THE OBSTACLES TO REALISATION and THE SOLUTION, The Conclusion

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation / Realization, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, natural abidance, the nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

[At the end of this posting there are five videos that discuss thirty-three Advaitin topics]

Beginning tomorrow, a guest contributor (Louise of South Africa) will assume the task of offering daily postings for the first half of September. A Realized Advaitin and a professional writer, she will share observations and considerations and insights that You will enjoy along with her skill at placing into words the pointers that point toward the Truth that cannot be stated. You will see the way that the relative existence can unfold when Reality is overlaid upon the relative and when beauty and Love are witnessed regularly. You will relish the lightness of her being as well as her post-Realization joy which You will most assuredly sense. What she shares will strike a chord and will resonate within. She understands fully the Wisdom of Noneness and the Real Love of Oneness, so please visit during September to receive pointers that will most assuredly be worth your consideration.

[NOTE: floyd will not be available to respond to e-mails during that period.]

FROM A SITE VISITOR: Didn’t you read some of those books your [sic] warning about? What’s the harm?

F.: If i had not read all of those books, and if they had been anything other than a distraction from the “path” to the Realization and freedom and happiness and peace which was being sought, then any considerations being offered about them now would be based in conjecture only.

Read every books you must, and burn everything you must burn, and ring everything you must ring, and knell or lie prostrate and do all the trappings of doingness that are available, but understand that none of that will provide lasting freedom, lasting peace, or lasting happiness for the remainder of the manifestation.

It will be no more effective than going into and out of samadhi, and it will be no more effective than sitting in the quiet for fifteen minutes in the morning before leaving your home and entering the chaotic traffic on the way to work and shortly thereafter forfeiting once more your peace and freedom and happiness.

The alternative is to fixate in the peace and freedom and happiness that all happen automatically and spontaneously—without effort or work or doingness—post-Realization. So how is that to happen, in light of all of the obstacles? Some suggestions have been offered, but the final pointer will be presented via an analogy:

Many of you have likely heard the name “Sir Edmund Percival Hillary” from New Zealand who reached the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953. But have you heard the name “Tenzing Norgay”? Not likely, but it was Tenzing Norgay who was the sherpa who guided Hillary to the summit.

Many have also likely heard the names of others who have also been lauded for having climbed Mt. Everest on one publicized occasion or another, but have you heard the name “Appa”? While the spotlight is usually cast only upon the famous climbers, Appa has climbed the mountain nineteen times and has led many of those who reached the summit.

(It would take a bit of the luster off the achievement of the noted climbers if—during their post-climb interviews while they were saying “Well, yes, it is a tremendous feat I have accomplished”—Appa were in the background and a friend were holding up a sign with an arrow pointing at Appa that read, “Ha…he’s done the same thing nineteen times.”)

How important is a guide on the “journey”? Before 1990, when experienced guides became readily available, there were 179 fatalities on Everest. Now, the fatality rate has dropped to a fraction of the earlier toll because sherpas / guides are available to show the way.

The same is true for your “journey”: if you are a seeker trying to navigate around the obstacles on “the path” to Full Realization, the key to success is to find an “Advaitin Appa,” so to speak, that is, a guide that has traveled the “path” first herself or himself and then traveled it time and again with other seekers.

Appa knows the exact “path” to follow to the summit. He does not divert the attention of the climbers whom he is guiding in order to inform them about all sorts of unrelated information that is totally irrelevant to the completion of the journey.

He charges for his services as a guide, not for lectures on how the climbers can be a better person or on how they can get power and use it to control and accumulate or on all of the mental and spiritual exercises they must do on a daily basis to negotiate the relative existence.

He is all about showing them how to find the way to the end of the “path” which they must travel if they are to reach the end of the “journey.” Everything he says is said to show them the way, not to distract from the way.

He offers no pointers to other paths but points only to the path that he has followed time and again and which he knows for a fact will lead the seekers to that which they seek.

Those who have succeeded in their effort to reach the summit did so because long before they ever attempted to travel the “path,” they spent the necessary time and energy to find an experienced guide first, a guide who knew the way and knew how to show them the way. So it is with seekers who would follow the “path” to Full Realization. Please enter the silence of contemplation.

Coming soon for those who would attend
“An Advaitin Retreat / Four-Day Satsang with floyd”
but cannot do so for whatever reason:

A 4-Disk Video (DVD) Set with an entire seven-hour retreat / satsang that shows three seekers being guided through all seven steps by floyd and that can allow viewers to also “experience” a step-by-step series of meetings that will move the viewers from

identification with the I
to
abidance as the Absolute

Some are already using the computer file version and meeting in groups in homes and playing the file, pausing it for discussion, etc.

2. For those who prefer not to pay U.S. shipping fees or the cost of international shipping, the same retreat can be attained at ½ price and without shipping via an e-mailed link that will allow you to download the retreat as a computer file. [While there is, of course, a difference in the quality of a DVD as opposed to a downloadable computer file, all of the retreat / satsang content is the same.]

Available near the end of September. More details and the means for obtaining either the DVD set or the downloadable version of the retreat will be provided then. Because of the assistance provided by a generous benefactor that wants the message delivered, the first 25 sets of the DVD ordered or pre-ordered will also include a free copy of the CD
"Floyd Henderson's 'Spirit Journey to Your TRUE SELF': Guided Meditation for Relaxation, Healing and Visualization"

Schedule a one-hour satsang session with floyd
by telephone and the call (either international or in the U.S.) will be free.
[Details below]

For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS BELOW:
1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE
2. REALIZATION AIDS
3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATIONS
5. DONATIONS
6. YOUTUBE VIDEOS DISCUSSING A VARIETY OF ADVAITA TOPICS

1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE:
A. FREE CALLS INSIDE THE U.S.
B. FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS ALSO (via Skype)
If you do not already have a Skype account, you need only search “Skype” and, download the free program and take a few minutes to set up your account; then Floyd will call you and you will pay no telephone charges for your session.
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

2. REALIZATION AIDS
The Advanced Seekers’ Three-eBook Set
From the I to the Absolute
Consciousness / Awareness
From the Absolute to the Nothingness

(ORDER NOW ANY OF THE FOURTEEN NON-DUALITY BOOKS WRITTEN BY FLOYD
and
YOU WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR READING IN A FEW MINUTES FROM NOW)

Order the “Advanced Seeker’s Set” or any of the other books by visiting
The Official Website of Floyd Henderson

3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO TRAVEL TO YOUR LOCATION AND SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
Use the contact link above to arrange a session in your city either in the U.S. or internationally.

4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATION
Visit
Submitting Advaita Vedanta Poetry for Publication

5. DONATIONS

FROM SIM IN KENTUCKY, U.S.A.: How about a donate button? I give monthly to a blog about locations and reviews of a particular type of restaurant we like. I’d sure donate to this blog.

FROM “ANONYMOUS”: Almost every visitor brought Maharaj food or flowers. I’d like to treat you to a meal if you tell me how to do so with my credit card!

FROM LOUISE, SOUTH AFRICA: [Consider the case of an acquaintance who] added a donate button to his site. Regular blog readers were happy to support the site in this way.

F.: Okay—so it’s done, but note that the postings and responses are offered without charge, as is access to the library of 1,350+ Advaitin essays archived on the site.

That said, any donation will be appreciated. Thank you.

6. ADVAITA VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

If you want to share the five Advaita videos on your own site, you are invited to do so without charge. Click on the links above and to the right under “Links and Resources.” You’ll be transferred to the video sites and there you will find the embedding codes that you can copy and paste onto your html pages.

Below are five lists containing thirty-three Advaitin subjects that are discussed on the YouTube videos that follow each of the lists.
(The numeric counter information is provided so that you can move to the exact location in the videos to find any particular discussion that might be of interest)

Advaita Topics 1-9:
1. Defining Advaita Vedanta (Counter 28-55)
2. Methods of Teaching (Counter 55-144)
3. Unicity / Nonduality (Counter 144-239)
4. I AM THAT; I AM (Counter 239-331)
5. Learn vs. Unlearn (Counter 331-413)
6. Unlearn What? (Counter 413-444)
7. Person vs. Realized (444-525)
8. The Triad (Counter 525-745)
9. Before Conception (Counter 745-901)
Click on the arrow below to start Video One and topics 1-9:



Advaita Topics 10-16:
10. No Body Continuity / “ME” (Counter 1-56)
11. Not Born / No Creation / Cannot Die (Counter 56-200)
12. No Peace of “mind” / My “mind” / “Their “mind” (Counter 200-333)
13. Brain vs. “mind” vs. Consciousness (Counter 333-500)
14. Not in the World (Counter 500-603)
15. Inner Guru (Counter 603-715)
16. Personality-Suffering Connection / Upgrading Illusions (Counter 715-840)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Two and topics 10-16:



Advaita Topics 18-24:
18. The Role-Playing + Co-dependency + Suicide Link (Counter 1-205)
19. Upgrading / Downgrading Illusions (Counter 205-300)
20. Emotions vs. Feelings (Counter 300-422)
21. Religion and Spirituality (Counter 422-547)
22. Question All (Counter 547-713)
23. Natural vs. Unnatural vs. Supernatural Living (Counter 713-833)
24. When Trillions Are Wrong (Counter 833-920)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Three and topics 18-24:



Advaita Topics 25-31:
25. Christ the Advaitin (Counter 1-150)
26. Child Ignorance / The Pre-”mind” State (Counter 150-340)
27. Child Ignorance vs. Learned Ignorance (Counter 340-439)
28. Two Levels of Witnessing (Counter 439-554)
29. Desires and Fears (Counter 554-641)
30. Consciousness vs. Awareness (Counter 641-720)
31. Real Love vs. false love (Counter 720-846)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Four and topics 25-31:



Advaita Topics 32-33:
32. Zero Concepts (Counter 1-120)
33. The Nothingness (Counter 120-250)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Five and topics 32-33:

THE OBSTACLES TO REALISATION and THE SOLUTION, Part Five

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation / Realization, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, natural abidance, the nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

[At the end of this posting there are five videos that discuss thirty-three Advaitin topics]

F.: So far, as the obstacles to Realization have been noted and as solutions are being offered to avoid those obstacles, it has been noted that...

(1) …no one will ever Realize who seeks via the writings or words of the “big teachers” because those teachers have their own agenda which involves teaching concepts that appeal to the desires (and sometimes the fears) of the masses rather than directing seekers along a specific “path” to Realisation;

(2) …no one will ever Realize who is attached to the concept of “hierarchies” or who is attached to any ego-and-egotism-based-beliefs about “separation” and "different from" and “better than” or “worse than”;

and next…

(3) …no one will ever Realize who reads any set of books that is not explaining the exact steps on the “path” in the order in which they must be taken; or who reads any book that is not an explication of the exact steps on the “path” and that offers the order in which the exact steps must be taken; or who attends a retreat where there are discussions of anything other than the exact steps on the “path” and the exact order in which they must be taken.

As with Maharaj and as on this site, there are seekers at various “places” on the “path” who ask a variety of questions or who make a variety of comments. In the end, the questions or comments are used to determine exactly where on the “path” any given seeker is; then, pointers to the next step on the “path” are offered.

Dennis Waite 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.”

In the end, therefore, all will be for naught if all of the steps on the “path” are not completed, and all will also be for naught if the steps are not completed in their exact order.

If you survey what it is that earnest seekers are reading (and know they are reading the famous works by the "big teachers" because those teachers/lecturers/authors are being promoted across the globe by a well-oiled marketing machine), you would understand why there is no wonder at all about why even the most earnest of seekers seldom find.

As noted here before, if you take Maharaj’s estimate of the number of persons on the planet who will ever be Realized at any given moment, the total amounts to no more than 1.5% of the entire population.

That percentage may actually be decreasing now that so many seekers are being exposed to the concepts being taught by those persons referred to as “big teachers” by Maharaj. So consider if you will these pointers about the “real journey” and the “real path” and about how it must be completed:

Maharaj: “…You should go back, reverse, to the source.”

Maharaj: “Follow the same path by which you came.”

Dennis Waite: “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.”

Dennis Waite: “All levels of identification must be transcended and this should be done in a controlled and stepwise manner that has been validated through millennia of teaching. Attractive though it might seem, it is not possible to jump straight to the end.” [Bold added]

As noted before, you can read all the books you like about how delicious a certain food tastes; you can travel across the ocean to find that “big restaurant” and that "big chef" that is the most famous for that particular food; you can gather all of the knowledge you want about that particular food you like and about the famous chef and about the chef's “big restaurant” and about the famous dish the chef serves up in a presentation that is attractive and appealing to the masses;

you can read reviews about how wonderful the restaurant and the chef and the food all are; you can join the masses who are flocking to the chef; and you can pay thousands of dollars to watch others eat the food and then listen to them describe how wonderful the food tastes;

you can find a list of the ingredients that the chef uses and you can become an expert on that chef's concepts about the right type of pan and the right type of stove and the right type of utensils; but if you do not have the step-by-step directions for moving through the process of preparing that dish, then you will never have what you seek and you will never taste what others are tasting.

You can do all of that and you can travel everywhere and you can pay to hear the famous chef talk and you can hear others try unsuccessfully to teach what the famous chef knew. Yet, for what? You will never, in the end, even so much as taste the food. All you will be doing is paying to watch others eat that which you will never eat or to hear someone talk about the dish rather than finding a guide or a teacher that can hand it to you on a platter.

What could possibly come if you do not know the steps by which the food you seek can manifest in its full and proper state? To what end can you be led by all of your reading, by all of your respect for the chef, by all of your trying this process to prepare the dish, and by all of your trying that process to prepare the dish if the chef never reveals the step-by-step process involved? It will all be for naught. Please enter into the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

Coming soon for those who would attend “An Advaitin Retreat / Four-Day Satsang with floyd” but cannot do so for whatever reason:

1. A 4-Disk Video (DVD) Set with an entire seven-hour retreat / satsang shows three seekers being guided through all seven steps by floyd and can provide viewers with an “experiential,” step-by-step series of meetings that will move the viewers from:

identification with the I
to
abidance as the Absolute.

Some are already using the earliest version of the retreat via a downloadable computer file and meeting in small groups in homes and watching the satsang sessions, pausing for discussion, etc.

2. For those who prefer not to pay shipping fees or the cost of international shipping for the DVD set which should soon be available, the same retreat can be attained at ½ price and without shipping via an e-mailed link that will allow you to download the retreat in the computer file format mentioned above. [While there is, of course, a difference in the quality of the DVDs as opposed to a downloadable computer file, all of the retreat / satsang content is the same.]

The disk set will be available near the end of September. More details and the means for obtaining either the DVD set or the downloadable version of the retreat will be provided then.

Schedule a one-hour satsang session with floyd
by telephone and the call (either international or in the U.S.) will be free.
[Details below]

For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS BELOW:
1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE
2. REALIZATION AIDS
3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATIONS
5. DONATIONS
6. YOUTUBE VIDEOS DISCUSSING A VARIETY OF ADVAITA TOPICS

1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE:
A. FREE CALLS INSIDE THE U.S.
B. FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS ALSO (via Skype)
If you do not already have a Skype account, you need only search “Skype” and, download the free program and take a few minutes to set up your account; then Floyd will call you and you will pay no telephone charges for your session.
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

2. REALIZATION AIDS
The Advanced Seekers’ Three-eBook Set
From the I to the Absolute
Consciousness / Awareness
From the Absolute to the Nothingness

(ORDER NOW ANY OF THE FOURTEEN NON-DUALITY BOOKS WRITTEN BY FLOYD
and
YOU WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR READING IN A FEW MINUTES FROM NOW)

Order the “Advanced Seeker’s Set” or any of the other books by visiting
The Official Website of Floyd Henderson

3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO TRAVEL TO YOUR LOCATION AND SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
Use the contact link above to arrange a session in your city either in the U.S. or internationally.

4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATION
Visit
Submitting Advaita Vedanta Poetry for Publication

5. DONATIONS

FROM SIM IN KENTUCKY, U.S.A.: How about a donate button? I give monthly to a blog about locations and reviews of a particular type of restaurant we like. I’d sure donate to this blog.

FROM “ANONYMOUS”: Almost every visitor brought Maharaj food or flowers. I’d like to treat you to a meal if you tell me how to do so with my credit card!

FROM LOUISE, SOUTH AFRICA: [Consider the case of an acquaintance who] added a donate button to his site. Regular blog readers were happy to support the site in this way.

F.: Okay—so it’s done, but note that the postings and responses are offered without charge, as is access to the library of 1,350+ Advaitin essays archived on the site.

That said, any donation will be appreciated. Thank you.

6. ADVAITA VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

If you want to share the five Advaita videos on your own site, you are invited to do so without charge. Click on the links above and to the right under “Links and Resources.” You’ll be transferred to the video sites and there you will find the embedding codes that you can copy and paste onto your html pages.

Below are five lists containing thirty-three Advaitin subjects that are discussed on the YouTube videos that follow each of the lists.
(The numeric counter information is provided so that you can move to the exact location in the videos to find any particular discussion that might be of interest)

Advaita Topics 1-9:
1. Defining Advaita Vedanta (Counter 28-55)
2. Methods of Teaching (Counter 55-144)
3. Unicity / Nonduality (Counter 144-239)
4. I AM THAT; I AM (Counter 239-331)
5. Learn vs. Unlearn (Counter 331-413)
6. Unlearn What? (Counter 413-444)
7. Person vs. Realized (444-525)
8. The Triad (Counter 525-745)
9. Before Conception (Counter 745-901)
Click on the arrow below to start Video One and topics 1-9:



Advaita Topics 10-16:
10. No Body Continuity / “ME” (Counter 1-56)
11. Not Born / No Creation / Cannot Die (Counter 56-200)
12. No Peace of “mind” / My “mind” / “Their “mind” (Counter 200-333)
13. Brain vs. “mind” vs. Consciousness (Counter 333-500)
14. Not in the World (Counter 500-603)
15. Inner Guru (Counter 603-715)
16. Personality-Suffering Connection / Upgrading Illusions (Counter 715-840)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Two and topics 10-16:



Advaita Topics 18-24:
18. The Role-Playing + Co-dependency + Suicide Link (Counter 1-205)
19. Upgrading / Downgrading Illusions (Counter 205-300)
20. Emotions vs. Feelings (Counter 300-422)
21. Religion and Spirituality (Counter 422-547)
22. Question All (Counter 547-713)
23. Natural vs. Unnatural vs. Supernatural Living (Counter 713-833)
24. When Trillions Are Wrong (Counter 833-920)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Three and topics 18-24:



Advaita Topics 25-31:
25. Christ the Advaitin (Counter 1-150)
26. Child Ignorance / The Pre-”mind” State (Counter 150-340)
27. Child Ignorance vs. Learned Ignorance (Counter 340-439)
28. Two Levels of Witnessing (Counter 439-554)
29. Desires and Fears (Counter 554-641)
30. Consciousness vs. Awareness (Counter 641-720)
31. Real Love vs. false love (Counter 720-846)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Four and topics 25-31:



Advaita Topics 32-33:
32. Zero Concepts (Counter 1-120)
33. The Nothingness (Counter 120-250)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Five and topics 32-33:

THE OBSTACLES TO REALISATION and THE SOLUTION, Part Four

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation / Realization, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, natural abidance, the nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

[At the end of this posting there are five videos that discuss thirty-three Advaitin topics]

F.: [Continued from 24 Aug 2009]

The following has been shared here in other postings:

"Ego is believing that there’s a vast multiplicity arranged in a hierarchy and that you’re the pinnacle; humility is knowing that you’re nothing, no-thing; Love is knowing that You, with a capital ‘Y,’ Are everything."

Ego (Lt., “I”) refers here to the false “I,” to the assumed ego-states that are erroneously taken as identities. (Egotism, by contrast, is one of the many ego-defense mechanisms that are used to “support” the ego…to try to give every false role an element of credibility and to try to perpetuate the belief in the false identity.)

Ego arranges all into fiction-based hierarchies, and on a planet where the mirages of egotism-supported egos flourish, then so, too, do dreamed up hierarchies flourish.

ONE SOLUTION FOR CIRCUMVENTING THE OBSTACLES TO REALISATION IS TO ABANDON BELIEF IN THAT PIECE OF FICTION CALLED “HIERARCHIES”

Note the prevalence of supposed hierarchies that generate false senses of differentiation and “better-than-ness” and “worse-than-ness.” In business, clear-cut distinctions are drawn between the CEO at the supposed top and the mail room clerk at the supposed bottom. In the process, a false sense of separation is established.

Cities divide and subdivide into "better neighborhoods" and "worse neighborhoods." Continents do the same with some nations having "a better lifestyle" and "greater opportunities" than others. Nations do the same with some states having more money and providing services that others do not receive. Medical communities fabricate their own hierarchies.

Religions form hierarchies with popes or ayatollahs or bishops at the top and their “members” or "followers" at the bottom. The programming received via religious dogma also results in a distorted perception of the universe as well with a god or gods at the top and all else in a descending order down to whatever is perceived to be the lowest form. In the process, a false sense of separation is established alongside a belief in dreamed up concepts and human-like superpowers and human-like higher powers.

Twelve-step groups do the same. Some receive “heavy metal chips” that are used to designate their separate and higher status from those with fewer years of membership; some are “circuit speakers”; some are “old-timers.” In an organization which claims that one of its tasks is to eliminate egotism and self-absorption, in practice both are reinforced by the constant calculating of the number of days and weeks and months and years of obedience by followers and by then applauding those who adhere to the directives offered by persons among the upper echelons of the group. In fact, all cult-like organizations function in the same way.

The military as well as police forces and fire departments also form hierarchies, as do organized crime families. The same divisions occur in politics, and the most arrogant of nations (which label some countries as "third world" and thereby imply that the assigners of such labels are "first world") try to create a hierarchical ranking of status, or lack of status, all around the globe.

In fact, all across the planet, and throughout all cultures, such fictionalized hierarchies are taken to be factual identifiers of status and differentiation, and Maharaj noted that the same happens in the Advaita Vedanta “community” and among seekers worldwide.

Recall his pointer that followers of a “big teacher” or followers who are attracted to the wealthiest and most famous teachers deserve what they get. The pointer here is that seekers may not deserve what happens when their egos and egotism blindly drive them to attach to the “big teachers,” but they most assuredly will not find that which they seek by following the concepts offered by those persons.

Instead, seekers will only find more and more concepts, more and more “mind clutter,” and more and more, period (when the entire aim should be to find less, to be rid of what has accumulated, and to be free of the effects of the bogus content of the “mind.”)

To those whose ego is reinforced by the false pride that is generated by being associated with the “big names,” do what must be done, read all that you think must be read, and build all the libraries that your pride inspires. Perhaps someday, though, you will see that freedom—and therefore happiness and peace—can only come when all of the concept-laden books by the big names are set aside (along with all other concepts and ideas and beliefs as well).

Sure, the “motive” is understood: it is fueled by the desire to accumulate more and more in order to “understand.” But the understanding comes via de-accumulation, not accumulation; with unlearning, not with more learning; with an abandonment of all learned ignorance rather than via the addition of more to an already-excessive body of “knowledge”;

and with a realization of the fact that the quest for freedom from the insufferable machinations of the “mind” will never end by adding more to that fiction-filled storehouse of concepts and nonsense called the “mind” which will use all additional concepts and ideas to perpetuate more intrigues and plottings and schemings which will further prevent any chance for the "whirling dervish" called the "mind" to cease all of its maneuverings.

The “Catch-22” is that the very ego and egotism that conspire to generate a desire among the non-Realized masses to be associated only with “the top levels” of any group and only with the persons “at the top” are exactly what must be cast aside in order to find a space via which the pure consciousness speaks rather than a space through which an agenda-driven mind speaks in order to accumulate more money and audiences and followers.

Associating with hierarchies must end if one would be in touch with Reality since a belief in hierarchies is merely one more contributor to the false dream/nightmare of the planet. Please enter into the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

Schedule a one-hour satsang session with floyd
by telephone and the call (either international or in the U.S.) will be free.
[Details below]

For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS BELOW:
1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE
2. REALIZATION AIDS
3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATIONS
5. DONATIONS
6. YOUTUBE VIDEOS DISCUSSING A VARIETY OF ADVAITA TOPICS

1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE:
A. FREE CALLS INSIDE THE U.S.
B. FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS ALSO (via Skype)
If you do not already have a Skype account, you need only search “Skype” and, download the free program and take a few minutes to set up your account; then Floyd will call you and you will pay no telephone charges for your session.
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

2. REALIZATION AIDS
The Advanced Seekers’ Three-eBook Set
From the I to the Absolute
Consciousness / Awareness
From the Absolute to the Nothingness

(ORDER NOW ANY OF THE FOURTEEN NON-DUALITY BOOKS WRITTEN BY FLOYD
and
YOU WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR READING IN A FEW MINUTES FROM NOW)

Order the “Advanced Seeker’s Set” or any of the other books by visiting
The Official Website of Floyd Henderson

3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO TRAVEL TO YOUR LOCATION AND SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
Use the contact link above to arrange a session in your city either in the U.S. or internationally.

