How do you do your active meditations?

[VinceField]

Originally Posted by Gem

I'm not sure if mean that awareness is an aspect of the mind

That's it!

but what I mean is there exists a stillness of presence through which all the mind's movements occur. It's true to say that no experience occurs to this, and all experiences only occur to the mind, yet there is that which remains unperturbed, unaffected and ever present in self knowing.

Right. I'm just not sure how one can conclude that awareness is something separate from mind or "beyond" mind based solely on this.

Take care buddy

[Gem]

Originally Posted by VinceField

That's it!



Right. I'm just not sure how one can conclude that awareness is something separate from mind or "beyond" mind based solely on this.

Take care buddy

'Beyond mind' is just a figure of speech that indicates a distinction in regard to where the identity resides, quite similar in concept to the neti, really.

[VinceField]

Originally Posted by Gem

'Beyond mind' is just a figure of speech that indicates a distinction in regard to where the identity resides, quite similar in concept to the neti, really.

Identity is simply a mental fabrication, a conceptualization of a person's sense of self. It is born from the mind and resides in the mind. If our definition of mind is that which perceives, then there can be no experience outside or beyond mind, as perception is a necessary component of experience.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by VinceField

Identity is simply a mental fabrication, a conceptualization of a person's sense of self. It is born from the mind and resides in the mind. If our definition of mind is that which perceives, then there can be no experience outside or beyond mind, as perception is a necessary component of experience.

Theres a knowing of self that is not associated with a body or a thought, and this is referred to as 'beyond mind'. That doesn't have any purpose because it is ever present, and that's why "Purpose is characteristic of ego-mind and meditation is always beyond mind."

[acitak]

'I am aware and my body is here'

You said everything with that few words, all else is too much.
All best my friend

[acitak]

= Theres a knowing of self that is not associated with a body or a thought, and this is referred to as 'beyond mind'. That doesn't have any purpose because it is ever present, and that's why "Purpose is characteristic of ego-mind and meditation is always beyond mind."=

Purpose(ego-mind) is always somewhere in future and meditation in present moment.
When I read your comments, it is like I read my own thoughts.
All best

[vitaraq18]

Just going to say something small that I like to think about.
"Meditation is a noun, not a verb"
I think this quote is amazing as one should meditate with no thought on having to do it but wanting to do it enough it becomes second nature.
:)

[VinceField]

Originally Posted by Gem

Theres a knowing of self that is not associated with a body or a thought, and this is referred to as 'beyond mind'. That doesn't have any purpose because it is ever present, and that's why "Purpose is characteristic of ego-mind and meditation is always beyond mind."

That knowing is a function of the mind. Perhaps "beyond thought" is a more appropriate description.

Why does the fact of something being always present mean that it can't have a purpose? Not a purpose as in "a desire to do or achieve something," but a purpose as in "a reason for it's existence." Is there no purpose (reason) for the existence of awareness?

How can it be said that this knowing of self is always present when we experience states of unconsciousness on a nightly basis? These are times when we experience no knowing of self, we experience nothing on the level of conscious awareness, or at least we have no memory of it. So this statement must be speculation.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by VinceField

That knowing is a function of the mind. Perhaps "beyond thought" is a more appropriate description.

Ok, I know what you mean.

Why does the fact of something being always present mean that it can't have a purpose? Not a purpose as in "a desire to do or achieve something," but a purpose as in "a reason for it's existence." Is there no purpose (reason) for the existence of awareness?

If it's here... It's not like awareness is going to happen sometime in the future. I can't see any reason for it, but have undying curious affinity as to its nature.

How can it be said that this knowing of self is always present when we experience states of unconsciousness on a nightly basis? These are times when we experience no knowing of self, we experience nothing on the level of conscious awareness, or at least we have no memory of it. So this statement must be speculation.

The thought of self perhaps vanishes from awareness in deep sleep, but would there remain the presence of being?

[VinceField]

Originally Posted by Gem

The thought of self perhaps vanishes from awareness in deep sleep, but would there remain the presence of being?

The Tibetan Buddhist practice of Sleep Yoga aims at maintaining awareness during dreamless sleep, so I'm sure the cultivation of this is possible. I for one have no presence of being during deep sleep. The only awareness I have during sleep is while dreaming/LDing/APing.

I do believe that there are higher aspects of our being which have experiences during deep sleep that we are not aware of, but I cannot be sure of what I am not consciously aware of, so I cannot state this with certainty.