point to a pure Subjectivity that must be Formless, without boundary or separation, & not–individualized ? As for the true Universal, Non-Dual “I”, what does it “do”, how does it “be” ? Find “I” to be Pure Consciousness.

[to be continued]

[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 ]

Reality can be indicated, pointed out, hinted by special & sometimes spectacular words:

Eternal in both Past & Future, indeed Timeless.

Infinite, Silent, All-Wisdom.

Resting safe as pure Being, Existence itself, without a trace of Individuality or Objectivity.

Reality ever is itself, knows itself, & when we open to it with sincere effort, the Real realizes itself by reveals itself to itself, which is to say: one’s Self.

Knock, knock !

Do you exist ?

Assuredly, yes !

Do you know that you exist ?

How do you know ? How instantaneous, immediate, deep, & certain is that Self-Knowledge ?

With what instrument is one’s Existence known, [or lack of instrument] ?

Or is this direct Knowledge ?

Penetrate deeply inward to the Source of this Being with the probe: “Who am I ?”

deham naham, koham so’ham                        Ramana Maharshi

deham the Body;   naham is not “I”

koham who am “I” ? ;  so-ham I am He / I am That

[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 ]

2 Quaint Body stories

In one of Star Maker author Olaf Stapleton’s epic Sci-Fi novels his character, touring the Galaxy with a strange group of astral–projecting souls, takes on the Chimerical form of an “ugly” human-platypus of some sort. Viewing a female of the same strange Space-species, this character mentally reviews the progressive build-up of passion & lust he fells for the female. The entire description is so bizarre & yet so convincing that any male reader must thenceforth ever remember the eerie & arbitrary nature of any such lust, human or otherwise. A lowly lesson, but a good one.

In a much higher “body-story”, a legend tells us of the occasion of Sri Shankara meeting his Guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada, himself a disciple of Gaudapada of Mandukya Karika fame. Hidden away under a rock overhang, meditating, Govinda finally responds to Shankara’s entreaties for guidance. Stretching out his foot just far enough, Govinda extends one big toe & the young Shankara takes hold, not about to let go. This metaphor for “latching on” to the Guru’s guidance is a classic.

As a child hearing the reading of New Testament gospels, I instinctively identified with the apostles. How wondrous their great, good-fortune ! Oh, if ever I could have such opportunity, I would not wait for the cock to crow 3 trees. So when after a lifetime of entreaty,  Guru’s toe was extended, I never did let go.

[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 ]

How to find Reality

Nick Herbert’s Quantum Reality was a good Science book, but not such a good Philosophy book. For one thing he had Greek Realist philosopher of “Ideals”, Plato, be founder of Idealism when a truer Western “father” was Parmenides, with sources in India, older still. Herbert further had Immanuel Kant exemplify Idealism [as Germanic fathers of Quantum Mechanics might have] when George Berkeley would have served as a better standard. But a simple-hearted, direct speculation was Herbert’s deepest foray into Philosophy, when he wrote: “If there actually is a Deep Reality, there must be some way to experience it.”

Some scientists, like Nick’s friend, Amit Goswami [author of Self-Aware Universe] trust both Qualified Non-Duality QND Meditation & of all things, a Science Lab. As it an all-encompassing Reality could be detected, like some kind of Gold-Rush ore, in some assay Lab.

But the deepest field of experience is our own Non-Dual Existence. Self-Inquire Who am I ? to find “Deep Reality” as your own inmost Self.

Your greatest glory [the Self] lies where you [Ego] cease to exist.                                                                                                – Ramana Maharshi

Where you cease to exist, real Existence is self-revealed.                                                                                                                – Master Nome

[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 ]

Already the Self

Reality is Infinite & no kind of Object or Individual. Reality realizes itself & knows itself. Reality is itself the Teaching & the Source of the Teaching, as well as that which comprehends the Teaching & is already Liberated.   All things, the only thing, is the same thing, & that is yourself. The Teaching does not have an alternative, for such would be unreal, would be nothing.

The Realization, or Knowledge, regarding this Truth is imperturbable Peace, as Existence, or real Being, itself. Declared to be the highest Joy, Ananda, Bliss, the Happiness of Freedom, Moksha is complete. The imagined Bondage of Individuality has no place, not even a ghost-like existence Brahman, the vast Absolute.

Abiding as what/who I am naturally & effortlessly is Self-Realization. Seeking what/who I am & getting to know the innermost Self with all due effort is Self-Inquiry. Continue until the latter is found to be the former.

When attachment to material things is removed, the attachment of the Mind also vanishes. Those who have got rid of their attachment of Mind become one with That which is motionless. They become Liberated.                                                                           – Ramana Maharshi

By Non-attachment there is Freedom from Delusion; from Freedom from Delusion, there is the immutable Truth; from the immutable Truth there is Liberation.                                                           – Shankara

Your greatest glory [the Self] lies where you [Ego] cease to exist.                                                                                                – Ramana Maharshi

Where you cease to exist, real Existence is self-revealed.                                                                                                                – Master Nome

[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 ]

Nirvikalpa Samadhi & Savikalpa Samadhi can each be (Bahya) External or (Antar) Internal. (Bahya) External Savikalpa Samadhi can itself be Sight-related (Drisyanuvidha) or Sound-related (Shabdanuvidha).

In Sight-related (Drisyanuvidha) (Bahya) External Savikalpa Samadhi one fixes on the Background Reality behind Objects that appear in the Mind.

In Sound-related (Shabdanuvidha) (Bahya) External Savikalpa Samadhi one holds to Reality as the Source of external phenomena.

In Sight-related (Drisyanuvidha) (Antar) Internal Savikalpa Samadhi one holds to the Reality Source & Support of Emotions & Attachments.

In Sound-related (Shabdanuvidha) (Antar) Internal Savikalpa Samadhi one holds to the Reality Source & Support of Thoughts.

In (Bahya) External Nirvikalpa Samadhi one merges with the One Reality underlying all phenomena. A visual image is that of a still Ocean of Consciousness whose waves (thoughts) are quieted.

In (Antar) Internal Nirvikalpa Samadhi one merges with the One Reality underlying thought. A visual image is that of a steadily burning flame unmoved by any wisps (thoughts) of air.

When the waveless Ocean of Consciousness symbolizing (Bahya) External Nirvikalpa Samadhi & the steadily burning flame symbolizing (Antar) Internal Nirvikalpa Samadhi continue effortlessly & unattended as Identical, such stands for Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samadhi which is Liberation.

As previously noted, Ramana Maharshi described Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samadhi as pure Consciousness, like a river merged into the Ocean of Consciousness. That image & the other previously noted, of a Mind’s Bucket rope cut in the Well of the Self, along with the Waveless Ocean & the Flame re excellent contemplations for ant Seeker who best seeks Permanent Inner Reality by Self-Inquiry, without measuring or hankering for Samadhi or ant special States [though grateful for any, should they temporarily arise].

[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 ]

Mind in Abeyance [manolaya], Mind Destroyed [manonasa]

As much as Samadhi [ecstatic absorption in Reality] is rightfully lauded in the spiritual texts, Sri Atmananda occasionally repeated a “put-down” of the same, though he himself was a master of Samadhi experience. He would sometimes decry the “vicious samskara [tendency]” of implying the absolute necessity of Samadhi. Why ?

The context of such comments was a session of public instruction. Since each is already Liberated, already the Reality, no one act, even Samadhi, is an absolute pre-requisite. Many will never achieve Samadhi in this lifetime. To make a silly comparison, to playing basketball, many who play will never dunk in this lifetime. As much as that ability is helpful, one can nonetheless be a good player without that ability. So too can Self-Inquiry, if necessary, skip past all other levels of Samadhi to Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samadhi, final Liberation.

Sri Atmananda would certainly encourage Samadhi to all who can use it. But at the same time he apparently did not want to discourage those who could not. So just what are we talking about ? For one thing, Samadhi surpasses self-hypnosis or any soporific [Tamasic dull] stat known as Yoga Nidra, yogic sleep or manolaya, Mind in Abeyance. Temporary or Permanent, Samadhi is manonasa, Mind Destruction. Since “Mind” is only an illusory Reflection of Consciousness, this “Destruction” is just the actual ever-experienced.

Ecstatic Absorption in Meditation, the super-conscious state of Samadhi is described in 2 categories: Savikalpa Samadhi & Nirvikalpa Samadhi to which the former ca be a prelude. In Savikalpa Samadhi the meditator does not lose distinctions such as the Knower, Knowledge, & Known & the Mind still functions. Savikalpa Samadhi can be Objective or Subjective.

In Objective Savikalpa Samadhi, Thoughts in the Mind & other Objects such as the Sun or a flame are symbolic or regarded with indifference, maintaining the Self as one’s Real Nature. Whereas Subjective Savikalpa Samadhi is associated with abstract thought such as the “Witness” or the “Self”, then only a current of self-consciousness of the Self remains.

In Nirvikalpa Samadhi the meditator is free from distinctions such as the Knower, Knowledge, & the Known, & the Mind ceases to be active. In Subjective Nirvikalpa Samadhi the Mind is said to be steady like an unflickering flame in a windless place, indifferent to Objects & Ideas that arise in Savikalpa Samadhi.

Subjective Nirvikalpa Samadhi is also likened to an empty pitcher placed in the sky having nothing inside or outside. There is also a more Objective Nirvikalpa Samadhi wherein the meditator, plunged in Bliss, absorbed in Meditation on Brahman. Such is also likened to a pitcher placed in the sea with water inside & outside.

Ramana Maharshi also compared Nirvikalpa Samadhi to a bucket of water lowered into a well. If the bucket (Mind) that is merged with the water (Consciousness) in the well (the Self) retains a rope to draw the bucket out again, this is temporary Nirvikalpa Samadhi. With rope cut there is final Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

[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 ]

Suddenly Awakened From Deep Dreamless Sleep

Suddenly being awakened from Deep Dreamless Sleep is regrettable. Without thought, without a Body or World, we were happy in that state. If allowed to drift right back into Deep Dreamless Sleep, we often will. Dream is not quite as good, too much like this Waking Dream. If waking up there seems to be repeated – that sense of Other, leaving Ego as what else. Ego-referenced thoughts collectively seem a Mind, then Senses, Body, World. To the Body is attributed Action, Motion, Doing. Birth, Life, Death. Ego–“I” is identified with that Body image of Waking-state Mind, just as the Dream Personality had been identified with that Body image of Dream-state Mind. Though both states feature Perception & Conception, the Real Self is not an Object of either Perception or Conception in either Waking or Dream.

The moment Ego is destroyed, there follows the direct experience of the Blissful Self. Consisting solely of Ignorance, the Ego is destroyed by Knowledge alone. Inquiring “Who am I ?” with intensity, perseverance, & the most earnest desire to realize the Self is known, Ignorance vanishes, Bondage disappears, & Real Being, Ego-less & Bodiless, is self-revealed.

[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 ]

Theodicy, Truth Scale, & 2 kinds of “In-effable”

To enliven a review of useful ACRONYMs that sketch out a “Truth Scale” we can use the much-avoided issue of Theodicy to illustrate a broad comparison between the items. The subtler topic: “2 kinds of In-effable” is a more central purpose here, even though it marks the distinction between only 2 categories. Those 2 categories also happen to be those most important to us, & the distinction between those 2 categories is itself the distinction most important to us as well.

Simply summarized, the enigma of Theodicy, is a mystery of Evil in the World, specifically in regard to the question: “How can a loving God let such bad things happen ?”

To a number of viewpoints questioned, various first answers to the Theodicy question could be offered. ACRONYM abbreviations sketch out a “Truth Scale” as follows:

1) UQD un-qualified duality practitioners of exoteric, organized, Dualistic religions [“un-qualified” as in not modified or “toned down” at all], these live in denial about how mean-spirited God would have to be to have eternal Hell, to leave the vast majority excluded from Calvin’s Predestination–Rapture, or whatever other Last Days elitist clubhouse. Pushing all that Theodicy under the rug first, they attempt to console themselves with “God’s will” & his “mysterious ways.” But when their young daughter is stricken with painful & fatal disease, or raped & tortured by a child molester, some understandably turn their backs on that God when their blind faith has thus been too sorely tested. War & evil of all sorts easily overwhelm the UQD practitioner, without any good answer or explanation.

[In a circular mutually modeling cycle, Crime & Punishment Legal systems mirror & inspire Crime & Punishment Theological systems, & vice versa. Venial Sin – Misdemeanors land one in Purgatory – County Jail; Mortal Sin – Felonies land one in Hell – with Last Judgment court dramas in either case. Whatever “divine justice” is supposed to accomplish, Civil Law provides only the crudest deterrent to crime. The grim enjoyment of revenge & retribution supposedly satisfy the grief of victim’s loved ones, & these offer precious little balm to innocent victims who suffer, & less to those who die. Karma, though similar, is more of an unconscious self-inflicted “learning experience” system.]

2) QD qualified-duality adherents back off some of the more Fundamentalist dogmas & may introduce Deist [no personal Big Man in the Sky – God], Naturalistic [most extreme as “tree-huggers”], or New Age [theosophical. etc.] themes. They are “soft on hell” but more rationally still find mystery in Theodicy, God’s dictates or justice, which includes the existence of Evil.

3) QND qualified-non-duality adherents include some who take a subtler but also weak position on Theodicy, & this QND subset itself can be well divided into 2 groups for clarity.

a) One still retains some metaphysical version of a RWOT real-world-out-there ranging from Spinozan Deism-to-Panentheism to all kinds of Gnostic & Theosophical hierarchies of planes & levels with many hierarchies of beings. Exoteric Buddhism & Hinduism, for instance, retain almost biblical heavenly hosts & demonic hosts, armies at war with each other like angels & demons. Levels of heaven & hell [though never eternal hell – resurrected from Zoroaster by Eusebius] & astral planes of all description are the scene for elaborate delineations of karma. Hopefully, mysteries of Theodicy get lost or forgotten in all the confusion. In a sense this strategy, at best, results in a plan of not getting distracted, dealing with what karmicly comes your way. One’s real job is primarily striving for union with God, the Buddha-Mind, or the Tao, but all in a less absolute sense.

b) The other QND sub-category approaches the next UQND category with a more cosmic theology but still maintains separate, Individual Souls created by a God, Saguna Brahman who Panentheistically constitutes the Universe as well. This other QND sub-category approaches the next UQND category but still stands distinct from UQND along lines of 2 Vedanta theories of Brahman:

i) Saguna Brahman or [Absolute Reality with Form] is the more objective aspect of or God which projects, dreams, or “like a spider extruding its web” somehow manifests a Universe out of its own substance. God’s Dream or Lila Sport, or Maya web of Illusion contains all of us as evanescent characters playing out multi-lifetime karma–learning. Karma dishes out rehabilitative sentences & R & R rewards on various heavenly, hellish, & other planes are determined by our thoughts, words & deeds that obscure the reality of God in & as it all. In this still QND category, Evil describes the wrong turns that we dream-characters take in our winding path. Victims of their own self-inflicted karma thereby fulfill retributive punishment from former transgressions recorded in the Akashic records or their own Mindstuff. But no matter how horrible, their suffering is expiative, like Purgatory on the fly. Ultimately, as generalized above, Union with God is the destiny of all these dream characters or projection/sparks with immortal souls, even if thousands or millions of lifetimes are required.     ii) Nirguna Brahman or [Absolute Reality without Form] is the Buddha-Mind, Dharmakaya, most absolute Tao, is UQND un-qualified non-duality, mis-understood if we have a “Counting Problem” in that “there is only One even if it can seem that we are many.” Life & the Universe are illusions from which we awaken to rediscover that we are One all along. How this can happened remains a mystery as it must because the only resolution lies in the context of UQND non-qualified-non-duality where it just plain never happened. Evil, Suffering, & Theodicy are branded with the status of Illusion but this can still be weak solace to one who is suffering or who is or knows an innocent victim of Evil. Progressively, from the furthest advanced edge of QD through QND there is growing recognition that Ego is the selfish fount of misguided, ignorant Evil. Therefore, seeking Liberation, “erasing the Ego” is the only solution. Further into QND toward UQND, the surprise is no longer in the perverse depths of consummate Evil whenever it appears. Rather, in contemplating the inversion that is Ego, the seeker becomes surprised that with Ego at the “helm” that Evil is not even worse. Rather than feeling betrayed by God for “allowing” Ego, this seeker is grateful for the Grace that holds Ego Evil at bay, limits it, admits Goodness, & redeems in the end, all from Evil–

4) UQND un-qualified-non-duality alone has an answer for Theodicy, Evil, Ego, & all Suffering. Knowledge alone liberates, that is: Knowledge of the Self as Brahman, “1- without – a – 2^nd.” Words cannot express UQND. Looking back across this brief Outline, we metaphorically see that needless suffering, Ego, Evil & such are the “fly in the ointment” for UQD, QD, & QND, the fatal flaw on the part of any one of them that belies UQD, QD, & QND posing as a complete understanding.

0) SPAM scientism-physicalism-atheism-materialism, needless to say, can only face Evil & Suffering with “fear & loathing” enough to inspire suicide in an adherent not living in Denial. In this “last” or “first” properly numbered, but listed-out-of-order entry, there is no God, so no Theodicy, no Divine Mystery or answer to Evil. Instead, Evil is trumpeted as a salient proof against the existence of God. Taking the lamest & least appropriate spokesmen for spirituality, the most obdurate Fundamentalists within UQD & their Bibles, all at face value, they see no answer forthcoming response at all to their question: “How can there be a God if he allows Evil & Suffering in the World ?” [Even Nature validates this SPAM in the screw-blow-fly, the guinea-worm, & a certain nasty fungus.]

Typically, the “allow” term in: “How can there be a God if He allows Evil & Suffering in the World ?” Objection carries a context of complete micro-management by special creations & miracles at all times, & a Legal Justice system context. The God of UQD has His fingers in every pie, all the time, or else He doesn’t exist, they would say. Any undesired outcome is “God’s will” & He is mean-spirited for intending & dictating the nasty ones. There “should” be no disease, no Evil, no Death, but only great family planning. God could not exist if He fails the criteria for fair play, good intentions, & support of life, liberty, & justice, & the American way, the pursuit if never finding of Happiness, & generally a good GDP & low unemployment rate for all. Then the fact that some of us are born weak, fat, sick, ugly, & impoverished is another issue but we’ll take that up another day. All goes to show that God is not very nice, even without the unspeakably insane Eternal Hell, so therefore He could not exist, so say SPAM adherents.

Thus for SPAM, Evil proves no-God. So again. the contradiction of Evil Theodicy is resolved only in the “all Form is unreal” absolute resolution of UQND just previously reviewed.

Less general a distinction than the Theodicy, our real point here is to compare QND & UQND around the issue of Reality being “In-effable”. Within the context of QND, Reality is “In-effable” because no attempted description can ever be quite good enough. Within the context of UQND, Reality is “In-effable” in principle because there is no verbal or mental description for the Absolute, Formless, Nirguna Brahman .

[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 ]

Self-Enquiry 5

If Action can be said to “occur” in a Waking State Dream, then such would be the role of a Body, but not ever the role of Transcendent Consciousness, the sole Reality, from which thoughts creating a Waking State might seem to arise & into which they must finally subside. That Body is considered in Ignorance to consist of objective Matter throughout the intermittent Waking State Dreams between its Birth & Death. Presumed to recline in a bed, or the like, when Nightly Dream supplants that Waking State Dream, the Waking Body is not experienced while any given Dream Body is apparently experienced. Nor is a Waking Body experienced in Deep Dreamless Sleep when there is no “competing” or “excluding” Body exists at all. Given this “spotty” record of appearance, the essentially inert Body can hardly be claimed to be the True “I”, the Self.

Nonetheless, when a Body is mistaken to be oneself, the apparent reflection of Consciousness in a “Mind” is mistaken to be a separate Individualized “knower”, an Ego–I. Stripped of Mis-identification with that Body head-quarters [literally], neither Mind nor Ego can long continue, & Liberation ensues. Conversely, with full re-identification with Witnessing Consciousness, Pure Being or Self, or Existence-Consciousness-Happiness in any other manner, Mis-identification with Body, Mind, nor Ego cannot long continue, & Liberation ensues.

Short of either such Path, dropping Mis-identification with the Performer of Action, the Enjoyer of Pleasure, the victim of Suffering, the holder of Tendencies [vasanas], the Conceiver of concepts, the Perceiver of percepts, the Thinker of thoughts, or any such can remove a supporting “stone” in the “wall” of binding Ignorance. In whatever Form, to whatever degree, Knowledge alone destroys Ignorance, & not any kind of outer [physical] or inner [mental] Action.

Failing to finally & completely drop Mis-identification allows an intermittent [punctuated with Dream & Deep Dreamless Sleep] Waking State Dream to continue with Ups & Downs, ultimately: old age, disease, & death. Such is soon followed by another such Waking State Dream [re-incarnation] on the spinning Wheel of Birth & Death. Eventually, [subject to the delay of confusion bred from bad Karma] Liberation ensues. Why, wait ? Why, delay ?

Why does it work this way ? Does it work this way ? Has any of this really happened ? Such questions can, but need not be, part of the Self-Inquiry: Who am I ?

[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 ]

Lets Get Physical – Let Me Hear Your Body Talk:

Perhaps a tenth of quadrillion cells, each moment seeming to act as a single organism, the human Body. Organic Chem labs can rarely exceed 50% efficiency & purity in a chemical reaction. But in every cubic nanometer of cytoplasm, hundreds of reactions occur in the same place with almost complete efficiency & purity, without interference – an incalculable miracle – very improbable. And yet with all that coordination, how does such a salt water bag, evolved from Ocean micelles, covered in meat, get to be Me ? No way. Where was it 100 years ago, where will it be 100 years from now ? Happiness lies in & as Existence so I must & will continue, & never even had a starting point.

Lets pan in on just a single Atom in one of those Cells. If it was a sports Stadium, the Electrons would be gnats & the Nucleus a sand Grain in the middle of the field. If that Grain was instead a tiny sports Stadium, or one of its Nucleons were such a tiny sports Stadium, each of the 3 component Quarks would be a sand Grain. If that Quark Grain was instead a tiniest sports Stadium, each of the component Super– Strings would be a sand Grain. And then each Super–Strings is a Mathematical fiction of Nothingness, Probability Amplitude dependent on Consciousness to perceive it. Almost all empty Space, sparsely dotted with bits of Nothingness. Each Super–String stands to that Body like an Electron to the known Universe. Unconnected Cells, all replaced over & over again since Infancy, such a transient, changing, objective Body is not my eternal, subjective 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 ]

Self-Enquiry 4

                  With a Body, there is Suffering

Ecto-Morph; Meso-Morph; Endo-Morph – or equivalently – Cerebro-tonic; Somato-tonic; Viscero-tonic is a 3-way guna–inspired Body-category scheme based on most characteristic germ layer or structure, indicating nerve, muscle, or viscera Body-orientation

To gain the state Eternal Bliss, devoid of Suffering, cease to Mis-identify with a Body. Ignorance is ever of the character of Mis-Identification & results in the Illusion of Bondage, experienced as Suffering. To destroy Bondage, we should abandon that Mis-Identification that constitutes Ignorance. Self-Inquiry, Atma Vichara is Inquiry into the Self in search of Reality. We might even call Desire for false sources of Happiness to be erroneous Atma-Kama. Maharshi would say that with cessation of Atma Vichara, Self-Inquiry, then Inquiry into the World, Loka-Vichara commences. The falsely assumed “I” is the Performer of actions in a World. Turning within to face that false self, such cannot be found & we face the True Self. “Bypassing” the Illusion, we reach the Reality by turning within to face the Absolute Self, the same as Knowledge & Consciousness.

The Body & its activities are of an objective, inert character. The false “I” knows pretends to know those experiences, but the only Knower is the Real “I” which is Consciousness. When not known, the Real “I” is mistaken to be the Body, to be Mis-identified with Sense experience, or assumed to be some Individualized “consciousness” or Mind. Be certain that anything that is objective cannot be possibly be the Self. Inquire into the True Nature of the “I” as Consciousness, ever the Knower, to be realized as unalloyed, blissful Being which is truly is Self. Inquire with full intensity & concentrated determination & desire to know the Absolute Truth. Having negated all that is objective, be unswervingly absorbed in Inquiry into one’s True Nature so that the Self is revealed. “Be as you are” should not be misinterpreted as Mis-identifting the only cognizing entity as anything in Space & Time.

[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 ]

Self-Enquiry 3

“That which is Bliss is, verily the Self. Bliss & the Self are not distinct & separate, but are one & identical, & that alone is Real.”

Who am I ?

Un-knowing one’s Mis-identification with the Body, allows Self-Knowledge of one’s True Nature to spontaneously shine as Blissful Self-Realization. Required Discriminatio ca benefit from Comparison & Contrast between attributes of the Body & the attributeless indications concerning the Self. While the Body is changeful, sporadic, limited, objective, dependent, indirectly known & transitory, the nature of the Self is immutable, continuous, unlimited, nonobjective, nondependent, directly known, eternal. Thus noting the nature of the Self, realize how the Self is not the Body. The Self is not the Body, nor in a Body, nor in possession of a Body.

The Self’s nature is forever Infinite & Formless. The Self is bodiless Being-Consciousness-Bliss. Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi would say that to be as you are is the purpose of spiritual practice. Abidance as you are, as forever un-modified Being, is Realization & Bliss. Self-Inquiry is the means of attaining the state of Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the natural, innate, & effortless State. Effort in spiritual practice, no effort in Realization, but not the other way around. The True Nature of Self ever bodiless & liberated from bondage & consequent suffering, abiding forever as infinite Wisdom & Bliss.

devote to   Absolute  = being / abide-as  Absolute   =  no –Ego–I

Realization of the Absolute comes by dissolution of Ego – just a figment of Imagination. All beings seek profound Happiness. Those who seek it in the Absolute, find it.

[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 ]

What can be said about Existence ?

Existence is inconceivable, all the while free from & innately free from Thought. Such Being is Formless & indivisible so that we first have to assume, that Thought even has some kind of existence, before we need say that Pure Being, the Self is free from Thought. Given that to assumption about Thought existing in the first place, we come to the rescue with Self-Inquiry as to Who am I ? which reveals your Thought–free nature.. One’s True Nature is Pure Consciousness & not Thought. One’s Existence is self-known but cannot be something that is conceived, something free from Thought.

Only Delusion through Imagination connects Consciousness with Thought. That Illusion caused by self-Delusion, that Illusion of separate, real Thought alone constitutes Bondage.  Drop the Illusion, transcend any Thought about Existence & abide just as the Existence, itself, Reality.  Find that Existence is devoid of Thought.

What can be said about Thought ?  What is Thought’s nature ? [indefinable] What is Thought’s substance ? [nebulous nothingness] If we assume Thought exists, we do so by way of another Thought about Thought.

Without Thought there is no Duality. Existence is Non-Dual, without Duality, no possibility of Thought. Existence, the one Self is free from Thought, & the Self is devoid of Thought. Being without Thought, where can there be Illusion ? Where can there be Bondage or limitation ? Without Thought, where is 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 ]

Essence of Enquiry 1

[“Essence of Enquiry” titles a Master Nome commentary on the first-recorded (though not first-published) Maharshi [“Essence of Enquiry”]

Whatever one might be experiencing, there is behind it the silent conviction: “I exist”. Always, we feel that we exist. That conviction, that “I exist” feeling points to Absolute Reality which is our true Being, our Existence. Without this basis of Existence, or Being, the very idea, “I am” could not appear &

without the idea “I am” there could not be the idea: “This is”. Unfortunately, for the moment, that 2^nd impression is the onset of Illusion if we take the objective “this” to be real in the way the subjective “I” is Real. In fact, taking the objective “this” to be real reduces one’s sense of “I” to a mutually objective Ego–I, another object that poses as an Individualized Subject. But the only real Subject is the true “I” which is Pure Non-Dual Consciousness. Abandoning the Ego–I also eliminates mis-apprehension of “this” as real, but accomplishing these in reverse order can be more effective in some cases.

Initially, Ego-I becomes the root of a “Mind” or imagined container of thoughts. Mind is symbolized objectively as a Brain & Sense Organs, housed in “this” which is taken to be a Body – a symbolic “headquarters” [literally] for the Ego-self. That Body needs a Planet to live on, which occurs in a Star system, in a Galaxy in a local Group, in a Cluster, in a “local neighborhood” in each case.

To the baby, the original “this” foci are mother’s breast, her face, & his own fingers & hands. Later he identifies the Body as his Ego-self with mother, pacifier, blanket, etc. as “other” or “this” [idam]. The Vedas tell us that whenever there is an “other” there is Fear, even if that be not Aversion but Fear of loss which is Attachment. [By the way, when that Baby says “da” or “da da” he says, not “Dad” but rather the indicative “That” of PIE languages as in  “Tat Tvam Asi”, “Om Tat Sat”, or the Buddhist “Tathagata”. ]

But the very existence of “I” & the existence of “this” depend on Absolute Existence. What is it that truly exists ? That would be Existence & not merely the idea of existing. In one’s experience, there is always firm, unshakeable conviction that there is Existence for oneself does exist. Someone would still their self have to exist in order to attempt denial of Existence. The Formless Reality, the Self is not “Nothing”, but is rather, actual Existence.

[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 ]

Container Coordinate Space Characteristic Sense mode

Gustatory Olfactory – O-D    water — liquid

Time Hearing 1-D                          air — gas

Space Vision 2-D                           ether — space

World Tactile 3-D                          earth — solid

Cartesian Coordinate Space models for Space, Time, & Mind:

Space, Time, Mind, & other big-category 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-category concepts. For the most part, 1 (Time, Thought-flow, etc.) or 3 dimensions (Time, Thought-flow, 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 ordinate] 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  lifetime identity Personality, born, grow, die in Waking State

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.

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.

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 Absolute can only be known by the Absolute within you.”   Master Nome

[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 ]

Atmananda’s Insights 2 [based on the “Discourses”]:

Like the unchanging Formlessness of Deep Dreamless Sleep, any conscious, intentional interruption of objective Perception, Thought, or Feeling [i.e. any of the mental activities, conventionally considered Subjective, but deemed Objective to Non-Dual Consciousness], a gap often mis-interpreted as “Nothingness”, is actually one’s True Nature – unconditioned Reality – Happiness. This what you really are. There is only one Self & by the Word of the Guru: Thou art That, Consciousness is Brahman this One Self is Brahman, so know “I am Brahman”.

[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 ]

Atmananda’s Insights 1 [based on the “Discourses”]:

The unchanging & happy Formlessness of Deep Dreamless Sleep has been offered by Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Atmananda, & other great Sages as a clue to the nature of the solitary Absolute Self, the only Reality. The truly Formless is all-embracing, without any boundary separating it from any other entity – thus Non-Dual. This is especially clarified with denial of anything objective & the affirmation of the Formless Reality, the Self as purely non-objective, which is to say more “subjective” than subjective, or perhaps trans-subjective. The ordinary subjective stands in opposition to what is objective, but if there is no objective existing, the some other term, like perhaps trans-subjective or Absolute Subjective may apply. This sole Existence is Consciousness-Bliss & thus an intensely “alive” & dynamic Peace. For the most part, spiritual practice occurs in the Waking State, though some recommendations for Lucid Dreaming, etc. can be found in the literature. Sri Atmananda even taught conscious Deep Dreamless Sleep. Sri Ramana Maharshi taught Self-Inquiry for the moment of transition from Dream or Deep Dreamless Sleep into Waking.

[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 ]

Notes on Immortality 3

The clue to the Real in you, the Real that is you, is that it never changes for a moment, throughout Life, after Death, awake or in Deep Dreamless Sleep – it’s simply your Conscious Existence. Furthermore, the experience of Happiness reveals your innate desire for Eternity. Happiness that comes to an end is incomplete, & everyday Happiness always does come to an end. Just as lasting Happiness alone will do, so too is the desire for Immortality as strong as the desire for Happiness. The 2 are one & the same. No one wishes to be unhappy, & no one wishes to cease to exist. Some may want objective appearances, such as the Senses, the Body, & Thoughts to change when unpleasant, or even cease to exist if dreadful & hopeless. But offered a “fix”, all would choose to live happily ever after. That “fix” comes through Self-Inquiry as Liberation, Self-Realization through Self-Knowledge.

