A Mind Beyond Time:
"You are just a thought"
These videos of the former spiritual seeker and now spiritual teacher, Jeff Foster (lifewithoutacentre.com) discuss the ending of the separate me, where the notion of a separate existence falls entirely away, so that you live in perpetual oneness with everything, without seeking or wanting anything. It is a life of action, not stagnation, but action arising from a mind not in internal conflict with what is.
It is a mind that is no longer seeking... anything. It is a mind free of all biases, choice and self-centeredness. It is a mind living entirely in the present, where what is happening in the moment, where what exists in the moment, is literally all that there is.
But it is not 'ordinary' in the sense we use that word - because it is new, it is something that has not been seen before. Words are not enough.
So because of this newness, there is no longer any suffering, any despair, any hopes dashed, any sense of non-fulfillment, any depression. There is only the now. There is no future.
It is a mind beyond all time.
This is a 'reality' that is us and is all around us at all times but we simply cannot see it, as long as we have a center. This is because of the desire of the mind always for something more.
But what is left when the self - the center - falls away cannot be described with our current duality. It can't be explained with the words/concepts that are the very basis of the existing conceptual framework of the self-based mind.
The parallels here that exist with the very basis of what is in the talks covering over 60 years... are quite extraordinary.
"You are just a thought"
These videos of the former spiritual seeker and now spiritual teacher, Jeff Foster (lifewithoutacentre.com) discuss the ending of the separate me, where the notion of a separate existence falls entirely away, so that you live in perpetual oneness with everything, without seeking or wanting anything. It is a life of action, not stagnation, but action arising from a mind not in internal conflict with what is.
It is a mind that is no longer seeking... anything. It is a mind free of all biases, choice and self-centeredness. It is a mind living entirely in the present, where what is happening in the moment, where what exists in the moment, is literally all that there is.
But it is not 'ordinary' in the sense we use that word - because it is new, it is something that has not been seen before. Words are not enough.
So because of this newness, there is no longer any suffering, any despair, any hopes dashed, any sense of non-fulfillment, any depression. There is only the now. There is no future.
It is a mind beyond all time.
This is a 'reality' that is us and is all around us at all times but we simply cannot see it, as long as we have a center. This is because of the desire of the mind always for something more.
But what is left when the self - the center - falls away cannot be described with our current duality. It can't be explained with the words/concepts that are the very basis of the existing conceptual framework of the self-based mind.
The parallels here that exist with the very basis of what is in the talks covering over 60 years... are quite extraordinary.
What follows is a brief set of questions recently submitted by the webmaster at: http://www.PhoenixAquua.blogspot.com
"So Daniel, I've visited your site quite often, and can find myself lost within it for days. It's truly a complex piece of work, especially with my interests in Krishnamurti's philosophy.
I'm writing a commentary regarding Beyond the Mind, and would respectfully request the following information.
I'm trying to get a picture of what your intentions were when building the site. I can see that it was a major undertaking. How did you want the information used? - The initial intention was (and remains) to share the understanding (through 'studying' the books for many years) to anyone globally who is, or may be, interested - see both the Background & Contact Pages. A secondary intention is to bring the pointers to a much larger audience. How people respond to the information contained in the site is entirely up to them.
How do you maintain your site, as a non-profit/not for profit? - Non-profit.
Do you receive monetary compensation in any form regarding your site (marketing/advertising-promo deals, etc) - Received some small contributions from visitors wishing to support the continuance of the site (just nominal amounts), as per the wording of the Contact Page.
Is this a hobby? - No, it is a life commitment.
If you do not receive any type of payment for all this work, what is it that drives you do put an enormous amount of time, and effort to produce such an informative site? - This site was never intended to be done for reward, monetary or otherwise. It is a sharing of understanding only. It was and is never seen as an "effort." If you love what you are doing there is no effort in it. If it brings about responses from visitors, which it has been doing (see elsewhere on this page), then this is all to the good.
I've been researching and studying K's work for sometime, and to me, his core message centers around the Ego/False Ego.
What would you consider his core teachings, if not the dissolution of the Ego? - The dissolution of the illusory self can only come about through direct insight into the workings of the mind. For this insight to occur, the mind must be entirely still, free of its continual reactions. The mind itself, as it is, cannot bring about its own transformation.
* * * * * *
"So Daniel, I've visited your site quite often, and can find myself lost within it for days. It's truly a complex piece of work, especially with my interests in Krishnamurti's philosophy.
I'm writing a commentary regarding Beyond the Mind, and would respectfully request the following information.
I'm trying to get a picture of what your intentions were when building the site. I can see that it was a major undertaking. How did you want the information used? - The initial intention was (and remains) to share the understanding (through 'studying' the books for many years) to anyone globally who is, or may be, interested - see both the Background & Contact Pages. A secondary intention is to bring the pointers to a much larger audience. How people respond to the information contained in the site is entirely up to them.
How do you maintain your site, as a non-profit/not for profit? - Non-profit.
Do you receive monetary compensation in any form regarding your site (marketing/advertising-promo deals, etc) - Received some small contributions from visitors wishing to support the continuance of the site (just nominal amounts), as per the wording of the Contact Page.
Is this a hobby? - No, it is a life commitment.
If you do not receive any type of payment for all this work, what is it that drives you do put an enormous amount of time, and effort to produce such an informative site? - This site was never intended to be done for reward, monetary or otherwise. It is a sharing of understanding only. It was and is never seen as an "effort." If you love what you are doing there is no effort in it. If it brings about responses from visitors, which it has been doing (see elsewhere on this page), then this is all to the good.
I've been researching and studying K's work for sometime, and to me, his core message centers around the Ego/False Ego.
What would you consider his core teachings, if not the dissolution of the Ego? - The dissolution of the illusory self can only come about through direct insight into the workings of the mind. For this insight to occur, the mind must be entirely still, free of its continual reactions. The mind itself, as it is, cannot bring about its own transformation.
* * * * * *
A Summation of the central Themes of the Talks:
NOW OR NEVER ;
INTELLIGENCE ;
YOURSELF ;
TO LIVE WITH DEATH
- Compiled by Pradeep Apte
~~~~~~~~~
Two free e-books written by Dr Gordon Coates:
"Wanterfall: A practical approach to the
understanding and healing of the emotions of everyday life"
"Notes on Communication: A few thoughts about the way we interact with the people we meet"
Discussing verbal and non-verbal communication
~~~~~~~~~
________
Dialogues:
| Listening without words - David Kolody
~~~~~~~~~
| The nature of silence and "serious intent" - Lyn McCormack
~~~~~~~~~
| What is communication? - Gerard Hughes
~~~~~~~~~
See Archives & Archives 3 & Archives 4
| There is only ever one insight - Paul Dimmock
~~~~~~~~~
| What is the "Flowering of Goodness"? - Edgardo Francisco Mendoza
~~~~~~~~~
| 'No-one has the physical capacity to do it' - Mark A. Wood
~~~~~~~~~
| What is a Fact? - Joseph R. Cleary
~~~~~~~~~
| A Plea for a Healer for a Dying Son - George Kinkela
~~~~~~~~~
| The Resistance of the Mind - Alistair Melville
NOW OR NEVER ;
INTELLIGENCE ;
YOURSELF ;
TO LIVE WITH DEATH
- Compiled by Pradeep Apte
~~~~~~~~~
Two free e-books written by Dr Gordon Coates:
"Wanterfall: A practical approach to the
understanding and healing of the emotions of everyday life"
"Notes on Communication: A few thoughts about the way we interact with the people we meet"
Discussing verbal and non-verbal communication
~~~~~~~~~
________
Dialogues:
| Listening without words - David Kolody
~~~~~~~~~
| The nature of silence and "serious intent" - Lyn McCormack
~~~~~~~~~
| What is communication? - Gerard Hughes
~~~~~~~~~
See Archives & Archives 3 & Archives 4
| There is only ever one insight - Paul Dimmock
~~~~~~~~~
| What is the "Flowering of Goodness"? - Edgardo Francisco Mendoza
~~~~~~~~~
| 'No-one has the physical capacity to do it' - Mark A. Wood
~~~~~~~~~
| What is a Fact? - Joseph R. Cleary
~~~~~~~~~
| A Plea for a Healer for a Dying Son - George Kinkela
~~~~~~~~~
| The Resistance of the Mind - Alistair Melville
A Site note on the all-pervasive practice of anonymity on the web:
Dialogue groups and forums on the net have a serious flaw in that they allow anonymity of their contributors. (This was an inbuilt structure deliberately set up by the original internet/web designers and cannot now be changed; a whole new superstructure would be needed to force posters to forums, social networks and chat rooms etc, to display their full identities, which would eliminate an untold amount of anonymous rants, spiteful comments and deceitful identities.) Those who abnegate their responsibility for what they contribute by using a handle/avatar/username and not their full name (in addition to withholding all their private email addresses) allow themselves a convenient get out to withdraw at any time from dialogues, or to throw around claims, rumours and counterclaims with impunity. (This includes moderators of these groups, some of whom also hide behind the 'security' of anonymity.)
