Monday, March 07, 2011

THE LIGHT MUST PRECEDE THE LIGHTNESS, Part Eight

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An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, abiding naturally, the Oneness, the Nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

Also, as for Maharaj, you will find more of the message that he offered in his later talks. During his last years, he said of I AM THAT: "That book and whatever was expounded at that time was only relevant for that period. I am speaking differently today" and am "emphasizing different aspects." His final understanding, quite different from what he offered early on, is the basis of pointers offered to seekers well along the "path." Maharaj made clear at the end that the pointers in I AM THAT will take you to the midpoint of "the race"; only the pointers in his final talks point the way to "the finish line."

F.: Those in the heaviness of the darkness need the light if a sense of lightness is to come, but those in darkness obviously cannot see the light. It is the darkness that renders one blind, and it is blindness that perpetuates the blind acceptance of falsehoods as truth, even in the absence of any investigation at all.

The blindness has multiple fathers: body identification only; being driven by the insane concepts taught by all cultures and stored in "minds"; the fear and desire agendas that come with all personalities;

the emotional intoxication that results when fears and desires are triggered and inspire persons to shift into reckless and risky motion ... into going and doing and zooming about blindly, abandoning the temporary harmony that was being enjoyed in favor of chaos and disharmony instead.

And time and again, persons driven into motion by all of the above are surprised that once again they have rammed full-speed into a wall ... or even run off the edge of a cliff.

Blindness. Emotion. Motion. Action. Reaction. Overreaction. And then, misery and suffering. And all of that is rooted in mis-perceiving:

Maharaj: "The cause of suffering is in the identification of the perceiver with the perceived. Out of it desire is born and with desire, blind action .... "

Three-and-a-half years ago on August 12, 2007, co-host Louise explained what it can be like if the light shines forth and allows clear seeing to happen before all of those fathers mentioned earlier are allowed to breed more darkness ... more blindness ... more blind motion:

Louise: "I was feeling love for someone which changed dramatically to fear. 'I' slipped through the crack and realised instantly that love and fear are the same emotion. I laughed madly, felt wild and free, abandoned my work and hauled off to do some gardening (first time in years) while chuckling in delight."

Yes, "love" - which refers to that which in not Real Love - will never be far removed from fear. Both are rooted in emotion. Both generate blind motion. As for "slipped through the crack," spot on.

When ego surfaces and is driven by desire or fear and egotism - all of which are self -supporting - there is only a slight and temporary opening back to Reality. One can fall through the crack of distortion, or one can slip though the crack and back into the stability of awareness. "Whoo! Another close call!" And another bit of self- generated misery avoided.

As in the first "Matrix" film, with its greater focus on non-duality than in the subsequent films in the series, Morpheus becomes convinced that Neo is "The One" who can crack open the Matrix and bring his people to both physical and psychological freedom.

As in this typically-mindful existence (where both physical and psychological freedom are clearly absent), this becomes the case: when the gravitational pull of ego-states and egotism begin to exert their drag, there is usually only a very small crack and a very narrow window of opportunity to abandon nonsense and return to one's senses, to turn away from the false, and to move back to Reality.

When such blindness comes, it seldom goes on its own; thus, this from yesterday:

Maharaj: "Either you live with somebody who knows the Truth and submit yourself entirely to his guiding and moulding influence, or you seek the inner guide and follow the inner light wherever it takes you."

The problem with the latter? When the personal is mistaken for the Real, Self-forgetfulness will come. Self-forgetfulness will foster blindness to the Real and block access to the inner guide; thereafter, the not-Real will be mistaken in the darkness for the Real.

In such circumstance, the rope might be perceived as a snake, a bit of blindness with little consequence. But what if the snake is perceived to be a rope ... believed to be a rescue rope that is being tossed to one about to drown? What if in the darkness of the storm, the snake is grasped when it is mistaken for a rope that can provide a way out?

The additional relative problem with blindness is that it never ends on its own. On its own, it will only flourish; persons will fall through the crack into the darkness.

Maharaj: "The personal comes and goes, the universal is always with you. The entire creation is your universal body. You are so blinded by what is personal that you do not see the universal. This blindness will not end by itself - it must be undone skillfully and deliberately. When all illusions are understood and abandoned, you reach the error-free and perfect state in which all distinctions between the personal and the universal are no more."

And when all distinctions between the personal and the universal are no more, then only can one understand what is pointed to here with the term "not-two harmony." Recall: "This 'not-two' version of harmony is that which is Real, that which is the unity beyond the perceived, unreal multiplicity."

In Advaita, the not-two version of harmony is pointed to with Advaita's not-two summative statement of I AM THAT; I AM. Only when such harmony manifests can there be light, lightness, freedom, and peace. Discontentment ends. Restlessness end. Irritability ends.

Maharaj: "Pure sattva (harmony) is perfect freedom from ... restlessness." Some ask, "If I am eventually to be free of even 'The Seeker' role, then why seek harmony?" You - the True Self, the Pure Witnessing - will not seek harmony.

You will come to know that it is already there, available as soon as You see everything which blocks the continuous recognition and manifestation of harmony - not mistaking fool's gold for gold; not mistaking the harder way for the easier way; and not working tirelessly for what can only be enjoyed effortlessly:

Maharaj: "What is the use of truth, goodness, harmony, beauty? They are their own goal. They manifest spontaneously and effortlessly, when things are left to themselves, are not interfered with, not shunned or wanted or conceptualised, but just experienced in full awareness. Such awareness itself is sattva. It does not make use of things and people - it fulfils them."

From the platform of Pure Witnessing while abiding as the awareness, the I AM THAT is seen perfectly and the I AM is seen perfectly. Only via non-duality can the supposed "inner" and "outer" - the Am-ness and the THAT-ness - be seen to be one.

Maharaj: "Harmony between 'the inner' and 'the outer' is happiness; on the other hand, self-identification with the outer causes suffering."

And that leads to the reason that it is the Nisarga Yoga that is offered here, distinguishing between (1) abidance as one's original nature and living naturally throughout the relative vs. (2) living under the insane influence of one's relative perceptions and mis-perceptions; not overlaying Reality on the relative; and not abiding as harmony rather than in disharmony;

Maharaj: "Nisarga yoga, the Natural yoga: it is the art of living in peace and harmony, in friendliness and love."

Again, co-host Louise explained as early as 22 January 2008 exactly what is at play here:

" ... The true identity is the background of awareness in which both states of happiness and unhappiness happen."

From that true identity, the happiness of harmony can be enjoyed - up close - and the unhappiness of disharmony can be merely witnessed - and not closely at all. Witnessing everything from a longer distance always puts everything in proper perspective. The personal is always small and up close. The Real is infinitely large and limitless.

Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

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The Ultimate Sickness, The Ultimate Medicine

I AM THAT (vs. "This Is Who I Think I Am")

Freedom From Shifting Between States of Happiness and Unhappiness

LIBERATION

Why You Must Be Empty If You Would Be Full

What BLISS Is and What BLISS Is Not

When Reality Is Overlaid Upon the Relative

There Is Nothing That Is Personal (Including You and Including God)

Overcoming the Fear of Being Totally Independent

The Essence of the Teachings

SELF-Transformation Meditation Guide, Volume One

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Casting Light on the Dark Side of Relationships

Finding REAL LOVE in an Unreal World

The Path to Freedom vs. The Path to Misery


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THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace If You're Out of Your Mind)

THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS PERSONAL (Including You and Including God)

SRI NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ and HIS EVOLUTION

IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)

SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)

Jesus Christ the Advaitin

William Shakespeare the Advaitin

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IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)
SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)
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THE MEDITATION GUIDES
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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?
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THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace if You're Out of Your Mind)
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LIBERATION
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THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS
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FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
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CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS: The Nature of Reality Beyond Self-Realization (Peace Every Day When Abiding as The Absolute)
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FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS
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Received 19 August 2010 from one that just completed the entire course:

I would like to extend deepest appreciation towards you for these teachings that you have offered. It has been most valuable towards what may not have been revealed throughout this manifestation labeled "anthony." Understanding Truth and finding words for gratitude are one as is all. Thank you again for pointing "me" to THAT and the understanding that came as well. Hopeful for future "contact"! Sincerely, Anthony M. W.

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The Sequel to The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS


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