Tagged: form
The beauty of voidness
Matter is 99% composed of empty space.
Isn’t that logical?
Ask a scientist for a logical answer. He could give you a “reason” and then, you could accept that answer as the “correct” answer. Intellectually, that is just information; practically, there is more in that.
A human being is mostly empty space. Our eyes have the ability to recognize a form, and we become very entangled with that form by labeling it as “pretty” or “ugly,” “good” or “bad.”
Beyond that form there is no-form, which is that emptiness, that voidness. A human being is composed mostly on empty space, not made mostly of water as we have learned, but if we go deeper; between the molecules of Hydrogen and Oxygen, there is empty space. It is that emptiness which brings value to everything, for that emptiness, that voidness is part of everything, that is the “Totality.”
Our mind will create a personality based on that form. That personality is the means for human relationships. Nevertheless, that “form” should come from “no-form” from emptiness, that is from the “totality” to be “harmonious.”
If the above does not make any sense, is because there is so much “thinking” there… 🙂
In a nutshell, an “empty mind is a healthy mind.”
There is “peace” in emptiness.
Why is that type of mind healthy?
Because it reflects that voidness. It reflects that belonging to a “Totality” and not only an individuality as the “normal” human being does.
It is amazing how a squirrel is capable of jumping from branch to branch in a tree without “thinking” about it. The squirrel is “one” with that emptiness.
It is amazing on how a human being will not be able to enjoy swimming in the ocean, when he thinks too much…Something like: “ I wonder if there are any sharks around? “ or what about if that stingray comes close to me? Then, the mental “movie” is in motion and we are unable to relax and enjoy.
We cannot go back to that voidness anymore.
When we are part of that “totality” then we are immortal. That “no-form” cannot be destroyed. Neither the “form” could be destroyed, for it can only transform into something else. Matter transforms. No form, the “Totality” remains.
That is how there cannot be destruction. It can only be transformation.
When our mind in entangled with only a “form,” we miss the other side of duality; “no-form.” If we experience only “no-form” without being conscious of having a “form” then , we are “unfit” to live life in a society.
That is the paradox.
I hear, “But I am a soul.”
That voidness has a “center,” you could call that a “soul” but there is “nothing” in that center as well.
For example:
The “eye” of a Hurricane is the center of that Hurricane, but that center has nothing in it… 🙂
The “center” of a human being could be called a soul, but there is nothing in it. That “soul” is part of the “Totality.”
A balanced individual knows about that “form,” that individuality, but at the same time; is aware of that “no-form,” that voidness.
It is in our awareness of that “no-form” how we can develop a “form,” and it is through that “form” how we relate with the world.
Being “good” or “virtuous” is nothing but being part of that “totality,” that “no-form.”
When we have experienced that “no-form” then our “form” will have those qualities of being part of the whole, the “totality.” Ego and its separation, is not there anymore.
Most religions and philosophies are only concerned in changing the “form” of an individual from a mental aspect, through the hammering of beliefs; however, it is in the awareness of that which we belong to; the “totality” when that change happens without beliefs.
Ask the squirrel. 🙂
It takes more energy to resist than to let go
Those were the words of wisdom that I heard from a yoga teacher in a class that I attended named “Hot flow level 2” where the temperature of the classroom is about 90 to 100 F. Lots of sweaty enjoyment there! 🙂
No doubt she is “right” about letting go… almost.. 🙂
When we speak about physical resistance, then that may be the case. When we are talking about emotional issues, then to let go takes greater courage and greater wisdom than to resist, when there is someone there “choosing” to resist or to let go.
More conventional religious teachings/ spiritual teachings will make it “easy for us,” when they teach us to “resist evil,” “resist anything that is ungodly,” etc.
Those teachings will put us into selecting one side of duality and rejecting the other.
That teaching is not “bad” at all; but for someone who has a different vision and experience of the reality of life; that teaching could be viewed with further depth.
Both, to resist and to let go arise as a duality of being someone. Being someone means to have a defined view a defined image of “who I am.”
In most conventional teachings to “know who you are,” is very important.
Nevertheless, to define yourself is a problem of the thinking mind. Why? Because by doing that the opportunity to change and evolve will be minimized.
In the world of duality, to learn when to resist and when to let go according to the circumstances, is an indication of wisdom. To “always” reject resisting as in a commandment may be useful in some circumstances, but not in others. Nevertheless, the non-verbal, non-intellectual understanding of these things will come to everyone of us at our due time.
In the meantime, we just need to acknowledge everyone’s path and personal timing and growth in life.
Those were also the words of wisdom of my yoga teacher in that session… So many words of wisdom! 🙂
Yes… many know those words of wisdom intellectually, but which can only be understood by another when we can see that wisdom in “action,” in front of us; and that is the beauty of a relationship, when there is the willingness to learn from the “teacher” in front of us…
Resisting and letting go are meaningless when the individual becomes “nothing,” that is when the mind full with definitions, ideas and ideals is left aside; that is known as emptiness.
