Guest guest Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 Dear Michael L, In regard to the "TO WHOM DO THESE THOUGHTS ARISE" approach, when we make the inquiry "Who am I," should we be attempting to answer the question or should we just stop there? I'm not quite sure how to proceed from there. Can you please give me pointers? thanks - peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 RamanaMaharshi, "nobunaga_100" <nobunaga_100> wrote: > Dear Michael L, > > In regard to the "TO WHOM DO THESE THOUGHTS ARISE" approach, when we > make the inquiry "Who am I," should we be attempting to answer the > question or should we just stop there? I'm not quite sure how to > proceed from there. Can you please give me pointers? > > thanks > - peter Dear Peter: No, you should not attempt to answer the question "Who am I?" One should not allow thought to think of some answer to the question. It is best to stop there and just to see what the question is pointing to. In the "To whom do these thoughts arise?" method everytime a thought arises one should inquire "To whom do these thoughts arise?" Thoughts are arising to awareness, your awareness. >From the time you wake up in the morning, till the time you go to sleep at night, you are aware. That awareness is continuous during all the waking hours. Thoughts come and thoughts go, but the awareness is continuous. Who are thoughts arising to? They are arising to that awareness that woke up in the morning. Therefore the question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" serves the purpose of pointing the attention towards your awareness. The question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" interrupts thought. Otherwise, one would go on and on with thought. Therefore, the question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" stops one from continuing the thought and serves the purpose of directing attention away from thought and towards awareness. If another thought arises, you can repeat the question. You can repeat the question everytime a thought arises. It is best to ask the question as soon as a thought arises, before it develops into many concepts. If intuitively an answer arises "To me" you can ask "Who am I?" That also is a way of pointing towards that awareness that woke up in morning, because when we say I, we are referring to that awareness that woke up in the morning. If the intuitive answer "to me" does not arise, then no need to ask "Who am I?" one can just continue to ask "To whom do these thoughts arise?" everytime a thought arises. Usually humans go through their day and they get lost in thought. The "To whom do these thoughts arise?" question is a way of turning attention away from thought and towards awareness. Another way to see this is: See to whom thoughts arise. Or See who is aware of thoughts arising. Or see the awareness that thoughts are arising to. Or see the awareness that thoughts are arising in. Or be aware of the awareness that thoughts are arising to. To keep one's attention in that awareness is the purpose. If one manages to do that, to keep the attention turned away from thought and towards awareness then that is enough. To remain in that awareness is enough. Another way to state it is that humans normally have their attention directed towards thought, people, places, things, etc., therefore the awareness remains in the background. Asking "To whom do these thoughts arise?" is a way of putting the awareness in the foreground and thoughts, people, places, things, etc. in the background. Usually thoughts, people, places, things, experiences are in the foreground and the awareness that perceives all of this is in the background. Asking the question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" reverses this, so that thoughts, people, places, things, experiences are in the background and the awareness that perceives all of this is in the foreground. Or to put it more simply, instead of paying attention to thoughts, people, places, things, pay attention to the awareness. Turn one's attention away from the seen and towards the seer. Asking "To whom do these thoughts arise?" is a vechicle for turning the attention away from the particular thought that is arising now and towards the awareness that is perceiving that thought. Take care, with Love, Michae L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Dear Michael, It is clear that you are finding the enquiry method very efficient in arresting the thoughts. I have the following problems: 1. I seem to always 'use the mind' to find that thoughts arise in my awareness instead of 'seeing' it. 2. Also, during each session, after I find for a few times, that thoughts are arising in my awareness, I start to lose interest in the enquiry and start to get more interested in the thoughts (as usual). If you have an advice, please let me know. Thanks sundar RamanaMaharshi, "uarelove" <uarelove> wrote: > RamanaMaharshi, "nobunaga_100" > <nobunaga_100> wrote: > > Dear Michael L, > > > > In regard to the "TO WHOM DO THESE THOUGHTS ARISE" approach, when > we > > make the inquiry "Who am I," should we be attempting to answer the > > question or should we just stop there? I'm not quite sure how to > > proceed from there. Can you please give me pointers? > > > > thanks > > - peter > > Dear Peter: > > No, you should not attempt to answer the question "Who am I?" > One should not allow thought to think of some answer to the question. > It is best to stop there > and just to see what the question is pointing to. > > In the "To whom do these thoughts arise?" method > everytime a thought arises one should inquire > "To whom do these thoughts arise?" > > Thoughts are arising to awareness, your awareness. > From the time you wake up in the morning, > till the time you go to sleep at night, > you are aware. > > That awareness is continuous during all the waking hours. > Thoughts come and thoughts go, > but the awareness is continuous. > > Who are thoughts arising to? > > They are arising to that awareness that woke up in the morning. > Therefore the question > "To whom do these thoughts arise?" > serves the purpose of > pointing the attention towards your awareness. > > The question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" interrupts thought. > Otherwise, one would go on and on with thought. > Therefore, the question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" > stops one from continuing the thought > and serves the purpose of directing attention > away from thought and towards awareness. > > If another thought arises, > you can repeat the question. > > You can repeat the question everytime a thought arises. > It is best to ask the question as soon as a thought arises, > before it develops into many concepts. > > If intuitively an answer arises "To me" > you can ask "Who am I?" > > That also is a way of pointing towards that awareness > that woke up in morning, > because when we say I, > we are referring to that awareness that woke up in the morning. > > If the intuitive answer "to me" does not arise, > then no need to ask "Who am I?" > one can just continue to ask > "To whom