4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATION
Visit
Submitting Advaita Vedanta Poetry for Publication

5. DONATIONS

FROM SIM IN KENTUCKY, U.S.A.: How about a donate button? I give monthly to a blog about locations and reviews of a particular type of restaurant we like. I’d sure donate to this blog.

FROM “ANONYMOUS”: Almost every visitor brought Maharaj food or flowers. I’d like to treat you to a meal if you tell me how to do so with my credit card!

FROM LOUISE, SOUTH AFRICA: [Consider the case of an acquaintance who] added a donate button to his site. Regular blog readers were happy to support the site in this way.

F.: Okay—so it’s done, but note that the postings and responses are offered without charge, as is access to the library of 1,350+ Advaitin essays archived on the site.

That said, any donation will be appreciated. Thank you.

6. ADVAITA VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

If you want to share the five Advaita videos on your own site, you are invited to do so without charge. Click on the links above and to the right under “Links and Resources.” You’ll be transferred to the video sites and there you will find the embedding codes that you can copy and paste onto your html pages.

Below are five lists containing thirty-three Advaitin subjects that are discussed on the YouTube videos that follow each of the lists.
(The numeric counter information is provided so that you can move to the exact location in the videos to find any particular discussion that might be of interest)

Advaita Topics 1-9:
1. Defining Advaita Vedanta (Counter 28-55)
2. Methods of Teaching (Counter 55-144)
3. Unicity / Nonduality (Counter 144-239)
4. I AM THAT; I AM (Counter 239-331)
5. Learn vs. Unlearn (Counter 331-413)
6. Unlearn What? (Counter 413-444)
7. Person vs. Realized (444-525)
8. The Triad (Counter 525-745)
9. Before Conception (Counter 745-901)
Click on the arrow below to start Video One and topics 1-9:



Advaita Topics 10-16:
10. No Body Continuity / “ME” (Counter 1-56)
11. Not Born / No Creation / Cannot Die (Counter 56-200)
12. No Peace of “mind” / My “mind” / “Their “mind” (Counter 200-333)
13. Brain vs. “mind” vs. Consciousness (Counter 333-500)
14. Not in the World (Counter 500-603)
15. Inner Guru (Counter 603-715)
16. Personality-Suffering Connection / Upgrading Illusions (Counter 715-840)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Two and topics 10-16:



Advaita Topics 18-24:
18. The Role-Playing + Co-dependency + Suicide Link (Counter 1-205)
19. Upgrading / Downgrading Illusions (Counter 205-300)
20. Emotions vs. Feelings (Counter 300-422)
21. Religion and Spirituality (Counter 422-547)
22. Question All (Counter 547-713)
23. Natural vs. Unnatural vs. Supernatural Living (Counter 713-833)
24. When Trillions Are Wrong (Counter 833-920)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Three and topics 18-24:



Advaita Topics 25-31:
25. Christ the Advaitin (Counter 1-150)
26. Child Ignorance / The Pre-”mind” State (Counter 150-340)
27. Child Ignorance vs. Learned Ignorance (Counter 340-439)
28. Two Levels of Witnessing (Counter 439-554)
29. Desires and Fears (Counter 554-641)
30. Consciousness vs. Awareness (Counter 641-720)
31. Real Love vs. false love (Counter 720-846)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Four and topics 25-31:



Advaita Topics 32-33:
32. Zero Concepts (Counter 1-120)
33. The Nothingness (Counter 120-250)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Five and topics 32-33:

VIDEO DISCUSSIONS OF THIRTY-THREE ADVAITIN TOPICS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation / Realization, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, natural abidance, the nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

The series on "The Obstacles to Realization and the Solution" will continue on Saturday. [Out-of-town—contracted with a company to conduct staff development sessions by (a) discussing personality and (b) showing how personality brings dysfunctionalism to the workplace and (c) discussing ways to be free of the influences of personality / personas.]

Meanwhile, there are thirty-three Advaitin topics, discussed below on video, available for your consideration.

A Reminder of An Upcoming Event: In September, site visitors will be offered a real treat in that a guest contributor (Louise of South Africa) will take over the task of offering daily postings for the first half of that month. A Realized Advaitin, she will share observations and considerations and insights that You will enjoy along with her skill at placing into words the pointers that point toward the Truth.

You will see the way that the relative existence can unfold when Reality is overlaid upon the relative, when beauty and Love are witnessed regularly, and when the harmony of living naturally happens spontaneously. You will relish the lightness of her being as well as her post-Realization joy which You will most assuredly sense.

What she shares will strike a chord and will resonate within. She understands fully the Wisdom of Noneness and the Real Love of Oneness, so please visit during those posting dates to receive pointers that will most assuredly be worth consideration.

ADVAITA VIDEOS BELOW AND ON YOUTUBE

If you want to share the five Advaita videos on your own site, you are invited to do so without charge. Click on the links above and to the right under “Links and Resources.” You’ll be transferred to the video sites and there you will find the embedding codes that you can copy and paste onto your html pages.

Below are five lists containing thirty-three Advaitin subjects that are discussed on the YouTube videos that follow each of the lists.
(The numeric counter information is provided so that you can move to the exact location in the videos to find any particular discussion that might be of interest)

Advaita Topics 1-9:
1. Defining Advaita Vedanta (Counter 28-55)
2. Methods of Teaching (Counter 55-144)
3. Unicity / Nonduality (Counter 144-239)
4. I AM THAT; I AM (Counter 239-331)
5. Learn vs. Unlearn (Counter 331-413)
6. Unlearn What? (Counter 413-444)
7. Person vs. Realized (444-525)
8. The Triad (Counter 525-745)
9. Before Conception (Counter 745-901)
Click on the arrow below to start Video One and topics 1-9:



Advaita Topics 10-16:
10. No Body Continuity / “ME” (Counter 1-56)
11. Not Born / No Creation / Cannot Die (Counter 56-200)
12. No Peace of “mind” / My “mind” / “Their “mind” (Counter 200-333)
13. Brain vs. “mind” vs. Consciousness (Counter 333-500)
14. Not in the World (Counter 500-603)
15. Inner Guru (Counter 603-715)
16. Personality-Suffering Connection / Upgrading Illusions (Counter 715-840)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Two and topics 10-16:



Advaita Topics 18-24:
18. The Role-Playing + Co-dependency + Suicide Link (Counter 1-205)
19. Upgrading / Downgrading Illusions (Counter 205-300)
20. Emotions vs. Feelings (Counter 300-422)
21. Religion and Spirituality (Counter 422-547)
22. Question All (Counter 547-713)
23. Natural vs. Unnatural vs. Supernatural Living (Counter 713-833)
24. When Trillions Are Wrong (Counter 833-920)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Three and topics 18-24:



Advaita Topics 25-31:
25. Christ the Advaitin (Counter 1-150)
26. Child Ignorance / The Pre-”mind” State (Counter 150-340)
27. Child Ignorance vs. Learned Ignorance (Counter 340-439)
28. Two Levels of Witnessing (Counter 439-554)
29. Desires and Fears (Counter 554-641)
30. Consciousness vs. Awareness (Counter 641-720)
31. Real Love vs. false love (Counter 720-846)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Four and topics 25-31:



Advaita Topics 32-33:
32. Zero Concepts (Counter 1-120)
33. The Nothingness (Counter 120-250)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Five and topics 32-33:




Please enter into the silence of contemplation.

THE OBSTACLES TO REALISATION and THE SOLUTION, Part Three

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation / Realization, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, natural abidance, the nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

[At the end of this posting there are five videos that discuss thirty-three Advaitin topics]

F.: Because of the content of this series and the one prior to Michael’s recounting of his visits to the loft, a flood of e-mail continues. The content of most deal with subject matter that is to be dealt with in the series anyway, so the mail will continue to be answered today:

FROM SITE “REGULAR” SIM: Floyd, I know that you know that seeking is not a means to an end for many of those writing you. It IS the end/goal; it is their activity; it is their meaning in life. They are like the dog that really doesn’t want to "catch the car." They want to keep seeking the "answer" that perfectly matches what they want to believe yet, so frustrating to them is that, the answer they seek will always remain out of reach and or will keep changing. I guess what they truly embrace is the notion that "a man's reach should always exceed his grasp."

