An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, abiding naturally, the Oneness, the Nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
Here, there is nothing that is believed, so there is no one here who wants you to believe anything, either. Here, the invitation is to be free of all that you have been programmed, conditioned, acculturated, and domesticated to believe so that you can be free, period.
FROM A SITE VISITOR: f, As If living is the norm now, but occasionally something will be seen that will bring about feelings of outrage. Must be the last stubborn "justice" or "fairness" persona? Mind still exists?
F.: First, kudos for use of a tool you were offered when here last year during a retreat: when experiencing emotional intoxication, seek “the WHO,” that is, the persona that thinks it is being hurt or insulted or interfered with or offended or overly-concerned or attached. Find where a desire or a fear or both are involved and find which persona or personas are being driven by desire or fear or egotism or all three.
In this case, has the role of “The One Desiring Justice” been assumed? (By the way, that one would actually hate it if the relative justice he deserves were meted out!) Is “The One Desiring Fairness” truly concerned about the manifestation of universal fairness, or is there an ego-state that thinks it has been treated unfairly (or might soon be)?
So, you might be spot on with the “self”-assessment mentioned in your e-mail, in which case, seeking to uncover the personas at play would be the appropriate undertaking. Until the relative existence happens spontaneously as a result of Reality having been overlaid upon it completely, and until fixed totally in the AS IF mode of living you mention, then those occasions when some “person” feels outraged will call for additional consideration and understanding.
Understand this as well: while the Realized will feel, and will witness feelings as they rise and fall, only ego-states can emote. Understand, too, that Realization does not erase the relative. Understand that the relative still IS even after Reality has been overlaid upon it; yet, whatever happens during the remainder of the manifestation will happen without emotional intoxication. Meaning? When Realized, feelings are felt but “outrage” certainly has a ring of emotional intoxication which indicates, in turn, the assumption of one or more ego-states.
However, there is even more involved as well as much that is misunderstood about all that is involved in such scenarios as you describe and about what is really happening in such instances. It might appear that the Realized can experience outrage. Some conclude that was the case when Maharaj tossed visitors from the loft. Was outrage involved? Was emotional intoxication involved? Not in the least.
For a more complete understanding, consider the levels of witnessing. First, there is the delusion-based form of witnessing (which can be labeled “personal witnessing” for the sake of discussion) where the non-Realized believe that they are persons who are witnessing something.
Next, there is what can be called “level one” witnessing, but even that should happen without emotional intoxication. While it is “level two” witnessing, or Pure Witnessing, that sees the Oneness, it is level one witnessing that is dualistic, subject-object witnessing.
As an example, the deer in the neighborhood here have been seen to run away when they (subject) see a child (object) running toward them, trying to pet them. The teachings do not try to end such S-O witnessing. The teachings merely make clear that (a) whatever appears before the eye is not what it seems to be and that (b) perceptions among the non-Realized about anything in the relative are never accurate.
Next, even as I AM and I AM THAT are "simultaneously" valid (and are actually free of any element of duality since they are "not two") so too shall relative, level one witnessing continue to happen even as Realization has happened. What will not happen is the belief that what is being witnessed in a subject-object manner is what it might appear to be.
To know the Oneness does not suggest that there is some part of the teachings that says:
“If you are Realized and understand the atonement (the ‘at-one-ment’), then a oneness that does not exist should still be acknowledged as Oneness.” If Realized, You understand that You are not at-one-with lies and distortions and warped thoughts and nonsensical words and perverse behaviors.
For example, the teachings would never suggest that the Realized should say, “Throughout this relative existence, I see injustice and an absence of fairness and corruption and warped thinking and personas and phoniness and persons being driven by desire and greed or by fear and by all sorts of distorted behaviors, and I, being at-One with all, am automatically at one with all of that; furthermore, since I am at one with that, I accept it all.”
How could the Realized be at-one-with that which is a mirage? Moreover, the notion that everything in the relative is acceptable is nonsense. If that were the case, why Realize? The notion that “everything in the relative is all good because it is all god” is a double dose of nonsense.
