Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Question. After leaving this Asramam, in October, I was aware of the Presence that prevails in Sri Bhagavan's Presence enfolding me for about ten days. All the time, while busy in my work, there was an under-current of that peace in unity; it was almost like the dual consciousness which one experiences while half-asleep in a dull lecture. Then, it faded out entirely; and the old stupidities came in instead. Work leaves no time for separate meditation. Is it enough constantly reminding oneself 'I AM', while at work? M. (After a short pause). If you STRENGTHEN THE MIND, that peace will continue for all time. Its duration is PROPORTIONAL to the strength of mind acquired by repeated practice. And such a mind is able to hold on to the current. In that case, engagement or no engagement in work, the current remains unaffected and uninterrupted. It is not the work that hinders but the idea that it is you who are doing it. Question. Is a set meditation necessary for strengthening the mind? M. Not, if you keep the idea always before you, that it is not your work. At first, effort is needed to remind yourself of it, but later on it becomes natural and continuous. The work will go on of its own accord, and your peace will remain undisturbed. Meditation is your true nature. You call it meditation now, because there are other thoughts distracting you. When these thoughts are dispelled, you remain alone-that is, in the state of meditation free from thoughts; and that is your real nature, which you are now trying to gain by keeping away other thoughts. Such keeping away of other thoughts is now called meditation. But when the practice becomes FIRM, the real nature shows itself as true meditation. Question. Other thoughts arise more forcibly when one attempts meditation! M. Yes, all kinds of thought arise in meditation. That is only right; for what lies hidden in you is brought out. Unless it rises up, how can it be destroyed ? Thoughts rise up spontaneously, as it were, but only to be extinguished in due course, thus strengthening the mind. Question. There are times when persons and things take a vague, almost a transparent form, as in a dream. One ceases to observe them as outside, but is passively conscious of their existence, while not actively conscious of any kind of selfhood. There is a deep quietness in the mind. Is it at such times that one is ready to dive into the Self? Or is this condition unhealthy, the result of self- hypnotism? Should it be encouraged as yielding temporary peace ? M. There is Consciousness Along With Quietness In The Mind; this is EXACTLY the state to be aimed at. The fact that the question has been framed on this point, without realizing that it is the Self, shows that the state is not steady but casual. The word 'diving' is appropriate when there are outgoing tendencies, and when, therefore, the mind has to be directed and turned within, there is a dip below the surface of externalities. But when quietness prevails without obstructing the Consciousness, where is the need to dive ? If that state has not been realized as the Self, the effort to do so may be called 'diving'. In this sense the state may be said to be suitable for realization or diving. Thus, the last two questions you have put do not arise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Nisargadatta , " Arvind " <adithya_comming wrote: > > Question. After leaving this Asramam, > in October, I was aware of the Presence > that prevails in Sri Bhagavan's > Presence enfolding me for about ten > days. All the time, while busy in my > work, there was an under-current of > that peace in unity; it was almost like > the dual consciousness which one > experiences while half-asleep in a dull > lecture. Then, it faded out entirely; > and the old stupidities came in > instead. Work leaves no time for > separate meditation. Is it enough > constantly reminding oneself 'I AM', > while at work? > > > > M. (After a short pause). If you > STRENGTHEN THE MIND, that peace will > continue for all time. Its duration is > PROPORTIONAL to the strength of mind > acquired by repeated practice. And such > a mind is able to hold on to the > current. In that case, engagement or no > engagement in work, the current remains > unaffected and uninterrupted. It is not > the work that hinders but the idea that > it is you who are doing it. > > > Question. Is a set meditation > necessary for strengthening the mind? > > > M. Not, if you keep the idea always > before you, that it is not your work. > At first, effort is needed to remind > yourself of it, but later on it becomes > natural and continuous. The work will > go on of its own accord, and your peace > will remain undisturbed. > > Meditation is your true nature. You > call it meditation now, because there > are other thoughts distracting you. > When