Separation of the Self

Many Eastern religions promote the belief that separation is an illusion; all life is, while appearing separate, actually connected either spiritually or metaphysically. I have tried to temporarily incorporate this belief into my own life in an effort to feel peace and harmony.

Strangely, the time I am most at peace and harmonious is when I consciously try to be mindful in the present moment. There is my breathing, calmness and me. Nothing else matters. No distractions, illusions or delusions, just the previous three.

There is one major drawback though — you are alone. It is just your physical self and your mind. Nobody else can share these precious moments with you. Being a social creature, this creates somewhat of a problem for my human mind.

One can practice group meditation, but can one truly experience group mindfulness? I don’t believe so. It seems impossible that even several people, never mind hundreds, thousands or millions of people, can be mindful together.

So why is it that one can experience the most peace and serenity only when they are mindful — a solitary task? Does this suggest only the self exists and everything else is an illusion?

Of course, we could all be spiritually or metaphysically connected and this physical realm is a test for us to come to realise this potential truth.

I wish I knew the answers to the big questions, and until I do, I will keep searching!

a reply to: Incandescent
When else can you watch the mind but now?
All is appearing now - thoughts appear as thoughts subside.
But where are you in this?

Strangely, the time I am most at peace and harmonious is when I consciously try to be mindful in the present moment. There is my breathing, calmness and me. Nothing else matters. No distractions, illusions or delusions, just the previous three.

There is only what is happening - is there really a 'me' ? What is 'me'?

a reply to: Incandescent

I'm looking for the same answers you are.

Why do you find it strange that you are only able to achieve peaceful, harmonious state of mind when you practice mindfulness in the present moment? Do you expect to find it by planning for tomorrow or reviewing yesterday? I'm not being sarcastic.

I am by nature a pretty extreme introvert, so I feel more in my element when I'm alone. I honestly can't conceive of being able to let my guard down enough around people to have a useful experience in group meditation. Perhaps that's exactly what I need to work on? However, my inclination is to think that we are each responsible for our own salvation, enlightenment, realization or whatever you prefer to call it. Let your experience be the arbiter of your spiritual reality.

originally posted by: DictionaryOfExcuses
However, my inclination is to think that we are each responsible for our own salvation, enlightenment, realization or whatever you prefer to call it. Let your experience be the arbiter of your spiritual reality.

You cannot do anything!!
The belief that you are able to do something is the kicker - you are a human 'being' not a human 'doing'.
There is no separate 'doer' - all that is arising is done.

You are 'witnessing' - you are the 'seeing' of what you are not.

St. Francis said - We are looking for what is looking.
The truth is hidden in plain sight (seeing).

originally posted by: Itisnowagain
When else can you watch the mind but now?
All is appearing now - thoughts appear as thoughts subside.
But where are you in this?

I wish I knew.

There is only what is happening - is there really a 'me' ? What is 'me'?

There is something that is thinking and performing actions in my direct experience. I don't know if it is "me" but it is a living conscious being.

originally posted by: DictionaryOfExcuses
Why do you find it strange that you are only able to achieve peaceful, harmonious state of mind when you practice mindfulness in the present moment? Do you expect to find it by planning for tomorrow or reviewing yesterday? I'm not being sarcastic.

I don't find it strange that it occurs in the present; I find it strange because it does not involve other living beings.

I am by nature a pretty extreme introvert, so I feel more in my element when I'm alone. I honestly can't conceive of being able to let my guard down enough around people to have a useful experience in group meditation. Perhaps that's exactly what I need to work on? However, my inclination is to think that we are each responsible for our own salvation, enlightenment, realization or whatever you prefer to call it. Let your experience be the arbiter of your spiritual reality.

If we are each responsible for our own salvation and enlightenment, why do we socialise at all?

originally posted by: Incandescent

originally posted by: Itisnowagain
When else can you watch the mind but now?
All is appearing now - thoughts appear as thoughts subside.
But where are you in this?

I wish I knew.

There is only what is happening - is there really a 'me' ? What is 'me'?

There is something that is thinking and performing actions in my direct experience. I don't know if it is "me" but it is a living conscious being.

Some 'thing' is not doing thinking. There is just thinking - just thoughts arising. The assumption is that there is some thing 'doing' some thing - some one doing thought. When really there is just what there is.
This is 'being' this - there is no this 'doing' that.
Watch and listen to this 2 minute talk.

a reply to: Incandescent

So why is it that one can experience the most peace and serenity only when they are mindful — a solitary task? Does this suggest only the self exists and everything else is an illusion?

The self is not a thing - it is space. If there is no things in that space conflicting with each other then the peace and serenity that is ever present can be sensed.


Take every thing away and what is left?

originally posted by: Incandescent
I don't find it strange that it occurs in the present; I find it strange because it does not involve other living beings.

When no words are happening (words like 'you' and 'me') there is just space that is empty - you are void of all things. The words that appear are believed to be actual things - and if there is more than one thing there will be conflict.
There can be no conflict if there is no things.

Everyone is afraid of being nothing so they try hard to be some thing - only when there is nothing can there be peace.

