Shambhu

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Everything posted by Shambhu

  1. @WelcometoReality Honestly, I don't feel qualified to speak about Zen philosophy, better to ask a Buddhist. There is no separation, subtle or otherwise. The ocean and wave analogy is a good one. The ocean (or water) is not a wave, but the wave is only water. The water is not dependent upon the wave, but the wave is dependent upon the water. Without water, there is no wave, but without the wave, water still is. This is comparable to mind and Consciousness. It's just an analogy of course, and as such isn't perfect. It can easily be stretched too far, but I hope you understand my point.
  2. @BlueOak I have created a distinction, not a separation. I was also speaking form the perspective of man. Just like you, I am not currently aware of everything. That is true from that perspective. It is not Absolute Truth. The mind is Consciousness, but Consciousness is not the mind. When you look into a mirror, is your reflection the mirror? Yes, of course it is. There is no separation between the reflection and the mirror, and the reflection is nothing other than mirror. However, is the mirror the reflection? No. If it was, as soon you stepped away from the front of the mirror, the mirror would disappear. This is an analogy for the relationship between the mind and Consciousness. Just like the reflection is dependent upon the mirror, but the mirror is not dependent upon the reflection, the mind is dependent upon Consciousness but not the other way around.
  3. @Leo Gura No, it doesn't, but let's be honest, you don't know how awake I am. I'm not even convinced you know how awake you are ;-) And yours aren't? _/|\_
  4. @Leo Gura People in glass houses... ? My background is in traditional Yoga sadhana and Advaita Vedanta. Everything I wrote is found in the Upanishads and the Tantras. It's telling that you cannot recognize the difference between that and what is branded as neo-Advaita ;-) I appreciate that you have created this space and are attempting to help others according to your understanding, but you might learn something here too if you listened to and contemplated what is being said. You seem to be having some trouble knowing where to land on that one ? Yes, I agree completely ?
  5. @Leo Gura Experience changes, and therefore cannot be Absolute. You still seem confused ?
  6. @Leo Gura I've tried psychedelics. It is just more phenomena. A trip is simply another arising in Consciousness, no matter how profound it may seem. I don't doubt that you've experienced Truth (although I question whether you would extend me the same courtesy), but I do wonder if you recognize the unchanging Awareness that gives rise to all your valued experiences. Respectfully, you still seem confused to me.
  7. @BlueOak No, I am not experiencing everything there is to be experienced in this moment, and I have certainly grown as a person over the years. All of this is in the realm of the mind. That is my point, or at least part of it. The other part is that the mind is an appearance in Consciousness, but Consciousness is not an appearance. Just like a mirror is not the images contained within it, Consciousness is the unchanging substratum of all experience. If someone confuses the mind with Consciousness, they will be tempted to always look for a better experience, a better trip, whatever, and they will fail to see the unchanging, perfect, unbroken wholeness that they are in this very moment. You're welcome ;-)
  8. @BlueOak Mind conceives. Consciousness illumines that which is conceived, and it does it without any action or effort, just as the sun gives light without exertion. When you dream at night, is the mind running through a field, or ruling a kingdom, or fighting a war, or whatever it may be dreaming about? No, it is not transformed into anything else; although, all these things appear in it. Everything appears in Consciousness, including the mind, but nothing has really happened at all. Nothing is done to Consciousness, and Consciousness does nothing at all, except for in appearance.
  9. @BlueOak Yes, that is true. Everything is Consciousness in what it is, just like I can have a gold earring, a gold bracelet, and a gold watch. Each one is gold, but gold is not a watch, or a bracelet, or an earring.
  10. Concepts are one aspect of mind, not necessarily about Consciousness. Mind is certainly not conceived by Consciousness. That would be attributing functions of the mind to Consciousness.
  11. @amanen Mind is not separate from Consciousness, but it is not identical to it either. I have given many examples above how this is the case. They are worth contemplating.
  12. @BlueOak No matter has much you perceive, Consciousness remains the same. What you are calling Consciousness is just more mind.
  13. @amanen Even this is not quite accurate. The mind has states, but not Consciousness. When you are dreaming at night, is it a different Consciousness that knows the dream from the Consciousness that knows the waking state, or is there one Consciousness that knows both the waking and dreaming states? All states of the mind appear to the one, unchanging Consciousness.
  14. @BlueOak If you are watching a TV program about quarks one minute and then start watching a program about planets the next minute, did the TV become expanded just because the content did? It doesn't matter if you are thinking about about sex, paying your taxes, having a Kundalini awakening, or experiencing a mind blowing psychedelic trip; they all appear to the same, unchanging Consciousness. Consciousness is the light by which all things are seen. It does not grow by illuminating more, and it is not diminished by illuminating less.
