The experience of the Self

[Guest guest]

Typed from No Mind - I am the Self, chapter 19, The Experience of the Self, page 188

 

Saradamma [Mathru Sri Sarada] frequently stresses that the Self cannot

be described in words, but on many occasions she tries to describe the

indescribable. The first account in this chapter was written by

Saradamma herself in Telugu only ten days after her realisation. It

is a glowing account of the jnani's experience of the Self.

 

Saradamma: When I opened my eyes after realisation there was only

peace inside and out. I knew that I was the Self and that when I

uttered the word 'I', this 'I' meant only the Self.

Even though I may see, I am not seeing; even though I may hear, I am

not hearing; even though I may talk, I am not talking. When I wake up

I am not really waking and when I sleep I am not really sleeping.

Sleep, waking and dream are passing before the Self but they cannot

touch it. Whatever I may do I am not doing it. I have no sin and no

virtue, no sleep and no waking, for I am always in the state of

sahaja samadhi. Whatever I may do I am always in that state.

If there is a mind then there is a world. If there is no mind then

there is no world and no body. There is nothing except the Self and

the Self has no name and no form. It is eternal peace. I am ever

content.

I have been able to gain the most valuable thing in the world, for all

the riches in the world cannot buy or balance the Self. Even though I

did not know that it was possible to get it, I attained it, for

without my knowing it, the Self killed the 'I'.

Everything is the Self and nothing is apart from it; this is my

experience and I do not slip from that state. I am shining as the

Self and there is no doubt about my experience.

[Guest guest]

, "Ben Hassine" <ben.hassine@x> wrote:

> Typed from No Mind - I am the Self, chapter 19, The Experience of the Self,

page 188

>

> Saradamma [Mathru Sri Sarada] frequently stresses that the Self cannot be

described in words, but on many occasions she tries to describe the

indescribable. The first account in this chapter was written by Saradamma

herself in Telugu only ten days after her realisation. It is a glowing account

of

the jnani's experience of the Self.

>

> Saradamma: When I opened my eyes after realisation there was only peace

inside and out. I knew that I was the Self and that when I uttered the word 'I',

this 'I' meant only the Self.

> Even though I may see, I am not seeing; even though I may hear, I am not

hearing; even though I may talk, I am not talking. When I wake up I am not

really waking and when I sleep I am not really sleeping. Sleep, waking and

dream are passing before the Self but they cannot touch it. Whatever I may do

I am not doing it. I have no sin and no virtue, no sleep and no waking, for I am

always in the state of sahaja samadhi. Whatever I may do I am always in that

state.

> If there is a mind then there is a world. If there is no mind then there is no

world and no body. There is nothing except the Self and the Self has no name

and no form. It is eternal peace. I am ever content.

> I have been able to gain the most valuable thing in the world, for all the

riches in the world cannot buy or balance the Self. Even though I did not know

that it was possible to get it, I attained it, for without my knowing it, the

Self killed the 'I'.

> Everything is the Self and nothing is apart from it; this is my experience and

I do not slip from that state. I am shining as the Self and there is no doubt

about my experience.

 

Hi, Ben :-)

 

I have had this book for years. What always baffles me is that so few people

actually attain realization. I mean the genuine article. Many of us long for

it,

give years to study, etc....but there are few who actually attain. Ultimately,

it

is a matter of grace and all one can do is wait.

 

Somehow we know this and have great respect for these few. I still read I Am

That and R. Maharshi's wisdom (The Talks)

 

Vicki

[Guest guest]

, "skiplaurel" <vicki@b...>

wrote:

> , "Ben Hassine"

<ben.hassine@x> wrote:

> > Typed from No Mind - I am the Self, chapter 19, The Experience

of the Self,

> page 188

 

Namaste,

 

Yes that is the point, it is subjective and cannot be described in

words it seems. I have had that book for many years, in fact I think

it is now out of print. The interesting thing is that she ended up

with 'no mind', and had to wait until the universal mind manifested

through her. I have always wondered about that as well. It is almost

as if a false ego is created just for existence, or perhaps it is

just prarabda karma manifesting itself. I think that is more likely

the case........She had to be encouraged to get into any

activity....ONS..Tony.

It seems that it is difficult to get an interview with Lakshmana

Swami or Sarada. You have to wait until they come out of the ashram

in their SUV.

[Guest guest]

-

skiplaurel

Friday, January 30, 2004 12:39 AM

Re: The experience of the Self

, "Ben Hassine" <ben.hassine@x>

wrote:> Typed from No Mind - I am the Self, chapter 19, The

Experience of the Self, page 188> > Saradamma [Mathru Sri Sarada]

frequently stresses that the Self cannot be described in words, but

on many occasions she tries to describe the indescribable. The first

account in this chapter was written by Saradamma herself in Telugu

only ten days after her realisation. It is a glowing account of the

jnani's experience of the Self.> > Saradamma: When I opened my eyes

after realisation there was only peace inside and out. I knew that I

was the Self and that when I uttered the word 'I', this 'I' meant

only the Self.> Even though I may see, I am not seeing; even though I

may hear, I am not hearing; even though I may talk, I am not talking.

When I wake up I am not really waking and when I sleep I am not

really sleeping. Sleep, waking and dream are passing before the Self

but they cannot touch it. Whatever I may do I am not doing it. I have

no sin and no virtue, no sleep and no waking, for I am always in the

state of sahaja samadhi. Whatever I may do I am always in that

state.> If there is a mind then there is a world. If there is no mind

then there is no world and no body. There is nothing except the Self

and the Self has no name and no form. It is eternal peace. I am ever

content.> I have been able to gain the most valuable thing in the

world, for all the riches in the world cannot buy or balance the

Self. Even though I did not know that it was possible to get it, I

attained it, for without my knowing it, the Self killed the 'I'.>

Everything is the Self and nothing is apart from it; this is my

experience and I do not slip from that state. I am shining as the

Self and there is no doubt about my experience.Hi, Ben :-)I have had

this book for years. What always baffles me is that so few people

actually attain realization. I mean the genuine article. Many of us

long for it, give years to study, etc....but there are few who

actually attain. Ultimately, it is a matter of grace and all one can

do is wait.Somehow we know this and have great respect for these few.

I still read I Am That and R. Maharshi's wisdom (The Talks)VickiHello

Vicky,

Good to "see" you! I don't know how many attain. Some may never speak

of it, and some may not have the intense "desire" to drop the body or

go into prolonged states of Self-absorbtion after realisation as in

the case of Sri Ramana, Lakshmana Swamy and Saradamma.

Also I think it is true that many who experience the bliss of

anandamaya kosha or the thought-free state stop there and think it is

Self-realization. It is not Self-realisation because it is still a

state you can go into (and out out of) and is an experience. It is an

advanced state, though.

Furtermore, I don't agree with you when you say we just have to wait.

Lakshmana Swamy said that without vichara there is no Grace. When

there is effort (through surrender or vichara e.g.) to stay in the

thought-free state grace will pull you from the other side.

Realisation can occur in the thought-free state, the state prior to

"genuine" absorption in the Self.

So it is important to notice the close relationship between effort and

Grace. Lakshmana Swamy said: without vichara no grace, without grace

no vichara.

How are you doing these days Vicky? How is Bob? I red your poem of the One footed eagle. I loved it.

Yours,

Ben.

[Guest guest]

Ben wrote

Furtermore, I don't agree with you when you say we just have to wait.

Lakshmana Swamy said that without vichara there is no Grace. When

there is effort (through surrender or vichara e.g.) to stay in the

thought-free state grace will pull you from the other side.

Realisation can occur in the thought-free state, the state prior to

"genuine" absorption in the Self.

So it is important to notice the close relationship between effort and

Grace. Lakshmana Swamy said: without vichara no grace, without grace

no vichara.

 

 

Ben.

Chris writes

"there is no time to wait"

as mentioned else where, the teaching of Ramesh will help.

Its important to prepare the ground but by whos grace are you led to

be a seeker?

Eventually all concepts,surplus knowledge as opposed to wisdom, the

thought that I am a doer will be released, intellectually at least

and the search will be given up, at the appropriate time of course,

as decided by the will of God your destiny etc.

 

The biggest barrier would seem to be all the concepts of spiritual

knowledge. The masters could only point they could not say what it is

as the moment it is mentioned it becomes an object and therefore not

IT. In my understanding "God" is the one without second, pure

subjectivity. Not this not that not anything.

 

I have found Eckhart Tolle the most helpful as "real" progress has

flowed from "his" teachings. Acceptance of whatever arises in the

"Now" would seem to be very important, past and future is used by the

ego to impose its dictate on the mind and strengthen its illusory grip

on you.

 

Eckhart defines the "Now" as the eternal field of consciousness (

which you are) in which events arise and subside. its very true that

only a tiny percentage of the population up to now have become

realized but Eckhart maintains that this is changing as the survival

of the human race and possibly the earth depends on it, not that that

matters, as life which is what we are will continue regardless. So it

would seem that we are moving into a new chapter in the evolution of

the human race.

 

I can only say that Eckhart and Rameshes teachings point to the

changes that have been happening to me. The main thing is that the

mind has become much stiller it no longer drags me "into what if?"

past and future. Most times there is an underlying peace that I am

aware of,

 

Hope this helps.

Chris

ps Its good to have a day job Harsha.

[Guest guest]

--- AnneChris <am009a8716 wrote:

>

> Ben wrote

> Furtermore, I don't agree with you when you say

> we just have to wait.

 

SNIP

> Hope this helps.

> Chris

> ps Its good to have a day job Harsha.

>

 

Dear Chris, Ben, and Harsha,

 

What's a day job? :-))) (kidding)

I must confess that once in a while a thought does

enter the "personal space". That thought usually goes

something like this: "Michael, why don't you get a

job?" When that happens, instead of asking myself

"Who is it that thinks that they need a job?", I

usually go take a nap. :-)

 

michael