these thoughts are dispelled, you > remain alone-that is, in the state of meditation > free from thoughts; and that is your > real nature, which you are now trying > to gain by keeping away other thoughts. > Such keeping away of other thoughts is > now called meditation. But when the > practice becomes FIRM, the real nature > shows itself as true meditation. > > Question. Other thoughts arise more > forcibly when one attempts meditation! > > M. Yes, all kinds of thought arise > in meditation. That is only right; for > what lies hidden in you is brought out. > Unless it rises up, how can it be > destroyed ? Thoughts > rise up spontaneously, as it were, but > only to be extinguished in due course, > thus strengthening the mind. > > > Question. There are times when > persons and things take a vague, almost > a transparent form, as in a dream. One > ceases to observe them as outside, but > is passively conscious of their > existence, while not actively conscious > of any kind of selfhood. There is a > deep quietness in the mind. Is it at > such times that one is ready to dive > into the Self? Or is this condition > unhealthy, the result of self- > hypnotism? Should it be encouraged as > yielding temporary peace ? > > > M. There is Consciousness Along With > Quietness In The Mind; this is EXACTLY > the state to be aimed at. The fact that > the question has been framed on this > point, without realizing that it is the > Self, shows that the state is not > steady but casual. > > The word 'diving' is appropriate when > there are outgoing tendencies, and > when, therefore, the mind has to be > directed and turned within, there is a > dip below the surface of externalities. > But when quietness prevails without > obstructing the Consciousness, where is > the need to dive ? If that state has > not been realized as the Self, the > effort to do so may be called 'diving'. > In this sense the state may be said to > be suitable for realization or diving. > Thus, the last two questions you have > put do not arise. So this strenghtening the mind is clearly reinforcing the wall of the ego, which strives for inner " peace " through exlusion of " outer " reality. However, the more we close our door for what we wish to eliminate, the stronger the pressure of the " outer " reality becomes. Finally the wall will collapse and one will be overwhelmed by the chaos and violence of all suppressed parts of reality. This is how wars are being generated. Len Len Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 [...] > > > > Question. There are times when > > persons and things take a vague, almost > > a transparent form, as in a dream. One > > ceases to observe them as outside, but > > is passively conscious of their > > existence, while not actively conscious > > of any kind of selfhood. There is a > > deep quietness in the mind. Is it at > > such times that one is ready to dive > > into the Self? Or is this condition > > unhealthy, the result of self- > > hypnotism? Should it be encouraged as > > yielding temporary peace ? > > > > > > M. There is Consciousness Along With > > Quietness In The Mind; this is EXACTLY > > the state to be aimed at. The fact that > > the question has been framed on this > > point, without realizing that it is the > > Self, shows that the state is not > > steady but casual. > > [...] > > > So this strenghtening the mind is clearly reinforcing the wall of > the ego, which strives for inner " peace " through exlusion of " outer " > reality. However, the more we close our door for what we wish to > eliminate, the stronger the pressure of the " outer " reality becomes. > Finally the wall will collapse and one will be overwhelmed by the > chaos and violence of all suppressed parts of reality. > This is how wars are being generated. Developing Inner Strength doesn't require supression of anything. Just as 'ligting a candle' doesn't require 'supression of darkness'! Darkness might dissapear on its own because it can not withsatnd light; but, the light need not worry about darkness at all. Similarilly once Consciouness becomes STRONG, many 'unconscious' tendencies stop occuring on their own and that doesn't require their supression! > > Len > > Len > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Nisargadatta , " Arvind " <adithya_comming wrote: > > [...] > > > > > > > Question. There are times when > > > persons and things take a vague, almost > > > a transparent form, as in a dream. One > > > ceases to observe them as outside, but > > > is passively conscious of their > > > existence, while not actively conscious > > > of any kind of selfhood. There is a > > > deep quietness in the mind. Is it at > > > such times that one is ready to dive > > > into the Self? Or is this condition > > > unhealthy, the result of self- > > > hypnotism? Should it be encouraged as > > > yielding temporary peace ? > > > > > > > > > M. There