Negation of stimulus is not easy because;
All stimuli force change, even miniscule. All change impact our sense of identity and induce anxiety and fear. Sometimes, the stimulus has a positive impact, but since that is not known when the stimulus occurs, there is always anxiety.
Stimuli can be active (such as an oncoming bus) or passive (such as a stationary car or umbrella) or subconscious (such as the sky, building or grass). Negation of active stimuli is as difficult as in the case of an oncoming bus, you have to react. Passive stimuli are slightly easier as the consequences of negation are generally less difficult to manage, like a stationary car may be the boss’s car where existential threat is muted. How do you negate the sky? How do you say, it does not exist? Or that the existence is an illusion. It will not be easy initially, but if one were to try and make the stimuli go from wherever it is in the awareness scale to irrelevant, the ability to negate increases.
Stimuli can also be graded by levels of distance from the identity, this being defined by the relationships we have;
l A primary bond is one we have with our parents, children or spouses.
l A secondary bond would include close friends, relatives etc.
l A tertiary bond would include other one-on-one relationships.
l A formal bond is one which is forged at work or when we work in any team.
l A societal bond would be once which would impact our existence in society such as elections, world issues such as environment, national issues etc.
Obviously, each bond would assume importance in different situations. However, as the importance of a particular bond reduces, so will the attachment. Here, 2 clarifications need to be issued;
\ Negation of activity does not mean stoppage of activity. It means reduction of impact on our identity. As negation of stimuli progresses, it is possible that there is a lowering of the importance of the object of the bond which could lower the quality of transaction. For example, when working in a team, it is possible that when negating a stimulus, the person negates the activity. This is not the intent of the concept. The trick is in remaining engaged in the activity, yet completely conscious that it is illusory, maya or farce.
\ As one grows older, the importance of any bond changes. Achieving career objectives changes to maintaining quality of career as one grows older. Quality of transactions in becoming a Vice President often change after one becomes a Vice President. However, the images of achievements and situations leave residues which are not experience but remain imprinted in the memory. Purging this memory is very important for negation of stimulus because baggage is a source of inertia, demanding attention but contributing very little to the situation.
Start each day as a fresh day with no baggage (it’s very difficult. After 20 years of trying, I still can’t do it) – yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight. Present can mean 2 things – NOW and GIFT. Use the “now” as a “gift” and negate all images of the past or future.
\ The final goal is negation of existence of one’s own identity (Siva). As one begins the negation process from outside to inside – first, society is made irrelevant, as this occurs, events lose significance. Next, there is negation of those not in active touch or of stimuli which add no direct value, this includes exit from social media, TV, and over time – news. Finally, there is negation of ambition, imagination and expectation.
Summary of suggestions – The steps mentioned below need to be experienced, not just intellectually or emotionally but as a part of one’s identity.
ü Learn to discriminate stimuli, isolate and negate what which is temporary or impermanent.
ü Choose your battles, avoid the compulsion to react unless required.
ü Accept change and its myriad uncertainties.
ü Manage fear and anxiety by exercise, breathing and rationalizing.
ü Negate conditioning or dharma – slowly, work towards a position where no situation is considered permanent without evidence – for example sensitive subjects such asmarriage, birth, death or even God. In such matters, while there is no evidence that one position is valid, there is also no evidence that a counter position is valid. This means accepting that a situation of ambivalence exists even though ones conditioning or dharma might dictate otherwise.
ü Stop seeking solutions, accept whatever comes your way and work without attachment. Keep discarding baggage, attitudes and judgements.
ü Finally, negate your own existence. This is incredibly difficult and might not occur while primary bonds exist.
ü Be prepared for many and recurring experiences of a sense of loss, detachment and a lack of fit with the environment, called virakti.
What you should know after reading this blog;
Ø What is Jnana Yoga?
Ø What are the fundamentals of Jnana Yoga?
Ø How does on integrate Jnana Yoga into daily life?
Ø How does one cope with the stress of negation?
No comments:
Post a Comment