CC: Sometimes all is super clear and the mind calm and then again it is not; the contrast, lately, is rather strong. Sattva/ tamas shifting, kind of abrupt. I know I am not the gunas, but … etc. How the mithya ‘I’ and Satya seem to change ‘place’ in the mind feels weird, but good. More obvious.
Sundari: My talk this Sunday is about nonduality and being human, the both/and of it. All three gunas are always operative, and the mind is subject to them. But when Self-knowledge is at work, emotion regulation is possible because we are objective about what’s going on in the mind. The tail is not wagging the dog. And even if rajas and tamas briefly manage to do that, we know how to neutralize the patterns with Self-knowledge. We can zap the nasty biting little mosquitoes of ignorance that threaten our peace of mind.
CC: I read in a satsang that the reflection teaching is at the core of scripture – or so I understood it.
Sundari: Yes, the reflection or pratibimba vada teaching is at the core of the nondual scripture. The cause and effect and non-origination teaching is in essence the same as the reflection teaching, which is understanding the difference between personal consciousness that humans are endowed with, and impersonal universal nondual Consciousness as our primary identity, and that of everyone else. The main issue common with inquirers, is the belief that once you have understood the foundational teachings of Vedanta, you have gained knowledge, and moksa follows as a matter of course. Sadly, this is not the case, ignorance being as subtle and tenacious as it is.
CC: To say yes and/or no to Isvara while also surrendering to Isvara and to negate Isvara is very subtle. I can also see a whole lot better where scripture/vedanta isn’t ‘lived’ properly, so here I am making changes to follow the compass ‘North’. That is not only very important but feels really good too.
Sundari: Excellent, nondual knowledge at work. The Isvara topic is very subtle and seemingly contradictory. But it is not really. As a human you have a given nature and it’s ok, though for peace of mind to reign, we need emotion regulation through Self-knowledge, as I said above. Without it we will not be able to objectify the jiva and will be at the mercy of our subjective world of thoughts and feelings. Isvara is both the controller of the field and also pure Consciousness. If we are identified with our true identity as pure the Self, everything dissolves into it, including Isvara. The jiva is the Self, as is Isvara. Its only problem is ignorance of its true nature. When we are seated in Self-knowledge, we are in harmony with Isvara. What we need to do next as a jiva is clear because it’s going with the flow, which we trust implicitly. Instructions will be clear. Karma yoga is just knowledge and just for the jiva, we are not the doer and there is no karma for the Self.
Hope to see you this Sunday!
With much love
Sundari
