Hello Dick

[Guest guest]

Could someone please tell me if self inquiry should be done 24/7 or

should you do it only in your leisure time? Thank you for any help

you can give me.

Hello and Welcome Dick, And what is self inquiry from your perception?

With Delight

@`--,--Lynette--,--`@

[Guest guest]

> Hello and Welcome Dick, And what is self inquiry from your

perception?

>

> With Delight

> @`--,--Lynette--,--`@

 

Hello Lynette,

Thanks for the welcome.

To the best of my knowledge, self inquiry is maintaining the 'I'

thought which excludes all other thoughts. If a thought does arise,

there is a protocol you can follow which leads back to the 'I'

thought. However, I usually just ignore other thoughts and

reconcentrate on the 'I' thought. I am not sure I'm doing it

correctly, but I read that sincerity counts more than technique so I

jumped in. So, back to my original question do you do this 24/7 or

during leisure time?

One more question. What is 'I-I' as opposed to 'I' ?

Thanks again Lynette

Love Dick

P.S. Why does everyone answer questions with questions?

[Guest guest]

To the best of my knowledge, self inquiry is maintaining the 'I'

thought which excludes all other thoughts. If a thought does arise,

there is a protocol you can follow which leads back to the 'I'

thought. However, I usually just ignore other thoughts and

reconcentrate on the 'I' thought. I am not sure I'm doing it

correctly, but I read that sincerity counts more than technique so I

jumped in. So, back to my original question do you do this 24/7 or

during leisure time?

One more question. What is 'I-I' as opposed to 'I' ?

Thanks again Lynette

Love Dick

P.S. Why does everyone answer questions with questions?

I'm sure there are others, Dick, that would be more in tune with your

question than I, then. That is why I asked the question... I was

unsure what you meant. Sincerity does count for more than

Technique... That much I agree with.

In answer to your question, from my own experience.... Being, comes.

I'm sure there are several techniques. I do not spend 24/7 ignoring

thoughts in my head... The mind flows with thoughts, naturally, this

is part of being human. When one spends so much time trying to be or

accomplish something... The energy spent in the doing, becomes a

wasted effort.

what can I say? I tried no repeated technique to become aware. I do

not even do my yoga daily, nor do I meditate daily...

One does not need to change who they are to become enlightened.

So, your question might be better answered by someone other than me.

But I am curious why anyone would want to spend so much energy trying

to push thoughts from their mind.

)))))

Welcome, and be well.

With Delight

@`--,--Lynette--,--`@

[Guest guest]

Dear Dick:

Welcome. I haven't been here long myself.

Your meditation sounds exactly like mine. I go for the 24/7 myself.

I have done this. - Meditate just before lying down to go to bed, ly

down slowly and I sometimes will wake up still meditating.

Controlled breath and all. I say controlled breath but I mean

watching the "I" and aware of the breath.

Sometimes I plan how I will concentrate on meditations in difficult

circumstance. I'm walking along and start to go in a store and buy

something. I plan each step knowing the environment will be

different and I will have to make several changes like looking,

deciding, and buying, accepting change, being cordial, and walking

out, and continuing my walk. I believe the planning helps. After

some practice i could occasionally keep the meditation constant. Now

some may say how artificial. Well of course. But what I found out

is that I can now watch my actions even when I'm not being

artificial. I don't know what is artificial anymore. Some might

think it is foolish or unnecessary. It's the way I am. I figure my

inner guru told me to do it. Others may guide them differently.

Driving for me is special as I can really keep the "I" in the now.

Personally the thoughts that I push aside to keep the "I" present are

not worth thinking anyway. I feel like I'm doing something when I do

atma vichara.

Good Luck,

Bob G.

[Guest guest]

Hi Dick

Welcome to Satsangh.

Personally I go for the 24/7. Your meditation sounds just like

mine. I push the thoughts aside in favor of the "I". The thoughts I

have are never worth thinking anyway. I can have one thought and

when it is over return to atma vichara without getting the chain

thing going.

