My previous post emphasized the fact that some realities, like being in love or the nondual state, cannot be fully understood conceptually but must instead be realized through direct experience. The eternal truths that the mystics arising from all the different religions have discovered buried beneath the layers of their consciousness and seated in the centers of their hearts have been strikingly similar with one another.
One can learn more about the parallels that exist in the experiences of the men and women who have sought to find truth/God/reality through the experiential means of meditation by studying the Perennial Philosophy. One such parallel in the conclusions of the mystics worldwide has been that Spirit (God/reality) is found within and to realize and encounter that reality we must shed ourselves of our egos and enter into a nondual state.
In Grace and Grit Ken Wilber and his late wife Treya Wilber discuss this aspect of the Perennial Philosophy as Ken is preparing for an important interview on the topic. During their discussion Treya says to Ken, "St. Paul said, 'I live, yet not I, but Christ in me.' You're saying that St. Paul discovered his true Self, which is one with Christ, and this replaced his old or lower self, his individual soul or psyche." Ken responds, "Yes. Your ruach, or ground is the Supreme Reality, not your nefesh, or ego. "
In Grace and Grit, Wilber states, "Spirit transcends all duality. But one discovers this by consistently looking within, until "within" becomes "beyond"....The individual self or ego is precisely what blocks the realization of the Supreme Identity in the first place."
When one seeks to enter the nondual state they are seeking to enter into the awareness of reality itself. To drop the ego and awaken oneself to what truly Is. I mentioned at the end of the post that there was a particular meditation that I found useful in helping me enter into and experience moments of awareness in the nondual state. I originally came across this meditation in Grace and Grit, and it was again repeated in the book I am currently reading Introducing Ken Wilber: Concepts for an Evolving World, by Lew Howard.
The following meditation is known as a disidentification meditation because it begins to help us disidentify from our egos. It aids us to perceive our egos as object rather than subject. It draws the meditator into a deeper awareness of Self. It is adapted from Roberto Assagioli, founder of Psychosynthesis, and used by Ken Wilber in a number of his books. I hope it leaves you inspired. If you decide to practice it please feel free to share your experiences. In the next post I will describe my own experiences and reflections, limited as they are, of entering into the nondual state.
I have a body, but I am not my body. I can see and feel my body, and what can be seen and felt is not the true Seer. My body may be tired or excited, sick or healthy, heavy or light, anxious or calm, but that has nothing to do with my inward I, the Witness. I have a body, but I am not my body.
I have desires, but I am not my desires. I can know my desires, and what can be known is not the true Knower. Desires come and go, floating through my awareness, but they do not affect my inward I, the Witness. I have desires, but I am not desires.
I have emotions, but I am not my emotions. I can feel and sense my emotions, and what can be felt and sensed is not the true Feeler. Emotions pass through me, but they do not affect my inward I, the Witness. I have emotions, but I am not emotions.
I have thoughts, but I am not my thoughts. I can see and know my thoughts, and what can be known is not the true Knower. Thoughts come to me and thoughts leave me, but they do not affect my inward I, the Witness. I have thoughts, but I am not my thoughts.
Then affirm as concretely as you can: I am what remains, a pure center of awareness, an unmoved Witness of all these thoughts, emotions, feelings, and sensations.
Lew Howard (2005-05-17). Introducing Ken Wilber:Concepts for an Evolving World (Kindle Locations 5404-5412). AuthorHouse. Kindle Edition.
Thoughts? I'd love to hear them! Please leave them in the Comments Section. Thank you!
I was stuck here "some realities, like being in love or the nondual state, cannot be fully understood conceptually but must instead be realized through direct experience" even as read through the rest of the post, which confirms this statement. We do bring out egos to just about every internal party we go to - human nature I suppose, but as you've eloquently stated and explored, it's not until we get beyond and slip into that inner part of ourselves (and some can't or won't) do we soar. (my interpretation of being emotionally aware..)
ReplyDeleteway too much thinking for a Friday without coffee- wonderful post, thanks!
Thanks for your reflections towards the post Brenda.I suppose I should encourage those reading my posts to have some coffee first! ;)
Deletethis stood out for me the most... "perceive our egos as object rather than subject" & "It draws the meditator into a deeper awareness of Self."
ReplyDeleteafter living a certain way for so many years and then finding sobriety, this was critical to me staying clean... ten years later I continue to meditate. I also believe changing my perception of ego important. I've never quite thought of it this deeply, though... very profound! thank you for sharing.
