F.: A response to questions about “handling loss” in general will come, but one specific fear of loss will be addressed first because it prevents many persons from completing the “journey” to Full Realization. Those considering this “path” can discard the notions that Realization forces one to lose (a) "the ability to feel" and that it (b) "produces robots." Any persons displaying a robotic posture and claiming that it was Realization that imposed that stance have only added another ego-state as a false identity and are still “players” on a stage. Those who assume some super-stoic pose or some ultra-lofty affectation are no more Real than those who play a super-spiritual role, than those who play the role of a mystic, than those who claim to be a “liberated person” (a duality in itself), than those who claim they have only the “right desire” (another duality), than those who claim “conscious contact” with some "being" in another realm, or than those who boast about how many hours per day they now spend in a samadhi state. While the third step of the “journey” (playing religious and spiritual roles) adds more duties and obligations and effort and toil to a person’s existence, Realization removes all of those. It eliminates the person—the supposed do-er of duties and disciplines and service to save others—and that ends "the need to work at being serene or peaceful.” Then, Realization allows spontaneous, natural living to just happen. The “Realized Teacher” does not make the world a better place; the “Realized Teacher” makes the world dis-appear for those who can hear.
That said, one shift in behavior does happen automatically when the spontaneous, natural living begins. As a person, “Floyd” planned meditation sessions, planned meetings, planned study, planned devotional readings, planned “self-improvement” exercises, and planned spiritual trips to visit “holy places” and “holy and wise teachers.” Now, nothing that must be planned in that fashion happens with the re-purified consciousness. “Planned” is in opposition to “spontaneous.” Some say, “But you have planned an upcoming trip to Europe.” No, that came about spontaneously, and every facet of the trip will happen spontaneously: spontaneously a car will be rented and traveling will happen spontaneously. If a village in southern France or if a town in the Tuscan hills has an ambience that is found to be appealing, an extended stay might happen…spontaneously. If a village has no such appeal, the traveling will continue…spontaneously.
Advaitan Wayne Liquorman has contributed to this site before. What he said recently might shed light on this topic dealing with the “less pleasant” phases along the “path” that—if not transitioned—can cause some to sense a “loss” that can prevent the completion of the “journey”:
“One of the most discouraging and unpleasant phases in the evolution of this Understanding is the point at which you find yourself feeling remote and disconnected from all that is happening around you. It as if the world has gone completely grey—nothing is important, nothing hurts particularly badly but nothing feels particularly joyous either. You're not really depressed but you're not really happy—everything has a sameness about it.
Such a condition often coincides with the initial recognition that you are not truly the author of your thoughts, feelings or actions. It is as if the ego, having been exposed for what it ISN'T shifts its involvement into a new gear. No longer able to claim to be the author it now poutingly claims that there is nothing worth authoring. Yes, it is another lie but it is a persuasive one. As with the previous lie, the lie of personal authorship, a possible solution is to fix it in the bright light of inquiry. Is it true? Is the appearance the reality?
Eventually the clouds disperse and the greyness goes with it. The landscape of life is once again illuminated in all its beauty and all its ugliness...all its joys and all its sorrows….”
Yes, even for those on the “journey” and involved with the “evolution of the Understanding,” their relative existence can still be marked with dualities and appearances until the Full Realization happens; furthermore, persons can experience a (false) sense of “loss” prior to Full Realization as a result of that fear of "becoming robotic" or "losing touch with feelings." Fear not. Feelings can still be felt. What will be "lost" forever are all those false emotions (experienced only by ego-states) that trigger chain reactions of destructive behavior (relatively speaking).
That said, one shift in behavior does happen automatically when the spontaneous, natural living begins. As a person, “Floyd” planned meditation sessions, planned meetings, planned study, planned devotional readings, planned “self-improvement” exercises, and planned spiritual trips to visit “holy places” and “holy and wise teachers.” Now, nothing that must be planned in that fashion happens with the re-purified consciousness. “Planned” is in opposition to “spontaneous.” Some say, “But you have planned an upcoming trip to Europe.” No, that came about spontaneously, and every facet of the trip will happen spontaneously: spontaneously a car will be rented and traveling will happen spontaneously. If a village in southern France or if a town in the Tuscan hills has an ambience that is found to be appealing, an extended stay might happen…spontaneously. If a village has no such appeal, the traveling will continue…spontaneously.
Advaitan Wayne Liquorman has contributed to this site before. What he said recently might shed light on this topic dealing with the “less pleasant” phases along the “path” that—if not transitioned—can cause some to sense a “loss” that can prevent the completion of the “journey”:
“One of the most discouraging and unpleasant phases in the evolution of this Understanding is the point at which you find yourself feeling remote and disconnected from all that is happening around you. It as if the world has gone completely grey—nothing is important, nothing hurts particularly badly but nothing feels particularly joyous either. You're not really depressed but you're not really happy—everything has a sameness about it.
Such a condition often coincides with the initial recognition that you are not truly the author of your thoughts, feelings or actions. It is as if the ego, having been exposed for what it ISN'T shifts its involvement into a new gear. No longer able to claim to be the author it now poutingly claims that there is nothing worth authoring. Yes, it is another lie but it is a persuasive one. As with the previous lie, the lie of personal authorship, a possible solution is to fix it in the bright light of inquiry. Is it true? Is the appearance the reality?
Eventually the clouds disperse and the greyness goes with it. The landscape of life is once again illuminated in all its beauty and all its ugliness...all its joys and all its sorrows….”
Yes, even for those on the “journey” and involved with the “evolution of the Understanding,” their relative existence can still be marked with dualities and appearances until the Full Realization happens; furthermore, persons can experience a (false) sense of “loss” prior to Full Realization as a result of that fear of "becoming robotic" or "losing touch with feelings." Fear not. Feelings can still be felt. What will be "lost" forever are all those false emotions (experienced only by ego-states) that trigger chain reactions of destructive behavior (relatively speaking).
Interestingly, those who fear they “might become robots” are the very ones who are ignoring how truly robotic their miserable, relative existence has become. But there are other fears that halt the movement along the “path” as well. Some persons have a fear of becoming boring, of having to hum all day, of having to sit with legs crossed (a near-impossible feat for most Westerners), of having to accept some affected posture that they erroneously believe the re-purified consciousness will impose. Pause if anyone tells you that “If you are Realized you will assume a certain carriage” or “You must practice certain disciplines for life” or “You must give up this pleasure or that fun if you Realize.” Before accepting more ideas and beliefs while on a “path” to freedom from all concepts and attitudes, apply the basic Nisarga Yoga-type test and ask, “Does a deer have to do that to be at peace or to survive?” Look to persons to see what unnatural or supernatural living looks like; look to nature to see how the Realized live. Please enter the silence of contemplation. [To be continued]