Being empty takes us into our nature of being formless. Paradoxically, because we are formless, non-defined; we adopt a “form.” It is through that form that we relate with the world… and that is the importance of knowing the state of emptiness; because in that way; we are something but…we are not. We are there, but we are not… 🙂 We are individuals… but we are part of the totality… Oneness. Both at the same time, not just one side of the coin.
The above goes beyond the simple religious understanding of “good and bad.” 🙂
Beyond the truth of our own truth
The understanding of form and no-form are deep “ideas” to keep our minds entertained with “intellectual” spirituality. The words below are actual words from enlightened people from different religions.
If we are able to perceive their truth, then the light of openness will be shining in our third eye. 🙂
“Everything that exists has a form,” mentioned an enlightened person.
Then his followers believed that, repeated that without further depth and made a dogma of that.
Then another enlightened person said: “ Form is emptiness and emptiness is form.”
Followers made a dogma of that. They compared that teaching with “everything that exists has form” and found that emptiness is everything. Although they couldn’t understand it nor believe it… but to follow someone is “good” when the path of the lonely maverick is the other choice… 🙂
Another enlightened person said: “ That which has form is equal to that which is without a form.”
Not too many could understand that. They thought it was senseless; however, because it came from an enlightened person, followers believed it, repeated and made up their own interpretation. “what this really means is …..”
Yet another enlightened person said: “ To say that there is form and formless is not to have the right understanding.”
Followers followed. Followers interpreted. Followers fought with others about having the “truth.”
Finally, another enlightened person said: “ There is form and there is no form. No form brings form. Thus, No form is equal to form but no form is different than form. No just one answer but both answers at the same time.”
Followers were perplexed. They repeated those words for intellectual amusement. There was absolutely no understanding.
Who has the truth?
Please realize that every “enlightened” person is coming from a different perspective. Their perspective will be understood by those who are in that consciousness that is for those who have experienced those things in their own lives. Without being in the same consciousness, “following” will be only a matter of blind faith.
There is no intellectual understanding here that will help. Intellectual understanding is confusing, it is dry and dualistic.
When a person has experienced “emptiness” he can experience fullness at the same time. When a person has experienced form and is attached to it; that person will not welcome no-form; and thus will be unable to see how they relate together.
Please see that this is not a matter of repeating things, believing things and defending things.
By emptying ourselves from all beliefs, we could be open to experience without a lens, without a predetermined color to see; that is; we could be free from our own preconceptions.
A mind full of dogmatic beliefs cannot have the freedom to see more than what he is taught to see.
A mind without a life of conscious awareness, cannot see, understand, beyond the experience of physicality.
The formless will give us the form
In Spirituality, there is a space, which could be perceived when our minds are totally tranquil, at ease. It is a space of awareness, just like seen the ocean without any waves… in that experience we could perceive the “formless.”
The “formless” is a subtle perception of serenity, calmness. That is a closer as I could get with words.
As we feed ourselves with this, there is the experience of nurturing the being. This is spiritual nutrition.
That “formless” experience will have an impact in a person. The “formless” will impact our “form,” that is the way we behave in the world.
For example, when we observe the behavior of someone smiling and moving with grace and elegance in life. That is surely a “form,” that we observe. That harmonious behavior doesn’t come by learning “etiquette,” in some school. That is not what we are referring to, here.
The impact of the formless in our form means a complete change in attitude.
A person who has learned, “cultivated” a behavior perceived as “elegant” will not show that behavior at all times. It is usually part of a created personality which will show the real self only when there is a problem, when dealing with difficult people, etc. At the end, the “monkey is a monkey even though dressed with a nice suit.”
Harmony in movement, grace, elegant behavior, serenity; what we know of as “having class,” is not something learned. It comes “naturally” out of that “formless” experience repeated over a long period of time.
Nature is truly a source of this change. When we look at the sky at night and just feel mesmerized, fascinated by the beauty of it, when we appreciate the wind coming and cooling us off and when we hear the music orchestrated by nocturnal animals around us, in all of that experience; the little “I” and his “big” problems disappear. The giant waves of the mind calm down through the admiration of beauty.
This is to nurture the soul.
That nurturing space produces serenity, peace, well being. That is the formless. That is what changes human beings in a subtle, inconspicuous way.
Harmony comes from the source of harmony, when there is recognition of it. Nothing better than Nature for that.
As the “formless” make up a “form” through the behavior of a human being, we could see how our current “form” our current way of dealing with people and our own selves, is in close relationship with our experience of the “formless.”
A person who does not have the experience of the “formless,” will merely “copy” what that person observes. As it is the environment, so it will be the behavior.
