Nisargadatta Maharaj's 'I AM'

[Judge]

Originally Posted by schola

Don't listen to these guru wannabes. This is why I rarely post in this forum. Too much confusion.

Trust your own self. I'm no enlightened master, but I do know with conviction that the answer is within. You're not going to find answers from anyone here, me included.

A guru is simply yourself being helpful or unhelpful, depending on what you require at the time.

Enlightenment and awakening happen instantly for it happens in the now.

When it does happen, it is the now.

The elaborate seperation of a world with people in it, is for experience only, it seems to confuse, but only from the ego POV.

Do I exist?

No.

Do you exist?

No.

Does consciousness exist?

Yes, of course.

But of course all words are pointers

Judge

[Antarananda]

Originally Posted by drama07

Im yet unable to understand from those links. How can you put attention on I AM without thinking it? Im not a complex reader so you guys need to simplify it for me Or maybe im just too sick.

OK I hope this is simple enough

It is Awareness paying attention to Awareness. That's it. If someone asks you "who are you?", just before words come to your mind answering "I am..." what you experience is the "I AM"

[drama07]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

OK I hope this is simple enough

It is Awareness paying attention to Awareness. That's it. If someone asks you "who are you?", just before words come to your mind answering "I am..." what you experience is the "I AM"

So practically it is stillness, which I know from eckhart tolle. When someone asks me who I am, the words come without thought. And before the words come out im in complete stillness.

Now my question is how do you hold on it? Am I llookin at holding complete stillness? Is it stillness in fact thx

[spacedout]

Originally Posted by schola

Don't listen to these guru wannabes. This is why I rarely post in this forum. Too much confusion.

Trust your own self. I'm no enlightened master, but I do know with conviction that the answer is within. You're not going to find answers from anyone here, me included.

Har har! But who is the "own self?" I would rather be a guru wannabe (a seeker) than a non-seeker. Use all resources available to you, this forum included. "Seek , and ye shall find" (Luke 11:9).

By the way, I was in I AM 50% of the time today. I set my timer watch to vibrate every 30 minutes. When it buzzed I reflected back to where my conscousness was immediately before the buzz. 24 our of 48 times I was in I AM - the Witness. I would reflect back to whether I was in waking sleep, absorption, attention, or being the Witness. I've been practicing this method for over two years now. I've found it a great way to practice being in the moment. I'll try anything that works.

[pianoperformer]

Originally Posted by spacedout

By the way, I was in I AM 50% of the time today. I set my timer watch to vibrate every 30 minutes. When it buzzed I reflected back to where my conscousness was immediately before the buzz. 24 our of 48 times I was in I AM - the Witness. I would reflect back to whether I was in waking sleep, absorption, attention, or being the Witness. I've been practicing this method for over two years now. I've found it a great way to practice being in the moment. I'll try anything that works.

That's quite impressive. I think I held onto it for about an hour, and then lost it.

It felt rather strange though, which is probably a reason I didn't hold onto it that long. It really through my entire perception of reality off, and things I thought important before that just didn't seem so anymore. Things I desired before just seemed neutral. I have to be careful with that because that made me somewhat detached from the physical.

It's been about 5 years since I've done this seriously, but I had made some progress before.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by spacedout

By the way, I was in I AM 50% of the time today. I set my timer watch to vibrate every 30 minutes. When it buzzed I reflected back to where my conscousness was immediately before the buzz. 24 our of 48 times I was in I AM - the Witness. I would reflect back to whether I was in waking sleep, absorption, attention, or being the Witness. I've been practicing this method for over two years now. I've found it a great way to practice being in the moment. I'll try anything that works.

I tried it for 30 minutes today too! And I found it very blissful. I didnt do it as a typical meditation technique (Shut my eyes in an isolated room, undisturbed) but rather use life as meditation. So I was in the bus sitting down and paying attention to my awareness of the world. In a way everything looked sorta blurred and honestly I felt somewhat 'one' with the world. It does require some effort (especially when you are being disturbed by thoughts, bodily reactions, etc. but I understand it necessary to always bring back awareness to awareness. So I ignore everything. Otherwise, you get lost back into illusion and suffer.

[schola]

Here is another valuable work I just discovered. It seems to be a compiliation of all of Nisargadatta's sayings on "I AM."

The Nisargadatta Gita

[spacedout]

I posted a reply here yestersay to Schola's remark about guru wannabes as well as my findings on how long I was able to remain in I AM. But now it is gone. Did I say something to offend someone?