is Consciousness Along With > > > Quietness In The Mind; this is EXACTLY > > > the state to be aimed at. The fact that > > > the question has been framed on this > > > point, without realizing that it is the > > > Self, shows that the state is not > > > steady but casual. > > > > > > [...] > > > > > > > So this strenghtening the mind is clearly reinforcing the wall of > > the ego, which strives for inner " peace " through exlusion > of " outer " > > reality. However, the more we close our door for what we wish to > > eliminate, the stronger the pressure of the " outer " reality > becomes. > > Finally the wall will collapse and one will be overwhelmed by the > > chaos and violence of all suppressed parts of reality. > > This is how wars are being generated. > > > Developing Inner Strength doesn't require > supression of anything. > > Just as 'ligting a candle' doesn't require > 'supression of darkness'! It doesn't require strenght, either. What do you need the strenght for? What are you affraid of? Len > Darkness might dissapear on its own because > it can not withsatnd light; but, the light > need not worry about darkness at all. > > Similarilly once Consciouness becomes STRONG, > many 'unconscious' tendencies stop occuring > on their own and that doesn't require their > supression! > > > > > > > Len > > > > Len > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 [...] > > Developing Inner Strength doesn't require > > supression of anything. > > > > Just as 'ligting a candle' doesn't require > > 'supression of darkness'! > > > > It doesn't require strenght, either. > What do you need the strenght for? > What are you affraid of? > > Len 'Strength of Mind' is an Inner thing and it is not dependent of external objects. It need not be a retaliation, reaction or result of external objects. Fear is the result of the perception of the external objects and is dependent on the seeing something 'external'! Inner strength needs no such ['external'] needs! Having greater mental strength can naturally eliminate many things [including fear]... yet, strength itself need not be retaliation to any fear! > > > Darkness might dissapear on its own because > > it can not withsatnd light; but, the light > > need not worry about darkness at all. > > > > Similarilly once Consciouness becomes STRONG, > > many 'unconscious' tendencies stop occuring > > on their own and that doesn't require their > > supression! > > > > > > > > > > > > Len > > > > > > Len > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Nisargadatta , " Arvind " <adithya_comming wrote: > > [...] > > > > Developing Inner Strength doesn't require > > > supression of anything. > > > > > > Just as 'ligting a candle' doesn't require > > > 'supression of darkness'! > > > > > > > > It doesn't require strenght, either. > > What do you need the strenght for? > > What are you affraid of? > > > > Len > > > 'Strength of Mind' is an Inner thing > and it is not dependent of external > objects. > > It need not be a retaliation, reaction > or result of external objects. > > > Fear is the result of the perception > of the external objects and is > dependent on the seeing something > 'external'! > > Inner strength needs no such > ['external'] needs! > > > Having greater mental strength can > naturally eliminate many things > [including fear]... yet, strength > itself need not be retaliation to any > fear! And how do you culitivate it? Going to mental strenght fitness club? :-) Len Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Nisargadatta , " lissbon2002 " <lissbon2002 wrote: > > Nisargadatta , " Arvind " <adithya_comming@> > wrote: > > > > [...] > > > > > > Developing Inner Strength doesn't require > > > > supression of anything. > > > > > > > > Just as 'ligting a candle' doesn't require > > > > 'supression of darkness'! > > > > > > > > > > > > It doesn't require strenght, either. > > > What do you need the strenght for? > > > What are you affraid of? > > > > > > Len > > > > > > 'Strength of Mind' is an Inner thing > > and it is not dependent of external > > objects. > > > > It need not be a retaliation, reaction > > or result of external objects. > > > > > > Fear is the result of the perception > > of the external objects and is > > dependent on the seeing something > > 'external'! > > > > Inner strength needs no such > > ['external'] needs! > > > > > > Having greater mental strength can > > naturally eliminate many things > > [including fear]... yet, strength > > itself need not be retaliation to any > > fear! > > > And how do you culitivate it? > Going to mental strenght fitness club? :-) > > Len how could you know what mental strenght is...... you don't need it.... like a cat who got plenty of food....don't need more of food the world is your food Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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