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"Single Question" Vol 3: Dr. Vijai Shankar interviewed by Marcus Stegmaier
Single Question Vol 3: "Who am I?"
“Single Question“ is a series of interviews with Dr. Vijai S Shankar interviewed by Marcus Stegmaier which is produced by the Academy of Absolute Understanding (AAU). The series is about "Understanding Non-duality".
hello anna....
how are you? my dear dear sister.
below I have collected various views or understandings which I think are interconnected and in the last I have also posted one of Buddhas sutta..Hope you will find it useful
1. "I am " and my pain, and my happyness, and actions which I seem to be aware of......not outhere and not in my skull...where the heck then am I and all of these "meanings"??? and thus..... what is if any " of their "significance"....including the significance of "I am"?
2.in that moment of no time we are able to enjoy life...my sister ANNA says it so.
3. That peom( which is already available) "candescence" by Maren posted in this site...especially the last line about "sheer you"...
4. And finally the sutta by Buddha
Theranama Sutta
[A Monk] by the Name of Elder (On Solitude)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.
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On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels' sanctuary. Now at that time a certain monk by the name of Elder (Thera) was one who lived alone and extolled the virtues of living alone. Alone he entered the village for alms, alone he returned, alone he sat withdrawn [in meditation], alone he did walking meditation.
Then a large number of monks went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were sitting there, they informed him: "Lord, there is a certain monk by the name of Elder who lives alone and extols the virtues of living alone."
Then the Blessed One told a certain monk, "Come, monk. In my name, call the monk named Elder, saying, 'The Teacher calls you, my friend.'"
"As you say, lord," the monk answered and, having gone to Ven. Elder, on arrival he said, "The Teacher calls you, my friend."
"As you say, my friend," Ven. Elder replied. Then he went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him, "Is it true, Elder, that you live alone and extol the virtues of living alone?"
"Yes, lord."
"But how do you live alone and extol the virtues of living alone?"
"Lord, alone I enter the village for alms, alone I return, alone I sit withdrawn [in meditation], alone I do walking meditation. That is how I live alone and extol the virtues of living alone."
"There is that way of living alone, Elder. I don't say that there isn't. Still, listen well to you how your living alone is perfected in its details, and pay close attention. I will speak."
"As you say, lord," Ven. Elder responded.
The Blessed One said: "And how is living alone perfected in its details? There is the case where whatever is past is abandoned, whatever is future is relinquished, and any passion & desire with regard to states of being attained in the present is well subdued.[1] That is how living alone is perfected in its details."
That is what the Blessed One said. Having said it, the One Well-gone further said this:
"All-conquering,
all-knowing, intelligent;
with regard to all things,
unadhering;
all-abandoning,
released in the ending of craving:
him I call
a man who lives
alone."
Just testing if it works...
testing
Amati: life...living ...alone...
"All-conquering, all-knowing, intelligent; with regard to all things,
unadhering; all-abandoning, released in the ending of craving: him I call a man who lives
alone."
Response: Can man release himself out of anything? Did man begin 'craving' to end it? WHAT is a man who lives alone? What is 'sheer you'?
>>>>>>>>>>>Read this book and, when it happens, your conditioned mind will either object or take recourse to the mind and its beliefs to what is written on each page. But, on repeated readings, watch - the mind quietens down and gradually and surely understanding emerges. This understanding is a miracle – be in no doubt. It allows man to live life in trust, which is enlightenment, without the need to consult the super-consultant, the mind.<<<<<<<<<
Dear Marcus this is what is given as promo to a VJS new book.
Just as you don’t imply that Man is a doer by saying “Read This Book “ in the para’s beginning .....Buddha too does not imply man is a doer or is any way referring to it by asking the elder monk (theranama) to abandon the desires.
Regards
Amati.
Amati: can man do something....?
>>>>>>>>>>>Read this book and, when it happens, your conditioned mind will either object or take recourse to the mind and its beliefs to what is written on each page. But, on repeated readings, watch - the mind quietens down and gradually and surely understanding emerges. This understanding is a miracle – be in no doubt. It allows man to live life in trust, which is enlightenment, without the need to consult the super-consultant, the mind.<<<<<<<<<
Dear Marcus this is what is given as promo to a VJS new book.
Just as you don’t imply that Man is a doer by saying “Read This Book “ in the para’s beginning .....Buddha too does not imply man is a doer or is any way referring to it by asking the elder monk (theranama) to abandon the desires.
Response: The words ...Read this book" is not a promo but the editor's understanding. Buddha is not questioned. Find out from the same book or any book, the answer for 'WHAT is a man who lives alone'?
marcus>>>The words ...Read this book" is not a promo but the editor's understanding. Buddha is not questioned. Find out from the same book or any book, the answer for 'WHAT is a man who lives alone'?
response>> than I was wrong in thinking Buddha was being questioned and thus the above reply. If I thought some one was doing it to you ,peter or VJS I would do something similar and that you know.
However as now I know that its me who is being questioned allow me to submit "my" reply to your earlier questions( as it wouldnt matter even if they fall, rightly):
But not before I say......Hello gurujiii how are you? Love as allways amati .....right....
marcus>>>Can man release himself out of anything? Did man begin 'craving' to end it? WHAT is a man who lives alone? What is 'sheer you'?
response>> Bugatti Veyron is a nice looking car.
regards
amati.
Again an awfully interesting and important interview! Thank you Dr.Shankar for your time and thank you Marcus too.
It is getting more and more clear to me how the mind is related to the "singular movement of Life".
The mind is our only tool to understand who we are. Yet mind can only know what we are not.
Who we are is only in the singular moment, which can never be known, but only lived.
When we understand that we are not the doer, in that moment of no-time we are able to enjoy Life.
It is yet strange that this understanding must come through this very mind.The illusory mind seeing the illusion of light and sound,like in a vicious circle...
Listening to Dr.Shankars words explaining how we can see different forms as the play of Life,to me this has its own perfect logic and it gives a great consolation and joy.
Anna