winterknight

Continuously. Now. Grab on to the "I" feeling and hold on to it with a death grip no matter what else happens till you figure out what the hell it actually is. What actually is that feeling? When you say "I," which seems obvious, what are you actually referring to at a deep, felt level? And then of course you knock out all the things you think you are when you notice that "I am aware of them." So when you've eliminated all of those, what's left?

Those are not different goals. The inquiry is: "Who am I?" Focusing on that with "steadiness of concentration" will eventually bring peace and calmness. How would the answers to these questions affect your path?

Increasing mental peace and calmness, increasing steadiness of concentration in inquiry

Well it's like you've been staring directly at a wall for so long you've forgotten it's there, and you're asking yourself "Where's the wall? Where's the wall?" and then suddenly -- snap! -- you realize it's right in front of you, you've been looking directly at it all this time. So the inquiry -- the questions about where the wall was -- fell away of itself. But you can't control when & how that happens. It's like that (obviously not exactly the same, because the I is not a physical object like a wall). It sounds like you've already experienced that to some extent. And then you seem to forget again. That's what happens, and why inquiry must be repeated. There is and isn't a final a-ha moment. The final moment is to realize you were there the whole time. Psychedelics can reveal glimpses but they are not necessary nor are they enough. As far as bullshit and a waste of time, they're no more bullshit than a movie is a waste of time just because it's fictional.

Those are all supernatural powers, all in the realm of illusion. I don't know if they're true or not, but they're in the dream, whereas enlightenment is awakening from the dream. What happens "after" enlightenment is the end of suffering. What that means exactly you'll have to find out for yourself. All you have to do is to look into who is asking the question.

If you are worried about this, you need not accept it. You can find the truth out in your own experience.

Who is this "I" that is typing through a computer?

No, the Self is beyond creation and destruction and time and space. It has no beginning or end.

When you inquire into the Self, you will encounter inner resistance, because the inquiry threatens to dissolve the personal identity. That sounds like what you're encountering now. What this means is that your inquiry has not been pushed far enough yet, but maybe you are not ready to go further. Maybe you have doubts about the path. Maybe you don't want to go forward for one reason or another. You need to ask yourself what fears may be holding you back and see if you can address them. Do not push yourself to go further than you are comfortable with. This language about "sinking deep" struck me as odd. There's no "depth" involved here. Any time there are "degrees," that is a sign of the ego. You are simply trying to locate that "I am" sense -- the most obvious possible thing that you know every second. When that inquiry falls away of itself, peace results. There's no depth in that. Don't try to psych yourself into thinking you're accessing all these weird "deep" states. Those are all illusion. Finally, also ask yourself this: who is it precisely who is disturbed by this? And who really decides these questions of what to do next? Is that you? UFOs and humans are both illusion. Find out who you really are and you will find that neither exist. That's from the mind's standpoint, i.e. it's wrong, or at best an approximation. The truth is that it's all blank non-perceiving, even the various images.

The recommended technique is Ramana Maharshi's self-inquiry. It's very simple. You know that "I am" right now, right? It's obvious. Well, how do you know it? Where is that feeling coming from? Try to find out where in your experience it is coming from, that certainty that you are. Start in your body. Just like if someone asked you where you were feeling cold, and you searched your experience and said "Oh, my feet are feeling cold." In the same way, ask about the feeling of the "I" that you somehow know with certainty. And every time you think you know where it's coming from, the rule is that you must ask yourself if you are aware of that thing which you think is the source of the I. If you are, you haven't found the real source yet. So you keep going If, for example, you say "It's coming from my head" -- well, ask yourself "Well, I am aware of the feeling and sight of my head, right?" Notice that. So where is the "I" that is aware of the head? It's not coming from the head -- it is aware of it. So where is the I feeling? It's just like you notice that there is light in a room, and you're looking for the source of the light. Is it coming from this chair? No. The chair is lit up by something else. Is it coming from that table? Same deal. So keep searching until you find the light bulb. You'll know it when you find it.

A seeker needs to search until they find. One illusion is killed by another, better, higher one. That's how the search works.

I wouldn't say that, though, because that would be unhelpful. It encourages seekers to be dishonest with themselves, to pretend that they can simply go beyond dependence on states of satisfaction by an effort of will. They cannot. They do want satisfaction, and it is why they seek, and it is what prods them to continue seeking until they find. That knowledge beyond satisfaction and dissatisfaction will come about by itself, and there will be no need to say it.

Technically, the Self is beyond existence and time... they are within it. Sure, sounds good. The issue is basically whether dissatisfaction arises. If there's no dissatisfaction, there's no problem.

Well, the thoughts themselves aren't the problem, exactly, but it's the sense -- and only you can tell if it is occurring -- of it being a burden. If these thoughts are simply happening, as if automatically, in an atmosphere of total peace... well, no problem. But then again if that is there, the question will likely not arise as to what to do about it. It will feel blissful and you will not want to interrupt it. It's only when it's been interrupted already that the question arises.

Yes, that's still duality. Inquire into it. If there is any sense that "I have to put in effort to operate in the world because that's what the world requires" -- you need to inquire (or utterly relax and surrender). Only if you have a state where you feel totally effortless and at peace should it not be disturbed.

At the deepest level, because you identify with the noticer, and think the Self is something to be noticed, when it is actually simply what you are. But at a more practical level, it's because for seekers calmness of mind is what's required to inquire into the Self. Lethargy & exhaustion is a state of non-calmness. This is why a balanced life (eating moderately, sleeping moderately, etc.) is suggested for spiritual seekers. That's why I suggest other measures to ensure mental calmness.

Yes, it depends what use you make out of suffering. Even intense suffering on a mind that is unprepared to make use of it is useless. But even small suffering on a mind that is reflective can be enough to turn it inward in search of the Self.

No, truth is one. Enlightenment is seeing through the illusion that it is multiple. No, you must attempt to grasp -- either through self-inquiry or surrender. Even surrender/"letting go" is grasping -- of letting go. True surrender can happen, but it is not "you" who decides when or how that will be. Suffering is neither more nor less likely to lead to enlightenment, because the non-enlightened state is itself suffering. It's all the suffering that's required. What is visual snow and how does Mr. Clean relate?

A person with MPD needs to seek psychological help first, say, via psychodynamic/psychoanalytic therapy. They will almost certainly not have the calmness and concentration of mind to pursue spiritual self-inquiry otherwise.

A glimpse is when you've noticed the background peace of the mind. At the moment when you call it a glimpse it is already gone. It is... and as you saw, your noticing that desire is what threatened to interrupt it, and when you relaxed anyway, it was amazing. When you keep practicing that, you will eventually know that state is your permanent nature. yes, there doesn't need to be fear. yes. yes, you are on your way, but if you were truly content, you would let the mind utterly relax and not even worry about awakening. the relaxed mind is the awakened mind. if you can simply relax permanently and accept whatever comes -- that is enlightenment. but as long as these questions pull you back, you must keep putting in effort -- either to inquire into the I, or to relax and let go (as relaxation itself takes effort for the seeker). there is no shame in that. seek as long as you need.

Yes, this is a glimpse. I would recommend RM's self-inquiry however as a more disciplined way to go about things. Well, actually, there is no top, no mountain, no seeker, no path. That's the ultimate truth. All the rest are relative truths said for the benefit of seekers... (yes, the ones who don't exist)

2. Actually you can do both. It seems like you cannot because you are identified with the doer -- it is of course the purpose of enlightenment to see that you are not the doer. Initially try to pay, say, 50% attention to both... and steadily more and more attention to self-inquiry and the work will still get done. Eventually what you will realize is that there is absolutely no conflict. Or, if yo want to be a little braver, simply self-inquire -- ask yourself who is worried about the work being done? Be relentless. 3. Yes, that question will not arise. You will know it when your mind is calm, expansive, clear, and you feel a vast sense of peace, with the normal "I" totally seemingly vanished. Heh, I wish I could take credit. It's something Ramana Maharshi said and which resonated with me. Yeah, that's totally fine. These things will happen as it becomes more habitual. The point is, as I said to graded24 above, that if you are in a state of vast, clear, peace with your eyes open and that you can continue in while you are doing other activities... no need to disturb it. And if you "fall out of it," you will need less and less to get back. Sometimes it may be a simple word, a blink, a non-verbal flick of your mind and you will be back. Eventually not even that will be required. How can I confuse people who are already and always where they need to be?

when you are at the peak you can see the paths up the mountain. why does it bother you so much? No, you can just let it go. The only inquiry that needs to be maintained is into the "I" -- or else simply surrender and relax all thinking. Those are the two linked ways.

they are of use. but they may not be of use to you.

You're welcome! Because self-inquiry requires intense concentration which requires a calm mind. You're very welcome. Glad I can be of some help.