Byeond Advaita (Jan)

[Guest guest]

Dear Jan,

 

Thanking John for his questions and the evoked discussion, was

wondering if you would expand on this bit:

 

 

"The keyword is 'conditioning' which is rather tenacious.

The ability to learn, the willingness to experiment is another

issue and the slightest sense of 'having arrived' will interfere with

it

in a negative way as does being put on a pedestal. Considering the

body

to be a bag of filth and treating it accordingly isn't helpful either.

 

 

Hence there are paths where Self-realization is but the start

and not a diploma to start teaching advaita: on those paths, what

is termed "Self-realization" takes some 2..3 years for a serious

practitioner."

 

 

 

Yours,

diana

[Guest guest]

On 7/19/02 at 2:15 PM muse1949 wrote:

 

ºDear Jan,

º

ºThanking John for his questions and the evoked discussion, was

ºwondering if you would expand on this bit:

 

My pleasure Diana.

º

º

º"The keyword is 'conditioning' which is rather tenacious.

 

Seekers probably get confused, reading the term Self-realization

and then, phrases that there is nothing to be realized as what has a start,

has an end. The term 'primordial mind' is more clear as it hints to peace,

stillness. This stillness is supposed to reveal when activity ceases.

 

That this isn't the case anymore is due to a large number of activities

going on incessantly in the mind, thanks the upbringing and education

with its list of should and should not, do and do not, think this, not that,

this is good, that is right...et. etc. These activities, having

replaced the 'natural/spontaneous' responsiveness with 'mannerism', are

like a filter, constantly classifying all sensory in - and output. Active also

when resting, there cannot be true peace unless in a situation where no

responsiveness is expected, like at a solitary retreat or in company of one

with a silent mind, or in situations where love runs deeper than the skin.

The sum of the activities, veiling the stillness of mind, is acquired

conditioning.

 

ºThe ability to learn, the willingness to experiment is another

ºissue and the slightest sense of 'having arrived' will interfere with

ºit

ºin a negative way as does being put on a pedestal. Considering the

ºbody

ºto be a bag of filth and treating it accordingly isn't helpful either.

 

The acquired conditioning doesn't leave easy. Mere meditation is like

going on a hike along a river with a 100lb bag of water on your back:

Throwing off the bag makes the hike much easier - possible when becoming

aware of the acquired conditioning (displayed via responsiveness, which isn't

even equal for identical twins). This calls for a 24/7 awareness with

introspection

which is like ongoing learning, similar to a human who hasn't walked for say 20

years and has to start walking again without being helped.. As mind also is a

habit

machine, only the beginning is difficult and once aware there is a spontaneous

response

where otherwise shame, guilt or embarrassment would freeze responsiveness, that

works

like a positive feedback.

 

º

º

ºHence there are paths where Self-realization is but the start

ºand not a diploma to start teaching advaita: on those paths, what

ºis termed "Self-realization" takes some 2..3 years for a serious

ºpractitioner."

 

The acquired conditioning when dissolved, leaves no doubt as to what

is meant with terms like Self-realization, primordial mind or enlightenment.

Which brings up "what next?": the primary biological conditioning. Any sense of

"mine" can be traced down to a similar trait in other animals, like marking the

territory is. For social animals, competition can be harmful whereas cooperation

can have the same or better results without the high cost of competing.

This primary biological conditioning, like the acquired, translates into a

specific

responsiveness and here too, a 24/7 awareness with introspection is the tool.

The major difference with the dissolution of the acquired conditioning is that

"what happens" can be intuited and understood well, and then becomes a joy.

The primary biological conditioning dissolved is termed moksha/nirvana (with

substratum

remaining). "The animal dead" means "man" alive and when it happens is as if

for the first time being "truly" alive: the phoenix has arisen from its ashes.

Quite happy without any reason for it, fully functioning but seeking nothing.

 

It will have become clear that this acquired conditioning greatly differs from

one man to another whereas the biological conditioning is the very same.

To give an example of a situation where the acquired conditioning is likely

to rule the waves, this:

 

Suppose you're having problems with the intestines and receive an urgent call to

go to town.

As it is a warm summer day, you put on few cloths and go.

Walking in town, suddenly an old friend taps on your shoulder. A conversation

follows and the

friend tells a cracking joke. Just before bursting out in laughter it flashes

the intestinal

condition should have been taken care of but it's too late - the roaring laugh

takes more

than one exit and you know "it shows from a mile". How would your response be?

º

Love,

Jan

º

ºYours,

ºdiana