Guest guest Posted November 15, 2005 Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 I do have some points to add here from recent experience. I have talked of losing the sense of "I" to quite an extent (note that I hate to sign my emails with my name). I had asked a lot on this list whether this was an ego game, or was something really happening. Today, I do suspect that this is an ego-game. The ego is pretending as much as it possibly can that the "I" is dead. This act is based on all the reading I have done of others experience. Then to top it, the ego is pretending to suspect that it is the ego, and pretending to watch itself so that I can be satisfied that it is not an ego game! However, there are still things that the ego can perhaps NOT fake. It cant fake love for others (which I am currently devoid of *completely*). It cant fake bliss - I feel totally lousy and fed up. It can't fake oneness. It cant fake a separation from the mind ? Even though I claim there is no one to feel this or that, still when people ask questions about what I am trying to do, someone in there gets really upset. So the ego and false "I" is very much there, pretending as much as it can, but since I do get upset, therefore the whole thing seems to be a game. Which is really depressing -since the ego is playing a double-cross kind of deceit. Am I right in saying that only when the mind is completely silent, and I simply cannot say "I", that the ego will be dead ? Cheers. On 11/14/05 5:10 PM, "dileepsimha" <dsimha wrote: > So our FALSE 'I' can rise in any of these sutle states and take us > away from our true self of being a standing witnesss. Beware!! and > lets keep enquiring "Who am I?" when every you get consiously aware > of this false 'I'. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2005 Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 am a very ordinary devotee of ramana.for me being part of the group helps to understand some of the issues that i struggle with. however i wonder if you are having depressive episode at this point instead of enlightenment.your symptom description soemhow sound like that.do forgive me if i have offended you. seetha ________ Enjoy this Diwali with Y! India Click here http://in.promos./fabmall/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2005 Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 --- oneness <oneness.univ wrote: > I do have some points to add here from recent > experience. I have talked of > losing the sense of "I" to quite an extent (note > that I hate to sign my emails with my name). So long a deliberate intention to negate the ego through an act, like not signing a label after an email,it is the same ego at play. > I had asked a lot on this list whether this was an > ego game, or was > something really happening. Today, I do suspect that > this is an ego-game. > > The ego is pretending as much as it possibly can > that the "I" is dead. This > act is based on all the reading I have done of > others experience. Then to > top it, the ego is pretending to suspect that it is > the ego, and pretending > to watch itself so that I can be satisfied that it > is not an ego game! > > However, there are still things that the ego can > perhaps NOT fake. It cant > fake love for others (which I am currently devoid of > *completely*). It cant > fake bliss - I feel totally lousy and fed up. It > can't fake oneness. It cant > fake a separation from the mind ? Even though I > claim there is no one to > feel this or that, still when people ask questions > about what I am trying to > do, someone in there gets really upset. So the ego > and false "I" is very > much there, pretending as much as it can, but since > I do get upset, > therefore the whole thing seems to be a game. > > Which is really depressing -since the ego is playing > a double-cross kind of > deceit. > > Am I right in saying that only when the mind is > completely silent, and I > simply cannot say "I", that the ego will be dead ? > > Cheers. So long a prevailing sense of a question, so long the prevailing sense of an ego. The absence of the presence of a question and the absence of the absence of the presence of a question. Incidentally, no matter what, the ego cannot die. Love Avril Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 "So our FALSE 'I' can rise in any of these sutle states and take us away from our true self of being a standing witnesss. Beware!! and lets keep enquiring "Who am I?" when every you get consiously aware of this false 'I'." And in the end Dileepsimha one is not even the witness! Anything that is affirmed is not it. Louis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 am a very ordinary devotee of ramana.for me being part of the group helps to understand some of the issues that i struggle with. however i wonder if you are having depressive episode at this point instead of enlightenment.your symptom description soemhow sound like that.do forgive me if i have offended you. seetha [Louis Mitchell] Indeed - having experienced the same kind of depression while seeking enlightenment I speak from experience. But depression can be very useful - it helps make clear the activity of the mind by creating a loveless and joyless state - so one cannot fool oneself as many non-depressed people do. Many confuse temporary conditional contentment with some kind of awakening. Depression is a great help in the seeking for enlightenment but in the end is only mind. But because the mind of a depressed person is so negative it creates negative feelings resulting in the mind being very obvious in ones emotional state. When awakening occurs the negative mind will be seen as nothing as will it's corresponding emotions. I hope this is of help. Louis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Talk 605. A certain Andhra visitor gave Sri Bhagavan a slip of paper containing several questions which he desired to be answered. Sri Bhagavan took it in His hands, went through the questions and said: M.: "All these questions arise so long as there is one who can ask questions. If the questioner is sought and found, the questions will end of their own accord." Talk 245. M.: Realisation is nothing to be got afresh. It is already there. All that is necessary is to be rid of the thought: "I have not realised." D.: Then one need not attempt it. M.: No. Stillness of mind or peace is realisation. There is no moment when the Self is not. So long as there is doubt or the feeling of non-realisation, attempt must be made to rid oneself of these thoughts. The thoughts are due to identification of the Self with the non-self. When the non-self disappears the Self alone remains. To make room anywhere it is enough that things are removed from there. Room is not brought in afresh. Nay, more - room is there even in cramping. Absence of thoughts does not mean a blank. There must be one to know the blank. Knowledge and ignorance are of the mind. They are born of duality. But the Self is beyond knowledge and ignorance. It is light itself. There is no necessity to see the Self with another Self. There are no two selves. What is not Self is non-self. The non-self cannot see the Self. The Self has no sight or hearing. It lies beyond these - all alone, as pure consciousness. A woman, with her necklace round her neck, imagines that it has been lost and goes about searching for it, until she is reminded of it by a friend; she has created her own sense of loss, her own anxiety of search and then her own pleasure of recovery. Similarly the Self is all along there, whether you search for it or not. Again just as the woman feels as if the lost necklace has been regained, so also the removal of ignorance and the cessation of false identification reveal the Self which is always present - here and now. This is called realisation. It is not new. It amounts to limination of ignorance and nothing more. Blankness is the evil result of searching the mind. The mind must be cut off, root and branch. See who the thinker is, who the seeker is. Abide as the thinker, the seeker. All thoughts will disappear. D.: Then there will be the ego - the thinker. M.: That ego is pure Ego purged of thoughts. It is the same as the Self. So long as false identification persists doubts will persist, questions will arise, there will be no end of them. Doubts will cease only when the non-self is put an end to. That will result in realisation of the Self. There will remain no other there to doubt or ask. All these doubts should be solved within oneself. No amount of words will satisfy. Hold the thinker. Only when the thinker is not held do objects appear outside or doubts arise in the mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 No my brother, I am not offended. I know this state is certainly not enlightenment, but the question had been whether the self is going, since a lot of behavior had changed. I can only say now that : if a person asks whether he has grown spiritually based on some experience, then that can only be the ego. Only the ego wants to know if it has grown. If some parts of the self had indeed died, who would be there to ask? So it likely that this dull, depressive state is just an ego act based on what I have read. OTOH, depression can be helpful because it spurs me to ask "Who is feeling sad?". Whereas if I were happy, would I really bother to keep asking "who is happy?" - not likely. But I do know that this is not the "clinical depression" - I still know that I am suffering far less than I was, and I don't want to go back to the earlier darkness where I thought I was happy and loving etc. Hope I (my false I) make sense. On 11/16/05 6:31 AM, "seetha gopalakrishna" <cgseetha wrote: > > however i wonder if you are having depressive episode > at this point instead of enlightenment.your symptom > description soemhow sound like that.do forgive me if i > have offended you. > seetha > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 "The mind is nothing but the thought "I". Thoughts arise because of the thinker. The thinker is the ego, which if sought will automatically vanish." (excerpt from The Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi, p. 15). Dear oneness: It is thought which gives rise to the illusion of the ego "I", just as the rope gives rise to the illusion of a snake. When looked at directly, the illusion vanishes. The ego "I" is a shadow of thought. There really is no thinker or ego. sincerely, dannyc oneness <oneness.univ wrote: No my brother, I am not offended. I know this state is certainly not enlightenment, but the question had been whether the self is going, since a lot of behavior had changed. I can only say now that : if a person asks whether he has grown spiritually based on some experience, then that can only be the ego. Only the ego wants to know if it has grown. If some parts of the self had indeed died, who would be there to ask? So it likely that this dull, depressive state is just an ego act based on what I have read. OTOH, depression can be helpful because it spurs me to ask "Who is feeling sad?". Whereas if I were happy, would I really bother to keep asking "who is happy?" - not likely. But I do know that this is not the "clinical depression" - I still know that I am suffering far less than I was, and I don't want to go back to the earlier darkness where I thought I was happy and loving etc. Hope I (my false I) make sense. On 11/16/05 6:31 AM, "seetha gopalakrishna" <cgseetha wrote: > > however i wonder if you are having depressive episode > at this point instead of enlightenment.your symptom > description soemhow sound like that.do forgive me if i > have offended you. > seetha > > Post message: RamanaMaharshi Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi- Un: RamanaMaharshi List owner: RamanaMaharshi-owner Our Shortcut URL: http://www./community/RamanaMaharshi <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/ramanamaharshi" rel="tag">ramanamaharshi</a> Religion and spirituality Ramana maharshi Sri ramana maharshi Visit your group "RamanaMaharshi" on the web. RamanaMaharshi FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2005 Report Share Posted November 17, 2005 Thanks Louis; for correcting me. The witness is still the FALSE 'I'; in the form of intellect negating all the FALSE 'I' in its sutle state. The TRUE 'I' is just the existence or consiousness. Regards Dileep RamanaMaharshi, "Louis Mitchell" <louismitchell@d...> wrote: > > "So our FALSE 'I' can rise in any of these sutle states and take us > away from our true self of being a standing witnesss. Beware!! and > lets keep enquiring "Who am I?" when every you get consiously aware > of this false 'I'." > > And in the end Dileepsimha one is not even the witness! > Anything that is affirmed is not it. > Louis. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2005 Report Share Posted November 17, 2005 > Am I right in saying that only when the mind is completely silent, and I > simply cannot say "I", that the ego will be dead ? > > Cheers. What I can say is that when your mind is completely silent and you simply cannot say "I", then you in "no doubt" experiening your TRUE state; or in other words that is your TRUE 'I'. Is the ego dead? No, absolutely not. This is where we need some extra efforts. This effort is not required if we can stay in that TRUE state for ever, since most of us cannot, we need more sadhana until all Vasana's of the mind is burnt. The experience of "silence of the mind" is what Bhagavan calls as "Mano Laya" (temporary silence of the mind) in upadesha sara. What we need to aim is for "Mano Nasha", which in Bhagavan words can be acheieved, by a. Grace of God/Guru (which is always their for the needy) b. Atma Nista (always being your TRUE self) Statement#b: To me, being Atma Nista is as follows. Whenever, the FALSE 'I' is realized (predominently in the waking state); you enquire as "Who am I". I have quoting one such enquiry here a. Lets say you have a thought(since thoughts can arise only when the FALSE 'I' is awake and active), "I dont want to quote my name in the email". b. Question, to whom is this thought? Answer would be to me. c. Question, Who am I? Then recollect your TRUE - "I" state that you experienced in the silence of the mind (in meditation); then the thought seizes because As a TRUE 'I'; there is non other then yourself; so to whom am I to quote my name. This very enquiry makes you Atma Nista. Then this very act of enquiry makes us the seekers of TRUTH and therefore, eligible for the grace of guru. This constant enquiry until, the FALSE 'I' sizes to bother is required; With Bhagavans grace we will for sure then stand strong in our TRUE state (some day). That depicts mano nasha. I am always open for corrections and this is my way to enquire "Who am I" constanly and through out. Om Namo Bhagavathe Shri Ramanaya. Dileep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 dileepsimha <dsimha wrote: > Am I right in saying that only when the mind is completely silent, and I > simply cannot say "I", that the ego will be dead ? > > Cheers. What I can say is that when your mind is completely silent and you simply cannot say "I", then you in "no doubt" experiening your TRUE state; or in other words that is your TRUE 'I'. The "TRUE I", the "I-I", or whatever term is used, is not a durational experience, like say the experience of bliss or sorrow or pain or satisfaction or elation. When I-I is all that there is, who or what is not-I-I to experience I-I. Thus when the sense of a mind is no more, there is also no sense of any "I-I". For the concepts of "I-I", Self, True State are all the play of the mind. Is the ego dead? No, absolutely not. This is where we need some extra efforts. This effort is not required if we can stay in that TRUE state for ever, since most of us cannot, we need more sadhana until all Vasana's of the mind is burnt. The act of efforting, in whatever manner may well happen. But there is no "we" who can stay in "that True state". For there has never been a "we" who has come to be as apart from "that True State", in the first place. The experience of "silence of the mind" is what Bhagavan calls as "Mano Laya" (temporary silence of the mind) in upadesha sara. What we need to aim is for "Mano Nasha", which in Bhagavan words can be acheieved, by a. Grace of God/Guru (which is always their for the needy) b. Atma Nista (always being your TRUE self) Statement#b: To me, being Atma Nista is as follows. Whenever, the FALSE 'I' is realized (predominently in the waking state); you enquire as "Who am I". I have quoting one such enquiry here a. Lets say you have a thought(since thoughts can arise only when the FALSE 'I' is awake and active) The arising of thoughts has nothing to do with the "False I" or the sense of a "me" as a sense of individuated separated self. The seemingly taking ownership of the arising thought, infers the sense of the "me". The belief that it is me which is the thinker of the thought of the moment infers the sense of a "me". The belief that it is me which seeks to destroy the false-I and thereby hoping to experience the True I-I and then somehow stay in that on a permanent basis, infers the sense of a "me-seeker". The object Ramana or any of the objects labeled as enlightened sages were not free of thoughts. The arising of thoughts and their dissipation, was seen to be no different than any other of the infinite "eventings" making up the gestalt of phenomenality. Since the very gestalt of phenomenality is a co-dependent appearance, arising/cessation of thoughts within that gestalt is apperceived as nuances of that same appearance. , "I dont want to quote my name in the email". b. Question, to whom is this thought? Answer would be to me. c. Question, Who am I? Then recollect your TRUE - "I" state that you experienced in the silence of the mind (in meditation); Something can be recalled, when that something has ended and now exists as mnemonic cells. That which starts and ends, is not that-whose-expression-is-the-very-sense-of-start/end, ie, the sense of time. then the thought seizes because As a TRUE 'I'; there is non other then yourself; so to whom am I to quote my name. Yes, the prevailing sense of an individuated identity, in the form of an "owned" name, or in the form of a sense of personal doership, i.e, I am meditating on the True State or I am now experiencing Ramana's I-I etc, prevails only in the assumption or belief of teh existence of an "other". When all identities are I, what identity can be of I. This very enquiry makes you Atma Nista. Then this very act of enquiry makes us the seekers of TRUTH and therefore, eligible for the grace of guru. This constant enquiry until, the FALSE 'I' sizes to bother is required; Nothing is required. And everything that is needed, gets done. Which includes the act, which may get labled as seeking. With Bhagavans grace we will for sure then stand strong in our TRUE state (some day). In that sense of "some day", exists the sense of "hope". Which infers the sense of the "me-hoper". And thus a cul-de-sac. That depicts mano nasha. I am always open for corrections and this is my way to enquire "Who am I" constanly and through out. There is a particular form of enquiry happening. There is none to claim that as "my way", even if it so strongly seems so. Om Namo Bhagavathe Shri Ramanaya. Dileep Love Avril Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Dear Dileep, Another way to look for the false I is to inquires "What is the source of "I"? Look to see if the source of the "I"-thought is from the body? From the senses? From the prana (life force)? From thoughts? From the intellect (that projects the object-subject relationship into the waking state and to dreams)? From the happiness of deep sleep? There is an "I" present in all of these? Does it come from any of them? Or is it projected ONTO them? Where does this "I: come from? Not two, Richard RamanaMaharshi, "dileepsimha" <dsimha@h...> wrote: > > > Am I right in saying that only when the mind is completely silent, > and I > > simply cannot say "I", that the ego will be dead ? > > > > Cheers. > > What I can say is that when your mind is completely silent and you > simply cannot say "I", then you in "no doubt" experiening your <snip> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 dileepsimha <dsimha wrote: > Am I right in saying that only when the mind is completely silent, and I > simply cannot say "I", that the ego will be dead ? > > Cheers. What I can say is that when your mind is completely silent and you simply cannot say "I", then you in "no doubt" experiening your TRUE state; or in other words that is your TRUE 'I'. ------- The "TRUE I", the "I-I", or whatever term is used, is not a durational experience, like say the experience of bliss or sorrow or pain or satisfaction or elation. When I-I is all that there is, who or what is not-I-I to experience I-I? Thus when the sense of a mind is no more, there is also no sense of any "I-I". For the concepts of "I-I", Self, True State are all the play of the mind. ------- Is the ego dead? No, absolutely not. This is where we need some extra efforts. This effort is not required if we can stay in that TRUE state for ever, since most of us cannot, we need more sadhana until all Vasana's of the mind is burnt. -------- The act of efforting, in whatever manner may well happen. But there is no "we" who can stay in "that True state". For there has never been a "we" who has come to be as apart from "that True State", in the first place. --------- The experience of "silence of the mind" is what Bhagavan calls as "Mano Laya" (temporary silence of the mind) in upadesha sara. What we need to aim is for "Mano Nasha", which in Bhagavan words can be acheieved, by a. Grace of God/Guru (which is always their for the needy) b. Atma Nista (always being your TRUE self) Statement#b: To me, being Atma Nista is as follows. Whenever, the FALSE 'I' is realized (predominently in the waking state); you enquire as "Who am I". I have quoting one such enquiry here a. Lets say you have a thought(since thoughts can arise only when the FALSE 'I' is awake and active) --------- The arising of thoughts has nothing to do with the "False I" or the sense of a "me" as a sense of individuated separated self. The seemingly taking ownership of the arising thought, infers the sense of the "me". The belief that it is me which is the thinker of the thought of the moment infers the sense of a "me". The belief that it is me which seeks to destroy the false-I and thereby hoping to experience the True I-I and then somehow stay in that on a permanent basis, infers the sense of a "me-seeker". The object Ramana or any of the objects labeled as enlightened sages were not free of thoughts. The arising of thoughts and their dissipation, was seen to be no different than any other of the infinite "eventings" making up the gestalt of phenomenality. Since the very gestalt of phenomenality is a co-dependent appearance, arising/cessation of thoughts within that gestalt is apperceived as nuances of that same appearance. ----------- , "I dont want to quote my name in the email". b. Question, to whom is this thought? Answer would be to me. c. Question, Who am I? Then recollect your TRUE - "I" state that you experienced in the silence of the mind (in meditation); ----------- Something can be recalled, when that something has ended and now exists as mnemonic cells. That which starts and ends, is not that-whose-expression-is-the-very-sense-of-start/end, ie, the sense of time. ----------- then the thought seizes because As a TRUE 'I'; there is non other then yourself; so to whom am I to quote my name. ------------ Yes, the prevailing sense of an individuated identity, in the form of an "owned" name, or in the form of a sense of personal doership, i.e, I am meditating on the True State or I am now experiencing Ramana's I-I etc, prevails only in the assumption or belief of teh existence of an "other". When all identities are I, what identity can be of I. ------------ This very enquiry makes you Atma Nista. Then this very act of enquiry makes us the seekers of TRUTH and therefore, eligible for the grace of guru. This constant enquiry until, the FALSE 'I' sizes to bother is required; -------- Nothing is required. And everything that is needed, gets done. Which includes the act, which may get labled as seeking. ------------ With Bhagavans grace we will for sure then stand strong in our TRUE state (some day). -------- In that sense of "some day", exists the sense of "hope". Which infers the sense of the "me-hoper". And thus a cul-de-sac. ---------- That depicts mano nasha. I am always open for corrections and this is my way to enquire "Who am I" constanly and through out. ------------ There is a particular form of enquiry happening. There is none to claim that as "my way", even if it so strongly seems so. ------------- Om Namo Bhagavathe Shri Ramanaya. Dileep ------- Love Avril Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 Dear Avril, Thanks for the insight on my earlier email. I really, like the following statement of yours. > The seemingly taking ownership of the arising thought, infers the > sense of the "me". Regards Dileep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 dileepsimha <dsimha wrote: Dear Avril, Thanks for the insight on my earlier email. I really, like the following statement of yours. > The seemingly taking ownership of the arising thought, infers the > sense of the "me". ------ Yes. As well as the seemingly taking ownership of the external actualization of thought, viz a physical action and the consequential invoked response to that action. All going towards inferring the sense of the individuated-separated-me. The sense of the belief that it is me which is on the path of Ramanas' Self-Enquiry and thus it is me which sits in meditation doing Self-Enquiry and thus the ensuing reverence or the ridicule from society for "my-Ramanasque-Self-Enquiry", is me being revered or me being ridiculed. As is thus evident, Ramana's beautiful suggestion to ascertain to whom does the thought arise to, cuts the very platform on which rests that sense of a belief of personal ownership. For the sense of personal ownership, whether of thought or of the ensuing external actualization as physical action/reaction, is once again, an arising thought. The deeper, (so to say), questing is the question "The thought of "to whom did this thought arise to", what is the source of that thought?" When the sense of enquiry into the source of thought, is seen to be itself a thought and that very thought as the sense of enquiry, is itself enquired into. And this is not an infinte mental regression. Love Avril Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 Avril Sanya <avrilsanya wrote: dileepsimha <dsimha wrote: Dear Avril, When the sense of enquiry into the source of thought, is seen to be itself a thought and that very thought as the sense of enquiry, is itself enquired into. And this is not an infinte mental regression. Love Avril What is the point of the infinite regress coming to an end? Sankarraman Enjoy this Diwali with Y! India Click here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Dear Sankarraman, This List being focussed exclusively to posting only Ramana's teachings, if you wish to re-pose your question off-List, you are welcome. If not, you are still welcome :-) Love Avril Sankarraman Gamesam <sankarraman_gamesam wrote: Avril Sanya <avrilsanya wrote: dileepsimha <dsimha wrote: Dear Avril, When the sense of enquiry into the source of thought, is seen to be itself a thought and that very thought as the sense of enquiry, is itself enquired into. And this is not an infinte mental regression. Love Avril What is the point of the infinite regress coming to an end? Sankarraman Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.