Rob and everyone on the 'I' thought

[Guest guest]

Dear Rob and everybody who reads or posts about this.

 

OK, you say, "hold fast to this 'I'".)

 

Now what exactly do I focus on when I hold the "I"?

 

I make the 'I' another object, replacing all thoughts, sensations of

the body with this 'I' object. Moving the attention to the silence

between the thoughts when I become aware of other unsolicited objects

appearing in consciousness?

 

But, while doing the above one has to put the attention somewhere in

the body or in space? Since my thoughts appear to be arising in my

brain I have found that I have much less thoughts focusing on that

area. This morning I tried the right side of the heart and found that

I had 10 times the thoughts I usually have when I focus on the

forehead or inside my head. My sense of presence or 'I' thought can

be anywhere I chose to be aware of it? Right?

If the attention is focused on the 'I' thought is that just another

way of saying that the attention is on the attention or the space

between the thoughts in the waking state?

 

When the attention eats up the attention is that not samadhi or a

possible entry into Self Realization?

 

These questions are from a novice, but how can I learn unless I ask

them.

 

Also, Richard the questions for Self Inquiry that you shared are

direct and informative, but are we not taking away the silence of the

mind and poluting the mind with so many questions. Is not Vichara

done with a silent mind more efficacious? Or is that silent Vichara

for advanced seekers.

 

Thanks everyone in advance for replies.

 

Tired of Names.. Aka Alton Slater

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RamanaMaharshi, "Rob Sacks" <editor@r...> wrote:

> Dear Everybody,

>

> Here's a passage from Talks that addresses this point

> precisely.

>

> (Alton: regarding focus, he says "hold fast to this 'I'".)

>

> Best regards,

>

> Rob

> ....................

>

> From Talks With Sri Ramana Maharshi, article 131:

>

> D.: There are said to be six organs of different colours in

> the chest, of which the heart is said to be two finger-breadths

> to the right of the middle line. But the Heart is also formless.

> Should we then imagine it to have a shape and meditate on it?

>

> M.: No. Only the quest "Who am I?" is necessary. What

> remains all through deep sleep and waking is the same.

> But in waking there is unhappiness and the effort to remove

> it. Asked who wakes up from sleep you say 'I'. Now you

> are told to hold fast to this 'I'. If it is done the eternal being

> will reveal Itself. Investigation of 'I' is the point and not

> meditation on the heart-centre. There is nothing like

> within or without. Both mean either the same thing or

> nothing.

>

> Of course there is also the practice of meditation on the

> heart-centre. It is only a practice and not investigation.

> Only the one who meditates on the heart can remain aware

> when the mind ceases to be active and remains still; whereas

> those who meditate on other centres cannot be so aware but

> infer that the mind was still only after it becomes again

> active.

> ..........................