neti neti

1) None taken. I was drawn to jnana yoga and the simplicity of negation as a technique, but I'm not partial to any particular tradition or lineage. All have their place. All is as it must be. The comparison is inaccurate. There were never any mountains. What's presented as a phase of "not seeing" in the Zen parable still requires a know-er knowing that it's not seeing. Another "I"-dependent knower-self. This isn't the equivalent of what's been illustrated thus far as, the final stop... once the seer falls away, seeing just happens. Perception appears, with no apparent perceptual apparatus. The perceiver is non-existent, attribute-less, indescribable. Moreover, the presumed "return to ordinary life" whereby mountains are again seen still implies that a seer remains. In sharp contrast... as the Absolute, you are life itself. 2) It's a subtle nuance. There are no states, because states must be perceived. I believe Siddharameshwar coined the phrase, stateless state. There are no thoughts, as there is no thinker. Thoughts arise and subside like foam on the ocean of consciousness, but really, there is no mind. In this state, consciousness happens to you.There is no consciousness. That which is beyond mind, Parashiva or Nirguna Brahman, is even unaware of itself. It is the unborn, inexhaustible spring from which all energies burst forth. If everything is you, what does being conscious even mean and, what is there to control? Who is there to be enlightened, when you already are the essence of happiness? The pointers are of course valid but one must realize they are conveyed such that they may be conceptualized, one step removed from the summit. When the world, as projected by the light of Self, is realized to be within you... indeed, it could appear as if one's will is universally unassailable. I've had a glimpse, and yet I'm inclined to be wary of it. Maya and all therein made to bend to your wishes or, the entire creation rearranged at your glance is a bit overwhelming, and far too enticing. Even in having "become the goal", it's seemingly effortless to miss the fact that the totality of this phenomenal universe on display is my own doing, (which is quite "magical" enough to say the least). With this in view, I believe focusing one's awareness to produce miraculous manifestations can become a snare. Another experience... another state. Pitfalls in the mire of my own delusions. Indeed, the Sutras subtly warn of this. Shiva Sutras 1.21. śuddhavidyodyāccakreśatva-siddhiḥ (When this yogī does not desire limited powers and is eager to attain the knowledge of universal being then) . . . pure knowledge rises and by that knowledge he becomes the master of the universal wheel. a) My sentiments exactly. 3) Agreed, as one cannot be without the other.

Oh no. I insist, thank you for drawing them out! 1) At its essence I suppose any practice can become a process of elimination. Negation seems to be most direct, but not without end. "I am nothing perceivable or conceivable. All perceivables or conceivables are to be discarded as "not this, not this", until the negator too is discarded or negated." ~Nisargadatta Maharaj 2) I believe I touched on the approach in question as best I could. Apologies if it seems I've gone off the rail. a) Agreed! 3) I've had some pretty outrageous perceptual anomalies, but then... have I really? They don't seem relevant... if power is expressed it seems to be expressed on my behalf. Besides, I can't really speak to the miraculous as I'm thoroughly convinced of this universe's illusory nature. I'm finding it nearly impossible to lay claim to anything, let alone experiences seeming to have no substance in light of the Supreme... Does an inability to think no matter how hard I try count? 4) Indeed!

Understood. But have you considered that, as a means to realization, negation in practice can be as 100% yang as it is yin? By what standard of measure is effectiveness to be gauged? By the quality of experience, the sensation of freedom, its duration? What can be said of efforts once experience comes, and then goes? How much pain and suffering must one deliberately cause before the entire world is seen to be a mere stage of characters? How much ignorance to adhere to before knowledge illuminates? What was offered was that freedom from all experience can be none other than freedom itself. Only then can one be free to truly experience. After all, how can a non-existent "I" long for the fulfillment of a non-existent "realization"? All methodologies really are seen to be comical when reduced to what one truly is. I'm certain a fair amount of sages/seers/realized souls would be in agreement that all this is merely entertainment. Concentrated earnestness for and 'attainment' of realization may indeed come about through either introspection or extroversion, but can also arise spontaneously without any apparent cause. Such is this grand play of consciousness showcasing its infinite forms. Therefore ultimately, there is no path, or method or way. You are It, without a You to be It. Words cannot describe it. It can be as much fun pretending to be the villain as it is pretending anything can accelerate the process. There is no process. One can appear to dive headlong into the unknown, while another may appear to be dragged there kicking and screaming. We all appear to only do as we are led. Who is the doer? 1) Yes, nothing exists apart. As that which consciousness appears upon, you are beyond the notions of duality(and non-duality). 2) Yes, oneness is the realization of Self(or self-awareness) as the 'pure-objectless-consciousness', the ground of being. 3) No. As awareness, 'I am', but there is no 'I am -- this or that'. I suppose the only exceptions to this would be : 'I am everything' or, 'I am nothing'.

If I may, the perceived emptiness is of the nature of pure awareness. That 'pure object-less consciousness' doesn't become, it is that already. Nothing to push... clarity is inherent. In being that, all else melts away. There are no distinctions existing apart from those one may superimpose upon it, since nothing is separate from consciousness; not you, not me, not the guru. Although I would say it all simply happens without any assumed volition, if the guru appears to embody that all-pervading potentiality, he still only embodies it from within the consciousness bubble. In this pure awareness there's no "I", and so one is free to just be... be the emptiness, be the bad guy, be the hero, etc. And yet there indeed remains an "I" aware of being awareness. The experiencer of awareness persists. Who is aware of awareness? Do you see? Thus while 'oneness' may be the quintessence of Advaita, Reality lies beyond oneness and any other perceptual state... There is no Reality. In my experience(which is non-existent), enlightenment proper is total dissolution or 'liberation from the "I"'. For "others", a newly 'liberated "I"' suffices. As awareness, awareness itself is revealed to be temporal. When awareness melts away... "That thou art"

It is both without limitation, and without limitlessness, and neither. There is no emptiness. Just a subtle form of consciousness appearing as if it were separate from consciousness. Mist on the ocean. "Form is emptiness and emptiness is form." -Heart Sutra Within a dualistic paradigm, the absence of form can be considered "empty". In a non-dual perceptual state, the mist and the ocean are one. Both states are within the consciousness. Reality lies beyond.

