Guest guest Posted September 8, 2002 Report Share Posted September 8, 2002 Advaita A king asked a sage to explain the Truth. In response the sage asked the king how he would convey the taste of a mango to someone who had never eaten anything sweet. No matter how hard the king tried, he could not adequately describe the flavor of the fruit, and, in frustration, he demanded of the sage "Tell me then, how would you describe it?" The sage picked up a mango and handed it to the king saying "This is very sweet. Try eating it!" -Hindu Teaching Story ********************************************************************* ******************* Taking as a bow the great weapon of the Upanishad, one should put upon it an arrow sharpened by meditation. Stretching it with a thought directed to the essence of That, penetrate that Imperishable as the mark, my friend. Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.2.3. Thirteen Principal Upanishads, 372 ********************************************************************* ********************* Q: I practise Hatha Yoga and I also meditate `I am Brahman'. After a few moments of this meditation, a blank prevails, the brain gets heated and a fear of death arises. What should I do? Maharshi: `I am Brahman' is only a thought. Who says it? Brahman itself does not say so. What need is there for it to say it? Nor can the real `I' say so. For `I' always abides as Brahman. To be saying it is only a thought. Whose thought is it? All thoughts are from the unreal `I', that is the `I'-thought. Remain without thinking. So long as there is thought there will be fear. Q: As I go on thinking of it there is forgetfulness, the brain becomes heated and I am afraid. Maharshi: Yes, the mind is concentrated in the brain and hence you get a hot sensation there. It is because of the `I'-thought. When the `I'- thought arises fear of death arises simultaneously. With regard to forgetfulness, so long as there is thought there will be forgetfulness. First there is the thought `I am Brahman', then forgetfulness supervenes. Forgetfulness and thought are for the `I'-thought only. Hold on to it and it will disappear like a phantom. What remains over is the real `I' and that is the Self. `I am Brahman' is an aid to concentration since it keeps off other thoughts. When that one thought alone persists, see whose thought it is. It will be found to be from `I'. From where is the `I'-thought? Probe into it, the `I'-thought will vanish, and the Supreme Self will shine forth of itself. No further effort is needed. When the one real `I' remains alone, it will not be saying `I am Brahman'. Does a man go on repeating `I am a man'? Unless he is challenged, why should he declare himself a man? Does anyone mistake himself for an animal that he should say, .'No, I am not an animal, I am a man'? Similarly, Brahman or `I' being the only existing reality, there is no one there to challenge it and so there is no need to be repeating `I am Brahman'. from BE AS YOU ARE DAVID GODMAN ********************************************************************* ********************* The basic point to understand and accept is that, whatever you do, the consequences are not in your hands. Ramesh Balsekar ********************************************************************* *********************** "No matter how much you strive to acquire any worldly gains, they are bound to go; so also your concepts and various identities. Even if you follow any religion in the hope of obtaining something permanent form the outside, you will be sorely disappointed. The main purpose of true spirituality is to liberate oneself completely from one's concepts and conditionings." Nisargadatta Maharaj ************************************************************* Namaste Just Be - Let the play of life continue unabated - but know that it is not real - Do not see yourself as doing a thing or thinking anything - see these as happenings - as the clouds pass over head - so do thoughts pass through the mind - Do not be a person - do not be a mind - do not be a soul - JUST BE !!!!!! Love baba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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