The sun? Wouldn't the sun be the awareness, which is somehow
localized to this body(at least in my current level of
understanding)
To whom does thought occur?
To no one, that's the illusion. We take the thoughts to be "me",
just as we take the crystal to be colourful. Neither is completely
accurate. Are not the thoughts a result of karma and the chain of
dependent origination? The thoughts are beginning to be seen as
exactly equivalant to any other sensation. They occur, but are of
little importance. I feel wind on my cheek, I
think it feels
nice. Just more sensations ariseing in awareness. They are real but
not me. I am the awareness in which they arise.
Is there a benefit to trying to intellectually deconstruct this
stuff? or am I better off just sticking with "Who am I?" and
watching where it points without expectation or judgement? I'm
seeing much more clearly, lately, this awareness that I'm
mentioning. It is really decreasing stress in my life because the
thoughts and feelings are seen as not self, non-permanent, and
unsatisfactory. I'm spending more time just "resting in
awareness"(both on and off the cushion). I think this is a phrase
Adyashanti uses(maybe others), but it is starting to make sense in
an experential way.
Metta,
Brian.
Focus on self inquiry first and thusness's advice to you. It's
best to put assumptions about awareness such as localization aside
and investigate your own experience. If you say things arise in
your awareness then how can awareness arise in your body?
