a. A concept is a result of conceptualization, which is the
process of separating and naming.
b. Conceptualization is a process
learned in early childhood. The
infant does not conceptualize because its intellect is undeveloped. In contrast, the sage has a well-developed intellect and conceptualizes
but sees that separation is an illusion.
c. Without conceptualization, there
are no objects (e.g., in dreamless sleep, under anesthesia, or in samadhi)
because, by definition, objects are always separate from each other
(see item 7).
d. Reality is not a concept. Rather,
It is absence of separation.
a. A belief is a concept to which the mind is strongly attached.
b. A belief that cannot be verified
by direct seeing is always subject to attack by a counter-belief. Therefore, it must be constantly reinforced by repetition of the belief.
c. Since Reality is absence of
separation, It cannot be perceived. Therefore,
concepts cannot describe Reality (but they can be true, see g and h below).
d. Example: A material object by definition is separate from other
material objects. Therefore,
material objects are not real. The belief that material objects are real
is constantly reinforced by materialistic culture, and is sustained only by
a failure to see the distinction between objects and Reality.
e. Although concepts cannot describe Reality, they can point to Reality.
f. A pointer is an invitation to see directly the distinction between an
object and Reality.
g. If a concept asserts or implies
the reality of any object, it is untrue. If
it negates the reality of an object, it is true (but not a description of
Reality). A true concept can be a
useful pointer to Reality.
h. Example: The concept that material objects are not real is true, and
is a pointer to Reality.
a. The world (the universe) is the collection of objects
consisting of the body-mind and all other objects. The world appears to exist in
time and space.
b. However, time and space are
nothing but concepts. They are not real.
c. Time is the concept of change. Since all objects change, all objects are temporal concepts.
d. Space is the concept of
extension (size and shape). Since
all objects are extended in space, all objects are spatial concepts.
a. Conceptualization always results in inseparable pairs of concepts (polar,
or dual, pairs) because every concept has an opposite.
b. Reality is apparently split into polar (dual) pairs by
conceptualization. However, no concept is real since Reality cannot be
split.
c. The result of apparently
splitting Reality into polar pairs of concepts is called duality.
d. The
two concepts of a pair are always inseparable because the merger of the
opposites will cancel the pair.
e. Example: "I"/not-"I" is a polar pair of concepts. If the "I" and not-"I" merge, neither concept remains.
a. Awareness is not a concept or object. It is what is aware of all concepts and objects.
b. It does not change and It has no
extension so It is time-less and space-less.
c. However, It is said to be space-like
because all concepts and objects
are said to appear in It.
d.
The terms “Awareness” and
“Reality” are equivalent conceptual pointers.
a. You are not a concept or object because You are what is aware of all
concepts and objects.
b. Therefore, You are Awareness.
c. Because the body-mind
and the world
are objects, they appear in You--You do not appear in them.
a. An object is said to exist if it is believed to be separate
from Awareness. It then also appears to be separate from other objects.
b. Existence is only apparent because Awareness
always remains unsplit.
c. The apparent existence of objects is
called dualism (not duality--compare with duality in 4c above).
d. The sage, being only Awareness and knowing only Awareness, sees no
separation, thus he/she sees concepts but not objects, i.e., duality but not
dualism.
a. When
an "I"-concept is believed to be separate from Awareness, it is said to exist as
an "I"-object.
b. However, clear seeing shows that there is no "I"-object.
c. You are not an object and You do
not exist as an object. You are Reality (Awareness).
a. Whenever the "I"-object appears to arise, the not-"I" object also appears to
arise.
b. Then, desire for completion results in desire
for the not-"I" object.
c. But, because fear/desire form a polar pair, whenever there is desire, there
is also fear. Then, fear of the not-"I" object appears to arise also.
d. Thus, the not-"I" object seems
real.
e. Further conceptualization
splits the apparent not-"I" object into a multitude of objects, and
fear/desire makes them also seem real.
a. All objects arise in Awareness.
b. Because physical space and time are objects, they also arise in Awareness.
c. No object is separate from Awareness. Thus, all objects consist of Awareness.
d. Awareness conveys a sense of Welcoming to all objects that appear in It. This sense of Welcoming can be called Love.
e. All objects partake of Welcoming. Therefore, all objects partake of Love.
a. The illusory "I"-object carries with it the illusory sense of
personal doership.
b. However, since there is no "I"-object, there is no doer, no thinker, no chooser, and no observer.
c. Therefore, "we"
have no control. Thus,
whatever happens, happens. Whatever doesn't happen, doesn't happen.
a. Everything that appears to
happen is only an arising in Awareness.
b. The concept of causality, i.e., that one
event causes another event, is
also only
an arising in Awareness.
c. Since causality is only a concept, "I" can never do anything.
d. Because "I" can do nothing, neither can "I" choose. Thus, free will is
nothing but an empty concept.
a. The feeling of being separate carries with it a sense of shame for feeling
isolated, alienated, and lonely.
b. The sense of free will carries with it the feeling of personal responsibility
for "my" past and future.
c. The sense of personal responsibility for "my" past carries with it guilt and
regret. The sense of personal responsibility for "my" future carries with it
worry and anxiety.
a. Awakening is the realization that I am not separate and I have never
been separate. Therefore there is no shame.
b. Awakening carries with it the realization that I do nothing and I have
never done anything. Therefore,
there is no regret, guilt, worry, or anxiety.
c. Awakening is the awareness that Reality, which is what I am, has never been
affected by any concepts.
a. Since direct seeing shows that there is no doer, there is nothing that the
"individual" can do to awaken.
b. Since
awakening transcends time, no practice that occurs in time can bring about
awakening. Thus most practices do not bring about awakening.
c. However,
direct seeing can bring about awakening because direct seeing is timeless
seeing.
a. Definitely not. There are many practices that will lead to less suffering. However, like all other actions, they are never done by a doer since there is no
doer. Therefore, "we" cannot do them. If they happen, they happen. If not, they
don’t.
b. Any practice of direct seeing can reveal Reality and bring about awakening.
c. Example: To see that there is no “I”, look inward for it and see that
there is none. See also that everything that happens, including all
thoughts and feelings, happens spontaneously so there can be no doer.
d. Example: To see that no object exists, look and see that all
objects are nothing but arisings in Awareness. Then, look and see that no object
could ever bring you peace. Finally, see that nothing can affect You
who are Awareness/Presence Itself.
a. We can go inward and downward and feel the breath. This takes us out of the head and the thinking mind and puts us in the body and the senses.
b. We can practice mindfulness and see that our attachments and aversions are nothing but arisings in Awareness.
c. We can become aware that all objects are nothing but arisings in Awareness and therefore cannot affect us.
d. We can feel Presence where there is no suffering.
e. We can trust Awareness/Presence, which is our true nature.
f. We can rest in Awareness/Presence, which is our home.