do these thoughts arise?" > everytime a thought arises. > > Usually humans go through their day and they get lost in thought. > > The "To whom do these thoughts arise?" question > is a way of turning attention away from thought > and towards awareness. > > Another way to see this is: > > See to whom thoughts arise. > > Or See who is aware of thoughts arising. > > Or see the awareness that thoughts are arising to. > > Or see the awareness that thoughts are arising in. > > Or be aware of the awareness that thoughts are arising to. > > To keep one's attention in that awareness is the purpose. > > If one manages to do that, > to keep the attention turned away from thought > and towards awareness then that is enough. > To remain in that awareness is enough. > > Another way to state it is that > humans normally have their attention directed towards > thought, people, places, things, etc., > therefore the awareness remains in the background. > > Asking "To whom do these thoughts arise?" > is a way of putting the awareness in the foreground > and thoughts, people, places, things, etc. in the background. > > Usually thoughts, people, places, things, experiences > are in the foreground > and the awareness that perceives all of this > is in the background. > > Asking the question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" > reverses this, > so that thoughts, people, places, things, experiences > are in the background > and the awareness that perceives all of this > is in the foreground. > > Or to put it more simply, > instead of paying attention to thoughts, > people, places, things, > pay attention to the awareness. > > Turn one's attention away from the seen > and towards the seer. > > Asking "To whom do these thoughts arise?" > is a vechicle for turning the attention away > from the particular thought that is arising now > and towards the awareness that is perceiving that thought. > > Take care, > > with Love, > > Michae L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Dear Peter, Please allow me to answer your question about what to do during the Self Inquiry, "who am I?" process. The question should be asked to your own Self, in a most sincere and honest way. It is better to do it that way once, then to ask it casually a thousand times. It is also necessary to have a great desire or urge to KNOW. The desire must be as great as a drowning man's desire for air, which is very very intense. You really have to want to know who you truly are. Once those two criterions are met, then Self Inquiry will proceed naturally and automatically. Do not try to answer the question. When ego/mind melts, Self will shine forth automatically. Self Inquiry IS the Self. It is not seperate. Have utmost respect for It as the most direct path to Self Realization. Eternally yours, Samadhi Ma >"uarelove" >RamanaMaharshi >RamanaMaharshi >[RamanaMaharshi] Re: THE ¡¥TO WHOM DO THESE THOUGHTS ARISE¡¦ APPROACH >Mon, 05 Jan 2004 22:11:13 -0000 > >RamanaMaharshi, "nobunaga_100" > wrote: > > Dear Michael L, > > > > In regard to the "TO WHOM DO THESE THOUGHTS ARISE" approach, when >we > > make the inquiry "Who am I," should we be attempting to answer the > > question or should we just stop there? I'm not quite sure how to > > proceed from there. Can you please give me pointers? > > > > thanks > > - peter > >Dear Peter: > >No, you should not attempt to answer the question "Who am I?" >One should not allow thought to think of some answer to the question. >It is best to stop there >and just to see what the question is pointing to. > >In the "To whom do these thoughts arise?" method >everytime a thought arises one should inquire >"To whom do these thoughts arise?" > >Thoughts are arising to awareness, your awareness. >From the time you wake up in the morning, >till the time you go to sleep at night, >you are aware. > >That awareness is continuous during all the waking hours. >Thoughts come and thoughts go, >but the awareness is continuous. > >Who are thoughts arising to? > >They are arising to that awareness that woke up in the morning. >Therefore the question >"To whom do these thoughts arise?" >serves the purpose of >pointing the attention towards your awareness. > >The question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" interrupts thought. >Otherwise, one would go on and on with thought. >Therefore, the question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" >stops one from continuing the thought >and serves the purpose of directing attention >away from thought and towards awareness. > >If another thought arises, >you can repeat the question. > >You can repeat the question everytime a thought arises. >It is best to ask the question as soon as a thought arises, >before it develops into many concepts. > >If intuitively an answer arises "To me" >you can ask "Who am I?" > >That also is a way of pointing towards that awareness >that woke up in morning, >because when we say I, >we are referring to that awareness that woke up in the morning. > >If the intuitive answer "to me" does not arise, >then no need to ask "Who am I?" >one can just continue to ask >"To whom do these thoughts arise?" >everytime a thought arises. > >Usually humans go through their day and they get lost in thought. > >The "To whom do these thoughts arise?" question >is a way of turning attention away from thought >and towards awareness. > >Another way to see this is: > >See to whom thoughts arise. > >Or See who is aware of thoughts arising. > >Or see the awareness that thoughts are arising to. > >Or see the awareness that thoughts are arising in. > >Or be aware of the awareness that thoughts are arising to. > >To keep one's attention in that awareness is the purpose. > >If one manages to do that, >to keep the attention turned away from thought >and towards awareness then that is enough. >To remain in that awareness is enough. > >Another way to state it is that >humans normally have their attention directed towards >thought, people, places, things, etc., >therefore the awareness remains in the background. > >Asking "To whom do these thoughts arise?" >is a way of putting the awareness in the foreground >and thoughts, people, places, things, etc. in the background. > >Usually thoughts, people, places, things, experiences >are in the foreground >and the awareness that perceives all of this >is in the background. > >Asking the question "To whom do these thoughts arise?" >reverses this, >so that thoughts, people, places, things, experiences >are in the background >and the awareness that perceives all of this >is in the foreground. > >Or to put it more simply, >instead of paying attention to thoughts, >people, places, things, >pay attention to the awareness. > >Turn one's attention away from the seen >and towards the seer. > >Asking "To whom do these thoughts arise?" >is a vechicle for turning the attention away >from the particular thought that is arising now >and towards the awareness that is perceiving that thought. > >Take care, > >with Love, > >Michae L. > > > > Expand your wine savvy — and get some great new recipes — at MSN Wine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.