It seems to me that everytime the chain of thoughts ends I think of

the "I". Then If I am not careful another chain will begin and it

may be hours before something reminds me to meditate or the chain

ends by running out of steam.

 

My energy is renewed when I pick up the thread of atma vichara.

It sounds to me like you're doing good. It would be interesting to

know your history.

Later,

Bob G.

[Guest guest]

Whoops

I thought the first message got canceled so I wrote another one.

I may not be a good one to give advice.

It is with love though,

Bob G.

[Guest guest]

Oh my gosh, Bob....could you be any sweeter?!

-

bgbbyg (AT) aol (DOT) com

Monday, September 03, 2001 8:04 PM

Re: hello Dick

WhoopsI thought the first message got canceled so I wrote another

one.I may not be a good one to give advice.It is with love though,Bob

G./join

All paths go

somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions,

and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back

into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of

Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It

is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the

Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of

Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self.

Welcome all to a.Your use of is subject

to the

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob,

You will never ever know how happy I was to get your three posts. I

was feeling real down and when I read your posts, I thought wow!

there's someone in the world like me. I loved your honesty regarding

the thoughts you push aside, isn't it amazing how much trivia we have

going through our heads. I actually get amazed about some of the

thoughts I have. I keep wondering where they come from? I also like

your attitude about what others think. I totally agree with you. I

feel if you're sincere, then it's correct.

I find circumstances where I can do self inquiry without difficulty,

and sometimes where I can't do it at all. For example, when I take

my morning walk I find that self inquiry is very easy. In fact, I

try to concentrate with my mind's eye to try and see thoughts arising

as I'm doing the self inquiry. I never do see the thoughts arising,

but it causes my eyes to defocus so that I almost feel like I'm

floating. I have also discovered that I can do self inquiry while I

am talking. That's another weird feeling, my speech seems to go on

automatic pilot. I always thought my talk had great thoughts behind

it ). Little did I realize.

I also find I can do self inquiry while watching TV (Like football).

I can't do it when I read and I can't do it when I listen and I can't

do it right now while I'm typing. Any physical work makes it easy

(cutting the grass, working in the garden, etc.). The easist is when

I go to bed at night. Unfortunately, I fall asleep in 3 seconds, but

like you, I wake up doing self inquiry. I also try to set aside 5-10

minutes at various times during the day to stop and do self inquiry. A

lot of times I have a great nap doing this.

>

>It sounds to me like you're doing good. It would be interesting to >know your history.

Bob,

My spiritual history is a very boring story; however, if you would

like to know I would be happy to tell you.

Thanks again for the post. I would also be very interested to know your history.

Dick F

Dear Dick:Welcome. I haven't been here long myself. Your meditation

sounds exactly like mine. I go for the 24/7 myself. I have done

this. - Meditate just before lying down to go to bed, ly down slowly

and I sometimes will wake up still meditating. Controlled breath and

all. I say controlled breath but I mean watching the "I" and aware of

the breath.Sometimes I plan how I will concentrate on meditations in

difficult circumstance. I'm walking along and start to go in a store

and buy something. I plan each step knowing the environment will be

different and I will have to make several changes like looking,

deciding, and buying, accepting change, being cordial, and walking

out, and continuing my walk. I believe the planning helps. After

some practice i could occasionally keep the meditation constant. Now

some may say how artificial. Well of course. But what I found out is

that I can now watch my actions even when I'm not being artificial. I

don't know what is artificial anymore. Some might think it is foolish

or unnecessary. It's the way I am. I figure my inner guru told me

to do it. Others may guide them differently.Driving for me is

special as I can really keep the "I" in the now.Personally the

thoughts that I push aside to keep the "I" present are not worth

thinking anyway. I feel like I'm doing something when I do atma

vichara.Good Luck,Bob G.

/join

All paths go

somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions,

and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back

into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of

Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It

is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the

Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of

Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self.

Welcome all to a.Your use of is subject

to the

[Guest guest]

Tell us the history! :-).

