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]
[Please note: Since an Advaitin retreat/satsang will be offered in-house Tuesday through Thursday, the daily entries may be posted at somewhat later times]
[Please note: Since an Advaitin retreat/satsang will be offered in-house Tuesday through Thursday, the daily entries may be posted at somewhat later times]
F.: A man who came here for a retreat several years left completely disappointed. He had spent five decades traveling the globe, meeting with gurus all across India and on every continent, attending seminars offered by the “big names” in the “self-improvement” industry. Then he was here, bowing at the end of each session to what he mistakenly thought he was in the presence of.
Whatever his perceptions about what was speaking, it was something other than a mere speck of consciousness. His accumulation of knowledge was major in scope...his understanding minor. When he was asked if it might be possible that he was addicted to seeking, that WHO called “The Seeker” (a.k.a., “The Super Seeker”) was much offended.
His earlier displays of "humility" and "gratitude" were repeated no more. An imaginary ego-state’s anger had stolen his ability to continue to act his part in the “Teacher-Humble Seeker” play. If “The Seeker” finds that which is being sought, then “The Seeker” automatically comes to an end, and who attached to that role as a supreme identity desires annihilation? To find would be to end.
A woman recently recounted the activities involved with her multi-decade obsession with searching…with seeking...with knowing...with showing. Likely, there are few who have collected the quantities of knowledge she has gathered. “The Analyst” was upgraded to “The Super Analyst,” and “The Knower was elevated to the status of “The Super Knower.”
She has uncovered bits and pieces along the way, but she has never found that which she thought she was seeking because she does not know precisely what it is that she has been seeking all along, revealed when she asked, “What do you say that people are seeking?”
I say that there are no people seeking anything. All personas generate a basic desire and a basic fear, and both determine what is being sought. Most are not seeking the understanding. Most are not seeking the means by which de-accumulation can happen. In her case, two personas have controlled every thought and word and action.
“The Super Knower” wants to reveal the knowledge accumulated, and “The Super Performer” desires an audience to that end. Well of course there has been no willingness to be free of personality. To cast aside all beliefs and concepts and the overvaluation of the knowledge that has been accumulated would be thought to be “a death knell” for “The Super Knower,” and indeed it would be.
To stop seeking an audience, nay, to stop taking audiences hostage (be the audience a one-person-at-a-time-audience or a multi-person audience) would be considered “a death knell” for “The Super Performer” who will ratchet up the levels of animation to whatever degree is required to capture and hold attention.
Here, not only are periodic invitations to de-accumulate extended; here, there is often an invitation to welcome "The Final De-Accumulation"…"The Final Dissolution."
“The Spiritual Giant” and/or “The Religious One” are two of the final ego-states to be abandoned, a requirement for moving beyond the third of seven steps to Realization. As firmly as those two cling to their false self-ness, though, is the fight that the ego-states of “The Seeker” and “The Knower” and “The Performer” most willingly fight in order to sustain the illusion that they are authentic.
The obstacles to movement along “the path”—the obstacles that become roadblocks on “the journey”—are the arguments that are raised by assumed but false identities in a fight-to-the-death defense of the beliefs that help sustain those false identities and the delusions they foster.
Those personas and their associated beliefs subconsciously drive persons’ thoughts and words and deeds, and when challenged, the defenses offered are pulled from that vast storehouse of lies called “the mind.” Any devaluation of “The Seeker” and “The Knower” and/or “The Performer” is taken by ego-defense mechanisms as a declaration of war, and alerts not unlike those employed by the U.S. Armed Forces become activated.
DEFCON (that is, a “defense readiness condition”) is a means by which progressive postures for defense are measured. The lowest level, DEFCON 5, is a level that those trapped in their ego-states will experience rarely.
If a teacher or guide begins to point out the bogus nature that is driving behavior, the defenses will immediately begin to rise, and little time is required for a shift to DEFCON 1—the level where ego-states perceive an imminent, all-out attack that the ego thinks is tantamount to nuclear war.
Ever-increasing levels of defense manifest as egotism and justification and denial and sublimation and rationalization are called forth to take part in defending self/selves against imaginary but seemingly real attack. In every case, the teacher is discussing the “not-You’s,” but the ego-states will most certainly think that the attacks are personal and about “them.”
As one cannot be “a little pregnant,” one cannot be “somewhat Realized” or “a little free” or “somewhat at peace” or “in the process of getting free of ego.” The cleansing is full-blown or not at all. That final moment of peripetia must happen.
The gunpowder must explode and blow away every idea, belief, thought, concept, and all else contained in “the mind,” or there will be no steadiness, no stability, and no consistent freedom and peace and bliss.
