In What Is Spirituality and Spiritual Development? I said that spirituality is the practice of cultivating consciousness. The goal of spiritual development is to be aware of the ultimate truth, or to awaken to the reality of the existence.
Ultimate truth or the highest reality
As you go higher and higher spiritually you might see the meanings of all the things dissolving. And when you reach there you might see that you exist just like a lone dot on the infinite spread of blank sheet. No story. No meaning. No purpose. Just exist.
This, I believe, is the ultimate reality. Purpose, meaning, and everything else is creation of the mind; because human mind can’t work without purpose and meaning.
All the worldly things you are engaged with are ego-driven. Friendships, other relationships, marriage etc… They are all illusions. Illusions, in the sense that they are just purpose-driven social activities. What you perceive them to be is illusion. Hence, the way and the extent to which you rely on these things is absurd.
Recently someone asked me how I am saying that the feeling like love is an illusion. It is clearly felt, and can’t be illusion. Well, I am not saying that the feelings are illusions. But the things for which you develop these feelings are illusory. The meanings you hold behind those feelings are illusions. And it is for the lack of awareness that you don’t understand the illusions. For example, you develop obsession for a person when you are in (romantic-) love. This obsession is indeed real. But for what it is? To keep that person with you always. Now if you very keenly and deeply observe the mechanism of how interpersonal relations work then you will understand that it is all ego-driven. When every one is driven by one’s own ego wishing that some person lives for you is absurd. Trust, loyalty etc things which we expect from those we love are all, in a way, signs of spiritual weakness.
As the highest reality, everything in the universe is only the energy changing forms. Even our mind and the ideas in it are nothing but the different forms of the same energy. That’s the ultimate truth of the existence.
Spiritual development helps you reaching up to the awareness level where you completely lose your ego (self) and feel yourself reduced to that energy. When you make anything besides that your goal in life you are clinging onto some illusion. Nothing’s wrong with that as long as you do that with awareness. But not knowing the reality of the existence when people take those petty things as some meant-to-be purpose of their life they inevitably fall into misery, because that never is meant to be so.
The simplest example is death. People get obsessed with life and all the things of it. But the energy constantly keeps changing form. Your sentient body has to transform into something else some time. Unless you are aware of (and comfortable with) this truth you would feel miserable at the thought of death. Similarly, it applies on all other things you cling to.
Remember, it does not mean we stop living. I am living with more freedom than ever before, enjoying life even when I am going through the hardest times in a worldly sense. (Like illness, money shortage etc.) There is certain suffering which is unavoidable. However, the inner peace is unaffected, because on the inside I am aware of the reality. So there’s nothing to lose, nothing to gain. Just be, and enjoy.
I have often also said that the ultimate truth is that there’s no such thing as the ultimate truth. Here’s why — Because so is the nature of this truth. It is “nothingness”. When people think of truth they imagine it in some actions, see it as a purpose, or a way of living. It is conceived as something involving mind. But the mind is essentially a human thing, and only exists where ego exists. When the mind is absent and the nothingness is left, that nothingness is the highest reality.
Ultimate truth or the highest reality
As you go higher and higher spiritually you might see the meanings of all the things dissolving. And when you reach there you might see that you exist just like a lone dot on the infinite spread of blank sheet. No story. No meaning. No purpose. Just exist.
This, I believe, is the ultimate reality. Purpose, meaning, and everything else is creation of the mind; because human mind can’t work without purpose and meaning.
All the worldly things you are engaged with are ego-driven. Friendships, other relationships, marriage etc… They are all illusions. Illusions, in the sense that they are just purpose-driven social activities. What you perceive them to be is illusion. Hence, the way and the extent to which you rely on these things is absurd.
Recently someone asked me how I am saying that the feeling like love is an illusion. It is clearly felt, and can’t be illusion. Well, I am not saying that the feelings are illusions. But the things for which you develop these feelings are illusory. The meanings you hold behind those feelings are illusions. And it is for the lack of awareness that you don’t understand the illusions. For example, you develop obsession for a person when you are in (romantic-) love. This obsession is indeed real. But for what it is? To keep that person with you always. Now if you very keenly and deeply observe the mechanism of how interpersonal relations work then you will understand that it is all ego-driven. When every one is driven by one’s own ego wishing that some person lives for you is absurd. Trust, loyalty etc things which we expect from those we love are all, in a way, signs of spiritual weakness.
As the highest reality, everything in the universe is only the energy changing forms. Even our mind and the ideas in it are nothing but the different forms of the same energy. That’s the ultimate truth of the existence.
Spiritual development helps you reaching up to the awareness level where you completely lose your ego (self) and feel yourself reduced to that energy. When you make anything besides that your goal in life you are clinging onto some illusion. Nothing’s wrong with that as long as you do that with awareness. But not knowing the reality of the existence when people take those petty things as some meant-to-be purpose of their life they inevitably fall into misery, because that never is meant to be so.
The simplest example is death. People get obsessed with life and all the things of it. But the energy constantly keeps changing form. Your sentient body has to transform into something else some time. Unless you are aware of (and comfortable with) this truth you would feel miserable at the thought of death. Similarly, it applies on all other things you cling to.
Remember, it does not mean we stop living. I am living with more freedom than ever before, enjoying life even when I am going through the hardest times in a worldly sense. (Like illness, money shortage etc.) There is certain suffering which is unavoidable. However, the inner peace is unaffected, because on the inside I am aware of the reality. So there’s nothing to lose, nothing to gain. Just be, and enjoy.
I have often also said that the ultimate truth is that there’s no such thing as the ultimate truth. Here’s why — Because so is the nature of this truth. It is “nothingness”. When people think of truth they imagine it in some actions, see it as a purpose, or a way of living. It is conceived as something involving mind. But the mind is essentially a human thing, and only exists where ego exists. When the mind is absent and the nothingness is left, that nothingness is the highest reality.
This so dissapointing darshan. Look n read again - "As you go higher and higher spiritually you might see the meanings of all the things dissolving. And when you reach there you might see that you exist just like a lone dot on the infinite spread of blank sheet. No story. No meaning. No purpose. Just exist."
ReplyDeleteIf this is spirituality then why to run for that? I know I completely agree Nothingness is the last destination. The earth is also going to black hole but does it mean we should carry it early as possible. No. When I think this I was starring at my wall. My fan makes too much noice but not more than my inner voice. You know? If nothingness is the destination of spirituality then human being is more creative then God (meaning by that supreme power by which we are existing..say nature, time...anything)There would be no paintings, no poetry, no music, no stories, nothing! Knowing that these all are by products of mind, agree with you, knowing that nothingness is the end, agree with you but then why just to exist? and not to live like human being? ever full of his own thoughts? Let the pain come. Pleasure come. That's interesting. Thrilling.
I can be completely wrong Darshan. No where critisizing you. In fact, thank you to make me think further on spirituality. Glad to read you! Discover you!
Why this cynicism? I read Gautam's comment and I agree with him.
ReplyDeleteIt might be that you are smarter than the most ppl. For generations the smart folks have decided to turn snobbish and dismiss everything around them as silly and meaningless. I don't understand that at all.
The fact that you and I exist today is proof tht somewhere something is right- not wrong. maybe not perfect... but it works. we need to get out of this trapping of searching for the ultimate truth and stuff like that. the truth is in front of you... it's that simple. but remember... the eyes will not see what the mind doesn't want it to see.
i have solid scientific proofs for God's existence, i don't want to post the link here not be a considered a spammer but if you are interested in finding the proof let me know
ReplyDeletenow the question i have for you, what is the proof you have that made you say that there is no God?
There is a difference between knowing the truth and living the truth, many ppl know the truth but only a few live it... actually as i see there is no point in living the truth because the truth is absurd..
ReplyDeleteWe should embrace maya and live in the illusion because thats the purpose of its creation, enjoy the dream..
Its said in advaita vedanta "anything that is permanent is the only truth" this line makes me think
@ farouk: I would like your link to proof of the existence of God, please. it sounds fascinating. bnk@bravenewkitty.com
ReplyDeleteAlan Watts, one of the great spiritual thinkers of the 20th century, said that "the fundamental nature of the Universe is playfulness." Once we realize our true nature--nothingness--we can fully relax into the game of the "illusion" and let go of our stranglehold identification with our ego. Fear abates and we are free to live with joy, compassion, and love (NOT romantic love, but love born of true understanding).
I don't see the ideas as conflicting. The more conscious we become, the more wonderful daily life becomes. Just as Darshan said. But I do understand how the word "nothingness" could be unsettling. It's not that we live that way before we get there, though, it's that we are already there, and the better we understand what this means, the more we can relax and enjoy life, because it just doesn't matter all that much!
This is not the best explanation, but nonduality is a very difficult concept to talk about.
Thanks,
Kitty
"Trust, loyalty etc things which we expect from those we love are all, in a way, signs of spiritual weakness."
ReplyDeleteI agree that having expectations is a sign of spiritual 'weakness', but at the same time I couldn't imagine life without trust and loyalty towards loved ones, or anybody for that matter.
Doesn't lack of loyalty and trust in others enforce the ego?
@Armando,
ReplyDeleteWhen I wrote this article I was on the extreme of spirituality and was taken with what we could call hyper-rationality.
Desires, expectations, trust, loyalty etc is necessary if one wants to "live" instead of existing as a spiritual vegetable.
However, the knowledge of the futility of everything helps in tough times. Ideally, there should be a balance of emotions/instincts, and rational understanding of life.
Darshan i 100% agree with you, about your article. i follow the live philosophy of Nichiren Daishonin, it is 21century philosophy. you sound more like one of us. Hence, i would like to add on one more thing over here. if you put more detail explanation of the life force (Energy). Over here people will not get confused i think.
Deletecatch me on anthonybhanja@gmail.com