[NondualitySalon] dan/nonduality and morality

[Guest guest]

Roger Isaacs wrote:

> Dan says "One can't still the mind sufficiently"

>

> I think we can agree that the mind can be stilled. Everyone has experienced

> a relatively stiller mind at various times? But how to accomplish this is

> THE question.

>

> Can we liken the overall procedure to lowering the temperature of a pot of

> water till it freezes? Lowering the temperature of the water (stilling the

> mind) is all that we can do? When it's still enough there is a transition,

> but at first the transition is only momentary, not permanent.

>

> "one can't still the mind sufficiently" might be seen to find fault with

> whatever procedure is being used to still the mind. There's a certain

> helplessness in that statement suggesting that our attempts at lowering the

> temperature of the mind are insufficient and should perhaps be abandoned. A

> potential self defeatist attitude. "Self inquiry is useless".

>

> To me, you seem to speak in clever riddles: "one can't still the mind...only

> original stillness will do". Well, how the hell is an individual, a seeker,

> one who claims the appearance of doership & volition, how are they to use

> this volition to find "original stillness?" You seem to undermine any

> potential procedure claiming it can't be done!

>

> Procedures (called the yogas in the hindu tradition although meditation is

> obviously found in many traditions) are useful in lowering the temperature

> of the mind, stilling the mind. It is only at that very still point right

> above the freezing point where technique can be abandoned. At that very

> still point technique has done it's job and it falls away naturally in that

> moment.

>

> Abandoning technique or subtle effort before stillness is a reality is self

> defeating.

>

> Roger

> www.newu.org

>

 

Thanks for sharing Roger. You have much of value to contribute. Meditation and

Yoga are important and found in

various spiritual traditions in some guise or another. They are indeed very

helpful. Ultimately, it seems each

person is attracted to that practice which is useful for them for the time

being. Beauty is always in the "I" of

the Beholder. Where else could it be? :--).

 

Love you brother

Harsha