There will be no relaxing and taking it easy. There will be BS defending BS and nonsense defending the nonsensical; and when that happens, then alternating periods of being "a little happy" or “being very happy” or “being depressed” or “being totally depressed” will preempt the beingness only.
Thereafter, misery and suffering will follow, though that will seldom register either, dissociation nowadays typically being as much a part of the “personal, human condition” as all else discussed above. Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
Whatever his perceptions about what was speaking, it was something other than a mere speck of consciousness. His accumulation of knowledge was major in scope...his understanding minor. When he was asked if it might be possible that he was addicted to seeking, that WHO called “The Seeker” (a.k.a., “The Super Seeker”) was much offended.
His earlier displays of "humility" and "gratitude" were repeated no more. An imaginary ego-state’s anger had stolen his ability to continue to act his part in the “Teacher-Humble Seeker” play. If “The Seeker” finds that which is being sought, then “The Seeker” automatically comes to an end, and who attached to that role as a supreme identity desires annihilation? To find would be to end.
A woman recently recounted the activities involved with her multi-decade obsession with searching…with seeking...with knowing...with showing. Likely, there are few who have collected the quantities of knowledge she has gathered. “The Analyst” was upgraded to “The Super Analyst,” and “The Knower was elevated to the status of “The Super Knower.”
She has uncovered bits and pieces along the way, but she has never found that which she thought she was seeking because she does not know precisely what it is that she has been seeking all along, revealed when she asked, “What do you say that people are seeking?”
I say that there are no people seeking anything. All personas generate a basic desire and a basic fear, and both determine what is being sought. Most are not seeking the understanding. Most are not seeking the means by which de-accumulation can happen. In her case, two personas have controlled every thought and word and action.
“The Super Knower” wants to reveal the knowledge accumulated, and “The Super Performer” desires an audience to that end. Well of course there has been no willingness to be free of personality. To cast aside all beliefs and concepts and the overvaluation of the knowledge that has been accumulated would be thought to be “a death knell” for “The Super Knower,” and indeed it would be.
To stop seeking an audience, nay, to stop taking audiences hostage (be the audience a one-person-at-a-time-audience or a multi-person audience) would be considered “a death knell” for “The Super Performer” who will ratchet up the levels of animation to whatever degree is required to capture and hold attention.
Here, not only are periodic invitations to de-accumulate extended; here, there is often an invitation to welcome "The Final De-Accumulation"…"The Final Dissolution."
“The Spiritual Giant” and/or “The Religious One” are two of the final ego-states to be abandoned, a requirement for moving beyond the third of seven steps to Realization. As firmly as those two cling to their false self-ness, though, is the fight that the ego-states of “The Seeker” and “The Knower” and “The Performer” most willingly fight in order to sustain the illusion that they are authentic.
The obstacles to movement along “the path”—the obstacles that become roadblocks on “the journey”—are the arguments that are raised by assumed but false identities in a fight-to-the-death defense of the beliefs that help sustain those false identities and the delusions they foster.
Those personas and their associated beliefs subconsciously drive persons’ thoughts and words and deeds, and when challenged, the defenses offered are pulled from that vast storehouse of lies called “the mind.” Any devaluation of “The Seeker” and “The Knower” and/or “The Performer” is taken by ego-defense mechanisms as a declaration of war, and alerts not unlike those employed by the U.S. Armed Forces become activated.
DEFCON (that is, a “defense readiness condition”) is a means by which progressive postures for defense are measured. The lowest level, DEFCON 5, is a level that those trapped in their ego-states will experience rarely.
If a teacher or guide begins to point out the bogus nature that is driving behavior, the defenses will immediately begin to rise, and little time is required for a shift to DEFCON 1—the level where ego-states perceive an imminent, all-out attack that the ego thinks is tantamount to nuclear war.
Ever-increasing levels of defense manifest as egotism and justification and denial and sublimation and rationalization are called forth to take part in defending self/selves against imaginary but seemingly real attack. In every case, the teacher is discussing the “not-You’s,” but the ego-states will most certainly think that the attacks are personal and about “them.”
As one cannot be “a little pregnant,” one cannot be “somewhat Realized” or “a little free” or “somewhat at peace” or “in the process of getting free of ego.” The cleansing is full-blown or not at all. That final moment of peripetia must happen.
The gunpowder must explode and blow away every idea, belief, thought, concept, and all else contained in “the mind,” or there will be no steadiness, no stability, and no consistent freedom and peace and bliss.
There will be no relaxing and taking it easy. There will be BS defending BS and nonsense defending the nonsensical; and when that happens, then alternating periods of being "a little happy" or “being very happy” or “being depressed” or “being totally depressed” will preempt the beingness only.
Thereafter, misery and suffering will follow, though that will seldom register either, dissociation nowadays typically being as much a part of the “personal, human condition” as all else discussed above. Please enter 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:
