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)
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
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:
