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 you can receive for $40 a downloadable computer file version of the same 7-hour satsang that seekers receive when they visit for the Advaita Retreat with Floyd. You will be guided through the seven steps from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond).
For more information or to order, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
For more information or to order, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
F.: To continue with what one termed the “radical” notion that "there can even be measurable, negative consequences, relatively speaking, for those who are dedicated to working at 'having only positive thoughts'":
Note that the very act of trying to have positive thoughts to replace negative thoughts is dualistic and note that (as one Advaitin pointed out a few thousand years ago), "A dual-minded person is unstable in all ways." To work at the dualistic process of "having only positive thoughts," therefore, is to assure mental and emotional instability throughout the relative existence.
Yesterday, it was noted that a man’s efforts to think only positive thoughts actually aggravated his depression disorder. Today, other anecdotal accounts will be offered to show that such efforts can block (1) the natural tendency during the relative existence to protect oneself and can block (2) the motivation to receive treatment for the lingering effects of trauma.
RE: THE BELIEF THAT POSITIVE THINKING IS A SOLUTION WHEN IT CAN ACTUALLY BLOCK THE NATURAL TENDENCY TO PROTECT ONESELF
The natural tendency during the relative existence is to protect oneself and, if applicable, one's offspring. Consider the case of a woman whose positive thinking is blocking the natural tendency of a mother to protect herself and her children. She has pre-adolescents and a husband who has violent drunken rages during which he beats her.
She has been taught that the way to handle her dilemma is to put a positive spin on the rages and to convince herself that, while his beatings would normally take a toll on her self-esteem, she can counter the effects with the use of positive affirmations.
She locks herself and her children in the bathroom for the night when the rages begin and practices EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and affirms (in her “mind”) that “even though I am terrified for my safety, I fully and completely accept myself.”
THAT is how twisted “positive thinking” can become and THAT is how positive thinking can prevent “sane seeing” in the relative. Trapped in the “see-it-all-as-positive” mode, the following is not seen:
It is not seen that "By following the advice of my EFT teachers to put a positive spin on intolerable and unacceptable events, I am discounting and minimizing unacceptable and dangerous and harmful behavior in my relative existence. My positive spinning is blocking the natural tendency of a mother to remove her children and herself, at whatever costs, from a harmful environment."
Nor is it seen that “my approach of dreaming up positive thoughts about behaviors that are totally unacceptable is actually reinforcing my husband's violent behavior and is encouraging him to continue his abuse.”
One Realized Advaitin who has seen the scenario playing out time and again noted, “In this case the ‘positive thought’ acts as a palliative which prevents her from doing the normal and natural thing: packing up herself and the kids and leaving.”
RE: THE BELIEF THAT PUTTING A POSITIVE SPIN ON TRAUMATIC EVENTS IS TREATMENT FOR THE EFFECTS
A woman who was raped paid thousands of dollars to attend a seminar where she was taught that she must “love what is.”
The fact notwithstanding that (a) the advice is steeped in duality (with its subject-object talk of “you" should love "that") even as that teacher claims to be teaching non-duality; and the fact notwithstanding that (b) a person is recommending that traumatized persons use minimization and denial to address effects that actually require a thorough, holistic, scientifically-based treatment plan provided by a trained professional; and that fact notwithstanding that
(c) the practice of such “armchair psychology” as used in some religious settings and in all “spiritual-self-help-step-groups” is accepted because it is labeled “religious or spiritual activity” when anyone else would be fined and/or arrested as charlatans by state licensing boards for practicing without a license,
the fact is that persons are continuing to suffer and, in some cases, killing themselves as a result of the faulty advice offered in those groups (and as a result of the teachings of some persons on the circuit who are offering "positive thinking" advice that amounts to nothing more than—as mentioned in a prior post—the placing of band aids on gunshot wounds).
Does all of the above have to do only with relative issues? Yes. But that does negate the fact that (1) it is nonsense to believe that "freedom from the machinations of the 'mind' can happen if 'negative thoughts' can be eliminated by simply substituting 'positive thoughts' in their place"; nor does that negate the fact that (2) the belief reinforces relative duality;
nor does it negate the fact that (3) the belief paralyzes persons who should be moving out of harms way; nor does it negate the fact that (4) the belief drives some persons to accept relative actions that are not acceptable; nor does it negate the fact that (5) it can trap persons in a state of depression when they cannot accomplish the impossible tasks that have been assigned by ignorant teachers who advise their students to "think positive thoughts."
The nisarga yoga approach can guide seekers to a no-thought state of perfect peace. The Advaita “path”—if followed to its “end”—allows for the end of the constant fluctuations of the “mind.” The belief in the duality of “positive” vs. “negative” comes to an end.
It becomes understood, at the end of that “journey,” that supernatural living is a job, that unnatural living is a job, but that natural living is simply a series of no-work-involved happenings; it becomes understood that whatever a person thinks is positive can eventually be seen as negative and that whatever a person views as being "so positive that it will surely provide unending pleasure" will eventually be viewed as "so negative that it results in unending misery";
and it becomes understood that all which is viewed in a relativistic, dualistic fashion will generate fluctuations that will eventually develop into full-blown, misery-producing chaos (except among those who have been programmed by charlatans to dissociate via the use of "positive thinking" and "distorting reality" and "ignoring the effects of trauma"). Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
Note that the very act of trying to have positive thoughts to replace negative thoughts is dualistic and note that (as one Advaitin pointed out a few thousand years ago), "A dual-minded person is unstable in all ways." To work at the dualistic process of "having only positive thoughts," therefore, is to assure mental and emotional instability throughout the relative existence.
