Guest guest Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 The following questions are sometimes raised about the role of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. I give the answers after the question. Question 1 : Is Nirvikalpa Samadhi necessary and sufficient condition for attaining Self-Realization (Atma Jnana)? Answer: The question is framed on a misunderstanding of Nirvikalpa Samadhi and on the wrong assumption that each person has an identical karmic makeup. It is well known that many great sadhaks after having Nirvikalpa Samadhi have to mature further on the path. The distance between Nirvikalpa Samadhi and the Sahaj state may be very little or very long from a relative perspective. It depends on the person. The example of Kunju Swami and his initial experiences with Bhagavan Ramana illustrates this point well. Other examples are available among our sages. As the question is framed in an absolute way, we have to say that Nirvikalpa Samadhi is not a necessary and a sufficient condition for Self-Realization for everyone. However, given that the nature of Self It Self is Nirvikalpa, the role of Nirvikalpa Samadhi on the path should be quite clear. Studying the Upanishads, respecting our traditions and the great sages, and Nirvikalpa Samadhi are not antagonistic to each other. Question 2: Is not Nirvikalpa Samadhi just another experience. How can an experience limited by time and space, no matter how profound, help or lead to Self-Realization when the Self is beyond all experience and the One without a second. Answer: The nature of Self is Nirvikalpa. Self is the ultimate subject and the ground on which all experience occurs. Because the Self is eternal and the ever-present reality, It, in fact, reveals itself perpetually and continuously all the time regardless of our experience and the state we are in. However, this self-evident existence of the Self which shines spontaneously as our own consciousness is overlooked by us as unimportant due to the fluctuations and tensions of the mind that turn it outward and perception of multiplicity dominate. When through hearing the words of the Guru, one meditates on the nature of one's own existence, one's own consciousness, at some point, Self reveals It Self, as pure Self-Awareness, pure Awareness, whose nature is that of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. Whole and Eternal. Nirvikalpa Samadhi reveals the Ultimate Subject who is perpetually and continuously revealing It Self to It Self as one continuous whole in all states of consciousness. This Ultimate Subject, Self-Conscious, Self-Existence, Self-Bliss, Self-Whole, Self-Eternal, is Self-Revealing, and a Self-Recognition, and is of such immense beauty that It Recognizes It Self even through the fluctuations and tensions of the mind. Thus we can say that Nirvikalpa Samadhi is helpful on the path because it reveals with the utmost clarity the Ultimate Subject. Self is always and perpetually in Pure Self-Recognition, that being its very nature. One without a second. Love to all Harsha -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Thanks, Harsha, that is nicely explained. I have been thinking alot about these questions the past few days, weeks, months... Part of that thinking was prompted by your discussion/description of your own experiences a few weeks ago. Jill On Sep 14, 2006, at 11:02 AM, Harsha wrote: > The following questions are sometimes raised about the role of > Nirvikalpa Samadhi. I give the answers after the question. > > Question 1 : Is Nirvikalpa Samadhi necessary and sufficient condition > for attaining Self-Realization (Atma Jnana)? > > Answer: The question is framed on a misunderstanding of Nirvikalpa > Samadhi and on the wrong assumption that each person has an identical > karmic makeup. It is well known that many great sadhaks after having > Nirvikalpa Samadhi have to mature further on the path. The distance > between Nirvikalpa Samadhi and the Sahaj state may be very little or > very long from a relative perspective. It depends on the person. The > example of Kunju Swami and his initial experiences with Bhagavan Ramana > illustrates this point well. Other examples are available among our > sages. > > As the question is framed in an absolute way, we have to say that > Nirvikalpa Samadhi is not a necessary and a sufficient condition for > Self-Realization for everyone. However, given that the nature of Self > It > Self is Nirvikalpa, the role of Nirvikalpa Samadhi on the path should > be > quite clear. Studying the Upanishads, respecting our traditions and the > great sages, and Nirvikalpa Samadhi are not antagonistic to each other. > > Question 2: Is not Nirvikalpa Samadhi just another experience. How can > an experience limited by time and space, no matter how profound, help > or > lead to Self-Realization when the Self is beyond all experience and the > One without a second. > > Answer: The nature of Self is Nirvikalpa. Self is the ultimate subject > and the ground on which all experience occurs. Because the Self is > eternal and the