November

9 2016
Enlightenment is not an experience
Enlightenment is self knowledge. If a teacher claims that his or her enlightenment is
experiential and that he or she can transmit it, the enlightenment will be temporary.
Only energy can be transmitted, not enlightenment. -James Swartz
Q: What is SUPERIMPOSITION?
A: Projecting a subjective value on an object is called superimposition and appears in
two forms: 1) mistaking an object for something else and 2) adding a value to an
object that is not inherent in the nature of the object. James Swartz (from, The
Essence of Enlightenment)
MICHAEL: An example of the former is the classic mistaking a rope for a snake. The
rope is harmless, but if I superimpose a snake on it, I have imagined its something
its not (and I suffer the consequences, i.e. fear).
Note that if I am not aware that my mind is doing this, I will go around
superimposing unconsciously onto other people and situations on a daily basis and
thus not understand why my life is such a mess.
An example of the latter is thinking that someone belongs to me. Every being is
inherently free, but if I imagine somebody is mine, then I am superimposing a
quality onto that person/object that it does not inherently possess (and again, I suffer
the consequences of my mistaken belief, i.e. jealousy).
Respond to the person, not the behavior
I keep in mind the fact that many reasons, unknown to me, set the stage for the other
person's action. With this frame of mind I find it natural to be accommodative. In a
situation where my response is to the person rather than to the behavior, I find myself
calm. -Swami Dayananda
MICHAEL: How? By DISPASSION (noun): The state or quality of being unemotional
or...

West LA Weekly Satsang November 9 2016 pg. 2

...emotionally uninvolved. -dictionary.com If I am emotionally involved with a
person's action, I (via the instrument of the mind) will focus on it and not the person.
The Attempt for Completeness through Change

(The above is a chapter subtitle from the book, Introduction to Vedanta:

Understanding the Fundamental Problem by Swami Dayananda)
MICHAEL: The problem is that change is an experience, and every experience is
limited. How am I going to find limitlessness in something that is limited? The answer
is I'm not. Limited actions and achievements by nature can never lead us to unlimited
being. Only knowledge can.