[spacedout]

I would rather be a guru wannabe ( a seeker) than a non-seeker. I say, take in as much information ,from as many different sources as possilbe and accept what you want and feel is right. Remain open-minded, alert, and aware of everything with the realization that no one knows the truth as to what is, for reality is simply the loss of ego.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by spacedout

I would rather be a guru wannabe ( a seeker) than a non-seeker. I say, take in as much information ,from as many different sources as possilbe and accept what you want and feel is right. Remain open-minded, alert, and aware of everything with the realization that no one knows the truth as to what is, for reality is simply the loss of ego.

All I know now is nothing is true, but I am. All beliefs, all observations, all everything... nothing is true except awareness (thx to some people helping me realize it). Now I can see why there isnt any suffering when you realize this. Every time I begin suffering, I remind myself who I am so that my mind stops dwelling and the mind is attentive on true nature.

I'm going to cling to my true nature(awareness) so that my mind will re-align to the truth. That is what maharaj and his guru and others want us to do.

[Antarananda]

Wonderful! The end of the drama of suffering

[Judge]

Originally Posted by spacedout

I posted a reply here yestersay to Schola's remark about guru wannabes as well as my findings on how long I was able to remain in I AM. But now it is gone. Did I say something to offend someone?

You decided that it seemed like a personal attack, so you deleted it

As you are the only conscious being here, then who else could have done it

judge

[Antarananda]

I got this in a newsletter today...

There's the story of the disciple who went to the master and said, "Could you give me a word of wisdom? Could you tell me something that would guide me through my days?" It was the master's day of silence, so he picked up a pad. It said, "Awareness." When the disciple saw it, he said, "This is too brief. Can you expand on it a bit?" So the master took back the pad and wrote, "Awareness, awareness, awareness." The disciple said, "Yes, but what does it mean?" The master took back the pad and wrote, "Awareness, awareness, awareness means -- awareness."

[drama07]

Its so simple. You are awareness. You are not being aware. You are awareness. Know that and dwell upon it, not through thoughts, but by mindfully observing the presence of awareness(you). Whenever thoughts pop up, ignore them. Or maybe watch the awareness on those thoughts. Its so simple and at times very effortless, but you must be willing.

Other teachers say the same thing. Some say to focus awareness on the present moment reality, hence you can focus on thoughts, the tree outside, the talkative sales rep, etc. This is fine, but why not also focus on YOU. Focus on awareness. Instead of being aware of the illusion of reality, be aware of 'I am'. This is quite the realization im having . Im loving it.

I'm not speaking from agreeable concepts. I speak with experience this time As Tiffy would agree (I love this), I have read and listened to a lot about driving a car. I have even, without real experience, adviced others to, but for the past few days I have finally driven that car , and do I love it.

Antarananda, that story on the newsletter is so simple, yet very deep.

[drama07]

From this video by stephen wolinsky (someone who spoke to maharaj), he says the 'i am' is the essence of food. It got me a little confused really . Can someone explain what Stephen is saying?

Why is the I am so significant? - Stephan Wolinsky

[Antarananda]

Originally Posted by drama07

From this video by stephen wolinsky (someone who spoke to maharaj), he says the 'i am' is the essence of food. It got me a little confused really . Can someone explain what Stephen is saying?

Why is the I am so significant? - Stephan Wolinsky

Read this collection of talks with Maharaj called I am Unborn. In it he explains about the food-essence vis-a-vis the I Am.

A suggestion: Don't listen to interpretations of any disciples, just let your own sadhana (spiritual practice) be your Guru. When you're intense about it, you will attract the right guides also, who will not confuse you. Much has been said in the Upanishads about Guru and grace, and not without reason

[spacedout]

Thanks, I needed that.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

Read this collection of talks with Maharaj called I am Unborn. In it he explains about the food-essence vis-a-vis the I Am.

The body-mind is the byproduct of sperm & egg. The body-mind is made out of food. How can I be the body-mind? This cant be me.

A suggestion: Don't listen to interpretations of any disciples, just let your own sadhana (spiritual practice) be your Guru. When you're intense about it, you will attract the right guides also, who will not confuse you. Much has been said in the Upanishads about Guru and grace, and not without reason

Yes, Maharaj says your true guru is your inner self. Listening and reading from others helps you gain self-knowledge & understanding (mere concepts for the mind). But you can only realize through yourself. And once that occurs, everything can be dropped.

[Antarananda]

Originally Posted by drama07

The body-mind is the byproduct of sperm & egg. The body-mind is made out of food. How can I be the body-mind? This cant be me.

