Suresh, If by 'self-realization' you mean 'realization of Buddha Nature', then that is an experience - in fact that is experience.
There is no 'instrument' that experiences, but I guess if you just had to use that term it would have to refer to Buddha Nature. If by 'self'realization' you mean creating the self, then that is an illusion. The 'instrument' that creates illusions is the intellect - the mind. In the west the belief is that the intellect is resident in the brain. This is my opinion on these matters...Bill! --- In [email protected], SURESH JAGADEESAN <varamtha@...> wrote: > > Dear Joe, > > Do you think I own any words? Do you think there can be any 'my' opinion? > > I own nothing no words and hence no opinion. > > Below are questions of other forum members to this my answers are ....... > > Q: "If self-realization is an awareness, is it an experience?" > > A: Self-realization is not an experience. If it is an experience it will > be momentary, it will be there some time and it may not be there after > some time. No experiences are permanent in nature. So it cannot be > self. > > Awareness is self. That is all. This is as simple as that. Now your > awareness/consciousness is on thoughts and on worldly matters. > > It is exactly like this. I am watching movie and assume myself as hero > or those objects shown on the movie and start feeling all those shown > in the movie. > > Even in above explanation you have three things, i.e. Observer, movie > and screen. But in our case, observer and screen is same. Or screen is > observer and observing the movie played on it. > > Q: "If experience, which instrument gives the experience? If it is human > brain which realizes, then it has to be ready to comprehend the > experience" > > A: Awareness or consciousness is not part of Brain, hence Brain cannot do > anything. Hence all our efforts are futile in self-realization. If > brain stops its function or so called mental activity or thinking then > realization as I am awareness is immediate. > > It is like if the projector stops projecting the movie on the screen, > then screen see himself as plain screen and not of those images. The > projector cannot realize plain screen. The projector's duty is to > project images. Similarly brain function is to create thoughts, it > cannot realize as self. > > When this brain stop working? Or stop thinking. Brain can be compared > to computer or robot on self-intelligence. Again Brain intelligence is > `logic', that is connectivity. So when there is too much connection, > and too much problems, it will go out of order. That is the time > self-realization takes place. > > Hence saints device methods such a way that you give more strain to > your brain, so that it stops. or by nature/god all the suffering comes > to us so that brain stops. > > Once the brain stops and self-realization happens then what next? > There is no question of next? Because awareness /consciousness is not > yours or mine, it is not separate. The whole universe is > consciousness. So only you are no question and no answers. > > Best regards > Suresh > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> 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/
