An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, abiding naturally, the Oneness, the Noneness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
Now available on DVD or downloadable computer file:
seven hours of satsang with floyd guiding seekers through all seven steps (in their exact order) to Realization. See details at the end of this post.
FROM A SITE VISITOR: [A request that two topics be discussed] Please write about the inner guru . Maharaj talked about "inner energies waking up". The way it is here, these inner energies awoke during the spiritual seeker phase but persist like a homing device long after the seeker persona is observed and discarded. I wonder what it was like for "Floyd." I have seen it as some relative symptoms or experiences.
Also: when simply being still, abiding in awareness, there is the sense that the awareness IS, independent of breathing, and that if the breathing were to cease, this awareness would persist.
F.: So, yesterday’s post offered the pointer that by whatever means, there must manifest a willingness to “rebel”—that is, to be willing to question all that you have been taught and told and believe and to subject those beliefs to the most rigorous test of all: the test of logic and reason.
Once the belief in all concepts has been cast aside, the way will have been paved for a teacher or guru to point you along a “path” with clear-cut steps that must be followed in an exact order while activating an awareness of the inner guru—of the instinctive knowing that runs counter to all learned knowing.
That inner guru can take on the role of a bus: it is sought when required for movement to a certain destination and will serve the purpose for which it was sought; afterwards, once the arrival at that certain destination has happened, then buses are no longer consciously sought or needed.
The bus will continue to run its route, but there is no need to be concerned with bus routes and schedules; instead, spontaneous movement merely happens from that point forward. It is as if private transportation has been arranged—complete with a private chauffeur—and the body serves as a vehicle for moving the manifested consciousness about in the same manner that a passenger sits back and allows the chauffeur to move it along its way.
During the early stages of the “journey,” the guru merely pointed to the location of the bus and its route. Once the transportation of the consciousness begins to happen instinctively via an inner knowing of the way (i.e., the way to function naturally without any need for pointing), then seeking—even the seeking of a conscious awareness of the inner guru’s messagings—comes to an end.
The means by which you become willing to question need not be the same means by which “floyd” or anyone else comes to that willingness, but the willingness to resist blind loyalty—by whatever course or method —must happen first before the “journey” can even begin, much less be completed.
Some are “wired” early on by such “experiences” as described yesterday to be suspicious of what is sensed to be false teachings, so they become willing early on to doubt the nonsense being taught by authority figures; some come to the questioning phase later in life; and, of course, most never question at all what they have been taught. So it is.
[Tomorrow’s post will deal with a differentiation between the type of rebelliousness that (1) allows for the seeing of an understanding that runs contrary to a misguided culture’s teachings and that (2) propels a seeker along the “path” vs. the type of “contrariness” that encourages attachment to false beliefs and concepts and ideas and thus blocks understanding]
If questioning facilitates the movement along the “path” to Realization, then abidance will begin to happen not as the consciousness manifest but as awareness; thus, the next issue raised: when simply being still, abiding in awareness, there is the sense that the awareness IS, independent of breathing, and that if the breathing were to cease, this awareness would persist.
It has been reported that the one called “My Aniyunwiyas (Cherokee) Medicine Woman Grandmother” shared the wisdom offered by many of the elders among the indigenous peoples (which adumbrated key points offered by Taoists), namely, that Truth can be known but not spoken.
Various translations offer the following in that regard:
Spoken Tao is not eternal Tao
Spoken name is not eternal name
Nameless is the source of all
Named is the source of the myriad things
or
The name that becomes a name
is not the Immortal name
or
The way you can go
isn't the real way.
The name you can say
isn't the real name.
and
A mind free of thought,
merged within itself,
beholds the essence of Tao.
A mind filled with thought,
identified with its own perceptions,
beholds the mere form of the world.
Thus, truth can be known but not told...not spoken. That is why Grandmother said, "That which is closest to 'true' during the relative existence is only the space between exhalation and inhalation."
In that light, it can be seen that what was sensed (and what led to the statement that when simply being still, abiding in awareness, there is the sense that the awareness IS, independent of breathing, and that if the breathing were to cease, this awareness would persist) is as close to a statement of Truth that can be made, specifically...
...at some point, the elements that form a plant food body will return to the universal pool of elements; the air will cease to circulate so breathing will end and the air shall return to the universal pool of air;
the consciousness shall be released from the space and shall return to the universal pool of conscious-energy; and “awareness shall persist” even as awareness is not aware of.
To abide as that / THAT now is to abide as the true nature. It can be seen, therefore, that the awareness is indeed independent of body and breath and consciousness (even as awareness is the source of the manifested consciousness). Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
A SUGGESTION: Two excellent series by Guest Writer / Advaitin Louise Sterling are available. If you have not read those series, you are invited to scroll down to the October 20th-23rd postings and also to visit the archives for her September 1st-19th posts.
Also: when simply being still, abiding in awareness, there is the sense that the awareness IS, independent of breathing, and that if the breathing were to cease, this awareness would persist.
