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IMO:
The "Neti .. neti" method means "not this, not that" or "neither this nor that"
This method is described for some people who want to know Brahman, God
So you look at your wife thinking "is she God?" soon the answer comes from deep within "Neti ... neti"
There is quite a lot of "non-God" stuff around us here on earth, so this method can keep your mind busy 24/7/52
And that exactly is the key, keeping your mind busy and focused, until the mind dissolves, and stops asking these questions
What I understand from it, just a few thoughts that pop up now:Thanks. So presumably this involves actively looking at everything you experience during the day? Noticing more?
What I understand from it, just a few thoughts that pop up now:
No need to actively look at everything. But whenever a thought comes you check the thought with "Is this God?"
There is a similar method when you do Self Enquiry "Who am I". Then also you check any thought and try to bring it back to "Who am I"
So I would say that this type of method involves "actively looking at the mind = thought stream". This alone will slow it down already.
Hence they also call it "Witness the Mind" ... "Be a Witness" ... "Constant Integrated Awareness"
The Goal of this exercise is to know "Who am I"
Example: Suppose a thought pops up "I want to eat Chinese food tonight"
Straight away you can ask yourself "Who is the one who wants to eat Chinese food tonight"?
The Scriptures declare that "Identification with the body, mind, emotions" is what keeps us away from Self Realization
Hence this method "Who am I" ... "am I the body" ... "no I am not".
When you die, some people ask "Why have you gone?" ... body is still there, so "who is gone?"
This is a method we are not used to. Especially in the West we are brainwashed that it's all about how we look like
To understand this method might take some time. It helped me reading about this. And more and more you become more aware
Remove all logical fallacies, and we're left with something that resembles a possible truth.Could anyone briefly describe a method for the "Neti, neti" practice?
I think Stvdv was having some fun with the question (in his first post). 'Neti, neti' means one should not accept things unless there is solid evidence for it. Yes, one has to look at things very carefully, critically. That it is said by some famous person or mentioned in a certain scripture will not be enough. Monist Hindus accepted the existence of one entity constituting all things in the universe, but did not say much about its properties beyond saying that it is form-independent, eternal and uninvolved in the happenings in the world. For rest all, they will say 'Neti,neti', because no other proposition can hold itself to scrutiny.
When did "neti, neti" become a practice? It's an expression of ineffability.
Very good point. Even if God tells you personally you better reject it, if it does not make any senseThat it is said by some famous person or mentioned in a certain scripture will not be enough
Remove all logical fallacies, and we're left with something that resembles a possible truth.
In my opinion.
When you get to the feeling part, it becomes more interesting even.Thanks, interesting stuff. I can see that just using this method with thoughts makes sense - feelings too?
Could anyone briefly describe a method for the "Neti, neti" practice?
Thanks.
When did "neti, neti" become a practice? It's an expression of ineffability.
I don't think either "practice" or "expression" are accurate descriptions. It's more an examination or analysis.
You understand it alreadyLet's not get hung up on a word.
Let's not get hung up on a word.