Cease your False Self and your True Self lives!
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http://www.humanbliss.com.sg/ques_ans.htm - First article
Q: Could Shi Fu please give us a discourse on what is “True Self”?
A: “True Self” is the opposite of “False Self”, if you would like to know what “True Self” is, you would need to know what “False Self” is. We often say “this shirt is mine”, “this house is mine”, everything are ours. After saying for half a day, we still do not know where “I” is.
If you say that our nose is “I”, then the eyes belong to whom? If you say the eyes are “I”, then to whom do the ears belong? If you say the ears are “I”, then to whom does the mouth belong? If you say the hands are “I”, then to whom do the legs belong? Actually all these are not Self. Therefore we say: My nose, My eyes, My ears, My mouth, My hair, My hands, My legs… we say everything belongs to me, but do not say that these are Me. What exactly is ‘Self’ then? Everyone would like to find out where is the ‘I’, if Shi fu were to find the ‘I’ for you, then this ‘I’ is no longer special. Often we hear many people are intelligent, yet they can’t even find the ‘I’, how can we say “My dad”, “My son”, “My son’s wife”, “My valuable possessions”… everything is “Mine”, where exactly is “I” then?
Here there is a layman who answered “I” is the mind, then please, this layman find your mind and show everyone. In the past the 2nd Zen Patriarch went to find Patriarch Bodhidharma, saying “Venerable! My mind is in pain. Please pacify my mind.” Bodhidharma replied, “Show it to me and I will pacify it for you.” Shen Kuang said in amazement, “Cannot find the mind!” Actually everyone is very clever, if someone wishes to deceive us it is not easy, yet the whole life we are deceived by our Mind, yet we are not aware of it at all.
I see that to find the ‘I’ is very difficult for everyone, why not put it that way: Everyone has eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind consciousness – these are the “Six Roots”. In relative to the “Six Roots” are Sight, Sound, Odour, Taste, Touch, “Six Dust”. We say our eyes are the “Eye Root”, seeing the colours are called “Six Dust”, the reason why know whether this is white, black, red etc…. is because of “Eye Consciousness”. We will be able to hear the sound of cars, the sound of speaking, the sound of the aeroplanes, the voice of singing, is because of “Ear-consciousness”, allowing us to differentiate, perceive so many sounds. Other than that, a single tongue, why is it able to know Sour, Sweet, Bitter, and Spicy, perceive so many tastes? It is because of “Tongue-consciousness”. Nose can smell so many kinds of odour, knowing perfumes are fragrant, excrement are foul-smelling; this is “Nose-consciousness”. Even if we close our eyes,
We can raise out our hands to touch, and therefore know that this is table, chair, microphone, clothes, etc… this kind of using body to feel and perceive is called “Body-consciousness”. Also, when we close our eyes and think “What you say is very meaningful, what you said is right, your solution can work, and his sayings are meaningless…” This kind of pondering is called “Mind-consciousness”.
Other than the six consciousnesses said above – Eye-consciousness, Ear-consciousness, Nose-consciousness, Tongue-consciousness, Body-consciousness and Mind-consciousness, there is also a Seventh and Eighth consciousness. Seventh consciousness is “Self” – “False Self”, and is the master of this body. The eighth consciousness can be said to be our Warehouse, it can also be said to be a Videotape. For example we meet someone in America, our eyes see at once, the mind immediately forms an impression – I think I recognize this person! Oh! Yes yes yes! This is Mr Zhang, or Mr Wang. But, where have I met him before? This, I must think a while. When we finally remembered, this is when we take out our videotape from the Eighth consciousness and playing it.
Actually the Seventh Consciousness “False Self” is very strange! When our Six Roots (Six Sense Organ) are resting, it never rests; when our six roots are sleeping, it never sleeps; it wants to take out all the videotapes from the Eighth consciousness to watch. Yet this “False self” can function beyond our life, it can bring us to Heaven, it can also bring us to Hell. During the time of death, the “False Self” changes into a Transient-invisible-body (antarabhava; bardo). The Transient-invisible-body then goes into rebirth. We, the people who wishes to learn from the Buddha and cultivate, is to stop this “False Self”, not let it exist. “False Self” would ask our eyes to see bad things, it will also ask our mind to think of bad things, it would also ask our legs to do bad things, therefore “False Self” is not good at all to cultivation.
There are many methods of cultivation aimed at defeating “False Self”. The Zen sect’s method is to do sitting meditation and koans, for example “striking seventh ch’an”, is to keep sitting and not letting the “False Self” arise. This so-called “Strike Seventh” is to strike down the Seventh Consciousness and not allowing the sentient-mind to arise. Chanting-Buddha dharma door is to chant “Amituofuo, Amituofuo”, keep on chanting until the Seventh Consciousness ceases its function. There is a saying “Striking the (sentient) mind dead, the Dharmakaya (dharma body) lives”, this is the meaning. If we cannot strike dead this “False Self”, then the Dharmakaya (dharma body) cannot live. Human Vehicle Buddhism advocates “Striking Seventh” every moment, by ceasing the Seventh Consciousness, the Dharmakaya reveals itself; once the Dharmakaya lives, “True Self” will be produced. Actually “True Self” is only a name, if you think that “True Self” is really True Self, then that is wrong, it should be “No-Self is True Self”, that is True Self. -
Related articles: The Quintessence of Buddha
Related discussions: What is the 'I'?
What is non-dualism?
Longchen & Thusness discussions on their realisations:
lame question on meditation
All there is is Presence
Time doesn't exist -
Dear All,
My realisation is not fully stabilized... there is no need for me to pretend to be fully enlightened
I do however have moments of awakenings... If you can seriously, contemplate on what Thusness write.
From my experience, awakening is not difficult... that is, a first awakening to pure awareness. What is difficult is the 'overcoming' of karmic habits... that obscures the direct knowing.
From my understanding, rejecting, mental arguing, excessive thinking is what causes karma. Let things be... even desires, without rejection of unpleasant feelings and no excessive complication will arise. That is... we cannot stop thoughts with more thoughts... Let the thoughts and emotions run their full course and one day they will cease to be. Easier said than done... and I am still clearing...
Also, realisation is not an intellectual experience... we cannot think about enlightenment... all thinking is conceptual and we get suck into the attention of the mind... believing that we are the one experiencing the thoughts... The thoughts come and go and is not willed by an 'I'. The 'I' itself is a thought.
Thoughts are a form of tension. Pure awareness is potentiality and stepping down the dimension/planes of consciousness, they form into thoughts which are experiences. We live as thoughts and seriously speaking what we percieve as physical objects do not exist... they only exist as thoughts-forms in the mind... which is a reflection of pure awareness.
my 2 cents worth. -
Yes, to overcome karmic habits is very important practise.Originally posted by longchen:Dear All,
My realisation is not fully stabilized... there is no need for me to pretend to be fully enlightened
I do however have moments of awakenings... If you can seriously, contemplate on what Thusness write.
From my experience, awakening is not difficult... that is, a first awakening to pure awareness. What is difficult is the 'overcoming' of karmic habits... that obscures the direct knowing.
From my understanding, rejecting, mental arguing, excessive thinking is what causes karma. Let things be... even desires, without rejection of unpleasant feelings and no excessive complication will arise. That is... we cannot stop thoughts with more thoughts... Let the thoughts and emotions run their full course and one day they will cease to be. Easier said than done... and I am still clearing...
Also, realisation is not an intellectual experience... we cannot think about enlightenment... all thinking is conceptual and we get suck into the attention of the mind... believing that we are the one experiencing the thoughts... The thoughts come and go and is not willed by an 'I'. The 'I' itself is a thought.
Thoughts are a form of tension. Pure awareness is potentiality and stepping down the dimension/planes of consciousness, they form into thoughts which are experiences. We live as thoughts and seriously speaking what we percieve as physical objects do not exist... they only exist as thoughts-forms in the mind... which is a reflection of pure awareness.
my 2 cents worth.
Certainly realisation is not intellectual experience, and intellectual attachment will only hinder awakening because it is direct. All these sayings on no-self is only to start us on the path to practise, and helping us detaching from 'Self'.