F.: So, yesterday’s post offered the pointer that by whatever means, there must manifest a willingness to “rebel”—that is, to be willing to question all that you have been taught and told and believe and to subject those beliefs to the most rigorous test of all: the test of logic and reason.
Once the belief in all concepts has been cast aside, the way will have been paved for a teacher or guru to point you along a “path” with clear-cut steps that must be followed in an exact order while activating an awareness of the inner guru—of the instinctive knowing that runs counter to all learned knowing.
That inner guru can take on the role of a bus: it is sought when required for movement to a certain destination and will serve the purpose for which it was sought; afterwards, once the arrival at that certain destination has happened, then buses are no longer consciously sought or needed.
The bus will continue to run its route, but there is no need to be concerned with bus routes and schedules; instead, spontaneous movement merely happens from that point forward. It is as if private transportation has been arranged—complete with a private chauffeur—and the body serves as a vehicle for moving the manifested consciousness about in the same manner that a passenger sits back and allows the chauffeur to move it along its way.
During the early stages of the “journey,” the guru merely pointed to the location of the bus and its route. Once the transportation of the consciousness begins to happen instinctively via an inner knowing of the way (i.e., the way to function naturally without any need for pointing), then seeking—even the seeking of a conscious awareness of the inner guru’s messagings—comes to an end.
The means by which you become willing to question need not be the same means by which “floyd” or anyone else comes to that willingness, but the willingness to resist blind loyalty—by whatever course or method —must happen first before the “journey” can even begin, much less be completed.
Some are “wired” early on by such “experiences” as described yesterday to be suspicious of what is sensed to be false teachings, so they become willing early on to doubt the nonsense being taught by authority figures; some come to the questioning phase later in life; and, of course, most never question at all what they have been taught. So it is.
[Tomorrow’s post will deal with a differentiation between the type of rebelliousness that (1) allows for the seeing of an understanding that runs contrary to a misguided culture’s teachings and that (2) propels a seeker along the “path” vs. the type of “contrariness” that encourages attachment to false beliefs and concepts and ideas and thus blocks understanding]
If questioning facilitates the movement along the “path” to Realization, then abidance will begin to happen not as the consciousness manifest but as awareness; thus, the next issue raised: when simply being still, abiding in awareness, there is the sense that the awareness IS, independent of breathing, and that if the breathing were to cease, this awareness would persist.
It has been reported that the one called “My Aniyunwiyas (Cherokee) Medicine Woman Grandmother” shared the wisdom offered by many of the elders among the indigenous peoples (which adumbrated key points offered by Taoists), namely, that Truth can be known but not spoken.
Various translations offer the following in that regard:
Spoken Tao is not eternal Tao
Spoken name is not eternal name
Nameless is the source of all
Named is the source of the myriad things
or
The name that becomes a name
is not the Immortal name
or
The way you can go
isn't the real way.
The name you can say
isn't the real name.
and
A mind free of thought,
merged within itself,
beholds the essence of Tao.
A mind filled with thought,
identified with its own perceptions,
beholds the mere form of the world.
Thus, truth can be known but not told...not spoken. That is why Grandmother said, "That which is closest to 'true' during the relative existence is only the space between exhalation and inhalation."
In that light, it can be seen that what was sensed (and what led to the statement that when simply being still, abiding in awareness, there is the sense that the awareness IS, independent of breathing, and that if the breathing were to cease, this awareness would persist) is as close to a statement of Truth that can be made, specifically...
...at some point, the elements that form a plant food body will return to the universal pool of elements; the air will cease to circulate so breathing will end and the air shall return to the universal pool of air;
the consciousness shall be released from the space and shall return to the universal pool of conscious-energy; and “awareness shall persist” even as awareness is not aware of.
To abide as that / THAT now is to abide as the true nature. It can be seen, therefore, that the awareness is indeed independent of body and breath and consciousness (even as awareness is the source of the manifested consciousness). Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
A SUGGESTION: Two excellent series by Guest Writer / Advaitin Louise Sterling are available. If you have not read those series, you are invited to scroll down to the October 20th-23rd postings and also to visit the archives for her September 1st-19th posts.
SIX WAYS THAT SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED:
1. BY WATCHING the 4-Disk Video (DVD) Set, or the same retreat available as a downloadable file. Either will provide an entire seven-hour retreat / series of satsang sessions showing three seekers being guided through all seven steps by Floyd and can provide viewers with an “experiential,” step-by-step series of satsang meetings that will move the viewers from identification with the I to abidance as the Absolute and then to abidance as That Which Is beyond
Some seekers are already using the computer file version and the DVD sets for meetings in groups in homes, playing the retreat, pausing for discussion, etc.
To find out more or to purchase the DVD set or the downloadable computer file version of the retreat, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
Option “A” is for the downloadable file version, Option “B” is used to order the DVD set for delivery inside the U.S., Option “C” for international orders.
For the download, Paypal will send me a notice that payment has been received and then I will send by e-mail the downloading instruction, password, etc.
