Peter writes: Intent is subtle effort. Intent is present in TM. There is nothing "wrong" with effort when it is understood this way. But you don't use the term "effort" with people first starting TM because for them the term "effort" means something completely different. The intellect discriminates based on intent. When it makes the "final" discrimination of Self/no self then it is truly effortless. But as long as consciousness identifies with any object of experience (and for most longterm TMer's it is a very subtle sattvic state of mind-golden ignorance!)the effort/intent is needed to facilitate this discrimination...... I just realized that this is the key as to why so many longtime TMer's are not Realized. They initially utilize the intent of effortlessly thinking the mantra for so many decades, burning out many, many samskaras/points of identification utilizing the natural tendency of the mind to move towards greater pleasure. Subtle states of mind are VERY enjoyable,very sattvic. But now the mind gets stuck in this sattvic condition. Pure consciousness is not sattvic (nor is it tamasic or rajasic either) so effortlessness will not facilitate Realization at this subtle level of mind. Seems like the dharma of TM is to bring you right to the edge of pure consciousness, but that final crossing-over is the subtle Self/no-self discrimination. Perhaps more lontime TMer's need to practice Ramana's experiential (not intellectual) technique of Self-inquiry.
Tom T: Using the Alistair Shearer translation as recommended by MMY, Chapter 3 where the Sidhis are enumerated. Sutra 54: Knowledge born of the finest discrimination takes us to the farthest shore. It is intuitive, omniscient and beyond all divisions of time and space. Sutra 55: And when the translucent intellect is as pure as the Self, there is Enlightenment. It has been right here in Patanjali a long time. We get it when we get it. Tom