Harsha

Richard Fortier

[richardfortier (AT) mediaone (DOT) net]Tuesday, September 04, 2001

7:40 PMSubject: Re:

Re: hello Dick

Hi Bob, You will never ever know how happy I was to get your three

posts. I was feeling real down and when I read your posts, I thought

wow! there's someone in the world like me. I loved your honesty

regarding the thoughts you push aside, isn't it amazing how much

trivia we have going through our heads. I actually get amazed about

some of the thoughts I have. I keep wondering where they come from? I

also like your attitude about what others think. I totally agree with

you. I feel if you're sincere, then it's correct.

I find circumstances where I can do self inquiry without difficulty,

and sometimes where I can't do it at all. For example, when I take

my morning walk I find that self inquiry is very easy. In fact, I

try to concentrate with my mind's eye to try and see thoughts arising

as I'm doing the self inquiry. I never do see the thoughts arising,

but it causes my eyes to defocus so that I almost feel like I'm

floating. I have also discovered that I can do self inquiry while I

am talking. That's another weird feeling, my speech seems to go on

automatic pilot. I always thought my talk had great thoughts behind

it ). Little did I realize.

I also find I can do self inquiry while watching TV (Like football).

I can't do it when I read and I can't do it when I listen and I can't

do it right now while I'm typing. Any physical work makes it easy

(cutting the grass, working in the garden, etc.). The easist is when

I go to bed at night. Unfortunately, I fall asleep in 3 seconds, but

like you, I wake up doing self inquiry. I also try to set aside 5-10

minutes at various times during the day to stop and do self inquiry. A

lot of times I have a great nap doing this.

>

>It sounds to me like you're doing good. It would be interesting to >know your history.

Bob,

My spiritual history is a very boring story; however, if you would

like to know I would be happy to tell you.

Thanks again for the post. I would also be very interested to know your history.

Dick F

Dear Dick:Welcome. I haven't been here long myself. Your meditation

sounds exactly like mine. I go for the 24/7 myself. I have done

this. - Meditate just before lying down to go to bed, ly down slowly

and I sometimes will wake up still meditating. Controlled breath and

all. I say controlled breath but I mean watching the "I" and aware of

the breath.Sometimes I plan how I will concentrate on meditations in

difficult circumstance. I'm walking along and start to go in a store

and buy something. I plan each step knowing the environment will be

different and I will have to make several changes like looking,

deciding, and buying, accepting change, being cordial, and walking

out, and continuing my walk. I believe the planning helps. After

some practice i could occasionally keep the meditation constant. Now

some may say how artificial. Well of course. But what I found out is

that I can now watch my actions even when I'm not being artificial. I

don't know what is artificial anymore. Some might think it is foolish

or unnecessary. It's the way I am. I figure my inner guru told me

to do it. Others may guide them differently.Driving for me is

special as I can really keep the "I" in the now.Personally the

thoughts that I push aside to keep the "I" present are not worth

thinking anyway. I feel like I'm doing something when I do atma

vichara.Good Luck,Bob G.

/join

All paths go

somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions,

and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back

into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of

Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It

is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the

Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of

Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self.

Welcome all to a.Your use of is subject

to the

/join

All paths go

somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions,

and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back

into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of

Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It

is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the

Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of

Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self.

Welcome all to a.Your use of is subject

to the

[Guest guest]

Dear Dick:

Our methods at least what we've written about are REALLY similar.

What you write about is very familiar to me. I started reading

Patanjali in 1979, learned the methodology for pranayama and

practiced for 18 years till I found Ramana Maharshi and began atma

vichara. Before Patanjali I studied Zen and was a devotee of a young

Indian naned Maharaji for a year where I learned to meditate on the

divine sound and the nectar.

Now you.

I am finding more people all the time who understand something I

thought was obscure. So I did not reach out. I'm glad now I did.

A second from now I may recede again to be more alone. It's always

open but right now people like you are a warm blanket for me.

Love

Bob G.