Monday, April 23, 2018

THE EGO DOESN'T EXIST ? ~ Atman Nityananda


THE EGO DOES NOT EXIST?

The idea that the ego does not exist has no basis. If only the Self (Atman or Consciousness) whose nature is bliss, exists, then why do we experience misery and suffering most of the time instead of bliss? Because of the ego.

Ego in its lower aspect causes misery and suffering. Separation, incompleteness, uneasiness, anxiety, anger, fear, all these are caused by the ego and in my experience and understanding, all the above egoic aspects are the lower ego itself. Τhe ego assumes various forms likewise the H2O that assumes the form of water, ice, steam, snow, etc. Although all the above psychological aspects have an illusory nature does not mean that they are non-existent. And since the cause of these psychological aspects is the ego, we cannot negate the existence of ego.

Certainly, what really exists is Consciousness because self-created, self-existent, self-contained and self-luminous ανδ is eternal. Although Consciousness is the absolute reality or the Truth, we cannot, however, negate the existence of ego even though it is relative and impermanent. Ego cannot exist by itself, it is not self-luminous, it is an object of perception and it is dependent on Consciousness.

Consciousness is the only self-conscious reality, but the ego creates the illusion in us that Consciousness belongs to it. Thus, we erroneously perceive (due to lack of discrimination and clarity of the Buddhi-intellect) that Consciousness belongs to us (to the body-mind entity) and to the ego itself.

Great teachers, like Ramana Maharshi, have talked a lot about the illusory nature of ego. Even though they admit that ego is an illusion or a fandom, do not negate its relative existence. Illusion does not mean that something does not exist at all, but rather that it is not what appears to be.

All great gurus, like Shankaracharya, Ramana, Shivananda, Aurobindo, Amma etc, and sacred texts like Bhagavad Gita, have declared with emphasis that the death of the ego is liberation. How can a non–existent ego die?

Self-enquiry is also related to the ego. We trace back the ego-sense (the sense of Iness) in order to become aware of its source, i.e. the Consciousness, and realize that we are the Consciousnesses itself. This effort to return to the heart is done by the ego (its subtle or sattvic aspect of ego) and ends up in the dissolution of ego.


Wednesday, April 11, 2018

MEDITATIVE PRAYER OF ONENESS WITH GOD. ~ ATMAN Nityananda


MEDITATIVE PRAYER OF ONENESS WITH  GOD

Lord of my heart, eternal source of light, love, and peace, I salute you with all my heart, with all my soul and all my mind, and I address you wholeheartedly.

O Lord of my heart, open my mind and my heart to realize that Your Existence is My Existence, that I am one with You, that we are One. Your Existence is My Existence, I am One with You, We Are One.

You are the light, the truth and the life, inside me and in all. I am the light, the truth and the life in all.
I am one with you, we are One.

You exist and everything exists. You are and everything is. I exist and everything exists, I am and everything is.
I am one with you, we are One.

You are eternal existence, pure Light-consciousness, infinite bliss.
I am eternal Being, pure Light-consciousness, infinite bliss.
I am one with you, we are One.

You are the Light of Life, You are the Light of Awareness, You are the Light of Bliss.
I am the Light of Life, I Am the Light of Awareness, I Am the Light of Bliss.
I am one with you, we are One.

Everything is One,
We Are All One,
Only You exists
and I am one with you,
We are one.

Note
We repeat (for as long as we want) the words from the heart slowly, penetrating more and more into the center of our existence. After some time we can rest in silence.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Self-surrender to God ~ Swami Sivananda


Self-surrender to God

Self-surrender is a safe and sure means of God-realization

Surrender yourself, and all your belongings to the feet of the supreme. Live a life of godliness.

Think that nothing is yours, and that everything belongs to God - this is surrender to God.

Give the power of attorney to God; let him do whatever he wants. You will have no worry and no anxiety, you will be peaceful.

Surrender contains intense love and faith. It must be complete, the entire being must be surrendered to the Lord (mind, intellect, chitta and egoism).

 Desire and egoism are the two great obstacles to self-surrender.

After surrendering to the Lord, you should not grumble and fret when any trouble comes. You should not complain to the Lord: 'O Lord, you have no eyes. you have no compassion.' If you complain, then there is no meaning in your surrender.

Through surrender the devotee immerses himself into the eternal essence. You can endear yourself to the Lord only by self-surrender. The more the surrender, the more the grace.

In difficulties and struggles, god will give you the strength and inner peace to bear them - this is his grace.

Constant remembrance of the Lord, constant recitation of his name, will fill your heart with sattva (purity) and immense strength and peace to face the most trying conditions with perfect calmness and serenity.

Have perfect trust in God. Surrender to him. Place yourself in his loving care. Do this with your whole heart and mind, with perfect confidence and faith.

Worry not about your future, about money, about your health. He will take care of you. You will have plenty, you will have immense strength and wonderful health.