Is there an alternative to asking questions,...?

Question

either on the forum or elsewhere?

Do questions and answers bind us to ignorance of our True Self by diverting us from listening within? Are we better served by becoming quiet and observing, rather than opening the floodgate to an army of invaders that distract our attention? We serve up our current understandings to one another as though at a cocktail party exchanging small talk or disputing weighty spiritual issues with one another. By doing so, are we missing the opportunity to curb our "worldly" interest and to seek sanctuary in the silence of our personal attunement to "what is" rather than listening to others' limited understanding?

Is the ego the puppet master driving us ever into the outer to escape its discovery and potential demise? Without the back and forth chatter of words and concepts that clutter the landscape, would we be more likely to go inward to meet the inherent wisdom we each can access through the veil of silence?

Answer 1

Answer them.













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Answer 2

Well, we live in society. So we have to inter-relate, interact and communicate with each other. By doing so we can share information and help each other grow and understand things better. We can learn from others. We can also help others to learn. By communicating we may realise how wrong we have been all this while. And we can learn from our mistakes. Of course, everything has its ups and downs. Yes, there will be chatter. lots and lots of it. But the choice is ours, whether to listen or not. If you do listen, you still have a choice whether to simply listen (observe) or to participate. Observing does not necessarily mean going into absolute silence. I think one should be observant at all times, not only during meditation. That is what mindfulness is all about. A child learns by asking questions. Imagine where would you be today if from birth you had not asked any questions at all. Its an ongoing process. You either ask questions or be asked questions. Yes, the ego is driving us away from self-discovery. But the ego has to be understood for what it really is. Once you truly understand ego, understand its falsity, that it is nothing but a collection of past experiences that you have associated with being 'you', that it is not an entity at all, that it is not existential, that it is purely psychological, then ego simply drops off. No effort at all is needed. Just as darkness disappears when light comes. All this is learnt by asking questions. Or maybe I should say by having questions in mind.

Answer 3

Some spiritual people go to live in caves or monasteries

so they can meditate and not be interrupted. Some become enlightened.

Others stay in their same jobs, their life almost goes unchanged

yet by their example others wonder what is different about them.

They might not preach, but if they can ask questions that Point others

in a direction toward the Ultimate Reality - even though it is only smidgen -

they are performing a valuable service for mankind as well as self

Some day we will all awaken and I think hastening that day by

asking pertinent questions is far more important than becoming a recluse

who is now totally self involved.

Answer 4

There is a time for everything.



Personally I have no idea what is right for me let alone others; I just try to do my best as I see it.



Finding the Silence does it for me; but I do not feel that with-drawing is necessary or possible all the time.



In fact for me it is a treat which may or not be the place to rest at this point in my life.



There will be no questions when we finally remember who we are.

Answer 5

Someone has responded, 'not if you don't want to die of boredom.' But what we are looking for is on the other side of boredom and boredom must be gotten through. If we sit in silence for even a few moments we become restless and bored and we usually jump up and engage ourselves in anything to distract our attention. But every question we pose is only answered fully and satisfactorily in the silence within. Meditation, a state in which all the senses, all the attention and all the awareness of our being is held completely engaged in What Is instead of what is apparent, God if you will, every question that arises is answered as it arises. Believe or not believe, What Is remains unchanging and Substantial with or without our awareness. But with our awareness we become connected with It's state of Being, our true nature, That which Knows.



Namaste'

Answer 6

hey (((sirius))), good to see you :)



well, it may well be so. however, i am going to take up the "defence" in an attempt to give your "offence" a little run for its money, lol!



your argument could be extended to any exchange between people, really. questions and answers, small talk, sharing our experiences and our interpretations of things, it's all communication (bearing in mind we are the most social of species) and in my opinion, it may be ego-centric but it can also be quite healthy and quite beneficial. an expression of people's desire for communication and connection with others is what this forum is about, it is why so many of us could be said to have some loyalty to it.



i think there is a time and a place for everything, this curbing of our worldly interests that you speak of, this time for quiet introspection and contemplation or meditation, is a precious and highly beneficial time, it ought to be important to us in our daily lives - especially given the pace of modern life and the shortening of attention spans - but not to the detriment of engaging in the sharing of ideas and the expanding of our sociocultural horizons.



i suspect you and i are coming from very different perspectives, very different experiences, very different paths, and what you may deem mental chatter and see as little more than clutter may, to me, be something rather different. there is a space for quiet in my life but there is also a space for the developing and nurturing of friendships (which often start off with a little small talk, a little casual-seeming chatter), a space to chase my thoughts and try to get at the essence of them, a space to pursue a certain line of enquiry, a space to learn and to discover, a space perhaps merely to express myself.



a question of balance and one of discipline.

