Is Self-Enquiry Selfish?

Summary

In this profound discussion, the concept of pure consciousness and self-awareness is explored. The speaker clarifies that being aware of oneself does not equate to selfishness but rather signifies the transcendence of the individual self, leading to a realization of unity with all existence. The dialogue delves into the idea that love is the absence of 'otherness,' and true love dissolves the separate self, revealing a shared being. The conversation also touches on the nature of God, suggesting that God, as omnipresent and omniscient, can only be aware of Godself, as there is no other entity outside of God's being.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The concept of 'knowing' in the script refers to pure consciousness or pure knowing, not the limited self or ego.
• 🌟 Awareness is only aware of itself, suggesting that consciousness is inherently self-referential and does not require an 'other' to be aware.
• 🤔 The idea of being 'selfish' is redefined; in this context, it's not about personal gain but about the realization that the separate self is an illusion.
• 💖 Love is described as the absence of 'otherness', implying that true love dissolves the sense of separation between self and other.
• 🧘 When one truly loves, the sense of being a separate person vanishes, as love is the recognition of shared being.
• 🌈 The script suggests that to truly experience love, one must transcend the personal self, which is seen as a barrier to experiencing unity.
• 🌌 Each individual is likened to a character in God's dream, with all experiences being a reflection of God's own mind.
• 🕊 The notion that God cannot know anything other than itself is explored, as God is considered to be omnipresent and all-encompassing.
• 📖 The script references Rumi's poetry to illustrate the idea that in true love, the lover and the beloved become one, and the individual self ceases to exist.
• 🌟 The ultimate message is that God, or pure consciousness, is the only reality, and all seeming things borrow their existence from this singular source.

Q & A

What is the relationship between self-awareness and selfishness according to the transcript?

The transcript suggests that self-awareness is not selfishness. It is about being aware of one's pure knowing or pure consciousness, which is the reality of everyone and everything, rather than being self-absorbed as a limited person or entity.

How does the concept of love relate to the absence of otherness?

Love is defined in the transcript as the absence of otherness. It is the collapse of the distinction between self and other, leading to the recognition of shared being and the dissolution of the separate self.

What does it mean to say that 'true lovers never really meet'?

The phrase 'true lovers never really meet' implies that in true love, the separate identities of individuals dissolve, and they become one with each other, experiencing a non-dual state of existence.

Why can't God be known by anyone other than Himself according to the transcript?

God cannot be known by anyone other than Himself because there is no finite mind apart from God's infinite mind. Each finite mind is a temporary limitation of God's mind, and thus, there is no other entity capable of knowing God.

What is the significance of the statement 'God is everything' in the context of the transcript?

The statement 'God is everything' signifies that God is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. If God were not everything, He would be finite, temporary, and subject to change, which would contradict the nature of God.

How does the concept of a dream illustrate the idea of God's awareness in the transcript?

The dream analogy in the transcript suggests that just as everything in a dream is a creation of the dreamer's mind, all of existence is a manifestation of God's mind. Thus, all that God knows is God, as there is nothing outside of God's being.

What does the transcript imply about the nature of the separate self in relation to love?

The transcript implies that the separate self is a veil or denial of love. To truly love, one must transcend the separate self, as love is the experience of non-separation and unity.

How does the transcript explain the idea that 'the person vanishes' in true love?

The transcript explains that in true love, the sense of being a separate person ceases to exist because love is the realization of oneness and the absence of otherness. This leads to the dissolution of the individual self.

What is the role of the separate self in the context of the teachings mentioned in the transcript?

The separate self is a concept that is transcended in the teachings. It is a relative level of understanding that is necessary for the mind to grasp the teachings but is not the ultimate truth of non-dual reality.

How does the transcript use the words of Rumi to express the concept of selflessness in love?

The transcript quotes Rumi to express that in the existence of love, the self becomes non-existent. This non-existence in the context of love is considered more profound than any existence, highlighting the selflessness required for true love.