  15. @Zigzag Idiot Is that like being half pregnant? LOL
  16. I should add that the deeper you explore any subject, the greater the need for distinctions. If you are having a casual conversation with someone about your computer, you could refer to everything housed in the chassis as the "CPU." However, if you are designing or even repairing computers, the "CPU" is something much more specific. So I can wink at anyone using phrases such as "expanded consciousness" in general conversation, but I would expect those who are earnestly pursing realization to have more rigor. I especially would expect more of anyone claiming realization. If you do not understand the difference between the mind and Consciousness, I question your attainment ;-)
  17. @Dazgwny When communicating, words do matter. There is a reason to make distinctions. It's not as trivial as you may assume. If Consciousness could expand, this implies change. Anything that can change is not Absolute.
  18. @zurew Yes, there is good reason to have such a distinction. The mind is ultimately Consciousness, but Consciousness is not the mind. If I have a wood desk, it is correct to say that the desk is wood, but it is incorrect to say wood is a desk. If that were true, I could send you out into the forest looking for a desk and you would be able to successfully find one ;-) When we conflate the mind with Consciousness, or try to justify it by saying "the mind is consciousness," then we could say "everything is anger (or red or hunger or...you get the point) because anger is consciousness" and things like that. Even when the mind dissolves into deep sleep at night, Consciousness is still present. The mind is dependent upon Consciousness, but Consciousness is not dependent upon the mind.
  19. @Seth Many here with disagree with me, but I would say that there are no levels to Consciousness. It cannot be increased or decreased. It is Absolute, and as Absolute, it cannot change (i.e. expand or contract). I repeatedly see people confusing the mind with Consciousness, but this is an error. It's understandable, since Western culture has traditional seen the two as synonymous. This is a problem even in academia. Consciousness studies at the University level is usual just the study of mental states. The mind has states. It can increase or decrease. It is what appears to Consciousness, but they are not the same. The images in a mirror are not separate from the mirror, yet the mirror is not the images. It is the same with Consciousness and the mind. You could also use the analogy of space. The contents of space can change, but the space remains the same.
  20. Pain and suffering are not synonymous. If one person has their balls stapled, it may cause them suffering, but someone else may pay a person to staple their balls. Both will most likely experience pain, but only the latter experiences pleasure. As humans, we all experience pain, but suffering is optional. There is a famous Buddhist parable about the two arrows that is used to illuminate this point. Not only is pain and suffering different from one another, so is mind and Consciousness. Pain and suffering take place in the mind, but Consciousness is untouched by them both. These, along with all other phenomenon, are simply appearances in Consciousness. Consciousness (or God if you prefer) does not wake or sleep. Consciousness does not expand or contract. Because Consciousness is Absolute, it is unchanging and perfect. When you realize your true nature as pure Consciousness, there is the possibility for the end of suffering, but pain will continue as long as there is a body. While the complete cessation of suffering may be rare, we have many examples of those who have reached the goal. This is even the litmus test provided in spiritual texts. Here is quote from one of my favorites, the Tripura Rahasya:
  21. ...and this is what I expect his next video to look like. https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx8ranRbKrSM70xu5gcr1OvnJvaURbtpdm
  22. This is what all of Leo's videos are like to me.
  23. Consciousness does not have levels, and there cannot be more or less Consciousness. This type of thinking is the result of confusing the mind with Consciousness. The mind has states, and the mind can expand or contract. The mind is just another appearance to Consciousness. Consciousness is always absolute, unchanging, and in need of nothing. The work of spirituality takes place in the mind. That is where the problem lies, and that is where the solution is found as well. There are many established means of doing this, so shop around, do some sampling, and decide for your yourself what is best for you. As the saying goes, you need a thorn to remove another thorn, then you throw both away. @Leo Gura Have you ever noticed that statements could just as easily be used by others against you? Perhaps your methodology works for yourself and some others, but quite honestly, and I only say this to help, you can come off as arrogant and delusional.
  24. @MrTouchdown The word "object" means to stand against; it is the correlate of consciousness. Now, I did choose my words carefully, so I'm going to abide by my definition :-) I think you can see that you are opening a can of worms here lol. I can already sense that the conversation is moving toward the problem of other minds. Did I mention that this wasn't an easy question? ;-) Here are some notes from my personal inquiry (inspired by Spinoza) on this very subject. Its from several years back, so my thought has evolved somewhat, but I'll just paste them here in their raw form and let it potentially be food for thought. The essence of a thing is what it is to be that thing. Whatever belongs to the essence of a thing is necessarily so for that thing (to be conceived). If existence does not belong to the essence of that thing, that thing can be conceived as not existing. If existence does belong to the essence of a thing, then its existence cannot be doubted. If something exists it can be known. (side note - it must be logical to be known) If something is known it must necessarily exist. (knowledge needs defining) If something does not have existence as a part of its essence, any instantiation of that thing must be in something that does have existence as part of its essence. (very subtle point) If something is in something else or is conceived through something else it is a mode (or modification). All doubtful things are modes. (need to show that modes do not have existence as part of their essence) Doubtful things do not exist. Doubtful things are not known. (needs working out).