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Maybe the drop has dissolved into the ocean, but has the ocean yet rushed into the drop? If so, then the next question must be: after the drop dissolved into the ocean and after the ocean rushed into the drop, did both the ocean and the drop eventually dissolve as well?
THE IMPURITY OF FOLLOWING THE “I AM” WITH ANY WORD, Part A
FROM A SITE VISITOR: People should be told that there should be no rush to Realize. The fact that I am patient ended up being valuable. Edward
ONE WOMAN OVERHEARD IN A STORE: “I’m suffering right now but we’re praying more than ever. All of this seems to have opened us up more to receive God.” The response from the woman she was talking to: “Hang in there. Your suffering now is going to earn you a big reward later on.”
HEARD IN SATSANG: My suffering was all worthwhile ‘cause now I am helpful to others who are suffering.”
FROM A SITE VISITOR: I must be doing something right. I am more peaceful than I’ve ever been in my life.
FROM A MAN ATTENDING A WORKSHOP ON PERSONALITY: I think my personality is an asset…I am an achiever because of it.”
[All of the above will be addressed over the next several days during this part of the series. NOTE: This discussion is level-appropriate for seekers that are far along the “path.”]
F.: At a certain point, Advaitin seekers might be admonished to focus on the “I AM” only. As long as the “mind” is the most influential factor during the relative existence of the non-Realized, then thoughts will drive words and words will drive deeds.
To think, “I am [insert a noun]” or to think, “I am [insert an adjective]” then the "mind" and thoughts and personas behind those thoughts and words will assure that Realization cannot happen.
In the early stages of “the journey,” of course the seeker that says he/she has no peace will hear about peace; seekers feeling trapped will hear about freedom; the seeker trapped in self-criticism for not fixating in the natural state but fluctuating throughout the day instead might be urged to be patient.
But none of that has anything to do with Truth. In the statements above, WHO is reporting on certain relative conditions? WHO (that is, what false persona) is being reinforced, often by the extolling of his/her “virtues”)? WHO is, in effect, making the claims that…
“I am a patient person,” “I am a sufferer,” “I am a helper,” “I am a peaceful person,” or “I am an achiever”? To the seeker that “found Advaita a few days ago” and asks, “Are you peaceful—can I be peaceful too,” the answer at that point can be in the affirmative.
Later, as that same seeker nears the end of “the path,” a level-appropriate question might result in a different understanding by the seeker. At that point, the seeker might be asked, “WHO (that is, which ego-state) is making a claim that she/he is peaceful?"
Can energy be at peace as long as there is any identification with the consciousness or with an assumed role? If seekers hear one extolling “the high level of peacefulness that he/she has attained,” is it not obvious that some ego-state has been assumed and that there is a thought that is generating those words? And mustn’t the thought have something to do with that braggart’s “self-concept”?
If one is touting the level of patience attained, is not some identity instigating that claim? Of course Edward is far from alone in touting self and concepts and thus self-concepts. It happens trillions of times per day on the planet. In the East, many tout as an asset the concept of naixim or Nai Xim to use one Chinese word for “patience.” Yet “assets” and “liabilities” are merely aspects of personality.
Here, there is no one who has any assets; nor is there anyone here who has liabilities. Yes, persons or seekers who come here speak of the peacefulness, of feeling comfortable, of this or that.
“Surely,” it has been asked in satsang sessions, “you are not going to devalue the notion of patience, are you?” The answer is, “Yes.” Look at the effects of making claims about being peaceful or helpful or patient:
Ancient dogma taught in the
Of course, that concept is part of the programming and dogma disseminated by organized religions that leave billions of persons each day in a “waiting mode,” waiting for their prayers to be answered…and waiting…and waiting…and waiting.
All misery and suffering is associated in one way or another with a fear or a desire, specifically a fear or a desire taken to be real by a persona. Patience does not eliminate either fears or desires. Patience perpetuates wanting and, therefore, perpetuates a sense of longing or disappointment or dread or suffering.
Patience will keep persons from questioning and from seeking other possibilities. Patience will trap them in the ego-states that result after being programmed to wait and being conditioned to “just be patient.”
In the West, patience is given lip service, especially among Christians and members of “self-help” groups…patience being a concept which the personas claiming membership in those groups often endorse but rarely practice. The Truth cannot be stated, so anything given lip service is most assuredly false.
All notions and concepts will be devalued here. Patience is merely one-half of a dualistic pair, namely, patient : impatient. It is not unlike asset : liability. It is not unlike virtuous : debauched. It is not unlike peaceful : anxious. It’s all duality, and it all traps persons in identifying with one or more assumed identities.
If you are claiming certain “positive traits” as a result of your religious or spiritual efforts and practices and disciplines, then the question to ask is “WHO is making such claims?” Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
FOR AN IN-DEPTH TREATMENT OF THE SUBJECT:
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