You made a good point that thinking cannot be stopped by thinking. Once, a person was disturbed in his meditation and could not attain peace. He went to my Master and asked.... "how can I stop my thoughts"? My master replied "Don't care about it!" Actually it is that simple.
It doesn't mean that we must purposely run full course of our thoughts. But we must learn not to attach to them, but simply remain aware. If there is no 'I' involved, then thoughts will naturally cease.
Wonder if you agree with me on this? -
Can only write from my own understanding...Originally posted by An Eternal Now:It doesn't mean that we must purposely run full course of our thoughts. But we must learn not to attach to them, but simply remain aware. If there is no 'I' involved, then thoughts will naturally cease.
Wonder if you agree with me on this?
We should not 'purposefully' run the full course... because 'purposeful' is a thought... that means we have added an additional thought call 'purposeful'. This is what is being meant by complication.
When we are aware, we can catch/recognise the thoughts that arise. The thoughts that arise often is before a tension feeling. Basically... the mental brain function converts/translate the feeling tension into mental thoughts.
When there are few tensions... there will be few mental thoughts. -
Ok, so what is the difference between someone who attained realisations, and 'letting thoughts runs its course', and ordinary unenlightened people 'letting thuoghts run its course'?Originally posted by longchen:Can only write from my own understanding...
We should not 'purposefully' run the full course... because 'purposeful' is a thought... that means we have added an additional thought call 'purposeful'. This is what is being meant by complication.
When we are aware, we can catch/recognise the thoughts that arise. The thoughts that arise often is before a tension feeling. Basically... the mental brain function converts/translate the feeling tension into mental thoughts.
When there are few tensions... there will be few mental thoughts. -
Again from my understanding only...Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Ok, so what is the difference between someone who attained realisations, and 'letting thoughts runs its course', and ordinary unenlightened people 'letting thuoghts run its course'?
For a person with a certain degree of awareness/realisation, there is a reference point where the thoughts can be more clearly percieved... that is why thoughts are more vivid.
For a person prior to any awakening, there is no reference and he/she 'lives' totally in the mind. That means he/she is not aware of the thoughts. -
Oh I see...Originally posted by longchen:Again from my understanding only...
For a person with a certain degree of awareness/realisation, there is a reference point where the thoughts can be more clearly percieved... that is why thoughts are more vivid.
For a person prior to any awakening, there is no reference and he/she 'lives' totally in the mind. That means he/she is not aware of the thoughts. -
There is one point that I will like to add... this is not in line with Buddhist teaching, but is what I have experienced. So if it is uncomfortable ... moderator pls delete this post.Originally posted by longchen:Again from my understanding only...
For a person with a certain degree of awareness/realisation, there is a reference point where the thoughts can be more clearly percieved... that is why thoughts are more vivid.
For a person prior to any awakening, there is no reference and he/she 'lives' totally in the mind. That means he/she is not aware of the thoughts.
There is a state called in other religion 'the soul' and some newager call 'higher self'. To me, it is the reflection of I AM... It is the potentiality of the Source/Pure awareness reflected ... that defines the purpose of its existence. It is a very high vibration state and is not easily accesssible.
This soul/higher self is the immediate originator of our thoughts. To me, it felt like the purpose of your incarnation is held there. In each incarnation, we come with a purpose... such as, to do certain things and to clear specific sets of karma... In another word, the ego (small 'I') is not the thinker of the thought. The 'ego' is one of the thoughts. The thinker/originator/designer of our thoughts is soul.
My point is... we should not ignore or negate the needs of soul. .. that is the intention and purpose of your existence. It is possible to awake to the dharmakaya and yet do not feel the soul... This is what i have discovered.... I actually expereinced pure awareness first... before i experienced the purpose of soul/higher self... much later.
