to aen : self vs non-self

a seeker SG

From a conversation with Thusness last year:

(8:44 PM) Thusness:   mindfulness has several characteristics
(8:44 PM) Thusness:   in which bare attention or being naked and non-conceptual awareness is important
(8:45 PM) Me:   icic..
(8:45 PM) Thusness:   2nd is it must remind (not recollect)
(8:45 PM) Thusness:   remind of what?
(8:45 PM) Me:   present moment? or what you are doing?
(8:46 PM) Me:   like breathing meditation then remind of that
(8:46 PM) Thusness:   no
(8:46 PM) Thusness:   what is there to remind
(8:46 PM) Thusness:   when u r bare in attention, u r in the present
(8:46 PM) Me:   ya the reminding serves its purpose only when one becomes lost in thoughts, i tink
(8:46 PM) Me:   hmm
(8:47 PM) Me:   so u're saying reminding = being bare in attention?
(8:47 PM) Thusness:   told u that is in all practices
(8:47 PM) Thusness:   nothing to talk about.
(8:47 PM) Me:   icic..
(8:47 PM) Thusness:   remind u constantly of the dharma seals.
(8:47 PM) Me:   oic..
(8:47 PM) Thusness:   when u r bare in attention, does it mean that u know the dharma seals?
(8:48 PM) Thusness:   when u r in non-dual, does it mean that u know the 3 characteristics?
(8:48 PM) Me:   i thinks perceiving 3 characteristics is also a matter of clarity?
(8:48 PM) Thusness:   all experiences are distorted due to igorance and propensities.
(8:49 PM) Thusness:   for u, u say u r Eternal Witness as if u r constant and everything flow even now.
(8:49 PM) Thusness:   Even after reading so much and countless conversation with me.
(8:49 PM) Thusness:   so isn't it not clear yet?
(8:49 PM) Me:   oic
(8:50 PM) Me:   so being bare in attention doesnt mean one perceives the 3 characteristics
(8:50 PM) Me:   bcos of propensities?
(8:50 PM) Thusness:   even now...even after years of reading and summarizing and disscussions?
(8:50 PM) Thusness:   yes
(8:50 PM) Thusness:   we do not know
(8:50 PM) Thusness:   therefore we need to remind ourselves of the seals.
(8:50 PM) Me:   oic..
(8:50 PM) Thusness:   why?
(8:51 PM) Thusness:   because insight and wisdom have not arisen.
(8:51 PM) Me:   icic..
(8:51 PM) Thusness:   therefore u practice mindfulness

......

im reading the discussion here http://sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/366959?page=2

and this pulls me back to the past(10 years ago) where i was obsessively(intellectually ,unfortunately) reading about buddhism (theravada -thai,burmese etc..) ,and the teaching of impermanence,suffering(i was suffering intensely physically) and anatta seemed to be the essence of the path.due to my pain,all my 'practice' centers solely on reading(very unfortunate),and there's no actual meditation progress at all.

my view is this : i see right view as not something dogmatic,but as having the most accurate map which will lead to the ultimate destination.now this sounds simplistic,but through years of pain and searching(and stuck to certain dogmas!),in beginning to realize the immense importance/and subtle truth of this.

but what i briefly can say is this : you hold the absolute position that the 3 characteristics is the only way,and all (may be not all - am i misinterpreting u?)other traditions are still wip(work-in-progress),in which they still hold on to a 'essence,'source' etc..

in other words,they still at the subtlest level,unable to trully,"permanently" see the "ultimate" reality of selflessness.(this is ,a very strong,extreme position of urs - but if turns out to be true,the greatest blessing)

as of me,after 'abandon' buddhism,i was attracted to the mystical teachings ,but now you are pulling me back(there's still much doubt/resistance on my part - and i'll simply see how the next steps unfolded)!

my question is this : perhaps some teachings,when they say "consciousness' ,'ultimate ' dadada... are referring to the 3 seals,but they prefer to simply use 1 word? how are we to judge them?

a seeker SG

" how are we to judge them? "

i.e if we prefer to continue following their paths,pls give advice on incorporating the essence of the buddhist path into them.(it has been quiet some time i abandon the dharma,and im really not ready to go back yet)

there's still much blur line(indiscrimination) as to integrate my past reading/memory of dharma into my current "one reality/essence advaita/God" present view,and dont know how to proceed(though thusness 7 stages seems a good place to start)

im trying to have the right map to start now;as

to start one's destination without the most accurate(maps will change as one continues journying)map seems just not right :-(

a seeker SG

there's really something ' magical' when the intention to reach for the truth becomes stronger;obstacles arises automatically to be disolved ,and clarity comes(in bits and pieces though).

i cant help but be reminded of nisargadatta's advice

" the intense desire for truth will dissolve all obstacles "

metta :-)

a seeker SG

" there's still much blur line(indiscrimination) as to integrate my past reading/memory of dharma into my current "one reality/essence advaita/God" present view,and dont know how to proceed(though thusness 7 stages seems a good place to start) "

this really comes from my attitude of wanting to verify the teachings step by step as i proceed instead of taking everyhting.

An Eternal Now SG

Yes, so far, I find Buddhism having the clearest view of reality. The right view is a pointer for a mind that is unable to see through the subtle dualistic and 'inherent' tendencies. It is just a raft, but is still important.

This doesn't mean I don't find things valuable in other religions.

In fact I probably read more about other religions than most other Buddhists. Like you, I am attracted to mystical texts. They also have good pointers, especially since I am also practicing Self-Inquiry, which is the main Advaita technique.

Whatever you read or practice, it is still important to have the right view so that when you have transcendental experiences, you do not get stuck. At least that's what I have learnt from others who have gone through the path, I myself am far from enlightened and still learning.