Nexus Point

I heard the pain in his voice and gave him a venue to express it. This, to me, is what practice is about: Witnessing “objectively” what arises in our lives, letting it speak without judgment, but with compassion. And in the light of the present moment, that which we fear is seen anew.

I seem to have touched a nerve with the unintended keyword “beliefs.” It was not meant to be a reference to any Seth ideology – merely my trying to put into the words that others can relate to, my own first hand experience. I was trying to say that what you love, what is meaningful and important to you, brings to you the situations in your life that you find yourself in.

The credo “your beliefs create your reality” is a very volatile issue for many, I realize. And I am not inclined with the energy to parse its meaning here and now, for it is so complicated. I prefer to use my time urging others to realize That which is “beyond” their beliefs.


"For some strange reason people imagine that there is a self and Buddhism will help them get rid of it. The truth is the opposite. Buddhism teaches that there IS NO SELF (Annata) and therefore no need to get rid of it."

While you might find the experience of no-self an interesting one, alas that is just a part of the story, as it were. When you discover the other bit of the truth – the true-self – you will find more than just an interesting experience.

Knowing true-self is not only recognizing the “no-self,” but also realizing that of the self that, in it’s great transcendental wonder, sees beyond the momentarily appearances, into the depth of reality (all the while, knowing the physical world in all it’s wonder). Then, in this moment of revelation, All is known as it is, and the true self is known, as it is, as well.

When there is no-self, what is there? When there is no-mind, what knows?

It is a way to live. The way is to realize Truth as you live your life. And to practice the Buddha way is to realize Truth.

Nine Stanzas

Back when I was a young artist (I paint), I had enough talent to do what I was trying to do, but my work didn’t always turn out well because I did not know the science of painting. In fact, I didn’t know there was a science behind a the art of painting

To my great fortune, however, the Muses had sympathy for me and led me to the knowledge I was lacking. It turns out that there is an ancient science to painting, which is all but lost. Brief glimmers of it sometimes surface in the art schools, where otherwise it is barely understood.

However in several old art technique books, I found some clues to this lost science. And then, tucked away on a few pages in one book, I found laid out the simple rules of how a painting is constructed. And with my deepest gratitude to the “Fifty Secrets of Magicraftsmanship” by Salvador Dali, I would like to mention them here.

I know because of your great interest in music, and your plans to take up a career in the industry that I thought I would share these with you, for whatever benefit they might have for you.

To begin with you must have a background that is extremely luminous, but not too glary. The paint is placed upon the canvas in layers and this background will shine through the layers, illuminating them from within.

Then as we build up the layers, we must follow a certain order: you go from lean to fat, from the insubstantial to the highly defined, from large shapes to the smallest details, from the dark to the light. And each of these layers must compliment that which comes before and that which comes after. Never repeat the exact same color from one layer to the next, always choose another (usually similar) color that brings out the life of the previous layer’s color.

I really hope that you won’t be offended if I take a few liberties with your rap and use it as an example to illustrate the application of these ideas. (Obviously, however, I am no musician so I’m sure that you could do much better.)

Just going casually through your rap, I would say that the background idea that shines forth is “metta”.

The metta is real (could be the luminous ground)

Next come the big, vague, raw concepts:

A misguided youth
A decrepit school system
Everything destructive in this world
Scared of what u might find,

Then come more concise ideas.

Help my mates
Feeds his illusion of self
See round is violence and drugees from cocaine to speed,
Quit before it's too late
In a terrible state, fueled by their inner anger and hate,

Then come the details:

Chains of a self-made hell
Fueled by anger, regret and hate

Truth times Nine

Samadhis, Savikalpa with Nirvikalpa. Savikalpa is Awareness through the senses (sensory perception) minus the "I" / "Other" duality, whereas Nirvikalpa is Awareness pure and simple.


It has been my experience that this is a continuum.

It appears that I have a much more broad categorization of what thinking is than you seem to. While I certainly don’t want to put words in anyone’s mouth, it seems to me that perhaps one’s understanding of what a thought is has mainly to do with what I would call the internal dialog.

I do not limit my categorization of what thinking is to just that mental phenomenon. This is because I found that after I discontinued the internal dialog, and went further and discontinued holding onto attitudes, I realized not just no-mind and no-self, but also the emptiness of the environment in which I dwelt (as well as the emptiness within this body). For instance, I would hear the emptiness in the space around this body, and sounds coming from other objects echoing through this emptiness and enlivened in these ears.

But I also found that one could go further. I found that there are thoughts even more subtle than those previously mentioned ones, thoughts “of the world” you might say. To be fair, some might call these kinds of thoughts beliefs. And I need to qualify here that I am not referring to either philosophies, or those intellectual affiliations that some would call their beliefs.

Instead, these were much more general: like a thought, or belief, that there is a world, that there is this which we relate to as life. These were not thoughts that were verbal; they were very hard to pin down as being in a location. But, I sat one evening and began to discontinue holding these thoughts as well. -- Talk about the space between thoughts -- The whole world “disappeared” with the emptiness that then I had only begun to realize and explore.

I guess one could refer to This (emptiness) as awareness, but that amounts to saying that the ocean is wet. It conveys very little of the great dimension of wisdom, light, effervescent knowing, and greatly profound respect and love for all, whether they realize “this which is” or not.

(By the way, these “subtle” thoughts that I am referring to here are not what were writing about earlier. I agree that I would not use the term “subtle thoughts” to describe that phenomenon which some prefer to call “knowing”, and I have termed “transcendental thinking.”)

Forecast

Although I was able to live 24/7 for several months – some of the most beautifully memorable months of my life, so far -- I have been unable (or reluctant is probably more the right word) to again return permanently to that way of life.

The reason is a bit complex: I feel that if I were I to live that way 24/7 again, my life would feel so complete, in a sense, that I would have little interest in going on any further with this life. But, since I still have unfinished business to take care of in this lifetime, I choose to stay here to complete my work (and I believe that it is important to do). And as yet, I don’t have a way through this conundrum. But, who knows what life has in store for me next?

So you see, I have had both sides of the coin: the easy side and the inattainable side.

Therefore, I have had a choice to make: live the Way 24/7 and then, that’s when I get that feeling of: “So what (I’ve done this), and I don’t really care to go on with this “game” very much anymore”; Or, I can continue playing the game that I’ve got going here, keeping myself amused with my just-so interests (and not thinking about, or remembering, that I would just as well like to be going on with whatever it is that follows after one realizes the Way. Ha ha.)

And it seems that I am doing this out of trust. Trust in something greater that keeps me going here, and a trust because of what I’ve learned in past experiences. Because in the past, I have found that when things aren’t going the way I think they should be (as in, I should live the way 24/7), and even though they might be bleak, difficult and not what I want at all, it turns out, frequently, that those were the situations that, in fact, were appropriate to have been in. And this is also where I learned some of the best and most important stuff that I could learn. This is where the rubble turns into gold, as it were.

I’ve come to the, at least, temporary conclusion that it was never intended that I come here and live the life of what we think of as a Buddha. But instead, I came here (among other reasons) with the goal of helping other people with their challenges in living the way. And, to not do this from the perspective of someone who has all of the answers, or by being some kind of teacher. But just as someone who can testify, from their own personal experience, that yes there really is a Way, yes you can live it, yes there really is a doorway through which you can go. And at least that little bit might be enough to help someone to go on.

Day and Night

Even when there is nothing worth living for, you will find something worth doing.

To try to fathom the true meaning of any aspect of the Buddha’s teaching is going to be difficult without full realization of the transcendent truth. These teachings then, remain signposts to help us along the way, as I suspect they were meant to. With the revelation of transcendent knowing and the wisdom that abides with it, then these matters suddenly fall into place. Without this we are just probing in the dark hoping to strike virtue.

When this most intimate knowing of the basic truth is realized, then in that moment this teaching suddenly becomes clear (clear as a shining bright light). And in that illumination the way is clear to fully grasp the teachings while “holding onto” emptiness.

I have been through the same experience myself. And fortunately, I was able to go 24/7 at the time. (This was some time ago.) Currently though, I have been exploring “deeper terrain,” as it were, and not 24/7.

Back then, I didn’t use quite the same methodology that some describe. Although I must admit that for several years prior to “awakening”, as part of my training in the field of the graphic arts, I did routinely stop “thinking” and just look at what I was drawing or painting in order to see the thing as it really was.

However, when I started practicing Zen, I just stopped holding onto the tensions that some describe as preceding a thought. (And I did this continuously, till I was doing it 24/7, as it were. (I did take time to sleep.))

The nice thing about the 24/7 is that once you are there, your whole perspective about reality changes, so that you see life from the standpoint of emptiness. And all things become not just the appearance of themselves, but are seen more in their fundamental nature.

And yes, it can be very easy.

By the way, once you are 24/7, you can still read, reflect, and think. But, the experience of thinking becomes one that, when you have a thought, (but before you (your body) takes the time to think it,) you have already let it go.

It becomes then, more like you “knew” what the thought was (just like you know what a car is, although you don’t name it) about whatever idea was before you. Thinking, then, happens on a transcendental level. It is a very interesting experience. (I just wanted to mention this so some don’t worry that they must give up all intellectualizations in order to do 24/7. Though it may seem, temporarily, that you are doing so, until you get settled in with it, as it were.)

Alas, over the decades I have found it frustrating to try to communicate ideas, similar to these, to an unreceptive audience. After a roundly rejected manuscript, and articles rejected by Tricycle Magazine (The incredible thing is that the editor wrote in the rejection notice that my article was passed around the office and read with great interest by everyone -- but they did not want to publish it.), thankfully we at last have the internet where these topics can be discussed more freely.

The Eighteenth Place

No I don’t believe in what most would call a soul, or an ataman. And yes, I am writing about what I have come to understand through my own personal experience.

I have tried to explain what I have realized the “self” to be in the thread: Non-Self. But to save you from reading that long, boring and tedious article, the relevant material is probably best laid out in these couple of paragraphs from that post:


At the most basic “level” of personality is awareness. Awarenesses that are within the greater all-encompassing “field” of awarenessness and awarenesses. And throughout this massive awareness affinities occur, and at the same time (because all is connected) connections are made to that which is “other” as well. Therefore, elements are brought together in relationships (some being more harmonious than others). As these interrelationships coalesce, an identity emerges. A combination of all these elements, which have a certain “feel” to itself.

This identity rides on the constantly changing elements as they connect and come into relationship with other like elements (through attraction) and with other (less-harmonious) elements (as all is interconnected). And while new “patterns” of this arrangement are created continuously, the wholeness of the harmonies carry on; they have recognized themself. (They are awareness, after all.) This recognition emerges as an identity of this continuously evolving whole.


I would agree with the Buddha that we cannot ever do justice to the highest truth with our meager attempts at philosophical understanding. And that if you really want to understanding the Truth, then you have to experience it directly yourself.

However, as a human being I honor my intellect, my power of reasoning, my gifts for reflection (while I realize also their limitations). Therefore, I do not deny those abilities their due, within the process of living my life. And with the fruits of these most human of functions, I deepen my communications with my fellow human. And perhaps strengthen their resolve to dive into this deepest of truths. And share joy with them in comparing notes about this great reality we are imbued with, that my experience and understanding be furthered as well.

The Seventh Scents

There is something more serious that I wanted to say.

While I think that many of us have had experiences of the kind of harmony that you are speaking of in the life patterns topic, I suspect that we each come to understand it in terms that are most personally meaningful to us. That is someone might see the experience as being one of cosmic consciousness, while another might see it as perfection, while yet another could interpret the experience it as waves (frequencies) and so on.

And the way that we interpret the experience has to do with our personality, with how we see things, and with what is most important and meaningful to us personally. Yet, the important thing is that no response it THE correct one (right vs. wrong/true vs. false). The responses say more about each of us individually in a personal sense.

This personal meaning is very important to those of us who are artists. Very briefly, I believe that there is the highest truth, which “encompasses” all truths, transcends them, and is more than them. And as artists we try to communicate that of the truth that we can. (Maybe some artists just try to reveal that local truth that they are dealing with, while others are trying to “squeeze” the bigger picture into some means that others can witness a taste of.) But it is through these personal meanings, which we have so much affinity with, that we use as the form in a sense, to carry what we are trying to communicate.

These personal meanings become the language with which we artists use to speak with. For instance, in my case, when I paint I have an affinity with abstract forms and simple shapes. I use these methodologies, these forms, to give a context to the subject I am trying to paint.

While in your case, being involved in music, you might use your leanings toward feeling your machine-ness idea about life as a form to express your music in. Not that you should start doing industrial music, but that you could try to take whatever you discovered in your experience of harmony that was giving you this feeling of the machine, and try to use this form as a framework for a rap – either as the words or the music or both.

You see, this then would make the song much more personal and meaningful to you, and convey to the audience more depth of meaning in your work. And you would convey in the undercurrent of feelings expressed in your song, the deeper truth of the authenticity of your vision, giving it more power and vision while still remaining personally relevant.

Learning about and exploring these personal affinities which are meaningful to us (as we continually discover truth), and using them in our work, is a life long process I think. Perhaps that is what keeps our work fresh and alive.

Coincidence

why are most of the Christians countries richer than most Buddhist countries. Most Buddhists live below the level of poverty while Christians enjoy a wealthy and better life.

I’m sorry, but I just have to chuckle a bit every time I read this. In fact, I would probably laugh a little more if it weren’t so sad. For this statement so well represents the prototypical American view. I am a little alarmed that no one has questioned yet the basic premises behind these statements. The most glaring of which occurs at the end with this: “Christians enjoy a wealthy and better life.” In other words: wealth (abundance of material possessions) = better life.

To begin with, I would not concede that the accumulation of material possessions equals a better life. I would be more inclined to think that the accumulation of spiritual wisdom and experience equals a better life. Or that a wealth of friends and familial love equals a better life. But, more things? No, I don’t think that equals a better life.

Furthermore, what makes life more rich and rewarding for me, is to be able to paint my paintings, to be able to communicate with my Buddhist friends, to ride my bicycle by the edge of the lake with the still waters reflecting the rose and turquoise sunset, or to rest in the sand next to an ocean’s beach beneath the cries of the gulls and the crashing surf, to be able to help people on their way when they need my designer’s expertise (frequently given out at no charge), and to be able to live in a town with people of all races, beliefs, cultures, achievements and concerns.

Sure its nice to go see a movie every now and then, and I really could use a toaster oven, so I will probably buy one of those sometime. But, I just can’t see the so called “better life” in someone like a co-worker of mine whose life consists of going out to the movies, going out to dinner, going shopping, going out to shows, watching DVDs and TV or playing PS2 at home, all accompanied with liberal amounts of alcohol, preferably in the company of her even less sensible boyfriend. And whose meager income is totally consumed by her car, going out, getting the latest cds and DVDs and several new pairs of shoes each week, along with the expense of having to purchase most of the meals for herself and her boyfriend, as she will not prepare them herself.

Her future hopes: an apartment that she and her boyfriend will have to themselves (unlikely since neither of them can save the barest amount from month to month) and perhaps “running away to join the circus”. And what concerns me the most is that she is not atypical. That for far too many young people life is about always being entertained. (By the way I care about this young woman quite a bit, and listen compassionately to all her adventures and travails, encouraging her to get her butt into school and so forth.)

And then too, there is the dark underbelly of this so called “wealthy, better life”, that I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere here yet. And this is the fact that the wealth and lifestyle of this so-called better society is fully dependent upon a far greater proportion of the world’s population being trapped in lives of poverty, who have no other choices but to take the extremely low paying jobs that produce the cheap goods that the wealth of the first world thrives upon. That the richness of a society is dependent upon the economic misery of others does not instill in me the opinion that it is a “better” society. In fact, it does quite the opposite.


Furthermore, because this society with its “better life” is dependent upon a source of cheap fuel to run its vast fleet of vehicles, it inevitably means that it must occasionally make war upon other countries that might threaten the availability of this cheap resource. Or, that our governments must turn a blind eye to the possibly negative environmental consequences that the pollutants of this fuel might bring. (Not to mention the pollution caused by the agribusinesses, meat and poultry businesses. Or the devastation brought on by over fishing of the oceans. Topics that are equally ignored throughout our major social infrastructures.) I personally, don’t claim to be free from guilt with these issues; I don’t know if any of us in the West can make such a claim.

To me the poignancy of this argument was brought squarely into view on the cover of one of those pictorial essay books done by the publishers who are famous for their series of books with titles like: “ A Day in ______”. The cover of the book showed two photographs: one of a white middle class family in front of their suburban ranch house, while the second photograph showed a Tibetan family kneeling in prayer in a rather shabby looking building.

In front of the suburban ranch home the family has gathered with many of their cherished possessions. While the Tibetan family looks dirty and haggard, living in near squalor, as the father bends forward with his hands clasped in prayer.

And this is exactly how we in the West are taught to view the rest of the world: To see the outward appearances of wealth as being achievement. Ignoring the deep reserve and inner strength of the spiritually rich lives that others may well find preferable to the lives of those who, inside, are empty, except of the latest brand or toy.

Channel Two

Perhaps this will help you to reconnoiter the situation

so, you're saying that our agreements are binding, so to speak, that our imagination's ability to project reality is constrained by social contract.

No this is not what I am saying. What we agree on is done from the standpoint of freedom, we are free to do anything, therefore we can choose to commit ourselves to a path with love and joy, knowing that we can always choose another path, another time. We are not bound to our choices; rather we are very interested in learning about the facets of our personality. And in this learning we explore, grow wise, and develop ourselves.

When you say “our agreements…” you are referring to the “you” ensconced within your apparitions of physical reality. But when I said “our”, I was referring to that non-physical personality that is imagining the physical reality, the whole personality that is outside time and space. This personality is not “constrained by social contract”, it is interested in seeing the you on the ground (that you perceive with your physical senses, who seems to be independent because of the identity its ego assumes) develop within the framework set up for itself to work within on the life path chosen this time around.

As an example, you might like to live off of a diet of ice cream and cake. But, the larger you, your body in this case, is not going to agree with this and it will let you know by getting a bit sick if you try to do this. So also, one might like to fly, but your whole self -- your greater personality outside of time and space -- is saying, sorry that is not an option we are dealing with in this lifetime. And splat -----> down you go, still subject to gravity.

There are other more subtle differences between our two approaches to this subject as well. In a sense you are taking the classic western approach: dissect each of the parts, see how each operates, and then you can build your own… . While I am trying to show a more holistic, ecological approach. I am trying to show you that the system, the world that we have is achieved because of a vast amount of cooperation, and complimentary systems, all contributing their part. Each part dependent upon all the other parts, and yet at the same time outside of the system, and in that sense transcendent of the parts.

And, if you really do want to fly that badly, then your greater personality might choose to take on a life in another world where that is one of the conditions. In fact, in another world you could be doing that right now. Perhaps you are a Native American medicine man who can change shape and can fly. Perhaps you are living on another world where human flight is commonplace, like superman.

But involved with this world system, and this reality right now is the one who needs to be grounded. Your “higher” whole self is involved with this grounded world in order to experience its challenges as well as its rewards, for its overall development, wisdom, and love. It is the living homework assignment that it is going through in this schoolyard of life.

And it is because of its profound and deeply abiding interest in living through these life lessons that it has taken on (as a part of its personality’s development as well as all the others involved here in this gyrating universe), that it emanates onto this humble little spinning ball of mud we call earth. Some call it desire, or clinging, or Karma, you see. But in another way it is devotion, love, compassion toward self, and out of respect for all beingness, that it follows merrily down this path of a lifetime on earth.


but what about a child, a baby in a crib? has she signed this contract and read the fine print? if so, how and when? if not, why does she fall when she crawls over the railing? how about the kid with the towel for a superman cape on the roof? hasn't he, by his actions and strategy, implied that he never agreed to the clause in our contract that we can't fly?

The baby in the crib and the boy on the roof are not the self that is outside time and space whose imaginative projections we take to be our physical reality. The question of when this self agrees to the conditions of life is irrelevant; since “time” is not something it is within.

It is this self that is emanating the conditions of gravity, the mutual attraction of bodies -- a force still not understood by our sciences.

The ego of the boy on the roof might not want to agree with the conditions of the world in which it is involved. But it is the self outside of time and space, beyond the ego-child, that is manifesting the world that the boy’s senses perceive. This self is agreeing to manifest the basic “laws of physics”, along with so many others who are involved in our world, so that things all work right. So that the baby’s arm does not go floating off, away from its body, while the worried parents scamper around trying to catch it and tape it back on. (Quick honey, get me the duck tape!)


seems to me, if reality is generated as you suggest, then our world would be more like the matrix, i.e. flexible.

Interesting point, because it was in the movie the Matrix that none of the people, but a very few, knew that life was so flexible, so impermanent. And if you do a bit of looking, you can see inconsistencies cropping up on our world too. Children can see ghosts and angels and fairies. Animals also display this ability as well. Shamans are known to be able to change shape and fly. These are examples of people who have not been conditioned into disbelieving anything that “normal society” doesn’t sanction. Or they have learned to adopt other rules to live by that make sense within the framework of their world.

I know that the situation is rather difficult to understand. But I hope this helps a little.

The Cusp of Initiation

I don’t have the normal kind of altar per se. Rather, I am deeply involved with the process of making fine art, primarily via oil painting. Therefore, my “altar” consists of a large easel, which can hold a canvas up to about 8 ft. tall. And there is usually a painting that I am working on mounted on the easel. Also, I have nearby a large stone bowl in which I burn incense, as well as paintings propped up everywhere.

The practice of painting is very much meditation to me. Looking at the piece that I shall work on, choosing the oil color to paint with, mixing the paint with the mediums (linseed oil and turpentine), choosing the brush and applying the paint to the brush, and preparing myself to paint. These are all as deeply sacred to me as unrolling a sutra.

When I paint, the truth is somehow transformed into light and color, brush strokes, textures, expression. Into luminous emptiness I caste my tools, and in the wisdom of their reflection, I am left with the ever-present beingness of the joy in bringing the brush to canvas. Letting emptiness become life in the emanation of strokes and colors and time. I am very fortunate to know in my work this way. Such is my “altar”.

Five Angers

My response to that kind of name-calling is: “But, I’m a really nice snob.”

Actually, your professor’s statements say a lot more about their own insecurities with themselves and their beliefs, than they do as a repudiation of you. People who “attack” another, especially in the provocative choice of words that were used, are usually trying to cut the other person down to size. They want to bring the other person down to their level (the level that they see themselves being at, in their own eyes, but could never admit openly to themselves).

That this person is someone who is an authority figure, presumably, who you are suppose to look up to for guidance, is even more disillusioning. (Using their authoritative position to harm another person’s self esteem, rather than inspire them to excel on their path.) Trying to cop to the guise that they are attempting to get you to question your path, doesn’t really hold water here. This is more about her weaknesses than it is about yours.

A person such as this, shouldn’t be debated. It would not be a fair contest given the social context that it would take place in (and they probably knows this, which is why they choose this kind of venue to do this sort of thing). Rather, this person needs your utmost compassion. They are someone who probably has little love for themselves. And, I would venture to guess, that they feel they are all the more a fraud because they must stand in front of people and lecture them when they don’t really believe in it themselves.

Try to show them love, understanding, patience and acceptance. You can’t “win” by making them see things your way. You can only win by helping them become a better person. And, in this case that means giving them the space and courage to face their disillusionments themselves, and outgrow them.

This doesn’t mean that you need to lead them in a group therapy session. But that you try to hear the hurt human inside, under the pomp and circumstance, and listen to them, and to that hurt And, just be with them and with that, in their pain, so that they can realize their own strength within. Let this take place in its own time and in their own way.

You may never get that far with them. But perhaps if you listen, even just a little, it will give them some hope inside that someone cares. And, maybe one day when they are ready they will find that person who will listen to everything. Or else, there will be a surprising knock on your door when they come to you.

(They probably wants to keep the “debate” on an objective philosophical footing. It’s much easier for insecure people to deal with objective facts and ideas than with personal material, feelings, etc. But, that’s ok too, because that’s probably just where they are at right now, and needs the space to sort it all out in. Good luck.)

Ground to Ground

To answer a question on behalf of those who really might have such in mind.

I didn’t say that whatever you could possible imagine would happen.

What I tried to say is that you receive information about this world that we are participating in, and you take this information and “project” it for you to experience.

We are not trying to invent new rules that are not part of the underlying set of items that we have agreed to operate our world by.

The participants of this world are sharing information that states: “Bodies consisting of human-matter shall not defy gravity by flapping their arms; lighter than air, a craft must be employed”.

If you would like to fly by flapping your arms (seems to me your arms would get tired real fast, but anyway), there would have to be the physics laws that world account for such a phenomena, and that is not a physics law that we are sharing in this world that you have agreed to participate in.

By joining this world, we are agreeing to operate by the set of guidelines that govern it, including the laws of physics. Within this set of guidelines we are able to have much flexibility, but as participants here we will only manifest those conditions that fit in with all of the underlying information that fits in with the basic rules, such as laws of physics.

Of course, children do not always follow these rules as strictly as adults. That, by in large, is what the growing up process is about: learning to follow all the “rules” so well that you don’t do anything different; just like one of the adults.

Now perhaps if you were 3 years old, you might just have a chance. But then, I have heard of some Indian elders who can fly, change into animals, etc. But, of course if you don’t accept this, then you will never see it in your world – you would refuse to believe it.

One Transformation

This whole subject is one of the more interesting ones for me. Not only because I have several memories from other incarnations of mine, but also because, through meditation, I have studied the underlying processes involved.

The mechanics are not too difficult to explain in brief, but to do an exhaustive description would be a meaty subject. Therefore, I will try to be general, but informative. And the first thing that I would like to say is that you will have a very difficult time understanding these concepts if you cling to the typical philosophical viewpoint that there is an actual solidly physical world upon which these bags of flesh dwell.

Instead you must understand that the situation is completely different. The world that you experience is created by you, on the fly, in “real-time.” (And when I say “you” here, I am not referring to the physical body that you call you, but to that non-physical personality that exists outside of time and space) You do this by projecting out, with your imagination, the elements that will make up your so-called physical world. Creating (what is in reality) an imaginary world for your self to dwell in. Then, you perceive these outward imaginings with the physical senses (part of the physical body, another object that you are projecting with your imagination), believing that these elements are physically real. And your body/brain processes these sensations, so they take on even more seeming validity (as it reacts to the sensations it perceives). Presto a world is born.

Each person that is participating in our particular world, does this for themselves; creating their own version of our world, which only they themselves truly perceive. Each person, in effect, creates their own “mini” world/universe in which they experience their life. There is no real physical planet existing in some vacuum somewhere, upon which we come to dwell.
The elements that we are projecting with our imaginations (to make our world) are very specific ones. They are taken from a vast group of “ideas” about the particular world that we are choosing to participate in. I describe them as ideas, but you could also think of these as bits of information. Information about every aspect of the world that we share. Just as an example: This group of “ideas” includes information about every rock and all its characteristics, including every spot on each rock and the shape and color of each of those spots, and the location of each rock in relation to everything else on this planet. These are “ideas” that are, in effect, about every element of our world, the world that we are all sharing now.

All of this information is constantly available to us, but we only use from it those “ideas” that are relevant to our immediate situation. And obviously this information is extremely detailed and dense. I would almost describe it as a field of ideas. And it is attracted to us because it is connected to the life that we are involved in. This is also quite an active field as well, because it is constantly bringing forth more relevant data, giving vitality to the world that we imagine. And this field not only includes information about the more static types of objects, such as rocks, but it also includes information about objects that seem to be in motion, as well. Everything from speeding jets to human voices.

This field of ideas, as I like to call it, is obviously far below the level of the human senses, because it is what they are based upon. It is also beneath the level of conscious thought, though I suspect that this might not be so strictly true for a gifted psychic. I would venture to speculate that it is even below the level of what is called the subconscious; I suppose it depends upon where one chooses to draw the lines of the psyche. It is with this field of ideas that we receive constant communication about every detail of the world that we are experiencing, both in our immediate environment, as well as the world at large. The communication is instantaneous and direct. It is only the physical senses that must wait for the phone to ring.

In effect, during every moment, we are creating a whole new world for ourselves to realize, as the underlying information continually updates to include different circumstances. It is through this constant interaction and exchange of information that our world is made to work. It is truly a collaborative effort. It is through agreeing amongst ourselves about how all of its different parts shall operate, how they shall appear, sound, etc that it all works and comes out as seeming to be one whole world.

The material that I have written above is what I have learned from my own direct experience (through meditation) of the processes that I have outlined. These findings have led me to surmise the following ideas as being the most likely understanding of how we enter into this collaborative illusion.

It is through the pregnancy period that the, as yet nonhuman, personality begins to familiarize itself with the “stream” of information that it will have to be oriented in (to be a part of the particular world that it has chosen to enter). The mother supports a fetus in her own version of the world, giving the newly incarnating personality a version of a fetus for it refer to. Therefore, it does not have to struggle to maintain all of the new and possibly overwhelming information by itself.

The newly incarnating personality then has the opportunity to acquaint itself to the new sensations that it will begin to deal with, when it begins to continuously create its own “imaginary” version of the world for itself. It works with the information bit by bit, while the mother continues to maintain an overall structure of the fetus, that the new personality can then learn about.

The continued process of birth and growing up, is really more of a process of the underlying personality learning to identify which bits of the (underlying) information belongs to our world, so that it is materializing the correct data that is appropriate for the world that it has chosen to participate in. While the fetus is maintained for it, for example, it can slowly identify the group of ideas that is the underlying information about the fetus, and learn to “imagine” these ideas as its own body.

As the personality pays more and more attention to the imaginings that it is projecting, it must turn its attention away from the nonphysical realm enraptured, as it were, by the seemingly physical processes that are taking place before it. This might be considered to be the establishment of the “ego self.” The side of the self that is present in our world.

It is important to understand that in the underlying reality, all of the information of all the worlds exists simultaneously. All of the worlds past, present, and future; all of the worlds parallel, probably, and possible. All of this information co-exists simultaneously together. There is no space or time “there”; those are locally produced phenomena, relevant only to physical life. It is through the process of pregnancy, birth, and growth that the personality learns to orient itself to the appropriate field of ideas that belong to the current world that it is participating in.

Therefore, when a personality incarnates into what seems to be successively different times or lands, it does not go to some place, or to some different time zone. Instead, it tunes into another of the streams of information that are the basis of another world, another seeming time and place. This is not done lightly, or willy-nilly, because it involves so much work to go through the birth/life process.

To understand the personality that is at the source of all these processes is, unfortunately, an even bigger topic to cover. But briefly, it has been my experience that at the center of this great activity is a personality that cannot define itself in terms of what is or what is not, because it can see that all is connected.

Endlessly, each idea leads to another, without a beginning to be found. Because there is no demarcation, it is unstoppable. Because there is no idea that can be pointed to as separate, there is never a starting point. To fathom the depths of this incredibly “being” is what it means to awaken to the true self. Not a being, it is the realization of the transcendently aware, self-realizing identity, found among the recognitions that know themselves in the all Truth revelation of endless knowledge, wisdom, presence, and light.

When a personality sees all of these endless connections, it might think of Karma: That one act leads to another (because all is connected in every which way). So, it seems that a good act leads to another good act, and a bad act, likewise, leads to more unfortunate occurrences. It seems as though the personality is only living through these endless connections that it must follow out. But, this erroneous conclusion does not take into account the overwhelming vast number of other connections, to which the personality is also within the midst of, as it were.

Therefore, it is not dependent upon one line of processes, but it is able to shift its focus to other, more beneficial lines, at any time. This is why the weavings of Karma are so unfathomable, and why a personality always has choice. And why, with its own self revelation, the personality is freed from Karma. Because in that revelation, it comes to the awareness that it is not bound to the various lines of development, but that it may proceed upon any path, or no paths. Because these paths are not the personality, merely, they are the way upon which it treads in its development.

Clarity & Abundance

Painting is an act of creation; therefore it takes place outside of time and space. Reality is a projection of the imagination. To manipulate the objects of the illusion is merely a game of rearrangement. Creation imbues itself into the reality through the portal of dreams.

It’s deepest sources are wrought into the very fabric of beingness by the wisdom of the creator. Painting is the interface of the artist and the highest truth, creation resolving itself into itself.

One step from the immutable, another in the actual, effortless transmutation forges itself into realizing color, light, stroke, breath – the infinite drumming of the murmurs of the superconscious realizing its own presence. In awaiting the reality of the secrets it guides forth into the body of the medium known.

So, now you have my upload for the evening. Thank you for this place in which to share it.

Trust

The real question here is: are they ready for your path to enlightenment? Or maybe, it would be better stated: are they interested in your version of the path?

There is a certain underlying assumption going on here, I suspect, that the path to awakening must follow the criteria that we are familiar with. And because we are following the “approved” ways, that our way will work and their ways will not work for them.

If the truth does not have any boundaries then all-knowing-oneness must be speaking to them through their paths as well. And like us, they may be less or more successful with their paths in reaching the great truths of their being.

But I would not condemn their activities as being those that lead away from the truth. But instead, see them as leading to their own understanding and acknowledgement of the greatest truth that they will be able to realize. Isn’t that enough?

I like to let other people have the space in which to live and explore their side of things, to know from their own vantage point and direction and through that which is most meaningful to them, the ultimate nature of the terrain of all beingness.

On their own course, is where the truth lies for them. As a Buddhist, I practice with compassion, to understand those others pathways and to help them when I can, to see the light that shines for them too on their way.

Thanks for listening

Guided by Six

Ah, the first noble truth: life is never exactly what we would like it to be.

I think I understand what you are facing with your family. And unfortunately, once you reveal an “aspect” about yourself that they might take issue with, there is no way you can take it back. And if you are dependent upon them for your support, it might not be the best of situations to find yourself in.

But I have a couple of suggestions that you might consider: You could get up in the morning an hour or so before anyone else in the family gets up. This would give you some time by yourself in a quiet house.

You could take up a sport such as yoga or martial arts where the practice of meditation is just one part of the sport. Sports are a much more easily accepted practice that your family might not have any issues with. And if they think that you are practicing meditation in conjunction with the sport they probably won’t think much of it (it would be just an associated practice of disciplining the mind as a part of that sport). If you cant afford lessons, just buy a book or borrow one from the library. Try to find one where they actually show some meditation. I like Tai Chi Chuan myself.

It is also possible to practice meditation when the family is sitting in front of the TV. They are paying attention to the show, but you are watching your mind; see your thoughts come and go, while you enjoy the quiet inside. Don’t worry if the sounds from the TV are heard, let them come and go too.

Possibility

Somehow, I don’t think you realize how much we love, honor, and have always wished the best for you. I think that most of us had realized what a tough time you had been through, and only wanted you to get through it, get it out of your system. And, get on to realizing the greatest of your dreams, which is to live in the light of the truth. At least I, for one, believe in you, and that that is where you are headed. And, I’m sure that I’m not alone in this.

That is why I have always wanted you to know the knowledge that was deep within you, rather than all the things that you found were in vain for you to follow. When we learn that the essence of our truth shines brighter than the words of any person who might purport to tell us that they have more truth, then you will, I think, be able to let those poets lie in their graves of silence, and your own light will lead you better than they ever could.

When you are able to find that precious light within, I think you will realize the deep concern we have for you and a very earnest desire to see you come into the fullness of your own. We wouldn’t ever have answered your calls if we did not care. At least, that’s how I hope you will remember us.

That’s when I think, that you will know that you are perfect as you are. And I know that in realizing the deep truth that is within your reach, then you will learn to fly above these many cares of yours, like a mother eagle whose brood at home needs nourishment. And then, in that spirit and gift of life, you will feed your spirit with the incredibly great beauty of all that the world has to offer to you. Thank you for taking the time to read these empty words.

I would like to add that we aren’t interested in fighting with you, making you feel small, or in persecuting you in any way. If one day you would like to join us again, in the sharing of that which we all honor, in joy, the revelation of the dharma, then we will all, I think, want to again be with you, as you explore the greatest truths that are in abundance for us to realize.

Ground Level

“But...... the methodology of Zen seems to involve a kind of purification, sort of a forceful removal of clinging through strict discipline.”

This is an easy assumption to make, but in reality Zen does not have a methodology. What you see as discipline is just some forms that we worked out to make our lives easier; there are fewer things for us to worry about once you learn to bow here, chant there, etc.

And sorry, but we don’t believe in purity either. (Oh, I realize that some “Zen Masters” may have said something about this. But really, they just have to say something. The students expect it.)

So, the first thing that I have to admit is that I don’t care if the Buddha was a vegetarian or not, whether he endorsed it, or even would endorse it or not.

To live is to take life. There is no way we can get around this. For me, I prefer to take less life, rather than more. This is called living lightly on the planet.

My body kills the viruses and bacteria that enter its domain. I kill bugs when I walk on them, or ride my bike over them. And inside my house, I kill flies, moths, and occasionally some ants (but rarely my spider buds).

I try to honor and respect my body, which is my “vehicle” in this life, I would not hesitate to kill a mosquito that tried to attack this body. I am always killing. But the choice that I have is in how much killing I do. I can either choose to take life sparingly, when it is necessary for survival to do so. Or, I can choose to take as much life as I can.

I don’t have to look in some Buddhist rule book, or pour through the Sutras to see what the Buddha did or said. To me, it’s pretty obvious what the right thing to do is. I choose to want to create a healthy, beautiful planet where life is in abundance. Not over abundance, nor under abundance.

To eat I kill another.

For me its not a question of whether a cow’s life is worth more or less than a broccoli head. When we recognize that the truth is nothing at all, then our nature is not revealed, but is ever-present in the becoming thusness of the way of the Buddha.

Night the Wind

I have succeeded with a vegetarian diet for several years now. Without trying to convince you that you should follow my lead, I would just like to share with you what has worked for me, in case you should ever try to modify your diet again.

Because grains may be a little difficult to digest, I eat them at midday. If I have a very physically active day, I eat more grains than if I am going to have a slower day. But, this gives my body plenty of time (and energy burning activity) to digest this stuff. I eat whole grains because they are the most nutritious. Eating grain products at breakfast just does not work for me, they are too much and too heavy for my body to deal with.

Instead, my breakfast is made up of several raw organic carrots and scrambled tofu (raw if I’m really in a hurry). And on the days that I commute to my part time job, because it is a 5-mile bicycle ride, I also eat a banana. The natural sweetness of the carrots really gets me energized without the “sugar-high” (and subsequent crash) that one gets from sugar sweeteners. And I don’t get that heavy bloated feeling, weighing me down all morning.

On the mornings that I ride my bike hard and fast to work, I might arrive totally depleted of breakfast energy. So if I start to get that “blurry feeling”, I make myself a quick and easy protein shake, made with powered soy protein and apple juice. Or, maybe just even have a few sips of apple juice to tide me over till lunch.

At lunchtime, in addition to the whole grain sandwiches, I eat plenty of fruit. The fruit gives the body some quickly available calories so it does not just depend upon the more slowly digesting grains for its energy. I also try to eat most of my fat based foods (like nuts) at lunch because this gives me most of the day to burn this heavy stuff off.

The other thing that is critical is to be aware of is my energy level late in the afternoon. I always carry plenty of energy bars. These are the ones that athletes and hikers pack, to munch on when they need the energy. My two favorites are Odwalla bars and Cliff bars. Both use excellent ingredients and taste great! I completely avoid the types of bars that are formulated from junk, probably they’re little more than expensive candy bars. And depending on what I am going to be doing for the rest of the afternoon, I might nibble (or more) on a bar to keep my physical energy level up. I frequently eat half a bar before my 5-mile bicycle ride home. But, even if I am out shopping (and I find that particular activity burns up a lot of energy), an energy bar really brings me back from the brink of exhaustion.

I think that this is really an important thing to recognize in yourself. That when you are getting that exhausted feeling and it’s not yet a mealtime, it means your body needs energy right away. And you have to be ready with some high-energy, quickly digesting food to keep it going. Just because you’re not an athlete doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be using these products. Just use in moderation that is appropriate for your situation. At these times, eating some grain products is definitely not the way to go. Even a couple of handfuls of raisins would be ok, although one can get bored with raisins after a while. And, you’re description of the lack of energy that you continually felt when you tried to be a vegetarian sounded like a classic example of a simple need of immediate calories going unrecognized and unsated.

A vegetarian diet really is different that a meat based one: Meat stays in your body a long time, digesting away (gives you that oh so full feeling). While vegetarian based diets are lighter, they might also require more attention to know when to eat, how much to eat, and what to eat. Because vegetarian foods, with the exception of grains and beans, tend to digest more quickly than meat products, you have to be ready to put more energy in the system when its running low. And if you have an active lifestyle, then you could suddenly find at any time of the day that your body needs some more calories in the system really fast.

If you’ve been running around a bit, you could quickly find your self exhausted, and this means you need to eat some fruit or something like that (thank goodness we now have energy bars, which we didn’t have 20 years ago) to bring your energy level back up. It’s amazing, but it really does work that fast, both running low and getting your energy back. And unfortunately, grain and bean based foods take so much longer to digest that they aren’t suited to resupplying one’s depleted energy level when its immediately needed.

By the way, I usually enjoy a dinner that is made up of lots of vegetables, tofu, and just a little bit of grain products (a slice of sour dough bread, or some hand-made corn tortillas, and a little bit or rice or noodles with the vegetables). I like to eat all sorts of vegetables at dinner, potatoes, celery, broccoli, mushrooms, squashes, and leafy vegetables. Yum! But it is important to remember to eat raw vegetables as well as cooked ones. When chewing raw vegetables, enzymes are created in the mouth and swallowed with the food that are helpful to the digestive process. I prefer to eat slightly bitter greens, as they seem to be very effective at this.

In our lives of practice, we realize how imperfect we are: That we will never be the ideal persons that we would like to be. This is the Koan that we all must face. In the realization that we live and die with our imperfect lives, we strive to access that which transcend these useless travails, and know that which already we are.

History of the Self

We choose to come into each one of our particular incarnations in order to deal with certain issues, including personal and familial, as well as societal and global. The direct and focused experience of these conditions gives us a perspective that is so concentrated in both intensity and viewpoint that the personality involved realizes, in a deeply personal way, the many pressures and ramifications, both positive and negative, involved with each of their issues and choices. From the seemingly real events of life, learning through direct experience then takes place because we believe that the issues have real significance to us; often, in fact it seems like life and death importance. Challenging us, each time, to not only see the significance of the situations that our issues put us in, and these are the issues that we hold dearly, but also to rise above the issues and to see them with a new perspective, understanding, and compassion.

Therefore, facing and working with these issues is the prime focus of the life’s purpose. Although these issues can also include partying, screwing up, laziness and other seemingly worthless activities, because we aren’t necessarily here only to deal with so called serious issues. You do not simple abandon all of your issues and become a perfect person when you have a deep revelatory experience. The experience, instead, might be to give you a new perspective on these issues. And in some cases, the experience itself may very well be one of the issues that you are here to work with.

A revelatory experience may also come from “succeeding” in working through the issues that are currently before you. After which you may follow the experience with new challenges, which are other important issues for you to work through. And as long as you are fulfilling your objectives for your lifetime, you have a reason to stay. This gives a little insight as to why a greatly accomplished Buddhist Master might also be a womanizer and a drunk. It may have been exactly that particular combination of attributes that they needed to work with in their overall personality’s development. Or, while another Master might be an impeccable great teacher, because it was their life’s “purpose” to attain highest enlightenment, and then deal with being a tireless teacher for 50 years.

The long answer is a bit more involved and it connects the threads of Buddhist philosophy together in a very organic vital way: At the most basic “level” of personality is awareness. Awarenesses that are within the greater all-encompassing “field” of awarenessness and awarenesses. And throughout this massive awareness affinities occur, and at the same time (because all is connected) connections are made to that which is “other” as well. Therefore, elements are brought together in relationships (some being more harmonious than others). As these interrelationships coalesce, an identity emerges. A combination of all these elements, which have a certain “feel” to itself.

This identity rides on the constantly changing elements as they connect and come into relationship with other like elements (through attraction) and with other (less-harmonious) elements (as all is interconnected). And while new “patterns” of this arrangement are created continuously, the wholeness of the harmonies carry on; they have recognized themself. (They are awareness, after all.) This recognition emerges as an identity of this continuously evolving whole.

Although I have written about this as though it were in a process, it is synchronous, without the need of time passing. In addition, identity can and does develop, evolving in depth, scope, and sophistication, and yet, it is ever-present as this continually emergent awareness. And obviously, the scope of possible types of identities is both unlimited in possibility and in potential development. Therefore, not all identities might wish to develop into the complicated personalities of humanoid type beings, preferring instead to be sprites or harmonies, or whatever you could possible think of. While others might naturally be more “massively” developed beings, beyond anything humanoid or even god like. The galaxy, for example, being an incredible being in its own right (there really is no such thing as “inert” stuff).

I suspect that observations by the ancients, of the basic “processes” occurring at the simplest level of identity and being, were interpreted into some basic concepts. And that these concepts would have filtered their way into their philosophies as they have come down to us through the millennia, reinterpreted and reapplied to suit succeeding movements of humanity, including the one that concerns us most, Buddhism. That is, as elemental awareness finds affinities, and identifies with harmonies of these relationships, there is a natural reinforcement and affirmative connection made with other elements that harmonize with these already present affinities of the identity. Or, to put it simply: Like attracts like. (And this is regardless of whether the identity is coalescing about a so-called moral or good or ethical set of elements or those elements of a less than noble character.)

To my mind then, the philosophy of Karma is one that is derived from the observation of this natural process of like elements reveling in like elements to itself, leading to other such connections, etc. And by extension, this same process is played out in the more complex personality of the human being. In other words, the activities and elements that we focus upon in our human lives attract to us similar activities and events and situations. Ignoble associations and activities easily lead to more similar activities. Or, simply concentrating upon a career in business or economics furthers these associations. This is obvious I realize, but I think that it a worthwhile example of the underling processes at work.

Nevertheless, because all things are “connected”, there are also connections that we have to all other types of situations as well. So the rascal is never completely separated from the opportunity to recognize more noble ambitions and could, if perhaps only a little at first, seize upon these types of activities as well as the less scrupulous parts of their personality. (Perhaps you have encountered the excellent portrayal of such a character, known as Harry Lime, by Orson Wells.) Therefore, we have a choice in what we focus upon.

In my opinion, the Hindu systemization of the philosophy of Karma has been a bit over elaborated. (The concept that when you die, if you have a particular thought in mind, you may be immediately reborn in a situation that reflects that thought, is a good example of how this mindset can get carried away.) I think that after death one has many more options available than one is aware of in life, and much more information about one’s whole, greater personality. So, the whole panoply of who one may choose to reincarnate into is much more extensive than what occurred in one simple life just past.

But having said that, I think that certainly if one has just concluded a life where one was working on something very important, but unfinished, then one might intentionally choose to reincarnate into a particular life where the threads of one’s work could be easily picked up again. And yes, in a few cases, someone who has just died, perhaps in some traumatic way, might be so angry that they might not care to become aware of their greater self or the counsels of those who help you when you have passed. And they may only wish to immediately return to take revenge or some such activity. On rare occasions this can happen, but I think it is hardly so widespread a practice as to consider it the norm. Nevertheless, when we die we are still working with the personality that we have, and many will choose to reincarnate in order to further those aspects of their personality that they wish to give the forefront of attention to in their development.

Karma, therefore, in this spacious view of mine, is this cascading experience of which self is wrought. A self with predilections and affinities that it identifies with, which bring forth similar experiences, yet is not closed off from the vast connections of the greater reality. A self whose force of experience rests on the same processes of Karma taking place at the most elemental level, with the very basic awarenesses coming forth with other awarenesses that they are in harmony and connection with. A personality, therefore, whose, experiences aren’t just its own measure, but also the greater reality that is available for it to experience in each and every one of its situations. And yet at the same time, a greater experience that comes back to it as that which it identities itself with, in both its greater personality and in its actualized physical being.

I think that the Buddha’s great insight into the nature of this system was the precious observation that this greater self is not the individual basic smaller awarenesses that synchronize and resynchronize in constant joy and expression of their own thusness. But instead, the identity of the greater-self emerges in a kind of gestalt of these fundamentals, into an evolving whole that circumvents dimension and definitive knowing, and yet is evident nonetheless in its own manifestation within the realm of beingness that it finds itself in.

And I think he saw this because he taught that in order to get to the greater truth of the self, and to get to the root of the potential problems that a personality is faced with, one would have to “understand” in a sense, the ultimate nature of personality itself. And this is done by seeing beyond the apparent situation that the self immediately finds itself in, while not identifying with the particular underlying bits of potential awareness that it can focus upon either. Seeing instead, the greater whole of the self, that surfaces from the depths of this great cacophony of individual awarenesses that are forever coming into elemental recognition and collusion, in the constant knowing of their many characteristics. And upon seeing this whole identity, that is not separable from those awarenesses, and yet is neither those awarenesses in and of themselves, the true transcendental nature of the self is realized.

And once the true identity of the self is seen, the problem and its solution are obvious: As one sees the true nature of the self, one sees it cannot be any “thing,” as it is emergent from non-things (awarenesses), and emergent from non-constants, as awarenesses are always involved in becoming more aware, so they are never constant either. The very nature of the self is then seen as non-thing and non-constant. And yet, because it is evident in reality means that it cannot be non-being either, for it does have presence. With this recognition, the emergent-self is able to see that the truth of its reality lies beyond the particular little awarenesses, and in the realm of the evident, but not the substantial.

And therefore, to reconcile an understanding of the nature of the self with this realization means that the self is, in fact, not a being but a becoming. It is not a thing, but that which can appear as a thing and “sustain” itself as a present realization of itself, (momentarily appearing as thingness in the physical world). Thus leading to the evident solution: That to know the true self means to know this that is behind all things (whether seemingly substantial or not) and not separable from them, but neither that which is the minutia of “particles” that might be involved as its source; And therefore, to not identify with (not cling to) any particular situation or seeming condition is to act in accordance with the true nature of the ever-present self.

I suspect the Buddha saw that he could escape the limitations of the other realizations of self (professed in the various movements of the time) that were founded upon the attachment of self-knowing to the learning of these substrate awarenesses. Seeing in those other movements the pitfalls of attachment that would occur when identifying with the “karmic” situation that is underlying all experience. I think that then, he saw the solution to the problems that the personality faced was in realizing this true self that was not fixed to any identity, and was instead, the gestalt that arose.

In my opinion he found the obvious, that the self was no longer in evidence as being dependent upon nor separate from all of the many processes involved in the self. And in this truth, he found that his experience of his true being then intruded, rightly, into the realm of the transcendent, without separating itself from the casual, the immediate and mundane that makes up existence. . And in this realization he perceived that he was not dependent upon the other movement’s definitions of self, because in fact, by the very nature of existence, they were not factual representations of the nature of truth.

And so, I think that he realized that the truth of the self was to know this continually emerging identity. An identity that is neither emerging, for there are no constants from which it could emerge, nor from which it could ever be dependent, because there were no constants that could be depended upon. Therefore, to know the true self meant to realize beyond the casual observation into the real observation of this whole self, that was both in nature and thus ness, independent of the specific criteria about which it formed. And was neither the nature of a self that existed without the various awarenesses that would be at the basis of any criteria in every spontaneous moment of reality.