SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGIES FOR INNER DEVELOPMENT

Scientific temper(Thomson) … todescribe

impersonal facts ofexperience inverifiable terms asexactly as possible,as simply as possibleand as completely aspossible.

MANIFESTATION OF DORMANT POTENTIALS

REMOVAL OF IGNORANCE

INNER DEVELOPMENT

PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL INTELLECTUAL SUPER-SENSIBLE

Field of Action Love, KindnessCharity

Reasoning

SELF-REALISATION

SERVICE PURE LOVE DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN REAL &

‘NON REAL’

DIVINITY

“NO-MOTIVES RIGHT ACTIONS

JUST HAPPEN”

INTER-RELATEDNESS OF ALL THESE ASPECTS

EVER-LASTING HAPPINESS

EXPERIENCE OF REALITY

PURE MIND

LOVE COMPASSION EQUANIMITY

SELFISH

100

75

50

25

0

AltruisticMotives

forActive

SHORT-LIVED

PLEASURES

100

75

50

25

0

Nature of

‘Happiness’

Ignorance of Nature of

Reality

100

75

50

25

0

Level of Under-standing of Nature

Inner Development

100%

75%

50%

25%

0%MINDFULL

OF IMPURITIES

(ANGER, PRIDE,

GREED, ….)

0

25

50

75

100

Defile--ments

0

25

50

75

100

Depend-ence on External World

PLEASURE

PHYSICAL

EMOTIONAL

INTELLECTUAL

SPIRITUAL / INNER

BLISS

EPHEMERAL

EVER-LASTING

Using “Physical Potential” …… The Path of Selfless Service

ALTRUISTIC(Instead of

Selfish) MOTIVES OF ACTION

DETACHMENT FROM

THE ‘RESULTS’ OF SUCH ACTION

deZ.;sof/kdkjLrs especially suited for energetic personalities

Increase inloving, kindness,

compassion

GIVING UP “ENJOYERSHIP”

OF FRUITS OF ACTIONS attenuation in

identification with B-M-IEQUANIMITY IN

FACE OF BITTER-SWEET FRUIT OF

ACTION NEUTRALISATION OF

“LIKES & DISLIKES”CULMI NATION

INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY

PURITY OF MIND

YOU, NOT ME

CULMI NATION

WORK IS DONE IN A PERFECT SENSE OF DETACHMENT, NO FEEELING OF DOER-SHIP

TYPICAL EXAMPLE : ………

CAUTION : SERVICE

EXCITEMENT ABOUT ‘SERVICE’

FEVERISH’ ACTIVITY

BLOATED CONCEPT OF DUTY

DOERSHIP PRIDE

EGO

REMEMBER : HIGHEST DUTY:BE HAPPY! BE PEACEFUL.BE CHEERFUL!

detachment vis à vis apathy

STORY OF SAGE & SAVANT

Refining Emotions ………… the path of devotion

PURIFICATION OF HUMAN-EMOTIONS

from Selfish Selfless

DEVOTION TO AN “IDEAL” DIVINE BEING, PROPHET, GURU

<IDOL>

Single-pointed devotion reduces

“Worldliness” (attraction of

sensory pleasures)

PURIFICATION OF MIND

from Individual Universal from Personal Impersonal

especially suited for ‘emotional’ temperament

anthropo-morphisation of noble qualities

Surrender Universalisation of Love

Humility (attenuation

of ego)

Accepting every situation cheerfully

as a gift¼izlkncqf}½

‘Thy will be done’

story of M.Luthe

CULMINATION

– ONLY ‘GOD’ EXISTS ………

CAUTION : No fanatical attachment to a “personal God”

TYPICAL EXAMPLE : ………

FAITH VS REASON :I do not feel obliged to believe that that same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use.

Galileo

“Materialistic” devotionCoupling it ‘knowledge’ & “Detachment” – no ‘blind faith’

(c.f. Bhagwatam story)

Intellectual Pot ………… the path of knowledge & reasoning

Discriminating between ‘Real’ (Eternal) & ‘not real’ (Impermanent)

¼………fuR;fuR; foosd fopkjk ………½

Pure Consciousness Awareness

especially suited for Intellectuals /

rational

logical bent of mind

WHO AM I?

THE SPIRIT

THE SELF

Vital force – Morphogenetic field – Atman-RIT

INHERENT TENDENCIES – PREDISPOSITIONS – okluk,¡ / laLdkj

Vedantic perspective

Sense Objects Actions Emotions Thoughts of World

Thoughts of Transcendant

Reality

Body Mind Intellect

Organs of Perception

Organs of Action

Gross Subtle

Physical personality

Emotional personality

Intellectual personality Spiritual

personality

Subject object distinction

I exists

Changeful nature of B/M/IIf I was also changing

something other than I would be regd to recognise it

But consistency of “I-ness”

• THE SELF IS THE SAME IN ALL …… NON DUAL …… BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE AS PURE CONSCIOUSNESS

c.f. electricity could manifest as light, heat, cold … e.m field … different manifestation in different equipment…

Arguments in support of

Existence of “I” different from

B-M-I

Changeless base necessary to observe change

Subject-object distinction

‘I’ exists even when conscious

Link that connects it to B-M-I is suspended…… Deep sleep

…… absence of pain in anaesthesia

Nature of I?

Divine Energy

<Spirituality>

Awareness

Knowledge cks/k

Chariot analogy

different from matter & energy

HOW TO EXPERIENCE ‘INNER-SELF’?

Move inwards

move away from sense objects, actions, emotions, thoughts ----- (during meditation)

<i.e. worldliness>

Remembering & practising this truth one can slowly riseabove worldliness, resulting in removal of ignorance.

CHARIOT ANALOGY OF UPANISADS(PLATO)

road/Sc – Sense objectHorses – SensesReins – mindCharioteer – inteOwner – ‘Self’Chariot – body

&

The Buddha’s Perspective• There is suffering………..• cause ….misinterpretation of the true nature of existence ---

impermanent, unsatisfactoriness, without-self …. Giving rise to “trishna”

• Something must be done to correct this distorted perception of reality… reorganization of psyche to give up “trishna”

• Cultivate mindful observation of bodily & mental processes to develop thorough and continual awareness ( undistorted by our usual desires, fears , views etc.)of their true nature => leads to disenchantment =>natural cessation of “trishna”

• No metaphysical speculation …. The parable of the poisoned arrow

The path of “Meditation” mind control &

purificationWhat is meditation?

Insight Meditation (Mindfulness)

Absorption or tranquility or “Concentration”

Absorption / “Concentration” of Mind

Various “objects” of concentration

Tactile Visual Sound Words thoughts

(Contemplation)

Their Characteristics & Benefits of such practice

Their Characteristics & Benefits of such practice

– Increased power of concentration– Reduction in digressive thoughts– Ability to avoid unwholesome deeds– Purification of “conscious” mind– Tranquility

Insight Meditation

need for ethical base

insight experiential knowledge into true

nature of existence Impermanence, suffering,

Egolessness…Leads to purification of mind

Why does the mind become impure?

apparent causereal cause

The Right Mindfulness or (Comprehensive)

Importance of bare attention

The Essence of “Mental Purification through Mindfulness”

Practice of “Loving Kindness”

Why? How?

“mechanics” of “subconscious” mind

<ancient insights & modern science>

<non-reactive>

www.dhamma.org

CAUTION

• Need for clarity of objectives

• Persistence & perseverancec.f. taming a wild beast

• Enticement on the way …… visions, powers etc.

• Taking “due” care of body

• Hasten Slowly !!(work at optimum pace)

EQUANIMITY IN THE FACE OF VICISSITUDES OF LIFE

Reduction in escapist tendencies (smoking, drinking, drugs)

Benefits of Practice

• Self control– Look before you leap – Reduction in rash & aggressive behaviour& intolerance– proper self appraisal – humility, forgiveness

MANIFESTATION OF HIGHER NEEDS

• attenuation in acquisitiveness & Greed

• increase in love, compassion, truthfulness

CREATIVITY CONCENTRATION

SCIENTIFIC TEMPER

INSIGHT INTO “LIFE”