Did you go through that book? He clearly says the sense of "I am" arises from the subtle part (sattva) of digested food. In the Upanishads it is said that the subtlest digested part of food gives rise to the mind. Maharaj says that if your body were to cease to exist, so would the "I am", which is quite logical. There won't be any "you" left to experience "I am"



Beyond the "I am" is the absolute, aka Brahman in Vedanta (Upanishadic discourse), or Shoonya (the void) in Buddhism. Maharaj had gone beyond the "I am", and rested in that, as said by himself. Ramana spoke from this state as well. Read this again - the "I am" is just the beginning of Self-Enquiry

[drama07]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

Did you go through that book?

Not really I just figured.

[drama07]

I have a really hard time understanding self-enquiry and 'I am', no matter how simple it is. Digested food gives rise to the mind... huh?

So is the 'I am' the awareness that perceives the illusionary world through the illusionary body-mind? Im so confused

[Antarananda]

Find a Guru, man

[drama07]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

Find a Guru, man

And that would be my inner self.

All I'm(the mind) doing nowadays whenever possible, is observing the same emptiness that comes up when the mind asks 'who am i?'. And whenever pleasure & pain occurs, I remind myself using the vary mind that I am not the mind nor the body this pleasure & pain is happening to.

I'm not confused. The mind is confused and doesnt understand.

[munish]

I Live in India,Almost every one here has a Guru.I always found Steve Pavlina Subjective reality very useful .

You are god .

[drama07]

I have a question. I have been practicing awareness watching awareness (paying attention to 'i am') and I found that the feeling is the same when being attentive between the eyebrows. I find it much easier to just focus between the eyebrows.

Am I focusing on 'I am' when I look between the eyebrows?

[Antarananda]

Originally Posted by drama07

I have a question. I have been practicing awareness watching awareness (paying attention to 'i am') and I found that the feeling is the same when being attentive between the eyebrows. I find it much easier to just focus between the eyebrows.

Am I focusing on 'I am' when I look between the eyebrows?

Don't worry about whether or not it is "i am" or anything else. If it works for you, and stabilizes your awareness without wavering, then it is good. In the Yoga philosophy it is a practice known as Dharana (inner single-pointed absorption without fluctuation). It eventually leads to full absorption, or true meditation (Dhyan) and finally Samadhi (superconscious awareness).

In my experience, when you rest in pure awareness effortlessly, everything just expands, and there is no sense left of a locus of bodily awareness anymore. Literally I experience that I am everywhere and nowhere. But even that is an experience I can only verbalize once my mind kicks in. As and when it actually happens, in that moment there is no body and no mind and no observer of the mind. It is just pure emptiness, like the clear sky.

[drama07]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

Don't worry about whether or not it is "i am" or anything else. If it works for you, and stabilizes your awareness without wavering, then it is good. In the Yoga philosophy it is a practice known as Dharana (inner single-pointed absorption without fluctuation). It eventually leads to full absorption, or true meditation (Dhyan) and finally Samadhi (superconscious awareness).

In my experience, when you rest in pure awareness effortlessly, everything just expands, and there is no sense left of a locus of bodily awareness anymore. Literally I experience that I am everywhere and nowhere. But even that is an experience I can only verbalize once my mind kicks in. As and when it actually happens, in that moment there is no body and no mind and no observer of the mind. It is just pure emptiness, like the clear sky.

Oh I see

What if I dont focus on anything at all? What if I just be empty like a zombie ? I find that focusing on something need effort because I always end up thinking whether im focusing or not. Feeling emptiness without any focus (empty minded) seems effortless, that would mean im not paying attention to my inner guru (pure awareness)

[Antarananda]

Emptiness and awareness are one and the same

If there is sattva (purity) in the body and mind, it helps keep body mind light and clear and allows consciousness to express itself through all sheaths covering it. I there is too much tamas (inertia, dullness) in the body and mind, it can lead to zombie-like dead stillness. That is obviously not useful.

Favoring sattvic foods, environment and company (satsang) helps.

[manu4groups]

Thank you for joining me to this forum. I maintain a site. All the books of Nisargadatta Maharaj is available here for free download here : Download all the books of Nisargadatta Maharaj, the Great Indian Spiritual Guru of Advaita Vedanta
Check if you have missed to read any. If anybody knows about a book which is not listed here, please send me a copy, I shall include it.

Manu

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by drama07

I heard some tell me once, that adyanshanti's the end of the world answers the questions I have.

I'm not sure which adyanshanti audio I have - but I do remember his talks addressing what self inquiry really is.

Also, there's a little book How to See Yourself As You Really Are - Google Books that goes into looking for the self as a way to see there is no independent self - I suppose it's the Buddhist's self inquiry approach.