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What Is the Difference Between I, I Am and I-I?

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It's an odd game we play. A game of hide and seek we play with ourselves.

Children with eyes closed tight, fearing our own darkness. Reaching out for God

with one hand, and pushing away with the other.......We do that, you know,

all of us. Look closely and you'll see that God remains at arms length by

virtue of our most strenuous efforts. When you think about it, how else is the

glare of Truth to be hidden by a shadow without substance?

 

Ahh, and then there's that thinking problem. We mustn't think, because

thoughts are like illusionists hiding the Great Rabbit in the hat. But then once

we have that down to a science, we find that there was never anybody here to

exact that science. Then again, what does this nonvolitional individual do

with such information? If the choice is made to change the game because we now

know we don't even exist as choosers, then the information is clearly unclear

to this absent presence.

 

As for me, I've grown weary of the game, which would be seen as a victory of

sorts if not for the fact that it's seen as a victory. The greatest

spiritual wisdom I ever heard came from the sacred text of a bad movie called "War

Games". When the super computer had gone through every iteration of possible

attack/counterattack, problem/solution; as the planet was moments away from

thermonuclear annihilation in the hands of a thinking machine, this machine came

to the most glorious conclusion. A solution that has thus far escaped the

cognitive grasp of humanity's most brilliant. Our computer finally shut down

the missile launches, and calmly remarked, "Strange game. The only way to

win.......is to not play the game." Genius!

 

Phil

 

 

 

 

 

What is the Difference Between "I,I Am" and "I-I"?

Posted by: "Era Molnar" n0ndual (AT) webtv (DOT) net n0ndual

Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:32 pm (PDT)

 

"Although the distinctions are often ignored or blurred, it can be observed

that there is more than one "I" in Awareness. While some current Nondualists

point almost exclusively to the separative "I" logic which creates a sense of

separation (I versus other), Nisargadatta Maharaj also speaks of the "I Am"

and going beyond the "I Am," and Ramana Maharshi speaks of the "I-I."

 

As we grow from childhood to adulthood, it is normal to develop a strong

sense of a separate self (ego) that seems to stand apart from all else. When we

refer to ourselves or say "I," we unconsciously assume and include a complex

set of identifications and memories (I am this), such as our name, body,

family, education, career, personal history, and so on.

 

But, through persistent self-inquiry and observation, it can be seen that

the sense of a separate "I" does not exist except as a concept. It is nothing

more than an illusory, fuzzy, abstract reference point in Awareness. Moreover,

it is accompanied by a supporting logic which interprets all events as

happening to that reference point. In other words, the "I" logic always interprets

events as happening to a centralized "me" rather than just happening in the

field of Awareness.

 

That false interpretation creates a veil of separation, an illusion of "me"

versus other.

In the minimalist description of enlightenment adopted by many Nondualists,

enlightenment means undermining that separative "I" logic through a deep

understanding of it.

 

The undermining of it reveals that you have never been separate from the

world. It reveals that you are the world and that reality, here and now, just as

it is, is your own Self. The revelation can be described as a shift in

consciousness from identifying with the illusion of a separate self to identifying

with the all-inclusive Self.

But, as the term suggests, the "Self" is itself an "I."

 

Although it is spacious, all-inclusive and de-centralized, the Self

expresses itself assertively as "I Am." It is, in fact, the real you expressing

itself through a body-mind as the self-evident certainty that it (you) exists.

 

Some call it Presence and may describe it further as creative, intelligent

energy, because the "I Am" includes both the creation and the recognition of

the world as one's Self. In its creative aspect, and as expressed through a

body-mind, it is an act of individualization (sometimes called "Atman"), a

personal expression of Self which arises from the Heart.

 

The "I Am" is also an inseparable part of the "I-I" continuity that Ramana

Maharshi refers to when he points out that the Self shines in the Heart as

"I-I." The other part of the "I-I" is the impersonal Self, and it is also what

Nisargadatta Maharaj refers to as beyond "I Am." Through further self-inquiry,

observation, and reversal of the mind's exteriorization, the "I Am"

dissolves back into the Heart, into nameless, indescribable, ineffable, impersonal

being (Brahman), the "I" of Awareness without attributes. This impersonal "I"

is the true and pure Witness, or Awareness, that is always present, shining

through creation, but prior to creation.

