Comments interleaved below. > > > Stein: > > > > > > I've never been clear how the Witness can > > > discern, or discriminate, or differentiate. > > > That seems like a mental function to me. > > > I thought the Witness just *be's*. > > > > Gillam: > > > > Initially, yeah, which is why we don't notice it. > > But with all this meditating and sidhis-doing, > > the mind cultivates the ability to entertain activity > > along with the silence. > > Stein: > > Yeah, but that's activity *along with* > the silence, not activity *of* the silence, > at least in terms of TM's CC.
In the TM model, the relative mind takes on the characteristics of silent, pure consciousness. I believe Maharishi would say the mind becomes infused with Being. If that's correct, the mind can act on behalf of stillness. Hence it can discern without judging. Contrast this with the mind's motivations when it's acting on behalf of the ego. The mind, in ignorance, creates the ego -- the small "s" self. The ego, depending on such mental creations for its very existence, whips the mind to judge and put the ego-puppet above others, for that is how it subsists. Hence we have the two aspects of the mind that Tolle noticed: divine witness mind, and asshole mind. > Stein: > > when you get into Ramana-type self- > inquiry, that can be something bigger, but > garden-variety identification and judgment > of feelings and behavior--Why am I such a > disagreeable bastard?, as with Tolle--isn't > anything special (except in the sense that > it's *all* "special," which is what he > apparently realized). It seems not to be anything special, for we all do it. What I'm wondering, though, is whether it is indeed special in that it clues us into our own divine minds. For how can I discern that some aspect of my thought and behavior is undesirable without contrasting it with something nobler? In other words, the realization that I have butthole qualities would be impossible if I were not able to see those qualities against a field of something good. And if consciousness is inherently life- supporting, as Maharishi and others would have us believe, it is that ground of good. > I'm not putting down Tolle's realization, > just for the record. The story didn't do > anything for me, but I'm guessing you got > a little whiff already, right? Dunno. I'm just intrigued by the scenario above. Here's where a good self-inquiry master would help. Tom Traynor, Peter Sutphen, where are you guys? > Stein: > > (That particular quote is not what I'd call > an example of "the glory in Paul's thoughts," > except maybe insofar as he was willing to > show his messed-up side for the sake of others > who might think they were alone in their own > struggles. From that perspective, it's pretty > poignant.) Yes, and in that poignancy lies the glory. - Patrick Gillam To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