[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 ]

Notes on Immortality 2

The up & downs of Life & the unpredictable inevitability of Death drive us either to Denial, like the proverbial Ostrich with its head in the sand, or by Guru’s Grace, to seek the Immortality of the Self. We can channel that same desire be free of Death into strong thought for Liberation, for Self-Realization. From the first, we recognize that everything in the World is perishable, so Liberation cannot be physical. The Bliss of Immortality is realizable by Self-Knowledge.

Comprehending the Non-Dual Teaching, as taught by Gurus in Scripture & live, face to face, we self-liberate from connection to the Body & all else in the World. Combining the desire for Happiness & the desire to continue to exist, we forge a singular focus upon Self-Realization & enables the practice of Self-Inquiry with undistracted meditation.

[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 ]

[commentary on Master Nome’s Self Knowledge, posted in the Past as No. 17, …]

One’s self – Being-Consciousness-Bliss (Existence-Consciousness-Happiness) remains unchanged, even in Deep Dreamless Sleep, behind all thought, & even in death of the illusory Body. Projection [imaginary] in an objective “direction” results in Attachment to the World & the Senses. Specifically, Projection toward [but never truly reaching an unreal principle] Form results in Mis-identification with the Body. Projection toward [unreal] thought results in Mis-identification with the Mind. Such Projections are a product of self-delusion [the Tamasic dull Avarana veiling aspect of Maya, Ignorance] & the only Ego-supporting obstacles [Rajasic restless Vikshepa projecting aspect of Maya, Ignorance] to Immortal Bliss, our true Identity, or the Reality.

[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 http://www.jpstiga.com ]

Quantum Mechanics & Non-Duality

Seeing that Quantum Mechanics reveals the “World” to be Consciousness can be a lead in to Non-Duality. Though few began their realization of Non-Duality that way, & though few who study Quantum Mechanics make that leap, it is a way it can work for some. Similar reasoning ability can be harnessed for both, though not even all “Conquerors” [a Buddhist term] emphasize that style of reasoning ability. What counts is Self-Realization as Existence-Consciousness-Happiness, also Love & Bliss which is Brahman, Buddha-Mind, Consciousness. Self-Inquiry may be the most direct extinction of false Ego in an unreal Waking State world.

[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 ]

Hogwash:

Andre Linde & others who postulated the nucleation of “Bubble” universes (like our own) into a Multi-verse, based on Inflationary Theory, estimated some 10⁵⁰⁰ such universes to make plausible our extremely Fine Tuned Universe by Random Chance.

Atheism apologist Victor Stenger, in “The Fallacy of Fine-Tuning” & other books claims that such was as if an unintended “mandate” from the results of research & not a concocted refutation of the more spiritual Anthropic Principle. Hogwash !

While many points of his entire thesis could be logically knocked down, just as one small example, consider his complaint about the use, by Anthropic Principles, of “less fundamental” constants such as Planck’s constant: h = 6.626 069 57 (29) x 10^–34 J s, the vacuum Speed of Light: c  = 299, 792, 458 m/s, & the Gravitational constant:  G = 6.673 84(80) x 10^–11 N m²/kg².

For the sake of elegance & simplicity for “insiders”, Physicists are wont to define “natural” dimensionless units by setting 4 π G = 1 = c = h, which is to say put other constants “in terms of” G, c, h. This serves “insiders” while obscuring details for those more amateur. In any case, such is just a device of convenience & does not “sanctify” that dimensionless format. Some focus on G, c, h in Metric Units for Anthropic Principle arguments because they are more concrete for the unprofessional reader than say, the Fine Structure Constant. Stenger, however, disqualifies them as “arbitrary” because, unlike dimensionless units, their numerical value depend on the particular units chosen. Well of course ! But given those particular units chosen, the still indicate ratios & other relationships between physical realties in the Universe. Definitions like 4 π G = 1 = c = h are also arbitrary, other choices could have bee made. To knock down the Metric Units is foolish or disingenuous, take your pick Victor. Inventing 10⁵⁰⁰ unreachable universes, bolstered by tenuous arguments about CMB anisotropy, just as special pleading in your Atheist argument against Theists, my God Victor !

To so justify Anthropic Chance begins to compare to all the particles in the Universe, requiring 1 with 80 zeroes, 10⁸⁰ as compared to Universe size to Electron size ratio – with 40 zeroes, 10⁴⁰. Add 6 zeroes to 86 & we have the particles in a million Universes 10⁸⁶. We can’t imagine 100 zeroes, a Googol, 10¹⁰⁰. How about 200 zeroes, 10²⁰⁰ ? What about 500 zeroes, 10⁵⁰⁰ not of particles now, but of same-size Universes ? That’s the number in the Multi-verse, with just 1, ours, working out.

We side with neither Atheist nor the Creator God of the Theist, but award way more points to the Theist. One Absolute Divine Consciousness has no Universe(s), though one or more may appear in the Waking State, but 10⁵⁰⁰ ???

[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 ]