Imagine the VOID [comments welcome]

[Guest guest]

The void, I am talking about is “ Pure Consciousness”; some call it

" consciousness without objects " , Nisargadatta calls it " awareness without

consciousness " . It is also called, “mind of black-near-attainment” and

“abyss of nothingness, also “samadhi”, “suspension” and “divine darkness”.

 

Imagine you are in a totally dark room, totally soundproof. Or imagine that

your sight and sound senses are totally dead.

Then imagine that your senses of taste and smell too stop working.

Then your sense of touch, both internally and externally disappear.

 

Now your world has disappeared. You cannot feel your body, so that too is

only a memory. All that you can do is think, remember and imagine.

 

Now imagine that your memory too goes. I suspect at this stage thoughts and

feelings too would disappear as thoughts are based on memory. In case

thoughts still remain imagine that your ability to think and imagine and

feel too disappears. Maybe you are now in a total coma.

 

So what remains? For those who have not experienced this … only the void

remains. Awareness without consciousness, or consciousness without objects.

 

A state where all duality has ceased. No happiness, nor unhappiness. No

fear, nor bliss. No time and no space. No I or you or anybody. No

comparisons of any sort. No movement of any sort. No concepts, no beliefs,

and no God. Etc. etc.

 

[You might ask, where is this awareness during deep sleep? Believe me it is

there, it is just that upon waking the mind has no memory of it. Perhaps in

the memory; subtle, unchanging events are not registered. However many have

managed to remember it. The trick is spiritual exercises just before going

to sleep! For me it was holding on to the sense of presence while breathing

into the hara … à la … Kristoff]

 

 

[The peace is experienced later when you come back to ordinary

consciousness. … To put it more accurately, bliss/love is experienced when

you are there on all levels. Aware of the ordinary consciousness, aware of

being the witness and aware of being the pure awareness in the background.]

 

You can arrive at the above by imagination and logic. So perhaps I have

just proved that our ground zero is nondual. There even time and space do

not exist.

 

Gnosis or Enlightenment is the integration and stabilization of this. See

specially Joel’s writing below.

 

With Love

Jan Sultan

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Here are some sayings of Nisargadatta, relevant to what I have said above.

[All these quotes and much more available in the files section here:

SufiMystic/

 

“It is only when you are satiated with the changeable and long for the

unchangeable that you are ready for the turning round and stepping into

what can be described, when seen from the level of the mind, as emptiness

and darkness. For the mind craves for content and variety, while reality

is, to the mind, contentless and invariable.”

 

" There can be no experience beyond consciousness. Yet there is the

experience of just being. There is a state beyond consciousness, which is

not unconscious. Some call it super-consciousness, or pure consciousness,

or supreme consciousness. It is pure awareness free from the subject-object

nexus. Consciousness is intermittent, full of gaps. Yet there is the

continuity of identity. What is this sense of identity due to, if not to

something beyond consciousness? "

 

" There is the body. Inside the body appears to be an observer, and outside

a world under observation. The observer and his observation as well as the

world observed appear and disappear together. Beyond it all, there is void.

This void is one for all. "

 

" By its very nature, the mind is outward turned; it always tends to seek

for the source of things among the things themselves; to be told to look

for the source within, is, in a way, the beginning of a new life. Awareness

takes the place of consciousness; in consciousness there is the " I " , who is

conscious, while awareness is undivided; awareness is aware of itself. The

" I am " is a thought, while awareness is not a thought; there is no " I am

aware " in awareness. Consciousness is an attribute while awareness is not;

one can be aware of being conscious, but not conscious of awareness. God is

the totality of consciousness, but awareness is beyond all - being as well

as not-being. "

 

" Awareness is primordial; it is the original state, beginningless, endless,

uncaused, unsupported, without parts, without change. Consciousness is on

contact, a reflection against a surface, a state of duality. There can be

no consciousness without awareness, but there can be awareness without

consciousness, as in deep sleep. Awareness is absolute, consciousness is

relative to its content; consciousness is always of something.

