[Excerpts from the soon-to-be-released book FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS]
FROM A SITE VISITOR: No identity at all? Everybody is SOMETHING, and whatever that SOMETHING is, is our identity.
F.: [Today’s post is again for those seekers who have completed, or almost completed, the “journey” to Full Realization. Some pointers will not be relevant for beginners.]
First, the way in which you use the word “identity” would need to be clarified, and there are likely some additional subconscious usages that you are not even aware of. Do you mean “the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity”? Realized Advaitins understand that there is no personality and that no entity persists.
Or do you mean, “the individual characteristics by which a thing or person is recognized or known”? Realized Advaitins know that “the individual” is a bogus concept, that “characteristics” are fiction since they deal with personality, and that persons/personas are nothing more than assumptions generated via corrupted consciousness.
Or do you mean, “That which describes objects in a manner that distinguishes them from other objects”? Realized Advaitins understand that “one as opposed to others” is dualistic and thus false.
You likely are not referring to “the individual sense of importance in a social context,” but might you be referring to “self-knowledge about one's characteristics or personality,” that is, to “a sense of self”? Surely not.
So consider: if you are referring to “True Self-knowledge or to “a sense of True Self,” then you are still dealing with a false identity. How could that possibly be false? Because the terms “True Self” or “Real Self” are frequently misused (even by many Advaitins or would-be Advaitins). Many now use the terms to point to the noumenon or to the Absolute in an effort to support the existence of a Self-cum-continuity even while agreeing that no self can have continuity.
Likely, your stance is that, while the phenomenal is that which is physically manifested and observable by one or more of the five senses, some other sense is employed to recognize that an identifiable Self exists beyond physical manifestation. At the elementary level, when a protégé is taking the first steps on the “path” to Realization, that idea is often allowed by teachers.
At the more advanced level, though, it is understood that the True Self is merely the second of two witnessing modes, the pure or re-purified consciousness that knows ItSelf and knows the Oneness (as opposed to subject-object witnessing). That Pure Witnessing Consciousness sees no “others” and is incapable of any dualistic misperception, yet it’s entire functioning is still dependent upon its manifestation. Thus, even that “True Self” is limited and is not an "eternal identity."
Further, that “True Self” is not “God,” though many who have morphed this philosophy into a religion will defend that Self-God concept as well. Instead, the True Self is merely that pure consciousness which can look to the phenomenon and know that it is not as perceived, which can know that no self is real, and which can understand that no noumenal “Self with identity” exists either.
The pure consciousness understands that when the pronoun “I” is employed as the pure consciousness speaks, it refers to that which is beyond beingness and beyond non-beingness; therefore, it is beyond “I-ness” and identity as well. Krishna was very direct in stating that any who do not understand that are “fools.” That which is beyond beingness and non-beingless must also be beyond self, Self, self-ness, Self-ness, no-self-ness, and even no-Self-ness.
Of course, that pointer about "fools" is misunderstood by most, understood by few, and hated by many. For those still trapped in the egotism that is generated by accepting and defending an identity (whether that might be an identity “now” or an identity “later”), let it be said that they have at least been fooled and continue to function from within that condition. The primary consideration must be, "How can the state of zero concepts...(continued in the book)
To order your copy of FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS ($16.99+ S&H) go to http://floydhenderson.com/order.htm, complete all of the information, and in the “Special Message” box, type in FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS.
Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
READINGS RELATED TO TODAY’S TOPIC:
READINGS RELATED TO TODAY’S TOPIC:
and
and
MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE (FOR A LIMITED TIME): 10% OFF if two books are ordered at the same time; 15% OFF if three books are ordered at the same time; 20% OFF if four or more books are ordered at the same time.