ever-present reality, It, in fact, reveals itself > perpetually and continuously all the time regardless of our experience > and the state we are in. However, this self-evident existence of the > Self which shines spontaneously as our own consciousness is overlooked > by us as unimportant due to the fluctuations and tensions of the mind > that turn it outward and perception of multiplicity dominate. > > When through hearing the words of the Guru, one meditates on the nature > of one's own existence, one's own consciousness, at some point, Self > reveals It Self, as pure Self-Awareness, pure Awareness, whose nature > is > that of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. Whole and Eternal. Nirvikalpa > Samadhi reveals the Ultimate Subject who is perpetually and > continuously > revealing It Self to It Self as one continuous whole in all states of > consciousness. > > This Ultimate Subject, Self-Conscious, Self-Existence, Self-Bliss, > Self-Whole, Self-Eternal, is Self-Revealing, and a Self-Recognition, > and > is of such immense beauty that It Recognizes It Self even through the > fluctuations and tensions of the mind. Thus we can say that Nirvikalpa > Samadhi is helpful on the path because it reveals with the utmost > clarity the Ultimate Subject. Self is always and perpetually in Pure > Self-Recognition, that being its very nature. One without a second. > > Love to all > Harsha > > > -- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 > > Thanks, Harsha, that is nicely explained. I have been thinking alot > about these questions the past few days, weeks, months... Part of > that thinking was prompted by your discussion/description of your own > experiences a few weeks ago. > dear Jill et all, please point me to that post I can't find it Era > Jill Harsha wrote: > > > The following questions are sometimes raised about the role of > > Nirvikalpa Samadhi. I give the answers after the question. > > > > Question 1 : Is Nirvikalpa Samadhi necessary and sufficient condition > > for attaining Self-Realization (Atma Jnana)? > > > > Answer: The question is framed on a misunderstanding of Nirvikalpa > > Samadhi and on the wrong assumption that each person has an identical > > karmic makeup. It is well known that many great sadhaks after having > > Nirvikalpa Samadhi have to mature further on the path. The distance > > between Nirvikalpa Samadhi and the Sahaj state may be very little or > > very long from a relative perspective. It depends on the person. The > > example of Kunju Swami and his initial experiences with Bhagavan Ramana > > illustrates this point well. Other examples are available among our > > sages. > > > > As the question is framed in an absolute way, we have to say that > > Nirvikalpa Samadhi is not a necessary and a sufficient condition for > > Self-Realization for everyone. However, given that the nature of Self > > It > > Self is Nirvikalpa, the role of Nirvikalpa Samadhi on the path should > > be > > quite clear. Studying the Upanishads, respecting our traditions and the > > great sages, and Nirvikalpa Samadhi are not antagonistic to each other. > > > > Question 2: Is not Nirvikalpa Samadhi just another experience. How can > > an experience limited by time and space, no matter how profound, help > > or > > lead to Self-Realization when the Self is beyond all experience and the > > One without a second. > > > > Answer: The nature of Self is Nirvikalpa. Self is the ultimate subject > > and the ground on which all experience occurs. Because the Self is > > eternal and the ever-present reality, It, in fact, reveals itself > > perpetually and continuously all the time regardless of our experience > > and the state we are in. However, this self-evident existence of the > > Self which shines spontaneously as our own consciousness is overlooked > > by us as unimportant due to the fluctuations and tensions of the mind > > that turn it outward and perception of multiplicity dominate. > > > > When through hearing the words of the Guru, one meditates on the nature > > of one's own existence, one's own consciousness, at some point, Self > > reveals It Self, as pure Self-Awareness, pure Awareness, whose nature > > is > > that of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. Whole and Eternal. Nirvikalpa > > Samadhi reveals the Ultimate Subject who is perpetually and > > continuously > > revealing It Self to It Self as one continuous whole in all states of > > consciousness. > > > > This Ultimate Subject, Self-Conscious, Self-Existence, Self-Bliss, > > Self-Whole, Self-Eternal, is Self-Revealing, and a Self-Recognition, > > and > > is of such immense beauty that It Recognizes It Self even through the > > fluctuations and tensions of the mind. Thus we can say that Nirvikalpa > > Samadhi is helpful on the path because it reveals with the utmost > > clarity the Ultimate Subject. Self is always and perpetually in Pure > > Self-Recognition, that being its very nature. One without a second. > > > > Love to all > > Harsha > > > > > > -- > > 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.