bee
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Post by bee on Jun 5, 2016 21:50:28 GMT
We often fight What Is, but when we do we don't seem to realise we are fighting God.
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tony
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Post by tony on Jun 6, 2016 12:36:52 GMT
Even that fight is part of What Is! In other words (even though this sounds paradoxical), "What Is" is 'what is', Nirvana is Samsara. Not understanding is as much part of reality as understanding. Our delusions happen, we can't avoid them, we can only see through them. What can happen is a change in perspective: that I am not (identical to) my thoughts or my body or any thing. Whatever I think I know is not IT, but a description at best, in the same way that the map is not the territory.
So our delusions (mistaking what we think for Reality) need to be Accepted, allowed to arise and let go of. In that process, we fight or stop fighting. That's the constant moment by moment practice of Meditation.
Meditation doesn't 'cause' enlightenment, it is enlightenment itself. Just being in a state where I am not compelled to act on my thoughts, or believe in them, conscious but not involved, is It. Initially it takes great effort to maintain the Stillness, the bare Awareness (i.e. without a meditator), but by constantly practicing returning to that open awareness, one is actually engaged in practice-enlightenment. The practice happens within the delusion.
The realization comes that one is that bare Awareness as much as one is all that arises through body and mind. No duality. Therefore: just breathe!
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tony
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Posts: 172
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Post by tony on Jun 22, 2016 10:31:29 GMT
Angelssix, a good question! In my experience, it is permanent, in the same way that being awake after a dream is a permanent state. The delusion of being a separate self can still happen, but it's a temporary experience, in the same way that we forget who we are when absorbed watching a movie or go into a dream. There is a knowing that we'll wake up again. The description that it's like waking up from a dream is accurate. The more we practice certain practices (e.g. Meditation, Love of God/Truth, self-less service, etc.) the shorter is the gap.
As I described in the earlier post, the feeling that one is identified with thoughts and feelings as if they are what one is made of is seen through. You know you are not just your thoughts, feelings and body (our psycho-somatic units). For example, feelings such as fear or anger can arise in me for any number of reasons and circumstances. I used to feel as if I was angry and identify with that anger. I know now that it's a feeling that comes when it does and goes when it does, if I am awake to it. It becomes an event that happens to/within me. This 'waking up to' is what is also called 'dying to self'.
It's a lot easier then to love your neighbour as thyself, to forgive others. One doesn't hang on to hurts as much and there is less complaining if things don't go as expected.
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Post by clouddust on Jul 31, 2016 17:36:35 GMT
Hi all,
I keep jumping in and out of this forum, so... here goes, I'm jumping in again.
Tony, based on your response to Angelssix, just wondering if you would define yourself as enlightened??
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