Answer 7

If we have any inner soul to turn to when we are born, it is brain washed from us with sixteen years of compulsive schooling, and leave us my-ope to what we where intended to be by our creator. We become only a small cog to fit their fabricated machine, and we live only looking for solace of our true self.



if there was ever a sanctuary of spiritual truth, then the vail has been ripped asunder by our fabricated corporate world, and we are as dutiful mindless zombies who even rejoice in this world they have permitted us to survive in.

Answer 8

Exchange of views with our spiritual mates is not all a wastage of time, since one can not reach to the essence of knowledge of real path of ultimate truth without deep discussions on the subject. But always play with player stronger than you to improve your game.

Confused and deluded, I wander around, but no one shows me the way.

I go and ask the clever people, if there is anyone who could rid me of my pain.

If the True Guru abides within my mind, then I see the Lord, my best friend, there.

Nanak says, my mind is satisfied and fulfilled, contemplating the Praises of the True Name.

{{{Guru Nanak Dev Ji Raag Maaroo 1087}}}





O foolish and ignorant soul-bride, why are you so proud? Within the home of your own self, why do you not enjoy the Love of your Lord? Your Husband Lord is so very near, O foolish bride; why do you search for Him outside? Apply the Fear of God as the maascara to adorn your eyes, and make the Love of the Lord your ornament. Then, you shall be known as a devoted and committed soul-bride, when you enshrine love for your Husband Lord. ||1||

What can the silly young bride do, if she is not pleasing to her Husband Lord? She may plead and implore so many times, but still, such a bride shall not obtain the Mansion of the Lord's Presence. Without the karma of good deeds, nothing is obtained, although she may run around frantically. She is intoxicated with greed, pride and egotism, and engrossed in Maya. She cannot obtain her Husband Lord in these ways; the young bride is so foolish! ||2||

Go and ask the happy, pure soul-brides, how did they obtain their Husband Lord? Whatever the Lord does, accept that as good; do away with your own cleverness and self-will. By His Love, true wealth is obtained; link your consciousness to His lotus feet. As your Husband Lord directs, so you must act; surrender your body and mind to Him, and apply this perfume to yourself. So speaks the happy soul-bride, O sister; in this way, the Husband Lord is obtained. ||3||

Give up your selfhood, and so obtain your Husband Lord; what other clever tricks are of any use? When the Husband Lord looks upon the soul-bride with His Gracious Glance, that day is historic - the bride obtains the nine treasures. She who is loved by her Husband Lord, is the true soul-bride; O Nanak, she is the queen of all. Thus she is imbued with His Love, intoxicated with delight; day and night, she is absorbed in His Love. She is beautiful, glorious and brilliant; she is known as truly wise. ||4||2||4||

{{{Guru Nanak Dev Ji Raag Tilang 722}}}

Sir, but once confirmed the right path, one does not ask questions instead continuous practice day and night.

Answer 9

Sometimes when people keep asking me questions, and make no attempt at understanding, I tell them I am not their teacher and order them to "Shup up and READ".



So yes. Reading is the alternative to asking questions.

Answer 10

Well, without asking a question, no answers are likely to come. A good one would be, 'who am I?'

But then it helps to listen for the answers.

Answer 11

"Holy Silence is the Great Spirit's voice. I encourage long periods of silent listening...."

Stalking Wolf

Answer 12

Yes: not asking questions

Answer 13

Dear, questions arise in the mind...mind is a friend,an enemy nor both...but once True Self understood,felt,practiced and it becomes our nature.....no more questions arise...as there is no mind to ask questions! As no thoughts(good/bad) arise as there is Sam-bhaav(normal neutral state) in which the Truth is known.



till then questions and answers help to understand....after knowing True self...one generally keeps silence as there is nothing to discuss.....if someone asks questions in right direction, a self-realized person always helps them to understand....as there is no ego in True self...He/she is always eager to help others...



When one concentrates all his/her senses on the self all the time, then subtly one knows the truth and does not gets affected even by worldly interaction





ATMASTAKAM – Chant of Shiva



(aka Shivoham: “I Am Shiva”)



Mano buddhya-hankara chittani naham

Na cha shrotra jihve, na cha ghrana netre

Na cha vyoma bhumirna tejo na vayuhu

Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham . (1)



I am not the mind, intellect, thought, ego, or some form of the supreme being; I neither have ears, nor tongue and I neither have nose (nostrils) nor eyes; I am not the sky, earth, light or the wind; I am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being who is the very emblem of truth, knowledge and eternal bliss.

I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.



Na cha prana sangno na vai pancha vayuhu

Na va sapta dhatur na va pancha koshaha

Na vak pani padau na chopastha payoo

Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham .(2).



I am not the most essential air that everyone breathes. Nor a part of essential five gases related to bodily functions (which are Prana, Aparna, Vyana, Udana and Samana). I am not the seven-fold material (Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Medas, Asthi,Majja and Shukra) that help in body’s physical development, I am not part of five coverings that help to build up the personality (food, air, mind, knowledge or wisdom and pleasure). Nor am I the five organs of action (which are speech/mouth, hands, feet, reproductive and rectum), I am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being who is the very emblem of truth, knowledge and eternal bliss.

I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.



Na me dvesha ragau na me lobha mohau

Mado naiva me naiva matsarya bhavah

Na dharmo na chartho na kamo na mokshah

Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham .(3).



I have no likes or dislikes; Not I have any greed or delusion; I have no pride or arrogant vanity; Nor am I jealous of anyone or in competition with anyone ; I do not need the four main necessities of life (which are Dharma (Law of Life), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Desires) and Moksha (Liberation); I am the fortunate, joyful,supreme being who is the very emblem of truth, knowledge and eternal bliss.

I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.



Na punyam na papam na saukhyam na dukham

Na mantro na tirtham na veda na yagnaha

Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta

Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham .(4).





I am not attached to any righteousness or sin; I have neither pleasure nor sorrow; I have no need for any Mantra; I have no need for pilgrimages ; I have no need for any sacred scriptures; nor do I perform any sacrifise or rituals; I am neither the meal nor the one who consumes or what is consumed;

I am the fortunate, joyful,supreme being who is the very emblem of truth, knowledge and eternal bliss.

I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.



Na me mrutyu shanka na me jati bhedah

Pita naiva me naiva mata na janma

Na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva shishyah

Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham .(5).





I have no fear of death, nor do I have caste distinctions; I neither have a father nor mother because I was never born; I have neither kin/relatives nor friends; I have no gurus and nor am I a disciple; I am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being who is the very emblem of truth, knowledge and eternal bliss.

I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.



Aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo

Vibhur vyapya sarvatra sarvendriyanam

Sada me samatvam na muktir na bandhah

Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham .(6).





I am free of thoughts and beyond imagination since I have no form; I am all pervading and exist everywhere; I am the king of all sense-organs; I am always impartial to everything and everyone,; I am free from everything and I have no attachment to anything; I am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being who is the very emblem of truth, knowledge and eternal bliss.

I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

Answer 14

For you



http://www.ugkrishnamurti.org/ug/quotes_and_photos/album01/page03.html



http://www.ugkrishnamurti.org/ug/quotes_and_photos/album01/page04.html



http://www.ugkrishnamurti.org/ug/quotes_and_photos/album01/page10.html



http://www.ugkrishnamurti.org/ug/quotes_and_photos/album02/page01.html



http://www.ugkrishnamurti.org/ug/quotes_and_photos/album02/page02.html

Answer 15

Not if you don't want to die of boredom.

Answer 16

I love you..

Answer 17

There are always alternatives. Thanks.