Question: What is the realisation which is beyond understanding? Nisargadatta Maharaj: "Imagine a dense forest full of tigers and you in a strong steel cage. Knowing that you are well protected by the cage, you watch the tigers fearlessly. Next you find the tigers in the cage and yourself roaming about in the jungle. Last -- the cage disappears and you ride the tigers!"

'Limitless emptiness' is just a subtle perception of consciousness, from within the consciousness. Who perceives the emptiness? A door appears. Whether open or shut, both or neither, there is no door. Who perceives the door? The Guru appears. Whether within or without, both or neither, there is no Guru. Who perceives the Guru? Lost in perceptions, the perceiver remains oblivious of itself. Seeking must cease once having lost sight of the seeker.

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” ~Frank Herbert, Dune

Enlightenment is neither a journey nor a destination, but a series of endless departures.

Very succinct. This may help... ADVICE FOR BEING IN SELF-ABIDANCE Be quiet. See the mind as it is. Grace action starts. Then Peace occupies your Heart. Then be still. The Grace of Self burns all your tendencies. No question or any practice is needed. You already reached the destination. That is the Source of thought. If you lose your Awareness, immediately sleep, deep sleep or thought will come. Stop just for a few seconds, see the covering, and immediately Awareness will come. Then if you question, 'To Whom?', and wait, the question and thought will vanish. Again we will get Peace. Then be quiet and still. While you are in Peace, see the experiencer of that Peace or question, 'Who is that experiencer?'. The experiencer will disappear. But it rises again and again. As and when it rises, see it with Peace and Awareness or question, 'Who Am I?', until it burns. When the seer or the experiencer or the questioner burns permanently - that is Jeevanmukti (Self Realization). V. V. Brahmam

Until the mystery pins you, like a fly on the wall. Then, there's no fly or wall, no mystery, and no you. "Its" sole attribute is selflessness in such totality that missing the mark is realized to be impossible.

Indeed. I must say though, this script has been a doozy. Looks like someOne has an otherworldly sense of humor! The most excellent plot twist thus far is remaining pleased when it's both happy And drama hour. What a life! I'm glad you found "It". The grandest of discoveries is that in which we realize "It" was "Us", all along! Peek-a-Boo! Thanks for being Me... in My story... erhm. Ok, this is just getting awkward now. Is an autograph out of the question? I'll tell you what, when we all go Home you can sign my book anyway.

Haha!

Probably one of the most profound confessions on what it's like to be blind... emotional roller-coaster. I post it here because I think, the idea of being forced to go within to find new ways of seeing... must be enlightening. https://youtu.be/SAY1r13Xe5M

“Existence is beyond the power of words to define.” -Lao Tzu

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This was a profound read for me. I find what he was able to convey in such simple words to be remarkable. ~SIDDHARAMESHWAR MAHARAJ The worldly illusion [samsara] is a dream within a dream. Having understood this, indeed you have thought of what is the real Truth and what is not. The One who is never born went off to sleep. He has no old age. He is one who has no death. How is it that a dream was seen during a dream? That is, "he slept and dreamt" means He is deluded. "He slept" means he has become ignorant and thinks "I am the body, I am so and so." Reality was covered with ignorance and in that delusion there is again delusion, which is this mundane existence. It is a dream during a dream. The worldly illusion appears true. He was all pervading, He became small. Then he considered the worldly existence as true. In that very dream, he discriminated between Guru and disciple, merit and sin, and what is true and what is untrue. Other people pass away in this dream. It is a piece of great fortune to think of what is true and what is untrue during this long dream. "Even a dog does not eat a thing which belongs to a sinner." Renunciation of wealth, feeling of detachment and respect for a saint is the result of former merit and good fortune. He alone starts thinking of a sadhu. It is extraordinary to have such an intellect in the dream within a dream. To be conscious to be fully on senses, inspite of taking a doze of brandy shows that though money brings demonic pride, he still is on his senses. This is his good fortune. He is in a dream within a dream. But on account of his virtuous intellect he went to a Guru and discriminated between the True and untrue. He got the experience that everything else is false and "I am Reality". This means that he has woken up from one dream. When in this dream he deliberated again he came to the further conclusion that even saying "I am Reality" is false – the whole world and words are illusion. As a result he became tranquil by staying in his own blissful state. Truth was revealed. He fully realised "I am Reality." This condition means "I am fully awake." Not only the delusion but also "I have experienced" vanished. For if one says that he has experienced the Self, it means that he has taken himself to be different from the Self. The real test is when the self has no sense of "I". If the mango says, "I found myself sweet", then it is not a mango. If you say that "you had an experience", that means your "I", ego is still there. The idea that "I had an experience" is a delusion. The "I" in "I have become knowledgeable", or "I have become Reality" is ego. The former "I" should disappear. Whatever was before naturally is Reality. The thorn "I" has to be extracted, then you are through. When you become all-pervading, you become Reality. The sense of "I" disappears. It is One only and there is nothing else than That. To go beyond nothing is to be in thoughtless Reality.

Glad you received it well. Throughout my search, I've found a common thread underlies our quest for re-discovery: Self-inquiry. Some enjoy the thrills of being thrashed about among the waves of Maya, while others prefer to voluntarily offer up the entirety of their being to the Lord. Either may come to discover all of what they are not, and that which remains will be Self alone.