FROM A SITE VISITOR: Iam happy that I have found this blog. How can I experience Nirvana? Thank you, Bhadanta
F.: You are welcomed to the site, Bhadanta; however, you are not likely to find here the answer that you either expect or desire.
Begin with this: here, the suggestion to those seeking to know “who (what) they truly are” is to first know all that they are not. If you know all that you are not and then come to know That Which You Are, then you will also know that there is no one to experience anything, including nirvana.
As with the approach used to find who/what You Are by first finding who you are not, so too you must find what nirvana is not before understanding what it is.
Nirvana is NOT the peace that accompanies a “state of mind” that is free of desire and anger, and Nirvana is NOT the “basic, peaceful nature of the human mind.” It is suspected, however, that it is a peaceful mind that you seek.
If you visit the archives on this site, you may come to understand why there is no such thing as a “peaceful mind” and why any “state of mind” is an illusion. Consider:
the brain in that space called “bhadanta” is of the elements; the consciousness which is temporarily manifested via that space is of the Absolute; the “mind,” on the other hand, is of false programming and faulty conditioning.
Parts of the brain store and recall memories and also store learned concepts; however, since a memory is merely a recollection of a past happening that was not perceived accurately at the time, there is no chance for an accurate reminiscence of past happenings in the present.
As far as concepts, all of those are false, so the “mind” is a two-fold repository of falsehoods. A “mind,” filled as it is with false ideas and distortions, and with no ability to recount accurately, cannot be at peace at all. Thus, the book title, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS “PEACE OF MIND” (There Is Only Peace If You're Out of Your Mind).
Understand that pain is registered via the body but that misery and suffering are registered via the “mind,” so any belief that the “mind” can be at ease is like all beliefs: false. There is no possibility at all of separating (1) the “mind” and (2) misery and suffering. To be in a “state of mind” is to suffer and to be miserable.
Next, Nirvana is NOT a “re-union with a supreme spirit that is attained through a series of deaths and rebirths and reincarnations.”
Why? You will not likely be thrilled to hear this, either, but you cannot be reborn multiple times because you were not even born once. I was not born so I cannot die, and because I was not born and cannot die, I most certainly cannot be born again.
Recently, site visitor “abhiram” noted the confusion that he has witnessed among seekers which results from the fact that various yogas and religions and philosophies and psychology have been mixed together in ways that distort—rather than clarify—the original understanding.
Tomorrow, further clarification will be offered, but you will only return for that if you can move beyond these pointers that probably challenge many of your beliefs and concepts and ideas and if you can set aside any affront that certain religious or philosophical identities might be “experiencing." Please enter the silence of contemplation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TODAY’S POST:
TWO OTHER OFFERINGS ARE AVAILABLE:
More and more seekers are requesting an understanding of how a personality formed in childhood is still determining and controlling everything that is thought or said or done in adulthood. Others have inquired about an opportunity to speak one-on-one about the seven-step “path” to Realization.
Thus, two opportunities are being offered from now until Dec 15th at 50% off:
PERSONALITY TYPING:
Here’s what is included in the package that is available for the next two months (the service available to international visitors but these price being only for the Continental U.S.):
A copy of the personality test (B) Priority mailing of the test (C) Analysis of the test results (D) a one-hour telephone session to discuss the results (E) the cost of the telephone conference. Cost is US$95.
ONE-ON-ONE SATSANG VIA TELE-CONFERENCE
For the next two months, a tele-conference to discuss any aspects of the Advaita teachings one-on-one will be offered. [Rich from the
To arrange either package, >Click ARRANGE PACKAGES provide all of the information requested, and in the message box at the bottom, indicate that you want to make arrangements for the PERSONALITY TYPING or for the ONE-ON-ONE ADVAITA SESSION or both.
