Total Thoughts (Jan 25, 2010): Enquiry into the Truth (Tattva Bodha pages 36 - 38)

When we talk to ourselves, who is actually doing the talking? Who's doing the listening? In this instance, do we have awareness? Or are we awareness? We gather this week to contemplate meaning of the separation of the Self from the non-Self. Here are our total thoughts…

 

Total Thoughts (January 25, 2010):  Enquiry into the Truth (Tattva Bodha pages 36 - 38)

• We act and think we are the conditioning (worldly qualities); this is a function of the ego. We must become aware of it and know that it is separate from the Self; anything that changes is not real, that which changes is an illusion
• The causal body (vasanas) is the cause of the gross (perceived with senses) and subtle body (mind). The purpose of the gross and subtle bodies is to transcend the ego, and this is only possible when conscious of it.
• It is the illusion that creates the vasana, but the illusion also provides the opportunity to exhaust the vasana. This is done by experiencing it and then de-identifying with it. OR we stop identifying with the doer (ego).
• The ego is an illusion. We are not bound. To the realized, there is no delusion, it is entertainment. We are not a body with a soul.We are the soul with a body.
• The self is covered in 5 sheaths: food sheath, vital air sheath, mental sheath, intellectual sheath, and bliss sheath. The bliss sheath is our personality in its unmanifest condition.
• Since I know the different conditions of my bodies (gross, subtle, causal) and sheaths, I am therefore different from them!

Total Thoughts (Jan 18, 2010): Enquiry into the Truth (Tattva Bodha pages 34 - 36)

Hari Om Everyone,
 
i hope this email finds everyone well...

 

After further reflection on last week's discussion, we continue with further enquiry on our initial thoughts. What is the nature of the self? Can the self be experienced? If I'm the Self, how can we live as the "i"? Here are our total thoughts…

 

Total Thoughts (January 18, 2010):  Enquiry into the Truth (Tattva Bodha pages 34 - 36)

• "To Be" – the realization of this state is the main goal of our lives. Instead, we focus on the past and the future, rarely on the present. We need to become present to the moment through continuous reflection, and discrimination. We need to be more aware and in control or emotions, feelings and thoughts
• Just as the essence of water remains the same through its various names and forms (snow, ice, vapour, steam, rain, hail, etc), we should maintain our own essence as we journey through our daily associations (friend, son/daughter, father/mother, etc)
• The discovery of the self is actually a rediscovery. How can we discover something that already exists? Do you know your own essence? Are you present to your own essence?
• There are conscious and unconscious thoughts. Unconscious thoughts lead to stress, anxiety, and helplessness. While conscious thoughts allow for focus, discipline and fortitude. By replacing former with the latter, we become more aware to the present
• On the spiritual part, desire leads to desirelessness, action leads to actionlessness, effort leads to effortless; I was and I will be, lead to "I am."

 

 

Foundation for our upcoming discussion: Enquiry into the Truth (Tattva Bodha pages 36 - 39)

Total Thoughts (Jan 11, 2010): Enquiry into the Truth (Tattva Bodha pages 34 - 36)

The holiday break allowed us to reflect and put into action the foundations of Tattva Bodha. We gather this week to soak in satsang, to allow us to pick away at our understanding of what is un-real, and what are its qualities. Finally, we try to understand the nature of the illusion, and its qualities, and how ultimately, it is part of That. Here are our total thoughts…

 

Total Thoughts (January 11, 2010):  Enquiry into the Truth (Tattva Bodha pages 34 - 36)

 

·         Anything that is changing is unreal. Anything that is unreal and can be experienced is an illusion. Therefore, this world is an illusion were the self get veiled and the world is perceived.

·         Our "dream" ignorance can only be fulfilled by "dream" knowledge, i.e. scriptures are the "dream" knowledge. For example, in the Matrix, for Neo to escape the "dream world" he had to take a "dream" pill. Therefore, liberation can be gained in the illusion through knowledge that makes us discriminate, become disciplined, have dispassion, and desire for liberation.

·         Everything is composed of sat-chit-ananda (Existence, awareness, bliss). With the correct vision, everything is real, with wrong vision, everything is unreal (names, forms). The goal is to see sat-chit-ananda in everything. Detach from names and forms, and then attach to the real (sat-chit-ananda), a higher vision.

·         If I'm not there, how can there be happiness? Stop dependency for happiness in names and forms which are all an illusion. If we remove ignorance, we recognize the self. I am the source of happiness.

·         Be independent of anything, anyone, and anywhere. If I'm not there, how can there be happiness? Stop dependency for happiness in names and forms which are all an illusion. If we remove the ignorance, we recognize the self

 

 

Foundation for our upcoming discussion: Enquiry into the Truth (Tattva Bodha pages 36 - 39)