Actually the soul is a part of the dharmakaya... Dharmakaya is like full with invisible potentiality... 'rays of light '. Each ray when gets encased... start to see itself in the reflection. A face cannot see itself without a mirror. Dharmakaya get to understand itself and its ignorance through the reflected image... The face understand how it looks like/it is in the mirror.... Soul, to me, are individual reflections of specifics rays emanation of Dharamakaya. Therefore each soul is unique as each ray is different. And that's what make all of our personality... different from one another.
my 2 cents -
I also have something to add (posted by namessless on The quintessence of the Platform Sutra)
Entire post by Namelessness:
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No thought, no form and no attachment is the quintessence of the Sutra. But it is not annihilation. It means to be detached from all thought, form and attachment.Originally posted by namelessness:Good Friends, it has been the tradition of our school to take 'No Thought' as the object, 'No Form' as the basis, and 'No Attachment' as the fundamental principle. 'No Form' means to be apart from the notion of forms when in contact with forms. 'No Thought' means to be away from thought when thought arises. 'No Attachment' is the characteristic of our nature. All things - good or bad, beautiful or ugly - should be treated as void. Even in time of disputes and quarrels we should treat our intimates and our enemies alike and never think of retaliation. From thought to thought, let the past be dead. If we allow our thoughts, past, present, and future, to link up in a series, it is called confinement. If we never let our mind attach to anything from thought to thought, and there will be no confinement. This is why 'No Attachment' is taken as the fundamental principle. Good Friends, to free ourselves from all external forms is called 'No Form'. When we are in a position to do so, the nature of Dharma will be pure. This is why 'No Form' is taken as the basis.Good Friends, to keep our mind free from defilement under all circumstances is called 'No Thought'. Our mind should stand aloof from circumstances, and allow no reaction to our mind from circumstances. But it is a great mistake to suppress our mind from all thinking; for even if we succeed in getting rid of all thoughts, and die immediately thereafter, still we shall be reincarnated elsewhere. Mark this, treaders of the Path. It is bad enough for a man to commit blunders from not knowing the meaning of the Dharma, but how much worse would it be to encourage others to follow suit? Being deluded, he sees not and in addition he blasphemes the Buddhist Canon. Therefore 'No Thought' is taken as the object.
Here the patriarch taught us how to be away from our thought. This is difficult because it will take us many years to practice that. But after that, our thoughts would be vanished naturally. That’s how ‘No thought’ can be accomplished. So it is not wise to suppress our mind from thinking, for whatever is suppressed will definitely strike back.
Good Friends, let me explain more fully why we take 'No Thought' as our object. It is because there is a type of man under delusion who boasts of the realization of the Self-nature; but being carried away by circumstances, ideas rise in his mind, followed by erroneous views that are the source of all sorts of false notions and defilements. In the Self-nature, there is intrinsically nothing to be attained. To say that there is attainment, and to talk thoughtlessly on merits or demerits are erroneous views and defilements. For this reason we take 'No Thought' as the object of our School.
Good Friends, what is that should be 'No'? What is that should be 'Thought'? 'No' means to have no dualistic and all defiling conceptions. 'Thought' means to fix our mind on the true nature of Tathata, for Tathata is the quintessence of thought, and thought is the result of the activity of Tathata. It is the positive essence of Tathata - not the sense organs - which gives rise to 'thought'. Tathata bears its own attribute, and therefore it can give rise to 'thought'. Without Tathata the sense organs and the sense objects would perish immediately.
Good Friends, because it is the attribute of Tathata which gives rise to 'thought', our sense organs - in spite of their functioning in seeing, hearing, touching, knowing, etc. - need not be tainted or defiled in all circumstances, and our true nature may be 'self-manifested' all the time. Therefore the Sutra says, "Even all Dharmas can be easily distinguished, the 'First Principle' is still immovable"
We still need to distinquish things in order to survive. The key to non-duality is to find our inner An-Hsiang first, and let An-Hsiang be the only response we have to all circumstances.
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Hmm interesting, but I can't verify it myself. Maybe namelessness knows this better.Originally posted by longchen:There is one point that I will like to add... this is not in line with Buddhist teaching, but is what I have experienced. So if it is uncomfortable ... moderator pls delete this post.
There is a state called in other religion 'the soul' and some newager call 'higher self'. To me, it is the reflection of I AM... It is the potentiality of the Source/Pure awareness reflected ... that defines the purpose of its existence. It is a very high vibration state and is not easily accesssible.
