Guest guest Posted August 26, 1999 Report Share Posted August 26, 1999 Dear Jairam, I have been reminded that Swamiji said (to an American lady, I belive) something to the effect, " Madam, learn to see two points of view: When I am absorbed in deep meditation I can claim 'I am He'. But when I feel I am the mind/body complex, I cry out 'Mammy, I have a pain in my tummy.' " That is, it is one thing to claim " I am He " and another to actually experience it. Until the deep realization, we have to deal with the body/mind complex. Now I know it is horrible to repeat that without telling you where you can read it. Perhaps someone else knows... Again, best wishes, Edith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 1999 Report Share Posted August 26, 1999 EDTipple wrote: <<< That is, it is one thing to claim " I am He " and another to actually experience it. Until the deep realization, we have to deal with the body/mind complex. >>> c s shah relies : How very true! The famous proclamations 'Every soul is potentially divine', 'Thou art That (You are God)', 'Aham Brahmasmi (I am God)', etc. are routinely talked about and intellectually (conceptually) accepted, but not lived by most of us. In this regard the condition in the West & East is same, because materialistic philosophy rules the heart and mind of most of us. A rare soul is able to experience the " Unity of existence " through scientifically laid down spiritual practices. Vedanta preaches that through spiritual practices everyone is capable of realizing one's own divine nature & divinity in others as well. Advaita Vedantic message is that there is only one Reality: Universal Consciousness, Atman, Brahman, Self, Spirit, God (These are all synonyms). Whatever we experience is the same Reality veiled by 'name and form', which Vedanta calls as Ignorance or Maya. Spiritual aspirant--Sadhaka--is one who tries to realize his/her true identity as Self. This may appear too tall a proposition, but Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda lived their lives to show us how to make this Truth our own. This is practical Vedanta. The method or path to realize our true identity will differ from person to person according to his/her stage of development or inclination of mind. This linking --yoking-- our lower self (identifying ourselves with body-mind complex) with higher Self (identifying ourselves with the Atman) is called as Yoga. Accordingly, this may be attempted by 1. Worship, devotion, or love-- Bhakti-Yoga 2. Selfless work --Karma-Yoga 3. Discrimination between real & unreal, and giving up the unreal --Jnana-Yoga 4. Psychic control of mind by Meditation and contemplation -- Raja-Yoga dr c s shah ==================================== E-magazine on science and spirituality. Visit: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/1704/index.html http://members.xoom.com/drcsshah/neovedanta/index.html ==================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 1999 Report Share Posted August 26, 1999 Edith and Jairam have touched on a point very much of interest to me. There is an ideal (what we reach for) and our current state (which we must ackowledge and work from). The philosophers remind us of the ideal, the realized beings show it to us, and then we must work with our eyes open to both exactly where we are now and where the goal is. Edith's quote of Swami V hits it on the head for me. If my body has a stomach ache, i take medicine for it! that is also a part of the process of flux as discussed by Jairam and at the same time ackowledges the current state. Two sides of the same coin! Even the Master would at times ask those around Him 'when will my arm heal?'. -- Karen EDTipple wrote: > EDTipple <edtipple > > Dear Jairam, > > I have been reminded that Swamiji said (to an American lady, I belive) > something to the effect, " Madam, learn to see two points of view: > When I am absorbed in deep meditation I can claim 'I am He'. But when > I feel I am the mind/body complex, I cry out 'Mammy, I have a pain in > my tummy.' " That is, it is one thing to claim " I am He " and another to > actually experience it. Until the deep realization, we have to deal > with the body/mind complex. > > Now I know it is horrible to repeat that without telling you where you > can read it. Perhaps someone else knows... > Again, best wishes, > Edith > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > ATTENTION ONElist MEMBERS: Get your ONElist news! > Join our MEMBER NEWSLETTER here: > <a href= " http://clickme./ad/newsletter3 " >Click Here</a> > > ------ > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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