[It is recommended that you watch the video with pen and paper in hand. Write whatever you need clarified. You'll see that there are constant reviews and you might find an answer later in the seven-hour presentation. Then, after you watch it all, there will be a common ground for discussion. Purchase of the DVD’s or the file will include the right to clarifications and answers to your specific questions via e-mail.]
2. BY READING these books in this exact order:
IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)
SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)
[Those two prepare the seeker to question it all]
THE MEDITATION GUIDES
[Provide a broad overview of the understanding]
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?
[Begins to free the seeker of body identification and the desire for body continuity]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace if You're Out of Your Mind)
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of the false content of the “mind”]
LIBERATION
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of personas]
THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS
[Provides the final preparation for the seeker to be directed along the “path”]
FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
[Directs the seeker along the “path”]
CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS: The Nature of Reality Beyond Self-Realization (Peace Every Day When Abiding as The Absolute)
[Allows the seeker to understand the functioning of the totality, the manifestation, and what is involved with the un-manifestation]
FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS
[Provides the seeker the wisdom to understand the Noneness as well as the Oneness]
Purchase an e-Book now and begin reading it in minutes (except with e-checks that can take 7-10 days). Trusting our clients as we do, all e-Books are provided to you in printable form.
SAVE IF YOU BUY ALL ELEVEN AT ONCE:
(You may order the books one at a time or you may use the following link to acquire the entire 11-e-Book set on sale for $99 if ordered at one time with the “Buy Now” button below. For this option, there will be no download links provided; once the near-instant notice of payment is received from PayPal, your e-Books will be sent to you as e-mail attachments. All are printable for your convenience.)
1. BY WATCHING the 4-Disk Video (DVD) Set, or the same retreat available as a downloadable file. Either will provide an entire seven-hour retreat / series of satsang sessions showing three seekers being guided through all seven steps by Floyd and can provide viewers with an “experiential,” step-by-step series of satsang meetings that will move the viewers from identification with the I to abidance as the Absolute and then to abidance as That Which Is beyond
Some seekers are already using the computer file version and the DVD sets for meetings in groups in homes, playing the retreat, pausing for discussion, etc.
To find out more or to purchase the DVD set or the downloadable computer file version of the retreat, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
Option “A” is for the downloadable file version, Option “B” is used to order the DVD set for delivery inside the U.S., Option “C” for international orders.
For the download, Paypal will send me a notice that payment has been received and then I will send by e-mail the downloading instruction, password, etc.
[It is recommended that you watch the video with pen and paper in hand. Write whatever you need clarified. You'll see that there are constant reviews and you might find an answer later in the seven-hour presentation. Then, after you watch it all, there will be a common ground for discussion. Purchase of the DVD’s or the file will include the right to clarifications and answers to your specific questions via e-mail.]
2. BY READING these books in this exact order:
IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)
SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)
[Those two prepare the seeker to question it all]
THE MEDITATION GUIDES
[Provide a broad overview of the understanding]
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?
[Begins to free the seeker of body identification and the desire for body continuity]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace if You're Out of Your Mind)
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of the false content of the “mind”]
LIBERATION
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of personas]
THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS
[Provides the final preparation for the seeker to be directed along the “path”]
FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
[Directs the seeker along the “path”]
CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS: The Nature of Reality Beyond Self-Realization (Peace Every Day When Abiding as The Absolute)
[Allows the seeker to understand the functioning of the totality, the manifestation, and what is involved with the un-manifestation]
FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS
[Provides the seeker the wisdom to understand the Noneness as well as the Oneness]
Purchase an e-Book now and begin reading it in minutes (except with e-checks that can take 7-10 days). Trusting our clients as we do, all e-Books are provided to you in printable form.
SAVE IF YOU BUY ALL ELEVEN AT ONCE:
(You may order the books one at a time or you may use the following link to acquire the entire 11-e-Book set on sale for $99 if ordered at one time with the “Buy Now” button below. For this option, there will be no download links provided; once the near-instant notice of payment is received from PayPal, your e-Books will be sent to you as e-mail attachments. All are printable for your convenience.)
You may visit The Official Website of Floyd Henderson for information on each book.
3. BY ENROLLING in the Online Advaita Classes
For information, visit Information on the Advaita Classes on the Internet
To enroll visit Enroll in the Advaita Internet Course
4. BY ATTENDING an Advaitin retreat for satsang with floyd and being guided through all seven steps. For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.
5. BY ARRANGING satsang by telephone in the U.S. or by Skype internationally:
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session
6. BY ARRANGING for floyd to travel to your location and meet with you or your group. Use the contact link above to discuss details.
3. BY ENROLLING in the Online Advaita Classes
For information, visit Information on the Advaita Classes on the Internet
To enroll visit Enroll in the Advaita Internet Course
4. BY ATTENDING an Advaitin retreat for satsang with floyd and being guided through all seven steps. For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.
5. BY ARRANGING satsang by telephone in the U.S. or by Skype internationally:
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session
6. BY ARRANGING for floyd to travel to your location and meet with you or your group. Use the contact link above to discuss details.