This anonymous comforting wall results invariably in dialogues of superficiality, aggression and oneupmanship, hence conflict (thus the inevitable demise of the old Kinfonet study group - the newly renovated discussion forum on the site is, for the time being, self-moderated; it now prefers one's actual name to be supplied, but doesn't enforce it, as also does the KFA dialogue forum and social network). In actual fact, the ubiquity of this evasive practice of anonymity throws into stark relief the clever masks that the self puts on to avoid facing up to things. It is simply game playing - or role playing - according to a self-image one has of oneself. Moreover, interminable chatting on the Internet is a time-filler, a great time-waster and boredom lifter. This superficial activity dominates online participation, along with the incessant demand for distraction, entertainment and childish fantasy.
If you take full responsibility for what you write, and you are serious about it, and what you write is worthy enough for others to read, you would have no qualms whatsoever in putting your full name to it, would you not?
Dialogue groups and forums on the net have a serious flaw in that they allow anonymity of their contributors. (This was an inbuilt structure deliberately set up by the original internet/web designers and cannot now be changed; a whole new superstructure would be needed to force posters to forums, social networks and chat rooms etc, to display their full identities, which would eliminate an untold amount of anonymous rants, spiteful comments and deceitful identities.) Those who abnegate their responsibility for what they contribute by using a handle/avatar/username and not their full name (in addition to withholding all their private email addresses) allow themselves a convenient get out to withdraw at any time from dialogues, or to throw around claims, rumours and counterclaims with impunity. (This includes moderators of these groups, some of whom also hide behind the 'security' of anonymity.)
This anonymous comforting wall results invariably in dialogues of superficiality, aggression and oneupmanship, hence conflict (thus the inevitable demise of the old Kinfonet study group - the newly renovated discussion forum on the site is, for the time being, self-moderated; it now prefers one's actual name to be supplied, but doesn't enforce it, as also does the KFA dialogue forum and social network). In actual fact, the ubiquity of this evasive practice of anonymity throws into stark relief the clever masks that the self puts on to avoid facing up to things. It is simply game playing - or role playing - according to a self-image one has of oneself. Moreover, interminable chatting on the Internet is a time-filler, a great time-waster and boredom lifter. This superficial activity dominates online participation, along with the incessant demand for distraction, entertainment and childish fantasy.
If you take full responsibility for what you write, and you are serious about it, and what you write is worthy enough for others to read, you would have no qualms whatsoever in putting your full name to it, would you not?
Site best viewed through Internet Explorer;
there are some page display issues with Chrome & Firefox
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright © 2007-2010 Daniel Marks | beyondthemind.net. All Rights Reserved.
This website went online on November 22, 2007 and is being continually developed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------------------------------------------------------
"There is only one fact: impermanence."
(Book of Life Daily Meditations: August 17, 2008)
"There is only one fact: impermanence."
(Book of Life Daily Meditations: August 17, 2008)
This site is, remarkably, the only one of its kind in the world. (By all means correct or refute this statement if you feel that it is wrong.) It is a laying out of one person's understanding of the major issues that arise from these penetrating pointers to a new way of living, to the inner workings of the self-absorbed mind. Strangely, this has not been done via any other website.
One reason for its existence is to bring about a possible contact with like-minded people throughout the world who are able to join an ongoing online discussion into real change - and into the core issues that have produced this world the way it is.
