Ajay0

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Everything posted by Ajay0

  1. Identities have functional utility. Beyond that, if they are seen as a source of selfhood through emotional attachment, they can be a potential source of conflict. The terms Christian, Muslim, Jew, American, Russian, Chinese,Bosnian, Serb, male, female can have functional utility. But if an emotional self is attached to them, they can become a source of emotivity, conflict and violence. Good people are those who can embrace these identities for their functional utility alone. Those who lack self-knowledge are the ones who imbue their functional identities with emotional attachment so as to create an artificial sense of self to desperately hold on to.

  2. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    The great perfection is non-conceptual awareness. ~ Dzogchen True self-knowledge is nothing but awareness itself, naked and unadorned by any concepts. ~ Gilbert Schultz There is only this moment, the now. That is all there is. All else is imagined. ~ Adam Oakley The cause, the 'who' or the 'me', has no substance or independent nature of itself. It is just an imagined thing based on past events, experiences and conditioning. ~ Sailor Bob Adamson Be what you are 100% - then there is no room for a 'me' to play havoc with the concept of identity. ~ Gilbert Schultz

  3. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    You are the unchangeable Awareness in which all activity takes place. ~ H.W. Poonja We are not separate from the Natural Awareness we experience within the present moment. ~ Metta Zetty You are primal awareness. Life is only primal awareness. Between two thoughts or two perceptions you are. You know moments in your life when a thought completely disappears into silence, but still you are. ~ Dr. Jean Klein “You realize your true identity as consciousness itself, rather than what consciousness has identified with. That's the peace of God. The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that, but I Am.”― Eckhart Tolle The truth is you really are nothing, but this nothing is full, whole, infinite in everything and everywhere. This nothing is conciousness itself. It is already whole, complete and fulfilled. This is the amazing irony. ~ Gangaji
  4. This is very intelligently and eloquently put. Thank you for this. Yes, I would like to put a similar saying of Thich Nhat Hanh over here to reiterate it... “The secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth to have a chance to penetrate, to reveal itself.”

  5. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    The Self is pure consciousness. ~ Ramana Maharshi Remove the ego and avidya (ignorance) is gone. Look for it, the ego vanishes and the real Self alone remains.~ Ramana Maharshi To be free from bondage the wise person must practice discrimination between One-Self and the ego-self. By that alone you will become full of joy, recognizing Self as Pure Being, Consciousness and Bliss. ~ Adi Shankaracharya When I say, ‘Meditate on the Self’ I am asking you to be the Self, not think about it. Be aware of what remains when thoughts stop. Be aware of the consciousness that is the origin of all your thoughts. Be that consciousness. ~ Annamalai Swami Tayumanuvar, a Tamil saint whom Bhagavan (Ramana Maharshi) often quoted, wrote in one of his poems: ‘My Guru merely told me that I am consciousness. Having heard this, I held onto consciousness. What he told me was just one sentence, but I cannot describe the bliss I attained from holding onto that one simple sentence. Through that one sentence I attained a peace and a happiness that can never be explained in words.’ —Annamalai Swami: Final Talks, pages 67–68.
  6. I am not highly knowledgeable on this subject, but this is the input I can give. As per yoga masters, yoga or meditation should be performed on an empty stomach, as well as with empty bowels, if possible. (I would say this goes for mental clarity as well, and not just for meditation.) Meditation is much more easier that way. Or else, the chances of an agitated mind is high, which can be detrimental to meditation and the objective of creating an equanimous mind which sets the platform for awareness. If you are observant or keep a log, you can perceive these patterns for yourself. During certain periods of time, or bodily conditions, mental agitation tends to arise. Knowing this, one can resolve these issues by employing proper techniques and tools.

