TODAY'S CONSIDERATIONS
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Yesterday's post concluded with this pointer regarding the validity of the non-dual pointers dealing with "no-continuity":
When a composite unity comes to an end, the elements return to the universal pool of elements and the conscious-energy returns to the universal pool of conscious-energy and the air returns to the universal pool of energy and shall never exist again as one or another kind of entity.
Actually, as those with recurring visits to this site understand, there's no continuity to a body or to a composite unity's actual parts (such as earth elements, air, conscious-energy, etc.) or to a composite unity's dreamed up parts (such as a "soul," "spirit," "half-person / half-bird future being," etc.)
The body which exists at any given moment is not the same body which exists moments later. Different oxygen is in the body; a different set of elements exists as skin is constantly being shed and as the stomach lining is constantly being replaced, etc. There is no body continuity.
As for mind continuity, the mind is changed constantly with new ideas and concepts and beliefs being added and with different preferences coming and going.
As for personality continuity, while the primary personality type (which, under typical circumstances, is set in place by the age of six) might maintains its primacy, the other eight basic personality types are in flux as persons might disintegrate to another type, might integrate another type, might receive guidance in eliminating the subconscious influence or one or more types, might realize and be free of all but a lingering influence of the primary type, might receive counseling which allows the excessive influence of a type to be reduced, etc.
Whatever the case, humans are in a constant state of flux, including physically, mentally and psychologically.
They are also in a constant state of flux socially. The average age of a first marriage in the U.S. has increasing considerably, presently age 27 for women and age 29 for men. If young people begin dating at age 15 and date until an average age of 28 when they stop dating and marry, 100% of their relationships during that 13 or 14-year dating span will have ended in a breakup. After they marry, their marriage will end in a breakup 50-60% of the time.
[The rate often fluctuates as economic conditions fluctuate, but the high rate of divorce has more to do with two specific and conflicting beliefs which are typical in couples who are about to marry.
Among heterosexuals, the man goes into marriage with the belief that "This woman I'm about to marry will never change. She'll always look as good as she does right now, she'll always be as sexually active as she is now, and she'll always be as impressed with me as she is right now." The woman goes into the marriage with the opposite belief, the belief that he will change because she's going to be able to change him. "Has he got ways too many flaws? For now, yes, but I'll rid him of those."
In same sex marriages, one of the partner's will bring in the first set of beliefs and the second partner will bring in the latter set of beliefs.
Those delusional beliefs will set the stage for disappointment when one partner does change and the other refuses to. More than anything, what most want is a mirror image of themselves. "You must think as I think, talk the same talk I talk, and behave as I behave in order for me to love you. In fact, all I can love is a mirror image of myself." Yet because all is in a state of constant fluctuation, the challenge becomes, "Am I supposed to be like you now? Or now? Or, wait a minute, what about now? Or now? Dammit! I'm trying to hit the bulls eye you want me to hit, but you keep moving the target around! Stop it? Be still!"]
Maharaj addressed relationship fluctuations, noting the way that persons play the role of stranger, acquaintance, friend, lover, close friend, fiancé / fiancée, and spouse; later they might play the role of enemy, mortal enemy, hater, destroyer, "Ex," etc.
If spouses do not divorce, then the relationship will still end when one or the other or both die, but the fact is, no relationship (a duality-based concept in itself) will have continuity.
So much for such questions as, "What age will my spouse and I be in heaven? Forever the age at which we died, or some other age? Well, what is he died at the age of 25 in an accident but I lived to the age of 75? Will he want to spend eternity with an old woman he never saw during his life?"
"And what about my other spouses? Where do they fit in to the picture?" "And will our heavenly life together be eternally blissful?" Very confusing, huh, trying to make sense out of nonsense?
In other cases, the beliefs about the state of "post-life " relationships will vary even more: "Don't sweat any of that, dear. I'll have a bevy of virgins and whores and wives and you'll be servicing other men who died for the cause of Allah" or "Forget you and me being together forever. We both have many more incarnations and reincarnations to go through. You are not going to be my 'final spouse'."
Meanwhile, scores of other roles and false identities will come and go as well. There will be no continuity there, either. It has been witnessed that the woman known as Mrs. Tom Smith - playing the co-dependent, counterpart spousal role to Mr. Tom Smith - can leave and be replaced by . . . Mrs. Tom Smith (#2); but Mrs. Tom Smith (#2) can leave and be replaced by . . . Mrs. Tom Smith (#3); and later, Mrs. Tom Smith (#3) can be left in order for Tom to re-marry and bring into being one who is supposedly . . . you guessed it . . . Mrs. Tom Smith (#4).
The employment role can change dozens of times; the one playing a religious role might stop playing that and play the role assigned in a different religion or in a spiritual group or might stop playing both religious and spiritual roles. The variety or roles which come and go will do so throughout an entire relative existence.
The point: there is no continuity of body, mind, or personality.
What was Maharaj's take on the delusional beliefs held by the non-realized masses regarding the false concept of "continuity"?
Maharaj explained, "Memory creates the illusion of continuity"
and
"Definitely, immortality is not continuity. Only the process of change continues. Nothing lasts."
He said, "Anything that implies a continuity, a sequence, a passing from stage to stage cannot be the real."
He said: "The false self wants to continue —pleasantly. Therefore it is always engaged in ensuring one’s continuity"
and
"Feelings, thoughts and actions race before the watcher in endless succession, leaving traces in the brain and creating an illusion of continuity"
and
"There can be no continuity in existence. Continuity implies identity in past, present and future. No such identity is possible, for the very means of identification fluctuate and change. Continuity, permanency, these are illusions created by memory, mere mental projections of a pattern where no pattern can be; abandon all ideas of temporary or permanent, body or mind, man or woman; what remains?"
Science makes clear that nothing dealing with body identification can last; that nothing stored within a mind can last; and that nothing dealing with false identities can last.
Objective witnessing can make clear that minds are in a constant state of flux and that no roles or personas or identities or characters being played or ego-states or positions or selves will last. Science makes clear that no "individualized" or "personalized" body can last and that no imaginary vestiges of a body ("soul," "spirit," etc.) can remain once the elements return to the universal pool of elements, once the air returns to the universal pool of air, and once the conscious-energy returns to the universal pool of conscious-energy.
Is understanding that disturbing, or freeing? It depends on whether a person has realized or not (meaning - per Maharaj - been totally freed from all learned ignorance and all insanity or not).
What there is, is NOW. What is can only be NOW. Enjoy it without working for some "better life" later and without postponing joy and waiting for something better, later.
There is nothing to wait for, and nothing awaits you.
Maharaj said:
"I am real for I am always now, in the present, and what is with me now shares in my reality. The past is in memory, the future — in imagination"
--Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
and
"'Past' and 'future' are in the mind only — I am now."
--Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
To be continued.
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