The method of “not this, not that, but That”

 The individual being which identifies its existence with that of the life in a physical body as “I” is called the ego. The Self, which is pure consciousness, has no ego sense about it. Neither can the physical body, which is inert in itself, have the ego sense. Between the two, that is between the Self or pure consciousness, and the inert physical body, there arises mysteriously the ego sense, or “I” notion; a hybrid, which is neither of them. (Ramana Maharshi)

 

There are some who go about and remind themselves that they are That. Nisargadatta Maharaj had a big breakthrough after practicing this approach for a while. Anyone When we encounter Grace, we cannot help being captured by this higher dimension of being. Anyone who has had an Awakening breakthrough encounters Grace routinely. It’s a partial breakthrough though. The risk is that once we start looking for it we by-pass by reading our mystical expectations into life as is. So, I have stopped looking consciously for Grace. It comes when it does. I find it safer to look for the interferences of the non-existing “I” notion and manage to step out of it once the realization hits. This is the method of “not this, not that”.

 

“Thought-feeling-experiences” pop up all the time in the “mind, body, world” matrix. It’s possible to be aware when the “I” notion jumps on it. On the outside the “I” perception can be spotted in duality, on the inside the “thought-feeling” energy bubble can be popped when spotted. It’s not that we negate its existence. It’s just that we don’t let the train of thought leave the station. My favorite mantra is “get the self out of the Way”. It encapsulates both, the process of looking through the illusionary story of the personal “I”, as well as being open to Grace.