  7. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    You are awareness. Awareness is another name for you. Since you are awareness there is no need to attain or cultivate it. ~ Ramana Maharshi Your true nature is awareness and not what your mind is producing. ~ Burt Harding The more you identify with your mind, the further away you are from your Self (awareness). ~ Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev Awareness is who we are and forgetting that leads to suffering. ~ Vicki Woodyard Mind is nothing but the absence of your presence. ~ Eckhart Tolle
  8. But grace is won through purushartha (self-effort). You win grace in proportion to purushartha performed. A man who has understood by his intelligence the superficiality, illusion and danger (of entrapment) of all sensory pleasures through direct observation or hard experience, will obviously endeavor earnestly to gain joy and bliss of a more lasting sort. It is such earnest effort that attracts grace. Also, in this inauspicious time of the Kali Yuga where stark imbalances in nature , religious and national conflicts and threat of a nuclear holocaust arising, it is all the more important that all people should endeavor to learn about nondual perception and put it into practice, rather than waiting for grace to hand it over to them. Nondual perception or meditative mind can heal dramatically much of the fissures and deep wounds in nature and humanity. This is highly practical as it enhances economic and survival potential for the human species , and mark great strides in spiritual and material prosperity for all beings. Anyone in their right mind would consciously choose overall prosperity over destruction at any chosen time. Right view, understanding and knowledge can enable them to make correct judgments that can bring this about. I have read accounts of people having brief moments of nondual perception by serendipity (and not choice), considering it a very beautiful experience , and seeking explanations for the same, hoping to repeat it. They did not know that it is their natural state, and was ignorant of its mechanism. If one knows the mechanics behind it, one would obviously replicate it at will or keep it a steady state if needed or possible. (Grace perhaps may also mean that the person has gained the fitness for higher sources of happiness other than sensory pleasures due to contemplation, correct reasoning and views.) 'If there is no meditation, then you are like a blind man in a world of great beauty, light and colour.' ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

  9. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    The Self stands beyond the mind. ~ Nisargadatta Maharaj All happiness comes from awareness. ~ Nisargadatta Maharaj The Self (awareness) alone can give you happiness. All happiness is from the Self. All trouble, sorrow and suffering is from the mind. ~ H.W.Poonja If you do not mess your mind, you will naturally be joyful. ~ Jaggi Vasudev
  10. This shows clearly that you have not done your scholarly due diligence or homework, and have faulty premises or weak foundations for your arguments, and this is why you are unable to perceive, and more importantly attain the joy of the Buddha nature present within yourself. Buddha in the Kesamutti Sutta have emphasized independent investigation and knowing for oneself, instead of depending upon the words of others... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesamutti_Sutta The Kesamutti Sutta states : He emphasizes independent investigation and inquiry in the Ghanavyuha sutra as well. 'O monks and wise men, just as a goldsmith would test his gold by burning, cutting and rubbing it, so must you examine my words and accept them, not merely out of reverence for me.' ~ Buddha ( ghanavyuha sutra )(Sutra of Dense Array) He is not a salesman promising heaven in return for blind faith in him or his teachings. Independent and critical examination of his teachings and practices is also part of the Buddhist doctrine, so that faith if developed, will be based on solid experiences of one's own, and not just others testimony.
  11. Okay. Let us agree to disagree then.

  12. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    The Self, our Being, is awareness. ~ Sri Muruganar Nearly all mankind is more or less unhappy because nearly all do not know the true Self. Real happiness abides in Self-knowledge alone. All else is fleeting. To know one’s Self is to be blissful always. ~ Ramana Maharshi Man’s search for happiness is an unconscious search for his true Self. The true Self is imperishable; therefore when a man finds it, he finds a happiness which does not come to an end. ~ Ramana Maharshi This world is trapped in the well of suffering. What is this suffering due to? This suffering stems from ignorance of the Self. All suffering in this world is because of ignorance. This ignorance leads to raag (attachment) and dwesh (abhorrence) relentlessly and suffering is experienced as a consequence. Only Gnan can cure this suffering. There is no other remedy. Gnan insulates you from suffering. ~ Ambalal Muljibhai Patel Purpose of suffering is to connect you to your Self (Awareness). It indicates that you got carried away by all the transient things around you. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
  13. Eudaimonia in the eastern context, is similar to what is known as Dharma or living based on values. The performance of duties and Dharma is bound to result in happiness as per eastern philosophy, due to the austerity in duty. Dharma is one of the four purusharthas or objectives of human life. By adherence to Dharma through value based living and self-discipline, worldly happiness can be maximised without crossing any moral boundaries . However the happiness of Dharma is also considered inferior to the bliss of Moksha or enlightenment. It is the adherents of Dharma however who have the highest chance of attaining enlightenment. You are jumping to conclusions due to poor understanding as usual. Those familiar with the ancient philosophies of yoga and advaita can understand what I am talking here. You are also claiming that I am unfamiliar with the state. But if you claim that I am unfamiliar, that implies that you are familiar with the state of nondual perception, and can identify the errors. So why don't you describe your own experience of nondual perception here, other than drug related hallucinations. I am contrasting worldly 'happiness' with the bliss of the Self here. What are you referring to ! There are higher degrees of happiness like ecstasy and higher degrees of unhappiness too, like grief. But those who were grieving have also moved on to higher states of happiness as well and vice versa, clearly showing their nature of being opposites. Extreme happiness or extreme unhappiness are also opposites, if you want to put it that way, for better comprehension. But the lower self is already established and considered to be illusory ! What is the truth or benchmark to contrast it with, as in the Self or Buddha nature or any description of your own ! But I had asked what you understood by the Self, which is non-conceptual in nature. How can you talk about the conceptual illusory self then as an answer or reply! Yes, I can see that. How can you talk of equating the Self with this or that when you don't even have a clue on what the true Self is, as per nondual or advaitan philosophy ! And how can you realistically expect me to answer your question related to the Self and Buddha nature, when you don't even know what they are in the first place, and have mere uncertain speculations to offer on what they are ! Without understanding the basics, you will only jump to greater confusions and never-ending mazes of superficial speculation. Good luck with that.

