The boat of life question

January 6, 2003

You are on an island. The island is quickly sinking into the ocean. You can

barely see land in the distance. You have a small boat, no motor, just oars.

You start to paddle for the distant shore..and then you realize your boat has a

hole in it. You have nothing to patch the hole with. The hole is not so large

that water swamps the boat quickly, but you must bail water as well as paddle.

You find that you cannot rest, let alone sleep, because the water enters too

quickly and will swamp the boat if you stop.... You know that you are close to

realizing the Self. You are not even sure if you can reach the other shore,

you might die anyway, but you know that if you don't paddle and bail, you will

definitely die. If you don't realize the Self then death will not matter, but

if you do realize the Self, death will also not matter, You also know that if

you reach the other shore you will have the rest of your life for self-inquiry.

THE QUESTION: Which do you spend more time on, Self-inquiry or paddling and

bailing?

Alton's take:

I'm in the boat of life~ it's leaking like a sieve

I'm close to realizing the Self~ for everlasting live

My mind is still a clown~ so maybe I should drown?

But life is just a saddle~ to fight that spiritual battle

I must not fail at this~ the Self I still must kiss

Desire will never cease~ till Alton rests in peace

A voice just came to me~ why not let it be

"When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me".

Speaking words of wisdom

LET IT BE

January 6, 2003

Dear Alton,

I like your problem. Can we inquire while we bail water and row?

Ramana said that one thing about inquiry is that it can be done at

all times.

Who knows this sinking boat? Who is rowing?

>From your posts, I would guess that you are back home again. Hope

you had a good visit in Florida.

We are not two,

Richard

RamanaMaharshi, "THE \"SELF\""

<leenalton@h...> wrote:

> You are on an island. The island is quickly sinking into the ocean.

You can barely see land in the distance. You have a small boat, no

motor, just oars. You start to paddle for the distant shore..and then

you realize your boat has a hole in it. You have nothing to patch the

hole with. The hole is not so large that water swamps the boat

quickly, but you must bail water as well as paddle. You find that you

cannot rest, let alone sleep, because the water enters too quickly

and will swamp the boat if you stop.... You know that you are close

to realizing the Self. You are not even sure if you can reach the

other shore, you might die anyway, but you know that if you don't

paddle and bail, you will definitely die. If you don't realize the

Self then death will not matter, but if you do realize the Self,

death will also not matter, You also know that if you reach the

other shore you will have the rest of your life for self-inquiry. THE

QUESTION: Which do you spend more time on, Self-inquiry or paddling

and bailing?

>

> Alton's take:

>

> I'm in the boat of life~ it's leaking like a sieve

> I'm close to realizing the Self~ for everlasting live

> My mind is still a clown~ so maybe I should drown?

> But life is just a saddle~ to fight that spiritual battle

> I must not fail at this~ the Self I still must kiss

> Desire will never cease~ till Alton rests in peace

> A voice just came to me~ why not let it be

>

> "When I find myself in times of trouble

> Mother Mary comes to me".

> Speaking words of wisdom

> LET IT BE

January 6, 2003

Dear Richard:

Firstly, thanks for the Ribhu link.

This problem was sent to me by someone else. We thought it might be

interesting to pose other things like it for group consideration?

Anyone have something to submit?

We are back home and this place is the absolute not the Absolute

greatest.

Love,

Alton

RamanaMaharshi, "Richard Clarke

<r_clarke@i...>" <r_clarke@i...> wrote:

> Dear Alton,

>

> I like your problem. Can we inquire while we bail water and row?

> Ramana said that one thing about inquiry is that it can be done at

> all times.

>

> Who knows this sinking boat? Who is rowing?

>

> From your posts, I would guess that you are back home again. Hope

> you had a good visit in Florida.

>

> We are not two,

> Richard

>

> RamanaMaharshi, "THE \"SELF\""

> <leenalton@h...> wrote:

> > You are on an island. The island is quickly sinking into the

ocean.

> You can barely see land in the distance. You have a small boat, no

> motor, just oars. You start to paddle for the distant shore..and

then

> you realize your boat has a hole in it. You have nothing to patch

the

> hole with. The hole is not so large that water swamps the boat

> quickly, but you must bail water as well as paddle. You find that

you

> cannot rest, let alone sleep, because the water enters too quickly

> and will swamp the boat if you stop.... You know that you are close

> to realizing the Self. You are not even sure if you can reach the

> other shore, you might die anyway, but you know that if you don't

> paddle and bail, you will definitely die. If you don't realize the

> Self then death will not matter, but if you do realize the Self,

> death will also not matter, You also know that if you reach the

> other shore you will have the rest of your life for self-inquiry.

THE

> QUESTION: Which do you spend more time on, Self-inquiry or paddling

> and bailing?

> >

> > Alton's take:

> >

> > I'm in the boat of life~ it's leaking like a sieve

> > I'm close to realizing the Self~ for everlasting live

> > My mind is still a clown~ so maybe I should drown?

> > But life is just a saddle~ to fight that spiritual battle

> > I must not fail at this~ the Self I still must kiss

> > Desire will never cease~ till Alton rests in peace

> > A voice just came to me~ why not let it be

> >

> > "When I find myself in times of trouble

> > Mother Mary comes to me".

> > Speaking words of wisdom

> > LET IT BE

January 17, 2003

Yes, Richard's suggestion makes sense; "unrealizing" or "paying

attention to one's own being" or "mindfulness" can be practiced at

all times;

[ it is like breath (whether the b/m/i combination is

awake/sleeping/dreaming the breath is continuing); ]

this writer is trying that; for instance, when the body runs or jogs,

the breath becomes rapid and the mind refuses to concentrate; so one

can ask 'how could a jogger or a runner meditate?'; but there still

persists the awareness of the panting body and struggling mind that

is not able to concentrate; mere paying attention (not 'thinking') to

this awareness is enough; consistent practice is what is essential...

people feel/think "concentration" is what meditation is about;

however "mere observing" or "being aware" does not need concentration

and that is what is essential in unrealizing the false...

love,