Thoughts Arise

There is a question that, if heard and considered seriously, completely unravels the yarn that is “me”. There are many formulations of that question. But most will not work in the case of a particular mind, because they will be heard from the perspective of “me”. However, for each mind, there seems to be some formulation of the question that simply cannot be understood from that myopic standpoint. And so, the right question reintroduces the original and absolute standpoint. The one that's there before any sense of “me” is present. Then it dawns on you what this is all about; your true identity and role in Reality. The insight is always very simple. An admission of a fact that was always known. The only possible answer to the most fundamental inquiry. Consider this question, but instead of trying to answer it, notice where the mind goes. How do you know that you are alive? Just notice where your attention goes. You don't look at anything. Nor do you focus on a sound. You don

Do you want to know what death is? When you are hounded by incessant noise and yearn for it to stop, death is that complete silence. When life is an unending rush and you wish to escape the tyranny of time, death is that timeless stillness. When your mind first stirs from slumber and all you want is the bliss of sleep, death is that perfect peace. When you embrace someone you love and feel the urge to melt in their arms, death is the fulfilment of that eternal union. Do not be afraid of death. It is not extinction or annihilation. It is your original undisturbed state. But wait! Life too is your state. It is your love of existence, the bliss of being, the outpouring of your own vital essence. Savour it. Image from freepik.com

Right now, you are present and aware. Present as in you are here right now. Aware as in you have the capacity to know. And if you think of any memory, at the time that memory is formed you are present and aware. And when you are asleep and begin to dream, or when the mind stirs and you notice it, you are present and aware. And if you lose consciousness and all experience stops, it can only return because you remain present and aware. And when this life begins and the very first experience appears, you are already present and aware. Therefore, if you had a name, you could be called Presence-Awareness. Wherever there is life and consciousness, at the root of it is this Presence-Awareness that is You. And even if there is no life or consciousness, whenever they appear, they appear to You. Hence, You are prior to consciousness and unconsciousness. Beyond beginnings and endings, life and death. In Truth there is only You. There is no one else. All is You. When Yo

Fulfillment. Happiness. Peace. A lasting joy is available. No spectacular experience is needed. No meditative state needs to be attained. No major shift has to be achieved. All that is required is to find your own heartfelt answer to a simple question. What am I? I — the reference point for all experience. The seed from which a mind takes shape. The events, the memories, the likes and dislikes, the hopes and fears; all tied in knots to I. The thing that somehow happens to be sentient. Is it this body that is sentient? Certainly not the parts that can be lost or replaced. Nor the parts that work autonomously. Not the flesh and bones that will be left behind at death. No, I am not just this body. So what am I? A stream of experience? A pattern of thoughts and memories? A bundle of sensations? No, I am more than that. The activity of this body leaves impressions on what I am. Those impressions are experienced. They are known. I know that activity, therefore I am not the activity. I am it