  14. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    Under the obsessive thoughts and plans, under the emotions, positive and negative, there is an ocean of peace. ~Gangaji To know yourself as the Being underneath the thinker, the stillness underneath the mental noise, the love and joy underneath the pain, is freedom, salvation, enlightenment. ~ Eckhart Tolle We are completely unaware of our true nature because we identify ourselves with our body, our emotions and our thoughts, thus losing sight of our unchanging centre, which is pure consciousness. ~ Dr. Jean Klein
  15. The experience is that of nondual perception that comes with emptiness or awareness with the simultaneous cessation or slowing of mental traffic. In nondual perception, there is the ability to use functional speech with dualistic terms, without being under the grip of images or words or past. Krishna taught about non-duality to Arjuna in the midst of the battlefield if you may recall, while persuading him to perform his duties as a warrior. Ramana Maharshi, usually silent, was vocal about allowing animals or birds to enter the ashram in spite of opposition to them from his fastidious disciples, and he referred to the animals as 'he' or 'she' instead of 'it', humanizing them. The examples of these masters shows that nondual perception is not in opposition to functional speech depicting dualistic terms. The perception ceases to be nondual when the psychological past or personal self takes over with its emotional likes and dislikes, cravings and aversions. Then the 'you' or 'they' will be related to the lower self or 'I' unconsciously with corresponding past memories of an emotional content in the background dictating the relationship, rather than impersonal awareness. Since the personal self or ego is bound to be insecure and fragile due to its transitory emotional content , it is bound to drift in the direction of strife and violence in the long run. Apparently conflicts have the hue of duality to it due to their emotionally charged nature. The 'I' or 'us' is emphasized in opposition to 'he/she/you' or 'them', as well as other labels related to political ideology, language, gender, religion, race, sexuality, country and so on. And consequently such dualistic terms gain an unnecessary bad reputation in spite of their functional utility as in work relations, gender-based washrooms, passports or normal conversation. In nondual perception or impersonal awareness, such dualistic terms remain functional without the emotional charge associated with unconscious dualistic perception and conflict.
  16. Dude, you have not figured out the difference between bliss emanating from the Self, and the transitory states of happiness/unhappiness emerging from sensory experiences. There is a major difference between the two. Unhappiness must follow happiness in the realm of material realm and sensory objects because of the factors of impermanence and saturation. But there is no opposite to bliss from the Self, because the non-conceptual Self or Being/Brahman is beyond the pair of opposites related to the material world and is not subject to impermanence and saturation. How can the illusory self be equated with the true Self or Buddha nature ! Your understanding is poor. First get hold of the basics correctly and then your questions will dissolve on their own .

  17. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    If we continuously maintain self awareness, we will be able to experience peace and happiness. ~ Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi Devi). When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace and love. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out the present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love - even the most simple action. ~ Eckhart Tolle And thoughtless awareness is nothing but such a pouring sense of joy - joy which is neither happiness or unhappiness, but singular. ~ Nirmala Devi The most beautiful moments in your life – moments of bliss, moments of joy, moments of ecstasy, moments of utter peace – were moments when you were not thinking about anything. You were just living. ~ Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev Whenever your mind becomes still there is happiness and enjoyment, and each time the mind is shaken then sorrow, tensions and worries surround you. ~ Anandmurti Gurumaa
  18. But that still comes under unhappiness ! What do you understand by the Self ?
  19. What is your experience ? If I may ask, did you find it hard to use functional speech that denoted such dualistic terms as suggested, during the experience of nondual perception !