F.: Indeed. So few seek, but then among the few that do seek, many adopt “The Seeker” / “The Super Seeker” as another in a long chain of roles that they refuse to abandon. Add that persona to “The Religious One” and “The Spiritual Giant” and you may have the last three false identities that must be discarded in order to move to the next step on “the path.”

FROM ANOTHER SITE VISITOR: Will you please explain your implication that seekers will be wasting time if they try to “reconcile” pointers offered in I AM THAT and talks that M. offered later on. Jarod

F.: Thx for the e-mail, jarod. Consider this comment from another visitor: "Valid point that while most of us want to reconcile writings/thoughts/info, sometimes there simply can be no reconciliation. Imagine reconciling the statements and writings of the Floyd who was leading a church congregation with the speck we all know and love today."

[Yes, as has been noted, the religious and / or spiritual roles must be assumed and played along the "path." That is one of the seven steps, and that speck called "floyd" played both with greater vigor than many. The roles were abandoned when the beliefs on which they were based were seen to be total fabrications dreamed up over a 5000-year period by persons who would control or who would have their nonsense accepted as truth or the way to truth.]

What that observation above is really pointing to is this: the “wisdom” which might seem to come to those called “elders” or “older people” is merely the result of more and more blockages and “consciousness-contaminants” falling away. Neither Realization of Truth nor the dissolution of all blockages that impede the functioning of the pure consciousness will necessarily coincide with Realization of Self; thus, it might appear that consciousness is ascending to “higher levels” but that is not the case at all.

As far as considering “the age factor” in the search for a teacher/guide along the “path,” that Cherokee healer called Grandmother never had to be told to seek counsel from the elders rather than from the six-year-old braves. Knowing which teachers to seek counsel from was obvious.

Today, it is not so obvious since "the star-making media" work with the ego and egotism of those who are appealing to the masses and distorting persons’ ability to differentiate true from false and to know that the terms “well-known” or “famous” or “big” are not synonymous with “able to teach the ancient method to Realization.”

The fact that Maharaj was warning visitors to the loft about the very same circumstance then shows that the problems which seekers face in finding a legitimate and competent teacher are not problems unique to the present.

FROM ANOTHER SITE VISITOR: Yea, Floyd, people change, and, yet, we try to reconcile what writers write over a life time. What I wonder, though, is does that mean we should not waste our time reading the early writings of authors?

F.: It is not that people change. The change is either in the degrees of blockage or the levels of contamination. The suggestion is not to ignore the early writings. Much wisdom and many relevant pointers are offered in I AM THAT. The suggestion is to read the entire body of work in order to understand fully.

Those seekers who read only the first set of transcripts will never know the freedom offered by later pointers that are less a blending of his understanding along with the precepts of religion and “holy texts” and are more a set of unadulterated pointers to the Truth of non-duality and the Nothingness.

In the case of Maharaj, the consciousness was speaking far more purely at “the end,” but the transcripts of early satsangs contain pointers that some seekers might require. Again, therefore, the recommendation is that if a seeker is going to read some of the words, then that seeker should read all of the words instead.

FROM ANOTHER SITE VISITOR: Maharaj warned against big teachers, but haven’t there been some cases where people have been helped by them?

There is no one to be helped. There is but a “path” to be followed to be free. The recommendation is that you stop looking for “others” to help you, that you find a competent Advaitin teacher who can guide you through all of the steps that will lead to Full Realization, that you find that which is even beyond Realization, and then only will you be free. If free, only then can happiness manifest.

Again, Maharaj understood what you are being invited here to understand. If you were to see that when the big names work in conjunction with the big networks and the big media outlets to come up with more talks and more televised programs and more book material, would it not then be obvious why ego-states will be reinforced, why egotism will flourish, and why they must constantly put a spin on the original message and reduce it to the level that the non-Realized masses will buy?

By contrast, understand that there is no “new message” that is required. The process of moving from identification with the false “I” to Full Realization is a very old message that need not be updated, modified, or revised, yet that is exactly what has happened.

In fact, what has happened is less about updating, modifying and revising than it is about simply warping or twisting the original message to such a degree that Maharaj would recognize very little of what is being offered as non-duality today.

Read any and all of the words of the “big names” if you like, but know that the legitimate teachings of non-duality strip away concepts…they do not add new concepts that are being dreamed up and offered to the masses who are attached to learned ignorance—and more and more learned ignorance—as well as to their endless stream of ideas and concepts and beliefs.

These teachings are about de-accumulation, not about accumulation. Read hundreds or thousands of modern books, and accumulate more and more ideas and concepts and beliefs, but the fact is that you will be engaging in a process that will prevent Realization rather than one that is designed to strip away concepts and make way for seekers to move to the end of the “path.” Please enter into the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

Schedule a one-hour satsang session with floyd
by telephone and the call (either international or in the U.S.) will be free.
[Details below]

For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS BELOW:
1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE
2. REALIZATION AIDS
3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATIONS
5. DONATIONS
6. YOUTUBE VIDEOS DISCUSSING A VARIETY OF ADVAITA TOPICS

1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE:
A. FREE CALLS INSIDE THE U.S.
B. FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS ALSO (via Skype)
If you do not already have a Skype account, you need only search “Skype” and, download the free program and take a few minutes to set up your account; then Floyd will call you and you will pay no telephone charges for your session.
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

2. REALIZATION AIDS
The Advanced Seekers’ Three-eBook Set
From the I to the Absolute
Consciousness / Awareness
From the Absolute to the Nothingness

(ORDER NOW ANY OF THE FOURTEEN NON-DUALITY BOOKS WRITTEN BY FLOYD
and
YOU WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR READING IN A FEW MINUTES FROM NOW)

Order the “Advanced Seeker’s Set” or any of the other books by visiting
The Official Website of Floyd Henderson

3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO TRAVEL TO YOUR LOCATION AND SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
Use the contact link above to arrange a session in your city either in the U.S. or internationally.

4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATION
Visit
Submitting Advaita Vedanta Poetry for Publication

5. DONATIONS
FROM SIM IN KENTUCKY, U.S.A.: How about a donate button? I give monthly to a blog about locations and reviews of a particular type of restaurant we like. I’d sure donate to this blog.

FROM “ANONYMOUS”: Almost every visitor brought Maharaj food or flowers. I’d like to treat you to a meal if you tell me how to do so with my credit card!

FROM LOUISE, SOUTH AFRICA: [Consider the case of an acquaintance who] added a donate button to his site. Regular blog readers were happy to support the site in this way.

F.: Okay—so it’s done, but note that the postings and responses are offered without charge, as is access to the library of 1,350+ Advaitin essays archived on the site.

That said, any donation will be appreciated. Thank you.

6. ADVAITA VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

If you want to share the five Advaita videos on your own site, you are invited to do so without charge. Click on the links above and to the right under “Links and Resources.” You’ll be transferred to the video sites and there you will find the embedding codes that you can copy and paste onto your html pages.

Below are five lists containing thirty-three Advaitin subjects that are discussed on the YouTube videos that follow each of the lists.
(The numeric counter information is provided so that you can move to the exact location in the videos to find any particular discussion that might be of interest)

Advaita Topics 1-9:
1. Defining Advaita Vedanta (Counter 28-55)
2. Methods of Teaching (Counter 55-144)
3. Unicity / Nonduality (Counter 144-239)
4. I AM THAT; I AM (Counter 239-331)
5. Learn vs. Unlearn (Counter 331-413)
6. Unlearn What? (Counter 413-444)
7. Person vs. Realized (444-525)
8. The Triad (Counter 525-745)
9. Before Conception (Counter 745-901)
Click on the arrow below to start Video One and topics 1-9:



Advaita Topics 10-16:
10. No Body Continuity / “ME” (Counter 1-56)
11. Not Born / No Creation / Cannot Die (Counter 56-200)
12. No Peace of “mind” / My “mind” / “Their “mind” (Counter 200-333)
13. Brain vs. “mind” vs. Consciousness (Counter 333-500)
14. Not in the World (Counter 500-603)
15. Inner Guru (Counter 603-715)
16. Personality-Suffering Connection / Upgrading Illusions (Counter 715-840)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Two and topics 10-16:



Advaita Topics 18-24:
18. The Role-Playing + Co-dependency + Suicide Link (Counter 1-205)
19. Upgrading / Downgrading Illusions (Counter 205-300)
20. Emotions vs. Feelings (Counter 300-422)
21. Religion and Spirituality (Counter 422-547)
22. Question All (Counter 547-713)
23. Natural vs. Unnatural vs. Supernatural Living (Counter 713-833)
24. When Trillions Are Wrong (Counter 833-920)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Three and topics 18-24:



Advaita Topics 25-31:
25. Christ the Advaitin (Counter 1-150)
26. Child Ignorance / The Pre-”mind” State (Counter 150-340)
27. Child Ignorance vs. Learned Ignorance (Counter 340-439)
28. Two Levels of Witnessing (Counter 439-554)
29. Desires and Fears (Counter 554-641)
30. Consciousness vs. Awareness (Counter 641-720)
31. Real Love vs. false love (Counter 720-846)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Four and topics 25-31:



Advaita Topics 32-33:
32. Zero Concepts (Counter 1-120)
33. The Nothingness (Counter 120-250)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Five and topics 32-33:

THE OBSTACLES TO REALISATION and THE SOLUTION, Part Two

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation / Realization, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, natural abidance, the nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

[At the end of this posting there are five videos that discuss thirty-three Advaitin topics]

F.: An e-mail received yesterday from “Gabriel” will follow, along with the replies to the many statements he made and to his one question...a typical ratio among beginners. (That ratio will change, Gabriel, if you are ever to be guided to Full Realization.) Some questions raised by others will also be addressed by the responses offered here:

Gabriel: Hi Floyd, I'm just beginning to seek so I don't know the context of this post and I'm asking this because I'm curious.

F.: The context is that questions have been arriving for months by seekers trying to reconcile the Direct Path method and the nisarga yoga vs. the concepts offered by what Maharaj called "the big teachers" (many of whom are claiming they have been influenced by Maharaj but who are contradicting his teachings and thus causing confusion among seekers).

If his approach and mine are not the one you are following, or if you are not open to suggestions about what will guide you to Full Realization and what will not, then these postings will not be relevant for you.

G.: In the post you talk about Maharaj's exact method for going back. You talk about full realization. What makes Maharaj's method so good?

F.: If you were to read all of the postings offered over the years, you will see that I make no claims about Maharaj's method being the best one or the right one or the one that is "good." I explain that after decades of seeking it all and trying it all (religion, spirituality, the big names, etc.) a vision I received in addition to the later teachings of Maharaj just happened to be what led to Realization in the case of this speck.

G.: And I don't understand why an "orthodox religion" would prevent anyone from full realization if they sought enough.

F.: The belief behind that statement has led many involved in organized religion to raise the same issue. It is ironic that they claim that Christ is their model, yet they ignore what he modeled for them, namely, leaving organized religion.

His early years were spent in organized religion, supposedly teaching in the temple even before his teen years. But he left organized religion and began seeking something else. He moved into a desert commune and studied Gnosticism. Recently discovered documents suggest that he traveled to the Far East with an uncle who operated a caravan involved in trade between the Middle East and the Far East.

It might have been there that he was introduced to the teachings of Advaita, though we know the teachings had reached the Middle East 2000 years earlier because Moses plagiarized the summative statement "I AM THAT; I AM," left off the semicolon, and then put the words into the mouth of "a burning bush."

Moses plagiarized that and everything else he wrote in the first books of what Christians call the "Old Testament," including the Advaita summative statement; the story of the pagan god Ram leading the children of god across a desert to a promised land, using a magic stick to hit rocks and make water flow and having the gods drop food from heaven for the wayward travelers; including the oft-repeated Great Flood story; and including both versions of the creation stories that were circulating among the pagan religions of his time. (Few know that there are two versions of "The Creation" story in Genesis, each contradictory of the other. So much for infallibility, yes?) At any rate, the message Christ was teaching during his final years was the message of non-duality.

If persons really want to be like Christ, they must leave organized religion, spend years seeking truth, and then settle on the teachings of non-duality. If that does not satisfy, then the understanding regarding the role that religion and / or spirituality play along "the path" likely cannot be taught to you. You will likely have to experience it.

As noted in past posts, the religious or spiritual step is required, but it will only allow you to reach the halfway point on "the path." It must be tried and seen not to provide Realization but to set forth instead the very obstacles that prevent it; but again, that must be experienced and reviewed with the clarity provided via pure witnessing if it is to be transitioned.

It is at the point of adopting religious or spiritual personas as new, but false, identities where most persons stop the search, believing they have found. And that is why persons cannot search enough via orthodox religion to ever find Full Realization if that is what is being sought. You might as well spend a lifetime in search of a live whale in the Sahara Desert.

As Maharaj said, at the religious or “spiritual” stage, the non-Realized think that they are being bathed in the noonday light when it is really only dawn on their "journey." Six-and-a-half billion persons are currently at that stage and will not transition beyond, so they will never Realize Fully. So it is.

Key is that there is never a claim here that the stage should be skipped or avoided. Either religion and/or spirituality as defined by the masses must be tried, but in the end, religion’s dogma moves people to the third step of seven while reinforcing body identification and concepts about continuity of body and mind and personality, all in conflict with the non-duality understanding.

G.: And lastly, I'm reading a book by Anthony de Mello and a friend of mine is almost positive he's one of the "big names" you're talking about. The book I'm reading is Awareness and so far I haven't come across anything that conflicts with: "advising their readers or audience members that they are totally asleep; that they are totally out of touch with Reality; that they are totally incapable of differentiating the true from the false; and that they are playing artificial roles as a result of arrogance and egotism."

F.: First, follow the “big teachers” as much as you like. Read every book, attend every seminar, watch every telecast, ad infinitum. Since you are just beginning to seek, however, and if it is Full Realization that you would find, then know that (a) their goal is not to lead you to Realization and know that (b) they never will.

If you prefer the work(s) you’re reading, read on. I wasted effort reading them all as well. But understand that while DeMello did study Maharaj and did understand many pointers, he offered a dualistic message—combining talk about “end of the journey” Realization with his “halfway along the path” organized religion (which are mutually exclusive and contradictory). Stay focused on the third step in order to reach the seventh step? Fixate at the third step of a seven step journey if you would reach the destination you seek? Impossible.

For those who want to study DeMello or anyone else, there is no effort here to discourage that. Here, queries are being responded to, questions which asked why those claiming to be teaching non-duality are not and why Maharaj warned against trying to Realize by buying what the “big teachers” are selling.

The fact that some also try to sell Advaita as a religion is one more case of misleading seekers. So that is “the context” you mentioned: this series is offered to answer questions from those seekers that are being confused by some readings which claim a link to non-duality and Maharaj but that are not providing any information at all about how to travel the direct path to Realization.

You can read about every town and every road between Los Angeles and New York. You can read about how wonderful it is to be in New York. But only a map showing you the exact, direct way from Los Angeles to New York will ever provide you the opportunity to enjoy the entertaining shows on Broadway.

Understand that the stated goal of the Realized teacher is to guide the seeker to Realization. Are all of the Realized capable of teaching the way to Realization? No, no more than every astrophysicist is capable of effectively teaching astrophysics.

By contrast, though, it is not at all the goal of the “big teachers” that Maharaj warned about to show you the way to Realization; as wisdom comes, attachment to everything goes, including the ego that prefers to associate with the famous and the well-known. Are the masses satisfied with what those “big teachers” offer?

Obviously, and they always have been; however, the masses will never seek Realization and only a few of those who do seek will find because seldom do they cross the path of one that will clearly and accurately point the way.

Again, the responses here are for those who are seeking but are being confused by references to the teachings of Maharaj and to non-duality when that is not what is being offered at all. Consume and chew upon and swallow and try to digest everything that the big names offer, but know that they do not offer guidance along the "path" to Full Realization.

Also, on this site there are 1,370+ postings that are offered free of charge (equivalent to over 3000 book pages or equivalent to over 30 of the books that offer the detailed explanation of each of the steps required for Realization). Some seekers prefer the book-length explanations that are required for delivery of a thorough, systematic understanding of the “path,” so those are offered at a nominal fee in order to help pay the bills.

But again, far more writings are offered for free in the archives than are offered for fee. A question that might assist in understanding Maharaj’s pointer about the “big teachers” is this: “Which of them offers you free access to 3000 pages of their writings?”

Too, as in your case, thousands and thousands of e-mails have been answered over the years without charge to seekers. Over 10,000 were greeted one-on-one or in small groups until the volume could no longer be sustained if enough was to be earned to pay the bills. Thus, the free medium of this blog was begun over four years ago to continue to offer answers to questions submitted by those seeking.

All that said, there is no attempt to tell anyone not to try it all, but for the earnest seekers, it need not all be tried. The "path" to Realization is not an arduous one if you are guided in the very simple way that can lead to Realization. The fact is, too, that many are addicted to seeking and want to do all the reading and study and investigation and really are not interested in the simple "path" to total freedom and independence and happiness thereafter. So it is. Thx for the e-mail. Best regards, Peace and Light, f. Please enter into the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

Schedule a one-hour satsang session with floyd
by telephone and the call (either international or in the U.S.) will be free.
[Details below]

For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS BELOW:
1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE
2. REALIZATION AIDS
3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATIONS
5. DONATIONS
6. YOUTUBE VIDEOS DISCUSSING A VARIETY OF ADVAITA TOPICS

1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE:
A. FREE CALLS INSIDE THE U.S.
B. FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS ALSO (via Skype)
If you do not already have a Skype account, you need only search “Skype” and, download the free program and take a few minutes to set up your account; then Floyd will call you and you will pay no telephone charges for your session.
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

2. REALIZATION AIDS
The Advanced Seekers’ Three-eBook Set
From the I to the Absolute
Consciousness / Awareness
From the Absolute to the Nothingness

(ORDER NOW ANY OF THE FOURTEEN NON-DUALITY BOOKS WRITTEN BY FLOYD
and
YOU WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR READING IN A FEW MINUTES FROM NOW)

Order the “Advanced Seeker’s Set” or any of the other books by visiting
The Official Website of Floyd Henderson

3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO TRAVEL TO YOUR LOCATION AND SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
Use the contact link above to arrange a session in your city either in the U.S. or internationally.

4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATION
Visit
Submitting Advaita Vedanta Poetry for Publication

5. DONATIONS

FROM SIM IN KENTUCKY, U.S.A.: How about a donate button? I give monthly to a blog about locations and reviews of a particular type of restaurant we like. I’d sure donate to this blog.

FROM “ANONYMOUS”: Almost every visitor brought Maharaj food or flowers. I’d like to treat you to a meal if you tell me how to do so with my credit card!

FROM LOUISE, SOUTH AFRICA: [Consider the case of an acquaintance who] added a donate button to his site. Regular blog readers were happy to support the site in this way.

F.: Okay—so it’s done, but note that the postings and responses are offered without charge, as is access to the library of 1,350+ Advaitin essays archived on the site.

That said, any donation will be appreciated. Thank you.

6. ADVAITA VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

If you want to share the five Advaita videos on your own site, you are invited to do so without charge. Click on the links above and to the right under “Links and Resources.” You’ll be transferred to the video sites and there you will find the embedding codes that you can copy and paste onto your html pages.

Below are five lists containing thirty-three Advaitin subjects that are discussed on the YouTube videos that follow each of the lists.
(The numeric counter information is provided so that you can move to the exact location in the videos to find any particular discussion that might be of interest)

Advaita Topics 1-9:
1. Defining Advaita Vedanta (Counter 28-55)
2. Methods of Teaching (Counter 55-144)
3. Unicity / Nonduality (Counter 144-239)
4. I AM THAT; I AM (Counter 239-331)
5. Learn vs. Unlearn (Counter 331-413)
6. Unlearn What? (Counter 413-444)
7. Person vs. Realized (444-525)
8. The Triad (Counter 525-745)
9. Before Conception (Counter 745-901)
Click on the arrow below to start Video One and topics 1-9:



Advaita Topics 10-16:
10. No Body Continuity / “ME” (Counter 1-56)
11. Not Born / No Creation / Cannot Die (Counter 56-200)
12. No Peace of “mind” / My “mind” / “Their “mind” (Counter 200-333)
13. Brain vs. “mind” vs. Consciousness (Counter 333-500)
14. Not in the World (Counter 500-603)
15. Inner Guru (Counter 603-715)
16. Personality-Suffering Connection / Upgrading Illusions (Counter 715-840)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Two and topics 10-16:



Advaita Topics 18-24:
18. The Role-Playing + Co-dependency + Suicide Link (Counter 1-205)
19. Upgrading / Downgrading Illusions (Counter 205-300)
20. Emotions vs. Feelings (Counter 300-422)
21. Religion and Spirituality (Counter 422-547)
22. Question All (Counter 547-713)
23. Natural vs. Unnatural vs. Supernatural Living (Counter 713-833)
24. When Trillions Are Wrong (Counter 833-920)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Three and topics 18-24:



Advaita Topics 25-31:
25. Christ the Advaitin (Counter 1-150)
26. Child Ignorance / The Pre-”mind” State (Counter 150-340)
27. Child Ignorance vs. Learned Ignorance (Counter 340-439)
28. Two Levels of Witnessing (Counter 439-554)
29. Desires and Fears (Counter 554-641)
30. Consciousness vs. Awareness (Counter 641-720)
31. Real Love vs. false love (Counter 720-846)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Four and topics 25-31:



Advaita Topics 32-33:
32. Zero Concepts (Counter 1-120)
33. The Nothingness (Counter 120-250)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Five and topics 32-33:

THE OBSTACLES TO REALISATION and THE SOLUTION, Part One

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation / Realization, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, natural abidance, the nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

[At the end of this posting there are five videos that discuss thirty-three Advaitin topics]

F.: To review, a stream of questions have arrived over the last several weeks and months, asking for clarification between Direct Path and nisarga yoga pointers offered here vs. statements made by some who are claiming to have been influenced by Maharaj or who are claiming that their message is one of non-duality.

In a series of postings last week, it was shown that many of the current “big names” may have read the words of Maharaj, that many quoted Maharaj early on, and that many credited Maharaj for his influence.

It was also shown, however, that they have since begun to offer messages and talks and telecasts and satsangs and books and speeches with content that has nothing to do with non-duality or with nisarga yoga or with what Maharaj taught.

With billions on the planet having been programmed and conditioned to believe nonsense, it is understandable that the non-Realized masses are trapped in confusion as a result of believing insane concepts and myth-based lies.

It is no wonder that the persons of the planet—those trapped in personality—are each walking about with three to five personality disorders (a fact confirmed by the results of the thousands of personality tests I have administered and analyzed over the years).

It is no wonder that the confusion is so widespread among the billions who are lost in the dream of the planet; among the billions who are convinced that the nonsense they believe makes perfect sense;

among those who are willing to accept unquestioningly anything that they are told, as long as it is told by someone who is at the top of whatever hierarchy exists within their present venue of seeking;

and among those who are not seeking anything because they are convinced that they have found all the answers in their church, their synagogue, their temple, their mosque, their ashram, their spiritual group, their 12-step program, or via any of the other venues where amateurs are playing the role of “professionals” and dispensing non-truths and nonsense as truth.

Consider the levels of arrogance and egotism being demonstrated by those persons (those assuming personas) who have to be "the closest friend" of the rabbi or the priest or the imam or the ayatollah or the preacher.

Consider the levels of arrogance and egotism being demonstrated by those persons in twelve-step groups who will only accept as their “sponsor” someone who is a big shot in that hierarchy, someone who is a famous speaker on the speaking circuit.

And consider the levels of arrogance and egotism being demonstrated by those persons who think that their understanding of Eastern-based teachings or their “self-help” work can only be facilitated by those selling millions of books around the world.

Those persons are not offering pointers to truth or the exact method required for the “going back.” Maharaj issued very clear warnings about those types who are selling ideas and concepts that are popular among the masses instead of advising their readers or audience members that they are totally asleep;

that they are totally out of touch with Reality; that they are totally incapable of differentiating the true from the false; and that they are playing artificial roles as a result of arrogance and egotism.

Now all of those tendencies to seek the company of those in the upper levels of any hierarchy are understandable among those not seeking and among those who think they have supposedly found all of the answers through their particular group or leader.

All of that is to be expected from the masses who are still totally asleep, but what of the few that do eventually begin to seek? What of those seekers who cannot be expected to enter the search with an awareness of the degrees of nonsense being disseminated by those who are the “big teachers” in the “self-help” field?

What of those who are automatically and understandably drawn to the “big names” because those are the only ones they hear? How can they be aware that many claiming to be Advaitin or Advaita Vedantin teachers are not?

How can they know that the very lists on the internet that rank teachers are just more of the dualistic hierarchies drawn up by persons who are truly steeped in the duality and arrogance that the teachings would eliminate?

As Michael revealed in the previous posts, Maharaj would refer to such persons today as wallahs. (A wallah can be associated with any service; for example, a book wallah would be a seller of books, a rickshaw wallah would be an operator of rickshaws.)

Maharaj asked Michael if he mistook Maharaj to be “some wallah (seller) of false knowledge about a false self sold by those who only wanted money and prestige from the ignorant who would be sold/told how to get that by meditating.”

Expand that and ask, “Maybe i have finally realized that the preachings and teachings coming from the wallahs of the three sky cults of Abraham—and from any other teachings that are based in what some take to be ‘holy texts’—will never guide me to Full Realization.

“But have I realized that even the 'self-help' / 'self-improvement' / Eastern philosophy field is full of wallahs who are selling false knowledge about a false self?

“Have I bought what is being sold by those who, according to Maharaj, ‘only want money and prestige from the ignorant who would be sold/told' how to Realize by any plethora of methods, all of which are bogus?”

Do not misunderstand, please. Teachers must "make a living,” too. Did Maharaj accept gifts every morning and every afternoon? Yes. Did he receive enough food that he was able to live well enough for decades? Yes. Did he receive enough that he was able to pass along eleven bidi shops and only keep one of his original twelve for income? Yes.

Such is not what Maharaj was referencing. Either he received gifts or it would have been necessary for him to operate twelve shops and not be available for the seekers who came his way.

Recently, a visitor wrote to thank me for what he had "received" from this site (which is an impossibility). The details explaining all of “the benefits” (another misconception) were excessive, and all of that was in regards to what he received from this (free) site.

Yet he went on to ask for an explanation of why there are charges for others services when “all of this should be offered for free like the sages of India have always done and like Jesus Christ did.”

He ignored the fact that Maharaj and all of his predecessors and his contemporaries received compensation (and most far more than Maharaj). As for Christ, one might ask the inquirer how he thinks Christ survived. He had no house, but was provided housing. He had no job other than teaching, yet he was provided food and clothing.

Five of the wealthiest women in the Middle East financed his ministry and his life at various times. Those who observed his lifestyle would have reported that “Christ lived better than any commoner of his day.”

Yet the interesting point is that in an e-mail in which one was thanking me for what he “attained” from this site which was all totally free—offered without any charge at all—would in the same breath ask why there are charges for services. So much for being aware of one's thoughts and words.

So do not misunderstand Maharaj’s point about wallahs. Maharaj was compensated for his time and services, but he was not interested in being rich, was not interested in being famous, and was not a “big teacher.” (He turned down many offers to build an ashram for him and he only received one expensive gift, a rug to use in the loft).

Thus, there was no contradiction when Maharaj—detecting that Michael and his friend were “followers of a ‘big’ teacher”—offered the pointer to Michael that “those who were attracted by wealthy teachers deserved what they got.”

(Here, it might not be said that such is what seekers “deserve,” but it will be said that what you get will not be that which You seek.)

The Direct Path method and the nirsaga yoga were the least popular of all approaches offered in India in Maharaj’s day. Attendance at satsang sessions in his loft was slight in comparison to the masses who flooded into the “big ashrams” being run by the “big names.”

It was shown recently that many who are being linked with Maharaj and/or non-duality—but are offering a message that has nothing at all to do with what is required for Full Realization—are among the “big names” about whom Maharaj warned.

The number of regular visitors to this site are slight in comparison to those chasing after the concepts being offered by the "big names" or the "big teachers." So it is, and so it shall be (and so it “should” be).

But the key pointer is this: today, the same obstacles are being faced by seekers as Maharaj warned about decades ago. There are some steps that seekers might use to circumvent the obstacles and to Realize Fully. Those will be discussed. Please enter into the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

Schedule a one-hour satsang session with floyd
by telephone and the call (either international or in the U.S.) will be free.
[Details below]

For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS BELOW:
1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE
2. REALIZATION AIDS
3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATIONS
5. DONATIONS
6. YOUTUBE VIDEOS DISCUSSING A VARIETY OF ADVAITA TOPICS

1. SATSANG BY TELEPHONE:
A. FREE CALLS INSIDE THE U.S.
B. FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS ALSO (via Skype)
If you do not already have a Skype account, you need only search “Skype” and, download the free program and take a few minutes to set up your account; then Floyd will call you and you will pay no telephone charges for your session.
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

2. REALIZATION AIDS
The Advanced Seekers’ Three-eBook Set
From the I to the Absolute
Consciousness / Awareness
From the Absolute to the Nothingness

(ORDER NOW ANY OF THE FOURTEEN NON-DUALITY BOOKS WRITTEN BY FLOYD
and
YOU WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR READING IN A FEW MINUTES FROM NOW)

Order the “Advanced Seeker’s Set” or any of the other books by visiting
The Official Website of Floyd Henderson

3. ARRANGE FOR FLOYD TO TRAVEL TO YOUR LOCATION AND SPEAK TO YOUR GROUP
Use the contact link above to arrange a session in your city either in the U.S. or internationally.

4. SUBMITTING ADVAITA VEDANTA POETRY FOR PUBLICATION
Visit
Submitting Advaita Vedanta Poetry for Publication

5. DONATIONS

FROM SIM IN KENTUCKY, U.S.A.: How about a donate button? I give monthly to a blog about locations and reviews of a particular type of restaurant we like. I’d sure donate to this blog.

FROM “ANONYMOUS”: Almost every visitor brought Maharaj food or flowers. I’d like to treat you to a meal if you tell me how to do so with my credit card!

FROM LOUISE, SOUTH AFRICA: [Consider the case of an acquaintance who] added a donate button to his site. Regular blog readers were happy to support the site in this way.

F.: Okay—so it’s done, but note that the postings and responses are offered without charge, as is access to the library of 1,350+ Advaitin essays archived on the site.

That said, any donation will be appreciated. Thank you.

6. ADVAITA VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

If you want to share the five Advaita videos on your own site, you are invited to do so without charge. Click on the links above and to the right under “Links and Resources.” You’ll be transferred to the video sites and there you will find the embedding codes that you can copy and paste onto your html pages.

Below are five lists containing thirty-three Advaitin subjects that are discussed on the YouTube videos that follow each of the lists.
(The numeric counter information is provided so that you can move to the exact location in the videos to find any particular discussion that might be of interest)

Advaita Topics 1-9:
1. Defining Advaita Vedanta (Counter 28-55)
2. Methods of Teaching (Counter 55-144)
3. Unicity / Nonduality (Counter 144-239)
4. I AM THAT; I AM (Counter 239-331)
5. Learn vs. Unlearn (Counter 331-413)
6. Unlearn What? (Counter 413-444)
7. Person vs. Realized (444-525)
8. The Triad (Counter 525-745)
9. Before Conception (Counter 745-901)
Click on the arrow below to start Video One and topics 1-9:



Advaita Topics 10-16:
10. No Body Continuity / “ME” (Counter 1-56)
11. Not Born / No Creation / Cannot Die (Counter 56-200)
12. No Peace of “mind” / My “mind” / “Their “mind” (Counter 200-333)
13. Brain vs. “mind” vs. Consciousness (Counter 333-500)
14. Not in the World (Counter 500-603)
15. Inner Guru (Counter 603-715)
16. Personality-Suffering Connection / Upgrading Illusions (Counter 715-840)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Two and topics 10-16:



Advaita Topics 18-24:
18. The Role-Playing + Co-dependency + Suicide Link (Counter 1-205)
19. Upgrading / Downgrading Illusions (Counter 205-300)
20. Emotions vs. Feelings (Counter 300-422)
21. Religion and Spirituality (Counter 422-547)
22. Question All (Counter 547-713)
23. Natural vs. Unnatural vs. Supernatural Living (Counter 713-833)
24. When Trillions Are Wrong (Counter 833-920)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Three and topics 18-24:



Advaita Topics 25-31:
25. Christ the Advaitin (Counter 1-150)
26. Child Ignorance / The Pre-”mind” State (Counter 150-340)
27. Child Ignorance vs. Learned Ignorance (Counter 340-439)
28. Two Levels of Witnessing (Counter 439-554)
29. Desires and Fears (Counter 554-641)
30. Consciousness vs. Awareness (Counter 641-720)
31. Real Love vs. false love (Counter 720-846)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Four and topics 25-31:



Advaita Topics 32-33:
32. Zero Concepts (Counter 1-120)
33. The Nothingness (Counter 120-250)
Click on the arrow below to start Video Five and topics 32-33: