True Form of the Self
What are you?
Perhaps when you ask yourself this question there are many things that instantly spring up to make up the story and the character that you have become identified with in this life. We have accepted numerous attributes that are what we consider to be the self or “me”. In our minds we have created a form or structure that seems like a frozen sculpture despite its constantly changing nature; our body is changing, our mind is changing and our emotions are changing all the time.
We are unfamiliar with the true nature of our being. We are caught in a dream and have taken that to be the inescapable reality, a dream that repeats itself ad infinitum.
Freedom from this false identity is what we yearn on the inside, but it is not something that we can get to as long as we are caught up with what the 5-10% level of the mind is presenting to us everyday. It is to be found in the realization of what we truly are at the deepest level, at the level where we experience life 100% on the inside. Here we find permanence, stability and peace that seems so elusive in this outer world.
Think of an actor. He is on stage and is powerfully involved in the drama and the emotion of the play. The play ends, but the actor continues to be in the role and completely forgets it is merely a role and that there is life beyond it. And then expand this vision to encompass an entire planet of seven billion people. Quite a dramatic play, don’t you think?
In Ascension we very gracefully direct ourselves inward and there with each Ascension Attitude we connect with the most refined aspect of our Self, the Ascendant, pure consciousness, awareness is left experiencing itself.
Our Self is truly formless. It is not bound by anything of this world. Not even the words used to describe it.
Nataraja Ishaya
Enlightenment
Pada I Sutra 3
Then the Seer rests in the True Form of the Self.
When the surface of the lake is agitated, the bottom cannot be seen. Immeasurable treasure could lie there, but it will remain undiscovered until the day the water stills. When the mind becomes quiet, consciousness naturally experiences union with its fundamental reality, the true Form of the Self, Ascendant consciousness.
In the Waking State, we identify with our thoughts and do not experience consciousness as it is. And yet were it possible, by any means, to still the random, chaotic thoughts until there was no more motion in the mind (and assuming that we did not fall asleep in the process), then we would directly see what consciousness is.
Stilling the chaos of the limited ego’s individuality and perceiving the Reality lying within is the goal of Ascension, of Yoga, of every valid meditation; indeed, this is the goal of every true prayer. What is this experience like?
Hard to describe in words is the experience of Ascendant Pure Consciousness – consciousness seeing itself, devoid of any thought. The reason it is hard to describe is that any words impose limits, and consciousness without thought is unlimited. The consciousness
is without form, Unbounded, unrestricted by any of the familiar limitations of Waking State experience. Without the familiar conditions of thought, the first tastes of this experience can be so novel the individual may not be quite sure exactly what just happened. When one Ascends the Waking State , thought stills and the conscious Experiencer, the Seer, is left without thought, experiencing consciousness without any movement of consciousness. This is the ultimate of subtlety; it takes the average person repeated experience of consciousness without thought moving to recognize exactly what this Ascendant Consciousness truly is.
An analogy might serve to clarify this. Consider a movie. Image after image flashes across the screen, giving the experience of continuity. The screen is not seen because the mind is focusing on the moving pictures. But were the film to break and the projector light remain on, the screen would suddenly become visible. This can be very surprising, if the involvement with the movie is very intense at the time.
MSI
A Continuing Surprise
I remember very clearly the first time I began to become aware that something more than the movie was going on. I didn’t quite know what had happened because it was so new and different I blanked out for most of it. But afterward, as I sat wondering about what had happened, I asked myself ‘What was that? What just happened?’ As I turned my attention toward it I became more aware of what I’d experienced. And I wanted more of it.
So for 20 years I did what I could to get to more of what it was. Then I learned Ascension and finally had a reliable way to develop greater and more clear awareness of what I had stumbled upon so long before. Even after nine years of Ascending, one thing that remains is the repeated surprise and delight as awareness expands further and further.
Sankara Ishaya
Silence of the Ascendant
When the mind is experiencing the silence of the Ascendant, there is no motion of thought. Like a perfectly still pond untouched by wind, there are no waves, no ripples, no motion of any kind when the mind is opened to the experience of the Ascendant. This state is measurable by the electroencephalograph: coherence of brain waves is the objective
measurement of the subjective experience of Ascending.
The mind consumes vastly less energy when it floats in the Ascendant; because of this, the body settles down to its deepest possible state of rest. In the perfect state of Infinite silence, there is no necessity for breath: the individual retains life by recognizing that he or she is part of Universal Life, in no way different or separate from Eternal Existence. In other words, life continues because life is the essence of the Ascendant. In this state, no decay is possible, no illness, no death, no suffering, no pain.
MSI, Ascension!
Alignment with our True Nature
In each life there comes a time when we begin to realize that we are more than we had previously perceived. In this
process we grow naturally and easily. We realize and activate a choice to leave the old ideas of who we were behind, dropping past concepts we move easily into a more Self-aware life. We activate this growth by a simple choice. Do I want to see my self as I have in the past or allow my Self to be more free from past restrictions of thought. This simple process of change is incredible in that it occurs naturally - an upward growth- an Ascending growth.
It is speeded up immensely when we chose to use the Ascension Attitudes, closed eyed and open eyed.
By the simple mechanism of choice to think an Attitude of Appreciation, Gratitude, Love and Compassion, we align with our True Nature, our True Form of Self.
The Attitudes are a representation of the Infinite Self. They are expressions from the All Good, All Wise, Infinitely Present Beingness of which we are all One. How they affect each body and mind is unique --because each of us is unique in experience and expression. But the Attitudes are consistent in that they work to lead us gently inward toward the Self.
