"I have a toothache

[Guest guest]

A timely message:

I have a horrible toothache!

Here's to realizing its non-existance.

Poly

[Guest guest]

>From The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi editor Osborne

 

Q: I have a toothache; is that only a thought?

Bhagavan: Yes.

Q: Then why can't I think that there is no toothache, and so cure myself?

B: One does not feel the toothache when one is absorbed in other thoughts or

when asleep.

Q: But still it remains.

B: So strong is man's conviction of the reality of the world the it is not

easily shaken off. But the world is no more real than the individual who see

it.

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Poly:

Can you focus all your attention on the pain?

I'll bet you wont be able to keep you mind on it.

At least I could not when I had a toothache.

 

This Nisagadatta one Pain might not help your pain but it surely will

help your understanding of the consciousness of pain and pleasure.

I posted this before but since it is my favorite Nisargadatta I will

chance posting it once more.

 

A snip:

Q: Pain in not acceptable.

N: Why not? Did you ever try? Do try and you will find in pain a joy

which pleasure cannot yield, for the simple reason that acceptance of

pain takes you much deeper that pleasure does.

The personal self by its very nature is constantly pursuing pleasure

and avoiding pain. The ending of this pattern is the ending of the

self. The ending of the self with its desires and fear enables you

to return to you real nature, the source of all happiness and peace.

The perennial desire for pleasure is the reflection of the timeless

harmony within. It is an observable fact that one becomes self-

conscious only when caught in the conflict between pleasure and pain,

which demands choice and decision. It is this clash between desire

and fear that causes anger, which is the great destroyer of sanity in

life..When pain is accepted for what it is , a lesson and a warning,

and deeply looked into and heeded, the separation between pain and

pleasure breaks down, both become experience-- painful when resisted,

joyful when accepted.

Q: Do you advise shunning pleasure and pursuing pain?

M: No nor pursuing pleasure and shunning pain. Accept both as they

come, enjoy both while they last, let them go, as they must.

Q: How can I possible enjoy pain? Physical pain calls for action.

M: Of course And so does mental. The bliss is in the awareness of

it, in not shrinking, or in any way turning away form it.

All happiness comes from awareness. The more we are conscious , the

deeper the joy. Acceptance of pain, non-resistance, courage and

endurance---these open deep and perennial sources of real happiness,

true bliss.

Q: Why should pain be more effective than pleasure?

M: Pleasure is readily accepted, while all the powers of the self

reject pain. As the acceptance of pain is the denial of the self,

and the self stands in the way of true happiness, the wholehearted

acceptance of pain release the springs of happiness.

Q: Does acceptance of suffering act the same way?

M: The fact of pain is easily brought within the focus of

awareness. With suffering it is not that simple. To focus suffering

is not enough, for mental life, as we know it, is one continuous

stream of suffering. To reach the deeper layers of suffering you

must go to its roots and uncover their vast underground network,

where fear and desire are closely interwoven and the currents of

life's energy oppose, obstruct and destroy each other.

Q: How can I set right a tangle which is entirely below the level of

my consciousness?

M: By being with yourself, the "I AM"; by watching yourself in your

daily life with alert interest, with the intention to understand

rather than to judge, in full acceptance of whatever may emerge,

because it is there, you encourage the deep to come to the surface

and enrich your life and consciousness with its captive energies.

This is the great work of awareness; it removes obstacles and

releases energies by understanding the nature of life and mind.

Intelligence is the door to freedom and alert attention is the mother

in intelligence.

Q: One more question. Why does pleasure end in pain?

M: Everything has a beginning and an end and so does pleasure. Don't

anticipate and don't regret, and there will be no pain, it is memory

and imagination that cause suffering. Of course pain after pleasure

may be due to the misuse of the body or the mind. The body knows its

measure , but the mind does not. Its appetites are numberless and

limitless. Watch your mind with great diligence; for there lies you

bondage and also the key to freedom.

Q: My question I not yet fully answered; why are man's pleasures

destructive? Why does he find so much pleasure in destruction?

Life's concern lies in protection, perpetuation and expansion of

itself. In this it is guided by pain and pleasure. At what point do

they become destructive?

M: When the mind takes over , remember and anticipates, it

exaggerates, it distorts, it overlooks. The past is projected into

the future and the future betrays the expectations. The organ of

sensation and action are stimulated beyond capacity and the

inevitable breakdown down. The object of pleasure cannot yield what

is expected of them and get worn out, or destroyed, by misuse. It

result in excess of pain where pleasure was looked for.

Q: We destroy not only ourselves, but others too.

M: Naturally selfishness is always destructive. Desire and fear

both are self-centered states. Between desire and fear anger arises,

with anger hatred, with hatred passion for destruction. War is

hatred in action, organized and equipped with all the instrument of

death.

FROM "I AM THAT" DIALOGUES OF THE SAGE NISARAGADATTA

 

Aloha,

Alton

 

 

RamanaMaharshi, liquidunknown@a... wrote:

> A timely message:

> I have a horrible toothache!

> Here's to realizing its non-existance.

> Poly

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/18/2002 8:52:04 AM Central Daylight Time,

leenalton writes:

 

 

> Dear Poly:

> Can you focus all your attention on the pain?

> I'll bet you wont be able to keep you mind on it.

> At least I could not when I had a toothache.

>

> This Nisagadatta one Pain might not help your pain but it surely will

> help your understanding of the consciousness of pain and pleasure.

> I posted this before but since it is my favorite Nisargadatta I will

> chance posting it once more.

>

>

 

Thanks Alton, great stuff.

Poly