Friday, June 17, 2011

Anatta

A parable is given in the Pali Stanzas of the Sister Elders. There was a mother, we read, who had lost six children: one remained, a daughter. But eventually this child too died, and the mother was disconsolate. The Buddha came to her; and he said: "Many hundreds of children have we buried, you and I, hosts of kindred, in the times that are gone. Do not lament for this dear little daughter; four and eighty thousand with the same name have been burned on the funeral pyre by you before. Which among them is the one whom you mourn?".
- Heinrich Zimmer, Philosophies of India.

It seems highly improbable that any one individual could have had scores of thousands of children with the same name, even if they had lived thousands of lives. And regressing only a few hundred lifetimes, one would reach a prehistoric period in which the name did not even exist. So the sense received from the Buddha's words is that "you and I" - the woman, himself, all beings that are and ever were - are the immortal, universal Self who has lived all lives, borne and lost all children. 
One of the central teachings of Buddhism is the concept of anatta (non-existence of self); which is often interpreted to mean not only that individual egos are an illusion, but that there is no universal Self either - all is void of being (sunyata). However, this story suggests that the Buddha did believe in the universal Self  described in the Upanishads. Though believe is the wrong word - He knew.

(painting by Waldmuller)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

How do I see that there is no self once and for all?

jeronimus said...

The ego self is the product of thoughts. Meditation in thoughtless awareness will gradually reduce the ego. But the only way to witness the ego, and see it for what it is (an illusion), is to rise above it. The subtle centre at the top of the head must be opened so that there is a vantage point from which to 'see' the mind. And this opening can only be achieved through Kundalini awakening.

Anonymous said...

What about this website:
no-self.com
Will it work?

jeronimus said...

If you have a genuine desire to be free of ego and surrender to the Self/God/Universal Being, it will happen, without doubt. The author of that website does seem to be sincere and probably has had a spontaneous experience of liberation, but I would recommend Sahaja Yoga to you, as it will give you the complete knowledge of how this state of yoga can be achieved and maintained. Emerging from the egg of ego is a delicate process and it's important to have the support of a true teacher and sangha (collectivity).

Anonymous said...

How do you tell if you have a genuine desire?

jeronimus said...

The Kundalini is the pure desire for yoga (union with the Supreme Self) and you will actually feel it gently manifesting on your nervous system and nourishing your chakras. That's how you will know. However, if there are desires not conducive to Self-realisation, whether conscious or unconscious, the Kundalini will not manifest, or only weakly.
I'm not a guru, I'm only posting things I have found helpful to myself and want to share with others. So I would recommend Sahaja Yoga programs, as they have helped me a lot.

Anonymous said...

If i break the habit of using the "I" thought will it bring self realization?

Will this work?

What about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-enquiry

jeronimus said...

Ramana Maharshi is well known for having recommended the practice of self-inquiry as the path to Self-realisation, but he also said that Kundalini awakening and Self-enquiry are one and the same thing. If you have a desire to know the Self, the Kundalini responds to that pure desire. And if you withdraw your attention from phenomena and thought, your attention will move towards the Self, thus potentially awakening the Kundalini. It's my feeling that Sri RM would have recommended Kundalini yoga if the time had been right for it, and he had judged that mankind was at a sufficient level of evolution to benefit by it. That time is now.
Kundalini awakening should be undertaken in the guidance of a Sat guru such as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. The Ascent of the Kundalini, resulting in the opening of the Sahasrara Chakra at the top of the head, takes you into a state beyond the "I" thought.