Nirvikalpa Samadhi and Memory

[Guest guest]

The question arises or is asked by some people as follows, "Is not

Nirvikalpa Samadhi simply another form of experience that is recollected

by the mind?"

 

The answer is as follows: No. If someone asks you today, "Do you feel

you exist, your answer would most likely be, "Yes, I exist". If someone

asks you tomorrow, "Do you exist", you will most likely give the same

answer. To say, "Yes, I exist" you do not need to rely on your memory of

the previous answer yesterday. You exist and you know you exist and if

someone asks you whether you exist, you are going to say, "yes, I exist"

without having to reference your memory.

 

Nirvikalpa Samadhi is exactly like that. Nirvikalpa Samadhi reveals the

Self because in that state there is only pure consciousness with no

contaminating thoughts and the mind is absent. Therefore, the

Self-Recognition has absolute clarity. It is pure Sat-Chit-Ananda, the

Self-Nature. Coming out of the Nirvikalpa state, the Self Recognizes It

Self even with the mind present and among the usual perceptions and

thoughts.

 

The Self is here even now. It is only who you are. However, the

conflicted and distracted nature of the mind hinders Realization of the

ever-present and eternal Self. So various means of sadhana have been

given to calm the mind and purify the intellect. Therefore, the question

of, "Does Nirvikalpa Samadhi help on the spiritual path" is answered by

saying, "Yes, because it gives an uncontaminated experience of the

Self-Nature. Nirvikalpa Samadhi is unique in that it reveals that you

are the ground of being, the ground of all experience, the ultimate

subject. Nirvikalpa is not a separate knowledge from who you are."

 

A Sage does not need to rely on his/her memory to speak about Nirvikalpa

Samadhi because the Self revealed in Samadhi is the ever present and

eternal Self. Memory would be needed if the Self being spoken of is an

object of experience that was had and sometimes it comes and sometimes

it goes. However, Self is not an experience. It is the ultimate subject.

The Self-Realized sage knows himself/herself to be the ultimate subject

without reference to memory.

 

The Self does not disappear once the Nirvikalpa Samadhi is over. Self is

eternal and once the recognition is clear and pure in the absence of the

mind in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, that recognition will be there in the

presence of the mind. As Sri Ramana has said, further Sadhana is needed

before clarity of recognition is effortless and the Sahaj state dawns.

It depends of the strength of tendencies and samskaras.

 

What the Upanishads have been trying to convey and the commentaries of

great sages like Shankracharya become very clear after Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

 

It is quite possible that some very advanced sadhakas can grasp the

Truth of the Self as described in the Vedas upon hearing it from their

teacher once and become established in the Sahaj state. However, for

most people, it is the process of gradually reflecting on the Truth and

purifying the mind and meditating on the Self for long periods and life

time.

 

However one reaches the Self, whether through study of scriptures,

listening to the teacher, meditation as prescribed in the Upanishads,

the Bhagavad Gita, or some combination of practices, it does not matter.

Self is Self. Ultimately, the individual realizes the Truth of Advaita

through Grace. Even our surrender to the Lord of the Heart is not due to

our own personal will. It is only through the Grace that Self-Knowledge

is gained. Sri Ramana used to say, you can't help but make the effort

but only up to a certain point. After that some other power takes over.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

 

 

--

[Guest guest]

, Harsha wrote:

>

> The question arises or is asked by some people as follows, "Is not

> Nirvikalpa Samadhi simply another form of experience that is

recollected

> by the mind?"

>

> The answer is as follows: No. If someone asks you today, "Do you

feel

> you exist, your answer would most likely be, "Yes, I exist". If

someone

> asks you tomorrow, "Do you exist", you will most likely give the

same

> answer. To say, "Yes, I exist" you do not need to rely on your

memory of

> the previous answer yesterday. You exist and you know you exist

and if

> someone asks you whether you exist, you are going to say, "yes, I

exist"

> without having to reference your memory.

>

> Nirvikalpa Samadhi is exactly like that. Nirvikalpa Samadhi

reveals the

> Self because in that state there is only pure consciousness with

no

> contaminating thoughts and the mind is absent. Therefore, the

> Self-Recognition has absolute clarity. It is pure Sat-Chit-Ananda,

the

> Self-Nature. Coming out of the Nirvikalpa state, the Self

Recognizes It

> Self even with the mind present and among the usual perceptions

and

> thoughts.

