Notes on authenticity

Words may be seen as much magical as a form of art – as mode of expression of the mind (or thoughts). Whatever the potential of consciousness – in terms of handling the length and breadth of thought (or the space-time dimension) can be mapped or expressed or shared through words.

The requirement of authentic thinking – is to have a first hand experience of action not bounded in any known framework. Which means, we will fall down, we will fear, we will get up, we will learn and we will improve along the way. This experience needs to be ‘felt’ in our minds – recorded and interpreted to reveal some principles of existence. This will make our words more authentic to us. We will say things ‘from the bottom of the heart’. Should we say things only after discovery? Or only to confirm or rebel or justify or prove? The question is: what is the intent that creates the words? Can words be said only for sharing? Sharing what? Sharing…that’s it! Feel the word called ‘sharing’…Feel it. Those dimensions of feelings, if generated, can give one a peaceful feeling – through words too.

Hence, one may feel like sharing through everything.

There are a few things that need acknowledgement here – as we grow or as a kind of conscious effort:

We do things for ourselves – we are answerable for us

Silence is important

To cling on to a set of actions is ok.

Do it for yourself

Values are important to be pursued

What we think, we can say. We are sure of that intent. The world may keep judging the intent.

One doesn’t work for expressing the intent explicitly. Anything that is explicit, has an element of ego and ownership, and therefore is limited in scope.

The best subtle beauties in the world have always been implicit and silent.

If I believe in silence, I must embrace it.

Notes on Feelings

Feelings are of various kinds. They can be governed by intellect or by compulsion to respond to desires or urges. The best of the feelings are those that make us see ourselves as expressions of the continuous pattern of space/consciousness to force to manifestations. Feelings generated from this understanding will have huge doses of empathy, connect, awareness, compassion and positive attitude. Feelings, although coming from a unique situation of mind and body, would have reached a universal dimension of existence by then.

From a very limited view imposed by our own body to the universal view of expanding beyond any known situation of place and time, the process of transformation is long and filled with challenges. What we are dealing with is a transformation of worldview for the individual. And at the core, is the effort of transforming our limited sense of view to the universal. It is also with this intent, that the best idea diagrams are illustrated. There is absolutely no such thing as ‘me’ or ‘mine’ alone. What ‘I’ am is much, much more beyond the body and mind. Rather, the mind and body may be said as different dimensions of ‘I’. The same ‘I’ perceives and acts in different way if connected with the phenomenon of ‘mind’ and the same ‘I’ again perceives and acts in a different way by relating to the phenomenon of the ‘body’. If space or consciousness is a neutral element, its principle to appear through the mediums of mind and body are inevitable (And there may definitely be other expressions which ‘we’ may not even be aware of at the moment). This is the principle of manifestation – space/ consciousness will manifest and keep manifesting. It will appear in a visible form and in the form of some ‘pattern’ or a ‘force’.

Anything that we see, hear, touch, taste, smell – are the physical attributes of manifestations. By imagining these signals further (decoding or analyzing or perceiving), we see the ‘force’ behind these visible things. By decoding the nature of force, we may realize the direct experience.

The above may seem as a huge dose of philosophy. How should that translate into day to day existence? Probably by putting faith in entire process of creation and to let go of countless number of distractions and annoyances that we keep entertaining in our minds.

Only when one is prepared to receive blessings and make the soil fertile, will the seeds of universal consciousness be realized in the individual self. This may happen at any instant, may happen in the most subtle ways or may require efforts. Whatever it is, the belief in this idea of transformation should not be compromised. This is what ‘we’ are, as human beings.

zoom in to thoughts

The advaita philosophy is all about realizing a ‘direct experience’ – to see everything  - all events, objects, phenomena as a manifestation of the basic unit – One.  Universe, according to our normal mechanisms of ‘imagination’ (perception +conception or vibrations or nerve impulses) is seen in various forms and names. A name or a physical form or a system is seen as separate or interrelated events. The impulse behind all is the same however. To see this impulse, means to have a direct experience. We, fundamentally, are expressions of the same impulse – that generate thoughts and actions. To see the reality of absolute truth or super conscious state is to have a direct experience.

One may wonder why we continue to be immersed in the illusion of thoughts and see everything as being separate? This is ‘maya’ or the state of consciousness born out of our thoughts (as a phenomenon of existence in a human body). As phenomenon, it is unstoppable and dependent on many things – outside world and the inside world. This phenomenon creates, what ‘we’ call, the ego or the urge to act on a desire and face the consequence and again review the same and to keep continue to do so. It is unstoppable, changing, dynamic and fluid. Talking from the layer of super conscious state – it is a ‘given’ – this impulse of expression. And the retreat from the senses or from imagination of any kind – is also a ‘given’ to the human form. The impulse of action is ‘what is to be done’ and the impulse of retreat is ‘why is it to be done’. Whatever expressions we do – from arts to engineering – are contained in this push and pull urges. Some are aware of this and handle it better than others. Regardless of any situation, this urge acts on everyone. The more we go outwards towards the senses and desires, we become isolated from all. The more we withdraw and see connections in everything, we see patterns and phenomena and we realize that we are connected. All is the effort of our own mind/ imagination. Philosophy may be difficult to understand for all. However, we may try and see the components of our thoughts – feelings and intellect and see the thoughts we create. A thought has so many connections – required or to be discarded. Thoughts go from imaginary past to future. Thoughts may reflect fears. All these need to be reviewed. By asking and observing and questioning each thought, one may arrive at a fundamental realization of this phenomenon and become compassionate to all.

The key to reveal truths is based on one aspect – concentration. One can concentrate on an object or an idea or an action – thoughts will decrease, merge or melt to reveal the super conscious state.

It will be seen that everyone requires support, acceptance, understanding for the struggles and conflicts one faces. Age, gender, and other social constructs are just particular ways of defining uniqueness of a situation. What is one achieving by sharply focusing on the particular? If the aim of being particular is to appear unique or different, then the purpose of connectedness doesn’t arise at all. On the other hand, if the aim of defining particular is to express it as one of the ways of universal, then we are aiming for some connections. I am not against modern or traditional technology or a modern outlook or a traditional outlook. These terms don’t matter. Any term is springing from a universal dimension of consciousness – this is to be realized. There is no room for debate. There are only expressions of consciousness or contextual expressions. Hence modern is tradition as seen from a different angle and vice versa. Whatever we are in at the present moment, we need to realize the universal connect. This is the progression of the state of mind. Situations are just triggers. Thoughts, of any kind, are triggers. Hence, accept all in good faith. There’s room for everything.

Question

Every person comes with a question – he/she is born with it. The question can be said as a continuous ‘force’ or a vibration that acts on consciousness to perform some action. The question is the medium through which the consciousness acts or expresses itself. This question is called as imagination and has components of perception (because of senses, the nervous network, brain centre) and conception (our response that is communicated back through nervous system). As long as we have this ‘form’ of existence, we are subjected to the process/ force/ vibration that we term as imagination. The basic fact of imagination is that it comes into existence as a bridge connecting the consciousness and the manifested form. Another word for the quality of imagination is called ‘tendency’ – and is categorized as Tamas, Rajas, Satvik. Each tendency is an expression of the extent of boundary - how small or how comprehensive and to the strongest level of attachment (Tamas) to a transcendental level (Satvik); to be immersed in smallest of details and minimum of intellect (Tamas) to the cosmic understanding of things and maximum dissection of intellect (Satvik); to consider the ‘body’ or the event as the only way of perceiving things (Tamas) to see the consciousness in all things (Satvik).

The imagination we are referring above, constructs the feeling of ‘ego’ – attachment to body-mind phenomenon. ‘We’ tend to understand the world by the nature of this ‘ego’. Feelings, intellect, and all the tools used for thinking (observation, comparison, inference and testimony) result in a given tendency of thought. Hence, thought becomes important to be considered. And it is reinforced by self talk or by how it is used to perceive and conceive things and by the actions that get decided. Every sight, smell, touch, sound, breathe, taste (which are inputs of connecting to the outside world) create a ripple/ vibration in our existence and we respond. Many things happen in this process of imagination – many thoughts get generated, many times we are compelled to act. The hold of such a force is enormous. It is only through repeated practice of analysis, decoding and inward looking, that the same force can lead to our own transformation and give us a transcendental experience.

