"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

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Body, A Guest

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Q: Although I do not know Marati, I have felt the deeper meaning of the bhajans intuitively.

M: Many people do bhajans here, but they are not able to grasp the deeper meaning. Many of the foreigners are able to catch the deeper meaning. You (the foreigners) have that advantage because all of you who are interested in this were in your previous incarnation the army of that great incarnation Rama, followers of Rama, so you were already blessed at that time. In further incarnations you migrated to the East; you are more at home in this place than the Indians are. Foreigners recognize me, but people in the street don't know me, because that great Rama blessed all his army, all his followers at that time. I admire the foreigners - not only do they come thousands of miles to be here but they spend so much money to stay in Bombay.

Q: Unless there were that deep urge, we would not come.

M: That is your very destiny. In that chemical which you are, that urge is already planted therein. You people come here and sit, with determination to get what you want. Therefore I have great respect and great regard for you.

.........................
March 25, 1981

M: Treat the body like a visitor, or guest, which has come ad will go. You must know your position as a host very clearly while the guest is still there. What is the exact nature of the host after the guest leaves must be realized while the guest is present. Have you understood? Give me some idea of that position in which you will find yourself when this body guest leaves.

Q: There is no identity.

M: Good. Is this a firm conviction?

Q: Yes, in the meditation.

M: What is the significance of the guest, the sign?

Q: As soon as the guest comes there is the sense of identity as a host.

M:The sense of presence, I AMness is the sign of the guest. Are your answers out of deep conviction?

Q: Yes.

M: Then there is no need to come tomorrow.

Q: It is only in deep meditation that I know it.

M: Do you accept completely the knowledge that you do not exist?

Q: There are moments in meditation when I really feel the conviction.

M: It is not a firm conviction if it is not there all the time. When one is very sleepy - just at the point of going into deep sleep - at that point he wants nothing else except to go to sleep. Similarly, at the last moment, when the breath is leaving, there is also a moment of ecstasy. At that point, when the life force and consciousness leave, there is that moment of ecstasy, that last moment of knowing. One who has thoroughly apprehended this is a jnani to whom there is no question of birth and death.

Even if you hear this and think it is true, the conceptualizing will not stop. Already some concept has begun in you. Whatever I have told you now is only about that speck of I AMness.

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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