dwai

in time, all will be revealed grasshopper! Its all fun and games

No. IMHO Alchemical immortality is a misnomer and its pursuit a trap. The Self doesn't really exist in space and time. So there IS no death per se. It depends on our level of identification with the body. The traditional answer is "Maya". It is the creative power of Awareness, which veils the true nature from us, who appear to exist, in an appearance called the "Universe". Watch this video for a good explanation. Or a deeper explanation here -- The paradox is, that when realization happens, it becomes apparent that the true nature was never really obscured. It is hard to explain in words. We can discuss a bit more in-depth if you like.

There IS no personality. It is just a combination of circumstances that make it seem real. Personalities never get enlightened. Enlightenment is freedom from the personality We have to go with what feels right. I’m not your teacher nor do I care to be anyone’s teacher. How would you know if such a transmission isn’t already working? Even the planting of a seed is a transmission. It works in the simplest of ways. Makes you think. That is part of the wisdom path. Well obviously if you feel like you are your personality, you are still veiled and need to work on cleaning up your mind (by you I mean anyone really). I enjoyed what wayfarer posted. And I did see the truth in what he wrote. I’ve met a few such too. But it seems there’s a lot we can learn from such folks too. very nice! okay let’s be real. Where does any word come from? I say that the best way to find out whether one is truly free or not is to see how he/she lives. If that person’s life is reflective of their purported state. Like you said, we know when we meet and interact with such people. Yes, the paradox needs to be pondered. Not ignored because Lao Tzu said “the dao that can be trodden is not the real dao”. I don’t see any difference. Just saying words doesn’t make one any more awakened than it makes them enlightened. And also, personalities doesn’t awaken/get enlightened. When you understand this, you’ll understand what I meant

Public speaking is a matter of practice. You have to ask yourself, ‘is it “fear” or nervousness?’

It really depends on what Perspective we look at it from. From the perspective of the Self, all are awake. From the perspective of the personality, it is a lot of work. Which is right? Nirguna Brahman is not an attainment. You are already that (and so is everyone else). Advaita Vedanta’s awakening is a realization, a direct knowing that “i am that”. When the condition is right, the teacher says “Tat Tvam Asi” (you are that) and the student acknowledges “aham brahmasmi” ( I am Brahman). That’s all it takes (if the conditions are right). As to what and how the conditions are right is another topic altogether

This is what Advaita Vedanta's "awakening" or "enlightenment" is. This is not something you produce. In fact, the personhood needs to go (and will dissolve) when we realize our True Nature as the "face" before we were born... In Vedānta, we call this "Saguna Brahman" (or Brahman with Form and Name). This is a precursor to realization of Nirguna Brahman (Brahman without any form or name) and that the Self is none other than Nirguna Brahman. There is also a very high pitch tone that can be heard.

That is exactly what Self-realization is. BTW is this “light as in glow in the dark kind” or the “light of awareness in which all is known kind”? PS: I missed the part about "white light". The white light is an epiphenomenon. The mind interpreting what it cannot comprehend. There is also Golden light. The real light is the "Light of awareness".

Interesting concept. So you create something that didn't exist? Like creating butter from cream (through churning)? Or is it more like pulling stuff from the environment to produce something new?

That'll be wonderful. Thanks for sharing...

it is not even an Indian word. There is no word that literally translates to "enlightenment". In the Hindu traditions there is the word "Moksha" or "Mukti" (freedom). There is also use of the word "Kaivalyam" (Oneness). In the Buddhist tradition, there is use of the word Nirvāńa (which means the disappearance of the little "i"). There is also the word "Buddha" (means awakened/aware, coming from the root word "Bōdhati). It is a word that Western translators have ascribed to those terms referenced earlier. "Samādhi" that is interrupted by thoughts

It depends. Primarily on what kind of work you've put into it in previous lifetimes. As long as you are part of the game, the rules of the game apply. What is the difference?

Forget about Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu etc for a moment. Look ok at the topic from a simpler perspective. What is enlightenment? In my books, enlightenment is the realization of one’s true nature. It is not some alchemical immortality or attainment of sainthood. In fact, in dharma traditions, wherein the concept of enlightenment takes a central position, does not really speak much about sainthood or alchemical immortality. In certain sects such as tantric traditions, there is that element though. However one could have great siddhis and still be far from enlightenment. Immortality as per the wisdom traditions is in the realization of one’s true nature, which will eliminate all misconceptions and fears/psychoses that arise from fear of death. Yet, this (enlightenment) is not a supernatural realization, or an attainment of something external. No amount of “practice” can directly cause this. It is simply a result of dropping all aspects of the personality and conditioning that obscures our true nature. It is always there. Everyone is already always enlightened, just not realized yet. The practices only help to prepare the mind for the direct apperception of the truth. Once one realizes one’s true nature, one is free from future causality. That being said, the personality of individuals is predicated on the causality conditions (karma) that created the present mind-body. Not all of these need to disappear with enlightenment. Only those which are impediments to realization will go. All the others will dilute significantly, but remain so long as the body-mind seems to remain. WRT happiness. Let’s look at what Chuang tzu says about happiness. “Happiness is the cessation of seeking”. When does one cease seeking? When one knows one’s true nature. That’s why in a tradition like Vedanta the absolute nature (called Brahman or Atman/Self) is called complete, indivisible, etc. The realized sage is always contented, because he/she is complete in and as the Self. Nothing more is necessary or wanted.

I just started watching this and i'll recommend it for anyone who is interested. I've interacted with him a few times on FB. This is deeper than what I've heard/seen from him before.

Feel free to start a new one.

I didn't make a qualitative comparison. I only pointed out that in the Wisdom traditions that follow pure Jnana yoga path, don't strive for this "rainbow body". Their objective is the cessation of suffering. Though it might be, that there are sub-sects within these traditions who do focus on this "rainbow body" concept. Seems that the Buddha didn't care for that either. His objective too was the cessation of suffering. That's not to say that the Siddhas and adepts of the traditions that focus on the alchemical side of things aren't incredible. Of course they are! But pure jnana way seems to not care much for the rainbow body/light body etc. P.S. Decided to add this (reader please note, messenger, message, et al) -- In a conversation with a very high level adept, I was told (I'm inexactly quoting) -- "In the dharma path, typically you will be offered a choice at a certain stage. You could choose to become a Brahma or an immortal (as in Rainbow body, etc) or a mahasiddha, and take over the creation of universes etc. However, you WILL HAVE TO come back to complete the cycle of liberation at some point (which could be millions or billions of human years), to become truly liberated. The adept has to come back to the karmabhoomi (the land of action) to ultimately become free of karma."

Read this wonderful interview of the person who was with Nisargadatta Maharaj towards his final few years in physical form. https://innerspiritualawakening.com/nisargadatta-maharaj/mai-interview-transcript/ Here's the recording of the interview -- https://innerspiritualawakening.com/nisargadatta-maharaj/mai-interview/?fbclid=IwAR0nIu_ef8KSq38PIkykPvU5qnS9X83NQ9DEIlbA5iB4bnqR2sAxlShksHA

This is the "struggle", if there is any. The personality has certain predilections and not all of them need to be transcended. I don't know if there's a way to "keep it all together" without total surrender to the <Divine|Self|Emptiness|Buddha Nature|Dao>

I find it amusing how we have the preconception that a Master must be a “saint”. Even after enlightenment, certain personality traits will remain. Otherwise, the personality would become extremely boring

I lost my dad when I was 21 years old. He worked very hard for his family. Growing up, I never realized how privileged I was that I never felt a lack of anything in my life, even though we were of quite modest means. As kids, we never really desired too many things - heck I only had one "big toy" growing up. We spent our time reading books, playing outdoors and hearing stories and parables from the mouths of our elders (grandparents mainly). I think that feeling of fulfillment comes from being in a family which is bonded in love and kindness. My grandparents would spend extended periods of time with us (things hadn't yet gone fully down the path of nuclear families in India back then). At one point we lived in a 2-bedroom apartment, with my grandparents, my sister and I sharing one room. Yet, we never felt cramped, or that our privacy was being invaded, etc. Having the presence of the elders made life more beautiful. My dad supported all of us, the best he could. My dad worked himself to death. It was only after he passed away, that I realized how much he did for us. And how difficult life was for him, as he had to make living paycheck to paycheck work without us ever realizing that to be the case. I remember getting "spanked" by him only twice in my life. Once when I had taken a toy pistol on my school bus (first grade). The Bus driver took away the pistol and my dad was called to the office. The pistol was a stage prop that looked ridiculous but was made of brass (and belonged to my grandfather, from his stage acting days). Dad spanked me for taking it without permission. The other time it was for screwing up on a math test. After I entered my teens, Dad and I would argue a lot. He had some expectations and ideas about what I should do with my life, and I wanted to be a professional musician. After much resistance, he decided to support me as best as he could. Once he stopped resisting, I stopped resisting too. Things went back to being harmonious after 2-3 years of great upheaval. Unfortunately he passed away, at the age of 54, when I was in my 3rd year of university. His loss is felt all the time. As time goes by, and I'm a dad myself now, I realize exactly how amazing he was, that he toiled away with a smile on his face, because he loved his family.

https://www.medhajournal.com/dcar-vs-sbnr/ This is an article written by yours truly, in response to an oft-repeated admonishment about how we should never conflate the Absolute *Nondual* truth with the relative, transactional and dualistic reality. Feel free to post your reactions/comments/thoughts

This video is excellent as it gives a very pragmatic approach to taking Advaita Vedanta knowledge into our daily lives. Interestingly, it clarifies a lot of misconceptions about AV (often demonstrated on daobums as well ). If you want to *really* hear about AV from a genuine master’s mouth, please watch this (and other videos too) video lecture by Swami Sarvapriyananda.

That is the function of Māyā. It results in avidyā (ignorance of our true nature), which results in ever-changing names and forms appearing and disappearing. As soon as the jñāna (knowledge of our true nature) is revealed, it is no longer known to be "real".

Since y'all *are* discussing astral visions and beyond, let me share an experience I had doing some meditation with another member of this board. This has to do with the Kriya Yoga lineage and Babaji (Lahiri Mahasaya's Guru). FWIW, I have not an iota of doubt that what Yogananda wrote in his autobiography is not only absolutely true, but that the book is actually a "trigger" that sets off a spiritual process in the readers who are ready. What "ready" means is that the individual should have sufficient past life actions coming to fruition (meditation and spiritual work in previous lifetimes), or has been a member of this particular lineage in previous lifetimes. There is room for mystical experiences and mystical practices in the spiritual realm. Mystical experiences are wonderful vistas and pointers, encouraging signposts in the spiritual journey. Here's my "story" of Babaji. BTW, my Master, who is perhaps one of the most powerful mystics I have encountered, also had a very amazing encounter with Babaji.

There is a pedagogy that is needed, because the senses and mind are so beholden with the “world”. The “unreal” is only the names and forms (Nāma, rūpa). These are called the “jagadrūpam”. The world has three other aspects - “asti, bhātī, priyam (existent, shining/illumined and loved). These correspond to sat (Pure Being/Existence), chit (Pure Awareness which illuminates), ānanda (Pure Bliss/Joy/Love) and constitute “brahmarūpam”. So to go from “unreal”(aka changing) to “real” (unchanging), is possible in every moment. There really is no contradiction.