The Illusory I/Bill

[Guest guest]

On Feb 25, 2006, at 1:52 AM, Nisargadatta wrote:

 

> P: The country was never in danger from Sadam,

> but people believed that, and so supported

> the war. So that false belief was useful to

> Bush, even when the danger didn't exist. In

> the same way, the I'm is a rallying call when

> there is a serious threat. And momentarily

> even the brain of a jnani would feel that

> sense of " I. "

>

>>>>>

>

> You don't establish that a sense of " I " is

> of value here. You just say that it may

> appear momentarily for a jnani. That doesn't

> mean it is of value. And that a false belief

> was useful to Bush only is an example of

> the false being useful to someone in an

> illusory context. But useful in an illusory

> context does not mean it is really useful.

>

> A sense of " I " is never of value and never

> serves a useful purpose in any real sense.

>

>

> Bill

>

>

 

P: OK, let's recapitulate:

 

The " I " is a belief which creates a sense of

limitation, of particularization of existence.

An animal such as a roach, or a lizard hasn't

and doesn't need that to protect its body.

Such animals have a rigid set of instinctual

responses to feed, and defend their body.

 

Humans are born with few instinctual skills,

they must learn to care and protect their

body, so a self image is useful. Also a

society is useful for survival, and a society

uses the " I " idea for accountability purposes.

 

A mature, secure body/mind needs the " I feeling "

only at moments of peril, but this idea has

become endemic, chronic, pernicious. It

separates, and it's precariousness creates

a background of anxiety. For a mature human

organism the first step in liberation is to see

how this " I " is the sort of suffering or " dukka. "

 

The second step is to see that it's only an

idea, not real, in the sense that a hand is real.

A hand is there whether we think of it, or not,

whether we feel it, or not. An " I " like any

other idea, or belief, or feeling is there only

when we feel it, or remember it.

 

Is the " I " all bad? No! The " I " creates suffering,

but it gives pleasure too. Compliments and

accomplishments mean little without a sense

of " I. " So the third step is to throw out the sense

of ownership. There is no one who owns

virtues, and successes or faults and failures.

Living the impersonal life takes a little getting

use to.

 

But when the scat hits the fan, the felling of

" I " returns with the adrenaline flow, at least

momentarily, and it's useful, or not depending

on the circumstances. But, now, like any other

healthy idea, or feeling it can be use it, or not,

and then let go.

 

Pete