Guest guest Posted December 25, 2005 Report Share Posted December 25, 2005 In a message dated 12/25/2005 7:52:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, dannyc_1eyeluv writes: I agree. Let the brain release. Give it a break. Sure, it can grasp " things " again, later, but, it doesn't have to be constricted all the time with mindless thought. The mind itself is merely thought, anyway, an ephemeron. Just leave it be until it settles into its natural state and, then, everything will be just fine. dannyc The relationship between the brain and mind is not clear. Perhaps one can say that the brain produces the sensation of mind, and mind produces the sensation of thought. The question of self-identity cannot be answered in considering either thoughts or mind, but rather as Danny suggests, by releasing tension stored in the muscles and nerves of the brain itself. By meditation, stillness, relaxation, warm bathing, massage and proper nutrition, the brain as living tissue, settles into its natural state and the result is happiness, contentment and joy, a natural condition. Larry Epston www.epston.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 25, 2005 Report Share Posted December 25, 2005 I think that the concept of mind becomes an added difficulty when we think of it as an organ, like the stomach, which is always there whether empty, or full. The mind is a function of the brain, like a fist is a function of the hand. Where does the fist go when we open our hand? Can a fist or a hand become realized? Did Maharaj stop smoking, became less demanding, or impatient? He, and many others seemed to retain many rough mind edges after realization. So to pursue the metaphor further, realization could be viewed as the unclenched brain, the opening of the fist of intellectualization, into an open hand of mental acceptance. The fist will form again, but now the brain is not lock into a chronic rigor of separation. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 25, 2005 Report Share Posted December 25, 2005 Nisargadatta , Pete S <pedsie4@e...> wrote: > > I think that the concept of mind becomes > an added difficulty when we think of it > as an organ, like the stomach, which is > always there whether empty, or full. > > The mind is a function of the brain, > like a fist is a function of the hand. > Where does the fist go when we open > our hand? Can a fist or a hand become > realized? Did Maharaj stop smoking, > became less demanding, or impatient? > He, and many others seemed to retain > many rough mind edges after realization. > > So to pursue the metaphor further, realization > could be viewed as the unclenched brain, the > opening of the fist of intellectualization, into > an open hand of mental acceptance. The > fist will form again, but now the brain is > not lock into a chronic rigor of separation. > > Pete > I agree. Let the brain release. Give it a break. Sure, it can grasp " things " again, later, but, it doesn't have to be constricted all the time with mindless thought. The mind itself is merely thought, anyway, an ephemeron. Just leave it be until it settles into its natural state and, then, everything will be just fine. dannyc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 25, 2005 Report Share Posted December 25, 2005 Some mystical teachers use the term mind much as Nis would use the term Absolute. One such is the Zen master Huang Po. Huang Po on Mind: Only awake to the One Mind and there is nothing whatever to be attained. This pure Mind, the source of everything, shines forever and on all with the brilliance of its own perfection. But the people of the world do not awake to it, regarding only that which sees, hears, feels and knows as mind.... If they would only eliminate all conceptual thought in a flash, that source- substance would manifest itself like a sun.... - Huang Po When the people of the world hear it said that the Buddhas transmit the Doctrine of the Mind, they suppose that there is something to be attained or realized apart from Mind, and thereupon they use Mind to seek the Dharma [the Way], not knowing that Mind and the object of their search are one. Mind cannot be used to search for something from Mind.... .... Mind is transmitted with Mind and those Minds do not differ. Transmitting and receiving transmission are both a most difficult kind of mysterious understanding, so that few indeed have been able to receive it. In fact, however, Mind is not Mind and transmission is not really transmission. - Huang Po To insist that a term like " mind " must mean a certain thing is a form of intellectualism to be avoided, in my opinion. In a recent post about " The Ground and the Jar " I treated the term mind much as Huang Po does above. But I have also used the term in a manner corresponding more closely to your use below. To be concerned about which is " right " is to be stuck in concepts (or mind!). It is not about concepts, ideas, and such. " It " is like quicksilver, slipping through the fingers. Call it mind/Mind, Self, the " unqualified state " ... it doesn't matter. " It " knows how to talk about " Itself " as " It " will and is utterly unconcerned as to the demands of " minds " that in frustration find the thread inscrutable. Bill Nisargadatta , Pete S <pedsie4@e...> wrote: > > I think that the concept of mind becomes > an added difficulty when we think of it > as an organ, like the stomach, which is > always there whether empty, or full. > > The mind is a function of the brain, > like a fist is a function of the hand. > Where does the fist go when we open > our hand? Can a fist or a hand become > realized? Did Maharaj stop smoking, > became less demanding, or impatient? > He, and many others seemed to retain > many rough mind edges after realization. > > So to pursue the metaphor further, realization > could be viewed as the unclenched brain, the > opening of the fist of intellectualization, into > an open hand of mental acceptance. The > fist will form again, but now the brain is > not lock into a chronic rigor of separation. > > Pete > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 25, 2005 Report Share Posted December 25, 2005 - epston Nisargadatta Monday, December 26, 2005 12:26 AM Re: Re: Mind & No Mind In a message dated 12/25/2005 7:52:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, dannyc_1eyeluv writes: I agree. Let the brain release. Give it a break. Sure, it can grasp " things " again, later, but, it doesn't have to be constricted all the time with mindless thought. The mind itself is merely thought, anyway, an ephemeron. Just leave it be until it settles into its natural state and, then, everything will be just fine. dannyc The relationship between the brain and mind is not clear. Perhaps one can say that the brain produces the sensation of mind, and mind produces the sensation of thought. The question of self-identity cannot be answered in considering either thoughts or mind, but rather as Danny suggests, by releasing tension stored in the muscles and nerves of the brain itself. By meditation, stillness, relaxation, warm bathing, massage and proper nutrition, the brain as living tissue, settles into its natural state and the result is happiness, contentment and joy, a natural condition. Larry Epston www.epston.com Good Morning Beloveds, I would say this, our absolute unassailable natural condition is joy/bliss. Our body-thoughts predicated upon survival fostered by learrnings gleaned from the usual suspects: society, parents, family, religion, sex, ancestry, geographic location, etc. are mere disturbances upon the still waters of Being. Being is the vibration of Harmony with the Universe, What Is. This Harmony feels like Bliss/Joy. I Am This Bliss/Joy in the natural state of wo/man. Love, Ana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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