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Question: "I do have a specific question about the nature of existence/time. There never has been anything else but this, has there? It's just apparent. My apparent ability to type these words and structure this question just arises from nowhere back into nowhere, doesn't it? There has never been a boy who learnt to type.. or a yesterday.
There is no room other than what's appearing here. There's no downstairs, no shops round the corner, no feet that are tucked under the desk other than the sense that there's heat felt there by the body. Is that correct to say?" Answer: I enjoy the way you describe this, but hesitate to say that there either are, or aren't, any shops around the corner. What difference would it make anyway whether their presence or absence is imagined? Ultimately, they are as real -or as unreal- as any other appearance. THAT what appears as such phenomena is beyond the dualistic shadows of real and unreal, beyond existence and non-existence, or any other dualistic pair of concepts. From a certain perspective "There has never been a boy who learnt to type.. or a yesterday." All this appears presently from now-here, including those who believe that there really is something like the past. Here, this is seen as a Self-Arising Mystery, emerging only now, including stories, memories and 'evidence' as to how this situation evolved from a presupposed past. And yet, if someone outside this Advaita context asks about past events, this character responds as if they really happened. Question: If so, is it only in parable that 'you' refer to Buddha, Jesus etc, etc when giving answers.. i.e. they never existed.. their forms are not present in this timelessness as its recognized here at either end of this email? is this correct to say? Answer: Yes, like all stories, the answers given are arising presently, and since there ultimately never 'was a was' there also never was a Buddha or a Jesus apart from THIS as IT arises presently. So the use of such names and quotes is indeed more like parables than that they are factual. All that appears is ever and only the One; appearing as every Buddha, every ignoramus, every child, every star, bug, leaf of grass, or grain of sand, enjoying her cosmic game of hide and seek with and within HerSelf.
If or when you have a question you'd like to see answered in this newsletter send it to:
author@awakeningtothedream.com |
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Does memory refer to another now?
No, there's only presence. So it doesn't refer to another now that no longer is? No. What does it refer to then? Memory is a story arising presently about what supposedly has happened. It has no validity apart from this as a story. There is actually no history - there's only presence. What you're saying seems just too obvious. It is obvious, but when there's a belief that the story is reality it tends to get overlooked. The story diverts attention in favour of an alternative reality of past and future, where reminiscing and longing appear more attractive than unembellished direct seeing. But outside of a talk environment I've heard you answer a question about your past. When the story seems to be the exclusive reality, apparent suffering may arise in relation to events that appear to be happening to 'me', or in 'remembering' and anticipating such events. But when life isn't viewed exclusively through the veil of thought, then living unfolds as if that which the story relates is real, as if there is a past and a future. When the story is no longer viewed as the exclusive reality, there isn't the continuity that constitutes a 'me'. So stories arise - 'memory' thoughts arise - but they're not taken to be what 'I' am. From: "Being: the bottom line" By: Nathan Gill
Available Here Art by: Bryce Lorren Widom, Title: 'Beingness #7' Found at: http://www.brycewidom.com/ Fair Use Notice |
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Knowledge and Ignorance If absolute Knowledge required the aid Of some other kind of knowledge to know Itself, It would be nothing but ignorance. Of course, light is not darkness; But, to itself, is it even light? If there is a pot, a pot is perceived, And if the pot is broken, its brokenness is perceived; If there is no pot at all, Is not its absence perceived as well? It can be seen, therefore, That he who perceives that there is nothing Does not himself become nothing. The Self has this same unique kind of existence, Beyond both existence and non-existence. The ultimate Reality Is neither an object to Itself Nor is It an object to anyone else. Should it then be regarded as non-existent? In a tank the water may be so clear That it appears non-existent; Though one who looks into the tank may not see it, Still it is there. Similarly, The ultimate Reality exists in Itself, And is beyond the conceptions Of existence or non-existence. |
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Here everyone is the same conscious Soul; Here everyone is the one eternal Soul. Here only the one undivided Soul exists; Why lament, then, O mind? I am the same Self in all. ~ Dattatreya ~ From: Dattatreya’s Song of the Avadhut Available Here Art by: Sasha Linda Wasko Title: 'The Oneness of the Separate Identities' Found at: http://www.horse-talk.com/wasko/index.html Fair Use Notice |
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Wrong Email Address An Illinois man left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail. Unfortunately, he missed one letter in her address, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher's wife, whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fainted on the spot. At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen: Dearest Wife, I guess you're surprised to hear from me so soon, but they have computers here for their guests. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. PS. Sure is hot down here! |
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