An Advaita Vedanta realization, enlightenment, nisarga yoga site discussing non-duality (nonduality), your original nature, and dwelling in the natural state as revealed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
FROM A SITE VISITOR: What’s the difference if you label Douwe Tiemersma an advaitin and Jim labeling himself a christian?
F.: That’s a legitimate query. The difference is this: to assume the label of “Christian” as Jim is doing is to assume a false identity and an accompanying set of beliefs, all of which are rooted in duality. The term Advaitin is used to point toward a speck that had been called “Douwe,” which had cast aside all ideas and beliefs, which assumed no identity, and which abided (post-Realization) as the no-concept, non-duality Reality.
FROM A SITE VISITOR: I’ll not take up space to describe in detail the toll of being raised by a religious fanatic, but I will say that the programming and conditioning she subjected me to led to twenty-five years of trying to live under the influence of the contradictory dogma that was imposed upon me during my youth…without any choice on my part. It took years to finally reach the point you’re describing…transcending all of the contradictory teaching and finally being free and enjoying this manifestation. Yet even today as an adult aged fifty-nine, my “mother” continues to send me her religious denunciations by e-mail (this most recent letter from her having been inspired by her pope’s visit to the U.S. and what you would call her “emotional intoxication” around that event):
Dear [name withheld], The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2181) confirms the traditional teaching--not changed by Vatican II, as many Catholics mistakenly believe--that attendance at Sunday Mass is a serious obligation, and those “who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.” I am sending this not to judge. I just want to say this before I die that attending the “sacrifice” is doing our duty to our Creator to worship Him, as He designed the way He wants it done--atone for our sins, and thank Him for His blessings, even if you cannot receive communion at this time. No conflict intended. Luv, Mom
Is that not an illustration of what you call the nonsense that programming-based concepts amount to? Today, free of all of the religious roles that were assigned to me, and free of all of the effects of that early programming, I can simply use the “delete” key on such e-mails without attachment or emotional reaction. Thanks for the site.
F.: And thank you for sharing an example of the mental and emotional sickness that results in the relative when persons fixate at the third step of a seven-step “journey.” Thank you, too, for modeling the Advaita process: being programmed, suffering the relative effects, seeking the True Self, Realizing, and then being free. Now to continue with the series by repeating the e-mail being addressed in this series:
FROM A SITE VISITOR YESTERDAY: It seems to me the consciousness which you say is the cause of nonsense is also the cause of all that is accomplished in the relative. like Steven was saying we have to work if we don’t have someone to pay our bills. We have to contribute if we want to have some sense of purpose and meaning and betterment. You have said Christ was an Advaitin. I am combining Advaita Vedanta and Christianity to live by. My religion lets me serve others. What is wrong with that? what’s wrong with trying to live like Christ and help others. That is not nonsense. Jim
F.: Next, Jim, to claim to be “A Follower” of someone but ignoring his words takes you back again to the very pointer that you are challenging: speak highly of the consciousness if you like, but see that none of the nonsense that governs persons across the planet could happen without the consciousness that is soon warped or blocked following its manifestation.
Look no farther than the dualistic concepts in “the mom’s” e-mail above to see how much dualistic nonsense can be generated via the warping or blocking of the consciousness: a woman was programmed with the dogma of the religion you are trying to combine with Advaita; she programmed her daughter as a child with the same dogma; after years of misery and restriction and suffering, the daughter eliminated her belief in the dogma and the church’s concepts and is free.
Now, the mother continues to try to impose once again that earlier programming and conditioning. She would replant her faith’s seeds of unconsciousness in an adult-age daughter, touting her religion’s concepts about…
…“serious obligations”; “grave sins”; talk of “not judging” while judging; “dying”; “the “sacrifice”; “duty”; “our Creator”: “worship”; “Him”; “our sins”; “blessings”; and “you cannot receive communion”—all followed by “no conflict intended” and a claim to “luv.”
While your consideration of Advaita pointers may be providing a clearer understanding of the Advaita-based words of your “Christ,” are you not now seeing clearly, Jim, that any institution that disseminates misinformation and dualistic concepts cannot possibly be compatible with a set of teachings that invite the casting aside of all beliefs and concepts? Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
