Digest Number 3086

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"Events happen, deeds are done but there is noIndividual doer thereof"

BuddhaIn many books by Ramesh Balsekar You would find the

above quote prominently displayed in the openingpages. More or less

his teachings are based on theabove concept.In the present mail I am

posting a few introductoryparagraphs which may appear a bit lengthy.

After the

introduction I will post some more extracts from histeachings. His

teachings helped me to understandRamana Maharshi's teachings with

more clarity providing guidance in day to day life. Please reserve

your comments till all the

introductory paragraphs are posted. EXTRACTS FROM INTRODUCTION TO THE

BOOK "PEACE ANDHARMONY IN DAILY LIVING"The Buddha has given a simple

definition ofenlightenment as 'the end of suffering'. The specific

goal of the seeker itself has to beexamined: is it a feasible goal or

is it an imaginaryone? The Buddha certainly knew the answer: it is

notan imaginary goal because He had actually experienced

the absence of 'suffering' at odd moments, but theexperience had not

lasted beyond a certain time.Therefore, He knew that 'the end of

suffering 'that hewas seeking was real; only it had not lasted! So

the

real search was; how to get rid of that obstacle whichprevented the

'absence of suffering' from beingfounded or anchored! What is this

obstacle, and howto get rid of it?-this is what the real

spiritualseeking is all about: How to achieve the shanty (peace) or

Nirvana, theabsence of Dukkha (suffering). Now, the seeker knowsthat

the goal of his search is not somethingimaginary, not something that

cannot exist in dailyliving. In other words, the goal of spiritual

seeking

is very much a part of daily living, not somethingimaginary or

romantic or out of this world, like beingable to walk on water, or

being able to know whateveris happening all over the world, or being

able to

affect a cure of all illnesses, or being able to be inmore than one

place at any time.Now that we know what it is that is being

sought-theend of suffering- and what the suffering referred tois not,

we have to find out what it is that obstructs

the happening of that experience which most of us haveexperienced at

some other time or the other-some morethan others-and does not allow

the experience toremain anchored whenever it does happen. Any

personal

investigation would quickly reveal that what disturbsthis wonderful

experience is usually a thought. And,of course, it is generally well

accepted that thearising of any thought in any one is absolutely not

in

any one's control. (to be continued )Ramana sarma