It appears, however, that such a group of people globally does not exist, despite all the Krishnamurti-based schools, the worldwide alumni, the 4 foundations, the national committees, the major foundation websites, the online social networks and dialog forums. At least, they have not surfaced in the 32 months this site has been in operation (only a select number of self-described 'isolated' people around the world have contacted this writer - many of whom have not been included on this page). But no group.
Why is that?
Daniel Marks
Melbourne, Australia
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
"To know, to be aware of the limitation of thinking is the beginning of intelligence."
(First Question & Answer Meeting at Brockwood Park: September, 1980)
(First Question & Answer Meeting at Brockwood Park: September, 1980)
Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons; taken by Simon Koopmann, under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5
"There is no understanding without self-knowing; learning about the self is not accumulating knowledge about it; gathering of knowledge prevents learning; learning is not an additive process; learning is from moment to moment, as is understanding."
(The Notebook: London: Victor Gollancz, 1985, page 135)
(The Notebook: London: Victor Gollancz, 1985, page 135)
(Page last updated August 5, 2010,
Total Site Page Loads: > 150,000)
Total Site Page Loads: > 150,000)
|
 |
________________________________
The Essential State of the Silent Mind
"Only when the mind is completely silent ... only then can the unknown come into being. The unknown is not something to be experienced by the mind; silence alone can be experienced, nothing but silence.
If the mind experiences anything but silence, it is merely projecting its own desires ... so long as the mind is not silent, so long as thought in any form, conscious or unconscious, is in movement, there can be no silence."
(The First and Last Freedom: pp. 207-208; The Link # 27, 'What is God?,' p. 27; ellipses added)
The universe arose out of silence, and the vastness of interstellar and intergalactic space is in perpetual silence, so it is only fitting that when the mind is silent it can come into contact with the unknowable behind all of creation.
The Essential State of the Silent Mind
"Only when the mind is completely silent ... only then can the unknown come into being. The unknown is not something to be experienced by the mind; silence alone can be experienced, nothing but silence.
If the mind experiences anything but silence, it is merely projecting its own desires ... so long as the mind is not silent, so long as thought in any form, conscious or unconscious, is in movement, there can be no silence."
(The First and Last Freedom: pp. 207-208; The Link # 27, 'What is God?,' p. 27; ellipses added)
The universe arose out of silence, and the vastness of interstellar and intergalactic space is in perpetual silence, so it is only fitting that when the mind is silent it can come into contact with the unknowable behind all of creation.
(Photo courtesy beachhunter.net)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Is the Mind Separate from the Brain?
Is there something that continues after Death?
Can the self be transcended by the mind as it is presently constructed?
What does this core statement mean: 'The Observer is the Observed'?
What is Consciousness?
Are the talks simple to understand or are they too complex?
Can any importance be attached to the man behind the talks?
Can the concept of Psychological Time be ended in the Mind?
What role can a Koan play in a flash of enlightenment?
Krishnamurti & Tolle - What are the correlations, if any?
Krishnamurti & Foster - Are there real parallels between them?
Have we ever had an Insight into the nature of the Mind of Thought?
Is it possible for the Mind to empty itself of all Thought?
Is the self real or only an insubstantial thing?
Why won't people change when they see that things are going wrong?
Can we live in the present or are we condemned to always live in the past?
Is resistance to the fact the root cause of all psychic pain?
Is there a fundamental precondition to all cases of enlightenment?
Why is this Website the only one of its kind in the World?
Is there something that continues after Death?
Can the self be transcended by the mind as it is presently constructed?
What does this core statement mean: 'The Observer is the Observed'?
What is Consciousness?
Are the talks simple to understand or are they too complex?
Can any importance be attached to the man behind the talks?
Can the concept of Psychological Time be ended in the Mind?
What role can a Koan play in a flash of enlightenment?
Krishnamurti & Tolle - What are the correlations, if any?
Krishnamurti & Foster - Are there real parallels between them?
Have we ever had an Insight into the nature of the Mind of Thought?
Is it possible for the Mind to empty itself of all Thought?
Is the self real or only an insubstantial thing?
Why won't people change when they see that things are going wrong?
Can we live in the present or are we condemned to always live in the past?
Is resistance to the fact the root cause of all psychic pain?
Is there a fundamental precondition to all cases of enlightenment?
Why is this Website the only one of its kind in the World?
