Ten years ago, almost exactly to this date, I was meditating about 4
hours a day, 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. I was
at the height of my Buddhist meditation practice and I felt like I was
really getting somewhere. Then on the 1st Sept 2000 while doing my
morning meditation my mind blew open like a bolt of lightening and
suddenly there was no me, no mind, and just the sound of a bird calling
to the morning sun. It was a profound experience that changed my life.
It was like waking up from a dream and seeing life through new eyes and
realising everything you'd ever known before and the way you'd be
experiencing life was incorrect.
Over the years, as I meditated, I started to notice how the mind itself
displays very similar characteristics to aspects of nature. And over
time I started to use metaphors to describe aspects of the mind to
people to make it easy to understand. For example, the mind itself
displays very similar characteristics to the sky. It is vast and
expansive and no matter how far you go you never actually perceive any
boundaries. If you throw a ball through the sky it passes through
unattached. Clouds arise out of nowhere and disappear again as if they
never existed - effortlessly, silently, and without resistance - much
like the nature of thoughts in the mind. The mind also reacts to the
environment and displays symptoms of cause and effect - when we perceive
something, thoughts or emotion arise with them in a dance of
interaction. Ideas are born into the mind out of nowhere much like a new
seedling is born and later it will die away like a fading flower. This
ability for the mind to display characteristics of nature always
fascinated me.
While meditating yesterday a deep insight came over me ... the mind
doesn't display these characteristics because it is similar to nature,
the mind displays these characteristics because it is nature, it is all these things, it is everything. It was so simple. The
mind is not made from some "other" component, it is not made from
something that you can strive to understand or experience separate from
everything else, the mind quite literally is This, is everything that you are experiencing now. It behaves in the same way as the sky, as clouds, as the wind because
it is bound by the same laws that bind everything else and it is made
from the same stuff that everything else is made from. There is no
difference.
How to Apply This
Now those sound like really wise words and if you pick up any spiritual
book you'll read lots of stuff like that. But this doesn't really help
you at all and me saying it doesn't really help you understand or make
your life better. You can read a tonne of spiritual books that talk
about this concept and you'll feel good reading it and it will inspire
you to want to know more but its kind of useless if you doesn't lead you
to experience this for yourself.
Manjushri (Wen-shu Pu-sa), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, manifests from time to time to teach living beings. He is actually an ancient Buddha who is also known as the guru or teacher of seven Buddhas and is sometimes depicted as wielding a sword of wisdom that cuts through illusion. His bodhimanda is Wu Tai Mountain, one of the four sacred mountains in China. His name means "Wonderful Virtue" or "Wonderful Auspiciousness." He is the foremost in the universe when it comes to wisdom.
He was once manifested as a helper in the kitchen of monastary whose name was èˆ�å¾—. As his name implies, to let go if there is having å¾— from meditation, even if there is having emptinesss also èˆ�, until æ¹› 寂ç�µæ˜Ž :) According to Heart Sutra “èˆ�利å�,色ä¸�异空,空ä¸�异色,色å�³æ˜¯ç©ºï¼Œç©ºå�³æ˜¯è‰²ï¼Œå�—想行识,亦å¤�如是, èˆ�利å�,是诸法空相,ä¸�生ä¸�ç�,ä¸�垢ä¸�净,ä¸�增ä¸�å‡�.
问:
“ä¸�生ä¸�ç�,ä¸�垢ä¸�净,ä¸�增ä¸�å‡�”说的是什么?
ç”:说明自性的本觉ç�†ä½“,是本æ�¥æ— ç”Ÿï¼Œæ•…äº¦æ— ç�;本æ�¥ä¸�垢,故亦ä¸�净;在圣ä¸�
增,在凡ä¸�å‡�ï¼Œè¿™æ£æ˜¾ç¤ºäººäººæœ¬å…·çš„ç»�对心体。这心体离一切人我ã€�是é�žã€�顺逆ã€�得失ç‰ç‰è™šå¦„对待诸法;é�žç©ºé�žæœ‰ï¼Œæ— å®žæ— è™šï¼Œæ— æ‰€ä»Žæ�¥ï¼Œäº¦æ— 所去;湛寂ç�µæ˜Žï¼Œå�‡å��本觉。
This is very well written and very insightful.
However it differs from your experience of "I AM". Normally self enquiry of "Who am I" will only lead a practitioner to have a direct experience of our luminous presence, that is, the "I AM" realization.
It will not lead one to these experiences and realizations that includes anatta, emptiness nature and non-dual luminous essence. IMO prior to self-enquiry, having strong dharma background helps.
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:So, who am I?
Looking around, breathing, experiencing, being aware ... ah yes, this is Me!
