Maria: That was a really relevant satsang today for me! I am currently grappling with the mechanics of my own resistance and have been listening to Swami Tattvavidanandaji talks on the Chandogya upanishad….he has given clarity regarding the “mind’s” function of being just a physical organ which is constantly creating thought structures gleaned through sense perceptions, etc. , which in turn becomes the information or building blocks of the substance for memories, which constantly present us with past material to use to make current choices.
Sundari: Yes, the mind is an amazing and powerful instrument, and the ego, which is a function of the mind, resists nondual knowledge because it would end its reign of the mind. The mind functions pretty much like a computer, with several components or functions. A computer comes with certain inbuilt programs which determine how it works, and it impersonally records the information we put into it. Whereas the human mind, though it too ‘comes in’ already programmed by Isvara, records information and responds to stimuli subjectively. It is influenced by the gunas, its inborn conditioning and the factors/karma that shaped its history.
We can only view things through these filters, speaking as an ego, of course. Once Self-knowledge gets to work on the mind, the filters get upgraded to nondual vision, and eventually, they drop away completely. Which means that once we have our nondual specs permanently on, though the human factor does not disappear, it’s as good as non-existent. Nothing colours our vision. We have perfect, clear vision 24/7 of what is unfolding in the moment, without needing to add anything to it.
The great thing is that as we are unburdened by the jiva’s past, we don’t create more past in the present to carry around with us as ‘the past’. You have understood the jiva program, and negated your life story as not real, so neither hangs heavy on you. Our karma remains clean, and simple – there are no more accretions. You actualize Self-knowledge in every moment, thought by thought, as you apply the teachings to your life. You do not need to wait until you are Self-actualized. You are already what is actual.
While the mind and memory still function and we experience things as ‘before’ Self-knowledge obtained, we don’t create a story around them. So experiences (thoughts/feelings) just move on through, as the saying goes. Easy come, easy go Why bother holding onto anything if none of it is real?
Maria: He mentioned that one way to handle this “past” influence is to not label experiences, that sort of cripples the mind’s ability to create thoughts around it. Maybe labeling an experience of any relevance enables the mind machine to spit out new thoughts, hence memories. No labeling, no thoughts. These are my words, not his. Please don’t share this online, I’m just trying to digest this knowledge – as I realize how important understanding the bodily mechanism is. Blah, Blah, Blah. So, thank you both for your teaching today. Right up my alley.
Sundari: Actually, this is an important point, and will help others, so I will post it anonymously. It is not labeling an experience that cripples the mind’s ability to create thoughts around it, and it will not stop thoughts from appearing. Nothing does. Thoughts come from Isvara, and though we learn how to think deliberately if we apply the nondual teachings to the mind, all thoughts are mithya. Labelling an experience can limit the mind to holding onto and harboring certain thoughts which are not helpful, that is true. The real problem is not labeling but identifying with ‘our’ thoughts/experiences/labels.
There is nothing essentially wrong with labelling things, thoughts feelings, and we need to do it to function in and transact with the field ‘as a person’. The difference is that once nondual vision is operating, it is known that that the person is an impermanent object known to us, as are labels/thoughts/feelings/experiences. Nothing is taken on, and all influences pass as soon as they enter the mind, without sticking to anything.
It is a question of who is receiving them. Jiva/ego or Self?
As the Self, one is just the witness of apparent name and form/thought/experience. You are the seer of name and form only in as far as Maya is operating. But since there is no longer any maya (duality/avidya) in YOUR mind when you are firmly established in Self-knowledge, it’s just like watching a movie. Labels, thoughts and feelings arise, but you don’t add reality to what is known to be unreal and NOT YOU. Even though you still respond ‘normally’ to what the field brings to you, as though you are a person.
Don’t overthink things. It always comes down to discriminating between satya and mithya, and asking yourself: who is labeling, thinking this, feeling this, seeing this, etc.
Much love
Sundari
