A Swan Dive into the Now... - Discussion
| A Swan Dive into the Now... | (D Z) Dhru Val | 7/23/14 11:06 AM |
RE: A Swan Dive into the Now...
|
Sadalsuud Beta Aquarii | 3/27/14 10:34 AM |
RE: A Swan Dive into the Now...
|
bernd the broter | 3/28/14 3:37 AM |
'Be here now', is old spiritual advice. Not sexy. Easy to dismiss the now as something we already know.
But everything lies in the present moment. There is no when else to look when trying to find the ’true’ nature of reality.
Here is an attempt at an uncommonly deep exploration of the present.
...
Intervals: We are exploring the cusp of the present moment. Sliced as thin as possible. They help reinforce that you are not being transported to a new realm, just looking at reality with greater discernment.
I use numbers. But the intervals are not a precise mathematical representation of anything. Insight does not always unfold in these stages.
Inherency: Subconsciously considered to be an important building block of reality. Therefore it is a potential object of attachment.
Let's get started...
I) Interval 1: Untrained Mind. Content of thoughts as inherent
The untrained mind can understand it is in the present. There is still complete identification to thought, and integration into a thought generated view of reality. And that is the primary obstruction.
A practitioner at this stage will understand the now in terms of a conceptual understanding taking place based on the end result of a computational model generated by thought. Rather than anything experiential.
II) Interval 1/100: Being witnessing the Now as inherent.(Content of thoughts not important)
Here the practitioner starts being able to sit as the non-conceptual witness to thoughts. There is considerable loosening of attachment to thoughts as they are seen as unreal relative to this ultimate subjectivity or Being.
The obstruction here is the Being is itself aggregated phenomenon.
At this phase the practitioner can feel quite connected with the now. But there is a lot more depth that is missing. It is just happening too fast for the practitioner to notice.
III) Interval 1/1,000: Cause, effect, and morphology of phenomenon as inherent.(Being not important)
At this point it is experientially clear that it is just phenomenon happening with no experiencer. Rather it is self-luminous.
However the phenomenon itself is considered to have a set morphology. The being drops away at this phase and the experience is centre-less, and more spacious than before. No-self, no-being etc.
Experientially it is quite a distinct shift. There is a sort of subtle, but constant attachment-driven process that generates self image in the body that stops operating. The absence of this distracting process results also increased sensory clarity.
Example.
However, there is still bias at play. Cause and effect is perhaps still seen as being inherently existing, and with it the morphology of phenomenon.
IV) Interval 1/10,000: 'Nothing' as inherent (cause, effect not important)
Cause and effect requires time. If we take a snap shot of the present moment there is no cause and effect.
Eventually it can be seen that the morphological make up of reality is also constructed based on its relation to something else over time, by imputation. Rather than being independently existing.
For eg. Sound doesn't happen anywhere, the perceived distance is imputed based on the loudness over time. Loudness and quietness are also relational concepts that exist over time.
It is possible to deconstruct all phenomenon to a point where it is all seen to be insubstantial.
Nihilism can be a trap here. But the nihilistic viewpoint is still operating under the subtle assumption of inherency. One that considers deconstruction as being something objective and important.
V) Interval 1/x, x→∞. Fully vivid, but non-arising phenomenon. No attachment possible.
As we approach the cusp of the present moment. Phenomenon never arises, abides or passes. Other than what we impute.
It doesn't have any truly existing qualities. Yet it is fully vivid and apparent. Like an illusion, but there is nothing that can found as an underlying reality beyond it.
Craving / aversion is not possible if discernment can be maintained, due to the clearly seen lack of basis of all phenomenon.
What Now ?
If you read up till here you may have seen some hints at the complete breakdown of 'Now'-ness. The Now paradigm itself should not be clung to as something ultimate. It is used here as a sort of a pointing out device.
Think about it. It is never not-now. So the whole thing is kind of redundant. If there is no now, then how can we talk about intervals, or getting close to the 'cusp of the present moment' ?
All I can say is that eventually all models are imperfect and breakdown. But these sorts of models are the only way we have to communicate with each other.
