Guest guest Posted July 17, 2002 Report Share Posted July 17, 2002 An ordinary shopkeeper in the backlanes of Bombay, India. In middle age Truth exploded within him dissolving the sense of individual forever. Nisargadatta Maharaj ------ Dates: 1897 - 1981, India ------ Question:What is meditation? Maharaj: To be one with THAT because of which we know we exist is meditation. There are a number of names which have been given to Gods, all of them represent the same things - they represent this knowledge that one is, this beingness, consciousness. This knowledge does not refer to an individual, but to the sense of presence as a whole. Instead of accepting this knowledge as a total functioning, one wants to cut up the knowledge into bits and pieces, taking a part for himself, based on some concept. Any knowledge based on a concept is not true knowledge... When you are dwelling in this consciousness you see that you are not doing anything, it is all happening spontaneously. There is no question of your trying to do anyting. You cannot try to be your Self, because you are your Self. ------ Nisargadatta, a realized master of the Tantric Nath lineage, had a wife and four children and lived in a small apartment in the slums of Bombay. For many years he supported himself and his family by selling cheap goods in a small booth on the streets outside his tenement. His life was a telling parable of the absolute nonduality of Being. ------ "There is no question of going anywhere, arriving anywhere, or doing anything; you are there already. "One has to work in the world; naturally, carry on your worldly affairs, but understand that that which has come about by itself - that is, this body, mind and consciousness - has appeared in spite of the fact that nobody has asked for it. .. The life force and the mind are operating, but the mind will tempt you to believe that it is "you". Therefore, understand always that you are the timeless, spaceless witness. And even if the mind tells you that you are the one who is acting, don't believe the mind. Always keep your identity separate from that which is doing the working, thinking and talking. That which has happened - that is, the apparatus which is functioning - has come upon your original essence, but you are not that apparatus." >From 'PRIOR TO CONSCIOUSNESS Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj' Edited by Jean Dunn, The Acorn Press 1990, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2002 Report Share Posted July 17, 2002 , shawn <shawn@w...> wrote: Therefore, understand always > that you are the timeless, spaceless witness. And even if the mind tells you > that you are the one who is acting, don't believe the mind. Always keep your > identity separate from that which is doing the working, thinking and > talking. That which has happened - that is, the apparatus which is > functioning - has come upon your original essence, but you are not that > apparatus." Hmmmmm...do I really want to keep separate my "identity" and the "timeless, spaceless witness"? If there is separation, there is a relationship. With relationship, there is a motive. Perhaps identity is Witness reflected in a mirror. Does Witness attempt to reflect onto a mirror Identity? No, Witness is. It is through spiritual practice that Witness is perceived. Does spiritual practice foster/reflect "good" identity? A claim that Witness fosters good or bad is a projection of my understanding and identity. anyway, thanks for quote > An ordinary shopkeeper in the backlanes of Bombay, India. In middle age > Truth exploded within him dissolving the sense of individual forever. > > > > Nisargadatta Maharaj > > -- ---- > Dates: 1897 - 1981, India > -- ---- > Question:What is meditation? > > > > Maharaj: To be one with THAT because of which we know we exist is > meditation. There are a number of names which have been given to Gods, all > of them represent the same things - they represent this knowledge that one > is, this beingness, consciousness. This knowledge does not refer to an > individual, but to the sense of presence as a whole. Instead of accepting > this knowledge as a total functioning, one wants to cut up the knowledge > into bits and pieces, taking a part for himself, based on some concept. Any > knowledge based on a concept is not true knowledge... > > When you are dwelling in this consciousness you see that you are not doing > anything, it is all happening spontaneously. There is no question of your > trying to do anyting. You cannot try to be your Self, because you are your > Self. > -- ---- > > > Nisargadatta, a realized master of the Tantric Nath lineage, had a wife and > four children and lived in a small apartment in the slums of Bombay. For > many years he supported himself and his family by selling cheap goods in a > small booth on the streets outside his tenement. His life was a telling > parable of the absolute nonduality of Being. > -- ---- > > > "There is no question of going anywhere, arriving anywhere, or doing > anything; you are there already. > > "One has to work in the world; naturally, carry on your worldly affairs, but > understand that that which has come about by itself - that is, this body, > mind and consciousness - has appeared in spite of the fact that nobody has > asked for it. .. The life force and the mind are operating, but the mind > will tempt you to believe that it is "you". Therefore, understand always > that you are the timeless, spaceless witness. And even if the mind tells you > that you are the one who is acting, don't believe the mind. Always keep your > identity separate from that which is doing the working, thinking and > talking. That which has happened - that is, the apparatus which is > functioning - has come upon your original essence, but you are not that > apparatus." > > > > >From 'PRIOR TO CONSCIOUSNESS Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj' Edited by > Jean Dunn, The Acorn Press 1990, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2002 Report Share Posted July 17, 2002 on 7/17/02 8:20 AM, d_agenda2000 at d_agenda2000 wrote: It is through spiritual practice that Witness is perceived. Does spiritual practice foster/reflect "good" identity? >>One needn't do a thing except notice. The witness is always here, yes? >>The witness doesn't do anything including judge "good and bad"...is the absence of good and bad....good? Hahahah don't think about it! A claim that Witness fosters good or bad is a projection of my understanding and identity. >>You have understood. But who claimed that stuff? anyway, thanks for quote >>Namaste Shawn > An ordinary shopkeeper in the backlanes of Bombay, India. In middle age > Truth exploded within him dissolving the sense of individual forever. > > > > Nisargadatta Maharaj > > -- ---- > Dates: 1897 - 1981, India > -- ---- > Question:What is meditation? > > > > Maharaj: To be one with THAT because of which we know we exist is > meditation. There are a number of names which have been given to Gods, all > of them represent the same things - they represent this knowledge that one > is, this beingness, consciousness. This knowledge does not refer to an > individual, but to the sense of presence as a whole. Instead of accepting > this knowledge as a total functioning, one wants to cut up the knowledge > into bits and pieces, taking a part for himself, based on some concept. Any > knowledge based on a concept is not true knowledge... > > When you are dwelling in this consciousness you see that you are not doing > anything, it is all happening spontaneously. There is no question of your > trying to do anyting. You cannot try to be your Self, because you are your > Self. > -- ---- > > > Nisargadatta, a realized master of the Tantric Nath lineage, had a wife and > four children and lived in a small apartment in the slums of Bombay. For > many years he supported himself and his family by selling cheap goods in a > small booth on the streets outside his tenement. His life was a telling > parable of the absolute nonduality of Being. > -- ---- > > > "There is no question of going anywhere, arriving anywhere, or doing > anything; you are there already. > > "One has to work in the world; naturally, carry on your worldly affairs, but > understand that that which has come about by itself - that is, this body, > mind and consciousness - has appeared in spite of the fact that nobody has > asked for it. .. The life force and the mind are operating, but the mind > will tempt you to believe that it is "you". Therefore, understand always > that you are the timeless, spaceless witness. And even if the mind tells you > that you are the one who is acting, don't believe the mind. Always keep your > identity separate from that which is doing the working, thinking and > talking. That which has happened - that is, the apparatus which is > functioning - has come upon your original essence, but you are not that > apparatus." > > > > >From 'PRIOR TO CONSCIOUSNESS Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj' Edited by > Jean Dunn, The Acorn Press 1990, Sponsor /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. Terms of Service <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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