Based on these changes in thoughts, we start to perceive and conceive things differently – from considering events as separate to realizing the interdependence of all systems to realizing a pattern/ phenomenon and converging all patterns into that singular existence of consciousness. All this is possible and is very real. If there is anything that should be wished, is the ability to watch our own thoughts, to decode them and to help others decode theirs. If we are in a position to map and review our own thoughts, greater are the chances of transforming the self.

One of the important learning from this process is that any ‘situation’ represents or mirrors our own tendencies. Any situation can be regarded as a good enough starting point to transform oneself. Thus, our idea of perfection is not dependent on any ‘other’, futuristic or a past scenario. Any situation is good to respond in an appropriate manner. Any situation is going to project fears and securities, constraints and potentials – that is what our mind perceives. Hence to tackle any situation means to actually see our mind untangle itself. Hence, doing many things at the same time is not the answer to the riddle. Concentrating on one situation completely can unlock the reservoir of consciousness and help us see our cosmic connection. Therefore –

Now is the perfect moment to ‘be’ in.

Now is the perfect moment to ‘act’

Now is the perfect moment to ‘start’

Now is ‘better’ than anything else.

He or she is equally perfect – just the way you are.

catching the ghost

Time and again, I may keep getting the question regarding the relevance of philosophy and relevance of a direct experience and existence as a force/ vibration or an urge to engage with manifestation.

Is there an answer to this? Is the answer required? I am born with this question of self. If I look back and see my thoughts, I sense a feeling of incompleteness within me – how can actions or words as spoken by a person be so absolutely true? How to confirm to whatever one says? And why to keep evaluating myself based on what people say? This central question has been the foundation of seeking knowledge.

I have led too much importance to what people said and downplayed my own understanding. I kept on living to prove a point to people that what they might be thinking is not entirely true – it is just relative – this led to no arguments, for I understood that any position is valid and that I need to keep improving. I could accommodate any voice. What is there to prove anyway? If it is right, then it will stand the test of time. If it is not, you learnt your lesson and you can improve. Why do we take things personally? To take things personally, means to consider your position as unchangeable and representing the ultimate truth – which is of course not the case.

However, being accommodating doesn’t mean that my own incidental voice is required to be ignored. At any given point of time, one cannot know everything (and that is a fear if one is visualizing to prove something or be perfect for proving something or to prove that one is a good person…why should it be so burdensome?). The race for representing one’s self “best” and “unique” as compared to others is a tiring race and uncalled for.

In the quest for answering this internal turmoil, of silence, then of confusion, frustration, professionally and personally, I was led to my journey to Canada, wherein it revealed a global perspective of how we see ourselves and what does it mean to be a community, a nation – how thoughts get formed, why do they change, why are they relative and different positions of the world view with respect to how one chooses to see.

Later on, after returning, Prof. Dengle Sir’s observations used to keep me introspective about the role of the mind and the nature of thoughts till I came face to face with the terrain of the void/ consciousness – thoughts – process and product. Of course, personal/ family conditions contributed to this phenomenon as well.

If there’s anything to fear, it is regarding the fear of being alone – and that indicates attachment to thoughts. And then the inevitable happens – the inquiry of ‘attachment’. There is so much ‘noise’ (of self talk) that we continue to create and continue to remain attached with, that it is very hard to feel the true nature of consciousness – that a fullest potential of form can happen, only if we become aware of our own self.

