West LA Weekly Satsang February-8-2017

Anonymous thoughts

What we call the mind is just a spontaneous succession of thoughts, with no evidence of any entity
controlling it. This is the real point of self-enquiry. -Tom Das

You are prior to thoughts

You can only go within to awaken to who you truly are, because who you are is prior to any
thoughts. -Alon Geva

Mind quiets down when it gets what it wants... for a while

"Brahman's real nature is bliss or happiness alone. There is no bliss except in Brahman. That bliss
is only reflected in a mind, which fully charged with satvika qualities, which is calm, steady and
unmoving.

The bliss of one's own real Self manifests a little when the mind, which was previously scattered
due to cravings for worldly enjoyments, becomes momentarily peaceful as it attains its desired
object.

As one enjoys that bliss in conjunction with the sense objects, it is called the 'joy arising from
contact with sense objects' (visaya-ananda). Visaya-ananda is considered inferior, because sense
objects are momentary, subject to destruction and brings suffering.

From the perspective of bliss, the bliss of one's own Self and the bliss arising from contact with
sense objects (visaya-ananda) are one, yet the latter is to be rejected as polluted by its
contact with sense objects (upadhi). Only the bliss of Brahman at the time of samadhi (brahman-
ananda) is to be accepted."

-The Yoga Vasistha Sarah

 West LA Weekly Satsang February-8-2017 pg 2

Awareness doesn't change or move

Notice... Awareness doesn't change when thoughts change. Awareness doesn't change when
feelings change. Awareness doesn't come or go or become more or less. Awareness remains
unaffected by content just like the sky remains unaffected by the weather. Stay as you are and have
always been since before the body took its first breath. -Michael Jeffreys

Self is reality

In fact the nature of the Self is the reality of the Universe. -Swami Dayananda

Whatever you say you are is it not observed by you??

What opinion can I have about the 'Self' which is not subjecting itself to my observation? But I have
umpteen opinions about it! You say I am a limited being, as if the Self has been observed by you
and you are making a judgement about it!
-Swami Dayanda

Suffering

Where is suffering? I look around me in this moment and I cannot find anything called suffering.
Take a look for yourself. Right now, where you are. Can you literally find something called
suffering? (You have to actually look for it like you would your car keys that you have misplaced...
really look! You'll find all kinds of objects, but not one will be called suffering.)

Suffering can only ever exist in story, which is time. The timeless has no story and thus no
suffering.

-Michael Jeffreys