>

> The Self is here even now. It is only who you are. However, the

> conflicted and distracted nature of the mind hinders Realization

of the

> ever-present and eternal Self. So various means of sadhana have

been

> given to calm the mind and purify the intellect. Therefore, the

question

> of, "Does Nirvikalpa Samadhi help on the spiritual path" is

answered by

> saying, "Yes, because it gives an uncontaminated experience of the

> Self-Nature. Nirvikalpa Samadhi is unique in that it reveals that

you

> are the ground of being, the ground of all experience, the

ultimate

> subject. Nirvikalpa is not a separate knowledge from who you are."

>

> A Sage does not need to rely on his/her memory to speak about

Nirvikalpa

> Samadhi because the Self revealed in Samadhi is the ever present

and

> eternal Self. Memory would be needed if the Self being spoken of

is an

> object of experience that was had and sometimes it comes and

sometimes

> it goes. However, Self is not an experience. It is the ultimate

subject.

> The Self-Realized sage knows himself/herself to be the ultimate

subject

> without reference to memory.

>

> The Self does not disappear once the Nirvikalpa Samadhi is over.

Self is

> eternal and once the recognition is clear and pure in the absence

of the

> mind in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, that recognition will be there in the

> presence of the mind. As Sri Ramana has said, further Sadhana is

needed

> before clarity of recognition is effortless and the Sahaj state

dawns.

> It depends of the strength of tendencies and samskaras.

>

> What the Upanishads have been trying to convey and the

commentaries of

> great sages like Shankracharya become very clear after Nirvikalpa

Samadhi.

>

> It is quite possible that some very advanced sadhakas can grasp

the

> Truth of the Self as described in the Vedas upon hearing it from

their

> teacher once and become established in the Sahaj state. However,

for

> most people, it is the process of gradually reflecting on the

Truth and

> purifying the mind and meditating on the Self for long periods and

life

> time.

>

> However one reaches the Self, whether through study of scriptures,

> listening to the teacher, meditation as prescribed in the

Upanishads,

> the Bhagavad Gita, or some combination of practices, it does not

matter.

> Self is Self. Ultimately, the individual realizes the Truth of

Advaita

> through Grace. Even our surrender to the Lord of the Heart is not

due to

> our own personal will. It is only through the Grace that Self-

Knowledge

> is gained. Sri Ramana used to say, you can't help but make the

effort

> but only up to a certain point. After that some other power takes

over.

>

> Love to all

> Harsha

 

 

Perfect Harshaji,

 

To the ever-lasting ever-present grace bestowed in the Light of

Awareness in the Heart of Now, I would add: I Am as Self/no Self is

the experience of a lifetime in a saucerful of secrets, in a

thimbleful of dreams;-)

 

Hugs,

Anna

 

>

>

>

> --

>

[Guest guest]

,

Harsha wrote:

 

>Nirvikalpa Samadhi is exactly like that. Nirvikalpa Samadhi reveals

the Self because in that state there is only pure consciousness with no

contaminating thoughts and the mind is absent.

 

 

 

Good Day, my Friend!

 

Perhaps it would be helpful if you were to share what your actual

experience of Nirvikalpa Samadhi has been, what led up to it, and how

it has affected your life and sadhana.

 

 

__/\__

[Guest guest]

Bob OHearn wrote:

>

>

> <%40>,

> Harsha wrote:

>

> >Nirvikalpa Samadhi is exactly like that. Nirvikalpa Samadhi reveals

> the Self because in that state there is only pure consciousness with no

> contaminating thoughts and the mind is absent.

>

> Good Day, my Friend!

>

> Perhaps it would be helpful if you were to share what your actual

> experience of Nirvikalpa Samadhi has been, what led up to it, and how

> it has affected your life and sadhana.

>

> __/\__

>

 

> Dear Bob,

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used to write about it quite a bit in the early days. It was in 1980

and I was not yet 24 when it happened. Years of Shakti manifestations,

meditation, and pranayama and desperate seeking since childhood and then

my teen years and early adulthood. I had some very hard

years...Eventually,.I was like a man in the fog at night climbing a

mountain. Feeling my way up, one stone at a time, having many

experiences and visions and samadhis but not seeing any final light at

the end of the tunnel for a long time. One experience builds on another,

experiences becomes our guide. But experience is not enough and effort

is not enough and we cannot do it through our personal will. It was only

through the grace of Sri Ramana, I experienced Nirvikalpa Samadhi and

came to know the Truth of the Self that is our nature. I have described

the experience in detail. When I opened my eyes, I said "Of course, it

is only Me. What else did I expect? It is only Me." Nirvikalpa reveals

only that which has always been here. When the HS site is redesigned, I

will find the earlier writing and put it there.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> .

