The Self Knows Itself

Yes.

Yes. Very good, very good. Awareness or let’s say the Self, because you said that here the distinction between Awareness and Being dissolves. The Self perceives itself in its manifest aspect, which we call the world through this tool called attention. But, attention or Awareness cannot perceive itself or does not need to perceive itself through attention. Because it does not have... attention perceives quality. Awareness in its pure form is quality less, attribute less. So perception is all-dependent on quality. But that from which all qualities arise, including the quality of attention, itself is empty of each of these. So, attention itself cannot be used as a tool to perceive the Self. Because it is un-perceivable. So, what then happens is sometimes when we say ‘turn inwards’ what we are saying is that the maximum that you can turn inwards to is your very Being, which has the quality of Presence ‘I am.’ But, beyond this quality of Presence, there is no quality left for attention to perceive. There is nothing left there for attention to grab on to. But inspite of this... this is the beauty of Self-knowledge, which is independent of even the functioning of attention. That is why every day I am saying to you that our methods of knowing, which means perceptual knowing; that means with attention and conceptual knowing which is thought working with attention. Both, are not the Knowing we are talking about. Awareness knows itself, the Self knows itself independent of the functioning of attention. Sometimes it is helpful to do this negation which is ‘neti-neti’ to come to this point where there is no quality left including attention which it is no longer left. Because beyond Being, there is no way for attention to go. Sometimes we may say ‘Attention comes fully back home and then dissolves in the Self. In the same way Being can come back home and dissolve in the Self.’ In fact like I said they are co-joined, co-joined in such a way, interlinked. Now why I said we are saying this provisionally. Because all these are just pointers ultimately all these distinctions also have to be discarded between Being, attention, and Awareness. But, in the meanwhile, while we are struck with other terms, it is helpful to use these terms to really take a deep look at ourselves.

Ahh, yes, in sleep. [Ananta Chuckles] When you go to sleep, it is gone. So, we can say that ‘The Self is tired of playing with attention and therefore perception, and then... sleep time.’ [Smiles] Sleep, no time!