~ ~ ~
Good poem. Although the
timeless truth
was never lost, it can be recognized
for what it is, rather than, as previously,
taken for what it is not.
Thus this recognition is not considered
a gain, but rather a loss, ajnana nivritti,
the removal of ignorance (of what the truth
of my present experience actually is.)
If I see the rope as a snake and react
in fear, then when some kind friend,
takes me by the hand and shines
a light on that rope, so that I
see what it truly is, I don't
gain a new experience, but rather
I loose my ignorance of what the
rope is, of what my actual experience,
which I had interpreted so incorrectly,
truly is.
I find in talking to people this is the most difficult
thing for them to get. We are all so experience
oriented, looking for new, better, bigger,
more fantastic, flashy experiences as a way
of finding happiness. And because the recognition of
the truth is reputed to be the best possible 'experience,'
one then thinks that this recognition is some really
'out there' big experience, bigger than one has ever
had before.
Because we are all familiar with pleasant mental
experiences, and because sometimes when we
are meditating, or in a quiet space, or in some
'satsang' setting, and we feel calm and peaceful
and happy, or we feel ecstatic and blissful, and
because we have heard descriptions like that,
and even received various encouragements
from 'teachers' who themselves are confused,
we think, "Oh this 'experience' this pleasant,
or blissful experience has got to be 'it.' "
Then, of course, because this is an experience, and
like all experiences temporary in nature, when we
loose that blissful state, we think we've 'lost it,'
and then we have to go 'find it,' or repeat
that experience again.
So, IMO, this is a big problem, and one that is
very difficult for people to understand.
Experience seeking is natural. It's all we know
how to do, until and unless we come to understand
that experiences (no matter how profound or
blissful) come and go, but the truth, which is
ever present, and totally accessible here and
now, does not come and go. It cannot.
So, if one has an experience, and it goes, then
my advice would be to try and find out, who is
it this experience occurred to? Is there
'someone' always there? That's the first step,
the first question, in atma vichara, (inquiry
into the nature of the self.)
Always I am
Always I shine (from Advaita Makaranda [the Nectar of
Nonduality])
--Durga
Orva Schrock sent this oldy but goody:
TWO
WOLVES
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that
goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us
all.
"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow,
regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,
inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope,
serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity,
truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his
grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
