Ask a nondual "person"

[SalixIncendium]

Your feelings are aligned with a different reality than your propositional beliefs are aligned with. You’ve decided that the latter reality is more real. I was there at one point as well, but I was deceived.

Oneness is the destination, but the story (which includes duality and non-duality) is more real.

Did you have a question?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Yup. You said 'Knowledge of what I am results in my being unaffected by actions of others or what happens in transactional reality.'
I was wondering if that level of being unaffected is something you are working towards (a goal) or something you have achieved.

Ah. Got it. This sort of ties in with the questions below...

The belongings stuff is straight forwards enough. As you say, some would see that as a cost, but there is also clear benefit, and if you can reach a place where you are unburdened by material things beyond what you need, great.
I think I was more talking about relationships with other people, connections, love even...those sort of things.


Definite advantages there. If possible, can you explain more what you mean by bliss? Is it peaceful and contentedness, or something more specific?

Makes sense, based on my (limited) understanding of your beliefs.
Thanks for answering my curiousity!

You are watching a movie, and in that movie there is a character you strongly identify with. You feel their emotions, think their thoughts, feel their pain, celebrate their successes, etc. There is a point where you realize you are not that character. You're not even the actor that plays the character. You are simply the one watching the movie...the witness of the light reflecting off the screen and the story that light is telling. As you enjoy the movie, there is an inclination to still identify with that character, but through study and practice one becomes more stable in the knowledge of light reflected from a screen. At that point, one can either enjoy the movie and participate in its events, or one can simply remain detached from it. Either way, one does so with the full knowledge that they are just the witness and not the character.

'Bliss,' as I mentioned earlier in the thread, falls short of describing the nature of this being. Certainly peacefulness and contentedness are a part of it, but it's freedom from the bonds of thinking one a limited being in a body/mind and the trials and tribulations life brings. Language doesn't do justice to this...I can't even call it a 'feeling,' because it's really not. It's beyond words.

As far as connections to specific people, the love I have for my family is expanded to everyone because of the realization that everyone is identical to me. Everyone is of that same nature that I am.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Did you have a question?

You are discussing ultimate reality and claim that oneness is the highest truth.

Are you sure that life is not the highest truth?

If life was the highest truth, then death would not be part of the oneness of ultimate reality. Right now, you accept death as an aspect of the highest truth.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

You are discussing ultimate reality and claim that oneness is the highest truth.

Are you sure that life is not the highest truth?

If life was the highest truth, then death would not be part of the oneness of ultimate reality. Right now, you accept death as an aspect of the highest truth.

No, it is twoness that is the highest truth as one.
All of you fight over the one true truth and I just answer: Twoness.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Are you sure that life is not the highest truth?

Yes.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

As far as sadness, I don't find myself getting sad for myself, but I will occasionally find myself weeping as a result of another's suffering.

Are you sure that life is not the highest truth?

Yes.

Do you feel a desire for there to be less suffering and death when you are weeping, or no?

Would you be indifferent if suffering increased?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Do you feel a desire for there to be less suffering and death when you are weeping, or no?

Kind of a pointless question, no? How would my having a desire for it reduce suffering?

Would you be indifferent if suffering increased?

No.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Kind of a pointless question, no? How would my having a desire for it reduce suffering?


No.

I’m pointing to your desire for a different reality with less death and suffering. Then, I ask why wouldn’t you — from a pragmatic standpoint — associate ultimate reality with the reality that you desire (with less suffering)?

Whichever reality we align ourselves with is the reality that we will work to bring forth.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I’m pointing to your desire for a different reality with less death and suffering.

You misunderstand my views if you think I desire any different reality.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

You misunderstand my views if you think I desire any different reality.

So you don’t desire a reality with less death and suffering?

 

[SalixIncendium]

So you don’t desire a reality with less death and suffering?

No.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

No.

Let’s say that you are capable of decreasing the amount of suffering in reality, if you so desire. Within your moral framework (Hinduism?), should you desire it?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Let’s say that you are capable of decreasing the amount of suffering in reality, if you so desire. Within your moral framework (Hinduism?), should you desire it?

Who is it that causes suffering?

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Who is it that causes suffering?

If someone who is in need approaches you in an emergency situation, do you pause and ask yourself this question? Or do you act appropriately to the emergency?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

If someone who is in need approaches you in an emergency situation, do you pause and ask yourself this question? Or do you act appropriately to the emergency?

As a former medic (army) even that for one person is a question of time and resources. With several persons, I might have to let some of them die, because I don't have time and resources.
Would I try to help? Yes, if I can. But that is not a given.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

As a former medic (army) even that for one person is a question of time and resources. With several persons, I might have to let some of them die, because I don't have time and resources.
Would I try to help? Yes, if I can. But that is not a given.

I was asking the OP of this thread. You sound like you want to start your own AMA thread. Feel free, I will check it out.

 

[SalixIncendium]

If someone who is in need approaches you in an emergency situation, do you pause and ask yourself this question? Or do you act appropriately to the emergency?

I asked you a question. Stop deflecting.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

I asked you a question. Stop deflecting.

Who is it that causes suffering?

Whoever is sovereign, both locally (human agents) and ultimately (God).

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Let’s say that you are capable of decreasing the amount of suffering in reality, if you so desire. Within your moral framework (Hinduism?), should you desire it?

Who is it that causes suffering?

I asked you a question. Stop deflecting.

Notice that you are the one who initially responded to my question with a question..

 

[SalixIncendium]

Whoever is sovereign, both locally (human agents) and ultimately (God).

This is why I can't answer your questions, because your views on suffering are far different from mine.

In my view, suffering is a reaction to pain. I've posted this elsewhere on this forum...

Buddhism speaks of two arrows. When adversity comes, two arrows fly in our direction. Being struck by an arrow is painful. What determines suffering is how one reacts to being struck. One can focus on the pain of that first arrow and remain ignorant of the trajectory of the second, and be struck again which leads to suffering, or one can be aware that the pain of the first arrow is what it is, and shift focus to being aware that a second arrow is approaching and get out of the way.

The moral of the story is that you can focus on what is bringing you distress, or you can accept that what is causing pain is temporary and will run its course, do your best to navigate through, focus on the big picture, and have gratitude that which is in the world that brings you contentment.

Pain is inevitable...suffering is optional.

It's not the sovereign that bring suffering, but the individual who chooses to remain attached to the pain.