Right here and right now if there is no thought of 'you' and 'something' else there is peace. Even if the thought 'tomorrow' happens it can be recognised that 'tomorrow' is a thought appearing now. It is only when 'tomorrow' is believed to be real that there is conflict - the thought that 'I have to deal with tomorrow' will cause an issue because 'tomorrow' does not exist. Only now is appearing to exist.
Stories made of words happen now that speak of other than what there actually is. Alan Watts said 'Thinking is thinging'.

originally posted by: Incandescent
I wish I knew the answers to the big questions, and until I do, I will keep searching!

The problem with answering the "big questions" is they may not be questions that can be answered. Many people are very uncomfortable with unanswerable question. So people will invent dogma and delusions so they can feel "comfortable" in knowing absolute answers to difficult questions.

Think of separation as illusion or delusion this way. Nobody ever invented sex. It is just part of what it means to be a human being. It is delusion to think otherwise. The same thing is true with human character. What makes us human is shared and exactly the same for everyone. Everyone expresses what each of us thinks is unique to our own character. It is Ego delusion to think there is something about who you are that is uniquely owned by you. It's not we do not have a soul. It's just that we all share the SAME soul. Once you realize this and you experience the death of your Ego delusion you will be reborn again in the comfort and knowledge that as long as the human race continues to exist you, that is your human soul, will continue to live on in the people around you.

Again, people are uncomfortable with the idea that they are not somehow special and unique compared to everyone else. But once you become comfortable with what you are uncomfortable you will have more insights in how to think about this way of thinking.

a reply to: Incandescent

IMO, we can not see the connectedness of the universe in the physical universe until we first experience it on a spiritual level. I would ask you to consider a more introspective type of meditation other than mindfulness or breathing exercises. I would recommend focusing on your solar plexus reason, visualizing a bright yellow light there. While keeping your breathing and posture steady, try to go deeply into that light. Explore it. This allowed me to make headway with the issue you raise.

originally posted by: Incandescent

originally posted by: DictionaryOfExcuses

If we are each responsible for our own salvation and enlightenment, why do we socialise at all?

Good question.

In my opinion, it serves expedient functions related to commerce, labor, family, etc. Even though we have a spiritual experience, we still have social obligations to be met. Plus, if we don't socialize, there wouldn't be others to recognize that you/I/whoever are an irretrievably lost and hopeless case in need of prayer.

Perhaps life is a balance of inward focus and outward focus.

a reply to: Itisnowagain

This is a confusing semantic maze...wait....no...I am the confusing that is arising and I am also that maze but really neither exist...is that right?

a reply to: Incandescent

YOUR REAL SELF
In mysticism that alone is real which never changes.

While anything subject to change is unreal.

By such definition the body and mind are unreal, as both are subject to change.

If you relax with no body sensations, awareness (consciousness) of awareness alone remains.

If you empty your mind even for one second, awareness (consciousness) alone remains.

As the screen is seen when the movie stops

Awareness is realized when your mind is quiet.

Only awareness can be aware of awareness (in silence).

Only consciousness can be conscious of consciousness (in silence).

Before this body, you were aware (as consciousness).

While in this body, you are aware (as consciousness).

After this body, you will remain aware (as consciousness).

Your real Self is always consciousness.


by Pardeep

HOW TO SELF REALIZE IN 1 SECOND
You are consciousness imagining experiences (dreaming).

To realize this as your real nature, simply: close your eyes, empty your mind, be still.

When your mind is quiet without thoughts, you will find you are still aware (conscious).

Hence the truths:

I AM that I AM.

I exist because I am Existence.

I am conscious because I am Consciousness.

I am aware because I am Awareness.

Be still and know that I am God (silence the mind and realize your Self as consciousness, spirit, awareness).

With a silent mind remain conscious of your consciousness, even with eyes wide open and engaged in action.

Thoughts alone veil realization of your Self, and their cessation alone lifts the veil.

It may seem difficult to empty the mind, but everyone can accomplish that for at least one second.

And during one second of stillness, all that remains is you are still aware (conscious of your consciousness).

Just one second can change a life.

by Pardeep


More can be found at www.TheSelf.com

Stay Hydrated...

P.S. The more studying I do, the more I'm convinced that there is only ONE of Us 'here'... Once I got this imprinted I then looked at "Bell's Theorem" and even the math works out.

originally posted by: DictionaryOfExcuses
a reply to: Itisnowagain

This is a confusing semantic maze...wait....no...I am the confusing that is arising and I am also that maze but really neither exist...is that right?

Nothing exists. Or put another way - no 'thing' exists.
The illusion of a separate self produces the illusion of 'thingness'.

a reply to: Incandescent

Funnily enough you can meditate a lot of different ways. You can inward seek, but you can also push outwards. You can trance, etc.

I'm not a big follower of the "separation of the self" and rather see us all as part of a greater interconnected universe. Mind you that is just my own gnosis. that some share, and some reject.

a reply to: Incandescent

if we are each responsible for our own salvation and enlightenment, why do we socialise at all?

To escape feedback loops. In other words, if you were the only existent being, you would never be able to differentiate between good and bad, because you have no other experience to draw upon. Crazy people don't know they are crazy- but they can learn of that craziness by watching others and comparing to themselves