Snippets from Satprakashananda (wip)

1. ajñāna or avidyā

Brahman as controlling mayā is Iśvara. Brahman as controlled by mayā is jīva. From the position of the jīva, this mysterious principle, māyā, is designated as ajñāna or avidyā, which is usually translated as ignorance or nescience. But ajñāna or avidyā does not mean the absence or the negation, but the reverse, of knowledge. It is antiknowledge, which terminates with the knowledge of Reality.

2. mithyā

Since the world of becoming is indescribable (anirvacanīya) either as real (sat) or as unreal (asat), it is characterized in Vedantic terminology as mithyā, which does not mean, as is often misconceived, "unreal" but "other than real and unreal" (sadasad-vilaksņa). The manifold has an apparent existence grounded on the Supreme Being like the illusory appearance of a serpent on a rope.

3. Māyā

That which is real in Māyā is the Reality in and through Māyā. Yet the Reality is not seen, and hence that which is seen is unreal and it has no real independent existence of itself, but is dependent upon the Real for its existence. Māyā then is a paradox - real, yet not real; an illusion, yet not an illusion. He who knows the Real sees in Māyā not illusion but Reality. He who knows not the Real sees in Māyā illusion and thinks it real. ~Vivekananda (as quoted by S)

Column Advaita Style

1. Saints Say

If a dry sponge is a dead sponge and a wet sponge is a live sponge, consciousness gives existence to the material world and not vice versa.

The intent of an evolutionary universe is not to produce consciousness but reflect consciousness in a more subtle manner.

The subtle body is like a mirror. In reality, there is no mirror. People live and die in Maya while the saints go marching on.

2. To the Truth

This hydroscopic universe appears in absolute consciousness. Consciousness pervades this absorbent world like Vishnu do.

If God is a concept, so is your person. Atheism is only halfway to the truth. Halfway to the truth is a perilous lie.

The body is the bodhi tree. The mind is a mirror. If Bodhi is unborn, where does all the dust go?

3. View from Mesa Arch 2008

Artificial intelligence is neither intelligence nor art.

Only love reveals truth and beauty.

Between the desert and dark clouds is the rain of Ramana Maharshi like a Doric column.

~sr12

Canyonlands 2008

Artificial intelligence is neither intelligence nor art.

Only love reveals truth and beauty.

Between the desert and dark clouds is the rain of Ramana Maharshi.

To the Truth

This hydroscopic universe appears in absolute consciousness. Consciousness pervades this absorbent world like Vishnu do.

If God is a concept, so is your person. Atheism is only halfway to the truth. Halfway to the truth is a perilous lie.

The body is the bodhi tree. The mind is a mirror. Bodhi is unborn. Where does the dust collect?

Ode Hymn Song Silence

1. New Ode to Satcitananda

Satcitananda are not three attributes of Absolute Brahman but that essence expressed three ways: consciousness, existence, holistic bliss infinity.

These three expressions are the nondual trinity of negative capability — Absolute Brahman is neither non-existent, unaware, nor limited.

Atman neither exists nor doesn't exist, is neither aware nor unaware. Atman is the principle of existence and the ground of consciousness, unlimited.

2. Hymn to Isvara

Absolute Brahman is Brahman without attributes – Nirguna Brahman. Saguna Brahman is Brahman with attributes, God, Isvara and its sword of Maya.

Maya is beginningless. Maya is intelligent. Duality is the mark of Maya. The laws of science are the works of Maya. The puzzles of the universe are the sword play of Maya.

The ignorance of Avidya is Maya mixed with busyness and inertia. Wisdom is Maya mixed with effortless non-doing and intuitive non-knowing. That is the will of Isvara.

3. Sun Song

The source of the sun is a black hole to big science.

The source of the sun god is consciousness-existence in maya.

In reality, the sun is an appearance in and of the self-luminous Self.

4. Voice of the Silence

In Acadia National Park, on the western slope of Cadillac Mountain, I watch the sun set like a nuclear power plant over Eagle Lake 1999.

From a park bench in the Santa Lucia Mountains of Big Sur on the grounds of New Camaldoli Hermitage, I watch the vast Pacific like Merton in Asia.

shizukesa ya
iwa ni shimi-iru
semi no koe

~Basho

~sr11

Sun Song

The source of the sun is a black hole to big science.

The source of the sun god is consciousness-existence in maya.

In reality, the sun is an appearance in and of the self-luminous Self.

Hymn to Isvara

Absolute Brahman is Brahman without attributes – Nirguna Brahman. Saguna Brahman is Brahman with attributes, God, Isvara and its sword of Maya.

Maya is beginningless. Maya is intelligent. Duality is the mark of Maya. The laws of science are the works of Maya. The puzzles of the universe are the sword play of Maya.

The ignorance of Avidya is Maya mixed with busyness and inertia. Wisdom is Maya mixed with effortless non-doing and intuitive non-knowing. That is the will of Isvara.

suite reality 10 the movie

1. woodfire

The body burns with the principle of existence. The mind reflects nonconceptual consciousness.

Is woodfire wood or fire? Am I the reflection or that which is reflected?

Mortality is a fundamental belief. Immortality is the fundament.

2. satcitananda

Atman neither exists nor doesn't exist. Atman is existence.

Is consciousness a product of the universe or does the universe appear in consciousness?

What's death if I don't think about it? Satcitananda is indescribable.

3. floes

Ice floes appear in the river.

Ice floes are nothing but the river.

Ice floes melt into the river.

Big wheel keeps on turning.

The hydrologic cycle is a game of gods.

The river is a metaphor for Brahman.

4. movie

The source of this reflected consciousness is smaller than a mustard seed and greater than a god.

Stuck inside the dreamstate with the kensho blues again waiting for spontaneous combustion.

Seeing through this smash hit of a movie is that silver screen of pure consciousness, five stars.

suite reality number nine

1. lucid dreaming

The real lucid dreaming is always being mindful the waking state is a dream state too.

Real lucid dreaming is not about dreaming in a certain direction but understanding

consciousness is the witness of the waking dream as mind is the watcher of the sleeping dream.

2. reality redux

Self-realization is the true apocalypse.

Self-awareness is the meaning of Maya.

Reflected consciousness is the ego.

Self-consciousness is the superego.

Brahman is the substrate of the universe. 

Atman is the ground of yourself.

The substrate of the universe is 

the ground of yourself.

3. the truth abides

There's no subconsciousness.

There's only sub-memory.

In reality, there's consciousness only.

As the body is self-functioning,

the mind is self-dreaming.

Psychology digs into maya.

The truth abides in awareness.

4. like a witchita line

The wise ones on the highest peaks see pure consciousness forever.

The wise ones in the deepest caves see absolute existence only.

The wise ones on the ground transmit consciousness-existence.

Talks on Aparoksanubhuti 104-124 (work in progress)

104.

All is Brahman. From this understanding, the senses are self-controlled.

This approach is called authentic yama and should be cultivated again and again.

105.

The continuous current of that thought (I am Brahman) while excluding dissimilar thoughts

is called true niyama, which is supreme bliss and a regular observance by the wise.

106.

Renunciation of the phenomenal world by seeing it as the Atman of pure consciousness

is real renunciation and worshipped by the great ones as instant liberation.

107.

From where words turn back unable to reach the mind

is that silence attainable by yogis but which the realized one always is.

108.

Who can speak of that from which all words return?

Just to describe this phenomenal world is beyond all words.

109.

Let that silence of the wise be known as the natural state.

The silence of words is merely prescribed for the unknowing by the knowers of Brahman.

110.

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

is that all-pervading space only solitude knows.

111.

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.

112.

That way in which unbroken meditation on Brahman flows with ease

is the right posture. And not some other Asana which destroys one's equanimity.

113.

That known as the source of all beings, the substrate of the universe, the immutable ground

upon which the enlightened one is seated — that truly is the perfect posture.