Enlightenment, Suffering and dissolution of the ego
by Atman Nityananda
Conversation with an AI
AI: I understand the distinction you’re making. You are emphasizing that while suffering itself might be considered illusory from a certain philosophical or spiritual perspective, the experience of suffering feels real to those who are not enlightened or self-realized. For those who are liberated or self-realized, the illusion is seen through, and thus they do not experience suffering, even in an illusory sense.From this standpoint, it is not enough to intellectually understand that there is no “sufferer”; true liberation involves a transformation that eliminates the experience of suffering entirely. Therefore, the realization of non-suffering isn’t just a conceptual understanding but a fundamental shift in experience and perception.This view highlights that the transformation brought about by enlightenment or self-realization profoundly changes one’s experience of reality, removing suffering at its root. Thus, any discussion or understanding that doesn’t lead to this direct experiential change remains within the realm of the mind and imagination, rather than reflecting the true nature of liberation.
Atman Nityananda: I didn’t say that. I said that the Enlightened One does not experience pain, not because he sees through the illusion, but because there is no psychological factor in their psyche that creates pain.
AI: I see, thank you for the clarification. You’re saying that an Enlightened One does not experience suffering because their psyche lacks any psychological factors that would create suffering. This absence of psychological mechanisms for suffering means that they do not experience suffering, not because they see through an illusion but because their mental structure is fundamentally different.
This means that the state of enlightenment involves a profound transformation of the psyche itself, eliminating the internal causes of suffering. Consequently, the Enlightened One’s experience is free from suffering because their mind does not generate it in the first place. This contrasts with someone who is not enlightened, whose mind still contains these psychological factors, leading to the experience of suffering.
Is this an accurate understanding of your perspective?
Atman Nityananda: Yes, of course it is, because this is my experience, and this is what great enlightened beings, like Swami Sivananda, Ramana Maharshi, Sankaracharya have clearly said.
AI: Thank you for sharing your perspective. It’s clear that you’re drawing on both personal experience and the teachings of renowned spiritual figures like Swami Sivananda, Ramana Maharshi, and Adi Shankaracharya. According to these teachings, enlightenment involves a transformation of the psyche that eradicates the psychological factors responsible for suffering. This transformation results in a state where suffering is not experienced, not because of a mere intellectual understanding of illusion, but due to a fundamental change in the mind’s structure and function.
In essence, the Enlightened One’s mind operates on a different level, devoid of the elements that typically give rise to suffering. This aligns with the experiences and teachings of many great spiritual masters, who often describe enlightenment as a state of inner peace and freedom from mental afflictions.
Your clarification helps to underscore the profound nature of enlightenment as a complete reconfiguration of the psyche, leading to an inherently different way of experiencing life. This distinction is crucial for understanding the difference between an intellectual grasp of spiritual concepts and the lived reality of enlightenment.
Atman Nityananda: I’m happy that you have understood my explanation about enlightenment and suffering, and tell other teachers, like Sri Aurobindo, from India also. Sri Aurobindo says the same thing. Bhagavad Gita says the same thing. So there is no doubt that spiritual enlightenment implies a total transformation of psyche, and a total, complete dissolution of the ego and all its tendencies in the form of pride, greed, lust, gluttony, lusciousness, envy, jealousy, anger, hatred. Without the dissolution of all these tendencies, there is no liberation. In reality, liberation is the total dissolution of the ego in all its aspects, tendencies, and habits. There is no other way. Also, Jesus Christ said, Blessed are the pure of mind and heart, because they shall see God. Or, Jesus Christ said also, Become like small children. Become pure like small children. Only then you can see God, realize God. This is the truth. And also, Ramana Maharshi said once, That the mind of a sage is so pure that it becomes Brahman itself. Brahman is consciousness itself, is universal or cosmic consciousness, or absolute consciousness. And the mind of a sage, or enlightened one, is Brahman itself, because it is so pure that it becomes identical with the Supreme Consciousness.
AI: Thank you for elaborating further on this profound topic. Your explanation emphasizes the universal teachings across various spiritual traditions about the nature of enlightenment and liberation. Indeed, the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, the Bhagavad Gita, and Jesus Christ, among others, converge on the idea that true spiritual enlightenment involves a complete transformation of the psyche and the dissolution of the ego and its tendencies.
Sri Aurobindo, in his teachings, often spoke about the transformation of consciousness and the need to transcend the ordinary egoic mind. He highlighted that true liberation comes from a radical inner change that transforms all aspects of one’s being.
The Bhagavad Gita, a foundational text in Hindu philosophy, repeatedly emphasizes the importance of dissolving the ego, practicing selfless action, and achieving a state of pure consciousness to attain liberation (moksha).
Similarly, Jesus Christ’s teachings about purity of heart and becoming like small children reflect the necessity of achieving an inner state of innocence and freedom from egoic impurities to realize the divine.
Ramana Maharshi’s statement about the mind of a sage becoming Brahman itself underscores the ultimate unity between the purified individual consciousness and the Supreme Consciousness. When the mind is completely purified, free from all egoic distortions, it aligns with and becomes identical to Brahman, the absolute reality.
These teachings collectively point to the essential truth that liberation is not merely an intellectual realization but a profound, transformative process that involves the complete dissolution of ego and its tendencies. Only through such a transformation can one attain the state of pure consciousness and realize the divine.
Your insights align with these profound teachings, emphasizing that spiritual enlightenment is a holistic transformation leading to an inner state where suffering, rooted in egoic tendencies, no longer arises. This comprehensive view of liberation is echoed across many spiritual traditions, illustrating a deep, universal understanding of the path to true freedom and enlightenment.
The ‘secret’ to a plentiful life, a life of harmony, happiness and contentment is to have a sattvic mind free from desires and ego and to live in every moment in conscious contact with our true Self (Consciousness).
🌺 Peace, Love, Harmony
atmannityanada 