RE: [NondualitySalon] Brain and Consciousness

[Guest guest]

 

Ashwin Khambadkone [asta_vakra]

Wednesday, April 26, 2000 2:26 AM

NondualitySalon

Re: [NondualitySalon] Brain and Consciousness

 

So manifest-unmanifest are all conclusions reached by the wakeful

state, the Brahman and the ParaBrahman etc are all the concepts. All

one can say is that Every thing is concept in that sense the advaitic

doctrine of maya comes true. We have no other means to find out the

truth.

 

asta_vakra

 

 

The Way to Truth is indeed Clear and Direct, say the Sages like Sri Ramana.

It is our experience, however, that we stumble, fumble, and mumble seemingly

endlessly on the spiritual path. So What prevents us from Seeing and Being?

It seems it is the mind itself ultimately, however we choose to define it,

that hinders Realization or Recognition of the Eternal.

 

The Mind can be our friend or our enemy. This truism is the basis of most

schools of thought of spirituality and psychology and religion.

 

We need not reflect long to realize that all discussions and intellectual

attempts to understand, use the faculty of the mind. All spiritual practices

as well are based on the presumption of the use of the mind. While the

activity and power of the mind can takes us to the highest regions of

celestial heights and understanding, the mind is unable to transcend itself.

Therefore, the Truth that permeates the mind is not grasped clearly.

 

The use of the faculty of intelligence and discrimination is an important

function of the mind on the spiritual path. However, the mind upon reaching

spiritual maturity gives even that up. All discussions and conclusions

reached about the nature of reality, Brahman, Parabrahman, brain,

consciousness, etc. by their very nature involve perception, interpretation,

and judgment. The beauty of Self-Realization lies in giving up everything to

the Lord of the Heart that is the Self. Giving up everything, including the

mind itself, is what makes Self-Realization possible. The Pure Knowing that

Knows It Self and longs for absolutely nothing is the Self that is often

indicated by the term Sat-Chit-Ananda.

 

So it would appear that the ultimate sacrifice is that of our perceptions

and interpretation and our suffering and whatever else that constitutes our

identity. This sacrifice of one's identity is not something external but is

the attitude of surrender to the Lord who sits in one's own Heart. If

spiritual practices have a purpose then it must be to allow the mind to

mature and finally surrender to the Source of its own Reality. Ramana

Maharshi has pointed out that God, Guru, Grace, Self all mean the same

thing.

 

I would recommend "Talks with Ramana Maharshi" for everyone. Also "Be As You

Are" by David Godman is an important compilation of conversations with the

Sage of Arunachala.

 

Harsha