Dear Readers,
This is not an easy read. Read slowly. Perhaps read out loud.
The text may go over your head. That does not invalidate it.
The text may appear intellectual. That does not make it heady.
Remember it is a meditation, a reflection, to dwell upon. Day after Day. Five Minutes Per Day.
Yes, it takes trust to prepare for a deep response different from the typical construct of your self.
For example, say slowly a few times daily for a week. “I am identified with this body.” Then listen deep within.
The following week say a few times daily “I am identified with feelings” such as I feel.
Go through all four views listed below in a similar way. That’s a total of 20 days (five primary areas for a person x 4 views/beliefs..
Then ask yourself two questions:
1.. Are any of these typical views about my ‘self’ worth clinging onto?
2. What are the experiential benefits of freedom from clinging to the location of the self?
The blog gives a reminder that nothing whatsoever is worth clinging to including notion of a reliable self and a substantial personality,
Beliefs and Views
I and my construct depends upon five primary areas – body, feelings, perceptions, thoughts and consciousness.
According to the Buddha, the notion of self/personality can arise in the four ways listed below.
We grasp onto these four views and believe as truth.
- I am the body, feelings, perceptions, thoughts or consciousness ( identification)
- I am in the body, feelings, perceptions, thoughts or consciousness (a self-residing within subjected to activity of these five primary areas)
- I am outside of body, feelings, perceptions, thoughts or consciousness (the witness to these five areas)
- I am the owner of body, feelings, perceptions, formations or consciousness (a self who possesses these features, such as my body, my feelings etc).
Who is making claim to these views and beliefs?
- When one view arises, does it then mean other views have given way to it for a while?
- Why do these four views keep arising changing and passing and then rearising?
- Aren’t all four views unreliable because they keep giving way to another view?
- What is substantial about a personality in these fluctuations?
The so-called personality can arise, stay and pass with one of these four ways or more or not arise with one or more of these four or arise in varying degrees.
An unreliable self confirms an insubstantial personality.
Dharma teachings state to ascribe a personality to our ‘self’ or to another ‘self’ amounts to an error of perception. This means the self grasps hold of perceived patterns or tendencies, and thinks that this is my personality or your personality.
There is neither truth, nor reality, to the view of ‘having a personality,’ ‘being unique’ or ‘we are all the same.’ That is the pattern of collusion of self-personality.
Views and beliefs arise dependent upon the grasping of the self.
The Dharma does not support the notion of a separate self, a self that experiences oneness, a true self or a higher self.
Obviously. Once again. Who is making such a claim?
Freedom means non-clinging.
Enjoy a liberated way of life.
(New blog header. Desk at home)
