NOISY PROSELYTIZING vs. A SILENT VIGIL, Part Five, The Conclusion
[Out-of-town to share the Teachings on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Postings will continue on Friday, 13 July ’07. Please review recent posts or visit the archives.]
F.: To move someone along the “path,” a teacher must be able to examine a seeker’s words instantly, discern exactly where on the path that seeker is, and thereafter offer the pointers that will move that seeker to the next step. How could one who has not taken each step to Full Realization have any idea about where on the path a seeker is and what pointers would be appropriate for moving that seeker to the next step? In that regard, the Realized Advaitin Dennis Waite noted accurately:
“It is the perennial problem of the teacher to be able to judge where the student currently is in his or her understanding and lead them onwards from there. This is why a living ‘guru’ is really needed, so that questions may be asked and answered face to face.”
Those operating from entrapment in an ego-state and who are playing games with the Teachings might consider focusing on their own awakening and leave others alone unless or until Realized Fully. If one is not Realized Fully, he/she cannot diagnose the level of a seeker, nor can she/he know the levels that must be transitioned. Dennis offered this pointer in that regard:
“As ever, in the philosophy of Advaita, the teaching is graded to suit the level of understanding of the student, and it is no use trying to ‘jump levels’ if we have not yet grasped the lower level principles.”
He also addressed the clearly-defined, step-by-step process by which the Teachings should be presented:
“In reality, there is no karma, no saMskAra, no puruShArtha because there is no person who could have them. They are all teaching devices used to bring the student to a realization of the truth by means of carefully gauged, progressive levels of understanding.”
How could persons who are only beginning to walk the “path” think that they have even the slightest clue about what the “carefully gauged, progressive levels of understanding” are (much less how to guide someone through the various levels if one hasn’t moved through all of the levels first)? How? Only by being driven by arrogance and egotism and the desire to play a phony role. It is their inability to teach (since they do not have the full understanding) combined with a desire to create an image and be seen as "The Deep Thinker" or "The Wise Philosopher" that drives them.
While those types need not engage in their noisy proselytizing, they need not stand by on a silent vigil either. Why? Even if a seeker arrives, those types will not possibly “be able to judge where the student currently is in his or her understanding”; will not possibly know anything about how to grade their presentation to suit “the level of understanding of the student”; will be unable to “carefully gauge” the protégé’s requirements; and will know nothing about “the progressive levels of understanding.”
So their assumed ego-states and egotism inspire them to try to share their uninformed views about Advaita in public venues with others. In truth, such types care not a whit about others. Embroiled as they are with self, only the corrupted consciousness can speak, yet they are totally enamored by the sounds that happen when they can find a captive audience and can give voice to their personas and ego-states.
Finally, the follow-up e-mails that were written this week in defense of proselytizing will not be answered. Why? There are those who are using a captive audience to support one or more ego-states; there are those who are disturbing the peace and interrupting the silence in order to fulfill their need for attention and their need to be heard. Such nonsense will receive no response since it would only reinforce their ego and would play into the hands of those who are (narcissistically) begging to be noticed.
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj welcomed thousands to his tiny loft, but for those who came with an agenda to show off their knowledge rather than to seek the understanding, he threw them out, promptly. Similarly, the consciousness which speaks here will not engage in the games that such persons are playing in their efforts to support their false identities. Here, a silent vigil is happening unless contact is initiated by seekers or unless pointers can be offered to potential seekers as invitations to abandon their attachment to myths and superstitions and lies and illusions and distortions. Such is the manner in which all Realized teachers function.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week, the Teachings will be shared with 40 or so seekers by their invitation, not by any solicitation. They were not sought out; instead, they are seeking to move further along the “path” via satsanga.
To those driven by ego-states and who are using the Advaita philosophy in their public game-playing in an effort to create and sustain an image, to gain an audience so they can be heard by others, and to be the center of attention, the invitation is to stop generating noise and to stop clouding up the waters by sharing uninformed views. The invitation is, “Physician, heal thyself.”
[Out-of-town to share the Teachings on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Postings will continue on Friday, 13 July ’07. Please review recent posts or visit the archives.]
F.: To move someone along the “path,” a teacher must be able to examine a seeker’s words instantly, discern exactly where on the path that seeker is, and thereafter offer the pointers that will move that seeker to the next step. How could one who has not taken each step to Full Realization have any idea about where on the path a seeker is and what pointers would be appropriate for moving that seeker to the next step? In that regard, the Realized Advaitin Dennis Waite noted accurately:
“It is the perennial problem of the teacher to be able to judge where the student currently is in his or her understanding and lead them onwards from there. This is why a living ‘guru’ is really needed, so that questions may be asked and answered face to face.”
Those operating from entrapment in an ego-state and who are playing games with the Teachings might consider focusing on their own awakening and leave others alone unless or until Realized Fully. If one is not Realized Fully, he/she cannot diagnose the level of a seeker, nor can she/he know the levels that must be transitioned. Dennis offered this pointer in that regard:
“As ever, in the philosophy of Advaita, the teaching is graded to suit the level of understanding of the student, and it is no use trying to ‘jump levels’ if we have not yet grasped the lower level principles.”
