Is there a we or not a we, that's the question! Yes, there is a we and not a we, that's the answer!

[Guest guest]

Advaita Nonduality Yoga Nisargadatta

 

Hi Everyone,

 

Is there a " we " or not a " we " , that's the question! Yes, there is a " we "

and not a " we " , that's the answer!

 

In my view (which could change at any second), the " we " (or " I " and

" you/other " ) does indeed exist (or is experienced), but in the following sense.

 

It's just like different aspects/functions/organs (not " parts " ) of the

*whole body* such as " toes " are conventionally see as being separate from the

" hands " , or the " knees " from the " heart " , or " eyes " from the " ears " , etc. But

these are " distinctions " which does not mean the same thing as being " separate

or divided " .

 

For example, your " right index finger " (aspect of the *whole-body*) can

touch the " big toe " which creates a sense of " relationship " between *them*

almost " as if " there are " two " *things* involved. Yet, upon close observation,

it's seen that there are no " nouns " (i.e., entities independently existing unto

themselves) involved in this whatsoever. Same with the " eyes " seeing the

" clouds " , or one's " hand " touching a " tree " .

 

All so-called *parts/objects* are functions/processes/verbs co-mingling and

inter-relating with one another! However, at the same time, it could be said

that there's not even an inter-relating since it takes " two " to be related.

Simply an ever-churning, ever-present, never-not-present, *whole-body*

singularity (whether conceived of as the human organism, the earth, the entire

universe, Life, etc) within which, to which, and as a modification of which, the

sense of " we " or " I " and " you/other " arises.

 

No boundaries, no separateness, no unity anywhere to be seen except in

imagination. Go figure! Makes for wonderful and/or excruciating experiences

from one extreme to another and, if one is perhaps fortunate enough, it's also

an ecstatic mind-boggling/mind dissolving mystery! :-) Makes me think that

*Life* might just very well be playing with itself... " Divine Masturbation " .

Yikes! Does that sound sacreligious? I think not, in this context!

 

Along this line, I think it might have been William James who apparently

said when under the influence of Nitrous Oxide (NO2), " There is no difference

except degrees of difference in a field of no difference! "

 

Michael

Adamson