Consciousness is partial and changeful, awareness is total, changeless,

calm and silent. And it is the common matrix of every experience. Since it

is awareness that makes consciousness possible, there is awareness in every

state of consciousness. Therefore, the very consciousness of being

conscious is already a movement in awareness. Interest in your stream of

consciousness takes you to awareness. It is not a new state. It is at once

recognized as the original, basic experience, which is life itself, and

also love and joy. "

 

" Awareness with an object we call witnessing. When there is also

self-identification with the object, caused by desire or fear, such a state

is called a person. In reality there is only one state; when distorted by

self-identification it is called a person, when coloured with the sense of

being, it is the witness; when colourless and limitless, it is called the

Supreme. "

 

" Discard all you are not and go ever deeper. Just as a man digging a well

discards what is not water, until he reaches the water-bearing strata, so

must you discard what is not your own, till nothing is left which you can

disown. You will find that what is left is nothing which the mind can hook

on to. You are not even a human being. You just are - a point of awareness,

co-extensive with time and space and beyond both, the ultimate cause,

itself uncaused. If you ask me " Who are you? " , my answer would be: " Nothing

in particular. Yet, I am. " "

 

“You must have a firm conviction that you are not the body,

and not even the consciousness in the beingness.

Experiment upon yourself.

When one subsides in one’s true identity,

Nothing matters, because nothing is.

When ‘I’ subsides, it’s all awareness.”

 

“Mahakash is the infinite space.

The infinite space is dark.

It is as dark as when you close your eyes.

In that physical space all the universe arises and sets and is destroyed.”

 

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Here is something from, “Through deaths gate” by Joel

[http://www.integralscience.org/css/death.html ]

 

STAGE SEVEN:

In the seventh stage, attachments and desires will vanish. Now your mind

will be empty of all phenomena of any kind, and so appear to be a dark void

or nothingness, like " an autumn sky without any light whatsoever. " This,

the Tibetans call the mind of black-near-attainment, which, in our terms,

is literally Consciousness-without-an- object. It is here at this stage

that the " golden opportunity " for Gnostic Awakening will present itself

because (as we have already seen) if you can Recognize that

Consciousness-without-an-object is actually the " fundamental clear light "

of your own mind, then you will have discovered what you really

are--Consciousness, Itself. (Since there is nothing else in this state

besides Consciousness, Itself, what else could you be?) It is this

discovery of your True Identity that Awakens you to the eighth stage which

constitutes full Enlightenment.

 

STAGE EIGHT:

This stage is called variously by the Tibetans the attainment-clear light,

the clear light of bliss, or the fundamental clear light of the nature of

the mind. Actually, it is not properly speaking a 'stage' at all, but

simply a continuation of the mind of black-near-attainment, only now

Recognized to be Consciousness, Itself. And while this Consciousness

remains momentarily empty of all phenomena, It is not a mere " nothingness "

(in the sense of a vacuity). Rather, It is Realized to be simultaneously

the Actual Fullness (or Ultimate Reality) which contains within Itself

every possible manifestation, and that Primordial Awareness (like a " clear

light " ) which both projects and perceives these manifestations as apparent

'worlds' and 'beings'.

 

This is the Realization or Gnosis which " sets you free " from suffering and

death forever because It makes absolutely clear that all your experiences

of being a limited, transitory entity, 'I', or 'self' (which could be

subject to birth, suffering, and death) have been, from the very beginning,

a delusion. Put differently, you will see that every 'thing' is simply a

form of your True Self, or that Consciousness which is, Itself,

intrinsically free of all things.

 

WHY GNOSIS IS EASIER TO ATTAIN AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH

 

Of course, it is not necessary to wait for physical death to attain Gnosis.

Actually, one may have a Gnostic Awakening at any time. This potential

exists not only because Consciousness is always and everywhere the

fundamental ground of all our experience, but also (and more precisely)

because the whole cycle of birth and death (including a momentary glimpse

of pure Consciousness) is repeated with the arising and passing of any

phenomenon whatsoever. Thus, according to Bokar Rinpoche:

 

This process of absorption...does not occur only at [physical] death, it

also happens in an extremely subtle manner when we fall asleep or when a

thought is removed from our mind.

 

Other traditions attest to this fact as well. Listen, for example, to the

modern Hindu mystic, Ramana Maharshi:

 

The ego in its purity [i.e., the Atman or Divine Self] is experienced in

the intervals between two states or between two thoughts...Its true nature

is known when it is out of contact with objects or thoughts. You should

realize this interval as the abiding, unchangeable Reality, your true Being...

 

Likewise, the fourteenth century Kabbalist, Rabbi Joseph ben Shalom of

Barcelona, taught that:

 

in every transformation of reality, in every change of form, or every time

the stature of a thing is altered, the abyss of nothingness is crossed and

for a fleeting mystical moment becomes visible.

 

The reason it is difficult to notice this abyss of nothingness is that,

first of all, its appearance is exceedingly brief. Secondly, our attention

is conditioned to focus only on things, but the abyss of nothingness is not

a 'thing'. Consequently, our attention habitually ignores this no-thing as

it compulsively searches out the next phenomenon to arise. If, however, we

can train our attention (via meditation) to remain stable and clear, then

all that is required to " point to " this abyss of nothingness is an ordinary

gesture of the most mundane kind. This is why Zen students, for example,

who have been ripened through practice, can attain Enlightenment simply by

seeing a candle being blown out or hearing a bird cry. In the " intervals "

just before and after the arising and passing of these phenomena,

Consciousness- without-an-object stands for a split second unveiled in all

Its nakedness.

 

But there are other moments in the course of our lives in which

Consciousness-without-an-object reveals itself in a more dramatic fashion

and for longer periods of time. One of these (as Bokar Rinpoche already

mentioned) occurs every twenty-four hours during the transition from the

waking state to sleep. Here it is not merely a single sound or sight that

" dies " but the entire waking world! Accordingly, an ancient Hindu text has

Shiva advising his consort, Devi, to observe carefully that moment:

 

when sleep has not yet come and external wakefulness vanishes, [for] at

this point BEING is REVEALED.

 

But, again, these instructions are hard to follow because as most of us

fall asleep our minds are completely absorbed in reviewing past events,

making future plans, or spinning fantasies, and these mental activities so

preoccupy our attention that we fail to recognize

Consciousness-without-an-object when it appears. Instead, we experience it

as a kind of " black out " --a state of total unconsciousness, when, in fact,

it is Pure Consciousness!

 

Finally, Consciousness-without-an-object can be experienced by practicing

certain meditative techniques which lead to states of samadhi (as they are

called in the East) or suspension (as they are called in the West.)

Dionysius the Areopagite, one of the most influential of Christian mystics,

gives this version of the practice:

 

in the diligent exercise of mystical contemplation, leave behind the senses

and the operations of the intellect, and all things sensible and

intellectual, and all things in the world of being and non-being, that thou

mayest arise by unknowing toward the union...with Him who transcends all

being and all knowledge. For by the unceasing and absolute renunciation of

thyself and all things thou mayest be borne on high, through pure and

entire self-abnegation, into the super essential Radiance of the Divine

Darkness.

 

There are, however, two problems with this approach. First, attaining

states of samadhi usually requires a concerted effort made over a long

period of time. Consequently, this technique is usually too difficult to

perfect for seekers living a householder's life. The second problem is that

states of samadhi almost always generate an overwhelming sense of bliss. As

a result, seekers who attain these states without having thoroughly

practiced selflessness are in great danger of mistaking this bliss for a

genuine Gnostic Awakening. When this happens, not only do they miss the

point of the practice (which is not to bask in bliss but to attain Gnosis),

but they fall into one of the worst delusions of all: they imagine they

have been liberated, when they have not.

 

The point is that, although opportunities for Realization arise in many

different situations, attaining it " in this life " is (as you no doubt know)

not so easy. The primary obstacle is that we are constantly distracted by

innumerable self-centered thoughts, feelings, sensations, desires,

aversions, attachments, etc.--all of which seem rooted in Nature, herself.

And this is precisely why death presents such a " golden opportunity " for

attaining what was so hard to attain in life. As the death process unfolds,

everything will be reversed. Nature (as the Tibetans say) will actually be

cooperating with your practice by progressively removing each and every

distraction from your mind, until finally there will be nothing left but

Consciousness, Itself. All you really have to do is wait for this Pure

Consciousness to appear, and then Recognize it for what it is. Death will

take care of the rest!

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more from same source:

THE FRUIT OF PRACTICING EFFORTLESS CONTEMPLATION

 

By practicing effortless contemplation you will develop a Realization that

the self is (as the Buddhists say) " empty of any inherent existence. " Thus,

while objects continue to appear in Consciousness, the delusion that they

are being experienced by some 'one' will temporarily subside. This state of

profound selflessness, or Consciousness-without-a-subject, is often a

prelude to Full Awakening. What is missing is the complementary Realization

that not only does the 'self' lack any inherent existence, but so do

objects. Consequently, as long as objects still seem to exist in their own

right, there is no Gnosis. However, if you can remain in a state of

Consciousness-without-a-subject as you pass through Death's Gate, then,

when Consciousness-without-an-object finally dawns in the seventh stage,

you will Realize that the now vanished objects were, themselves, only

imaginary projections of this objectless Consciousness. Furthermore, you

will Realize that your own Consciousness-without-a- subject is, in fact,

indistinguishable from (and thus identical to)

Consciousness-without-an-object. In other words, you will directly and

simultaneously apprehend not only the True Nature of your 'self', but also

the True Nature of all 'objects' and all 'worlds'--which is to say,

Consciousness-without-an-object-and- without-a-subject. This is

Enlightenment, the end of the path.

 

CONCLUSION

As was already said, effortless contemplation is the most difficult of all

death practices and therefore should only be relied upon at the time of

actual death by advanced practitioners. However, even if you are only an

intermediate or beginning practitioner, it is a good idea to have some

familiarity with it. The reason is that the crisis of death may, itself,

spontaneously generate effortless contemplation. If this happens there is a

danger that you will not recognize what is occurring because effortless

contemplation does not feel like a practice at all. Consequently, you may

think " this is too easy to be right " and try to resume your death prayer or

practice of self-sacrifice. However, if the state of effortless

contemplation you find yourself in is genuine, this would be a serious

mistake.

 

But how can you tell if it is genuine? Ask yourself if you are thoroughly

detached from, yet at the same time, totally identified with everything

that is happening? In spite of pain, fear, and any other difficulties, do

you nevertheless feel an unshakable peace permeating the entire field of

Consciousness? Most importantly, are you Perfectly Happy? If so, stop

worrying about whether or not you are practicing correctly. Drop any images

you may have about what Gnosis is supposed to be and just allow the Grace

of this Happiness to carry you where it will; for truly you are now beyond

all striving and non-striving, and there is literally nothing more for

'you' to do.

[Guest guest]

Folly! Suffering folly!

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Nisargadatta, " Judi Rhodes " <judirhodes@z...> wrote:

> Folly! Suffering folly!

 

You are very predictable, Judy. Enjoy the show.

[Guest guest]

 

 

-

sworkalpha

Nisargadatta

Tuesday, August 06, 2002 1:17 PM

Re: Imagine the VOID [comments welcome]

 

Nisargadatta, "Judi Rhodes" <judirhodes@z...> wrote:> Folly! Suffering folly!You are very predictable, Judy. Enjoy the show.***** Yep, you can count on me to be right there with your constant egotistical nonsense.