He also addressed the clearly-defined, step-by-step process by which the Teachings should be presented:
“In reality, there is no karma, no saMskAra, no puruShArtha because there is no person who could have them. They are all teaching devices used to bring the student to a realization of the truth by means of carefully gauged, progressive levels of understanding.”
How could persons who are only beginning to walk the “path” think that they have even the slightest clue about what the “carefully gauged, progressive levels of understanding” are (much less how to guide someone through the various levels if one hasn’t moved through all of the levels first)? How? Only by being driven by arrogance and egotism and the desire to play a phony role. It is their inability to teach (since they do not have the full understanding) combined with a desire to create an image and be seen as "The Deep Thinker" or "The Wise Philosopher" that drives them.
While those types need not engage in their noisy proselytizing, they need not stand by on a silent vigil either. Why? Even if a seeker arrives, those types will not possibly “be able to judge where the student currently is in his or her understanding”; will not possibly know anything about how to grade their presentation to suit “the level of understanding of the student”; will be unable to “carefully gauge” the protégé’s requirements; and will know nothing about “the progressive levels of understanding.”
So their assumed ego-states and egotism inspire them to try to share their uninformed views about Advaita in public venues with others. In truth, such types care not a whit about others. Embroiled as they are with self, only the corrupted consciousness can speak, yet they are totally enamored by the sounds that happen when they can find a captive audience and can give voice to their personas and ego-states.
Finally, the follow-up e-mails that were written this week in defense of proselytizing will not be answered. Why? There are those who are using a captive audience to support one or more ego-states; there are those who are disturbing the peace and interrupting the silence in order to fulfill their need for attention and their need to be heard. Such nonsense will receive no response since it would only reinforce their ego and would play into the hands of those who are (narcissistically) begging to be noticed.
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj welcomed thousands to his tiny loft, but for those who came with an agenda to show off their knowledge rather than to seek the understanding, he threw them out, promptly. Similarly, the consciousness which speaks here will not engage in the games that such persons are playing in their efforts to support their false identities. Here, a silent vigil is happening unless contact is initiated by seekers or unless pointers can be offered to potential seekers as invitations to abandon their attachment to myths and superstitions and lies and illusions and distortions. Such is the manner in which all Realized teachers function.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week, the Teachings will be shared with 40 or so seekers by their invitation, not by any solicitation. They were not sought out; instead, they are seeking to move further along the “path” via satsanga.
To those driven by ego-states and who are using the Advaita philosophy in their public game-playing in an effort to create and sustain an image, to gain an audience so they can be heard by others, and to be the center of attention, the invitation is to stop generating noise and to stop clouding up the waters by sharing uninformed views. The invitation is, “Physician, heal thyself.”
Once the Self, and that which is beyond the Self, is understood, then only will the silence be appreciated and then only might the silent vigil begin…or not. [NOTE: For those who choose to move along the seven-step path to Realization, or for those who seek to understand the seven-step process and want to know how to guide protégés through those steps in an exact sequence, a guidebook is offered below.] Please enter the silence of contemplation.
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Click TO ORDER THE BOOK Click “Book Order” at the top of the website.
FOR INFORMATION ON THE GUIDE FOR TAKING THE SEVEN-STEP JOURNEY TO REALITY
Click FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
YES, WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY. New rates by the USPS went into effect on 14 May 2007. You may visit http://ircalc.usps.gov/ to calculate rates and view options. (Select your country, then in the “weight” box, estimate 1 pound per each book ordered.) Add $5 to cover package preparation, the assistant's trip to and from the PO, and the time for completion of international shipping forms.
THE FEATURED ITEM FOR THIS WEEK’S SALE IS A NOVEL FEATURING A REALIZED COUPLE AND A NON-DUALITY MESSAGE: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS. The pro-peace thesis of this 480-page book uncovers the sources of separation and conflict in relationships on all levels, from couples to countries, all wrapped in a fast-moving mystery/adventure that covers many decades and many continents. A Realized couple is at the center of an intrigue that will expose the ways that institutionalized duality has impacted the citizens of the world for decades. It also shows how Realization can impact the relative existence in a way that can generate peace on a planet where businesses, governments and religions have historically generated separation and conflict because their non-Realized leaders are driven by self and have no clue at all about the unicity...the Oneness. (Sale price of $18.66 is $11.29 less than the price for a new copy of this book on amazon.com.)
FOR INFORMATION ON THE GUIDE FOR TAKING THE SEVEN-STEP JOURNEY TO REALITY
YES, WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY. New rates by the USPS went into effect on 14 May 2007. You may visit http://ircalc.usps.gov/ to calculate rates and view options. (Select your country, then in the “weight” box, estimate 1 pound per each book ordered.) Add $5 to cover package preparation, the assistant's trip to and from the PO, and the time for completion of international shipping forms.
