The fear of non returning.

[Thanisaro85]

Just a chat....

Again, i know this might not gel with some of you. It has something to do with getting out of samsara.

Those who might have experienced/understand the state of jhana- spaceless and timeless. "If "that is, when one become Arahant, and that state of jhana is what A Arahant is. Don't you have the fear of going to be?

While "i" am in that infinity state, parallel to the world that is still running on. The conscious of "i" is still "alive" how weird is that?

May you be happy.

[Middleway]

How could there be an “I” in that timeless and space less state. Where is the fear when there is no one that could experience fear?

[Matthew]

It's probably a kind of intermediate bliss state before jhana from what you are describing .. if there is a sense of "I" and an awareness of expansiveness.

[Thanisaro85]

So how will it feel when one become Arahant or buddha?

[Middleway]

So how will it feel when one become Arahant or buddha?

I don’t know. 😀

I asked this question to a Hindu monk. He was forthcoming and said he does not know either but gave an intellectual answer.

An Arahant’s mind is absolutely still. They use it only when they want to. There is no sense of I at all. They respond spontaneously and they watch their body and mind act in accordance with Dhamma. They do not grasp onto anything but watch everything with choiceless awareness. There is no fear whatsoever. They are beyond existence and non-existence. 

Nisargadatta Maharaj put it very eloquently. He said “ I am everything - that is love. I am nothing - that is wisdom. Between these two my life flows”.

[Middleway]

Here is one of Nisargadatta’s talks compilation. He goes straight to the point on how an enlightened person views the world. He also discusses the pathless path and explains what meditation is. This man is a Buddha.

https://youtu.be/ChQ35LWsYxw

This compilation is from a book called The Ultimate Medicine edited by Robert Powell. Note of caution: These talks are at the deep end of the pool. If you do not understand the talks, I suggest you go back to it from time to time.

[Dhamma]

Ramana Maharshi was a true Buddha, too.

Peace and enlightenment.

[Alex]

So how will it feel when one become Arahant or buddha?

I don’t know. 😀

I asked this question to a Hindu monk. He was forthcoming and said he does not know either but gave an intellectual answer.

An Arahant’s mind is absolutely still. They use it only when they want to. There is no sense of I at all. They respond spontaneously and they watch their body and mind act in accordance with Dhamma. They do not grasp onto anything but watch everything with choiceless awareness. There is no fear whatsoever. They are beyond existence and non-existence. 

Nisargadatta Maharaj put it very eloquently. He said “ I am everything - that is love. I am nothing - that is wisdom. Between these two my life flows”.

Hehe, I was at a retreat last week with someone who also studied with Nisargadatta for some time in the last years before he died. The quote was mentioned!
I haven't heard any of his teachings directly, the video is going on my 'watch later' list. But if I understood correctly, in his approach meditation means something different then the buddhist practice of meditation, right?

[dharma bum]

I have to confess I have no idea what is meant by "Stay put in the beingness". Does it mean "Just be"?

Maybe something is being lost in translation. Does anybody know where I can find the original text?

[Middleway]

So how will it feel when one become Arahant or buddha?

I don’t know. 😀

I asked this question to a Hindu monk. He was forthcoming and said he does not know either but gave an intellectual answer.

An Arahant’s mind is absolutely still. They use it only when they want to. There is no sense of I at all. They respond spontaneously and they watch their body and mind act in accordance with Dhamma. They do not grasp onto anything but watch everything with choiceless awareness. There is no fear whatsoever. They are beyond existence and non-existence. 

Nisargadatta Maharaj put it very eloquently. He said “ I am everything - that is love. I am nothing - that is wisdom. Between these two my life flows”.

Hehe, I was at a retreat last week with someone who also studied with Nisargadatta for some time in the last years before he died. The quote was mentioned!
I haven't heard any of his teachings directly, the video is going on my 'watch later' list. But if I understood correctly, in his approach meditation means something different then the buddhist practice of meditation, right?

What Buddhist practice you are referring specifically?

[Middleway]

I have to confess I have no idea what is meant by "Stay put in the beingness". Does it mean "Just be"?

Maybe something is being lost in translation. Does anybody know where I can find the original text?

If we truly can “just be”, we are enlightened. He is referring to taking our sense of being as object of meditation.

[dharma bum]

If we truly can “just be”, we are enlightened. He is referring to taking our sense of being as object of meditation.

Is that similar to the Buddhist idea of observing our body/mind?

[Middleway]

If we truly can “just be”, we are enlightened. He is referring to taking our sense of being as object of meditation.

Is that similar to the Buddhist idea of observing our body/mind?

Yes. Breath is good object of meditation as it is always there. But it is gross object. This sense of being is also constant during our waking state and is very fine and subtle.

[Middleway]

I have to confess I have no idea what is meant by "Stay put in the beingness". Does it mean "Just be"?

Maybe something is being lost in translation. Does anybody know where I can find the original text?

https://pgoodnight.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/the-ultimate-medicine.pdf

[Thanisaro85]

So how will it feel when one become Arahant or buddha?

They are beyond existence and non-existence. 

How could we comprehend this state at all? 😪😅

[Alex]

So how will it feel when one become Arahant or buddha?

I don’t know. 😀

I asked this question to a Hindu monk. He was forthcoming and said he does not know either but gave an intellectual answer.

An Arahant’s mind is absolutely still. They use it only when they want to. There is no sense of I at all. They respond spontaneously and they watch their body and mind act in accordance with Dhamma. They do not grasp onto anything but watch everything with choiceless awareness. There is no fear whatsoever. They are beyond existence and non-existence. 

Nisargadatta Maharaj put it very eloquently. He said “ I am everything - that is love. I am nothing - that is wisdom. Between these two my life flows”.

Hehe, I was at a retreat last week with someone who also studied with Nisargadatta for some time in the last years before he died. The quote was mentioned!
I haven't heard any of his teachings directly, the video is going on my 'watch later' list. But if I understood correctly, in his approach meditation means something different then the buddhist practice of meditation, right?

What Buddhist practice you are referring specifically?

Okay, so I come from Theravada background. But I'm not refering to specific practice shamatha/vipassana/metta, but more to practice of formal sitting meditation. I got the sense that from Nisargadatta's and other jnana or bhakti yoga traditions formal sitting meditation is not part of the instruction or teaching.
Hope that makes it a little clearer where my question is aiming at?

[Middleway]

Hehe, I was at a retreat last week with someone who also studied with Nisargadatta for some time in the last years before he died. The quote was mentioned!
I haven't heard any of his teachings directly, the video is going on my 'watch later' list. But if I understood correctly, in his approach meditation means something different then the buddhist practice of meditation, right?

What Buddhist practice you are referring specifically?

Okay, so I come from Theravada background. But I'm not refering to specific practice shamatha/vipassana/metta, but more to practice of formal sitting meditation. I got the sense that from Nisargadatta's and other jnana or bhakti yoga traditions formal sitting meditation is not part of the instruction or teaching.
Hope that makes it a little clearer where my question is aiming at?

Nisargadatta’s teachings are very similar to Buddhist Thai Forest tradition of Ajahn Chah. He does recommend chanting and formal sitting meditation but says it is not necessary for a practitioner who is at an advanced level.

[dharma bum]

I have to confess I have no idea what is meant by "Stay put in the beingness". Does it mean "Just be"?

Maybe something is being lost in translation. Does anybody know where I can find the original text?

https://pgoodnight.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/the-ultimate-medicine.pdf

Thanks for posting that, Middleway.

I looked up some video recordings of NM on youtube. Some of the recordings are quite poor in audio quality. Need to look some more.

[Middleway]

You are welcome 

Unless you understand Marathi language, those videos are not very useful. I have read almost all his books (talks) translated by various English authors.

[dharma bum]

Marathi is not my native language but I understand it quite well. From the couple of videos I saw, he is very articulate in Marathi. The English translation sounds a little weird I have to say. But I haven't found any videos with clear audio, so it is hard to make out what he says.

[Middleway]

Marathi is not my native language but I understand it quite well. From the couple of videos I saw, he is very articulate in Marathi. The English translation sounds a little weird I have to say. But I haven't found any videos with clear audio, so it is hard to make out what he says.

Back in those days, they used the old fashioned tape recorder. Try googling audio tapes of NM. Here are a couple of links:

https://innerspiritualawakening.com/nisargadatta-maharaj/audio-talks-mp3/
http://sri-nisargadatta-maharaj.blogspot.com/2016/04/rare-unpublished-and-exclusive-audio.html?m=1

[dharma bum]

Thanks for that Middleway. I'm finding the talks quite delightful (need to spend more time listening).

[Middleway]

Thanks for that Middleway. I'm finding the talks quite delightful (need to spend more time listening).

Glad you are enjoying the talks. 🙏

[dharma bum]

Sometimes I think I understand what he is saying but then some guy asks a question and I understand the question but I don't understand the answer haha. It is very entertaining/stimulating though.

The theory of Advaita is not that hard I think. It's almost the same as Buddhism. Essentially both philosophical systems want to lose their sense of self and this is the mukti or liberation or nirvana.

[Dharmic Tui]

Fear of non returning, or fear of returning?

Society seems to require everyone operate at a certain level of ego. But once you have seen through your own hubris, having to return back into the world of ego noise can be a daunting thing indeed.