We are not the body, not the thoughts

[Guest guest]

"All along we have been thinking that the body is real. This has

caused us sorrow. Now let us think the opposite way. The Atman (Self

or Soul) is real and eternal and it is the Atman that we seek to

realize. If that thought becomes firmly fixed in our consciousness,

our sorrows will vanish and we will experience only bliss." -

Ammachi, For My Children, p130 (0691)

 

The above advice from Amma is easier for me to think in the following

way which perhaps is a similar approach( comments appreciated ):

 

All along we have been thinking that the body(THOUGHTS) is real. This

has caused us sorrow. Now let us think the opposite way. The Atman

(Self or Soul) or (SILENCE) is real and eternal and it is the Atman(

SILENCE ) that we seek to realize. If that thought becomes firmly

fixed in our consciousness, our sorrows will vanish and we will

experience only bliss. - Ammachi, For My Children, p130 (0691)

 

THOUGHTS and SILENCE is something we all experience from moment to

moment in various degrees. Usually we honor THOUGHTS and ignore

SILENCE. Then we sit, close our eyes for meditation to experience

SILENCE, say for half an hour. This is fine for we have decided to

honor SILENCE for the next half hour instead of THOUGHTS. One problem

may be that our expectation to experience SILENCE very deeply( more

noticeably ) may prove to be disappointing and frustrating. When

meditation time is over, we usually go back to honoring THOUGHTS for

the rest of the day forgetting that SILENCE is always present even

when thinking and during dynamic activity.

 

My friend suggested to me why not remember to honor SILENCE to

whatever degree it is present/noticeable in the moment to moment

throughout the day? in addition to meditation.

 

In between each two thoughts there is silence. When we listen

attentively there is silence. When we view a nature scene, there is

silence. Etc. It seems all of life can be summarized by these two

words Silence and Thoughts and that Love is somehow the link.

 

Perhaps others would like to share their experiences of noticing

Silence in common everyday activity and/or during spiritual practices?

 

With Amma's Blessings,

amarnath