  20. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    You can become fully aware only when you are living in the moment. ~ Barry Long A mind in the present moment is meditation. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Do not lose yourself in the past. Do not lose yourself in the future. Do not get caught in your anger, worries, or fears. Come back to the present moment, and touch life deeply. This is mindfulness. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh One way to get free of attachment is to cultivate the witness consciousness, to become a neutral observer of your own life. The witness place inside you is simple awareness, the part of you that is aware of everything — just noticing, watching, not judging, just being present, being here now. ~ Ram Dass
  21. You are habitually and compulsively oriented to the intellect, and think or believe there is nothing beyond that, due to social conditioning. Conceptualizing nondual perception or enlightenment, imho, is like wrapping a banana skin around an another unskinned banana, and then arguing vehemently it tastes bitter and not sweet as some claim it to be. All this nondual literature has been written to inform the aspirant to move beyond thought and the intellect to grasp the Absolute. It is similar to using a thorn to remove an another thorn stuck in the foot, and then getting rid of both thorns. The finite intellect cannot grasp the Absolute, just as a small clay jar cannot hold the ocean in it. Zen even has a saying on burning the scriptures, as it enables the aspirant to break and go beyond the compulsive habit of intellectualizing and conceptualizing everything. There are enlightened sages who have stated the same. The scriptures such as the tao te ching, and upanishads and dhammapada are testimony of the same. Nondual experience is beyond words, but the enlightened sage can use speech as a tool to communicate the same and for other purposes, and switch it off when needed, unlike a compulsive chatterbox. A person claims that viruses don't exist after examination with a magnifying lens , and adamantly argues on the same refuting all suggestions to employ an electron microscope instead. What do you suggest to convince the person to use an electron microscope instead ! Thank you. I am talking about intellectual understanding that comes with your own experiential understanding, not others experiential or intellectual understanding. Since it is your own experiential understanding, the question of dogma and bigotry does not arise. Personally, I feel sorry that something as beautiful as nondual perception, and which is the intrinsic birthright of any human being as his leg or hand or eye, is unknown to most people and they go to the grave in ignorance. Maya, which is but the untamed mind, indeed is a master manipulator and trickster in making dummies of seemingly intelligent human beings, and preventing them from seeing the obvious. The skill levels in deception is quite admirable and breathtaking. As the Upanishads say, only the strong and heroic can cut the net of illusion and see the truth for what it is. The weaklings and cowards live in perpetual falsehood and consequent penalty of psychological suffering. The prize of perpetual bliss and enlightenment must be earned by intelligence and effort, like anything else in life.

  22. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    Ajay0 replied to GrandTrinity's topic in General Discussion

    All of spirituality is contained in that one word: Awareness. ~ Mata Amritanandamayi Proceed on life’s journey with awareness. ~ Mata Amritanandamayi If I were to summarize it ( Guruma's teachings) into one thing, it would be awareness. How to develop that awareness-insight. I am not referring to awareness at the level of the mind as seen in mountaineers or astronauts. A slip in awareness and the mountaineer can be buried alive under snow or the astronaut blasted away from his ship. But that awareness does not transform them or cause them to disassociate from the mind and its functions. To be an observer is to be totally neutral and to be a witness. And somewhere, I would add, the awareness of who I am, or what the truth is. ~ Anandamurti Gurumaa How to do meditation, many people ask me. Don't do anything, to just go into thoughtless awareness. Try to go to the thoughtless awareness. If you can get into that condition of thoughtless awareness you've done your job, because that's the point where you are with the truth, with the reality, with the joy, with everything that is so fundamental. ~ Nirmala Devi When you are in thoughtless awareness, you must know that you are in the kingdom of God and His people, His arrangements, His consciousness, is going to look after you. ~ Nirmala Devi
  23. You have only forwarded an intellectual argument to the mental idea or concept of enlightenment. Using the intellect to figure out enlightenment or Buddhahood is similar to a layman using a magnifying lens to study a virus instead of an electron microscope. One will not find the virus and will use the reason as an excuse to suggest that viruses does not exist, and speculate endlessly on the argument. Similarly you are suggesting here that 'perpetual-bliss' does not exist due to the limitations of your deployed instruments. But the Self or pure consciousness or Brahman is subtler than thought or intellect, and hence intellectual thought is not the right instrument to perceive it. Nondual perception or the unitary perception is about experiential understanding rather than intellectual understanding. You cannot conceive it from books and argue about it from the intellectual domain alone. All this sort of intellectual speculation is only bound to result in more intellectual confusions and greater entanglement. Its like a beggar ignorantly sitting above a treasure,and speculating fatalistically and pessimistically that poverty and hardship is his lot in life, and advancing the views to those walking by who care to listen. Through experiential understanding, you will be able to grasp proper intellectual understanding as well. Some sayings in this regard...
  24. Yes, you can go through her biographical summary here where her experience of enlightenment is highlighted... https://janfrazierteachings.com/about/
  25. Insightful article by female enlightened master Jan Frazier on being conscious and unconscious.... https://janfrazierteachings.com/2014/05/26/being-conscious/