F.: If a person is discontent or angry or indignant or emotionally-intoxicated, personality is exerting its influence. When that happens, personas (which most often function from a subconscious level) will drive thoughts, words, and deeds.
When freedom from personality was being discussed during the most recent retreat, some 10-12 participants came to a realization that they have been trapped in “The Parent” and “The Child” ego-states and that most of the events in their adult-age relative existence are being driven by one or the other.
They admitted that, on one hand, they are being driven to play “The Parent role” and want to control, criticize, judge, evaluate, talk down to, and scold in their interactions at work and at home. Yet they admitted that just as often they want to express their anger, want to be spoiled, want attention (meaning, “Look at me” and “Listen to me” and “Value me and what I want and what I say”). They throw tantrums and fits rather than remain calm and relaxed.
They were able to cite recent examples where assumption of “The Child” persona resulted in their whining as well as in their thinking that they are more special than others, much smarter than others, more enlightened than others, and more knowledgeable than others.
Much of the e-mail that has accumulated during the “Nothingness” series and while the Retreat was being conducted exhibits that same Parent-Child paradigm. As you read some of these examples of those personas at play, you are invited to reflect upon your own recent experiences and see if these two ego-states are driving any of your thoughts, words, feelings or actions:
FROM A SITE VISITOR: What would Maharaj think of you naming a book, “It’s all bullshit?”
F.: There was no Maharaj to think, but there seems to be a “you” that is thinking, and thinking dualistically. Maybe thinking there is something that is “moral vs. immoral” or “spiritual vs. non-spiritual”? If so, that is the moralizing, judging and controlling “Parent” that is driving you. But here’s a secret that few know: Maharaj’s sharing, while dominated by profundities, were sprinkled as well with occasional profanities (one of which appears in the book title you reference).
Why were those words not included by his translators? The translators knew that persons like to imagine dualistically that their leaders or gurus or mentors or ministers or priests or prophets or imams are “different,” are “larger than life,” and are “functioning beyond the realm of the grosser world” which they think they live in. Persons like their heroes to be unvarnished and spotless and pure, failing to see that “The Hero” is just another illusion.
Maharaj made clear that concepts such as “good vs. evil” are unnecessary, as are “right vs. wrong” (such as, “There is a right way to use words” vs. “You’re using words in the wrong way”).
Another in “The Parent” role who wants to judge and criticize and control word choice wrote while the retreat was under way. The short version summary of his e-mail is:
Your use of the word “lie” is wrong—that has bad energy—you’re promoting duality. Substitute the words “belief forms” or “understanding at that particular point in time.”
So, if he were allowed to control the content of this site, then all who were told by their parents that there’s a Santa, knowing full well that there wasn’t, would be told, “That was not a lie. It was just a belief form. When they told you that there's a Santa, that was really their actual understanding at that particular point in time.”
The tongue-in-cheek, dualistic response “You may be right” was offered (a reply that was a level-appropriate response to comments from one trapped in an ego-state who thinks he is right, who thinks he knows when someone else is wrong, and who believes that he has the right to control the word choice of others). When he was driven to respond to that reply, “The Child” appeared as he complained that he had only gotten a “programmed computerized responce"[sic], angry that he did not receive the level of attention that egotism is telling him he deserves.
“The Parent” was also engaged, offended that the one being corrected did not show proper respect to “The Parent” who was correcting him. Note the evidence that supports the pointer that "a sense of being offended, as well as feeling angry and discontent, always follows the assumption of an ego-state. Emotional intoxication never precedes the assumption of an ego-state."
Now, the invitation is to be aware of the thought-word-deed continuum today and for the next few days. Do you see that if you think like a child, you’ll say childish things and then behave in a childish manner? Do you see that if you think like a parent that you’ll say things to others from the parent level and then behave as if you were the parent? Do you see that those ego-states cannot be compartmentalized? Meaning?
Meaning that if you take “The Parent” role into your workplace, then efforts to exert parental control will likely also manifest in your “personal relationships” as well. If “The Parent” role is present and controlling your thoughts, words, and actions, then you will want 24-7 control. You’ll want to direct traffic; you’ll want to control the word choice of others; you’ll want to correct others; you’ll want to demand perfection from others; you’ll want to change “the world.”