Treat it like one tool in your toolbox. Use or discard as you see fit.
Slap the floor!
A problem with this sort of high level overview is that it starts to sound very exotic and amazing.
But that is counter-productive. So slap the floor. Smell a flower.
That is the reality that we are talking about.
But everything lies in the present moment. There is no when else to look when trying to find the ’true’ nature of reality.
Here is an attempt at an uncommonly deep exploration of the present.
...
Intervals: We are exploring the cusp of the present moment. Sliced as thin as possible. They help reinforce that you are not being transported to a new realm, just looking at reality with greater discernment.
I use numbers. But the intervals are not a precise mathematical representation of anything. Insight does not always unfold in these stages.
Inherency: Subconsciously considered to be an important building block of reality. Therefore it is a potential object of attachment.
Let's get started...
I) Interval 1: Untrained Mind. Content of thoughts as inherent
The untrained mind can understand it is in the present. There is still complete identification to thought, and integration into a thought generated view of reality. And that is the primary obstruction.
A practitioner at this stage will understand the now in terms of a conceptual understanding taking place based on the end result of a computational model generated by thought. Rather than anything experiential.
II) Interval 1/100: Being witnessing the Now as inherent.(Content of thoughts not important)
Here the practitioner starts being able to sit as the non-conceptual witness to thoughts. There is considerable loosening of attachment to thoughts as they are seen as unreal relative to this ultimate subjectivity or Being.
The obstruction here is the Being is itself aggregated phenomenon.
At this phase the practitioner can feel quite connected with the now. But there is a lot more depth that is missing. It is just happening too fast for the practitioner to notice.
III) Interval 1/1,000: Cause, effect, and morphology of phenomenon as inherent.(Being not important)
At this point it is experientially clear that it is just phenomenon happening with no experiencer. Rather it is self-luminous.
However the phenomenon itself is considered to have a set morphology. The being drops away at this phase and the experience is centre-less, and more spacious than before. No-self, no-being etc.
Experientially it is quite a distinct shift. There is a sort of subtle, but constant attachment-driven process that generates self image in the body that stops operating. The absence of this distracting process results also increased sensory clarity.
Example.
However, there is still bias at play. Cause and effect is perhaps still seen as being inherently existing, and with it the morphology of phenomenon.
IV) Interval 1/10,000: 'Nothing' as inherent (cause, effect not important)
Cause and effect requires time. If we take a snap shot of the present moment there is no cause and effect.
Eventually it can be seen that the morphological make up of reality is also constructed based on its relation to something else over time, by imputation. Rather than being independently existing.
For eg. Sound doesn't happen anywhere, the perceived distance is imputed based on the loudness over time. Loudness and quietness are also relational concepts that exist over time.
It is possible to deconstruct all phenomenon to a point where it is all seen to be insubstantial.
Nihilism can be a trap here. But the nihilistic viewpoint is still operating under the subtle assumption of inherency. One that considers deconstruction as being something objective and important.
V) Interval 1/x, x→∞. Fully vivid, but non-arising phenomenon. No attachment possible.
As we approach the cusp of the present moment. Phenomenon never arises, abides or passes. Other than what we impute.
It doesn't have any truly existing qualities. Yet it is fully vivid and apparent. Like an illusion, but there is nothing that can found as an underlying reality beyond it.
Craving / aversion is not possible if discernment can be maintained, due to the clearly seen lack of basis of all phenomenon.
What Now ?
If you read up till here you may have seen some hints at the complete breakdown of 'Now'-ness. The Now paradigm itself should not be clung to as something ultimate. It is used here as a sort of a pointing out device.
Think about it. It is never not-now. So the whole thing is kind of redundant. If there is no now, then how can we talk about intervals, or getting close to the 'cusp of the present moment' ?
All I can say is that eventually all models are imperfect and breakdown. But these sorts of models are the only way we have to communicate with each other.
Treat it like one tool in your toolbox. Use or discard as you see fit.
Slap the floor!
A problem with this sort of high level overview is that it starts to sound very exotic and amazing.
But that is counter-productive. So slap the floor. Smell a flower.
That is the reality that we are talking about.