As mentioned previously, all of these "I's" can be observed and

distinguished. No part of your nature is really hidden. For example, you get a taste of

the creation and dissolution of the "I Am" whenever you fall into or awaken

from deep sleep. When the "I Am" arises, the world appears; when it dissolves,

the world disappears. You also get a taste of the impersonal bliss of Brahman

when you disappear into deep sleep. But the bliss that can occur in the

waking state is usually the experience of the creative energy, sometimes called

shakti, which arises from the Heart."

 

* * *

When the 'I am myself' goes, the 'I am all' comes. When the 'I am all' goes,

'I am' comes. When even 'I am' goes, reality alone is.. ~Nisargadatta

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Vanakkam Anna!

just internalize .....

there are no rights and wrongs in the paths that we "take / choose" because that depends on our character, our temperament and our spiritual maturity. in short it is based on our praharbdha karma. like what Bhagawan has said to many devotees, it is imperative to "know" that thoughts are inconsistent with Realization.....

there can be no answer to the "Naan yaar?" question because it is dissolving the "I-thought", which Bhagawan has stressed innumerable times, "is the parent of ALL other thoughts...."

in the Ribhu Gita, it states that even the enquiry into the ultimate nature of one's own existense is a concept.....

at the end of it all, even this sadhana is also just another perception.....

 

Anbudan!

anabebe57 <kailashana (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote:

, "Era Molnar" <n0ndual

wrote:

>

> "Although the distinctions are often ignored or blurred, it can be

observed that there is more than one "I" in Awareness. While some

current Nondualists point almost exclusively to the separative "I"

logic which creates a sense of separation (I versus other),

Nisargadatta Maharaj also speaks of the "I Am" and going beyond

the "I Am," and Ramana Maharshi speaks of the "I-I."

>

> As we grow from childhood to adulthood, it is normal to develop a

strong sense of a separate self (ego) that seems to stand apart from

all else. When we refer to ourselves or say "I," we unconsciously

assume and include a complex set of identifications and memories (I

am this), such as our name, body, family, education, career,

personal history, and so on.

>

> But, through persistent self-inquiry and observation, it can be

seen that the sense of a separate "I" does not exist except as a

concept. It is nothing more than an illusory, fuzzy, abstract

reference point in Awareness. Moreover, it is accompanied by a

supporting logic which interprets all events as happening to that

reference point. In other words, the "I" logic always interprets

events as happening to a centralized "me" rather than just happening

in the field of Awareness.

>

> That false interpretation creates a veil of separation, an

illusion of "me" versus other.

> In the minimalist description of enlightenment adopted by many

Nondualists, enlightenment means undermining that separative "I"

logic through a deep understanding of it.

>

> The undermining of it reveals that you have never been separate

from the world. It reveals that you are the world and that reality,

here and now, just as it is, is your own Self. The revelation can be

described as a shift in consciousness from identifying with the

illusion of a separate self to identifying with the all-inclusive

Self.

> But, as the term suggests, the "Self" is itself an "I."

>

> Although it is spacious, all-inclusive and de-centralized, the

Self expresses itself assertively as "I Am." It is, in fact, the

real you expressing itself through a body-mind as the self-evident

certainty that it (you) exists.

>

> Some call it Presence and may describe it further as creative,

intelligent energy, because the "I Am" includes both the creation

and the recognition of the world as one's Self. In its creative

aspect, and as expressed through a body-mind, it is an act of

individualization (sometimes called "Atman"), a personal expression

of Self which arises from the Heart.

>

> The "I Am" is also an inseparable part of the "I-I" continuity

that Ramana Maharshi refers to when he points out that the Self

shines in the Heart as "I-I." The other part of the "I-I" is the

impersonal Self, and it is also what Nisargadatta Maharaj refers to

as beyond "I Am." Through further self-inquiry, observation, and

reversal of the mind's exteriorization, the "I Am" dissolves back

into the Heart, into nameless, indescribable, ineffable, impersonal

being (Brahman), the "I" of Awareness without attributes. This

impersonal "I" is the true and pure Witness, or Awareness, that is

always present, shining through creation, but prior to creation.

> As mentioned previously, all of these "I's" can be observed and

distinguished. No part of your nature is really hidden. For example,

you get a taste of the creation and dissolution of the "I Am"

whenever you fall into or awaken from deep sleep. When the "I Am"

arises, the world appears; when it dissolves, the world disappears.

You also get a taste of the impersonal bliss of Brahman when you

disappear into deep sleep. But the bliss that can occur in the

waking state is usually the experience of the creative energy,

sometimes called shakti, which arises from the Heart."