Misery or anger or discontentment will have to manifest behind that thinking. It will always be generated if that level of talking is happening. And such thinking and talking will always result in that level of behavior manifesting as well (because thoughts give rise to words and words give rise to actions).
Such is the case when those on the “journey” do not move beyond Step Three and transcend all roles…even the religious and spiritual ones (which generate much of the arrogance exhibited by the non-Realized on the planet). Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
AN OVERVIEW:
When freedom from personality was being discussed during the most recent retreat, some 10-12 participants came to a realization that they have been trapped in “The Parent” and “The Child” ego-states and that most of the events in their adult-age relative existence are being driven by one or the other.
They admitted that, on one hand, they are being driven to play “The Parent role” and want to control, criticize, judge, evaluate, talk down to, and scold in their interactions at work and at home. Yet they admitted that just as often they want to express their anger, want to be spoiled, want attention (meaning, “Look at me” and “Listen to me” and “Value me and what I want and what I say”). They throw tantrums and fits rather than remain calm and relaxed.
They were able to cite recent examples where assumption of “The Child” persona resulted in their whining as well as in their thinking that they are more special than others, much smarter than others, more enlightened than others, and more knowledgeable than others.
Much of the e-mail that has accumulated during the “Nothingness” series and while the Retreat was being conducted exhibits that same Parent-Child paradigm. As you read some of these examples of those personas at play, you are invited to reflect upon your own recent experiences and see if these two ego-states are driving any of your thoughts, words, feelings or actions:
FROM A SITE VISITOR: What would Maharaj think of you naming a book, “It’s all bullshit?”
F.: There was no Maharaj to think, but there seems to be a “you” that is thinking, and thinking dualistically. Maybe thinking there is something that is “moral vs. immoral” or “spiritual vs. non-spiritual”? If so, that is the moralizing, judging and controlling “Parent” that is driving you. But here’s a secret that few know: Maharaj’s sharing, while dominated by profundities, were sprinkled as well with occasional profanities (one of which appears in the book title you reference).
Why were those words not included by his translators? The translators knew that persons like to imagine dualistically that their leaders or gurus or mentors or ministers or priests or prophets or imams are “different,” are “larger than life,” and are “functioning beyond the realm of the grosser world” which they think they live in. Persons like their heroes to be unvarnished and spotless and pure, failing to see that “The Hero” is just another illusion.
Maharaj made clear that concepts such as “good vs. evil” are unnecessary, as are “right vs. wrong” (such as, “There is a right way to use words” vs. “You’re using words in the wrong way”).
Another in “The Parent” role who wants to judge and criticize and control word choice wrote while the retreat was under way. The short version summary of his e-mail is:
Your use of the word “lie” is wrong—that has bad energy—you’re promoting duality. Substitute the words “belief forms” or “understanding at that particular point in time.”
So, if he were allowed to control the content of this site, then all who were told by their parents that there’s a Santa, knowing full well that there wasn’t, would be told, “That was not a lie. It was just a belief form. When they told you that there's a Santa, that was really their actual understanding at that particular point in time.”
The tongue-in-cheek, dualistic response “You may be right” was offered (a reply that was a level-appropriate response to comments from one trapped in an ego-state who thinks he is right, who thinks he knows when someone else is wrong, and who believes that he has the right to control the word choice of others). When he was driven to respond to that reply, “The Child” appeared as he complained that he had only gotten a “programmed computerized responce"[sic], angry that he did not receive the level of attention that egotism is telling him he deserves.
“The Parent” was also engaged, offended that the one being corrected did not show proper respect to “The Parent” who was correcting him. Note the evidence that supports the pointer that "a sense of being offended, as well as feeling angry and discontent, always follows the assumption of an ego-state. Emotional intoxication never precedes the assumption of an ego-state."
Now, the invitation is to be aware of the thought-word-deed continuum today and for the next few days. Do you see that if you think like a child, you’ll say childish things and then behave in a childish manner? Do you see that if you think like a parent that you’ll say things to others from the parent level and then behave as if you were the parent? Do you see that those ego-states cannot be compartmentalized? Meaning?
