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)
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
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:
