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)
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
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.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.
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:
