Consciousness is One

[Guest guest]

Shanti,

 

These thoughtforms were going through the mind and

I would like to share them with you, with a quotation to follow.

 

Consciousness, in our present state, is inbedded in our thoughts,

perceptions and emotions (we therefore state: my consciousness,

her consciousness, his consciousness and so forth). We make

no distiction between it and them.

If we strip it of thoughts, perceptions and emotions, we have clear,

pure consciousness. When so devoid of any process or content,

how can mine be different from his, hers or yours? Can it be then

more than one?

As we take energy away from them; thoughts, emotions and

convictions wane, and turning our focus away, our gaze retracts

and we retire...form this world of samsara... and into... silence.

This is the vision. Viveka (discernment) and then vairagya

(detachment) are the first, and shradda (ardent faith) the

indispensable, means to unveil clear, pure consciousness.

When consciousness is so devoid of any process or content,

how can mine be different from his, hers or yours?

Does it thus not comprehend all?

 

««««

 

Usasta, the son of Cakra, said, 'You have indicated it as

one may say that a cow is such and such, or a horse is such

and such. Explain to me the Brahman that is immediate

and direct - the self that is within all. 'This is your self that

is within all.' 'Which is within all, Yajnavalkya?' 'You cannot

see that which is witness of vision; you cannot hear that

which is the hearer of hearing; you cannot think that which

is the thinker of thought; you cannot know that which is the

knower of knowledge. This is your self that is within all;

everything else but this is perishable.' Thereupon Usasta,

the son of Cakra, kept silent.

 

»»»»

 

 

Shanti,

 

Carlo

 

 

Quotation from:

The Brhadaranyaka Upanisad (III, iv, 2)

with the commentary of Sankaracarya

Translated by Swami Madhvanada

Advaita Asrama, Calcutta 1997

 

 

 

MEDITATION on

Gaudapada's MANDUKYAKARIKA at

http://www.vidya-ashramvidyaorder.org

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sri Carlo:

 

That was a beautiful quotation. It does spell out the essence

of "What Consciousness is?" This quotation also clear the confused

identification of Consciousness with brain-function.. The quotation

essentially implies the following: Consciousness is everything that

you see, hear, talk, think, eat, drink, touch and feel. It is only

because of consciousness that you are conscious when you slept and

awake and also when you were conscious and unconscious! It is not

only the essence of your life but it is life itself!

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

Note: Here is a lits of online papers on consciousness compiled by

David Chalmers

The list is quite exhaustive on this subject.

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~chalmers/online1.html#concept

 

 

advaitin, Carlo Frua <cfda@s...> wrote:

> Shanti,

>

>

> Quotation from:

> The Brhadaranyaka Upanisad (III, iv, 2)

> with the commentary of Sankaracarya

> Translated by Swami Madhvanada

> Advaita Asrama, Calcutta 1997