Additionally, the teachings do not suggest that, post-Realization, the Realized do not see nonsense as nonsense, will not know that the unacceptable is unacceptable, and must conclude that mind-noise and insanity and ignorance and arrogance are welcome. They are not welcomed here, and they were not welcomed in the loft.
Therefore, Realization does not suggest that the Pure Consciousness must accept, and even approve of, exposure to relative nonsense that is witnessed. To the contrary, the Pure Consciousness rejects outright the warped, blocked consciousness and rejects outright all of the perverse, relative conduct of those trapped in ego-states (which are always driven by egotism and other ego-defense mechanisms).
It was the Pure Witnessing's rejection of the blocked consciousness—as a result of understanding that the blocked consciousness is the sustainer of all distortions and delusions and false identities and bogus concepts and insane beliefs—which led that Realized speck of pure consciousness called “Maharaj” to expose the illusions of the “mind” and the “mind’s” content for what it is.
For a brief period, the pure consciousness will tolerate the presence of the blocked consciousness if it is seeking to have the blockages removed. If any other agenda is exposed, then the welcome mat will be withdrawn and the location of the exit will be noted.
In addition, while it might have appeared that level one witnessing was happening when persons were sent from the loft, and while it might have appeared that some “Maharaj” (subject) was outraged after observing some “self-important person” (object), such was never the case.
The pure consciousness will only tolerate the presence of blocked consciousness if enough light is seeping through the blockages for the blocked consciousness to understand to at least some degree that it is blocked and is seeking to be unblocked.
Meanwhile, throughout the post-Realization relative existence, level one (S-O) witnessing will continue to happen, but there will never be a belief that the object observed is real or that it is as it appears to be. The pure consciousness differentiates between the true and the false, and even as the relative continues—along with all sorts of relative nonsense—whatever feelings might be generated are witnessed as they rise and fall.
What does not happen among the Realized, though, is any degree of emotional intoxication. The consciousness can only witness and cannot be outraged. What was happening with Maharaj (that speck of pure consciousness) as a visitor was being sent forth from the loft?
That speck was observing it all, just as last night while “floyd” slept, I (the consciousness) watched that sleep as it happened. As it happened, I saw to it that the heart continued to beat, that the lungs continued to contract and expand, and that all other natural functionings of the plant food body continued.
But there was no one doing anything; there was no one emoting about anything; there was no one glad or sad. All was simply being witnessed.
Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
F.: First, kudos for use of a tool you were offered when here last year during a retreat: when experiencing emotional intoxication, seek “the WHO,” that is, the persona that thinks it is being hurt or insulted or interfered with or offended or overly-concerned or attached. Find where a desire or a fear or both are involved and find which persona or personas are being driven by desire or fear or egotism or all three.
In this case, has the role of “The One Desiring Justice” been assumed? (By the way, that one would actually hate it if the relative justice he deserves were meted out!) Is “The One Desiring Fairness” truly concerned about the manifestation of universal fairness, or is there an ego-state that thinks it has been treated unfairly (or might soon be)?
So, you might be spot on with the “self”-assessment mentioned in your e-mail, in which case, seeking to uncover the personas at play would be the appropriate undertaking. Until the relative existence happens spontaneously as a result of Reality having been overlaid upon it completely, and until fixed totally in the AS IF mode of living you mention, then those occasions when some “person” feels outraged will call for additional consideration and understanding.
Understand this as well: while the Realized will feel, and will witness feelings as they rise and fall, only ego-states can emote. Understand, too, that Realization does not erase the relative. Understand that the relative still IS even after Reality has been overlaid upon it; yet, whatever happens during the remainder of the manifestation will happen without emotional intoxication. Meaning? When Realized, feelings are felt but “outrage” certainly has a ring of emotional intoxication which indicates, in turn, the assumption of one or more ego-states.
However, there is even more involved as well as much that is misunderstood about all that is involved in such scenarios as you describe and about what is really happening in such instances. It might appear that the Realized can experience outrage. Some conclude that was the case when Maharaj tossed visitors from the loft. Was outrage involved? Was emotional intoxication involved? Not in the least.
For a more complete understanding, consider the levels of witnessing. First, there is the delusion-based form of witnessing (which can be labeled “personal witnessing” for the sake of discussion) where the non-Realized believe that they are persons who are witnessing something.
Next, there is what can be called “level one” witnessing, but even that should happen without emotional intoxication. While it is “level two” witnessing, or Pure Witnessing, that sees the Oneness, it is level one witnessing that is dualistic, subject-object witnessing.
As an example, the deer in the neighborhood here have been seen to run away when they (subject) see a child (object) running toward them, trying to pet them. The teachings do not try to end such S-O witnessing. The teachings merely make clear that (a) whatever appears before the eye is not what it seems to be and that (b) perceptions among the non-Realized about anything in the relative are never accurate.
Next, even as I AM and I AM THAT are "simultaneously" valid (and are actually free of any element of duality since they are "not two") so too shall relative, level one witnessing continue to happen even as Realization has happened. What will not happen is the belief that what is being witnessed in a subject-object manner is what it might appear to be.
To know the Oneness does not suggest that there is some part of the teachings that says:
“If you are Realized and understand the atonement (the ‘at-one-ment’), then a oneness that does not exist should still be acknowledged as Oneness.” If Realized, You understand that You are not at-one-with lies and distortions and warped thoughts and nonsensical words and perverse behaviors.
For example, the teachings would never suggest that the Realized should say, “Throughout this relative existence, I see injustice and an absence of fairness and corruption and warped thinking and personas and phoniness and persons being driven by desire and greed or by fear and by all sorts of distorted behaviors, and I, being at-One with all, am automatically at one with all of that; furthermore, since I am at one with that, I accept it all.”
How could the Realized be at-one-with that which is a mirage? Moreover, the notion that everything in the relative is acceptable is nonsense. If that were the case, why Realize? The notion that “everything in the relative is all good because it is all god” is a double dose of nonsense.
Additionally, the teachings do not suggest that, post-Realization, the Realized do not see nonsense as nonsense, will not know that the unacceptable is unacceptable, and must conclude that mind-noise and insanity and ignorance and arrogance are welcome. They are not welcomed here, and they were not welcomed in the loft.
Therefore, Realization does not suggest that the Pure Consciousness must accept, and even approve of, exposure to relative nonsense that is witnessed. To the contrary, the Pure Consciousness rejects outright the warped, blocked consciousness and rejects outright all of the perverse, relative conduct of those trapped in ego-states (which are always driven by egotism and other ego-defense mechanisms).
It was the Pure Witnessing's rejection of the blocked consciousness—as a result of understanding that the blocked consciousness is the sustainer of all distortions and delusions and false identities and bogus concepts and insane beliefs—which led that Realized speck of pure consciousness called “Maharaj” to expose the illusions of the “mind” and the “mind’s” content for what it is.
For a brief period, the pure consciousness will tolerate the presence of the blocked consciousness if it is seeking to have the blockages removed. If any other agenda is exposed, then the welcome mat will be withdrawn and the location of the exit will be noted.
In addition, while it might have appeared that level one witnessing was happening when persons were sent from the loft, and while it might have appeared that some “Maharaj” (subject) was outraged after observing some “self-important person” (object), such was never the case.
The pure consciousness will only tolerate the presence of blocked consciousness if enough light is seeping through the blockages for the blocked consciousness to understand to at least some degree that it is blocked and is seeking to be unblocked.
Meanwhile, throughout the post-Realization relative existence, level one (S-O) witnessing will continue to happen, but there will never be a belief that the object observed is real or that it is as it appears to be. The pure consciousness differentiates between the true and the false, and even as the relative continues—along with all sorts of relative nonsense—whatever feelings might be generated are witnessed as they rise and fall.
What does not happen among the Realized, though, is any degree of emotional intoxication. The consciousness can only witness and cannot be outraged. What was happening with Maharaj (that speck of pure consciousness) as a visitor was being sent forth from the loft?
That speck was observing it all, just as last night while “floyd” slept, I (the consciousness) watched that sleep as it happened. As it happened, I saw to it that the heart continued to beat, that the lungs continued to contract and expand, and that all other natural functionings of the plant food body continued.
But there was no one doing anything; there was no one emoting about anything; there was no one glad or sad. All was simply being witnessed.
Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
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
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.)
For more information or to order, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
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.)
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.
