Why is the no-mind state not permanent in this human body?
Question:
Dear Ektaji,
With reference to the ‘no mind’ state, why is it that no mind state is not permanent in this human body?
Answer:
This answer will make sense only if you have started the self-exploration to find who you are, otherwise, these will be merely words.
Stage I – Jeevamukti:
- When one starts recognizing that ‘I am the witness’ of the body and mind, it becomes clear that the witness is eclipsed when I take the stand as the mind and get consumed in projecting and manifesting my story [self-talk].
- Once a seeker reaches this stage, it becomes experientially evident to him that he is constantly projecting. The world is merely a projection of his own mind.
- The sincere spiritualist stops projecting every time he becomes aware of his ‘tendency to project’. The one who succeeds in withdrawing from projection, every single time, masters the skill of abiding in the ‘witnessing void’.
- Thus he gets liberated from creating more stories and projecting and is called ‘Jeevan-Mukta’ [liberated from projecting the story called life].
Stage I – Videhamukti:
- A higher understanding ensues, that the physical body itself is a state of the mind. The physical body is also another illusory projection of the mind.
- The spiritualist sheds attachment to the body and that ‘of the body’, naturally, voluntarily, without an intention to do so.
- The highest understanding follows that the Absolute liberation from the mind can happen only at the death of the body. It is called Parinibbana or Videhamukti – liberation from the physical body.
Will the person’s life end earlier then? Will his world perish around him?
No! Not at all. Karma is the boss! Until the karmas of this physical body are exhausted, the body will continue.
How does it continue after the projection ends?
- Until you project the body-mind, it will continue.
- When the courage to stop the projection arises, one stops projecting the story about the mind as well as the body.
- He attains the no-mind state. [that you are thirsting for].
- The body continues until the past fuel [karma created by projection] is exhausted. Thus it cannot perish immediately. Just like after you stop pedaling, the bicycle continues on its pent-up momentum for some time.
That is why Ramana Maharshi said that the wise one is not afraid of Death. In fact, he looks forward to the ultimate liberation!
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Reminds me of an old Kabir Doha,
“Jisse maarne se jag daare, mere man anand, kab marhu kab pahihu purab paramanand”
Thank you Ektadi for this great explanation. Feel the most important thing is to stay detached and always ready to kick the bucket .
Thank you Ektaji for the detailed explanation. 🙏🏼
In the sequence of mukti, at the point of ‘liberated from creating more stories and projecting’, and becoming Jivanmukta, is that the Awakening?
Is that the point of actually going through the door where the so-called Ego/individuality permanently merges into the Self? Thanks!
Yes dear.
When you say, “Withdraw from projecting. Withdraw from creating stories.”……..Is this our goal? :
The I-thought will have no object to hold on to, it will get weak and then merge in the Self? (Remembering your Ramana Maharshi knowledge sessions where we learnt that the I-thought needs to hold on to an object, to survive).
Yes dear. You got that right! Starve the I-thought of fuel and see it dissolve into the Source [in Ramana Maharshi’s language].