Here, it seems to me that it is of essential, fundamental importance, in these meetings, that we work together on this relation between this sense of "I," which is the ego, and non-duality, which is Advaita. The expression "Advaita" means "the One without the Second," and this sense of "I" is the presence of this ego-identity - thus, ego and Advaita.
A true comprehension of what is intimately linked to the presence of this sense of separation within us, which is the presence of this egoic mind, a direct vision of this represents the end of the main element of this ego-identity, which is the presence of self-image.
Thus, this close relation between you, as a person, and self-image is something very clear. Looking at this clearly, becoming fully aware of it, is opening this door to the end of this self-image. This is what we will be addressing here with you in this meeting, in this talk.
First of all, this is fundamental: becoming aware of how we are functioning internally, psychologically. The answer you have for the present moment, for this instant, for this moment, what this relation is and how it occurs between you and the experience of this moment.
Every experience we have is an experience that is only an experience because it is recognized. When we recognize the moment, we recognize the moment because of the presence of memory. Thus, memory is the main element of recognition, and the presence of memory is the presence of thought.
So, we need to comprehend, first of all, what thought is, since thought is the main element in this context of relations. Here, together, we are studying with you how the mind functions, how the mind works. The truth about the mind, the direct vision of this mechanics, which is the mechanics of thinking, is what reveals to us what is beyond the mind, beyond the "I," beyond this self-image.
When you have a technical problem... If, for example, you have a plumbing problem and you know plumbing, or if you have an electrical problem and you know electricity, you know how to deal with this technical aspect, which are these electrical mechanisms, your contact with this situation is not, in fact, something insoluble. There is a response for this given situation, for this problem.
So, if you know electricity, you know how to find the fault, the problem. If you know plumbing, you know how to find a problem in the pipes, in the plumbing, because that is your technical knowledge. Therefore, dealing with the mind is something similar.
The way the mind works in us is problematic, psychologically and internally, within ourselves. All these mechanics of brain functioning, when it comes to the movement of thought, we don't have the expertise, we don't have the technique, we don't have the insight into how it happens, how it processes.
When you're anxious, or afraid, or angry, or sad, or depressed, this internal psychological state, the mind as it's functioning at that moment, is in disarray; and we don't know how to deal with it, because we don't have a complete understanding of this mechanics, of how thought works with its images, its symbols, its mental representations.
Our entire emphasis here, in these meetings, consists of this study of ourselves, this learning about ourselves. This self-discovery gives you a clear vision of a mind free of conflict, disorder, confusion, and problems. We don't have this because we haven't engaged in this investigation, as we are proposing here: comprehending that the "person," this "me," this "I," is a mental representation of who you are, within the brain.
Your brain works this way; it's part of this mind, just as this intellect is part of this brain mechanics, and we are psychologically functioning this way. We have a constructed image, established within us by past remembrances, by the experiences we've been through. These recollections formed this psychological structure, they formed this self-image, and that is how you show yourself in life.
Therefore, you and self-image are not separate. This self-image is functioning in disarray - it's quite simple this verification. When you're praised, you feel happy, but when you're criticized, you feel sad. When you're challenged, you feel irritated, or driven by motivation, driven by the desire to respond to that challenge, to prove to yourself that you're special, that you're better, that you're capable.
We don't realize it clearly, but the way we've been functioning, the way we're functioning, based on the effort to control, this desire to be better, this desire to rid ourselves of the worst, all of this is part of conflicting internal states within us - the basis, the true origin of all the problems within this ego-identity.
This psychological condition of dependence on praise and criticism, of dependence on challenges to take action based on effort, in an attempt to prove something to ourselves, all of this represents conflicting, distressing, and suffering internal states. This is within this aspect of the ego. It is present as part of this sense of separation from life itself.
Therefore, there is no Freedom, no Peace, no space of Silence, of serenity, of comprehension of life. We know nothing about Real Happiness, which is Bliss. We have happy moments; most people consider these happy moments to be happiness. They even say: "There is no happiness, there are happy moments." Yes, they are absolutely right, because that is their experience. But that is not the Truth, when it is present here.
When there is a true vision of Happiness, the presence of Happiness is Bliss. It is not something for the ego, for the "person," for the "I," as we believe, just like the presence of Love and Freedom. There is Freedom only when there is a space free from the center.
When you look at an object, there is a space around that object; the object is exactly in the center of any space. When you see the object, there is a space around the object. The object is visible, the space is invisible, but it is there. The only space we know in life is space from a center; this center is the "I," this center is the ego.
Similar to an object that has space around itself, this sense of ego has a space. Every action of the ego, of this "me," of this self-image, is an action within this space; and this space is limited, always limited. This is the absence of Freedom we are talking about.
Freedom is the possibility of movement. Why is Freedom so precious? Because without Freedom, there is a restriction, there is a limitation, there is a curtailment of freedom. This curtailment is the inability to move. When you cannot move, you are imprisoned; this prison is the absence of Freedom.
We need Freedom in life. The sense of "I," the ego, is imprisoned within its own space. This is the condition of self-image. All unhappiness in human beings is due to the absence of Freedom. Therefore, when we use the expression "Freedom," we are speaking of Real Freedom, of this Freedom that is present when this center, which is the "I," which is the ego, no longer exists.
So, there is a present space; in this space Happiness is present, in this space Love is present. But, note: just as Freedom is not for someone, Real Freedom is precisely when that someone is not there, when this ego is not there.
Similarly, it is the presence of Love. Love is what is present when there is no longer this sense of "I." Happiness is what is present when there is no longer this "I." It is not Happiness for someone, it is not Love for someone, it is not Freedom for someone. Freedom is the Nature of God, just like Love and Happiness, the Reality of That which essentially is You when there is no longer this self-image.
Therefore, it is not about this you as you see yourself, it is about this unknown, indescribable You, as Love is, as Happiness is, as Freedom itself is. This is what we are proposing to you here at this moment: to have, in life, a free approach to self-image; when there is the end of self-image, because there is a comprehension of the truth about thought.
We have to free ourselves from thought, and we free ourselves from thought when we comprehend the truth about thinking. We do not know what thinking is. We are confusing ourselves with the model of thought, and this model of thought that we know is psychological thought; it is thought that is providing constitution, foundation, and structure to this "I," to this ego.
Dealing with the truth of thinking. We need to discover what thinking is. Thinking is what is present, as well as feeling and acting, when the "I" is not. We did not learn to think. We were given what to think, we were given the motives and reasons for what to think.
Behind these reasons and motives lies the element of the "I," laden with desires and fears. This is part of the will, of the desire, of the ego itself. This is not the truth about what thinking is. This is the particular vision of a conditioned mind, which has been taught what to think.
Our psychological condition is to have background thoughts of conditioning, based on psychological, religious, philosophical, political, and family tradition. We have a conditioned brain. This conditioned brain is malfunctioning, and no one can address this malfunction, solve this problem, or put an end to this internal condition, except ourselves. Comprehending the truth about yourself is the end of this ego illusion.
A specialist, an analyst, a therapist, they can be helpful, or not, but the fundamental element for ending this ego-identity, this illusion of separation between you and life, between you and God, is comprehending yourself, seeing the truth about yourself.
These weekend meetings, where we're together Saturday and Sunday, have this purpose, they're two days long. You can find our WhatsApp link here, in the video description, to join these online weekend meetings. Here's the link.
In addition, we have our in-person meetings and retreats. If what you just heard makes sense to you, here's an invitation.Give a like to it, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment: "Yes, that makes sense." Okay? And we'll see each other. Thanks for the meeting and see you soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment