An Advaita Vedanta realization, enlightenment, nisarga yoga site discussing non-duality (nonduality), your original nature, and dwelling in the natural state as revealed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
FROM A SITE VISITOR: The writing yesterday touched on the dilemma I face. I have to work to earn money for food and shelter, etc. I’m not paid to stack blocks and knock blocks over and stack them again. I have to use my mind. Another thing--previous readings from other teachers seem almost to praise the consciousness but you seem not to respect it at all. Even Maharaj urged some to stay with the “I Am,” and you have done that sometimes but other times tell people to go beyond the I Am. Do you see why some of us are confused? PS I’m not trying to be argumentative—just seeking clarification. Thank you. Steven
F.: I see why all who are “confused” are in that baffled state. Furthermore, with a pre-warning to the ego that may not want to read beyond this point, nothing that you will ever do—or that any other persons will ever do—will ultimately amount to anything that is any more significant than stacking blocks, knocking blocks over, and stacking blocks again.
But first, to the “mind” that you think you must use. All “creatures” that live naturally function via the auspices of the brain and the unblemished consciousness.
If, on the other hand, the only way you can see it is that you must use your “mind” to earn money, so it is. How about employing that “mind” to that end alone for now? Make the living, and then leave the “mind’s” input alone after that. Eventually, you might transition beyond body and mind and personality completely, but this might be a beginning.
As for praising the consciousness, understand that any attachment to it at all will generate misery and unhappiness or instability. Were the consciousness not manifest, how could there be any experiencing of pain or suffering or misery or instability?
Here, there is no praise of the Amness. Dealing with it was a tiresome misfortune, one gladly forfeited eventually. The temporary state is not a fit state. My
Seekers want labels for everything, including themselves, so the label “The Absolute” can be used as well as anything, but understand this:
All terms used when the consciousness speaks, as well as all words generated by the impure or blocked consciousness, are nothing more than thorns.
Man created words and language, yet before words and language, I Am. Thus, that
Thus, nothing that you can identify or label with words is You. This is not for the beginner. This is only for the so-called “advanced seeker.” Yes, the novice—the seeker at the “wet charcoal stage”—can focus on the I Am to try to break the training that drives persons to always follow the words “I am” with a variety of descriptors or labels.
Note: One e-mail received this week was from a person who does not understand that there are seven steps from body identification to Realization. Nor does he understand that the steps must be completed in an exact order. Nor does he understand that none of the steps can be skipped.
Nor does he understand what it means when it is reported in the banner above that the Direct Path Method of teaching is employed here, not the neo-Advaita method. Thus, he ordered that the neo-Advaita method should be used on this site (though he likely does not know what the Neo-Advaita method is and as likely does not understand the difference in the Direct Path and Neo-Advaita methods).
He has a belief that the only pointers offered should be to “advanced seekers” alone. His concept is that everyone should be told, basically, “You’re already enlightened…I have nothing more to tell you. Now go away.”
Instead, those responded to on this site will be addressed in the appropriate fashion, meeting them on the “path” where they “are,” not at the end of the “path” as neo-Advaitins advise. Therefore, the suggestion to some will be to begin with the “I AM” and to “stay with the ‘I AM’ for now.”
Others will be advised that they are ready to move beyond the “I Am.” That, Steven and others, is why some pointers from Marahaj, as well as some which you referenced here, might seem to be contradictory but are not. Please enter the silence of contemplation. [To be continued]
