Robert

[Guest guest]

 

 

Robert Watson [niche]

 

In answer to your question, I'm not sure I have any deepest truth, other

than a commitment to intellectual integrity. Whether it pertains to

ourselves, our personalities, our health, or whatever, it's always better to

know the truth as best we can, and deal with it.

 

Robert.

 

Yes. I would agree with that Robert. A search for truth is critical. I will

start sharing this conversation with a as well, if you don't

mind.

 

The answer to "What is our deepest truth" might differ from person to person

and according to circumstances and the moment. In intense suffering, our

deepest truth might appear to be our pain and anguish. To a hungry and

starving man, the deepest truth of the moment may be food, and to a thirsty

man the deepest truth of the moment may be water. To a child crying, the

deepest truth of the moment may be the mother.

 

Still, even though what the deepest truth is, appears conditioned by

circumstances, perceptions, culture, experiences, and education, sages tell

us that the deepest truth of any moment, whether we consciously realize it

or not, is the fact of our existence.

 

Perhaps you know that Ramana Maharshi used to say that we cannot deny our

existence. Statements such as "I exist" or "I am" appear to be self-evident

as they intuitively correlate to sensing or feeling our existence. This

feeling/sensing is not an emotion or a sensation but something prior to

these. It is simply an awareness/feeling that "I exist." It does not require

thought and precedes it. Even in a dream or a vision one can feel/sense

through practice that "I am" without getting lost in the landscape.

 

Logically, we cannot say "how" or "where" we exist (and whether it is a

dream, vision, waking state, etc) or why we exist (that is, what is the

motif or cause of our existence) without bringing in other concepts such as

karma and reincarnation. But we can clearly state, "I am" or "I exist"

independently and without the help of other notions. As pointed out by Sri

Ramana, the world and God only appear after the "I" thought appears.

Similarly, scriptures, perceptions, feelings, knowledge, experiences,

sensations are all predicated on the assumption of our existence.

 

When our sages tell us to "Be Still", they are indicating this simple,

beautiful, and natural path. This self-evident feeling/awareness of "I am",

when held to, with a satisfied, relaxed, contented, and an aware mind, is

the gateway to Self-Realization. This is the simplest and yet perhaps a

difficult practice as it lacks any structure or an anchor. So it seems to me

that we should consider seriously whether our deepest truth is the

feeling/awareness that "I exist."

 

Harsha

[Guest guest]

> When our sages tell us to "Be Still", they are indicating this

simple, beautiful, and natural path. This self-evident

feeling/awareness of "I am", when held to, with a satisfied, relaxed,

contented, and an aware mind, is the gateway to Self-Realization.

This

is the simplest and yet perhaps a difficult practice as it lacks any

structure or an anchor. So it seems to me that we should consider

seriously whether our deepest truth is the feeling/awareness that "I

exist."

>

> Harsha

 

Lovely and lucid as always! Thank You, Harsha.

 

Smiling Softly Here

Peace - Michael