Postscript on the 'Consciousness' discussion/Madathil

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "Madathil Rajendran Nair"

<madathilnair> wrote:

> Namaste Raj-Ji.

>

> If you know that there is a "space" between two thoughts, then

> that "space" is apparent to you as an object. That cannot then be

> Consciousness.

>

> I am afraid there is an error in this talk about "the space between

> two thoughts" in as far as it can mislead. I would like to look at

> the problem from a different angle. There isn't a moment when we

are

> not aware of something or the other. But, when the

> awareness 'occurs', we are simply the 'thing' we are aware of.

Thus,

> I am the Moon, the Sun, the thoughts, the "space" between thoughts,

> the knower of the knowing, knower of the knower, the knower of the

> knower of the knower interminably, so on and so forth. If "I" am

all

> these, then all these seen as different things resolves into one

> Unity in Me (sUtre maniganA iva - the analogy of different jewels

on

> a string may be very close.)

>

> Once this is understood, then I am Consciousness inspite of the

> universe or universes or multitudes of other consciousnesses I am

> aware of. That knowledge would help us write the obituary for

> all "postscripts".

>

> PranAms.

>

> Madahtil Nair

>

> ____________________

 

Madathilji,

I have no disagreement with this interpretation.

I am not sure if you followed this thread from the beginning.

Benjaminji postulated an equation stating that:

CONSCIOUSNESS = PERCEPTIONS + FEELINGS + THOUGHTS (PFT).

I was just pointing to them that PFTs exist only at the

level of mind/intellect, and that consciousness is much more

than just PFTs. I gave the "gap between thoughts" and

deep-sleep state as the most evident examples where PFTs

are non-existent, but consciousness exists.

I was also trying to point out the futility of too much

intellectualization about consciousness.

 

My view is that consciousness appears as physical objects

when viewed through the physical eye; it appears as PFTs

when viewed through mind/intellect; it appears unconditioned

when mind/intellect has subsided.

Regards,

Raj.

[Guest guest]

Namaste Raj-ji.

 

There is no equation possible for Consciousness since It is the only

One there. How can we equate It with anything else? We can only say

Consciousness = Consciousness or call Consciousness by the other

known names like Existence, Fullness etc. Shri Benjamin's equation

is invalid right from the very beginning and I believe Shri Ramji has

already pointed this out.

 

About this discussion, I was the first one to respond to Shri

Benjamin's strange (abnormal!) problem of seeing distinct, separate

consciousnesses while he is not afflicted by the normal subject-

object relationship we mundanes encounter. I simply couldn't

understand his problem and that was why I desisted from posting

further on this topic.

 

Your post interested me in as far as the "gap between two thoughts"

is concerned. My thoughts essentially relate to that particular

point only. Dennis-Ji might like to comment on it as I find

this "gap" very much highlighted at his very informative website.

Raj-Ji, you might like to visit it (www.advaita.org.uk).

 

I am at peace with your point of view, which is admirably advaitic.

 

PranAms.

 

Madathil Nair

_______________________________

 

 

In advaitin, "rajkumarknair" <rajkumarknair>

wrote:

,

> I have no disagreement with this interpretation.

> I am not sure if you followed this thread from the beginning.

> Benjaminji postulated an equation stating that:

> CONSCIOUSNESS = PERCEPTIONS + FEELINGS + THOUGHTS (PFT).

> I was just pointing to them that PFTs exist only at the

> level of mind/intellect, and that consciousness is much more

> than just PFTs. I gave the "gap between thoughts" and

> deep-sleep state as the most evident examples where PFTs

> are non-existent, but consciousness exists.

> I was also trying to point out the futility of too much

> intellectualization about consciousness.

>

> My view is that consciousness appears as physical objects

> when viewed through the physical eye; it appears as PFTs

> when viewed through mind/intellect; it appears unconditioned

> when mind/intellect has subsided.