Ananta

Oh, I wasn't being sarcastic. ..don't misunderstand, I was just agreeing really. Btw, thanks for summing up what you were saying.

Ah, thanks!!

Ya know, in the past, I've tried to tell my patients that before I stick them, but they just don't seem to agree...lol! Haha, I know longer do patient care (I'm in administration now), but still go into their rooms at the hospital to talk with them. Alot better then sticking them with needles.

That's because the knowledge from the experience has not been fully assimilated into your life. This can take years. Basically, you take the knowledge of your true identity and meet every phenomenal moment with that Self-knowledge. It's called Nididhyāsanam.

Oh, it's definitely all in the dream/illusion. I was just making the distinction that Brahman does not think, so can not be part of a self thats schizophrenic, other than to be aware OF it.

Here an article of Ted Schmidt's (Vedanta teacher), it cleared up the free will topic for me- http://www.nevernotpresent.com/publications/cycle-life-illusion-free-will/ At the end of the article he says, in conclusion- "The conclusion to be drawn from this inquiry is that the apparent individual is definitely not the doer. To the apparent individual, however, the process heretofore described feels like free will, and thus from his or her point of view it amounts to the same thing. Hence, the apparent individual isn’t off the hook. He or she still must pay attention to his or her inner promptings and respond to them in the way that he or she deems most appropriate. Ironically, though determined by the vasanas, one’s destiny is revealed through the mechanism of one’s apparent free will. In other words, one’s apparent choices betray one’s causal program. Paradoxically, therefore, pre-destination and free will are, for all practical purposes, fundamentally the same thing."

Are you playing word games? Did I say Brahman wasn't reality/truth/real? The point was illusion/Mithya is also Brahman, as there is only Brahman. Again, the world is illusion, Brahman alone is real, the world IS Brahman. For discrimination purposes we negate all phenomena as Mithya, but after some time you will recognize that what you negated, is also the Self (capital "S"). All is you, awareness. You chopped wood and carried water prior to Self-realization, you chop wood and carry water after Self-realization.

No biggie, just letting people know, it's not the norm and docs actually usually try to figure out why, because it can potentially get worse with age. They often offer a sleeping aid for people who awaken during the night. Who don't have bladder issues, ect. So, they will have uninterrupted sleep.

No, you don't know about schizophrenia if you think it's the same. The absolute/Brahman/awareness is not thinking, it's devoid of thinking. Thinking happens with awareness. You are aware OF thinking. In schizophrenia, there is thinking/thought/ego and a "seperate" thought process happening simultaneously and/or auditory or visual hallucinations.

As a nurse, I can tell you that if someone says they awake in the middle of the night, they try to find a reason as to why? Bladder issues, ect. As its not the norm.

To me, this is obvious... maybe not to others?

@Shanmugam what are you trying to say? I'd rather hear from you, then this complicated reading...

In Vedanta, none of the yogas pertain to exercise. Karma yoga- "Of the paths to spiritual liberation in Hinduism, karma yoga is the path of unselfish action. It teaches that a spiritual seeker should act according to dharma, without being attached to the fruits or personal consequences." It's giving your actions to Isvara (God) and accepting all results as a gift.

Are you trying to say there is no transmigration in Mithya (illusion)?

@Joseph Maynor In Vedanta, Mithya (illusion) is also Brahman. The world is illusion Brahman alone is real The world is Brahman.

Words are only pointers, agree 100%! But, not everything can be an analogy or a metaphor, so a discussion it may seem "concrete" to some, but it's always only pointing.

Just because it's Mithya (illusion) doesn't mean it doesn't exist phenomenally.

Lets keep it really simple. I'm certain of two things, I'm aware and I exist. I know I exist, because I experience, but I also know that experience is ultimately an illusion. When I negate all phenomenal objects, including thoughts, feelings, emotions. "I AM" no-thing, I just AM.

To me, Atman is the portion of Brahman that at any given time is permeating the body/mind, but ultimately is Brahman alone. Any type of soul reference relates to the subtle body, not Atman.

Ok fine (I don't really know), but some word, to me, needs to be used. Otherwise, how can we discuss Brahman? I usually say, awareness, but on this forum I expand that to what the poster seems to understand. As I try to be somewhat flexible.

It explains the teaching with concepts and a cosmology to explain duality (meeting someone where they are), gives practices like karma yoga to the apparent person. Then, through the teaching methodology and Jnana yoga brings that same apparent person/jiva out of duality and into Self-realization, then Moksha. This is a condensed explaination, you didn't understand my original, so I expanded a tad.

It meets you in duality (ie. Karma yoga, ect), to bring you out of it.

My advice, for what it's worth, if your going to make a statement that could be misinterpreted by newbies. You should probably clarify what you actually mean. Unless, you're "trying" to cause them confusion? ..I would hope not. (Ie. "I stabbed myself to death"..and.." I honest to god couldn't tell the difference between a shelf and myself")

It's creating an idea of freedom/liberation (enlightenment) being "mystical". That creates false notions in others and keeps them chasing a non-existent carrot. Realization is mind blowing, in the sense that you realize something you never noticed before (that's always here) and when this hits home in a deep way it becomes very humorous. Just my 2 cents.

Lol! ... wasn't you, but that was funny!