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Ivan Frimmel presents

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What is Via Negativa in Mysticism?

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What is Via Negativa? The way to God, Absolute, through negation: no predicates The way to God, Absolute, through negation: no predicates

attach to God, no words may be legitimately used to attach to God, no words may be legitimately used to describe “Him”, “Her” or “It”; “He”, “She”, “It” is ‘not describe “Him”, “Her” or “It”; “He”, “She”, “It” is ‘not this, not that’; commonplace of all mysticism, Eastern and this, not that’; commonplace of all mysticism, Eastern and Western:Western: In Plotinus: the negative characterization of OneIn Plotinus: the negative characterization of One In Christianity: Via Negativa In Christianity: Via Negativa (the katapathic way)(the katapathic way) In Vedanta: Neti-Neti (not this, not this)In Vedanta: Neti-Neti (not this, not this) In Buddhism: Nirvana or Sunyata (voidness)In Buddhism: Nirvana or Sunyata (voidness) In Taoism: Wu-Wei (non-doing way) In Taoism: Wu-Wei (non-doing way) In Science: Zero-Point EnergyIn Science: Zero-Point Energy

Converse of Converse of Via Affirmativa (the apopathic way)Via Affirmativa (the apopathic way)

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Plotinus on One (205BC – 70AD)

God – the One beyond all attributes: God – the One beyond all attributes: Immeasurably beyond the world, beyond realityImmeasurably beyond the world, beyond reality Ultimate Being: Ultimate Being: Non-being, beyond all existing thingsNon-being, beyond all existing things Beyond personalityBeyond personality Self-sufficient: needing nothingSelf-sufficient: needing nothing

The goal of the Mystical Path is the flight of alone to The goal of the Mystical Path is the flight of alone to the Alone (All-One).the Alone (All-One).

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Christian Mystic Meister Eckhart(1260 - 1328)

God isGod is

God is Being, pure being, absolute reality God is Being, pure being, absolute reality (I am that I am)(I am that I am)

God is neither good nor bad, nor better, nor bestGod is neither good nor bad, nor better, nor best

Meister Eckhart speaks of the God as: Meister Eckhart speaks of the God as: the Wordless Godthe Wordless God the Naked Godthe Naked God the Nameless Nothingthe Nameless Nothing

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Quotes from Meister Eckhart

The eye by which I see God is the same as the The eye by which I see God is the same as the eye by which God sees me. My eye and God’s eye by which God sees me. My eye and God’s eye are the same – one in seeing, one in eye are the same – one in seeing, one in knowing and one in loving.knowing and one in loving.

Identity with God is still not enough; to Identity with God is still not enough; to abandon all things without abandoning God abandon all things without abandoning God is still not abandoning anything. Man must is still not abandoning anything. Man must live “without why.” He must seek nothing, live “without why.” He must seek nothing, not even God. not even God. - Talks of Instruction- Talks of Instruction

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Neti-Neti in Vedanta

Neti - neti - Neti - neti - Not this, not thisNot this, not this – or – or Not this, not thatNot this, not that – a famous – a famous passage from the Brhadaranyaka Upanishads 2.3.6, giving answer to passage from the Brhadaranyaka Upanishads 2.3.6, giving answer to questions as to the nature of Brahman, thus hinting at its ineffability.questions as to the nature of Brahman, thus hinting at its ineffability.

Neti-netiNeti-neti as a statement means that we are not anything separate as in as a statement means that we are not anything separate as in the disparate dualistic framework of a separate "I - it" context (versus the disparate dualistic framework of a separate "I - it" context (versus the sacred non-dual and transpersonal "I-Thou" context). It says: the sacred non-dual and transpersonal "I-Thou" context). It says: "not "not ego - not ego“ andego - not ego“ and "not self - not self“…"not self - not self“…

Neti - netiNeti - neti also means to convey that we are not egos, and that we can also means to convey that we are not egos, and that we can never be defined as being separate from the Universe, Absolute Being, never be defined as being separate from the Universe, Absolute Being, One, One Mind… without introducing a delusion. One, One Mind… without introducing a delusion.

Neti-netiNeti-neti (as all similar statements on the Via Negativa) can be (as all similar statements on the Via Negativa) can be understood correctly only within a spiritual context of Mystical Union understood correctly only within a spiritual context of Mystical Union with the Universal Spirit, One, One Mind, the Absolute… with the Universal Spirit, One, One Mind, the Absolute…

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What is Nirvana?