Infinitely Loving, Appreciative, Thankful, Abundant and Full of Life, Capable and Full of Compassion--these are Qualities of the Self. They come gently and easily to the surface of each life, as we choose to Ascend. They come from a deep inner choice and recognition of Truth that we are. Then we can live from this Reality.
It isn’t hard to come to know your True Form of Self. Use the Attitudes and they work to clarify your own Self-Recognition. I know you will appreciate this simple, easy choice.
Mayasakti Ishaya
Why suffer?
A while back I had the opportunity to listen in on a conversation between a boy and his grandma. They were in a spare bedroom getting it ready for the little five-year-old-boys overnight stay with his grandparents. I waited for them in the living room of the house. As I sat quietly listening to the two, I heard the little boy inquire about a picture of Jesus in the room.
“Grandma, why do you have a picture of that man with those knives stabbing into his head? There is blood all over him. “The boy said this very innocently as he looked upon a painting I had seen many times before. The face of Jesus was life sized with the crown of thorns upon his head. Each thorn measured a good four inches, and there was the part of the thorn that was piercing the skin. It was truly a horrific picture!
The woman began to explain her religion to the small boy. I heard things like, “that is Jesus. He died for our sins. He suffered so we didn’t have to. So we go to church to show him how much we love him and worship him for what he has done for us. “
I grinned as I heard each rational deviation his Grandmother made not to answer
MSI has written books about Ascension that are a wonderful way to immerse your self in this Teaching and in the consciousness where it is coming from. And it is a great way to invite others to have their own experience by perhaps first reading what MSI has to say about Ascension.
The books are an inexhaustible source of information and inspiration for one who desires to grow in consciousness and live the practice of Ascension.
Go and visit the bookstore on our website to get your own copies, if you do not have them yet. Or download e-books for free.
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the very simple question, rejected by the little boy. “But why do you want to have a picture of Jesus suffering in your house?”
After sometime the woman became frustrated with the child. I heard her say, “Well it’s just the way it is. Now come on let’s get out of this room.” I found this even more humorous. Her frustration was with her own inability to convince a five-year-old the rational reason to have this terrible image hanging on her wall.
I nearly bust out laughing when I heard that sweet little voice say, in reply to being escorted out of the room, “I just do not understand why you would want to see Jesus suffering, Grandma. It just doesn’t make sense.”
In his innocence he was absolutely relentless in his choice to share the truth in his heart. Unlike his grandma, he didn’t have the same groves that were blinding him from that truth in his own heart. What
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was even more beautiful was that once he had asked the question the last time, he went on and joyously played games with his Grandmother. Her choice to focus on suffering was not going to stop him from fully loving her and completely embracing every moment with his Grandma.
Sivani ishaya
Psychological research: Gratitude
“Positive Psychology researchers are confirming in study after study that regular demonstrations of gratitude will make you happier and healthier. Positive psychology research focuses on the study of well-being, what makes people happier, fulfilled, and engaged in life. Researchers find that the simple act of gratitude, when regularly practiced, makes a significant improvement in people's lives.”
Jerry Lopper, Freelance Writer and Author
Read the full article here:
http://changing-personal-habits.suite101.com/article.cfm/psychological_research_gratitude
Greetings from Hong Kong
I just have read Jing Si Aphorisms and wanted to share some of them with you.
"Even if every road led to Rome, when our mind is indecisive, constantly wandering, and unable to concentrate, we will never make it to our destination."
"Learn to remain undisturbed in the tumult of people and events. Remain at peace within even when busy and occupied."
In Ascension, if we always remember to practice with eyes open, that keeps one tranquil.
"Rather than ask for blessings of fortune and longevity, ask for the blessing of peace of mind. Peace of mind will spawn more blessings."
Practicing Ascension can make our mind settle down to experience peace; once our mind has settled down, the body settles down too; when the body is restful, it will heal itself, eliminating toxins and releasing stresses, less disease and increased longevity; health is fortune.
Sharada Ishaya
Unconditional Love
What is being investigated by the social sciences is an emotion, not a state of being.
As long as our relationships are dependent on our emotional state, we cannot enjoy peace among others or within ourselves.
Emotions swing between extremes and are too varied in intensity for the entire human organism to live a harmonious life. A change in this way of functioning is desperately needed if peace is to prevail in the world.
Love is true neutrality; it does not judge or evaluate.
It does not feel good or bad; since it is not mere thought, it does not change into an opposite.
It does not like or dislike.
It does not blame, so it does not need to forgive.
It does not have choices or preferences, opinions or positions.
It does not dictate, is not authoritative.
Love does not differentiate between life and death. It has no expectations other than what is.
Love is not an ideal to venerate; it cannot be known through knowledge or thought.
Love is not words, but the energy of life itself without opposites, without death.
Love is a way of being, experienced by humans and visible only in our actions.
Life and love are synonymous. They are the eternal activity of universal energy without boundaries, movement, or form. Love, being all-encompassing, is the context of all contents of the universe, and thus is infinite. And what is infinite cannot be known within the finite mind. Only in a state of being that is beyond the finite human mind-form can love be the manifest.
Thus love is manifest-unmanifest, form and emptiness. Our minds can express it only in paradox.
Love is all life is and, as such, can only be lived.
Excerpted from Unmanifest Self by Ligia Dantes
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