Our experience of a supposed self creates our universe. Our impressions, which are generated internally are the only indicators of any physical reality. What credence and reality we confer to any element of the observable universe is determined inside. In saying inside, the construct of the self is meant. In direct experience, nothing other than this is felt. The real object exists only as an impression. The physical body is similarly not much more than another impression. From a realist point of view, we exist as discrete entities comprising a universe of parts and elements, but in direct experience and upon close examination, nothing other than impressions are experienced. Apparently, the self is the scaffolding within which impressions appear, and is ultimately, just another impression, an experience like any other!
While, this self is responsible for realizing what is desirable and good, it is also the source of all our suffering. Given that our impressions are the external and internal universe, it cannot be any other way. All our suffering has to be a function of this very same self. All our lives are spent creating, conjuring and modifying our self. The important question to ask is what happens if we stop doing this, in a way end the self.
Nothing changes, we still act, and eat and sleep and work and worry, but all of these become impressions without agency. There remains very little need to do anything in particular. In many ways, we become like a stream or a river running its course, or the cloud billowing across the sky. In ending the self, impressions or experiences do not go away. What we do with these impressions is paradoxically up to us. So ending the self becomes a progressive process. A process we feel, not necessarily of negation but of surrender and learning. This learning is no doubt with fabrications which are in the end nothing but mere impressions but the aim is ultimately to end all fabrications, and with that the self.
Why end the self? The answer is freedom. Freedom to let go of suffering, to awaken to openness, timelessness and compassion. Ultimately, all of us seek happiness although we adopt temporary and eventually unsatisfying and even self destructive ways to do this. We believe that true freedom and lasting well-being come only from ending what we term the mere self with all its conditioning and discovering a way of being that is free and limitless. This way is already within us. It is just a matter of being open to letting it manifest. As mentioned, we are nothing but impressions within a so called self, and we use these very impressions to create unrestrained, spontaneous being.
Many become worried that ending the self might be hazardous. Nothing coud be further from the truth! All our pain and sorrow comes from clinging to me and mine. In realizing this, there is a startling clarity, a freedom that allows unbiased action and skillful consideration. All experiences are inconstant and ephemeral. The me that we think is having these experiences is just a learnt concept, the starting point of all our conditioning. With the right approach, we can learn to let go of this self and abide in joy, watching experiences and impressions come and go and learn to deal with everything with patience and wisdom.
Approaching What is Absolute
Our lives are filled with uncertainty. It is accurate to state that most if not all our endeavours are attempts to address and pacify this insecurity. Ask yourself these questions, why do you work? Or seek fulfilling relationships? Why do you seek health, money, education, career, comfort and even excitement? Because you want certainty, permanence, satisfaction that will be lasting. Everyone dreads sickness, separation, aging and death. All of us desire prosperity and comfort, we want to be sure that we will be well, that we will be happy. Whether we acknowledge it or not, it is our need for certainty that drives our activities and fashions our lives.
Now ask yourself another question, is anything in your body, mind or environment constant and permanent? The answer is obviously no! Can anything that is subject to change and inconstant ever provide certainty? Isn’t it worthwhile to try and approach what is permanent, absolute? All our lives we seek certainty and nothing that is inconstant can ever be enough. Nothing short of what is absolute can provide complete certainty. Approaching what is absolute can be a rewarding way to bring about peace and happiness in our lives. In approaching the absolute is certainty, rest and actualization.
By definition, what is subject to change is not absolute. So form is not absolute, neither is any state, or time! Virtually nothing in our experience can be absolute. So we cannot acquire what is absolute. What is absolute thus has to be formless, stateless, timeless and causeless! But we can try and approach what is absolute. In fact, that is a journey that bestows peace, happiness and certainty.
In trying to approach what is absolute, we simply acknowledge what is not so. It’s that simple! So, whatever you are doing, wherever you are, however you are, simply recognize that the content of your experience is not it, it is not absolute. That’s all! The body is not absolute. Neither is the world or the mind or thoughts, feelings and sensations. Whatever comes up, see that it isn’t absolute. That’s the approach, the view and the meditation. This is the movement that sees that what is inconstant is going to be inherently unsatisfactory, and you move towards what is causeless and timeless. Never acquiring or possessing it, because you can’t, but perpetually approaching it.