Question:

Dear Ektaji,

When aware of myself as this timeless Now, it is noticed that the I-sense, the identity, arises out of me, the Now, just like any other arising. It comes out of me, made of the same as me, like any arising. So the I-sense is constantly arising and passing away, like any other arising. It is seen that it’s only the mind that knits them together and believes this I-sense is continues, but actually it is not. This Now sees the I-sense come out and fade away.
Is this the same I-sense that arises from the void? Also, the Now is ever present. Is the Now the same as that which sees the I-sense arise from the void?

 

Answer:

Yes dear. The Now is the Void. The Void is the Now. Buddha described it as ‘Zeroness’ or ‘Shunyata’. It is not a dead void, it is an alive emptiness. It is described as an emptiness because it is empty of name and empty of form. Name and form are what the I-sense attaches to in order to secure a false identity. In the absence of name and form, the I-sense cannot secure an identity. This absence of identity impels the I-sense to dissolve into something that is prior to it, and much superior than it.

When the I sense dissolves into that void of the now, there is a subtle realization of the imperceivable knower that knew the dissolution of the I-sense. When the I-sense re-arises from that void of the now, there is a subtle realization of the imperceivable knower that knew the re-arising of the I-sense.
That is the direct seeing that one’s true identity is the void of the now. That void has the power to know, the power to witness, and the power to be completely invisible. It cannot be directly seen, smelled, heard, touched, tasted, or even thought of. Hence, it is also called the indescribable.
When it is realized that the I sense seeks name and form, it is also realized in parallel that it projects a name-and-form. Hence, you can say that one side of the wave is the I-sense, and the other side of the wave is the projected arising.

– One side of the wave is the I-sense. The other side of the same wave is the perception of sight.
– One side of the wave is the I-sense. The other side of the same wave is the perception of sound.
– One side of the wave is the I-sense. The other side of the same wave is the perception of smell.
– One side of the wave is the I-sense. The other side of the same wave is the perception of taste.
– One side of the wave is the I-sense. The other side of the same wave is the perception of touch.
– One side of the wave is the I-sense. The other side of the same wave is the perception of thought.
– One side of the wave is the I-sense. The other side of the same wave is the perception of feeling.
– One side of the wave is the I-sense. The other side of the same wave is the perception of sensation.

Just like every arising is made of the same substance as the void of the Now, the I sense is also made of the same substance as the void of the Now.
Just like every arising is temporary, it has a beginning point, a peak point, and a cessation point. Similarly, the I sense is also temporary. It also has a beginning point, a peak point, and a cessation point.

The I-sense is not continuous. This is a key-seeing. Only when this is realized does the spiritual seeker find his higher mission, which is to recognize:

– the collapse of the I-sense into the void of the now and
– the re-arising of the I-sense from the void of the now.

That is the final Self-realization. That is the self-recognition as Turiyatita. That is the self-knowledge of the void of the Now. In simple words, you realize that YOU ARE THAT! Do not stop until you get there. I am right by the side of the sincere spiritual seeker.