Wow..thank you so much for sharing your experiences with meditation and how it helped you stay sober. When applied consistently it can be a transforming process!
ReplyDeleteOh I read this first before the other one. It's amazing how you could filter your way through different kinds of meditation. I agree, yes, for the most part it is our direct relationship and experience of God that rises above all the concepts.
ReplyDeleteI think these are just tools to enter into meditation but the real work is by the Spirit. I'd think of the saints who experienced this sense of joy and awareness og the Supreme Being's presence.
I'm not sure if you've read of St. Teresa of Avila's 7 mansions. Some authors call it a process, others mention stages but all of them lead to the self's detachment from all that is worldly when the soul finally meets God through prayer.
This is a heavy post, Jessica, but well worth the effort to try to understand it. Self awareness, ego, reality ... I'm still seeking to sort it all out.
ReplyDeleteHow do thoughts interfere with my experience of the Grand Ultimate Reality (GUR)? I am supposing that I participate absolutely, though often ignorantly, in the GUR, as its expression.
ReplyDeleteIs it an activity of ego? A something in me that says I don’t like you if you insult my hairstyle, and more importantly, if you rush up like a sidewalk and try to break my nose? My ego will happily sacrifice my palms for the love of my face, if I fall face-first.
And the unconscious ego is a tough one to rout. My ego actually loves all the attention I give it when I try to shut it up. Let’s make believe I’m your ego. Through your actions and words, you are telling me that I can block out the GUR; I can muffle the voice of God speaking directly to one of her creations; I am the last obstacle to satori. Yee hah!
As your ego, I sit in my cushy, over-stuffed chair, giggling with delight. “Shh!” I say, “We’re meditating!” Hee hee. “Jesus is coming, look busy!” Ho ho. Nothing makes me happier than your undivided attention, whether you’re waiting for me to snicker in the silence, or building me into the great Satan. I will probably get seditious if you interpose a Higher Power, and I will really thwart any attempt at us having a relationship with a Personal God. If you stay in a meditative state long enough for me to go to sleep, you won’t notice – there will be no “I” around to validate the experience as separate and distinct from any other experience. So there.
Ego is a good friend, leave it alone. Let’s try another game: the GUR is constantly creating the now. The activity is so complete that it takes up the entire universe. Rockets can’t stop it! Participation is submersive from birth, and even before you are born, you are absolutely necessary to the process. All the categories – thoughts, feelings, ego, and your bridge game: they are all both expression and witness of the incessant now.
Oh, I know we can’t really watch, participate, record and process the eternal goings-on as they happen. But, there’s no need. The GUR is noisy and smelly and gorgeous and divine. Oh, and complete.
So which part did you want to keep quiet? The part your ego deems icky? Let go, and the whole thing is walking/waking meditation. In this game, my conscious and unconscious participation is the goal. If there is a god, any god, I can’t psych her out. And the GUR has my every cell covered. Hungry? Eat. Thirsty? Drink. Alive? Live.
Meditating sure helps me relax, though.
Including your meditation here, Jessica, was extremely helpful as it puts, as concretely as possible, how to enter into the experience of non-duality. And, I love the quote from Paul - he no longer lives for himself but for the Christ within - perfect!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, another thought-provoking and uplifting post, my dear!
Blessings!
Hi Jessica:
ReplyDeleteThis thought:
One can learn more about the parallels that exist in the experiences of the men and women who have sought to find truth/God/reality through the experiential means of meditation by studying the Perennial Philosophy. especially:
One can learn more about the parallels that exist in the experiences of the men and women... led me to consider quantum theory and the many worlds view. What that view states is that every possible outcome does indeed occur and it's our job to find the outcome we desire and resonate at a high enough frequency so that we attain it. I've written a column about it here:
http://cjpwisdomandlife.com/2010/08/12/quantum-theory-and-the-many-worlds-interpretation/
Be Well, Jessica.
Blessings
--
Chris
Thanks for sharing this meditation. I've read through it a few times and will be back. I would love know what it's like to shed my ego. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is meaningful to me, this meditation. What I appreciate about it is this: it strips away façade and all senses, which are natural ways of seeing, hearing, feeling, and knowing, and leaves only, only our Spirit Being to discern.
ReplyDeleteSince we live in two worlds simultaneously, awareness of both worlds is key to understanding our purpose and knowing what ON EARTH we are doing. Thank you for sharing this reflection on what is most real. I believe the invisible to be more REAL than what we see with our eyes...