>

> * * *

> When the 'I am myself' goes, the 'I am all' comes. When the 'I am

all' goes, 'I am' comes. When even 'I am' goes, reality alone is..

~Nisargadatta

>

 

...and these three states of "I" co-arise and co-create the reality

of illusions as well as the dissolution of all worlds even as the

Self abides in Nothng but the Self. An experience in/as/of Life

itself. Is this not so?

 

YIL

Anna

 

 

 

 

 

PEACE through SURRENDER ...

 

Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com. Check it out.

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mango tree wrote:

> in the Ribhu Gita, it states that even the enquiry into the ultimate

nature of one's own existense is a concept.....

 

 

PROOF! that God has a wicked sense of humor...

 

 

 

> at the end of it all, even this sadhana is also just another

perception.....

>

> Anbudan!

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All words and concepts can be negated. This is the nature of language.

There is a song by Beejee's an old rock group from Australia, and it

states, "words are all I have to take your heart away."

 

Sri Ramana said that the highest teaching and transmission is in silence

and pointed to the eloquence of Dakshinamurty.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

David wrote:

>

> mango tree wrote:

>

> > in the Ribhu Gita, it states that even the enquiry into the ultimate

> nature of one's own existense is a concept.....

>

> PROOF! that God has a wicked sense of humor...

>

> > at the end of it all, even this sadhana is also just another

> perception.....

> >

> > Anbudan!

>

 

 

 

>

>

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Namaste Phil,

 

I remember that line well, I wrote it;-)

 

What else would we be doing if we weren't playing????

 

eh?

 

Wink.

 

YIL,

Anna

 

 

 

 

, ADHHUB wrote:

>

>

>

> It's an odd game we play. A game of hide and seek we play with

ourselves.

> Children with eyes closed tight, fearing our own darkness.

Reaching out for God

> with one hand, and pushing away with the other.......We do that,

you know,

> all of us. Look closely and you'll see that God remains at arms

length by

> virtue of our most strenuous efforts. When you think about it,

how else is the

> glare of Truth to be hidden by a shadow without substance?

>

> Ahh, and then there's that thinking problem. We mustn't think,

because

> thoughts are like illusionists hiding the Great Rabbit in the

hat. But then once

> we have that down to a science, we find that there was never

anybody here to

> exact that science. Then again, what does this nonvolitional

individual do

> with such information? If the choice is made to change the game

because we now

> know we don't even exist as choosers, then the information is

clearly unclear

> to this absent presence.

>

> As for me, I've grown weary of the game, which would be seen as a

victory of

> sorts if not for the fact that it's seen as a victory. The

greatest

> spiritual wisdom I ever heard came from the sacred text of a bad

movie called "War

> Games". When the super computer had gone through every iteration

of possible

> attack/counterattack, problem/solution; as the planet was moments

away from

> thermonuclear annihilation in the hands of a thinking machine,

this machine came

> to the most glorious conclusion. A solution that has thus far

escaped the

> cognitive grasp of humanity's most brilliant. Our computer

finally shut down

> the missile launches, and calmly remarked, "Strange game. The

only way to

> win.......is to not play the game." Genius!

>

> Phil

>

>

>

>

>

> What is the Difference Between "I,I Am" and "I-I"?

> Posted by: "Era Molnar" n0ndual n0ndual

> Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:32 pm (PDT)

>

> "Although the distinctions are often ignored or blurred, it can

be observed

> that there is more than one "I" in Awareness. While some current

Nondualists

> point almost exclusively to the separative "I" logic which

creates a sense of

> separation (I versus other), Nisargadatta Maharaj also speaks of

the "I Am"

> and going beyond the "I Am," and Ramana Maharshi speaks of the "I-

I."

>

> As we grow from childhood to adulthood, it is normal to develop a

strong

> sense of a separate self (ego) that seems to stand apart from all

else. When we

> refer to ourselves or say "I," we unconsciously assume and

include a complex

> set of identifications and memories (I am this), such as our

name, body,

> family, education, career, personal history, and so on.

>

> But, through persistent self-inquiry and observation, it can be

seen that

> the sense of a separate "I" does not exist except as a concept.

It is nothing

> more than an illusory, fuzzy, abstract reference point in

Awareness. Moreover,

> it is accompanied by a supporting logic which interprets all

events as

> happening to that reference point. In other words, the "I" logic

always interprets

> events as happening to a centralized "me" rather than just

happening in the

> field of Awareness.

>

> That false interpretation creates a veil of separation, an

illusion of "me"

> versus other.

> In the minimalist description of enlightenment adopted by many

Nondualists,

> enlightenment means undermining that separative "I" logic through

a deep

> understanding of it.

>

> The undermining of it reveals that you have never been separate

from the

> world. It reveals that you are the world and that reality, here

and now, just as

> it is, is your own Self. The revelation can be described as a

shift in

> consciousness from identifying with the illusion of a separate

self to identifying

> with the all-inclusive Self.

> But, as the term suggests, the "Self" is itself an "I."

>

> Although it is spacious, all-inclusive and de-centralized, the

Self

> expresses itself assertively as "I Am." It is, in fact, the real

you expressing

> itself through a body-mind as the self-evident certainty that it

(you) exists.

>

> Some call it Presence and may describe it further as creative,

intelligent

> energy, because the "I Am" includes both the creation and the

recognition of

> the world as one's Self. In its creative aspect, and as expressed

through a

> body-mind, it is an act of individualization (sometimes

called "Atman"), a

> personal expression of Self which arises from the Heart.

>

> The "I Am" is also an inseparable part of the "I-I" continuity

that Ramana

> Maharshi refers to when he points out that the Self shines in the

Heart as

> "I-I." The other part of the "I-I" is the impersonal Self, and it

is also what

> Nisargadatta Maharaj refers to as beyond "I Am." Through further

self-inquiry,

> observation, and reversal of the mind's exteriorization, the "I

Am"

> dissolves back into the Heart, into nameless, indescribable,

ineffable, impersonal

> being (Brahman), the "I" of Awareness without attributes. This

impersonal "I"

> is the true and pure Witness, or Awareness, that is always

present, shining

> through creation, but prior to creation.

> As mentioned previously, all of these "I's" can be observed and

> distinguished. No part of your nature is really hidden. For

example, you get a taste of

> the creation and dissolution of the "I Am" whenever you fall into

or awaken

> from deep sleep. When the "I Am" arises, the world appears; when

it dissolves,

> the world disappears. You also get a taste of the impersonal bliss

of Brahman

> when you disappear into deep sleep. But the bliss that can occur

in the

> waking state is usually the experience of the creative energy,

sometimes called

> shakti, which arises from the Heart."

>

> * * *

> When the 'I am myself' goes, the 'I am all' comes. When the 'I am

all' goes,

> 'I am' comes. When even 'I am' goes, reality alone is..

~Nisargadatta

>

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, "David" <david.bozzi

wrote:

>

> mango tree wrote:

>

> > in the Ribhu Gita, it states that even the enquiry into the

ultimate

> nature of one's own existense is a concept.....

>

>

> PROOF! that God has a wicked sense of humor...

>

>

>

>

> > at the end of it all, even this sadhana is also just another

> perception.....

> >

> > Anbudan!

>

 

 

:) god, though being beyond all senses, has

definitely one sense. it is the seventh sense:

the sense of humor.

 

thank god! (though it isn't very funny, sometimes)

 

hehe

 

yosy

 

"not all situations may include laughter; but

laughter may contain all situations"

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Harsha, the mail wasn't sent from your e-mail address

but from 71.74.235.223

The spammer used your ID to send the ad so

(s)he either hacked into your password(s) or forged

headers.

Best, to change password(s) first and next,

to file a lawsuit as what happened defines as crime.

 

Jan

 

Harsha wrote:

> There was an e-mail sent earlier from my e-mail address which was an ad.

> The e-mail was not from me. I have put the whole list on moderation for now.

>

> Harsha

>

>

>

>

>

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Thanks Jan. I checked the headers of the message and you are right. Some

one forged the headers. This is not right and constitutes e-mail fraud.

Is their an international law or do the laws differ by country?

 

Harsha

 

ecirada wrote:

>

> Harsha, the mail wasn't sent from your e-mail address

> but from 71.74.235.223

> The spammer used your ID to send the ad so

> (s)he either hacked into your password(s) or forged

> headers.

> Best, to change password(s) first and next,

> to file a lawsuit as what happened defines as crime.

>

> Jan

>

> Harsha wrote:

>

>> There was an e-mail sent earlier from my e-mail address which was an ad.

>> The e-mail was not from me. I have put the whole list on moderation for now.

>>

>> Harsha

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>

>

 

 

--

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Hi Harsha,

 

Even in Nigeria it's against the law to forge headers,

another issue is the difficulty to start a lawsuit.

In the US it could be fairly easy and in this case, the

Terms Of Service (T.O.S.) applicable to mailing

lists have been violated also. Forwarding the forged

mail to with the request to start a lawsuit might be

all that's required.

 

Then there's the possibility of an overzealous spammer

who might be doing the employer a disservice: inform

the company's lawyer of impending steps as well as that

could lead to a settlement without much hassle and dazzle.

 

Jan

 

 

Harsha wrote:

> Thanks Jan. I checked the headers of the message and you are right.

> Some one forged the headers. This is not right and constitutes e-mail

> fraud. Is their an international law or do the laws differ by country?

>

> Harsha

>

> ecirada wrote:

>>

>> Harsha, the mail wasn't sent from your e-mail address

>> but from 71.74.235.223

>> The spammer used your ID to send the ad so

>> (s)he either hacked into your password(s) or forged

>> headers.

>> Best, to change password(s) first and next,

>> to file a lawsuit as what happened defines as crime.

>>

>> Jan

>>

>> Harsha wrote:

>>

>>> There was an e-mail sent earlier from my e-mail address which was an ad.

>>> The e-mail was not from me. I have put the whole list on moderation for now.

>>>

>>> Harsha

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>

>

>

> --

>

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OK. Good ideas Jan. We actually have lawyers on the HS team who advise

us and I will check into this. My tendency is to let it go, if it is the

first offense. Its a hassle to have a moderated list because invariably

messages will be delayed. I apologize to the members but spam is a

serious problem on that moderators have to contend with and

there is no simple solution to it.

 

Hope you will be patient if your message is delayed.

 

Thanks,

Love to all

Harsha (P.S. Jan I wrote you privately on your e-mail address).

 

 

 

ecirada wrote:

>

> Hi Harsha,

>

> Even in Nigeria it's against the law to forge headers,

> another issue is the difficulty to start a lawsuit.

> In the US it could be fairly easy and in this case, the

> Terms Of Service (T.O.S.) applicable to mailing

> lists have been violated also. Forwarding the forged

> mail to with the request to start a lawsuit might be

> all that's required.

>

> Then there's the possibility of an overzealous spammer

> who might be doing the employer a disservice: inform

> the company's lawyer of impending steps as well as that

> could lead to a settlement without much hassle and dazzle.

>

> Jan

>

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Hi Harsha,

 

A spammer forging headers might be a professional, expanding

the territory so what's a first offense from your perspective, isn't

so from another. Before i had set the "delete spam immediately"

option on mail, quite a lot of spam was received. The

disadvantage of the setting, spam from mailing lists still goes

unchecked and a lot of "first" mails are being swallowed as well,

i didn't receive your letter.

 

Jan

 

Harsha wrote:

> OK. Good ideas Jan. We actually have lawyers on the HS team who

> advise us and I will check into this. My tendency is to let it go, if

> it is the first offense. Its a hassle to have a moderated list because

> invariably messages will be delayed. I apologize to the members but

> spam is a serious problem on that moderators have to

> contend with and there is no simple solution to it.

>

> Hope you will be patient if your message is delayed.

>

> Thanks,

> Love to all

> Harsha (P.S. Jan I wrote you privately on your e-mail address).

>

[...]

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You are right Jan. Spamming and e-mail fraud is rampant and needs to be

checked. From this point on, if there is an incident of this on the

list, the abuse will be investigated and the e-mails will be forwarded

to the appropriate authorities.

 

I sent you another private e-mail Jan.

 

Harsha

 

ecirada wrote:

>

> Hi Harsha,

>

> A spammer forging headers might be a professional, expanding

> the territory so what's a first offense from your perspective, isn't

> so from another. Before i had set the "delete spam immediately"

> option on mail, quite a lot of spam was received. The

> disadvantage of the setting, spam from mailing lists still goes

> unchecked and a lot of "first" mails are being swallowed as well,

> i didn't receive your letter.

>

> Jan

>

> Harsha wrote:

>

>> OK. Good ideas Jan. We actually have lawyers on the HS team who

>> advise us and I will check into this. My tendency is to let it go, if

>> it is the first offense. Its a hassle to have a moderated list

>> because invariably messages will be delayed. I apologize to the

>> members but spam is a serious problem on that moderators

>> have to contend with and there is no simple solution to it.

>>

>> Hope you will be patient if your message is delayed.

>>

>> Thanks,

>> Love to all

>> Harsha (P.S. Jan I wrote you privately on your e-mail address).

>>

> [...]

>

 

 

--

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