What is Limitlessness (ananda)? How am I THAT?
For context how how this applies to you, below gives further elucidation how one can never negate self; the conscious-subject. “I” can't go out of existence. Inquiry begins:
If we look into names/forms (nama-rupa) including time and space, we can keep reducing them to mere thought/concept level.
However even thought can be reduced.
For instance, is there concept of time when not concerned of time? Is there time amidst deep meditation or throughout immersive hobby/sport? No. Sense of ongoing progression disappears. But remains what? The conscious-subject.
In this way, we observe conscious-subject can't be reduced further. I can't reduce myself. Even if I did, then who would be left to validate the absence of self, the conscious-subject?
That is to say, Conscious “I” never goes out of existence. If we analyze our life, we find I was never NOT available. Even if there as no experience of anything, “I” was still present illuminating the experience of nothing-in-particular.
What about deep sleep? I am NOT available there!
If you asked above question, you've contradicted yourself.
How can “I” ask about an experience to which it wasn't available to? Impossible.
“I” always asks about an event to which the “I” was a witness to.
Point is you're asking about “deep sleep” because “I” is also available then. It's true that mind is not available, which is why we have nothing to say about deep sleep, except a generic label “deep sleep”. Then we try to define it vaguely as: nothing, void, darkness, blackness, non-existence, absence, bliss, happiness, freedom, rest.
The point is – to describe deep sleep with any of those definitions, it's only possible if “I” was present throughout deep sleep.
In short: It's impossible to negate one's awareness/consciousness. Else who'd be left to say “I negated myself”. Who would be observing the glories dissolution of the conscious-subject going out of existence?
Even if one says God, then how does one know that “God was observing”? That implies “I was available to observe God observing”.
Meaning the entire universe of objects, ultimately is reduced to conscious-subject, self. And conscious-subject can't be further reduced.
Therefore the conscious-subject is Limitlessness because it is not bound by LIMITED thoughts, forms, nor time-space.
Everything about us may have become subject instead of object because there’s no awareness to look at ourselves as an object, but we are unconscious in deep sleep, so how do we conclude the unconscious-object (our body/mind/etc.) is conscious-subject?
Our body is there but how do we then conclude that something other than our subconscious is there? Why assume there’s an observer of nothing after we awaken and question ourselves about our oblivion? We *are* just inventing a story since we know nothing about it.
Nothingness is called bliss when “nothing, void, darkness, blackness, non-existence, absence, bliss, happiness, freedom, rest” are all lumped together. Does ‘bliss’ simply mean obliteration? I would think of bliss to be more along the lines of a pleasant experience, not freedom from experiencing.
Tonight, we say “I’m going to sleep”. When we say that, do we mean “I want to dream”, OR “I want to be free of all experience”? Kindly answer this before I can answer the q. At this point we won’t define anything. So just a simple ordinary answer will do.
How would you fit psychosomatic disorder into all of this? There has been research showing certain medical symptoms experienced can be caused by factors the patient is unaware of. For example, a psychogenic asthma attack is experienced but the childhood event of eg. drowning or childbirth is not. If you asked the person having the attack whether they were conscious of that childhood event, they would say no. But when it is processed (through therapy or otherwise) only then does it become conscious. The subject is not a witness to the cause, and yet we know it exists because when it is later removed the condition disappears. So there appears to be levels of consciousness, from highly conscious through to complete unawareness where the “I” is not involved. Or we could alternatively say that consciousness is limited, otherwise we would not be affected by things we are not conscious of in that moment.
How would you fit psychosomatic disorder into all of this?
Quick order: Consciousness > Causal Body > Subtle Body (Mind) > Physical Body
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Causal Body:
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Imagine this to be like a big dark room. The unconscious. Not visible to the individual. But many things inside. Including past life tendencies, which will sooner or later express as what we call “psychosomatic conditions”.
They will come out at various points in life. How? Based on environmental triggers. EG: We can witness toddlers psychology shaping as he/she transforms into teen.
Thus growth of Physical and Subtle Body also contributes to delaying the expression of psychosomatic disorders. No different then older bodies develop physical illness later in life.
Summary: All psychosomatic conditions are in potential. And life circumstances provoke them into manifest. Thus they’re expressed through physical body.
Thus answers: “The subject is not a witness to the cause, and yet we know it exists because when it is later removed the condition disappears. ”
Point is, subject isn’t witness to most causes in life. Even know. our brain is filtering out millions bits of info (eg: background sounds). And offering us cognition of only and we’re only 7+- bits for sake of functioning.
It is why subtle advertising works. Our eyes pickup the billboard in periphery vision. We don’t consciously cognize it. Then later we feel compelled to think of buying the product when environment shows it to us.
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Subtle Mind (Mind)
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If causal body is like the internet of data pertaining to a single individual, then the subtle body (MIND) is like the web-browser. We only perceive what is true RIGHT NOW. This includes memories, intellect, emotions.
Mind is that because of which the entire experience of psychology is KNOWN to the individual. Just like, we can only know content of data through means of a monitor.
Depends on what DISPLAYS, is how body responds physically.
Physical body also releases chemicals like endorphins, serotonin, etc – to create a corresponding EMOTION pertaining to the psychological state/condition.
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Physical Body
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Inherited DNA and epi-genetics (layer “over” DNA) also contribute to psychosomatic conditions.
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Consciousness
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Imagine both of us are in a room, and light is turned off. So we don’t see each others physical features.
I am crying (quietly). You are happy.
Suddenly light comes on.
What happens? You are able to say “He is crying, tears, blue shirt, big eyes”. And I am able to describe your features.
Meaning the light simply illuminates the objects.
If I cry, the light doesn’t get sad.
If you’re happy, the light doesn’t get happy.
Light is completely objective. No experience in the room touches the light.
Consciousness is like this. It doesn’t have levels. It is an UNCHANGING witness to the changing mind. Proof?
I AM sad. I AM happy. I AM remembering. I AM in state of forgetfullness. I AM sick. I AM healthy. I AM wealthy. I AM poor. I AM intelligent. I AM dull.
“I AM” is one and same. Everything that follows it changes.
This “I” the consciousness which VALIDATES the psychological condition/state of the mind.