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Is Self-Realization an Experience?

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> > In fact book-knowledge is an> > additional source of bondage to those that are satisfied> > with it, instead> > of striving to obtain actual Experience of the central> > Truth conveyed in> > the books.

Dear All, reviewing this recent posting by Alan (quoting the Garland of

Guru's sayings), I would like to raise the question of "Experiencing of

the Truth" as opposed to (or complementary to) "Knowing the Truth" about Oneself.

Bhagavan always remarked that: "To know the Self is to Be the Self".

In many traditional advaitic circles, there is the notion that

Self-Realization is NOT an experience, but rather the dissapearance of

a misunderstanding about oneself (since was always the Self), the

dissolution of Ignorance, and these phenomena happens in the mind,

place where the confusion first arose. Since it is true that every

experience requires an "experienc-er" (so dualistic in nature), the

non-dual cannot be experienced because precisely...it is non-dual, there is no duality of experiencer-experienced possible.

 

Should the word "Experience" of the posting cited above be understood differently? and if yes, in which sense?

 

If anyone would be inclined to share her/his insights on this topic, will be appreciated.

Thanks and Happy western Holidays to everyone.

 

Yours in bhagavan,

Mouna

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upadesa wrote:

 

 

> > In fact book-knowledge is an

> > additional source of bondage to those that are satisfied

> > with it, instead

> > of striving to obtain actual Experience of the central

> > Truth conveyed in

> > the books.

 

Dear All, reviewing this recent posting by Alan (quoting the Garland of

Guru's sayings), I would like to raise the question of "Experiencing of

the Truth" as opposed to (or complementary to) "Knowing the

Truth" about Oneself.

Bhagavan always remarked that: "To know the Self is to Be the Self".

In many traditional advaitic circles, there is the notion that

Self-Realization is NOT an experience, but rather the dissapearance of

a misunderstanding about oneself (since was always the Self), the

dissolution of Ignorance, and these phenomena happens in the mind,

place where the confusion first arose. Since it is true that every

experience requires an "experienc-er" (so dualistic in nature), the

non-dual cannot be experienced because precisely...it is

non-dual, there is no duality of experiencer-experienced possible.

 

Should the word "Experience" of the posting cited above be understood

differently? and if yes, in which sense?

 

If anyone would be inclined to share her/his insights on this topic,

will be appreciated.

 

Thanks and Happy western Holidays to everyone.

 

Yours in bhagavan,

Mouna

 

Dear Mouna,

 

It might be useful to describe what generally is accepted

as an experience. The six senses receive impressions also during

sleep. But only when a sensory impression exceeds a threshold,

that could result in for instance "I had this or that experience".

Any sensory impression implies a change with respect to a preceding

condition, so in summary, all experience regards enough change

to pass a threshold (a variable one: attention lowers it) before it

can be noticed as experience.

 

The term "Self" is one out of many equally valid terms to describe

what can't be properly described. But sometimes a description is

useful, like "the Unchangeable". That term suggests the impossibility

of making any sensory impression because all such impressions

regard change with respect to a preceding condition.

 

From that perspective, no such thing as "realization of the Self" is

possible. Yet, something (an experience) must have occurred to

coin the term "Self-realization". But what happened wasn't the

realization

of the Self - its unchanging nature escapes experience and yet, that

fact cannot be known without an experience - it's just of a different

kind.

Hence the use of the capital E, in the same sense that there may be

many gods, but only one God.

 

So there is no conflict with classical advaita, only a different way to

describe

the same.

 

Jan

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, " upadesa " <maunna wrote:

>

>

> > > In fact book-knowledge is an

> > > additional source of bondage to those that are satisfied

> > > with it, instead

> > > of striving to obtain actual Experience of the central

> > > Truth conveyed in

> > > the books.

>

> Dear All, reviewing this recent posting by Alan (quoting the

Garland of

> Guru's sayings), I would like to raise the question

of " Experiencing of

> the Truth " as opposed to (or complementary to) " Knowing the Truth "

about

> Oneself.

> Bhagavan always remarked that: " To know the Self is to Be the Self " .

> In many traditional advaitic circles, there is the notion that

> Self-Realization is NOT an experience, but rather the dissapearance

of a

> misunderstanding about oneself (since was always the Self), the

> dissolution of Ignorance, and these phenomena happens in the mind,

place

> where the confusion first arose. Since it is true that every

experience

> requires an " experienc-er " (so dualistic in nature), the non-dual

cannot

> be experienced because precisely...it is non-dual, there is no

duality

> of experiencer-experienced possible.

>

> Should the word " Experience " of the posting cited above be

understood

> differently? and if yes, in which sense?

>

> If anyone would be inclined to share her/his insights on this topic,

> will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks and Happy western Holidays to everyone.

>

> Yours in bhagavan,

> Mouna

>

Namaste,

 

The experience of union with the sakti is an experience, and is the

only memory of bliss. The simultaneous realisation of Nirguna Brahman

cannot be remembered or experienced at all..........In the end that

is the full truth. THAT TRUTH CANNOT BE EXPERIENCED...Cheers Tony

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, " Tony OClery " <aoclery >

Namaste,

>

> The experience of union with the sakti is an experience, and is the

> only memory of bliss. The simultaneous realisation of Nirguna Brahman

> cannot be remembered or experienced at all..........In the end that

> is the full truth. THAT TRUTH CANNOT BE EXPERIENCED...Cheers >

 

Are you sure that is the full truth? :-). Exactly how do you know?

Possibly, through your mind?

 

The way that can be talked about is not The Way.

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, " harshaimtm " wrote:

>

> , " Tony OClery " <aoclery@> >

> Namaste,

> >

> > The experience of union with the sakti is an experience, and is the

> > only memory of bliss. The simultaneous realisation of Nirguna

Brahman

> > cannot be remembered or experienced at all..........In the end that

> > is the full truth. THAT TRUTH CANNOT BE EXPERIENCED...Cheers > >

>

> Are you sure that is the full truth? :-). Exactly how do you know?

> Possibly, through your mind?

>

> The way that can be talked about is not The Way.

 

Harsha,

 

That is what I am saying----the full truth---is neti neti through to

NirGuna. As it is beyond the illlusory mind there can be no experience -

-hence the truth cannot be experienced..........Anymore than you can

recollect sahaja samadhi. Though one can experience bliss on the way

down from it so to speak.I can measure my mind to see by experience it

isn't the truth.........Cheers Tony

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