Richard The Emptiness

[Guest guest]

Dear Alton,

 

Again, I suggest look not for "gains." Is there more sense of peace,

equanimity and such? If this is true, then something is happening.

 

If this is not true, then perhaps you should re-evaluate your view of

enlightenment and your practice.

 

I also suggest (again) the practice of negation/discrimination

combined with the inquiry (Who am I? Am I this? I am not this, who am

I?). I have heard that the mind does two things: disciminate and

choose. This approach uses the mind and how the mind works to further

your spiritual growth.

 

This practice is so integral to Advaita Vedanta, that in chapter 1 of

Song of Ribhu, Ribhu says in the VERY FIRST verse that is oriented to

practice:

 

40

Just as the pot-space and the outside space are one, indeed,

When conditionings like the pot are negated,

So also, if the conditionings like nescience and others are negated,

The pure Self and the Supreme Brahman are one.

All the aspirants for Liberation should unimpededly realize

The great identity of the Self and the Supreme

By Vedantic inquiry, eliminating, through a process of negation,

All conditionings that produce a sense of duality.

 

In my own experience, after a couple of years of this practice

(focused negation/discrimination), I see the bhava (conviction) that

what is Real is but Consciousness. This conviction brings with it a

mind that is much less noisy, and meditation (inquiry) that is much

more focused on this deep Being.

 

So for me, with the discrimination of what is actually Real, what

actually exists within (Consciousness), then the choice of "what is

Real" becomes much nore natural, and the meditation deepens.

 

You must also understand that I do NOT think of myself as

particularly spiritually gifted. This has been a gradual and

progressive process, fueled by ongoing effort, and by the generous

words of realized teachers.

 

We are Not two,

Richard

 

 

RamanaMaharshi, "SIT" <leenalton@h...> wrote:

> Richard offered:

> How do you know that there are no results? Do not measure inquiry

> by "results" that are to seen by the mind, or are some kind of body-

> experience. Are you feeling any greater sense of inner peace? Is

> your certainty about the Truth increasing?

>

> Dear Richard:

> Some of the gains that have appeared also appeared in my wife who

does not meditate. So, I have to conclude that the so called gains

would have happened anyway just by living one's life or from

understanding the teachings. I evaluate progress by my ability to

have less thoughts during the day or to have less during meditation.

Therefore I say I have not made any progress.

> I am beginning to think that U.G was correct in saying that over

time the mind has gotten too strong and cant be conquered except for

a gifted few like U.G.

>

> Now that does not mean that I will stop trying as sometime miracles

do happen and I want to prepare myself in case new technology arrives

from the cyber Buddha who will free us in just a few months with the

proper technology. Imagine meditating in a weightless environment

hooked up to a computer that knows when you are thinking and signals

you thus. Being hooked up to intravenous feeding would allow one to

continue to meditate until Self realization is attained. We need that

kind of tech so that we don't struggle for many lifetimes to attain

Self realization and moksha.

>

>

> Richard again:

> "While is is good to periodically review your practice, how you see

> yourself, and how you see inlightenment, measuring yourself for

> progress may not contribute to your spiritual progress".

>

> Alton: In order to keep oneself motivated to practice, progress or

deepening as you have stated it is of utmost importance. I remember a

swimming coach telling me that when his team members no longer are

improving they quit. So since I do not want to quit, I have started

to switch to bhakti to keep me motivated. Luckily I found Sri Ramana

to keep me interested.

>

> A Ramana friend recently told me to just surrender to Sri Ramana

and I am somewhat confused about it so I wrote this spoof to cheer me

up.

> Any hints on what surrender really is please advise. I asked my

wife for her views on it. What does one do, just give in to all

reasonable requests and dedicate actions to Sri Ramana?

> Anyway here is the spoof and thanks for sharing your views.

>

> Om Namo Bhavagate Sri Ramanaya

> Alton Sit.

>

> A friend suggested that because I am experiencing low energy and

poor meditations, to surrender to guru Ramana.

>

> Sit: I wonder what my very spiritual friend means by "surrender to

Sri Ramana".

> Well, I will now look it up on an online dictionary.

> Here is one that fits, I think. "to give up completely or agree to

forgo especially in favor of another"

> Good I will use this one now.

> Lee: Alton honey what are we having for dinner?

> Alton: I don't know, I will ask Ramana.

> Alton: Since Ramana did not answer we will skip dinner tonight

and you ladies who have been putting on flesh will trim down somewhat.

> Lee: I am hungry.

> Alton: You raised four kids and you know how to cook.

> Lee: Are you eating.

> Alton: No, not unless Sri Ramana tells me too. I am sick and

tired of feeding this body for some many years and all that happens

is that it comes out the other end.

> Lee: Then you are not going to meditate either?

> Alton: Of course not. I have been sitting for thirty years

experiencing all that pain and now I no longer have to, because I

surrendered to Sri Ramana and he will free me.

> Lee: I am going to call your mother and tell her about this.

> Alton: Hello Lee, Sri Ramana just told me to cook a terrific

dinner for you and our yogini housemate.

> finis

>

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