- Understanding the mind as abusive and as an obstacle to realization
- Witnessing the movements of the mind without active engagement
- Allowing the Advaitan pointers to have their hydrochloric acid-type effect on the mind
What is Your natural state – before the formation of the concept-filled mind and identification with the mind-body-personality complex? The non-realized do not know the answer to this question. They are out of touch with Reality. The contents of the mind act as a barrier that prevents clear seeing. Everything perceived is met with this conceptual interpretative faculty that uses programmed fiction to evaluate and distort. The barrier of the mind – while simply composed of ephemeral concepts and learned ignorance – appears to be rigid, encrusted, ancient and immoveable. Often, the concepts and learned ignorance that make up the mind extend back across many generations – resulting in a thick conceptual fog with no clear origin.
Think about any attribute you apply after the original concept: I AM. I am … a separate individual… I am female… I am Catholic… I am South African… I am white… I am of British descent… Each statement of identification points to a matrix of dualistic ideas, beliefs, and concepts that stretch across the fabric of your relative life. (And these are fairly “neutral” attributes; the apparent individual is constructed of thousands of dualistic identifiers, many of which are hidden or unseen). You believe that these ideas define who you are; in fact they simply trap you into this limited false identity.
Is it any wonder that a mere snap of the fingers will not magically result in the elimination of the mind? If this were the case, realization would not be so rare. No – the fiction-filled mind must be treated to a radical infiltration – so that it can be undermined at its foundation.
The Advaitan pointers provide this radical infiltration; they can be described as having a hydrochloric acid-type effect on the conceptual mind – eroding those “precious” and “adored” concepts and beliefs with ruthless efficiency. Sometimes the pointers offered on this site by Floyd may appear cutting and surgical in their precision. In the loft, Maharaj was described by some as an “ego-slayer”. This is because Advaitan teachers understand the Love that remains when the fiction-filled mind is obliterated, and work tirelessly to remove the embedded encrustations that prevent clear seeing of the Reality.
Seekers are repeatedly invited to take pointers into silent reflection. This is because in silent consideration, the truth that is pointed to trickles through and erodes the lies and distortions that make up the mind. This is not through any laborious mental effort. Mental effort is using the thief disguised as a policemen to catch the thief. Unbelievable though it may appear to the mind-intoxicated seeker, no effort is necessary. By simply bathing in the truth of Who You Are, in silence, the intuitive knowing will resonate and as Maharaj says, “inner energies will wake up”.
The non-realized are out of touch with the intuition and the inner energies. What is the intuitive knowing that circulates the blood, digests the food, and remains aware through the phases of waking, dreaming and deep sleep? What is the intuitive knowing that prompts the sprouting of the acorn, the croaking of the tree frog? This intuitive intelligence is already present, already functioning. Temporarily, while lost in the false belief of separation, You believe you are your mind, and that your conceptual intelligence is causing you to function in the world. In the silence, this flawed view loses its grip, and the intuitive knowing is foregrounded. As one concept is seen to be flawed, the conceptual mind begins to lose its grip, and more concepts tumble and fall. Let them fall.
Remember – when the mind-body-personality construct is in place, you will follow the prompts of your programming. You have been programmed to acquire knowledge, to understand through learning, to cling to your ideas and points of view. Is it not obvious then, that when mind-identified, you will attempt to use the same techniques to “master” the Advaitan Teachings? Please – see the hopelessness of this approach. In a recent post, Floyd reminded you. First – stop accumulating any additional concepts and learning. Second, systematically eliminate ALL concepts until none remain. Or, as Maharaj says:
Now, you are trying to understand all this but you cannot, because you have on the swaddling clothes of 'I am this or that'. Remove them. The ultimate point of view is that there is nothing to understand. So, trying to understand is just indulging in mental acrobatics. Whatever you have understood you are not. Spit it all out. Whatever you understand is not the truth. Throw it overboard. Do not try to catch hold of any concepts and cling to them. Don't employ any words, but look at yourself as you are. Throw away every thought, every experience, everything that happens after the consciousness, the beingness comes. Other than throwing it away as useless, there is nothing to be done beyond this firm understanding in which you become more and more absorbed. Before the beingness was there, look at that, be in that state. Do not get lost in words and thoughts and ideas. Do not crave for mind knowledge and concepts in the name of spirituality. Anything that is seen and interpreted by the mind is only an appearance in consciousness, and, therefore, cannot be true. The knowledgeable one just witnesses whatever experiences are obtainable through the mind, viewing them as without substance. The mind may be sprouting, expressing itself with various concepts. But, don't identify with that, let it go. Don't be a customer to your mind concepts. The knower of the mind is just a witness. He does not interfere in anything.
To conclude, what remains in the absence of what is conceptual? What remains with the complete dissolution of the mind? What remains when you let go of all that you cling to – and dissolve into the Formless, Unknowing that is beyond all conceptual understanding?
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
(The way out of the maze of suffering and confusion is offered via the Advaitan teachings. See the links to Advaita Vedanta retreats, the Advaita Vedanta Retreat DVD or online classes on the right hand side.)
Comments / clarifications may be sent to louise.advaita@gmail.com
