Mind and Memory
Oct 28, 1998 06:34 AM
by Jerry Schueler
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[DALLAS:]
>That does not make sense to my logic -- I know firmly that=20
>neither you nor I are "illusions" although our forms are in=20
>constant alteration -- the non-physical MIND through memory=20
>retains identity -- or is this "off-base ?"
It is off base, and it isn't. Mind does tend to retain memory,
and because of memory over time, we like to think we have a
real and concrete self or ego or personality.=20
You say that you know "firmly" that we are not illusions, and yet
I would submit that we are indeed illusions and nothing more.
The basic "atoms" or "substance" that comprise our being is=20
emptiness in the Mahayana sense. What happens to ego when
we lose our memory as in amnesia? What happens to ego
when we dream? Now, I believe that when we dream we are
focusing on the astral or mental planes. So, memory on those
planes is flakey or tenuous at best and thus our sense of
identity is also. Just as our physical body feels real and concrete,
so our ego or personality. But both change constantly, and have
no reality other than in a very relative sense. When we die,
only the "aroma" of the past life continues. All the "real" details
dissipate into their true nature which is emptiness.
Jerry S.
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<DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>[DALLAS:]</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3DArial =
size=3D3></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT =
color=3D#000080=20
face=3DArial size=3D3>>That does not make sense to my logic -- I know =
firmly that=20
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>>neither you nor I are "illusions" although our =
forms are in=20
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>>constant alteration -- the non-physical MIND through memory =
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>>retains identity -- or is this "off-base=20
?"</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3DArial =
size=3D3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3><FONT=20
color=3D#000000>It is off base, and it isn't. Mind does tend to retain=20
memory,</FONT></FONT></SPAN><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3><FONT=20
color=3D#000000>and because of memory over time, we like to think we =
have=20
a</FONT></FONT></SPAN><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>real=20
and concrete self or ego or personality. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
size=3D3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>You=20
say that you know "firmly" that we are not illusions, and=20
yet</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>I=20
would submit that we are indeed illusions and nothing =
more.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>The=20
basic "atoms" or "substance" that comprise our being =
is=20
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
size=3D3>emptiness in the Mahayana sense. What happens to ego=20
when</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D210503622-27101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>we lose our memory as in amnesia? What happens to =
ego</DIV>
<DIV>when we dream? Now, I believe that when we dream we are</DIV>
<DIV>focusing on the astral or mental planes. So, memory on those</DIV>
<DIV>planes is flakey or tenuous at best and thus our sense of</DIV>
<DIV>identity is also. Just as our physical body feels real and =
concrete,</DIV>
<DIV>so our ego or personality. But both change constantly, and =
have</DIV>
<DIV>no reality other than in a very relative sense. When we die,</DIV>
<DIV>only the "aroma" of the past life continues. All the=20
"real" details</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000><FONT size=3D3>dissipate into their true =
nature which is=20
emptiness.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jerry S.</DIV>
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size=3D3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
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