4) The ego - the idea of separate existence

From the Hindu perspective, Maya (This link may be more illuminating than what I have to say ! - or is it just as confusing?) or illusion is said to be the cause of all our woes. Many writers and speakers refer to Maya, penetrating the veil of Maya and such things, but their explanations seem little else than confusing to sheer double-talk (Click Here for an excellent example - though what follows may be a better one). Seldom do you find any sort of clear explanation, if any at all! They make it all sound so important and mystical, but what does it mean? I'll attempt a clear explanation, beginning with the simplest perspective and moving on from there. I hope it is not just more confusing double-talk.

Maya, or illusion, is simply not perceiving things as they actually are. Don't say, "Well, Duh ! !" just yet. That may be better said later 8-) The implication of this is reflected in this quote of the fourth paragraph of my first post, Basic Thoughts, ". . . you, myself, and each and every aspect of existence is nothing other than the Infinite Consciousness we refer to as "God"", manifesting all that 'exists' as a sort of thought, and are therefore nothing but that Infinite Consciousness itself. "God"." The state of Maya is not perceiving this as Truth.

Expanding this further, Maya, illusion, delusion, ignorance or whatever name you care to use for it, in it's most profound form, is the idea that each and every thing we perceive, including our 'individual' self have separate existences, both from one another, and from that Infinite Consciousness which we refer to as "God", if we even believe such as Infinite Consciousness, or "God" exists. Assuming that that Consciousness does exist, and that It is in fact infinite, It would be all inclusive - no thing can exist outside of what is truly infinite, and since infinity is indivisible, no thing can be in any way separate from it. This idea of having a separate existence is what constitutes the human ego, which once formed, is sustained by pride in one's self-existence. Since the ego is based upon the false concept of having a separate existence, it does not actually exist other than as an idea, and the pride, being in a non-existent thing, is then false. So, the ego, and that which sustains it, are both false. The ego is Maya, the veil of Maya, that obscures our perception of Truth.

Assuming that what I've just written is understandable, and you can accept it, at least hypothetically, let's go one step deeper into 'reality'. You should now be able to surmise that since we have no separate existence, our thoughts, concepts and memories as well have no existence separate from the Infinite. Only the Infinite Consciousness exists, and nothing else is. If that is clear, you may well say, "So what?" Well, the "So what?" is that, as said above, you yourself are that Infinite Consciousness, and are experiencing reality 'through' the veil of Maya, the non-existent ego, and that experience, the experience of coming to understand that it is so, as well as the further experience of actually realizing yourself as that Infinite Consciousness, all exist only as Consciousness. This realization of the Infinite Self as the Truth of our existence is what the true religions and spiritual teachings point the way to experiencing.

Few are able to understand this and, even though compared to being "God", perceived reality is of little importance (actually, of no importance), few of those who do understand, and then attempt to do so, are able to attain this Self-realization. Why is this so? Well, if that is a question that you can have, or that you can't answer based on what I've written, you haven't actually understood my meaning (perhaps my explanation is not clear). It is the Infinite Consciousness that both is and does all things, ". . . and that to all this we contribute nothing at all . . ." (from Paragraph 1 of my first post). All that is exists within and of Infinite Consciousness, which determines as a sort of dream or a gigantic image (as it is it is described by Swami Ram Das) within itself, whatever it is that happens in this reality. Again, 'we' do not exist separate from that Consciousness.

In the New Testament, I think it is Paul who wrote, "We live, move and have our being in Him" (Acts 17:28). A couple of places in the New Testament (and I'm sorry I don't have more exact references, but you can find them with a concordance if you want) it is stated that all those who are to attain salvation have already been chosen. So, "Why . . .?" Well, all that is, has been and will be, exist as the Infinite Consciousness, "God", which has already 'chosen' them to be as they were, are and will be, and it up to us only to contribute a ". . .disposition that desires what is good" (also from Paragraph 1 of my first post - see the following post). The 'dream' or 'image', 'dream image' if you will, all of it - past, present and future - already exists, and 'we' are that single Consciousness witnessing it all through the myriad perspectives of the myriad beings that can be said to exist, but which exist only within that dream image. Shakespeare said, "All the world's a play, and we but players in it. We have our entrances and our exits." "It is all pre-written" (Swami Padmanabha - 40 meters from whom I live). The Hindus refer to this concept as "God's lila." Lila is Sanskrit for ". . .'play', 'amusement' or 'pastime. . .'". We, each and every one of us, are that witness, and nothing other. We have nothing to attain, as we are already It, as Ramana Maharshi taught, but we think otherwise, and there's the rub. And though it is the Infinite doing the 'thinking' otherwise, there is then the idea of separateness, which is also the Infinite, and so, enters Maya, illusion or "God's" lila, all our own being.

I hope that is not too confusing. I'll read it another time and edit it if I think I can be more clear. Maybe someone who sees this blog - Hello ! Is anyone out there? - will point out what is not clear. Also, see the picture at the bottom. Anyway, that's the long and the short of it, except that I mentioned in the first line of this post that Maya is said to cause all our woes, that is, our suffering. How is this? - next time.

3) Spiritual Perspectives

Where to go from here? Ideally, if a person fully understands the implications of what I've just written - no, not the Site Guidelines 8-) - nothing more needs to be said. The ideas of personal doer ship and separate identity would naturally dissolve, and all would be good. So, separate identity - I guess that's where I should go next. That should clarify why it is that we do not already know that we are the Infinite, and not limited to the tiny speck of protoplasm we call our body. It will also lead to many other good things.

First I should clarify an issue that often causes a lot of confusion when discussing spiritual matters. That is 'perspective'. Everyone has their own perspective, but in the sense I am using it, it refers to two global sorts of perspectives. Many will be completely familiar with them. One is an ultimate perspective of non-duality, wherein it is understood that there is no multiple (or even two) existences, but only the one Infinite Consciousness we call"God". The other is the perspective of there being the Infinite, and then there is all else, which is comprised of innumerable separate existences we generally perceive as our reality. This is known as dualism. So, we have the non-dual and the dual perspectives.

There are some incremental variations that fall between these two that one evolves through as ones consciousness expands to more comprehensive, or higher, states, but unless otherwise stated, I will use the dualistic perspective. This is so that I will be writing more in line with the perspective most people exist in, including myself. I recall a joke a man here in India told me that sort of fits this division of perspectives and clarifies the difference between the people who's nature lies within one or the other. The joke goes, "Everyone is wise. Some are truly wise, and the rest are otherwise." Being one of the "otherwise" myself, and from a spiritual perspective, most are, I will generally use the "otherwise", or dualistic perspective to try and bring some understanding to bear on the "truly wise", non-dual perspective, as much as I think I understand of it. I find being "otherwise" sucks.

Well, this post is pretty long already, so I'll continue with the separate identity thing in the next post. See you then !

2) Blog Guidlines

I want this blog's community to grow, so even though there's not much here yet, come back ! And if you do, and find yourself liking what I write, tell your friends, and mention this blog on other blogs, leaving links back to here. If you disagree with, or don't like what I write, tell me, and tell me why. If you don't understand something I've written, tell me exactly what is not clear, and/or what it is that you think I meant, and I'll try for a better explanation. Also, make any comments and ask any questions you want about my posts or other spiritual things. For other subjects, email me at eSaddhu@gmail.com. Let's have dialogs. I invite both comments and questions. Let's have discussions within the comments. Maybe we can all grow closer to being "truly wise" that way (see the next post). We all have something to contribute to the understanding of the spiritual path.

I will try and respond to all questions, but as I now live in a remote area of the mountains of south India, my visits to the blog are limited by having to take a bus to town to use an internet cafe, so once or possibly twice a week is what I can do.

1) Basic thoughts

"Blessed is he who knows in truth that we are but tools in God's hands; that it is God who affects within us all ascetic practice and contemplation, virtue and spiritual knowledge, victory and wisdom, goodness and truth; and that to all this we contribute nothing at all except a disposition that desires what is good."

Now, this is a quote, and I think it is from St. Maximos the Confessor, Various Texts on Theology, the Divine Economy and Virtue and Vice, Third Century #28: 580-662 A.D. This is a reference I found for it on the internet, but I didn't write down the reference when I copied the quote, as at the time it was for personal reference, with no thought whatsoever of quoting it to others. Going on from that . . .

The converse is also equally true, and the whole of it means that all in this created universe is predetermined, and we, each of us, are but one singular witness to this. That one singular existence is that which is referred to as "God", and is Infinite Consciousness. That witness is perceiving His/Her/It's creation through the multitude of seemingly individual beings within creation. This creation we experience as individuals is one magnificent image projected within the infinite consciousness of that singular Being, much as thoughts exist within the "individuals' " minds.

This means that you, myself, and each and every aspect of existence is nothing other than the Infinite Consciousness we refer to as "God", manifesting all that "exists" as a sort of thought, and is therefore nothing but that Infinite Consciousness itself. "God".

The sole purpose of all true religions and of all spiritual teachings and practices is to bring the individual to the realization of that Truth, that we are "God". Within the Hindu tradition (properly called "Sanatan Dharma"), this is called "God Realization"; within Buddhism, "Nibbana" (the Pali word - Sanskrit is "Nirvana"); and within Christianity as "Union with God". Other faiths have various other terms for this.

This is the bottom line of all religions and spiritual teachings.