Meaning that if you take “The Parent” role into your workplace, then efforts to exert parental control will likely also manifest in your “personal relationships” as well. If “The Parent” role is present and controlling your thoughts, words, and actions, then you will want 24-7 control. You’ll want to direct traffic; you’ll want to control the word choice of others; you’ll want to correct others; you’ll want to demand perfection from others; you’ll want to change “the world.”
Misery or anger or discontentment will have to manifest behind that thinking. It will always be generated if that level of talking is happening. And such thinking and talking will always result in that level of behavior manifesting as well (because thoughts give rise to words and words give rise to actions).
Such is the case when those on the “journey” do not move beyond Step Three and transcend all roles…even the religious and spiritual ones (which generate much of the arrogance exhibited by the non-Realized on the planet). Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
AN OVERVIEW:
The order in which the books are to be read and how to get them at a package rate:
Consider the Meditation CD, the Meditation Guides, Bullshit, and Spiritual Sobriety to be a “Beginner’s Package,” providing a foundation from which persons can begin to consider realities that are beyond the beliefs which they accept unquestioningly as a result of their enculturation. Used as a group, the works encourage inquiry (which is at the core of the Advaita approach) where questioning has not occurred before. [See MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE below.]
Consider Peace of Mind, Liberation, What Happens When I Die? and The Essence of the Teachings to be a “Mid-Level Seekers” Package, each guiding seekers beyond the false identification with body and mind and personality and explaining the basic terminology that must be understood before moving to the advanced teachings. [See MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE below.]
Consider From the I to the Absolute, Consciousness/Awareness, and From the Absolute to the Nothingness to be an “Advanced Seekers” Package. From the I to the Absolute can serve as a guide for earnest and capable seekers, putting the teachings into an orderly context that reveals the exact steps that must be taken in an exact order to move through all of the degrees of separation from belief in the false “I” to Realization. Consciousness/Awareness offers the next level of understanding, explaining that which is beyond the beingness and how happiness can manifest each day via the understanding. Finally, From the Absolute to the Nothingness will allow earnest and capable seekers to understand the state that is even prior to beingness and non-beingness, even prior to the Absolute. The seeker who understands the content of this book will realize how it is that—from a state of non-existence or nothingness—everything in this universe (and all universes) came to be. [See MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE below.]
MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE (FOR A LIMITED TIME): 10% OFF if two books are ordered at the same time; 15% OFF if three books are ordered at the same time; 20% OFF if four or more books are ordered at the same time. Visit www.floydhenderson.com
Consider the Meditation CD, the Meditation Guides, Bullshit, and Spiritual Sobriety to be a “Beginner’s Package,” providing a foundation from which persons can begin to consider realities that are beyond the beliefs which they accept unquestioningly as a result of their enculturation. Used as a group, the works encourage inquiry (which is at the core of the Advaita approach) where questioning has not occurred before. [See MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE below.]
Consider Peace of Mind, Liberation, What Happens When I Die? and The Essence of the Teachings to be a “Mid-Level Seekers” Package, each guiding seekers beyond the false identification with body and mind and personality and explaining the basic terminology that must be understood before moving to the advanced teachings. [See MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE below.]
Consider From the I to the Absolute, Consciousness/Awareness, and From the Absolute to the Nothingness to be an “Advanced Seekers” Package. From the I to the Absolute can serve as a guide for earnest and capable seekers, putting the teachings into an orderly context that reveals the exact steps that must be taken in an exact order to move through all of the degrees of separation from belief in the false “I” to Realization. Consciousness/Awareness offers the next level of understanding, explaining that which is beyond the beingness and how happiness can manifest each day via the understanding. Finally, From the Absolute to the Nothingness will allow earnest and capable seekers to understand the state that is even prior to beingness and non-beingness, even prior to the Absolute. The seeker who understands the content of this book will realize how it is that—from a state of non-existence or nothingness—everything in this universe (and all universes) came to be. [See MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE below.]
MAKE YOUR OWN PACKAGE (FOR A LIMITED TIME): 10% OFF if two books are ordered at the same time; 15% OFF if three books are ordered at the same time; 20% OFF if four or more books are ordered at the same time. Visit www.floydhenderson.com
