Unanswerable Questions (experience)

[dannyfrankszzz]

I've been doing some reading on Buddhist thought - the Four Noble Truths

I came across many interesting things; one of which was this person who was commenting on the sensations he felt during meditation - that during meditation he was witnessing his mind. Questions such as "Who was I?", and "Whose mind was this?", entered his head. The Buddha reckoned these to be unanswerable questions.

This is interesting. On the one hand, it creates a sense of ease with life that is in contrast to the nagging need to always be analytical about oneself - a kind of acceptance of dharma. Whilst one might have lots of nagging doubts as to the nature of reality and our precarious existence, there is no doubt that we have to let go in order to survive - to somehow just accept reality - to allow tension to be released. Otherwise, one is in a permanent state of agitation, which is not condusive to much progression. It also leaves one tired, lethargic and full of negativity.

On the other hand, one needs to be fully aware of one's own sense of reality and experience of life. Indeed, this is an entirely personal and intuitive state. One should not allow things to simply wash over oneself. This is where I thought the emphasis on understanding causation was a positive factor. An objective perception of reality that can be rationalised in spite of irrational behaviour around oneself.

What we're seeking is an order/control to the plethora of emotions, thoughts, ideas, sensations that assail us constantly. One can achieve this more easily by cutting oneself off from every day reality to seek to achieve this equanimity and this can create a sense of peace. However, most people don't find solace in this condition ("man is a political animal"). However, it is inevitable that through a human's social need for acceptance, one will have to compromise higher levels of objective reasoning. The problem for the philospher/meditater here is that it leads to a loss of control - a deviation from the rationalisation in order for acceptance. The question here is how should one proceed? The unfortunate reality is that we are bound by our need for social acceptance and most people will yield to the need for social empowerment rather than the need for objective truth.

[Engyo]

The answer to this is why the Buddha taught so many different forms of Dharma (or Dharma Gates); so that there are many gates by which many different types of people may enter the Way.

Many different styles of Buddhist practice are available; some of them offer other ways to address this situation without isolation and and sense of aloneness.

[bholly72]

Questions such as "Who was I?", and "Whose mind was this?", entered his head. The Buddha reckoned these to be unanswerable questions.

This is interesting. On the one hand, it creates a sense of ease with life that is in contrast to the nagging need to always be analytical about oneself - a kind of acceptance of dharma.

Hmm. I tend to understand this rather differently. I see the idea that these particular questions are unaswerable as the direct result of analysis of one's self -- to the point that that we realize that there is no who, no self that "owns" the the thoughts and feelings. - Best - Brian

[Anraku]

"The Tathagata is the true reality of the self(atta)
Majjimapannasa Attakatha,3, 379

The great light of the Self (atta) is the Great-Self (Mahatman) which is an illumination beyond the physical (rupa). The great Self is similar to the solar sphere as the source of the sphere's brightness,as such,the radiant power."
Vimanavatthu Atthakatha,268

The one Self the one true reality (ekabhava) is without emptiness.
Uparipannasapali Atthakatha, 4, 15.

The Dharmakaya, Tathata and the Gotra truly existing absolute Svabhava (Self-nature) which is existing in the reality.
Ratnagotravibhaga 1,144