Re: Conception of God
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namaste
Originally Posted by
ale84
Hello, yajvan
I mean the little "me", the body-mind mechanism. Altough I know I'm the Self, this body-mind is still causing distress.
So I (Self associated with this body-mind) need the help from Ishvara (Self associated with Sattva guna), because I can't get the help from pure Awareness (Self without attributes/nirguna).
So, Ishvara (Self+sattva guna) is in a higher position than me (Self+body&mind), and He can help me.
From the dvaita point of view I get help from Ishvara, but from the advaita point of view I get help from myself, because I'm not different from the all-pervasive Self.
Is my reasoning right? Or is it confusing?
Yes I see what you say... gain support from that which you see fit.
It is key to understand ( and I think you do if I read the words correctly) that even the 'me' you talk of is part of Self. There are no two Selves and this is where it takes some time to remove that part that does not let Self shine all by it-Self.
So, here is the fun part... in the beginning there is this separation of Self and not-Self. Then one revels in the Self alone ( the silence of the Self, some call Restfully Alert). Once there is comfort there then Self and non-Self are brought together and one comes to the realization that even the non-Self was all along the Self to begin with. But in the beginning the Self had to be experienced in its pristine condition, stainless.
At the end of the day one comes to the realization that the logic of saying ' I am not the body-mind ' but I am not only the body-mind I am whole and full and this includes this body-mind' - then after that I am not only this wholeness of Self-body-mind that is an expression of Self to begin with, every thing I see is none other then an extension of this Self. It is everywhere.
The pickle is many wish to go from where they are (now) to this final conclusion that the Self is everywhere and everything, but it is an intellectual understanding and not a direct experience. This is not a bad thing, but many wish to jump from A to Z and finish up, call it a day. In some cases this may happen, but this may be rare indeed. The grace of the supreme brings one along at the proper pace. For some they can absorb it all at once , for others it may need to be sipped a bit at a time.
That is why there are several schools of thought. It is not the argument that one is right way, but to pick up the person from where they are at and bring them along. No different then a group of people going from one place to their final destination. Some are close and only need a trolley car. Others can walk, still others may need an air plane. It all depends. That is why the schools in sanātana dharma are so profound; they consider the person, their qualities and fitness, and then suggest a way.
But one asks, how do I know which school ? I found that as you look , read and digest the knowledge you will find comfort with one more then another. But as you grow, it is always wise to keep an open mind and read other points of view. Accept ideas and notions that advance your unfoldment. I found this to work the best. Don't get stuck in the mud (mundane life).
In any case, just asking these questions suggests that grace is occurring. It is that simple.
iti śivaṁ
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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