suite reality eight, brahman is great

1. That's Satcitananda

Brahman is the substrate of the universe. Atman is the ground of yourself. The substrate of the universe is the ground of yourself.

Existence is the ground of consciousness. Consciousness is the principle of existence. That's satcitananda.

That is the source of being, substrate of the world, immutable ground upon which one sits in natural posture, Aparoksanubhuti.

2. Consciousness Transcends Thought

Reflected consciousness is to consciousness as filtered light is to light.

People think reflected consciousness is consciousness but consciousness transcends thought.

Let your thoughts appear in consciousness and disappear like fireflies on the Fourth of July.

3. Satcitananda

I am the light in reflected consciousness.

I am that transcendental consciousness.

I am consciousness-existence, satcitananda!

4. Epilogue like a Lighthouse

To see through thought is like a lighthouse seeing through a fog bank.

This shimmering world is soaked in consciousness.

Consciousness is self-luminous in need of no lighthouse. 

Suite Consciousness (sr7)

1. practical metaphysics

At heart, Advaita is practical metaphysics. And not outlandish new age ritual nor unproven scientific theory.

As the world of thought appears in consciousness and not the other way around, that begins there.

As truth is beauty and beauty is truth, consciousness is existence and existence is consciousness. That is all.

2. caveat emptor

As that consciousness-existence (Brahman) is foundational, Brahman is eternal, immutable, and nondual.

Since the world is full of birth and death, transformation, and multiplicity, the world cannot be Brahman.

Since nondual Brahman is everything, the world is an obvious illusion. Like a dream called Maya.

3. naming names

In Advaita, Brahman is the nondual nameless formless absolute. That Nirguna Brahman is Brahman without attributes.

Saguna Brahman is Brahman with attributes, named Isvara. Maya is the sword of Isvara called duality.

Some worship particlar attributes and give them names. Some worship attributes but do not know it. These get adjectives.

suite reality six

0. Transcreating Aparoksanubhuti 110-111

Where the world does not exist, in the beginning, middle, or end,

is that all-pervading space only solitude knows.

In the blink of an eye, Time produces all beings, beginning with Brahma the Creator.

Verily that is also called Timeless, the one who is unbroken bliss and nondual.

1. Talking Aparoksanubhuti

Nirguna Brahman is timeless. Saguna Brahman is time.

Where the space of this universe doesn't exist is that all-pervading spacelessness.

Verily, spacetime is pervaded by that spaceless timeless Parabrahman.

2. Gods of Maya

In misty Maya, Brahman appears to be Brahma. In Advaita, Saguna Brahman is called Isvara. 

Brahma is the first name of Isvara. Vishnu is the middle name. Shiva is the last.

They are Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer. God has ten thousand nicknames. I call mine The Universe.

3. To every Jiva, there's an Isvara

Everybody has a god. Even atheists have their atheism.

Theists have their specific theology. Scientists have their particular scientology.

Advaita has Isvara. Accept your world as it is before transcending it.

4. God is that which floats your boat

The whole is more than a sum of the parts. The sea is more than a number of islands, Matsushima.

Brahman is the grand in Grand Canyon, Nachiketa.

New Mexico is neither Santa Fe nor Sky City; Los Alamos is still off-limits. Atman is neither mustard seed nor god, Thor Heyerdahl.

The Books of Revelations

1. Revelations

In order to avoid the problems of social sects and personal opinions, the Upanishads are considered scripture in Vedanta, although Advaita puts a spin on this.

There is a higher teaching and a lower teaching. When the lower teaching contradicts the higher teaching, take the teaching where you're at.

Similarly any special power is considered to be a lower teaching. Power is by definition the territory of Maya.

2. from Mundaka 1.1-3 (vijñāte sarvam idaṁ vijñātaṁ)

1. Om! Brahma, the creator of the Universe and the protector of the world, was the first among the gods to manifest Himself. To His eldest son Atharva He imparted that knowledge of Brahman that is the basis of all knowledge.

2. The knowledge of Brahman that Brahma imparted to Atharva, Atharva transmitted to Arigir in days of yore. He (Arigir) passed it on to Satyavaha of the line of Bharadvaja. He of the line of Bharadvaja handed down to Arigiras this knowledge that had been received in succession from the higher by the lower ones.

3. Saunaka, well known as a great householder, having approached Arigiras duly, asked, 'O adorable sir, which is that thing which having been known, all this becomes known?'

(tr-Gambhirananda)

3. Divining Oneself

Brahmavidya is that limitless consciousness-existence transcending this reflected conscious life of a body-mind.

Intuiting the substrate of consciousness-existence is the great awakening of one in a million. Identifying with that substrate is enlightenment for one.

O Ananda, here I really am, standing on the ground of consciousness, pledging my time to that principle of existence, Satcitananda.

4. Scenic Viewpoints

Only Brahma knows Brahman and passes that on to Peter or Petra.

From the point of view of Maya, Brahman is Brahma.

From the point of view of Brahman, Brahman is Brahman.

~sr5

Suite Reality Four

1. Fountains of Satcitananda

In the sea of consciousness, the body of maya floats on satcitananda.

In beginningless mists, a most subtle body suddenly appears.

Through it rises a fountain, reflecting consciousness atoms under the sun.

2. Parabrahman

Parabrahman is not nothingness.

Parabrahman transcends all concepts.

Parabrahman is the substrate of nonconceptual consciousness-existence upon which all concepts are superimposed.

3. Revelation & Aparoksanubhuti

Listen to the revelation and confirm it for yourself. If there's affirmation, leave it on your playlist. Realization is just abyss away.

"From where words turn back unable to reach the mind is that silence attainable by yogis but which the realized one always is.

Who can speak of that from which all words return? Just to describe this phenomenal world is beyond all words."

Parabrahman

Parabrahman is not nothingness.

Parabrahman transcends all concepts.

Parabrahman is the substrate of nonconceptual consciousness-existence upon which all concepts are superimposed.

~rj29

Fountains of Satcitananda

In the sea of consciousness, the body of maya floats on satcitananda.

In beginningless mists, a most subtle body suddenly appears.

Through it rises a fountain, reflecting consciousness atoms under the sun.

~rj28

Near New Camaldoli

God is I Am, I know I Am, I love I know I Am. The highest truth is unborn says the Mandukya Upanishad. 

Lower truths become unwritten law. The highest truth is truth alone. Lake Manasarovar is like the highest lake in the world.

Matsushima Bay is the most beautiful view in the universe. We were somewhere near New Camaldoli when nonduality took hold.

Origin and Destination

1.

Atman is neither inner nor outer.

Brahman isn't individual or universal.

Turiyam is nondual.

2.

Rituals, practices, commandments, oh my!

If the problem is ignorance, the solution is knowledge only.

Consciousness is the foundation of all knowledge.

3.

At the end of the conceptual rainbow is consciousness and existence.

That satcitananda is like the consciousness-existence unlimited. All aboard!

That Consciousness-Existence Unlimited never leaves the station. For that's origin and destination.

Suite Reality #3

1. consciousness

Individual consciousness are people.

Universal consciousness be god.

Absolute consciousness is.

2. name and formula only

The world is the superimposition of namarupa on the substrate of satcitananda.

Maya is the stuff of name and form. Turiya is a name for the formless.

Ayam Atma Brahma is the grand unified formless formula.

3. reflections

In the lake of consciousness, there's quite a reflection.

No matter how you look at it, this reflection is nothing but water.

This reflection is appearing in consciousness. Consciousness pervades this reflection.

Reflecting on Consciousness

The mind reflects consciousness. The mind does not fabricate consciousness.

Pure consciousness is self-luminous. The substrate of maya is satcitananda.  

In namarupa, satcitananda is the holy trinity of nonduality.  

Nothing but Pure Consciousness

Five sheaths, four states, three bodies, two dreams, one maya.

Enumerating this creation is prologue to its deconstruction.

Not inner, nor outer, nor consciousness in-between.

Not seed, nor god, nor nothing but pure consciousness.

~rj27

All Appears in Consciousness

Brahman is Satcitananda only. Existence-consciousness-bliss are not three attributes of Brahman. Satcitananda is the nondual nature of Brahman.

In Maya, existence is living, consciousness is knowing, and bliss is self-awareness. I am, I know, I love I know I am.

Scientific materialism believes, without proof, consciousness is a product of an evolutionary brain. All appears in consciousness. Proof is merely stating the obvious.

~rj26

Transcreating Dakshinamurti (work in progress)

1.

The universe is as a reflection in a mirror, appearing to be a city within oneself, like a dream within sleep, but through the illusory power of Maya seems to be externally manifested.

The one who witnesses reality at the moment of awakening is one’s own nondual Self. Salutations to the blessed teacher in the form of that all-knowing Shiva who faces the south, holy Dakshinamurti.

Bibliography

Dakshinamurti and Manasollasa by John M. Denton

Reflections on Dakshinamurti Stotram by Swami Sarvapriyananda

Hymn to Dakshinamoorthy by Swami Chinmayananda

Hymn to Dakshinamurti (from The Hymns of Sankara) by TMP Mahadevan

other trans of 1a

in which the Self alone plays as the universe of names and forms, like a city seen in a mirror, due to the māyā power, as though produced outside, as in a dream ~Chinmayananda

The universe is like a reflection seen in a mirror, appearing like a city within one’s own Self, but seeming to be outside, through the illusory power of Māyā, as if dreaming in a sleep. ~Denton

who by mayā as by dream, sees within Himself the universe which is inside Him, like unto a city that is seen in a mirror, (but) which is manifes-ted as if without ~Mahadevan

through the illusion of the Ātman as through sleep, sees the universe existing within himself like a city reflected in a mirror, as though it were manifested externally. ~Sarvapriyananda

Isvara's Prayer

1. God, The Universe, Isvara

If there's an individual consciousness, there's a universal consciousness to deify.

Call it God, The Universe, or Isvara. Simple acknowledgment is worship enough.

Denying this basic recognition is the height of self-deceit making real self-inquiry infeasible.

2. Isvara Help

Scientific atheists of the west are between gods, Isvara help them.

Isvara is Brahman as seen from the point of view of Maya.

Maya is the snake in the rope, a desert mirage, fool's gold, Texas tea.

3. God's Work

Visualizing Brahman as Isvara is God's work.

As one goes through samsara to get to nirvana, one goes through Isvara to get to Brahman.

The power of Isvara is Maya. The power of Maya is duality. The power of duality is twofold: veiling and revealing.

4. The Mahavakya Quartet

It's Brahman as far as the eye can see. Atman is that unbelievable consciousness in which a world of belief appears. Aum. Turiyam is shorthand for Ayam Atma Brahma.

~Suite Reality 2

Quotenotes:

It is true there is one Reality that appears as the universe, as the individualized knowing self, that appears as the Ruler of the universe. Yet, as long as you acknowledge one of these three, you have to acknowledge the other two also. ~Satprakashananda

God is a conscious being who must necessarily have all-knowledge and all power/skill to create, sustain and resolve the jagat. We will replace the word God, with the word Īśvara because it is an unabused Sanskrit word, so far. ~Dayananda

God's Work

Visualizing Brahman as Isvara is God's work.

As one goes through samsara to get to nirvana, one goes through Isvara to get to Brahman.

The power of Isvara is Maya. The power of Maya is duality. The power of duality is twofold: veiling and revealing.

Isvara Help

Scientific atheists of the west are between gods, Isvara help them.

Isvara is Brahman as seen from the point of view of Maya.

Maya is the snake in the rope, a desert mirage, fool's gold, Texas tea.

~rj24

God is a conscious being who must necessarily have all-knowledge and all power/skill to create, sustain and resolve the jagat. We will replace the word God, with the word Īśvara because it is an unabused Sanskrit word, so far. ~Dayananda

On God, The Universe, or Isvara

If there's an individual consciousness, there's a universal consciousness to deify.

Call it God, The Universe, or Isvara, simple acknowledgment is worship enough.

Denying this basic recognition is the height of self-deceit making real self-inquiry infeasible.

~rj23

It is true there is one Reality that appears as the universe, as the individualized knowing self, that appears as the Ruler of the universe. Yet, as long as you acknowledge one of these three, you have to acknowledge the other two also. ~Satprakashananda

my Advaita Makaranda (a work in progress)

1.

kaṭākṣa-kiraṇācānta-naman-mohabdhaye namaḥ,

anantānanda-kṛṣṇāya jagan-maṅgala-mūrtaye.

2.

I am. Always I illumine. Never am I unbeloved.

For I am Brahman alone and my nature is satcitananda.

3.

Rising in my space of consciousness is this universe like a castle in the sky.

Thus how can I not be Brahman, all-knowing and the cause of all?

4.

I always know myself. Without parts,

origination, shelter, or support, I am indestructible.

5.

There is no drying, burning, wetting, cutting, or dividing that space of awareness.

The real is untouched by wind, fire, water, weapons, or other instruments of illusion.

6.

This universe cannot be experienced without the revelation of consciousness.

I am that onnipresent light of awareness which is all-pervading.

7.

Without light, the world does not exist. Without consciousness, there is no light.

Without the unreal superimposed on the real, there is no union with consciousness. For I am nondual.

8.

Neither body nor senses am I. Nor life-force nor mind nor intelligence.

These have been embraced as mine only because of this play of thoughts in the mind.

9.

The witness, all-pervading and beloved am I, and I am never

changing, limited, nor afflicted with suffering.

10.

The mind’s I in deep sleep doesn’t see sorrow, imperfection, or fault.

Samsara belongs to ego and not the witness of the traveling samsari.

Bibliography

The One and One Only: Advaita Makaranda by Swami Tejomayananda

Advaita Makaranda - The Nectar of Non-duality of Sri Laksmidhara Kavi, translation and commentary by Swami Atmarupananda

A Nip of Nectar: A translation of Advaita Makaranda of Poet Lakṣmīdhara by Anonymous

Advaita Makaranda Translation & Commentary by Ann Berliner

Suite Shining Big-Sea-Water

By the Shore

As crow doesn't know the ways of people, people do not know the Way. Crow mind or human mind, it's all monkeystuff of Maya. Islands never know the sea of consciousness except upon the shore of intuition called Eka-atma-pratyaya-saram.

Crow and Calvin

As crow caws the cause of causelessness, Calvin preaches predestination. Either one's self-realized or one is sleeping. There are three states of sleeping including this waking one.

Koan 22

Ted Hughes wrote Crow. Sylvia Plath was his better half. The seventh mantra of the Mandukya Upanishad is my heart of Jesus. I can do the trinity in my sleep but the fourth is nondual, Gaudapada.

~rj 20-22 {sr1}

By the shore of Gitche Gumee,
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
At the doorway of his wigwam,
In the pleasant Summer morning,
Hiawatha stood and waited.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Koan 22

Ted Hughes wrote Crow. Sylvia Plath was his better half.

The seventh mantra of the Mandukya Upanishad is like my heart of Jesus.

I can do the trinity in my sleep but the fourth is nondual, Gaudapada.

~rj22

Crow and Calvin

As crow caws the cause of causelessness,

Calvin preaches predestination.

Either one's self-realized

or one is sleeping. 

There are three states of sleeping

including this waking one.

~rj21

By the Shores of Intuition

As crow doesn't know the ways of people, people do not know the Way.

Crow mind or human mind, it's all the monkeystuff of Maya.

Islands never know the sea of consciousness except upon

the shores of intuition called Eka-atma-pratyaya-saram.

~reality jingles number 20

love, satcitananda

Consciousness identifying with the mind is like fire identifying with firewood.

Consciousness identifying with consciousness is job number one.

Consciousness is the ground. Existence is the principle. Love is ananda, my love 

from Tucumcari to nonduality

I've been from Tucumcari to nonduality.

Duality is measured by the senses.

That's why nonduality makes no sense.

nonconceptual existence (to Mary from love)

People die. Consciousness doesn't.

People appear in consciousness.

Consciousness is self-apparent.

self-awareness like a total eclipse

The mind is this highly-advanced subtle body of Maya capable of reflecting consciousness

back to pure consciousness in an act of self-awareness like a total eclipse of the sun.

The moon shining on the earth is called consciousness.

The sun shining on the moon is called awareness (pure consciousness).

The moon shining on the sun is called absolution (enlightenment).

Talks on Aparoksanubhuti 56-58: the real seer

However much an experience this practical transactional world seems to be, it is unsubstantial like a dream with all its momentary contradictions.

Upon waking, the dream state disappears. In dreaming, there is no waking state. Both are non-existent in deep sleep while deep sleep is unavailable in both.

Thus these three states are considered to be unreal, creations of the three primal attributes. The real seer is beyond all attributes, that one consciousness, the Self.

Altaring Consciousness

If the sun is consciousness

and the moon, reflected consciousness,

the earth is like The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Some call pure consciousness, awareness.

Some call reflected consciousness, the mind.

Some call experience, mindful consciousness. 

Sometimes I get a great notion to know I Am.

Talking Aparoksanubhuti 52-54: body, ego, god, and dna

1. Paramatman

There is no atman but paramatman. 

Paramatman is the satcitananda of any other so-called atman.

2. any other so-called atman

Physical, subtle, omniscient, or seed

(body, ego, god, and dna).

3. nonduality

Reality is inconceivable. Duality is a misconception.

The binary universe is an appearance in nonduality. 

Talks on Aparoksanubhuti 52-54: no second

Imagining the slightest difference between an individual self and the Supreme Self is the undertaking of a foolish mind and certain to invite much fear and loathing.

As reality is misconceived, duality appears—and one sees another. But as one is seeing the Self in all, there is no other in the least.

In the one who truly realizes all beings as the Self, there's neither delusion nor sorrow, for there is no second.

To Turning Time an Auerbach

After fire, time zones are the greatest human discovery.

As nuclear bombs and artificial intelligence are the greatest use of fire,

daylight savings time is the greatest use of time zones.

As if the end of daylight savings time is final proof that we the people control time.

Talking Aparoksanubhuti 49-51: from The Aparok Opera Experience

This last song from The Aparok Opera Experience called 'born of Brahman' is chrome-wheeled, fuel-injected, and steppin' out over the line. Get yours today.

I appreciate that Mahavakya of Mandukya, Ayam Atma Brahma, incorporating the duality of Atman and Brahman into a single fourth, Turiya. Similarly Shankarachaya writes "Brahman, Paramatman."

That it's said Shankaracharya wrote this doesn't mean Shankara wrote this but some master from his monastic lineage with the honorific of Shankaracharya.

They say namarupa is 40% of maya. The reflection of satcitananda makes up the rest. Differentiate the real from unreal and see this dream is just conditioned mind reflecting in the lake of pure consciousness.

Is the mind a reflection of consciousness or is consciousness that in which the mind appears? Most identify with mind. Such maya is beginningless. Identifying with consciousness takes some practice.

Talks on Aparoksanubhuti 49-51: born of Brahman

All beings are born of Brahman, Paramatman. Therefore one should understand they are Brahman alone.

All various names and forms are Brahman alone. All activity is similarly sustained. This is divine revelation.

Whatever's created from gold is always gold. And too, whoever is born of Brahman is always of the nature of Brahman.