“If persons cannot become free of the misconceptions about ‘how they got here,’ then they will remain in the ignorance of body identification—as far removed from reality as can be.”
[Continued from 30 July 2005]
F.: “How did our seven-step journey begin?”
Q.: “With debunking body identification.”
F.: “So we know that a person cannot be any farther removed from reality than when in that limited identity. Fixed in that false identity, the body becomes the focus of all. It's given status, becomes a tool used to manipulate others fixed in body identification, and becomes a source of egotism. All in life becomes geared toward assuring body continuity. One is set up to believe in the most far-fetched teachings imaginable if the teachings include a plan for body continuity. Some of the longest-standing myths and superstitions deal with where babies come from. From those earliest fabricated explanations came the notion that children are ‘gifts from god.’ Rather high status, yes? Quite the source of ego, yes? We’ve seen that all misery in the relative existence is rooted in what I’ve referred to as false identities, personalities, personas or ego-states. From lack of knowledge come ideas and beliefs; from ego comes the drive to cling to the false ideas and beliefs. The ego-states of ‘Super Parent’ and ‘Super Child’ are rooted in such unawareness. Thus, the first of the seven steps on the journey to Realization must address the error of body identification. If persons cannot become free of the misconceptions about ‘how they got here,’ then they'll remain in the ignorance of body identification—as far removed from reality as can be. [Pause] So we began the journey by debunking, as you said, the myths and superstitions about ‘how we got here’ and by inviting protégés to find the answer to this question: ‘How did this food-body come to be?’ If one cannot get free of the myths and arrogance around this ‘coming,’ then the journey never even begins. The Realized know the answer. They know how this food-body ‘came’ to be. [Pause] Maharaj said that science would one day prove the accuracy of the philosophy that he taught. While science is not necessary for the understanding, the awareness already being within, it does now provide exactly what Maharaj predicted. We now understand scientifically that in most cases it is sunlight’s interaction with plants that allows the process to begin, the exception being certain organisms thriving at the bottom of the ocean that obtain their energy from thermal vents rather than sunlight. With plants, the process of photosynthesis results in the separation of water molecules, the production of oxygen and glucose, and a means by which energy manifests in organisms that obtain their energy indirectly rather than directly. Plant-eaters acquire their energy by consuming plants. Carnivores receive their energy by consuming animals that ate plants. [Pause] These scientific explanations aside, one can understand how this food-body came to be by meditating upon a simple question: “Where were You in the days prior to conception?” Let me read a piece I’ve written for a book that will be entitled The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders. In an interview that will be included at the end of the novel, I offer the answer to a question asked by the editor: “How did you come to know that you are not the body and not the breath but are the conscious-energy alone?” The answer I gave is [begins reading] I did what my teacher suggested. I meditated on where I was in the days before conception, before the body began forming, before the oxygen began circulating. I determined where I was, via contemplation, during the days before being manifested in a mother’s womb. I traced my ‘roots’ back to where I really came from in order to know What I Really Am. Anyone with a brain functioning without damage can do the same. If you are 35 years old, let’s say, then count backwards. That is how I reached the pre-conception state and the awareness of What I Am. Literally say out loud, ‘I am 35; I will now go back. I am now 34; I am now 33.’ Try it." Please enter the silence of contemplation. [To be continued 1 August 2005]
F.: “How did our seven-step journey begin?”
Q.: “With debunking body identification.”
F.: “So we know that a person cannot be any farther removed from reality than when in that limited identity. Fixed in that false identity, the body becomes the focus of all. It's given status, becomes a tool used to manipulate others fixed in body identification, and becomes a source of egotism. All in life becomes geared toward assuring body continuity. One is set up to believe in the most far-fetched teachings imaginable if the teachings include a plan for body continuity. Some of the longest-standing myths and superstitions deal with where babies come from. From those earliest fabricated explanations came the notion that children are ‘gifts from god.’ Rather high status, yes? Quite the source of ego, yes? We’ve seen that all misery in the relative existence is rooted in what I’ve referred to as false identities, personalities, personas or ego-states. From lack of knowledge come ideas and beliefs; from ego comes the drive to cling to the false ideas and beliefs. The ego-states of ‘Super Parent’ and ‘Super Child’ are rooted in such unawareness. Thus, the first of the seven steps on the journey to Realization must address the error of body identification. If persons cannot become free of the misconceptions about ‘how they got here,’ then they'll remain in the ignorance of body identification—as far removed from reality as can be. [Pause] So we began the journey by debunking, as you said, the myths and superstitions about ‘how we got here’ and by inviting protégés to find the answer to this question: ‘How did this food-body come to be?’ If one cannot get free of the myths and arrogance around this ‘coming,’ then the journey never even begins. The Realized know the answer. They know how this food-body ‘came’ to be. [Pause] Maharaj said that science would one day prove the accuracy of the philosophy that he taught. While science is not necessary for the understanding, the awareness already being within, it does now provide exactly what Maharaj predicted. We now understand scientifically that in most cases it is sunlight’s interaction with plants that allows the process to begin, the exception being certain organisms thriving at the bottom of the ocean that obtain their energy from thermal vents rather than sunlight. With plants, the process of photosynthesis results in the separation of water molecules, the production of oxygen and glucose, and a means by which energy manifests in organisms that obtain their energy indirectly rather than directly. Plant-eaters acquire their energy by consuming plants. Carnivores receive their energy by consuming animals that ate plants. [Pause] These scientific explanations aside, one can understand how this food-body came to be by meditating upon a simple question: “Where were You in the days prior to conception?” Let me read a piece I’ve written for a book that will be entitled The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders. In an interview that will be included at the end of the novel, I offer the answer to a question asked by the editor: “How did you come to know that you are not the body and not the breath but are the conscious-energy alone?” The answer I gave is [begins reading] I did what my teacher suggested. I meditated on where I was in the days before conception, before the body began forming, before the oxygen began circulating. I determined where I was, via contemplation, during the days before being manifested in a mother’s womb. I traced my ‘roots’ back to where I really came from in order to know What I Really Am. Anyone with a brain functioning without damage can do the same. If you are 35 years old, let’s say, then count backwards. That is how I reached the pre-conception state and the awareness of What I Am. Literally say out loud, ‘I am 35; I will now go back. I am now 34; I am now 33.’ Try it." Please enter the silence of contemplation. [To be continued 1 August 2005]
