winterknight

That depends on the context. In absolute truth, there are no thoughts, and so they do not arise. But if we want to say that thoughts appear, then -- broadly, thoughts might be said to be waves in consciousness, that take place in it without altering it. They are objects linked to an ego and mind which experience them. They are experiences with a beginning and an end, with qualities, with differences. One could say that they arise because of the laws of cause and effect combined with past actions. Or one could say that God causes them because God wants to. Depends on your perspective.

1. No. 2. You should try to be honest about what you actually want, and align your actions with that. Often that takes therapy, introspection, action in the world, and reflection on that action. You may not immediately know your desire. You may have to discover it. And it will change over time. So it's not quite willpower, but it's also not quite letting go and dealing with the consequences. 3. There is neither your experience nor other experiences. But these are just words. The point is to discover it yourself. 4. There is not much difference. Life is just like a dream. 5. It probably depends on the person. The key is to pay careful attention to the circumstances of your own mind and body, to listen to them, and learn what they need.

We can say that if we want, but that's just an idea. There is a direct experience that will show you exactly how the ordinary "I" is an illusion... it's a non-verbal realization.

If you investigate deeply that "I" who seems to be conscious of Outer, you will find that there is no such entity.

Heh, yes, a captive audience would be useful. I actually have tried a little Youtube, but even there it seems like attracting an audience is quite difficult. Spirituality -- heck, nonduality alone -- is a huge marketplace with 10,000 vendors all screaming at the top of their lungs. Maybe I've just given up too soon... I dunno. There's a few different ways of answering this question. One way is the argument that we have some very vague sense that "I slept." That's your memory of deep sleep. Another is the metaphysical way of approaching this question. The argument is that the brain cannot generate consciousness (because consciousness is not a process that "matter" alone can account for), so consciousness is an eternal substance all its own. If that is so, then consciousness is never not there. And if that's the case, then the only way to explain the deep sleep state is as the consciousness OF a "purely dark mental object." A third is the direct experience way. Upon realization, it becomes quite clear that consciousness can never not be. So therefore it must persist in deep sleep. But the truth is that these are just intellectual positions. They don't matter all that much.

Thank you. Actually, I am a teacher -- but am really bad at the marketing side of things. I of course have stayed anonymous here because I'm enjoying that freedom (maybe I'll change my mind eventually). I don't like trying to get people to pay attention... I feel like it's a chore to find an audience. I'm sure that's my fault. If I were a Buddhist I think it might be a bit easier. They have more of an institutional structure for teachers... but that may be just another excuse.

It's called a "realization," because it's the seeing through of a belief that you thought was solid. It is the mind realizing its own boundaries. It has been analogized to waking up from a dream, or realizing that what you thought was a snake was actually a rope. It may be called both conceptual and non-conceptual. It is immediate and beyond concepts. It results in the destruction of the very idea of realization. Words can't really do it justice. Best just to experience it yourself. 1. Beings don't exist. Neither-you-as-a-being nor other beings exist. 2. Well, technically, existence is itself a category within the Self. So if we wanted to be super accurate, we'd say that the Self is beyond existence and non-existence.

Well, it's really no more or less a state of nonduality than naming objects and having thoughts. Nonduality is seeing that these are the same -- seeing for yourself, directly in your own experience.

Yeah, unfortunately it's a struggle until it isn't. It's because of the intense power of built-up mental habits. They drag you back again and again. It's good that you feel you are touching your true nature for a moment. That means you are making progress. It will get easier. Simply keep at it. The amount of time you will be able to stay in that "true nature" will get longer and longer over time.

Actually it may well qualify you for low-fee therapy. Google that psychoanalytic institute and let them know. Some of them even have analysis with candidates (smart people who are in training and who are being supervised by experienced analysts), and if you are unemployed, the rates can be very low indeed.

I'm not sure what you're asking here... Glad to be of help.

You tell me! Haha. Knowing what you are can only be done directly. Hunt for the I. I could say "yes, you’re consciousness," and that's true as far as it goes, but the real truth is that you are actually beyond the ability of words to describe.

Impossible to explain from the outside. You'll have to experience it yourself to know. It means that when you walk the spiritual path to its final destination, this question will be dissolved.

Illusions are not real, and no one gets deluded. But to see that this is so, you have to walk on the path. The idea of a deluded self is itself the very thing that is seen through. I would absolutely not make it mystical unless they were asking for that kind of advice. I would approach them where they're at, try to be a good, empathetic, nonjudgmental listener. You are trying to free others but it doesn't sound like you have freed yourself yet. Why not focus on that? When you succeed, you will automatically help the others around you. Again, I strongly recommend therapy. Google "psychoanalytic institute <your city>" call any institute that comes up, and ask for a referral.

Ramana Maharshi's self-inquiry IS a form of meditation, the best form. The others may be helpful too, I couldn't say. But RM's self-inquiry is enough by itself. The only other possibility is surrender. Surrender means that you attempt to accept whatever happens -- whatever emotions you have, whatever events occur. You stop trying to change anything. Very difficult, though. Unless you are very drawn to it as a primary path, I would suggest self-inquiry first. Self-inquiry becomes surrender eventually automatically.

I believe Ramana Maharshi's self-inquiry is the meditation that is really worth doing. But vipassana is probably helpful too. You aren't lying to yourself about that. You believe, emotionally, that you exist. If you didn't, you wouldn't be a seeker. No amount of intellectual understanding will be enough until that emotional conviction changes. Saying what you really believed is you don't exist when you still feel that you suffer... that would be lying to yourself. You will know when the illusion is "gone" without any doubt. It cannot be explained fully in words. Part of that is understanding that there is no illusion, and that there never was. Well, I had to answer a lot of intellectual questions at the beginning first. There is nothing wrong with that, if those are really what concern you. Pick a tradition and read deeply in it, meet people and talk about it. Above all, ask lots and lots of questions. That's what's going to give you intellectual clarity. I can help you with this too if you have specific questions. It is not pointless if that's what you feel you need. As far as spirituality as a smokescreen, that is a very real possibility. That is, you probably really are interested in spirituality and are using it to avoid other things in life. That's one reason I suggest that seekers strongly consider psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapy.

Yes. Yes. I appear to suffer, but I do not in reality. Follow the path of self-inquiry. I have posts about it here and here.

Exactly

Yes, not feeding the conflict is a nice way of putting the surrender path. For you, that "not feeding the conflict" does not require effort anymore because of this insight. So until the point that you got that insight, wasn't there the feeling of having to put in effort on the path? You may not see quite how the effortful path led you to this effortless insight... but I would bet that it did.

I do. But unfortunately I do not think the way to end conflict is simply to pretend it doesn't exist... as I said, for a few very mature souls pure silence is enough. But for the rest, one division is needed to destroy another division, as one thorn removes another that is stuck in someone's flesh. But Zen may be more to your liking. Zen tends to really stay away from abstraction. Yes. Not quite. This is simple solipsism. It is not the one who sees objects who creates them, but God. You might be God, but if that is true, you are not the one who sees objects... can't be both. I have nothing special to offer food and exercise-wise really. My life purpose right now is to write and speak. I never said I'm not the public figure type, only that I've failed at it so far . As far as what I can offer the world -- it's probably this spiritual stuff. I'm not too concerned with it. That will happen automatically, and I think it emerges and evolves in a way that cannot be easily predicted beforehand. When this happens by itself, that's great. But for all others, they must strive until it happens. Later they may see that even their striving was not striving and it was unnecessary anyway, but till then, they must strive.

As also maya.

I don't think so. I may get bored of it eventually, or I might feel like I've stopped helping people, at which time I might stop. Hard to say. There is no death. Glad you have the answers. Enjoy.

It's true, it is a kind of focus/control that implies a controller, but the seeker already believes there is a controller. So they must be led through that idea into something else. It does not sustain psychological division but first reduces it, and then destroys it. As Ramana Maharshi used to say, spiritual practice is like the stick that is used to light a funeral pyre. First it burns everything else, and then it itself burns away. You seem to be on more of a "surrender" path, which is equally wonderful... but even surrender implies effort and control.

Yes, I am. "Dreams" and "shadow self" are terminology in the paradigm of maya. Only if we accept maya then they exist. And I do not accept maya. But if I did, then, yes, there are still dreams at night and shadow selves.

It certainly seems like that to the one who feels like they have to put forth effort. But in fact enlightenment is the realization that that person doesn't exist... so I would say enlightenment is both simple and easy. So simple and easy that in fact it is already accomplished.