[Guest guest]

Harsha wrote:

 

> I experienced Nirvikalpa Samadhi and

> came to know the Truth of the Self that is our nature.

 

 

Yeah me too.

 

'Experienced' as in past tense.

 

As for the 'real thing',

 

well who knows?

[Guest guest]

You are pretty funny David. Well we had some good times and good laughs

in the old days.

 

Thanks for the many smiles! :-).

 

Love,

Harsha

 

David wrote:

>

> Harsha wrote:

>

> > I experienced Nirvikalpa Samadhi and

> > came to know the Truth of the Self that is our nature.

>

> Yeah me too.

>

> 'Experienced' as in past tense.

>

> As for the 'real thing',

>

> well who knows?

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Harsha wrote:

 

>When I opened my eyes, I said "Of course, it is only Me. What else did

I expect? It is only Me." Nirvikalpa reveals only that which has always

been here. When the HS site is redesigned, I will find the earlier

writing and put it there.

 

 

 

 

Thank you, my Friend, and good luck with your new site!

 

If you care to elaborate a bit more, perhaps it would be edifying to

hear how the experience you had at 24 is affecting your life and

relations now?

 

 

__/\__

[Guest guest]

Bob OHearn wrote:

>

>

> <%40>,

> Harsha wrote:

>

> >When I opened my eyes, I said "Of course, it is only Me. What else did

> I expect? It is only Me." Nirvikalpa reveals only that which has always

> been here. When the HS site is redesigned, I will find the earlier

> writing and put it there.

>

> Thank you, my Friend, and good luck with your new site!

>

> If you care to elaborate a bit more, perhaps it would be edifying to

> hear how the experience you had at 24 is affecting your life and

> relations now?

>

> __/\__

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your question Bob.

I don't know how it is affecting my life. How exactly would I find that

out? :-). :-).

 

Nirvikalpa Samadhi reveals the Self to be ever present.

It is not like the experience of ice cream where once you eat it, all

you have is the memory of the taste.

Nirvikalpa Samadhi starts out as an experience but it ends up revealing

that we are the very ground of all experience.

Self is always in the present moment and it is the present moment. We

are the Now.

 

Love,

Harsha

>

> _

[Guest guest]

,

Harsha wrote:

 

 

>I don't know how it is affecting my life.

How exactly would I find that out? :-).

 

 

 

 

Honesty in observation.

 

__/\__

[Guest guest]

Bob OHearn wrote:

 

> If you care to elaborate a bit more, perhaps it would be edifying to

> hear how the experience you had at 24 is affecting your life and

> relations now?

 

 

Bob, I think your question

and the answer to it

is more important than Nirvikalpa Samadhi itself,

which is why I am chiming in.

 

Sometimes I feel like The Christ

and sometimes I don't.

We are all bound together in duality together

and We All awaken from it together.

 

In the meantime I find I still forget

but with each passing day I remember more

and forget less.

 

No one in this world has had all their spam filtered yet,

and until that Final Day

 

I will be back in the world

in this body

 

dreaming with mySelf.

 

I am having a wonderful mystical experience right now;

now nobody go and make a religion out of it

or anything...

 

 

May We All remember a little more

and forget a little less

[Guest guest]

Harsha wrote:

>

> You are pretty funny David.

 

If you think I am funny now

you should see me when I am trying to be serious.

 

 

 

> Well we had some good times and good laughs

> in the old days.

>

> Thanks for the many smiles! :-).

>

> Love,

> Harsha

 

 

[Guest guest]

Bob OHearn wrote:

>

>

> <%40>,

> Harsha wrote:

>

> >I don't know how it is affecting my life.

> How exactly would I find that out? :-).

>

> Honesty in observation.

>

> __/\__

>

> Honesty in obervation of what? Can you give an example Bob?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harsha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>

> </message/42811;_ylc=X3oDMTM0YjU4NDBvBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzczMTczBGdycHNwSWQDMTYwMDA2MDk1NQRtc2dJZAM0MjgyMARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzExNTY5Nzc5OTYEdHBjSWQDNDI4MTE->

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[Guest guest]

,

David" <david.bozzi wrote:

 

>May We All remember a little more

and forget a little less

 

 

 

Good Afternoon, Friend!

 

We're all accustomed to entertaining similar sentiments, but one might

come to discover that it's actually a little more paradoxical in

practice. For example, the more we forget, the more remembrance becomes

true and real, rather than a wished-for ideal. The view clarifies, like

Ryokan's brook. Really, everything is forgotten, which is why it's

helpful to discover that which can't be, and come to rest as that.

Fortunately, it is not dependent on memories of the past nor

aspirations for the future, personal will or good intentions. Should I

say grace, perhaps some will understand, though it is none other than

what's living us now, eh.

 

 

 

 

__/\__

[Guest guest]

Bob OHearn wrote:

>

> David wrote:

>

> >May We All remember a little more

> and forget a little less

>

>

>

> Good Afternoon, Friend!

>

> We're all accustomed to entertaining similar sentiments, but one might

> come to discover that it's actually a little more paradoxical in

> practice. For example, the more we forget, the more remembrance becomes

> true and real, rather than a wished-for ideal. The view clarifies, like

> Ryokan's brook. Really, everything is forgotten, which is why it's

> helpful to discover that which can't be, and come to rest as that.

> Fortunately, it is not dependent on memories of the past nor

> aspirations for the future, personal will or good intentions. Should I

> say grace, perhaps some will understand, though it is none other than

> what's living us now, eh.

 

 

I forgot what we were talking about...

[Guest guest]

,

Harsha wrote:

 

 

>Bob OHearn wrote:

,

Harsha wrote:

 

>I don't know how it is affecting my life.

How exactly would I find that out? :-).

 

Honesty in observation.

 

__/\__

 

 

 

Honesty in obervation of what? Can you give an example Bob?

 

 

It was not a trick advaita question, Dear Friend. It is just what I

inquired originally -- your life and relations. No disrespect

intended, but why complicate matters with bobbing and weaving. We've

been through that, eh?

 

On the other hand, if you feel uncomfortable discussing such things,

I understand.

 

 

__/\__

[Guest guest]

,

"David" <david.bozzi wrote:

 

 

>I forgot what we were talking about...

 

 

Congratulations, Dave --

you're making good progress!

 

 

 

__/\__

[Guest guest]

Bob OHearn wrote:

>

>

>

> __/\__

>

> Honesty in obervation of what? Can you give an example Bob?

>

> It was not a trick advaita question, Dear Friend. It is just what I

> inquired originally -- your life and relations. No disrespect

> intended, but why complicate matters with bobbing and weaving. We've

> been through that, eh?

>

> On the other hand, if you feel uncomfortable discussing such things,

> I understand.

>

> __/\__

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bobbing and weaving? Feeling uncomfortable? And you understand?

 

Great!

 

 

>

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[Guest guest]

,

 

Harsha wrote:

 

 

>Bobbing and weaving? Feeling uncomfortable? And you understand?

 

Great!

 

 

 

 

Oy Veh!

 

Ask a simple question, eh?

 

 

And yet, my Friend, you've answered it.

 

 

 

__/\__

[Guest guest]

Bob OHearn wrote:

>

> Oy Veh!

>

> Ask a simple question, eh?

>

> And yet, my Friend, you've answered it.

>

> __/\__

>

> We try to please. :-).

[Guest guest]

, "Bob OHearn" <hrtbeat7

wrote:

>

> ,

> "David" <david.bozzi@> wrote:

>

>

> >I forgot what we were talking about...

>

>

> Congratulations, Dave --

> you're making good progress!

>

>

>

> __/\__

>

 

Thank you for an awesome show gentlemen, you've done exceeedingly

well with your speaking parts;-)

 

bows.

 

Anna

[Guest guest]

, "David" <david.bozzi

wrote:

>

> Bob OHearn wrote:

>

> > If you care to elaborate a bit more, perhaps it would be edifying

to

> > hear how the experience you had at 24 is affecting your life and

> > relations now?

>

>

> Bob, I think your question

> and the answer to it

> is more important than Nirvikalpa Samadhi itself,

> which is why I am chiming in.

>

> Sometimes I feel like The Christ

> and sometimes I don't.

> We are all bound together in duality together

> and We All awaken from it together.

>

> In the meantime I find I still forget

> but with each passing day I remember more

> and forget less.

>

> No one in this world has had all their spam filtered yet,

> and until that Final Day

>

> I will be back in the world

> in this body

>

> dreaming with mySelf.

>

> I am having a wonderful mystical experience right now;

> now nobody go and make a religion out of it

> or anything...

>

>

> May We All remember a little more

> and forget a little less

>

 

 

hmmmm.... thank god for forgetfulness... the real

does not have to be remembered, nor can it be forgotten:

it/this is what/how it is... what remembers/forgets is

not THAT.

 

_()_

[Guest guest]

yosyx wrote:

 

> hmmmm.... thank god for forgetfulness... the real

> does not have to be remembered, nor can it be forgotten:

> it/this is what/how it is... what remembers/forgets is

> not THAT.

 

When We forget who We are

God remembers for Us...