winterknight

Yes, but when you use words you are trapped by them. The experience I'm talking about is the realization of the inadequacy of words to speak about the truth. If you insist on asking great philosophical questions while in the world of words, don't expect answers. They are not to be had. Sure, that's probably gentler and subtler terminology.

Heh. I don't believe in identifying myself with the experiencer of emotion, or even to believe that emotion really exists. But if we say that it does, for argument's sake, then I'm mostly unaffected, though sometimes I roll my eyes internally, feel a little irritation, and yes, sometimes a little compassion too...

You can't say that you perceive without using the concept "perceive." "Raw sense awareness" --> more concepts. Eliminate all the concepts, and you'll find that there's no way you can pose the question, and indeed that there will be no one to even try. Sure, the non-recognizing recognition, etc.

It can be. The mind focuses on one thought. The one thought is the relative silence that will lead to the absolute silence.

If you can remain in silence even while you are going about in the world (not just while sitting down on a mat), and you can surrender the need for something to happen, it might just happen. There's only one: tracing the feeling of the I.

Perception and existence are categories of the mind generated through the ego. Recognize the ego's non-existence, and the categories are seen as false.

It really depends. For the very mature and ripe aspirant, merely sitting in silence will be enough to realize their nature. But for everyone else, you need thought to kill thought. The idea of self-inquiry, for example, is a thought. Strictly speaking there is no need for any effort to be what you already are. But people need something to grasp onto. This is the best tool. For most people, simply sitting in silence and "not thinking" isn't enough. They will not be able to use that to discern what is going on. It will seem like nothing is happening. So abstractions are critically important for almost everyone. But different traditions have different viewpoints on this. Advaita Vedanta, my tradition, has a lot of abstraction. Zen Buddhism, relatively little.

1. No. 2. No. The nothingness that is contrasted to the experiencer/experiencing/registration/recollection is not the true nothingness. The nothingness that has to worry about "not being abstract" is not the true nothingness. It may be a reflection of the true nothingness, but it is not it. The true nothingness encompasses the duality of nothing-something and experiencer/no-experiencer. The true nothingness is not a "result," really, but the realization of what you already are and always have been, permanently and unchangeably.

Probably not... care to clarify?

Yes, no, maybe. As with all these sorts of questions, it all depends on context and audience. But the truest answer is: there is nothing that we perceive in the first place.

Illusion is that which, when you look for it, it disappears. There's no trinity or duality, though you can use that as a provisional framework if you find it helpful. There's not even a oneness in the way we usually use that word. Nor is there nothingness. Just what there is cannot be expressed in words; you'll have to see for yourself. If you see nothingness, then there are no questions being asked and no answers being given.

Are you asking if what we perceive exists independent of observers? Interesting questions. Basically if you follow the trail you will find it ends up in the mystery of maya. Maya is finally quite inexplicable, unfortunately.

Don't know anything about LoA, sorry. Yes. This means you must pursue Ramana Maharshi's self-inquiry method. Full surrender will come later. Follow the path. Try to be honest about what you feel: whatever it is, even -- especially -- if you are ashamed of it, or think it is negative, evil, etc. Therapy is about the exploration of your feelings. Actually, nothing is created or destroyed. That idea is a misconception which can be seen through. Find the Self and you will know the answer. Free will is a paradox. It doesn't really exist, and yet you are forced to act as if it does, at least as long as you are a seeker. Of course, spiritual ego did arise on the path, if we say there was a path and an ego... yes, purification can take a long time, but it needn't. The very thought that it requires a long time itself lengthens that amount of time, actually. Best to believe that what you are looking for is right here, right now, and that it is yours for the taking immediately. Because that's the truth. Only as an illusion. And not even that, really. Well google "psychoanalytic institute <your city>" and contact them and ask for a referral. EMDR is a little iffy. Psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapy performed by a trained psychoanalyst is best. Those therapies were started by Freud but they have progressed a lot since then. Up to you though.

When the mind is quiet, it will manifest. And how do you get the mind quiet? Ramana Maharshi's self-inquiry method. Or total, unconditional surrender.

Yes? Not sure what you're asking.

Sure. That's a glimpse of the Truth. Yes. This is good. Well, the truth is that I haven't made a clear decision on to taking a hard-line attitude towards the truth vs. meeting people at their level. I kind of do a little bit of both right now, but I may evolve and take a more systematic stance later.

Just to be clear, "neti neti" is just a thought. Simply repeating that about various things is not the point, of course. That sense of self is the important thing. You feel that "I scan my body and see no one." Well, who is the "I" that is seeing that? You feel it, right? Where is that feeling? How do you know that that I is there? Where is that knowledge coming from? What is it? That's what you have to focus on intensely. Again, what is that feeling of "I" in the "I am seeing no one"? If you are doing it intensely, you are deep into the path. Indeed, just keep going. It can be helpful to read, though. Read Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, and when you're done, read it again. And if necessary again.

Yes, talk to them and talk to analysts too. And, actually, the best way of finding out is to enter therapy yourself. Every psychoanalyst has to undergo an analysis themselves, and it is the most important part of their training. Studying psychology at the undergrad level usually teaches you zero about therapy, and academic psychologists are even hostile to psychoanalysis for historical reasons.

So I can't really speak to transpersonal therapy, because I don't know enough about it. I will say that the really healing and powerful thing is the quality of listening attention that manifests in the relationship. As a general matter, I have found that trained psychoanalysis are the best bet for that kind of attention. They tend to have the best and most sophisticated training. But of course they're not the only ones. But the most important thing is the fit you feel with the therapist. You should feel within a session or two that to some degree you are being helped. Actual psychoanalysis is usually 3+ sessions a week. It seems like a lot, but for what it's trying to do, it's not. You could also get the "light" version of that -- psychodynamic psychotherapy -- from a trained analyst. That's usually just once or twice a week. Most analysts do that too. If you're worried that your analyst will not be respectful of your spiritual path, you can bring that up yourself. But I wouldn't worry about needing an officially integrated psychospiritual therapy. Therapy IS helping your spiritual development automatically by calming and clearing your mind. Ramana Maharshi's self-inquiry. Follow the path like I outlined it. The Truth IS the only true way to deep equanimity and happiness. There are no shortcuts. Yes indeed, that's just so. You're very welcome.

Thanks! Not at the beginning but at the end, yes. I encountered Ramana Maharshi a few years into my journey, and understood him only partially. I knew he was profound, but I had to go through a lot of psychological work before I was ready to hear him again, and fully. Self-inquiry leads to lightbulb moments, glimpses, which one then tries to get to again and again, each time getting easier. Self-inquiry at the end melts into surrender, but there is still a bit of effort in that surrender. Finally effortful surrender melts into effortlessness, and effortlessness leads to the permanent Truth. Actually the glimpses ARE the truth. The problem is simply the mental conditioning that leads you out of them, seemingly. My pleasure. All therapies are not the same, unfortunately. What city do you live in?

Am I answering this? Am I reading this? That's the question. Perhaps not. Simply cultivating a state without thought is not enough. Who is it that is without thought? Keep trying to find the answer. Push yourself to find the source of the I and don't stop till you directly experience the answer.

The recommended technique is Ramana Maharshi's self-inquiry. It's very simple. You know that "I am" right now, right? It's obvious. Well, how do you know it? Where is that feeling coming from? Try to find out where in your experience it is coming from, that certainty that you are. Start in your body. Just like if someone asked you where you were feeling cold, and you searched your experience and said "Oh, my feet are feeling cold." In the same way, ask about the feeling of the "I" that you somehow know with certainty. And every time you think you know where it's coming from, the rule is that you must ask yourself if you are aware of that thing which you think is the source of the I. If you are, you haven't found the real source yet. So you keep going If, for example, you say "It's coming from my head" -- well, ask yourself "Well, I am aware of the feeling and sight of my head, right?" Notice that. So where is the "I" that is aware of the head? It's not coming from the head -- it is aware of it. So where is the I feeling? It's just like you notice that there is light in a room, and you're looking for the source of the light. Is it coming from this chair? No. The chair is lit up by something else. Is it coming from that table? Same deal. So keep searching until you find the light bulb. You'll know it when you find it. As far as psychologists, it's wonderful that you have them as friends, but I'm talking about going into psychoanalytic therapy. It's quite different from normal conversation. Google "psychoanalytic institute" "<your city>" and call them and see if they can give you a referral. PM me if you have questions. Unfortunately I can't speak with authority about what will optimize happiness in the short-term. Probably close, empathetic relationships with other people, eating the right food, sleeping right, taking care of your health, getting therapy, participating in art, and so on.

That's a good way to start, but self-inquiry has to be taken out of the sitting position and has to be a constant inquiry that you intensely involve yourself in every waking moment. But what do you take self-inquiry to be? How would you describe what you're doing?

No, it becomes quite clear in an inexpressible way that the individual mind is non-existent and what you really are is recognized. And yes, everyone is enlightened. Or rather, there are no people, only enlightenment. If you accept that, then there is no one around to be asking questions or answering them. If you don't, then there seem to be questions, and if there are questions, then some people are more qualified to answer than others. If you liked vipassana for that then I'd recommend going deeper into it. Though actually Truth is the best way to obtain happiness and the care-free state. And finding that is a matter of self-inquiry and following the path.

20 years of seeking... learning about advaita vedanta (partly through an informal guru; partly through many readings; partly through practice, discussion, etc.). Troubleshooting my own psychological obstacles. Trying, trying, trying. If it "happened," which I don't really accept, it happened last year. For me, there was no fear of death. Just a small, simple, "oh." A clicking into place... the lights had been flickering for a long time before that. No worries. And yes, self-inquiry is helpful for that. But for anxiety, I would mainly recommend a) psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapy and b) expressing your anxiety and emotions in writing/art/music... the more precise you can be with that expression, the better. But therapy is mainly what I'd recommend. Yup! Yes, I know that's not really your experience. That's why self-inquiry is useful -- to get you to that experience . As I said, it sounds to me as if therapy would be most helpful to you at this point. PM me if you want help finding a good one.