Tarka the Duck
24th March 2012, 12:28
This may show how investigation helps to clarify: it is a natural extension of analytical meditation.
Balancing Heart and Mind.
At an ordinary level, Heart and Mind describe our feelings and our thoughts respectively.
They are out of balance when we view them as being separate.
We fail to recognise that feelings are un-manifested thoughts.
At an extra-ordinary level, we can describe Heart as our Essence, and Mind as our Consciousness.
Essence is our pure unfabricated emptiness. Consciousness is our capacity for knowing.
They are out of balance when we view them as being separate.
If we fail to recognise our true Essence/Heart, we are left with our Mind/Consciousness, and so we are out of balance.
Heart/Essence is still present, but cloudy.
Here is where we could be making a error in mistaking Feelings for Essence.
Our Feelings are not so clear: they manifest into thoughts and that in turn creates emotions.
If we are in Essence, no feelings or thoughts occur.
When Essence is forgotten, Consciousness forgets the inner clarity and only notices feelings and thoughts that are projected, and then emotions arise. We have merely shifted our view point outwards.
Instead of Consciousness looking inward, and realising its true Essence, it looks out at the projected feelings, thoughts and emotions.
When our true Essence doesn't recognise itself, Consciousness creates a mental 'I': this is a substitute for our true Essence. It is a seemingly true being...a graven image!
Heart and Mind are in balance when Heart/Essence is not forgotten.
They are inseparable!
We readily identify with feelings, thoughts and emotions because that is our habit, and this creates the cloud!
Something that could be misunderstood...
We hear people say that Consciousness creates everything. This is absolutely true. But if we look at this closely, we might spot the problem: we have again forgotten pure empty Essence.
All creations of Consciousness are an illusion, a dream, a nightmare! The creations are seemingly real, but they are not inherently real. Although pure Essence is beyond Consciousness, in order to play in the illusory universe they have to be seen as a unity...if not, everything will seem real!
If something is created within Essence, everything is known to be rainbow-like, having no true existence. If this is understood, anything that is created for the benefit of sentient beings in order to realise their true nature, and bring balance.
Where do feelings come from? Well, they seem to be a residue from past thoughts, said to reside in our subtle body. That is why lung (pronounced loong) gentle breathe practice is so important. Basically it is mentally scanning the body for tensions (normally around the heart, throat or head) and gently taking the breathe three finger widths below the navel and holding for a few seconds. This is where that energy should be! It makes one feel more grounded and relaxed. There is more information about this practice in the meditation group.
We sometimes expect life to be a certain, familiar, comfortable way. However if we start asking inner questions (the process of waking up) it seems life has a way of answering...and it may be a little uncomfortable! What needs to drop away, drops away, and what is of benefit stays.
It's important to look at what we truly value. We are social creatures, but society does tend to just go round in circles. This can be traditionally comforting, but all it succeed in doing is drawing us into the dreams...or nightmares of others
We need to talk to or read things that suit our individual questioning. Some people don't like spiritual paths, but they do give us guidelines and some of us find that helpful. This doesn't mean we get stuck on these tracks, as they are only a guide...a travel brochure. They are a reference point which of course we finally drop: if not, they will become a weight around our neck. But they can take us a very long way along the path...
The path is about clearing away the cloud, to reveal what has always been there.
Balancing Heart and Mind.
At an ordinary level, Heart and Mind describe our feelings and our thoughts respectively.
They are out of balance when we view them as being separate.
We fail to recognise that feelings are un-manifested thoughts.
At an extra-ordinary level, we can describe Heart as our Essence, and Mind as our Consciousness.
Essence is our pure unfabricated emptiness. Consciousness is our capacity for knowing.
They are out of balance when we view them as being separate.
If we fail to recognise our true Essence/Heart, we are left with our Mind/Consciousness, and so we are out of balance.
Heart/Essence is still present, but cloudy.
Here is where we could be making a error in mistaking Feelings for Essence.
Our Feelings are not so clear: they manifest into thoughts and that in turn creates emotions.
If we are in Essence, no feelings or thoughts occur.
When Essence is forgotten, Consciousness forgets the inner clarity and only notices feelings and thoughts that are projected, and then emotions arise. We have merely shifted our view point outwards.
Instead of Consciousness looking inward, and realising its true Essence, it looks out at the projected feelings, thoughts and emotions.
When our true Essence doesn't recognise itself, Consciousness creates a mental 'I': this is a substitute for our true Essence. It is a seemingly true being...a graven image!
Heart and Mind are in balance when Heart/Essence is not forgotten.
They are inseparable!
We readily identify with feelings, thoughts and emotions because that is our habit, and this creates the cloud!
Something that could be misunderstood...
We hear people say that Consciousness creates everything. This is absolutely true. But if we look at this closely, we might spot the problem: we have again forgotten pure empty Essence.
All creations of Consciousness are an illusion, a dream, a nightmare! The creations are seemingly real, but they are not inherently real. Although pure Essence is beyond Consciousness, in order to play in the illusory universe they have to be seen as a unity...if not, everything will seem real!
If something is created within Essence, everything is known to be rainbow-like, having no true existence. If this is understood, anything that is created for the benefit of sentient beings in order to realise their true nature, and bring balance.
Where do feelings come from? Well, they seem to be a residue from past thoughts, said to reside in our subtle body. That is why lung (pronounced loong) gentle breathe practice is so important. Basically it is mentally scanning the body for tensions (normally around the heart, throat or head) and gently taking the breathe three finger widths below the navel and holding for a few seconds. This is where that energy should be! It makes one feel more grounded and relaxed. There is more information about this practice in the meditation group.
We sometimes expect life to be a certain, familiar, comfortable way. However if we start asking inner questions (the process of waking up) it seems life has a way of answering...and it may be a little uncomfortable! What needs to drop away, drops away, and what is of benefit stays.
It's important to look at what we truly value. We are social creatures, but society does tend to just go round in circles. This can be traditionally comforting, but all it succeed in doing is drawing us into the dreams...or nightmares of others
We need to talk to or read things that suit our individual questioning. Some people don't like spiritual paths, but they do give us guidelines and some of us find that helpful. This doesn't mean we get stuck on these tracks, as they are only a guide...a travel brochure. They are a reference point which of course we finally drop: if not, they will become a weight around our neck. But they can take us a very long way along the path...
The path is about clearing away the cloud, to reveal what has always been there.