Let's do a contemplation meditation from Nisargadatta Maharaj's book,
I Am That.
Chapter number two,
Obsession with the body.
In contemplation meditation,
It is a good idea to relax and let the words sink in,
Dissolve into the quietness beyond the words.
Do not indulge in thinking,
Evaluating,
Judging,
Etc.
Just be and let the words sweep you in.
Encephalization with the body.
Maharaj you are sitting in front of me and I am here at your feet.
What is the basic difference between us?
There is no basic difference.
No no,
Still there must be some real difference.
I come to you.
You do not come to me.
Maharaj responds,
That is because you imagine differences.
You go here and there in search of superior people.
Questioner says,
You two are a superior person.
You claim to know the real while I do not.
Maharaj responds,
Did I ever tell you that you do not know and therefore you are inferior?
Let those who invented such distinctions prove them.
I do not claim to know what you do not.
In fact,
I know much less than you do.
Your words are wise,
Your behavior noble,
Your grace all powerful.
Maharaj says,
I know nothing about it all and see no difference between you and me.
My life is a succession of events just like yours.
Only I am detached and see the passing show as a passing show.
While you stick to things and move along with them.
I know nothing about it all and see no difference between you and me.
My life is a succession of events just like yours.
Only I am detached and see the passing show as a passing show.
While you stick to things and move along with them.
What made you so dispassionate?
Nothing in particular.
It so happened that I trusted my guru.
He told me I am nothing but myself and I believed him.
Telling him I behaved accordingly and ceased caring for what was not me,
What was not mine.
He told me I am nothing but myself and I believed him.
Trusting him I behaved accordingly and ceased caring for what was not me,
For what was not mine.
Why were you lucky to trust your teacher fully while our trust is nominal and verbal?
Who can say it happened so?
Things happen without cause and reason and after all what does it matter who is who?
Things happen without cause and reason and after all what does it matter who is who?
Your high opinion of me is your opinion only.
Any moment you may change it.
Why attach importance to opinions even your own?
Still you are different.
Your mind seems to be always quiet and happy and miracles happen around you.
Maharaj says I know nothing about miracles and I wonder whether nature admits exceptions to her laws.
Unless we agree that everything is a miracle.
I know nothing about miracles and I wonder whether nature admits exceptions to her laws.
Unless we agree that everything is a miracle.
As to my mind there is no such thing.
There is consciousness in which everything happens.
It is quite obvious and within the experience of everybody.
You just do not look carefully enough.
Look well and see what I see.
There is consciousness in which everything happens.
It is quite obvious and within the experience of everybody.
You just do not look carefully enough.
Look well and see what I see.
Questioner asks what do you see?
Maharaj responds.
I see what you do could see here and now but for the wrong focus of your attention.
You give no attention to yourself.
Your mind is all with things,
People and ideals.
Never with yourself.
Bring yourself into focus.
Become aware of your own existence.
Bring yourself into focus.
Become aware of your own existence.
See how you function.
Watch the motives and the results of your actions.
Study the prison you have built around yourself by inadvertence.
Study the prison you have built around yourself by inadvertence.
By knowing what you are not,
You come to know yourself.
By knowing what you are not,
You come to know yourself.
The way back to yourself is through refusal and rejection.
One thing is certain.
The real is not imaginary.
It is not a product of the mind.
One thing is certain.
The real is not imaginary.
It is not a product of the mind.
Even the sense I am is not continuous,
Though it is a useful pointer.
It shows where to seek but not what to seek.
Just have a good look at it.
Once you are convinced that you cannot say truthfully about yourself,
Anything except I am,
And that nothing that can be pointed at can be yourself,
The need for I am is over.
You are no longer intent on verbalizing what you are.
Just have a good look at it.
Once you are convinced that you cannot say truthfully about yourself,
Anything except I am,
And that nothing that can be pointed at can be yourself,
The need for I am is over.
You are no longer intent on verbalizing what you are.
All you need is to get rid of the tendency to define yourself.
All definitions apply to your body only and to its expressions.
Once this obsession with the body goes,
You will revert to your natural state,
Spontaneous and effortlessly.
Once this obsession with the body goes,
You will revert to your natural state,
Spontaneously and effortlessly.
The only difference between us is that I am aware of my natural state while you are bemused.
Just like gold made into ornaments has no advantage over gold dust except when the mind makes it so.
So are we one in being.
We differ only in appearance.
We discover it by being earnest.
By searching,
Inquiring,
Questioning,
And questioning.
Daily and hourly.
By giving one's life to this discovery.
By giving one's life to this discovery.
By giving one's life to this discovery.