The Basis Behind this Website:
The cornerstone of this entire site is the writer's discoveries from looking into the 'mirror' that is the talks. Time and again the pointers in the talks allude to the actual nature of the contents of consciousness (ie., thought, desire, time, and the self) - the actual workings of the mind on a daily basis. When pondered and reflected upon, these pointers have been shown to be true, and it is on this foundation alone that the site has been constructed, in order to share this understanding with others. The key is to choicelessly observe one's mind - and the pointers, once read and understood, can then be put aside. Both the man and the pointers themselves are not the central issue, it is the seeing of them.
The question has often been asked: Are the talks 'practical,' or are they so-called 'unproductive'? If you want something out of them - anything at all - if you are seeking a result, you will regard them as both impractical and unproductive. The seeking, the wanting, is the self in operation. The facts in the pointers have to be seen in the mind, not intellectualized (which is reducing them to clever abstractions, thus escaping from them). It is this direct "seeing" that is the core of it, and this is a state of mind brought about by questioning. The issue is really whether we have ever had a full insight into the whole movement of thought, into the whole operation of desire.
On Studying the Talks: "Vasanta Vihar [a Study Centre in Chennai, India, though meant here generically to cover all the study centres] should draw people who have a good brain, a good intellect. They should study the "teaching" thoroughly, soak in it deeply as you would do if you were to study medicine or Buddhism or any other subject. Studying means to go deeply into the subtleties of the words used and their contents and seeing the truths in them in relation to daily life. They should be able to discuss the teaching with specialists in any branch of knowledge, as scholars do. While they are studying, these people should have a spirit of cooperation.
A spirit of cooperation does not mean working together for some purpose, but it means that one is able to share one's discoveries and findings with one another. For instance, I share with you as a friend what I have discovered. You may doubt it, question it, but I am sharing with you the discovery. It is not my discovery; it does not belong to me or anybody. Perception is never personal."
(Sunanda Patwardhan Memoir: A Vision of the Sacred: My Personal Journey with Krishnamurti, 1999, page 63)
The minute you hold your discoveries into the workings of the mind unto yourself, your self is in operation and so you have actually understood nothing.
The cornerstone of this entire site is the writer's discoveries from looking into the 'mirror' that is the talks. Time and again the pointers in the talks allude to the actual nature of the contents of consciousness (ie., thought, desire, time, and the self) - the actual workings of the mind on a daily basis. When pondered and reflected upon, these pointers have been shown to be true, and it is on this foundation alone that the site has been constructed, in order to share this understanding with others. The key is to choicelessly observe one's mind - and the pointers, once read and understood, can then be put aside. Both the man and the pointers themselves are not the central issue, it is the seeing of them.
The question has often been asked: Are the talks 'practical,' or are they so-called 'unproductive'? If you want something out of them - anything at all - if you are seeking a result, you will regard them as both impractical and unproductive. The seeking, the wanting, is the self in operation. The facts in the pointers have to be seen in the mind, not intellectualized (which is reducing them to clever abstractions, thus escaping from them). It is this direct "seeing" that is the core of it, and this is a state of mind brought about by questioning. The issue is really whether we have ever had a full insight into the whole movement of thought, into the whole operation of desire.
On Studying the Talks: "Vasanta Vihar [a Study Centre in Chennai, India, though meant here generically to cover all the study centres] should draw people who have a good brain, a good intellect. They should study the "teaching" thoroughly, soak in it deeply as you would do if you were to study medicine or Buddhism or any other subject. Studying means to go deeply into the subtleties of the words used and their contents and seeing the truths in them in relation to daily life. They should be able to discuss the teaching with specialists in any branch of knowledge, as scholars do. While they are studying, these people should have a spirit of cooperation.
A spirit of cooperation does not mean working together for some purpose, but it means that one is able to share one's discoveries and findings with one another. For instance, I share with you as a friend what I have discovered. You may doubt it, question it, but I am sharing with you the discovery. It is not my discovery; it does not belong to me or anybody. Perception is never personal."
(Sunanda Patwardhan Memoir: A Vision of the Sacred: My Personal Journey with Krishnamurti, 1999, page 63)
The minute you hold your discoveries into the workings of the mind unto yourself, your self is in operation and so you have actually understood nothing.