This soul/higher self is the immediate originator of our thoughts. To me, it felt like the purpose of your incarnation is held there. In each incarnation, we come with a purpose... such as, to do certain things and to clear specific sets of karma... In another word, the ego (small 'I') is not the thinker of the thought. The 'ego' is one of the thoughts. The thinker/originator/designer of our thoughts is soul.
My point is... we should not ignore or negate the needs of soul. .. that is the intention and purpose of your existence. It is possible to awake to the dharmakaya and yet do not feel the soul... This is what i have discovered.... I actually expereinced pure awareness first... before i experienced the purpose of soul/higher self... much later.
Actually the soul is a part of the dharmakaya... Dharmakaya is like full with invisible potentiality... 'rays of light '. Each ray when gets encased... start to see itself in the reflection. A face cannot see itself without a mirror. Dharmakaya get to understand itself and its ignorance through the reflected image... The face understand how it looks like/it is in the mirror.... Soul, to me, are individual reflections of specifics rays emanation of Dharamakaya. Therefore each soul is unique as each ray is different. And that's what make all of our personality... different from one another.
my 2 cents
We are reborned with a purpose..? I think Bodhisattvas, Buddhas, certainly. Highly cultivated practitioners can choose where they want to be borned, and what they wish to do in their next life even before they are borned.
Normal beings however... once they die, their seventh consciousness transforms them to the bardo state and will have to seek rebirth according to their karma. -
btw, Platform Sutra was written by the 6th Zen Patriarch Hui Neng. It is a very interesting read.
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Buddha at the very begining did show/perform abit of True Self in the idea of Hua Yen Sutra (All-in One, One-in-All) and the walking of 7 steps, one finger pointing the sky and one finger pointing the ground and said, "Heaven and Earth, Wei2 Wo3 Du2 Zhun1" (Under "My" Submit). if people don't know it can be very arrogant.
Although Buddha in the begining taught non-self for 22years, generally tell us to be selfless and be more considerate. But at the end of this preaching period of 8 years, He did taught the Lotus sutra and Nirvana Sutra that taught about the Da Wo(Biggest 'Self'). But the whole idea is that without firstly understood non-self, it's misunderstanding to precieve the True Self.
But this True Self does not contradict the non-self, it's not two, like all sentient beings are part of you, then helping them is as good as helping ourself so to speak.
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Yes, it is hard to correctly understand True Self without first fully understanding No Self and Emptiness nature. Otherwise, what is the difference between Buddhism and Hindu teachings which existed way back during Buddha's times?Originally posted by sinweiy:Buddha at the very begining did show/perform abit of True Self in the idea of Hua Yen Sutra (All-in One, One-in-All) and the walking of 7 steps, one finger pointing the sky and one finger pointing the ground and said, "Heaven and Earth, Wei2 Wo3 Du2 Zhun1" (Under "My" Submit). if people don't know it can be very arrogant.
Although Buddha in the begining taught non-self for 22years, generally tell us to be selfless and be more considerate. But at the end of this preaching period of 8 years, He did taught the Lotus sutra and Nirvana Sutra that taught about the Da Wo(Biggest 'Self'). But the whole idea is that without firstly understood non-self, it's misunderstanding to precieve the True Self.
But this True Self does not contradict the non-self, it's not two, like all sentient beings are part of you, then helping them is as good as helping ourself so to speak.
/\ Teachings like the unorthodox Dark Zen teaches a deluded version of the 'Self' which is more similar to the idea of an Atman in Hinduism. -
Hi Sinweiy,Originally posted by sinweiy:Buddha at the very begining did show/perform abit of True Self in the idea of Hua Yen Sutra (All-in One, One-in-All) and the walking of 7 steps, one finger pointing the sky and one finger pointing the ground and said, "Heaven and Earth, Wei2 Wo3 Du2 Zhun1" (Under "My" Submit). if people don't know it can be very arrogant.