Spirituality, on the other hand; will show us that the subtle, the “formless,” that “serenity,” is the building block of a harmonious “form,” that is a gentle behavior.
Our “form” is how we relate with the world.
Therefore, in spirituality the formless will give us our form and our form will be the means to relate with others… the world.
“The clairvoyant may see forms which are elsewhere, but he cannot see the formless. The telepathic may communicate directly with the mind of another, but he cannot communicate with one who has achieved no-mind. The telekinetic may move an object without touching it, but he cannot move the intangible. Such abilities have meaning only in the realm of duality. Therefore, they are meaningless. Within the Great Oneness, though there is no such thing as clairvoyance, telepathy, or telekinesis, all things are seen, all things understood, all things forever in their proper places.”
Hua Hu Ching – CH 20 – By Lao Tzu.
The unlimited vision of “purity and impurity.”
One of the most used words in the BK vocabulary is the word “purity.”
In the Sakar Murli, purity means “brahmacharya,” that is celibacy.
The distinction was between those who followed a celibate life style and those who do not. Then, the distinction between “non-celibate” and “celibate” was replaced with a word which has a higher “respect,” and “importance,” that is “purity.”
“They are impure…” came to be a phrase of distinction.
As we heard the Avyakt Murli (but perhaps we forgot for we only hear it once a week) the word “purity” as BapDada uses it, encompasses more than celibacy, that is our words, thoughts and actions are without vices.
In English, purity means: “freedom from adulteration or contamination,” or “freedom from immorality.” The term also applies to the absence of vice in human character.
If we use those dictionary words, we can see that the popular: ”they are impure and we are pure,” is far from the reality. Why??
Raise your hand if you are free from contamination. 🙂 That is if you are free from vice…
Thus, it appears to me that unless we have reached the “karmateet” stage, we all belong to the “impure group.” How about that?
🙂
In the unlimited, that is in the Drama, we will see that every soul will experience their higher stage of virtuous living in their first role in the Drama, and from that point; it will decline.
Therefore, it is not that there is a clear distinction between a vice and a virtue. It is the same thing but in different degrees. Positive side and negative side, if you would.
In other words, detachment will become attachment after so many births. See that?
Therefore, to try to “get rid of attachment” means to get rid of detachment as well. 🙂 That is why only greater consciousness can give us back a virtuous behavior.
To put this explanation in different words, let us say that there is a battery. That battery when fully charged is called “detachment,” that same battery when empty of electrical power, is called “attachment.”
What is important to see is that the moment in every soul when power reaches 50% will be different for we are “numberwise” and that capacity of holding electricity is different among batteries.
The tricky part to recognize in this example is: at which level detachment becomes attachment for the first time?
Suffering is the gauge.
The point is that we cannot have a blanket statement that this one is “impure” and this other “pure” for there are many levels of that.
Moreover, the word “pure” is continually used as a source of pride and ego, when there are indeed very few at this time who have reached that state of being viceless.
To avoid that problem of labeling with the connotation of making a huge difference among human beings, when as demonstrated there may not be that much difference for “we are mixed together in a bag of candies,” with the only difference that some realize that and others do not; then the question is: which words can I use without hurting someone but at the same time, to be able to express with greater accuracy; when suffering makes the distinction of detachment becoming attachment?
Then, the words “identification with form” came to the rescue.
Those words are used by Mr. Eckhart Tolle in his explanation of suffering. (By the way; I truly recommend reading his book: “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.” Any Bk who is seriously studying ego, will receive lots of benefit. Many times I have found many of the explanations that Gyan gives there, with just different wording. As we know, Mr. Tolle does not have knowledge of the Drama so there will be some shortcomings, but as far as the study of ego, emotions and thoughts and the experience of the self which he calls:”Presence,” he has done a pretty good job in my view. There are only 3 books in my life, which i have read from cover to cover and this one is one of them.)
Those who suffer are identified with the “form.” That word “form” not only means physical form, but also our mind making an “object” out of everything. For example, if someone who I was waiting for does not show up, then my mind will make an “object” called feeling left out or forgotten and even not getting respect. That self created suffering is an “object” created by the mind which does not exist (for we do not know the “real” reason for the person not showing up.) Once we find out that reason as to why the person did not show up, we may not take it that personal.
Those words also fit nicely into the concept of “body consciousness,” which have been misinterpreted as denying the body.
Yes, we are caught up with words.
Then that attachment comes, when we first start identifying with a form.
See how nicely it fits? Otherwise, we will have to say: “that attachment comes when we first became impure.” 🙂 Which is completely meaningless. Why do we become impure? Drama… 🙂
In short, I feel that the words: “to be identified with a form” is a much better fit than the loaded word “pure” and also “impure.”
In those words, there is no separation among human beings and at the same time those words are able to express what happens in the “Unlimited” Drama which is beyond the “black and white” wordings of “pure and impure.”
Exploring the Depth of Living 