"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Abandonment of Ego-Sense

Sage Vasishtha

Rama! The abandonment of all notions, conditioning and conceptualization is said to be of two kinds: one is based on knowledge or direct realization and the other is based on contemplation. I shall describe them to you in detail.

One should become aware of one's deluded notion in which one thinks that 'I belong to these objects of the world and my life depends on them. I cannot live without them and then cannot exist without me, either.' Then by profound enquiry, one contemplates 'I do not belong to these objects, nor do these objects belong to me.' Thus abandoning the ego-sense through intense contemplation, one should playfully engage oneself in the actions that happen naturally, but with the heart and mind ever cool and tranquil. Such an abandonment of the ego-sense and the conditioning is known as the contemplative egolessness.

When there is knowledge or direct experience of the non-dual truth, one abandons the ego-sense and conditioning, and entertains no feeling of 'this is mine' even with regard to the body - this known as direct realization of egolessness.
(To be continued)

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad