What am I?

Number five has a special significance in spirituality the five elements (Panchmahabhoota), the five bodies (Panchsharir), the five rules of the Buddha (Panchsheel), the five precepts of Aurveda (Panchkarma),  etc.

However there is one set of fives that denotes a unique spiritual phenomenon that very few are aware of the five qualities of the Self. Lot of significance has been attached to the questions Who am I and Why am I? But the question What am I? is oft ignored. What is my inner core made up of? What are the qualities of the Self? What is at the essence of my being? What are the five core values of a human being? And the answer will be five qualities or values. These are creation, realization, satisfaction, devotion and discrimination. To make it simpler, you can substitute these five qualities with the verbs Expressing, Being, Enjoying, Loving and Knowing.

The five qualities of the Self

Why only these? You can use an micro or macro approach and will arrive at the same set of five whatever approach you take. Macrocosmically, examine what is being human all about. What differentiates us from animals? Man is considered to be the highest manifestation. What makes him highly evolved are five things that only humans are capable of, not any other animal. Only man is endowed with higher abilities to create and express as manifested in art, to meditate and inquire as manifested in self realization, to love and devote as opposed to merely lust, to be happy and blissful as manifested in laughter, to discriminate and know the difference between what is real and unreal as manifested in developed cognition and conscience.  Microcosmically, when you meditate on Who am I and are established on the inner Self, you are left with only these five values. You experience creativity, peace, happiness, love and truth emanating from your inner core and reverberating in the universe. You do not even require enlightenment to experience it. Ask yourself whether at your core, arent the values of creativity, peace, happiness, love and truth that exist? Take any list of values in a value education class and you can distill them to these fiveno more or no less.

Thus both from a macro and micro point of view, you are left with these five essences. Let us examine each of them to understand the qualities of Self or the nature of Godhead:

Creation (Abhivyakti) : Creation is the physical manifestation of ideas and thoughts. At the core of the universe is creation. The Self in Rest created the universe, the Self in Action to know itself. Shiva created Shakti. Creation also denotes self expression.

Realization (Mouna): Why did creation take place? So that the Self can realize itself.  So that the silence can be realized. At the core of everything created is silence, peace. The purpose of human birth is to realize oneself. The body-mind has been given for the Self to realize itself. The body-mind can never realize the Self. Self realizes itself through the body-mind

Enjoyment (Anand) : The Self realizes itself to be established in bliss. A mere body-mind is enough for the Self to realize itself. But what is unique about humans is that the individual someone who thinks of himself as separate also gets created. And when the individual surrenders to the Self, bliss manifests. God created individuality to experience the happiness of coming back (realizing) to Himself. This happiness is possible only when there is forgetfulness, when there is separation. Thus the significance of the individual. Realization leads to bliss.

Love (Prem): To realize oneself and be established in the Self, the body-mind has to surrender to the Self. You can call this as devotion (bhakti). Devotion arises out of duality. I am separate from God. The individual is separate from the Self. So now the individual surrenders to the Self through bhakti a higher form of love. Where the body-mind appreciates and is in amazement of the Self.  Bhakti leads to realization. On realization, a higher form of love manifests. Love of the Self for its creation. Pure love. Love of the Truth for the Truth.

Discrimination (Satya): On realization, you are stabilized on the truth. There is a clear distinction between what is real and what is unreal.  Only knowing remains. Knowing of the truth. To attain realization too, discrimination of what is the truth and what is not the truth is critical. Only human beings can discriminate between real and unreal. There are only two paths to realization one is that of Surrendering (bhakti). The other is that of discrimination (vivek) where there is a constant enquiry of what is real, what is unreal.

These five qualities shall emanate effortlessly from the one who is realized. Others can practice some simple steps that can enhance these five qualities in their life. Take up a vocation or a hobby where you are fully self expressed where you do not have a sense of time as you create. Mediate to have glimpses of realization. Carry happy thoughts and take time to smell the flowers as you enjoy the process of whatever you do. Be open to the love that exists in relationships. And practice self enquiry to discriminate between what is real and what is unreal.

Open your eyes and watch how all nature, how all that you do is a manifestation of these qualities. How these are the core values. Marvel at the question, What am I?

How is Contrast Mind formed

Q&A with Sirshree

Contrast Mind

Seeker: How is Contrast Mind formed in the first place?

Sirshree: The first thought that arises within us when we wake up in the morning is the ‘I thought’. There are variations to the ‘I thought’, viz.

• I woke
• I arose
• Now what is the first thing that I should do?
• My eyes are a bit heavy today
• Is it time for me to wake up?

Maybe the words could be different – but all of them are only those pertaining to I. With the advent of the ‘I thought’ – other thoughts start to follow. By then, the senses are awake too. It is only after the ‘I thought’ that the contrast mind forms which then judges everything as good or bad; ‘this was good’ or ‘this was bad’. This mind assumes a separate identity for itself – My work, My name, My actions, My religion, My nation, My sins, My pious deeds…

It compares and contrasts every event, every thought. It is precisely this that is unhappiness. It is precisely this that is bondage. It is this that is ignorance. It is this that is illusion. It is this that is the obstacle to attain truth. It is this that is the black cloud shrouding the sun (Self). It is this that is an eclipse. It is this that is the speck that has got into your eye and now won’t allow you to even see something as obvious as a mountain.

Also read:

1. Thoughts and Self Enquiry
2. Look who’s fooling you
3. Tejam: Bright Witnessing
4. Is the Truth bitter or sweet

Understanding Meditation

Giving attention is not meditation. Meditation is not concentration. Meditation is not contemplation. The word ‘meditation’ originated from spirituality. In India, spiritual seekers understood the deeper aspects of ‘meditation’. But today the word ‘meditation’ has become commonplace and is being used without its deeper meaning. It has therefore lost its importance. ‘Giving attention’ is being understood as ‘meditation’ by most people.

Meditation is an attribute.. attribute of the witness

Meditation is an attribute. It is an attribute of the witness. The witness which is called differently by different people… God, Allah, Self, Self-awareness, Consciousness, etc. Meditation is that source which is present even in deep sleep – self-awareness – even in the state of unawareness.

Meditation simply means ‘doing nothing.’ For some people ‘doing nothing’ is very difficult. How can we do ‘nothing’? If someone asks, ‘What should I do to get sleep? What can be done to get sleep faster?’ Then he will be told , ‘You have to do nothing to get sleep. Just go and lie down. If you try to get sleep, it will run away. You can get sleep very easily without making any effort.’ In the same way, meditation is also a process in which there is no need to do anything. You simply have to be present.

The techniques which have been designed to kick start meditation or to improve concentration, have also been called ‘meditation’. This ‘meditation’ is a path to self-meditation. Self-Meditation means meditation of ‘Self’ which is the real aim of meditation. Just improving concentration is not the goal of meditation. The word ‘Self-Meditation’ is more appropriate than the word ‘meditation’. But due to the greater prevalence of the word ‘meditation’, people have forgotten the real meaning of meditation. Concentration is a ladder in the path of meditation. Concentration improves with meditation. But if someone is meditating with the aim of improving concentration, then he is taking only minimal benefit from meditation. Many a times it so happens that someone begins on the path of meditation to attain ‘Self–Realization’, but he becomes very happy with improved concentration having gotten some powers and strays away from his real goal.

Meditation has also been taken as a Yogic Practice. Meditation (awareness) is necessary in every field of life. No work can be done without meditation. Meditation is essential for all activities of life. All our senses affect our body. Whenever our senses are directed externally and are involved in external things, then all the energy of our mind gets exhausted in the external objects. Therefore it is necessary that we have some control over our senses, which is possible through meditation. Through meditation it is possible to utilize for ourself a part of the energy which is getting consumed in the external world. To shift the mind from external objects and stabilize it inside is the beginning of meditation.
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Complete Meditation - 222 Question and Answers

The above article has been taken from ‘Meditation’, a book written by Sirshree. Although it was targeted primarily for beginners, it can be useful for everybody – even for those who practice meditation regularly. Just as you can’t learn swimming by just reading a book on swimming, similarly you can’t get the benefits of meditation, you don’t get absorbed in meditation just by reading a book on meditation. Practicing regularly with the right understanding is necessary to make progress.

Also read:

1. Preparation before meditation
2. RELAX BUTTON MEDITATION
3. Concentration Meditation
4. “I Don’t Know” Meditation
5. Tejam: Bright Witnessing

Thoughts and Self Enquiry

Q&A with Sirshree

Who am I?

Seeker: How to make the mind thoughtless?

Sirshree: Mind means thoughts. Being thoughtless means being in a “no mind” state. To quieten the mind, self-enquiry is the most beautiful method. This method is the road (means) as well as the destination (end). When you ask, “Who am I?”, this thought in the form of a question will cut off other thoughts. While this enquiry is on, other thoughts cannot remain. After ending all other thoughts – this last thought of ‘Who am I?’ will also end itself. Then self-realization takes place. This will break the concept of form – the concept of body. You are not limited by the body. You are boundless and boundary less. You will come to know by experience. That is why self enquiry is the most beautiful method to make the mind thoughtless.

Seeker: Why do you say that self enquiry is the best method? Why is it better than all other meditations?

Sirshree: Those who meditate generally do so by uttering a word, visualizing an image, repeating a mantra, etc. But, these repetitions are not effective to enhance your awareness about yourself as the question “Who am I?”. Many who meditate don’t know whether they are meditating or sleeping or are merely in a hazy state of mind. You cannot be in a hazy state when you ask the question “Who am I?”. You become aware of the response to this question. This question pierces within you like a sharp instrument and drives you within to ‘your centre’. In the beginning you may not be able to recognize the deep silence within you in spite of reaching your centre (source). However by persisting to ask this question, you will gradually start recognizing the deep silence, a stillness – which is your true self. Later the question itself becomes the answer.

However advanced a meditator is, thoughts continue to crowd the mind. We need a very potent thought to annihilate these thoughts; a thought that will annihilate all the thoughts. You require a steel instrument to cut steel. An antidote for a poison is another poison. In the same way, let one thought annihilate all other thoughts.

The Whole-Sole Purpose of Your Life

Being established permanently in the Self is called Self Stabilization

We have within us a centre, a core, from where all our thoughts and feelings emanate. The most interesting part is that this center is always fixed, it never moves. It is akin to the axis of a fan which is always stationery and is essential for the fan to function. Similarly there is something within us which is stationery and fixed. To get established there is the whole sole purpose of your life. Once you have access to that centre, then you will learn that there alone lies eternal bliss. That center can also be called the Self. Being established there permanently can be called as Self Stabilization, which is distinct from self realization – a one time glimpse.

There are three steps to attain the whole-sole purpose of human life.

Step 1 : Be Positive Minded.

Always bear a positive outlook. Several pessimistic and negative thoughts might come across your path in this journey towards your goal. Transform every negative thought to a positive one by using the word ‘but’. If a thought comes to you, “I am sad”, then immediately transform this thought into a positive one. Say, “I am sad, but if I desire, I can experience the feeling of bliss here and now itself”. If you think that “I cannot do this work”, then reframe the thought in this manner: “I cannot do this, but with the help of God it can be possible”.

Step Two : Be Present Minded

In this step you are required to keep yourself alert about every sound, every incident, every thought around you, every moment. By doing so, you will become sensitive about yourself and your surroundings. You will also get rid of forgetfulness. You shall no more remain absentminded. Your awareness about the present also will make you aware about negative emotions or vices in you such as hatred, disgust, anger, pride, comparison and greed. Thus your mind starts to become pure. Practice living in the present using all the methods and meditations that you come across. (Many such exercises are featured in our newsletters regularly)

Step Three : Be Single Minded

In the third step, you are undisturbed and only focused towards the whole-sole purpose of your life. Remind yourself of your whole sole purpose throughout the day. It is the law of life that whatever you are receptive toward, whatever you focus your attention on, that manifests in your life. Be single minded about the whole sole purpose of being established in the centre within where you experience eternal bliss.

These three steps take your mind within. Mind is the cloud that is shrouding the sun (Self) from shining. When your mind surrenders to the centre then only will happiness, tranquility and love manifest. What was always ever present can be experienced. Practice Self Enquiry to reach the Self, to reach that centre. Practising Self Enquiry is one of the best ways to take your mind within where it gets eliminated so that the Self shines.

Self Enquiry is a path that is gaining popularity nowadays. It is an ancient method, that has been time and again revived by realized souls. After Ramana Maharishi revived this process, many have taken up this path. Still it is one of the most misunderstood of concepts. Sirshree Tejparkhiji demystifies Self Enquiry and leads the seeker step by step in his book “Self Enquiry with Understanding”.

Visit http://www.tgfonlinestore.com/ for Tejguru Sirshree Tejparkhiji’s books.