Guest guest Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I was reading the book - Be As You are. There was a question which talked about What is awareness and Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi had replied saying - " You are awareness. Awareness is another name for you.Since you are awareness, there is no need to cultivate or attain it. All that you need to do is give up awareness of other things. If one gives up being aware of other things, then pure awareness alone remains. And that is the Self. " When Bhagavan says, I'm awareness, what does that mean? I always though being aware is like being cautious or being knowledgeable of things happening. For example, I'm aware that this work has to be completed by today, I'm aware that I should write an e-mail without spelling mistake. But when Bhagavan says, I'm awareness, I didnt get it. And also He explains to give up being aware of other things. How do we give up being aware of other things. I always felt my mind is being aware of something or other. There is always something running. How do we even go about giving up being aware of other things. Is it like just seeing what is coming to your mind and going out? I tried that today morning.. like there was a thought coming - " I should send the report to my mamanager " There was other thought coming - " Today I should not postpone things after coming from office " - And then there was other thought - " Palani dont think about it, come back doing Japa with uttering God's name " After few seconds, not even minutes, anohter thought came.... So is just seeing all these thoughts being aware of the thoughts? And how do we give up these other awareness? Can anyone one guide me? And also thanks for all the members, as per your advice, I started doing Japa daily morning, evening and before going to bed. I do for about 5 minutes, but as I quoted above, even withing those 5 minutes of Japa, thoughts wander, I had to pull back and again I start the Japa, again it would go away adn again I have to pull it back. Let's see. Thanks, Palani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Hi Palani, , " Palaniappan C " <ksrpal2002 wrote: > > I was reading the book - Be As You are. There was a question which > talked about What is awareness and Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi had > replied saying - > > " You are awareness. Awareness is another name for you.Since you are > awareness, there is no need to cultivate or attain it. All that you > need to do is give up awareness of other things. If one gives up being > aware of other things, then pure awareness alone remains. And that is > the Self. " > > > When Bhagavan says, I'm awareness, what does that mean? I always though > being aware is like being cautious or being knowledgeable of things > happening. As I see it, you're describing the mental version of awareness, what thought believes to be awareness. Who or what is aware of both that description, and this reply? From here, that's the awareness that Sri Ramana speaks of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Dear Palani, Ramana Maharshi writes: " You are awareness. Awareness is another name for you.Since you are awareness, there is no need to cultivate or attain it. " You ask: " When Bhagavan says, I'm awareness, what does that mean? I always though being aware is like being cautious or being knowledgeable of things happening. For example, I'm aware that this work has to be completed by today, I'm aware that I should write an e-mail without spelling mistake. " I think you've asked a really important question - 'what does it mean that I am awareness?' Who is this 'I am' that is not different to awareness. These could be good questions to stay with and hold in the heart. Part of your question/doubt seems to rest on the definition you are giving to the word " awareness " in your examples. We might look at it another way and say: " This work has to be completed by today. " is just a thought. " I should write an email without a spelling mistake. " is just a thought. Both these thoughts may be mixed with feelings of one kind or another. Such thoughts and feelings along with many others arise and pass away - while awareness remains. All objects of the mind and of the senses (some pleasant, some unpleasant) arise and pass away - while awareness remains. Our bodies change (infancy, to adulthood, to old age), our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs change - while awareness remains. Our identification with what arises in awareness, namely the experience of body-mind etc gives us the feeling of personhood - namely, the feeling that 'I am this', I am this man/woman, engineer, devotee & so on. From 'I am this' arises the sense of others - hence arises I and you and they. Sri Ramana invites us to explore the nature and source of 'I am this' (the feeling of egoity) via the quest of " Who am I? " As the illusory feeling of egoity (I am this) gives way, the true nature of awareness is unveiled as the pure " I am " shining of its own accord. Just as the sun needs no other light to illumine it, awareness needs no other awareness in order for it to be known. It is self evident and therefore not something to be attained. This is only as I understand it. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I understand the term awareness like this:I ask the question 'How do I know that I exist?', 'How am I intrinsically _aware_ that I am alive?'.Where from does this surity in the knowledge of my existence come from? What gives me this feeling of being alive NOW?When I ask these questions I find it easier to focus on the 'I am'.I take awareness to mean being aware of my own existence/aliveness.Ram Prakash -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Ram, Probably we need to differentiate between 'direct' and 'in-direct' means of awareness of our existence. The in-direct method is easy. I am aware of my existence since I am able to think, see, touch etc. But, I think, what is required as a sadhana is the 'direct' method. This is abstract, difficult to explain & perhaps has the intrinsic aspect that you refer to. It is a 'felt' experience in the heart as opposed to reasoned knowledge using the head. I have been trying to have this 'direct' experience in my meditation sessions. I try to taste my experience much like I try to have a direct taste of sugar. I think, I am having momentary successes - split second experiences. sundar , ram <ramprax wrote: > > I understand the term awareness like this: > I ask the question 'How do I know that I exist?', 'How am I intrinsically > _aware_ that I am alive?'. > Where from does this surity in the knowledge of my existence come from? > What gives me this feeling of being alive NOW? > When I ask these questions I find it easier to focus on the 'I am'. > I take awareness to mean being aware of my own existence/aliveness. > > Ram Prakash > -- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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