NirvanaNirvana is the “haven” of all Buddhism, beyond all “havens”, total extinction is the “haven” of all Buddhism, beyond all “havens”, total extinction of all desire & suffering…of all desire & suffering…

A state of ineffable peace and liberation from A state of ineffable peace and liberation from the world of space & time the world of space & time all craving and repulsionall craving and repulsion birth, death and rebirthbirth, death and rebirth all passionall passion all that is transient…all that is transient…

Uncompounded state, made of nothing at all; one cannot say of Nirvana that itUncompounded state, made of nothing at all; one cannot say of Nirvana that it arises or it does not arisearises or it does not arise is to be producedis to be produced is in the past, present or futureis in the past, present or future is cognizable by mind, or perceivable by any sense…is cognizable by mind, or perceivable by any sense…

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What is Sunyavada? (1) SunyavadaSunyavada is a Mahayana Buddhist theory is a Mahayana Buddhist theory (vada)(vada) holding that the holding that the

world, reality to be empty, void world, reality to be empty, void (sunya),(sunya), or unreal. or unreal.

SunyavadaSunyavada is also known as Madhyamika (“The Middle Way” School is also known as Madhyamika (“The Middle Way” School of Buddhism).of Buddhism).

SunyavadaSunyavada was founded by an Indian Buddhist philosopher was founded by an Indian Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna (150 – 250 CE) and based on the Prajnaparamita Sutras, Nagarjuna (150 – 250 CE) and based on the Prajnaparamita Sutras, expounding the philosophy of emptiness, voidness (sunyata), which expounding the philosophy of emptiness, voidness (sunyata), which later also influenced Ch’an in China and Zen in Japan. later also influenced Ch’an in China and Zen in Japan.

SunyavadaSunyavada (Nagarjuna) recognizes two forms of Truth, the (Nagarjuna) recognizes two forms of Truth, the relativerelative that can be spoken about and discusssed (Samvriti), and the that can be spoken about and discusssed (Samvriti), and the AbsoluteAbsolute (Paramartha) – Sunyata, or the Voidness of all things, particulars, (Paramartha) – Sunyata, or the Voidness of all things, particulars, phenomena – of which nothing can be said: Sunyata is neither relative phenomena – of which nothing can be said: Sunyata is neither relative nor absolute, neither existent nor non-existent… nor absolute, neither existent nor non-existent…

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What is Sunyavada? (2)According to Sunyavada:According to Sunyavada:

the phenomenal world is said to have no reality; yet the the phenomenal world is said to have no reality; yet the world “underlying” it (Noumenon?) defies all description, world “underlying” it (Noumenon?) defies all description, because of our inability to see, grasp, comprehend “the-because of our inability to see, grasp, comprehend “the-thing-itself ” (svabhava);thing-itself ” (svabhava);

all we can see and know is “dependent origination” and all we can see and know is “dependent origination” and impermanence;impermanence;

so, if nothing is permanent and real, reality (including the so, if nothing is permanent and real, reality (including the seeming reality of I, me) is empty (sunya) of any substance. seeming reality of I, me) is empty (sunya) of any substance.

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A Scriptural Prophecy Regarding Nagarjuna

As is written in the Manjusrimulakalpa, the Acarya Nagarjuna lived As is written in the Manjusrimulakalpa, the Acarya Nagarjuna lived for a total of 600 years: for a total of 600 years:

        

After I, the Tathagata, have passed away After I, the Tathagata, have passed away    And 400 years have elapsed,    And 400 years have elapsed,    A bhiksu, "The Naga", shall appear, of    A bhiksu, "The Naga", shall appear, of    Great faith and benefit to the teaching.    Great faith and benefit to the teaching.    He shall achieve the stage of Great Joy    He shall achieve the stage of Great Joy    And for 600 years remain living.   And for 600 years remain living.

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Some Criticism of Sunyavada

Classical Hindu and some Buddhist thinkers dismissed Nagarjuna's Classical Hindu and some Buddhist thinkers dismissed Nagarjuna's extreme use of the Via Negativa as self-condemned: extreme use of the Via Negativa as self-condemned: the negation of everything is inconceivable without implying an the negation of everything is inconceivable without implying an

affirmation, a positive ground to negate;affirmation, a positive ground to negate; nothing can be proved false if nothing is taken as true; nothing can be proved false if nothing is taken as true; therefore: therefore:

the ultimate truth cannot be negative;the ultimate truth cannot be negative; absolute negation is impossible. absolute negation is impossible.

One could also say that the act of negation itself requires the existence One could also say that the act of negation itself requires the existence of the negator. of the negator.

Total skepticism is a figment, since such skepticism implies the Total skepticism is a figment, since such skepticism implies the acceptance of the validity of the skeptic's judgment.acceptance of the validity of the skeptic's judgment.

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Sunyavada as Prajnaparamita The Sunyavada School considers all philosophy as The Sunyavada School considers all philosophy as prajna-prajna-

paramitaparamita = the supreme non-conceptual intellectual intuitive = the supreme non-conceptual intellectual intuitive awareness and wisdom. awareness and wisdom.

According to SunyavadaAccording to Sunyavada

PrajnaPrajna is the supreme, immediate, sudden, non- is the supreme, immediate, sudden, non-progressive attainment of non-dualistic Knowledge progressive attainment of non-dualistic Knowledge (known as (known as JnanaJnana in Sanskrit), through Enlightenment; in Sanskrit), through Enlightenment;

Ultimate or Absolute RealityUltimate or Absolute Reality can be known only by can be known only by the removal of all views about It.the removal of all views about It.

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Sunyavada as Absolutism & Nondualism Sunyavada teaches thatSunyavada teaches that

The only absolute being is self-evident and real, here & now;The only absolute being is self-evident and real, here & now;

The Absolute is transcendent AND immanent, being the reality of The Absolute is transcendent AND immanent, being the reality of (and not behind) the appearances;(and not behind) the appearances;

There is no difference between infinite and finite, between There is no difference between infinite and finite, between samsara and nirvana; reality and illusion, etc;samsara and nirvana; reality and illusion, etc;

The duality of phenomenal and noumenal (absolute), as all The duality of phenomenal and noumenal (absolute), as all dualistic views, is ignorance (avidya);dualistic views, is ignorance (avidya);

There are two truths: the illusory (dualistic) truth of the empirical There are two truths: the illusory (dualistic) truth of the empirical standpoint and the Ultimate (Nondual) Truth of the Absolute, standpoint and the Ultimate (Nondual) Truth of the Absolute, which cannot be expressed in any words or symbols.which cannot be expressed in any words or symbols.

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Sunyavada is not Nihilism

It does not teach that there is no reality, but It does not teach that there is no reality, but that there can be no doctrine or views about that there can be no doctrine or views about reality.reality.

Sunya is not the negation of the Absolute, Sunya is not the negation of the Absolute, but the affirmation of its indescribability.but the affirmation of its indescribability.

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Sunyata and Wu-wei, Wu-hsin & Wu-nien

SunyataSunyata or or wuwu ( (kokorokokoro or or mumu in Japanese) in Japanese)= = absolute emptiness, absolute emptiness,

voidnessvoidness

Wu-weiWu-wei == non-actionnon-action

Wu-hsinWu-hsin == no-mindno-mind

Wu-nienWu-nien == no-thoughtno-thought

Sitting quietly, doing nothing,Sitting quietly, doing nothing,Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.

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Zen Doctrine of No-mind (Wu-hsin)

A Zen doctrine which goes back to at least Hui A Zen doctrine which goes back to at least Hui Neng (637-713) the 6Neng (637-713) the 6thth Patriarch of Chan, and his Patriarch of Chan, and his assertion assertion From the first not a thing is.From the first not a thing is.

Hui Neng insisted that the object of Zen isHui Neng insisted that the object of Zen is ‘seeing ‘seeing into ones own nature’ into ones own nature’ which thus becomeswhich thus becomes ‘seeing ‘seeing into nothingness’.into nothingness’.

To see into one’s own nature requiresTo see into one’s own nature requires no mind no mind

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Two “kinds” of Sunyata, Voidness Buddha Taught

Voidness (insubstantiality) of all thingsVoidness (insubstantiality) of all things material, physicalmaterial, physical immaterial, non-physical, mental, spiritualimmaterial, non-physical, mental, spiritual

Voidness (insubstantiality) of self - annataVoidness (insubstantiality) of self - annata absence of “I” & “mine” absence of “I” & “mine” total quenching of ego and egoism.total quenching of ego and egoism.

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Levels of Sunyata, Voidness

Experience of “just earth”

Experience of infinite space & timelessness

Experience of infinite consciousness & bliss

Experience of infinite nothingness

Experience that is neither experience nor non-experience

Supreme, unsurpassable voidness, nirvana

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Zero-point Energy in Science

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Thank YouThank You

Ivan FrimmelIvan Frimmel

Cell: 082-454-0311Cell: 082-454-0311

E-mail: E-mail: ivan.frimmel@nanhua.co.zaivan.frimmel@nanhua.co.za