Yesterday, it was noted that a man’s efforts to think only positive thoughts actually aggravated his depression disorder. Today, other anecdotal accounts will be offered to show that such efforts can block (1) the natural tendency during the relative existence to protect oneself and can block (2) the motivation to receive treatment for the lingering effects of trauma.
RE: THE BELIEF THAT POSITIVE THINKING IS A SOLUTION WHEN IT CAN ACTUALLY BLOCK THE NATURAL TENDENCY TO PROTECT ONESELF
The natural tendency during the relative existence is to protect oneself and, if applicable, one's offspring. Consider the case of a woman whose positive thinking is blocking the natural tendency of a mother to protect herself and her children. She has pre-adolescents and a husband who has violent drunken rages during which he beats her.
She has been taught that the way to handle her dilemma is to put a positive spin on the rages and to convince herself that, while his beatings would normally take a toll on her self-esteem, she can counter the effects with the use of positive affirmations.
She locks herself and her children in the bathroom for the night when the rages begin and practices EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and affirms (in her “mind”) that “even though I am terrified for my safety, I fully and completely accept myself.”
THAT is how twisted “positive thinking” can become and THAT is how positive thinking can prevent “sane seeing” in the relative. Trapped in the “see-it-all-as-positive” mode, the following is not seen:
It is not seen that "By following the advice of my EFT teachers to put a positive spin on intolerable and unacceptable events, I am discounting and minimizing unacceptable and dangerous and harmful behavior in my relative existence. My positive spinning is blocking the natural tendency of a mother to remove her children and herself, at whatever costs, from a harmful environment."
Nor is it seen that “my approach of dreaming up positive thoughts about behaviors that are totally unacceptable is actually reinforcing my husband's violent behavior and is encouraging him to continue his abuse.”
One Realized Advaitin who has seen the scenario playing out time and again noted, “In this case the ‘positive thought’ acts as a palliative which prevents her from doing the normal and natural thing: packing up herself and the kids and leaving.”
RE: THE BELIEF THAT PUTTING A POSITIVE SPIN ON TRAUMATIC EVENTS IS TREATMENT FOR THE EFFECTS
A woman who was raped paid thousands of dollars to attend a seminar where she was taught that she must “love what is.”
The fact notwithstanding that (a) the advice is steeped in duality (with its subject-object talk of “you" should love "that") even as that teacher claims to be teaching non-duality; and the fact notwithstanding that (b) a person is recommending that traumatized persons use minimization and denial to address effects that actually require a thorough, holistic, scientifically-based treatment plan provided by a trained professional; and that fact notwithstanding that
(c) the practice of such “armchair psychology” as used in some religious settings and in all “spiritual-self-help-step-groups” is accepted because it is labeled “religious or spiritual activity” when anyone else would be fined and/or arrested as charlatans by state licensing boards for practicing without a license,
the fact is that persons are continuing to suffer and, in some cases, killing themselves as a result of the faulty advice offered in those groups (and as a result of the teachings of some persons on the circuit who are offering "positive thinking" advice that amounts to nothing more than—as mentioned in a prior post—the placing of band aids on gunshot wounds).
Does all of the above have to do only with relative issues? Yes. But that does negate the fact that (1) it is nonsense to believe that "freedom from the machinations of the 'mind' can happen if 'negative thoughts' can be eliminated by simply substituting 'positive thoughts' in their place"; nor does that negate the fact that (2) the belief reinforces relative duality;
nor does it negate the fact that (3) the belief paralyzes persons who should be moving out of harms way; nor does it negate the fact that (4) the belief drives some persons to accept relative actions that are not acceptable; nor does it negate the fact that (5) it can trap persons in a state of depression when they cannot accomplish the impossible tasks that have been assigned by ignorant teachers who advise their students to "think positive thoughts."
The nisarga yoga approach can guide seekers to a no-thought state of perfect peace. The Advaita “path”—if followed to its “end”—allows for the end of the constant fluctuations of the “mind.” The belief in the duality of “positive” vs. “negative” comes to an end.
It becomes understood, at the end of that “journey,” that supernatural living is a job, that unnatural living is a job, but that natural living is simply a series of no-work-involved happenings; it becomes understood that whatever a person thinks is positive can eventually be seen as negative and that whatever a person views as being "so positive that it will surely provide unending pleasure" will eventually be viewed as "so negative that it results in unending misery";
and it becomes understood that all which is viewed in a relativistic, dualistic fashion will generate fluctuations that will eventually develop into full-blown, misery-producing chaos (except among those who have been programmed by charlatans to dissociate via the use of "positive thinking" and "distorting reality" and "ignoring the effects of trauma"). Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
Upcoming Series:
** SITE CO-HOST LOUISE STERLING WILL BE POSTING FROM NOVEMBER 17-20. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WRITTEN TO PRAISE THE RELEVANCE OF WHAT THAT SPECK OF CONSCIOUSNESS SHARES AND TO ASK WHEN SHE’LL POST NEXT, THOSE ARE THE DATES.
** THE ULTIMATE REALIZATION THAT CAN FREE YOU TO LIVE IN THE NISARGA WAY WITHOUT FLUCTUATION
** SITE CO-HOST LOUISE STERLING WILL BE POSTING FROM NOVEMBER 17-20. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WRITTEN TO PRAISE THE RELEVANCE OF WHAT THAT SPECK OF CONSCIOUSNESS SHARES AND TO ASK WHEN SHE’LL POST NEXT, THOSE ARE THE DATES.
** THE ULTIMATE REALIZATION THAT CAN FREE YOU TO LIVE IN THE NISARGA WAY WITHOUT FLUCTUATION
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.