Although Buddha in the begining taught non-self for 22years, generally tell us to be selfless and be more considerate. But at the end of this preaching period of 8 years, He did taught the Lotus sutra and Nirvana Sutra that taught about the Da Wo(Biggest 'Self'). But the whole idea is that without firstly understood non-self, it's misunderstanding to precieve the True Self.
But this True Self does not contradict the non-self, it's not two, like all sentient beings are part of you, then helping them is as good as helping ourself so to speak.
/\
Thanks for the explanation
My understanding is very similar to what you have explained. Like what you have said, the True self does not contradict the non-self.The 'soul' when experienced is actually connected with the whole.
I think we need to understand both aspect 'No-self' and 'Big self' to have a more complete picture of the world.
Thanks again. -
So trueOriginally posted by An Eternal Now:I also have something to add (posted by namessless on The quintessence of the Platform Sutra)
Entire post by Namelessness:
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Here the patriarch taught us how to be away from our thought. This is difficult because it will take us many years to practice that. But after that, our thoughts would be vanished naturally. That’s how ‘No thought’ can be accomplished. So it is not wise to suppress our mind from thinking, for whatever is suppressed will definitely strike back.
We still need to distinquish things in order to survive. The key to non-duality is to find our inner An-Hsiang first, and let An-Hsiang be the only response we have to all circumstances.
Thinking cannot be suppressed. When we want to suppress the thinking, we are already thinking! This only complicates the mental process. Momentarily, one may even think that he has won the battle... but in actually... nothing has been taken out and instead got push into the subconscious mind... becoming the karma that we are not even aware of... and therefore kena reincarnated again.
The subconscious mind is where all the desires that we do not want to acknowledge gets chucked in. Sometimes, we think why our life is so 'suay' even when we are 'good'... one of the reason is because the troublemaker of ourself is still hiding in the subconscious mind.... In Jungian psychology, it is called the unconscious dark side. -
repeated post...
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Yes, however, not supressing thoughts, does that mean not practising?Originally posted by longchen:So true
Thinking cannot be suppressed. When we want to suppress the thinking, we are already thinking! This only complicates the mental process. Momentarily, one may even think that he has won the battle... but in actually... nothing has been taken out and instead got push into the subconscious mind... becoming the karma that we are not even aware of... and therefore kena reincarnated again.
The subconscious mind is where all the desires that we do not want to acknowledge gets chucked in. Sometimes, we think why our life is so 'suay' even when we are 'good'... one of the reason is because the troublemaker of ourself is still hiding in the subconscious mind.... In Jungian psychology, it is called the unconscious dark side.
I feel that practising dharma shld b every moment. Yes, it is not by supressing as that does not lead to liberation. But we shld remain mindful of our mind, speech, actions, and not let sentient [dualistic/attached/defiled] thoughts arise. -
I think you misunderstood what i meant.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Yes, however, not supressing thoughts, does that mean not practising?
I feel that practising dharma shld b every moment. Yes, it is not by supressing as that does not lead to liberation. But we shld remain mindful of our mind, speech, actions, and not let sentient [dualistic/attached/defiled] thoughts arise.
Not suppressing is not the same as not practicing. We often equate practice with efforting... from my experience too much effort actually is counter-productive. Mindfulness is actually clearer under a relaxed condition.
I do not wish to simplify... but there are various stages and each stages have a different emphasis. ... furthermore I cannot envisage what lies ahead. -
Yah, I get your point.Originally posted by longchen:I think you misunderstood what i meant.
Not suppressing is not the same as not practicing. We often equate practice with efforting... from my experience too much effort actually is counter-productive. Mindfulness is actually clearer under a relaxed condition. -
Received this message from our moderator Namelessness,
No. I don't agree with what longchen had said about the soul. The soul is
not the higher self. On the contrary, it's the concealed self.
It works like a filter through which the light of our pure awareness
projects to form what we are now. And the originator of our thoughts is not
the soul. Thoughts are the manifestation of our pure awareness through the
filtering of soul. So the soul can be called the designer of thoughts.
And the purpose of practicing is to eliminate the adverse effects of the
soul (almost 99.99% of it), and transform it to great wisdom.
And yes, the purpose of our existence is stored in the soul, if there is
one. And it is not hard to discover it if one is in deep An-Shiang.
We should be able to feel our soul every moment because that's how it
controls us and determines who we are and how we think. But I won't called
it ‘the soul’. It's somewhat misleading. In Buddhism, we call it ‘shi’.
Btw, to my understanding only, the higher self is the true self, he is a/the
Buddha. -
Shi means 'consciousness'.
He probably meant 7th consciousness, which is conventionally called 'the Soul'.
Or the 8th consciousness, a.k.a 'the Storehouse Consciousness' -
There is a point which I would like to make because I think it is quite important on cultivation. I am reminded of this because I heard a passage from a dharma talk by my dharma teacher on casette about dualistic defilements yesterday.
All things - good or bad, beautiful or ugly - should be treated as void. Even in time of disputes and quarrels we should treat our intimates and our enemies alike and never think of retaliation.
Good Friends, to keep our mind free from defilement under all circumstances is called 'No Thought'.
Good Friends, what is that should be 'No'? What is that should be 'Thought'? 'No' means to have no dualistic and all defiling conceptions. 'Thought' means to fix our mind on the true nature of Tathata, for Tathata is the quintessence of thought, and thought is the result of the activity of Tathata.
No Defilement is very important for practise. And sometimes defilements are very subtle - you do not realise it because the things you depend on is still there. For example, you have become attached to your kind of lifestyle. Then when someone asks you to live in the jungles, you hated it. That is also defilements.
Therefore we should constantly be mindful of mind, speech, action, not slacking it in any way of giving in to sentient thoughts. And the only way is to be Aware. [not suppression] -
From our moderator _wanderer_,
hmm well, pple at different stages of the path will experience the "self" differently. even the method differs, be it mindful effort, suppression, non-suppression... the danger lies in when we hold on rigidly to a certain concept of soul/self, or to a certain practice method, that will be more dangerous. but this stuckness is inevitable and it's also part of the path.
one can't understand "true self" through listening, discussing and contemplating. one can't understand through reading and quoting texts. one also can't understand thru comparing between meditative experiences and what books have said. hmm in fact, nothing effortful (or for that matter, "effortfully" effortless ways) can bring us to it.
however, having said that, listening, discussing, contemplating, comparison and meditation are still impt elements along the path. and without them, we wouldn't even have the fuel to begin the goalless journey. continue to seek, and may the minds of all seekers mature quickly and meet with their most impt teachers who will point them to enlightenment. -
I think I agree mostly with what Namelessness write.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Received this message from our moderator Namelessness,
No. I don't agree with what longchen had said about the soul. The soul is
not the higher self. On the contrary, it's the concealed self.
It works like a filter through which the light of our pure awareness
projects to form what we are now. And the originator of our thoughts is not
the soul. Thoughts are the manifestation of our pure awareness through the
filtering of soul. So the soul can be called the designer of thoughts.
And the purpose of practicing is to eliminate the adverse effects of the
soul (almost 99.99% of it), and transform it to great wisdom.
And yes, the purpose of our existence is stored in the soul, if there is
one. And it is not hard to discover it if one is in deep An-Shiang.
We should be able to feel our soul every moment because that's how it
controls us and determines who we are and how we think. But I won't called
it ‘the soul’. It's somewhat misleading. In Buddhism, we call it ‘shi’.
Btw, to my understanding only, the higher self is the true self, he is a/the
Buddha.
I totally agree that the thoughts' original source is pure awareness... but it passes through 'the soul'.
The main different is that Namelessness sees 'the soul' as a filter. I see 'the soul' as a reflection of pure awareness. My understanding is that essentially pure awareness is everything... So if it is everything... there cannot be a filter... because the filter must be separated from it, in order to counter pure awareness. Rather 'soul' has be a manifestation of pure awareness. If it is a manifestation... it must reflect pure awareness's qualities... because Pure awareness is all there is.
Pure awareness is not good and wise... IT JUST IS. and thus good, bad, moral, whatever has no meaning for it. Pure awareness is everything and therefore cannot exclude anything... it is wise, ignorance and ALL.
Just a sharing... nothing personal and i have a great respect for Namelessness.