Ananta

Haha ?

@abrakamowse Aww, you too. Thanks for listening to my POV also.?

@Inliytened1 Okay, good. To combine the two, I would add that when you refer to looking at the finger that would be the outward movement of attention vs when focus is placed on the hand, that's the inward/dispersed movement of attention. Well, that's my opinion at least.

I have found that a shift in "attention" has the same or similar effect. Perhaps it's what you are describing, but using different terminology, since this stuff is hard to describe. For me the result is BEing aware that you ARE awareness/reality, here and now. There is a knowing/being that every-thing perceivable, both subtle and gross, is me and isn't me, simultaneously. (Nisargadatta- wisdom is knowing I am no-thing, love is knowing I am every-thing, between the two my life moves). So, attention is awareness (absolute/reality) focused through the mind onto objects. The more contracted the focus, the more one is concentrated on individuality. The more dispersed and turned inward the attention (awareness aware of itself) the greater probability that one is BEing their true Self/awareness (shifts identity) and if youre not used to this, could be a spiritual awakening. Just my 2 cents

@abrakamowse Well, in Advaita Vedanta the term Isvara is used more commonly, than God (although it means essentially the same thing). What is meant by Isvara is very clear, but to make it very simple here, Isvara is Brahman/awareness/Self/absolute with attributes (gunas/energies). So, it is all of manifestation (the dharma field), both subtle and gross. Where as Brahman/awareness/Self/absolute is without attributes. So, is the fundamental reality, of even Isvara (or God). Therefore, there is a distinction, even if slight, between what you would call reality/absolute and Isvara/God. According to Advaita Vedanta. So, for Vedantin's you would not say, "I'm God-realized", you would say, "Self-realized", as the Self (capital "S") IS awareness/absolute/fundamental reality. Just my 2 cents. Giving another POV.

Hehe, thanks! I was picturing you both in recliners in the living room on cell phones. Boy, was I wrong.

@mandyjw @jbram2002 Curious, since you're married, are you sitting next to each other, across the room or in seperate rooms while posting?

This is why I dont, or should I say rarely, use the word "God". Unless it's meaning is defined and clear, by the user, then it's meaningless, imo.

I never said he was the member that PM'd ppl to a cult. @Shin just was guessing. He had been "Feel Good" and "Etagnwo".

That is not the member/s I was referring to... But, I didn't know that member.

You know, that I know...and I'll leave it at that. So, you have a good day.

Look, I know "exactly" who you are and what your past member usernames were on this site, before being banned, more than once. So, sell your delusional crap to someone else. To me, it's just comedy central.?

As I said....delusional.

Hm, I see, so you are spelling off pronunciation. Okay I didn't say you "were" mad at me. I said you "can be" mad at me vs being mad at @Inliytened1, since I'm the one that brought it up, not him

Well, that too, but sometimes leaving the delusional to figure it out on their own is the best course of action.

Actually, I brought up the spelling, not @Inliytened1. Frankly, just to correct the spelling of Advaita, because seeing it written as Adwaita was making me cringe (same as buddha, being written as buddah). So, you can be mad at me, it's ok.

@abrakamowse Gotcha, I had found him 3 yrs ago. I read his book also. He has tons of email Satsangs on his website shiningworld.com , if interested. They are really good. Trying to read both books is a tall order..lol. Good Luck.

Anyone interested in learning Advaita Vedanta from a teacher who has been teaching it for 45 years- James Swartz. Here is a link to YT 16 part series for free. If not, that's cool too. *Tap the three lines at the top left for additional videos.

@abrakamowse Your welcome! ?

Yes! ...I'm rusty. Hehe "The subtle body is referred to as the “inner instrument” and is composed of four different components: the mind, intellect, ego, and memory. Though what Vedanta specifically refers to as the mind is only one component of this “inner instrument,” sometimes the whole instrument itself is referred to as the mind. The subtle body is what is the closest equivalent to what is commonly called the soul."

I understand that's the pronunciation, but it's not the correct spelling. David was spelling Buddha, Buddah earlier and so I assumed he isn't spelling correctly, because he doesn't know how to spell it. Maybe he just spells as he's pronuncing....ok. Btw, the spelling is Sanskrit

Hi! You are probably thinking of the "subtle body" (In Vedanta there are 3 bodies: the gross, subtle and causal bodies). Yes, atman is the portion of Brahman within/ through the gross body. In Vedanta, God is called Isvara, which is awareness or Brahman "with" attributes. However, Brahman/Self/awareness/absolute is "without" attributes, it's nirguna Brahman, meaning without the gunas (energies). So, there is a distinction made, but it's complicated and can be hard to fully understand.

@Inliytened1 ?

Yes, you are correct. I didn't say otherwise. I also don't have or follow a "religion".

Hehe (the word) I do not know much about Buddhism, except the use of the concept of "no self". The term "nothingness" being used instead of "awareness" (for the absolute), which is what Vedantin's use. ...and some 8 fold noble path, but I don't know much about it. Maybe right speech, right thought or something. Haha So, I would not be much use discussing Buddhism, unfortunately.