I don’t wish to use any terms that convey objectification of anything – even of ideas or self. “I” is not an object to be valued or devalued or judged. “I” doesn’t represent any absolute world or a term. And “I” is not an initiator of any original action or a cause or a consequence. “I” is incidental (as a matter of expression of consciousness in a human form) and hence, our projected/ assumed/ believable realities are again – incidental to the reality of consciousness. At best, we can value that particular thought – a process that leads to refinement, expansion, accommodation, acceptance, empathy and universal principles and which leads us to see our own projections and help us to not place any value/ load/ burden on it.  And this quality of thought can be nurtured in any person at any point of time in any situation of age, gender, class, ethnicity etc. So a situation that one may call an external climate of place and time or an internal climate of social constructions (of age, gender, ethnicity, religion or whatever) needs to be realized as only an incidental drop in an ocean of consciousness.  This is what is required. In that sense, thoughts become impersonal and one becomes a medium to express the potential of a thought.

I don’t care the many obstacles of a “situation” that befall us. Situations are what they are. It is how one perceives and conceives the responses that make the strength of thought and character eventually. And it is not for being strong that one is doing this, but without that potential, no one will feel complete or satisfied. Whatever it is, we remain subjected to the phenomenon of expression/ engagement of consciousness in transactional world. Its a tendency of consciousness to express and connect or manifest in some form – harmful or beneficial. So who decides the content of form? Where and how do evil or good thoughts emerge? Where are they formed and embedded? Where are the seeds? The consciousness is the reservoir of all possible seeds that will manifest – we (the projection) need to decide which seeds are to be watered for growth. Seeds may be nurtured by the environment (external – by social dimensions flora/fauna or physical dimensions). Seeds may be nurtured by intellect, regardless or independent of the external environment. In other words, the ‘quality and content’ of vibration is a matter of concern here (“prana”). Force acting on Consciousness may result into a particular form of manifestation or a product. Hence, ‘we’ are a combination of consciousness, force and product. The force is a continuous medium through which, the consciousness tries to project Itself into the manifested world and force is also a medium through which, the consciousness is revealed to Itself and Force is also a path which dismantles the external form of all imaginations and takes the form back to consciousness.

So if you become angry – ask yourself ‘what’ is anger? It is a Force. The next question is ‘why’ do you feel angry? Are you becoming angry at a ‘person’ or a ‘situation’ or just angry at an ‘imaginary projection’ from the past or future? What are the triggers of anger – voice, sequence, expectation of output, time, gender, age and expectations, uncertainty, attachment to personal assumptions regarding ego (as an idea)? Then what is ego? Do you think that whatever you think is to be regarded as true and to be confirmed by all? Do you know all the factors? Do you think that you have thought of everything? And who is this ‘you’? Who? How is this ‘you’ created? Why does this ’you’ feel like expressing always and to prove a point? Why does it demand validation? Why? Why does it want acceptance? Who accepts whom? And why are we so obsessed with acceptance? Why do should we hoard things? Why should we articulate? What is time? What is present, past and future? What changes and why are we so affected by change? Can you see only the purity of thought without the extra vibrations imposed by ego, attachment, categorizations, labels, objects, etc.? Can you see your own baggage? Can you ‘see’ it?  Can you discard the baggage? Can you dismantle/ disentangle/ decode the baggage? Can you put down your clothes? The illusion of the baggage can be seen only if you put it aside and only if you observe the resultant internal conflict without getting attached to it. So, don’t hoard things. Renounce everything.  Discarding the baggage can happen only if you realize that your true identity is not the thoughts or the body. It is the Consciousness. And seeds are just the tendency.  

Why do you feel angry?

Why (nature of question)  - do (action) – you (imaginary ego) – feel (effect of sequence of thoughts based on many other thoughts) – angry (kind of a feeling)

Why (dismantling the lump) – do (action) – you (summation of the lump) – feel (process of creation of lump) – angry (result of the lump)

Why (review of connections) – do (action) – you (set of connections) – feel (fluidity and crystallization of connections) – angry (effect of connections)

Therefore – what is anger? How is anger formed? Who gets angry? When does one get angry?

Anger – thought and its constituents/ connections.

Connections formed in space and time (mind and body)

Perceptions and conceptions – senses, feelings, intellect, projections of ego, time, age, gender, urges, instincts, competition etc….(and so many other things)