From Limited Mind and Body to Our True (No) Self

Abstract: There exist many interpretations to the term “consciousness”. In some of the Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, the consciousness is referred to as the highest meditative attainment and it is frequently equated with the “Godly” or the enlightened nature of our mind. However, in the Buddhist tradition, such an enlightened state is referred to as the “cessation of consciousness” in which, the gross-level human mind disappears. There’s no individuality or self-notion to grasp in it. However, our mind, when it operates with the five senses in day-to-day life, is also called consciousness in science, albeit this is the gross-level operation. There’s a contradiction in the usage of this term. This article demystifies the term “consciousness” and explains different meditative states one can attain with respect to our day-to-day mind. It is also worthwhile to study about the “illusion game” created by our consciousness and to navigate through its dramatic narratives. Fig. 1. ...

If you are coming from a pure Vipassana (Mindfulness) background, this is highly unlikely the case. If you have a strong Shamatha/Chakra activation background (Maha-Tantra-Yana), then this post is for you. Usually the meditators, energy healers are exposed to the, higher dimensional region called the spirit realm. Upon activating certain chakras in our body, the subtle energy channels and winds can bring you to subtle meditative absorptions starting from the Sambhogakaya (spirit-level) samadhis to clear-lights. They are referred to as sun-like, moon-like nature of our mind respectively. Theravada Buddhism also briefly talks about these meditative absorptions. Usually this spirit realm starts from the 6th Chakra energy level. From this level to the Dharmakaya level, there are several levels to the spirit realm, which is diverse. Beings from lower realms usually mislead the "genuine" spiritual practitioners, especially when their soul is getting closer to its purity. This post ...

Abstract: In any authentic spiritual practice, we do not delve into our past lives. Any meditation we do, we do it for our peace, liberation and to find ourselves. Any meditation we do for getting to know our past lives, to gain psychic abilities mostly end up screwing ourselves. Instead these qualities and abilities should naturally stem from our genuine effort to know ourselves. As byproducts! Certain spiritual traditions highly emphasize about the reincarnation of human beings, ever running samsaric cycles. But if we forget what we become in next life, why bother ? Why practicing spirituality ?   This goes like a conversation between a Master (not a teacher) and a Disciple..... Disciple : Master, I do like to know my past lives. I want to recollect these memories. How to do that ? Master : Why did you come here in the first place ? Why being distracted to know something else ? Why don't you meditate diligently and let everything reveal by itself ? Disciple : ...

Abstract:  Understanding everything written so far in this blog, intellectually is not a big deal. Our human mind has the potential to contemplate, re-derive, re-define concepts, philosophies and everything. They all sound true and convincing at the same time to the "mind". This is due to the relative and interdependent nature of the concepts and mind. For instance, it is not difficult to understand the duality and non-duality even without any meditative experience, within the limitation of our consciousness. However that understanding is with respect to the "mind". Why this is not so fulfilling? This article sheds some light on that. This is a conversation between a Zen master (not a teacher) and a disciple.  Disciple: Master, I understand the concept of duality and non-duality. It is not so difficult to grasp. Now what ? Master: Could you please give me an example ?  Disciple: Basically the difference between opposite polarities, such as male-female, hot-col...

Abstract: The darkness of the mind does not stay much longer. Every polarity of this world is transitional, and they come and go. We observe these transitions with mindfulness. Darkness only needs to be endured and is then followed by the light. After this stage, there are two pathways to the practitioner depending on his maturity; after mastering the meditative absorptions  and darkness, the final light appears to him, and his realization is complete. The other type has further to go, where the so called ascension happens through the individual.  For both, this is the starting point of the journey: To bring light to others. This post is dedicated to anyone who needs to understand and needs help crossing the darkness of the soul.   Figure 1. Darkness to the Light: Transmutation of the negative afflictions of the mind The darkness is required to illuminate light and therefore is inevitable. This phase can be misunderstood (appeared to be) as an outside obstacle, but ...