Posts by Anthony Hayes49

mistybison said:Regarding the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Jung isn't actually discussing a divide between Eastern and Western minds, but rather different methods of exploring the psyche. The mind is fundamentally the same for everyone—it is layered. People in the East simply don't place as much emphasis on the things Americans focus on, such as the subconscious or the collective unconscious, because they view all of that as Maya, just as much as our material existence and individual ego. Jung is merely pointing out that, according to the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the process works in reverse at the moment of death: the mind encounters "pure consciousness" or "non-consciousness." If one fails to let go at that moment, they begin to sink back into Maya—first confronting the deepest layers of the human psyche before slowly ascending toward rebirth, physical existence, and individual consciousness. The Tibetan Book of the Dead essentially provides a highly detailed map of the human psyche, moving from the deepest depths to the surface. 🙂

However, it is important to remember that this book explains what happens spontaneously after death. I believe Jung is simply emphasizing that attempting to consciously trigger this reverse process can be extremely dangerous. In an attempt to dive into the deeper layers of the mind hoping to reach the "source," a person might become trapped in mental states they cannot handle, potentially leading to psychosis or schizophrenia. Eastern traditions don't dig through the contents of the mind in that manner; instead, they discard the mind as Maya and focus immediately on the highest state—pure spirit, pure consciousness, emptiness, or non-existence. This is precisely what the Tibetan Book of the Dead advises throughout: turning attention toward non-existence, practicing meditation, or praying to a supreme Deity—regardless of whatever sensations, sights, or sounds are being experienced in that moment.

And so we arrive back at what I mentioned in my opening post: either existence with all its infinite contents, or the total annihilation of everything. Why should the latter be considered the ultimate spiritual goal?

The Tibetan system doesn't really work in practice because they try to discard everything they actually are. But who you are is the direct result of everything you've lived through, and trying to bypass that is a perfect recipe for psychosis or schizophrenia. If you aren't willing to look your own shit in the eye during your life, you're never going to move forward. *Nosce te ipsum*. You can't just realize the power of maya overnight; it requires a long, slow evolution of the spiritual being. Getting initiated into those high-level states right out of the gate is basically a death sentence.

wiredcanyon6 said:@mistybison/">@@mistybison
I think I get what you're asking. My take is pretty simple: that sounds like Buddhism. They see breaking the cycle of birth and death and merging with God as the ultimate goal. But through my own research, I've realized that isn't the end game for me. Merging with a formless, omnipresent energy means losing your individuality and personality too. To me, that just feels like another way the ego tries to maintain control.
The nature of living beings is to want and to act. Like my guru used to say, I believe people eventually return to the material world to keep growing.
This creation exists so there’s room for every desire... which includes the possibility of merging with Him. But true liberation, at least how I see it, is being freed from the false ego, the fruits of your actions, and selfishness by knowing His personal form. That way, you can escape reincarnation while still entering a spiritual dimension where your character keeps evolving... where you can want and act without limits or conditions, other than love itself.
The Tao Te Ching is a great guide for breaking karmic cycles and such, but its ultimate purpose is debatable for the individual. So... just keep reading, exploring, and thinking. I have a feeling you'll find the answers you're looking for when the time is right.
Pranam

Life is essentially a window of opportunity for a person to progress, and wherever you stand the moment your physical body gives out is where you pick up right where you left off. As for "liberation," it's pretty subjective. We shouldn't overthink death too much; it's just a natural part of life. Unfortunately, plenty of us make a huge drama out of it when we don't really grasp what it is. Why obsess over reaching paradise when you've been given this body and this life to find happiness right here, right now? Honestly, throughout all of human history, the drive to know God has been the direct result of our physical separation from Him. In an innocent, almost fearful way, humans try to rebuild that connection because the spiritual self suffers from that sense of being apart. Until we settle our business here, there's no going back.