But this is not the "me" I use to know, this is not the "me" we colloquially or conceptually know, this is not the small "me". This is the "no me", the big Me that is everything. The "I" as I knew it before is just a drop in an ocean, why call itself any different? With this view a profound peace pervades Me, why struggle or resist the meditation practice? How can I deny it at all? This is like denying truth, this is like denying the way It is. I must meditated because this is the way it is, this is truth, this is also is what I am, what I am made of, what My nature is. This is Me!
This returns him to "I AM". :)
It is a reverse phase of insight from yours.
Originally posted by Thusness:This is very well written and very insightful.
However it differs from your experience of "I AM". Normally self enquiry of "Who am I" will only lead a practitioner to have a direct experience of our luminous presence, that is, the "I AM" realization.
It will not lead one to these experiences and realizations that includes anatta, emptiness nature and non-dual luminous essence. IMO prior to self-enquiry, having strong dharma background helps.
This returns him to "I AM". :)
It is a reverse phase of insight from yours.
I see... interesting to know that the order of insight can be reversed.
What do you think will be his next challenge and phase of insight?
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:I see... interesting to know that the order of insight can be reversed.
What do you think will be his next challenge and phase of insight?
Hi AEN,
Practice is on-going. 10 yrs ago the author already has all these realizations and 10 years later he is still refining these insights. My personal view is that most practitioners will have to cycle through all these insights time and again until prajna wisdom pervades our entire being.
It is not really appropriate for me to comment but I will just share with you my view as it also relates to your existing insights.
Although what he realized in his last para description is crucial, the problem of his inner resistance will continue. He does not lack realization on his non-dual essence, he lacks realization of the quinessence of his Empty nature.
Experience will be seamlessly whole, vivid, certain, clear, pristine, non-dual and powerfully present but his mind will not be groundless, dispassionate and non-abiding. Being brillantly and Prestinely both in background and foreground is altogether different from being groundless and non-abiding. One relates to the realization of our non-dual luminous essence and the other is the direct result of realizing our empty nature. Practitioners will need to integrate both.
His inner resistance is not because he did not realize the 'Big Me' as a result penetrating no-self, but rather a complete letting of both ME and me(for the nature of Presence is Empty).
Amitayus48 made a very good comment. '�得' - �一切得. The author IMO does not lack the �明(non-dual luminosity), he lacks the 湛寂.
Try re-visiting the following 2 articles that I wrote to you, when your mind is too focused on the non-dual luminous essence, you may missed the finer points in the articles.
My 2 cents :)
Thanks alot, Thusness :)
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Who Am I?
... But this is not the "me" I use to know, this is not the "me" we colloquially or conceptually know, this is not the small "me". This is the "no me", the big Me that is everything. ...
When the intelligent mind evolves, it forms an upper sublime layer of localized consciousness. However it is all still "self-actualization". From the small me that is nothing to the big me that is everything... still it is self-actualization. Me still continues to live on and believes will live on when the body dies. These visions build up under the assumptions of the beliefs. Different religious experiences contradict one another, as a result. There is a greater truth behind, than experiencing our own experiences.
Originally posted by TrueReppuzan:When the intelligent mind evolves, it forms an upper sublime layer of localized consciousness. However it is all still "self-actualization". From the small me that is nothing to the big me that is everything... still it is self-actualization. Me still continues to live on and believes will live on when the body dies. These visions build up under the assumptions of the beliefs. Different religious experiences contradict one another, as a result. There is a greater truth behind, than experiencing our own experiences.
I'd say there is no 'you'... no small you, no big you, etc.
There is living, experiencing, seeing, hearing, thinking... there is Life, there is Presence (referred by the author as 'big me') but there is actually no 'me'. Furthermore everything is equally Presence... Presence is not separated from the flow of phenomenality.
And this is not a belief... it is the nature of reality, you just need to investigate to discover that there is no 'you' at all. The truth will dawn on you clearer than daylight and there shall be no more doubts.
A question that will never arise from an enlightened mind and is also a question that deludes an unenlightened mind.
Hi Ahimsaka, I wouldn't say it will 'delude the unenlightened mind'. The question 'Who am I' will lead to the realization of I AMness, the pure certainty of being. It is a glimpse of pure formless awareness. But this is not yet the Anatta realization. That is why there is a process. Not everyone will go through the I AM stage, though. Personally, I, Thusness, Simpo have been through that stage... including the blog poster above.
For more info see Thusness/PasserBy's Seven Stages of Enlightenment
brudder.......very nice to see that you're still around even after you enter NS................
WHO AM I ?........................i found this phrase from Star Wars very apt..............
'' you are merely a collection of thoughts that has deluded itself into believing in its own existence ''
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Hi Ahimsaka, I wouldn't say it will 'delude the unenlightened mind'. The question 'Who am I' will lead to the realization of I AMness, the pure certainty of being. It is a glimpse of pure formless awareness. But this is not yet the Anatta realization. That is why there is a process. Not everyone will go through the I AM stage, though. Personally, I, Thusness, Simpo have been through that stage... including the blog poster above.
For more info see Thusness/PasserBy's Seven Stages of Enlightenment
U post this during ur free time in ur NS?
Hi An Eternal Now. Thanks!
Originally posted by Asromanista2001:brudder.......very nice to see that you're still around even after you enter NS................
WHO AM I ?........................i found this phrase from Star Wars very apt..............
'' you are merely a collection of thoughts that has deluded itself into believing in its own existence ''
Originally posted by Asromanista2001:brudder.......very nice to see that you're still around even after you enter NS................
WHO AM I ?........................i found this phrase from Star Wars very apt..............
'' you are merely a collection of thoughts that has deluded itself into believing in its own existence ''
Hi everyone,
I am the author of this article and thanks for posting it and thanks for reading it and giving your comments. It is great to see you all taking an interest in my spiritual development. It has been great to read them. Unfortunately due to the use of some non-English characters I can't understand some parts so it would be great if they could be clarified. That would help me understand and develop in my practice.
Thusness, I don't completely agree with your comment "It will not lead one to these experiences and realizations that includes anatta, emptiness nature and non-dual luminous essence." While I wrote the article in this way it does not mean that there is not insight into this. That said, it also doesn't also mean that there complete realisation into this either. So your later comment of "He does not lack realization on his non-dual essence, he lacks realization of the quinessence of his Empty nature." I don't feel is completely accurate either, I would just say this is an ongoing development. :-)
There was also the comment:
Amitayus48 made a very good comment. '�得' - �一切得. The author IMO does not lack the �明(non-dual luminosity), he lacks the 湛寂.
Is someone able to translate this into english for me?
Thusness, I'll try and get through and read some of your articles that you reference in these comments. It looks like good reading.
If I could add one thing in closing, the intention of the article and blog is not to talk about any level of attainment or to try to expound in every article how developed I am. I think trying to read it and interpret this way is problematic. The purpose of the blog is to discuss meditation practice and aspects that may be beneficial to others as much as it is for my own contemplations. This article was written to discuss a contemplation for me at that time as well as having the reader in mind and what they may get out of it for their own development. In this way I write it such that the topics are discussing aspects they can relate to in their practice and areas they can work towards. I don't intend to always talk about the highest tip of the mountain, but instead how to walk it and the things experienced along the way. I think in this light how it is read and interpreted will differ.
Thanks again for posting and commenting everybody.
Metta
Dean Crabb
Originally posted by Dean Crabb:Thusness, I don't completely agree with your comment "It will not lead one to these experiences and realizations that includes anatta, emptiness nature and non-dual luminous essence." While I wrote the article in this way it does not mean that there is not insight into this. That said, it also doesn't also mean that there complete realisation into this either. So your later comment of "He does not lack realization on his non-dual essence, he lacks realization of the quinessence of his Empty nature." I don't feel is completely accurate either, I would just say this is an ongoing development. :-)
Yes Dean,
I realized that after AEN posted another article of yours on Quietening the Inner Chatter.
There was also the comment:
Amitayus48 made a very good comment. '�得' - �一切得. The author IMO does not lack the �明(non-dual luminosity), he lacks the 湛寂.
Is someone able to translate this into english for me?
Thusness, I'll try and get through and read some of your articles that you reference in these comments. It looks like good reading.
� means letting go
å¾— means attained
There was a parable that Manjushri (Wen-shu Pu-sa), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, manifested as a helper in the kitchen of a monastery with the dharma name '�得'.
'�得' carries the same message as "this too will pass" which is what you have shared in the articles Quietening the Inner Chatter.
Both Who am I and Quietening the Inner Chatter are two very insightful articles that complement each other well. However when the "Who am I" is read alone, it lends the danger of falling into Vedanta Adviata Self view.
In the conclusion paragraph of the “Who am I” article, you mentioned:
“I must meditated because this is the way it is, this is truth, this is also is what I am, what I am made of, what My nature is. This is Me!”
Is the ‘inner resistance’ an over negation of ‘self’ (no-I) that we missed the truth of “This is Me” / “the big Me that is everything”
Or
We have not penetrated deep enough the profundity of the message “this too will pass”.
In my opinion, the “inner resistance” is like a koan to all sincere practitioners. It follows us throughout our entire spiritual journey. So we do not have to answer too fast for practice is on-going
and
we will be re-visited.
Thank you very much for sharing. :)
I have a feedback to make.
Some topics are more advanced, should not the TS mark such topics with a label for ADVANCED PRACTITIONER.
Such topics can easily cause confusion as It's too advanced for most people. Worry ppl might get confused.
Feel its not gd to label the topics.
sometimes when read, although right understanding does not arise but the seed is planted.
some of the explanations and experiences of the 'so called' advanced practitioners can trigger some insights
just a half cent worth
Originally posted by geis:Feel its not gd to label the topics.
sometimes when read, although right understanding does not arise but the seed is planted.
some of the explanations and experiences of the 'so called' advanced practitioners can trigger some insights
just a half cent worth
Yes. No right or wrong depending on how u see.
I think should still label but I respect all views.
true true
Like popular shop or buddhist bookshop gt sell advanced books.
New buddhist read might get confused. They should buy simple books.
Originally posted by geis:Feel its not gd to label the topics.
sometimes when read, although right understanding does not arise but the seed is planted.
some of the explanations and experiences of the 'so called' advanced practitioners can trigger some insights
just a half cent worth
Buddhist can plant seeds of wisdom by reciting sutra. Reciting sutra can plant imprints of emptiness like diamond sutra and heart sutra.
Sutra can plant seeds of enlightenment even if u dun understand it yet.
In future we will be able to understand.
To dean:
Welcome to the forum!
To Pure Emptiness:
I do not see this as 'advanced'... it is actually something fundamental in our everyday experience... it is our own nature shining in plain sight, but we overlooked it due to our constant attachments, concepts, self-grasping, etc.
We just need to do some 'looking'...
I understand certain concepts may seem very obscure especially to beginners. However, I choose not to label topics as 'advanced', simply because this will discourage new comers from dwelling into them. In other words, I do want newcomers to dwell, learn, and gain new insights from these topics.
For example if a topic is discussing on emptiness... it may appear somewhat alien to people new to the forum. Yet, it is also something fundamental to Buddhism... I would be happy if that beginner is curious to read (even though it may be difficult to comprehend at first), and ask questions is necessary.
That means... if the discussion seems not easy to comprehend, then the reader could at least ask something like 'What do you mean by Emptiness'... etc. And then the other more knowledgeable/experienced forummers can then provide an explanation and answer to that.
In this way, we engage everyone not just 'advanced people' or 'beginners' or separate them up.
Certain things, like Emptiness, Buddha-Nature, may seem obscure... yet it is essential to understand these things to gain liberation. Buddhism is not just about morality, doing good, getting good karma etc... if these were the only things to Buddhism, then actually there would be no need for Buddhism at all. All the other religions already cover these things... and in fact morality is not the monopoly of religions, religion cannot claim to be the authority of morality. Morality is something even non-religious people should know.
So what is special about Buddhism? It is the profound insight into human nature, the nature of suffering and grasping, the cause of it, the cessation of it, the way out of it... (aka the four noble truths)... It is the profound insight into the luminous essence and empty nature of experience... It is these insights that liberate us from bondage. All Buddhists should therefore start contemplating on these things so that they can achieve what the Buddha set out to achieve - lead sentient beings to the end of suffering.
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:To dean:
Welcome to the forum!
To Pure Emptiness:
I do not see this as 'advanced'... it is actually something fundamental in our everyday experience... it is our own nature shining in plain sight, but we overlooked it due to our constant attachments to attachments, concepts, self-grasping, etc.
We just need to do some 'looking'...
I understand certain concepts may seem very obscure especially to beginners. However, I choose not to label topics as 'advanced', simply because this will discourage new comers from dwelling into them. In other words, I do want newcomers to dwell, learn, and gain new insights from these topics.
For example if a topic is discussing on emptiness... it may appear somewhat alien to people new to the forum. Yet, it is also something fundamental to Buddhism... I would be happy if that beginner is curious to read (even though it may be difficult to comprehend at first), and ask questions is necessary.
That means... if the discussion seems not easy to comprehend, then the reader could at least ask something like 'What do you mean by Emptiness'... etc. And then the other more knowledgeable/experienced forummers can then provide an explanation and answer to that.
In this way, we engage everyone not just 'advanced people' or 'beginners' or separate them up.
Certain things, like Emptiness, Buddha-Nature, may seem obscure... yet it is essential to understand these things to gain liberation. Buddhism is not just about morality, doing good, getting good karma etc... if these were the only things to Buddhism, then actually there would be no need for Buddhism at all. All the other religions already cover these things... and in fact morality is not the monopoly of religions, religion cannot claim to be the authority of morality. Morality is something even non-religious people should know.
So what is special about Buddhism? It is the profound insight into human nature, the nature of suffering and grasping, the cause of it, the cessation of it, the way out of it... (aka the four noble truths)... It is the profound insight into the luminous essence and empty nature of experience... It is these insights that liberate us from bondage. All Buddhists should therefore start contemplating on these things so that they can achieve what the Buddha set out to achieve - lead sentient beings to the end of suffering.
I am only giving feedback.