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: Does Louise teach the online classes?
F.: Yes. Details will be provided at the end of today's post. Note also that Louise will be posting this week.
F.: Maharaj taught: "You come here and I talk to you but I am not concerned whether you come or go. I am totally independent. I, as the Absolute, do not need the consciousness. Total independence is merely to apprehend and understand."
By way of contrast, are preachers not concerned whether you come or go? Of course they are concerned, invested as they are in your investments, unable to preach without persons willing to come into their venues and leave funds behind each week after they go. Are their counterparts, such as rabbis, priests, et. al., not concerned whether you come or go? Of course they are concerned, their agendas dependent upon the number of persons who come and pay and go each week.
The only ego-state that is more entrenched than a typical ego-state is one that not only supports a false identity but that also supports a person very well financially; so, of course they are concerned. Are life coaches and sponsors not concerned whether you come or go? Of course they are. "The Life Coach" persona must have a seeker willing to pay the coach regularly for services if that persona is to "exist."
"The Sponsor" must have a protégé that is willing to enter into a co-dependent partnership with "The Sponsor" for that role to continue to "exist." Similarly, are the big name teachers that Maharaj warned about not concerned with who comes or goes when they rent a huge venue for speaking engagements and seminars and $5000 per week retreats? Of course they are. Again, the only ego-state that is more entrenched than a typical ego-state is one which not only supports a false identity but which also supports a person well financially.
Connect money with a role and that role's entrenchment can reach unimaginable proportions. That said, possibly this is the appropriate occasion to address certain queries or challenges that have been received here over the years, and over recent weeks and months, such as:
"How was Maharaj any different from preachers who preach for money and housing? He took gifts every day, didn't he?" and
"Why did Maharaj accept offerings? I read that in addition to flowers he received enough food each day for decades to feed him and his entire family." And from a man in Japan who wrote some time back to say how the postings on this blog had "led to his Realization" but then asked:
"Why do you sell your books and services instead of giving them away? Why do you accept donations when the teachings should be offered the way Jesus did, without accepting any gifts at all?"
[So that question could come on the heels of his acknowledgment that there were at that time over 1,500 postings (now over 1,600) archived and made available on this site for free, no charge required at all? Further, three books were ordered from Amazon last week with no inclination at all to contact their marketing department and ask why there was a charge for those books which should have been provided for free.
As for Jesus, the man ignored the fact, or was at least unaware of the fact, that five wealthy patrons supported the ministry of Jesus, who also taught the Advaitin teachings during the last years of that manifestation.
That complainant also ignored the fact that housing and food and clothing were provided to Jesus by followers so that the teachings could continue, yet Jesus neither accumulated nor became wealthy.
Moreover, are the Realized realtor, playwright, artist, carpenter, bus driver, restaurateur, government employee, waitress, ad infinitum to provide services for free since they have Realized?
He also failed to consider: "Does not the gift of freedom have at least some reasonable value, relatively speaking, or should gurus refuse flowers and fruit and other gifts of gratitude?" Did books that provided transcripts of talks with Maharaj assist in the Realization process here? Yes. Was a letter written to Acorn Press to ask how they dared to charge for those books? Hardly. Whatever the costs, they were a bargain.
A company owned by Louise writes textbooks that are used on several continents around the globe. Should she provide her books for free? Persons...quite the interesting phenomenon, yes?]
Next, have Eastern seekers always "paid" their gurus with gifts presented during each visit? Typically, yes, but none of the gurus became millionaires by re-selling fruit and flowers. The typical gurus (and sometimes families) ate the fruit and survived but did not survive in a "royal" manner.
Few became dependent on seekers to provide a life of luxury, though even some Eastern teachers have not always taken what some call the "high road." Two in India were exposed during the last decade scamming huge sums of money from those who made donations. Other cons by so-called gurus have been exposed regularly.
One who left India moved to a six-million dollar, 65,000-acre ranch in the U.S., owned scores of upscale automobiles, had over six hundred profitable centers around the globe, and ran a series of sex workshops where participants had to undergo VD tests when enrolling before they could participate in his "retreats" ( or were those "re-treats"?)
So the gurus-teachers-priests-rabbis-imams-preachers' "eternal dependency on me" cons and their "wealth accumulation scams" are not a uniquely-western phenomenon.
By way of contrast with leaders who are concerned that seekers come and stay and give money on a daily or weekly basis, Maharaj limited the number of visits by seekers and the size of gifts accepted. He did not seek a paying audience of regular followers who were eternally dependent on him, and he did not seek to be dependent on anyone, either.
Yes, there are some who offer gifts here so that these teaching can continue, but be assured that riches are not being accumulated. And yes, Maharaj accepted reasonable gifts (an expensive carpet being the most extravagant gift ever received);
however, he turned down offers to build a huge ashram for him. (Here, a man in California extended an offer to provide a house, paid in full, as a gift. The offer was refused.)
Maharaj accepted gifts of gratitude, but none made him wealthy and none led him to shift from de-accumulation to accumulation. He sought no seekers who would be forever dependent on him. Nor did he say, "Keep coming back" and he did not say, "You are to attend meetings or services each day or many times a day or weekly for the rest of your lives." He promoted independence, not dependence.
How to be free of dependencies and substitute dependencies and co-dependencies that assure misery in the end? Understand, as shared recently with a site regular, that there can be no independence, and therefore no freedom or peace, if aligned with the manifest consciousness, or if aligned with what persons take to be "this world," or if pre-occupied with relative issues.
The series will conclude tomorrow with the response to this note that was received yesterday: "I would be interested to read about the Advaitin perspective on the destruction of the Gulf of Mexico, the financial collapse, etc. (as relates to the relative, of course,) because it does seem grim."
Those incidents have as much to do with dependence as the other examples covered in this series and will be addressed in tomorrow's conclusion.
F.: Yes. Details will be provided at the end of today's post. Note also that Louise will be posting this week.
F.: Maharaj taught: "You come here and I talk to you but I am not concerned whether you come or go. I am totally independent. I, as the Absolute, do not need the consciousness. Total independence is merely to apprehend and understand."
By way of contrast, are preachers not concerned whether you come or go? Of course they are concerned, invested as they are in your investments, unable to preach without persons willing to come into their venues and leave funds behind each week after they go. Are their counterparts, such as rabbis, priests, et. al., not concerned whether you come or go? Of course they are concerned, their agendas dependent upon the number of persons who come and pay and go each week.
The only ego-state that is more entrenched than a typical ego-state is one that not only supports a false identity but that also supports a person very well financially; so, of course they are concerned. Are life coaches and sponsors not concerned whether you come or go? Of course they are. "The Life Coach" persona must have a seeker willing to pay the coach regularly for services if that persona is to "exist."
"The Sponsor" must have a protégé that is willing to enter into a co-dependent partnership with "The Sponsor" for that role to continue to "exist." Similarly, are the big name teachers that Maharaj warned about not concerned with who comes or goes when they rent a huge venue for speaking engagements and seminars and $5000 per week retreats? Of course they are. Again, the only ego-state that is more entrenched than a typical ego-state is one which not only supports a false identity but which also supports a person well financially.
Connect money with a role and that role's entrenchment can reach unimaginable proportions. That said, possibly this is the appropriate occasion to address certain queries or challenges that have been received here over the years, and over recent weeks and months, such as:
"How was Maharaj any different from preachers who preach for money and housing? He took gifts every day, didn't he?" and
"Why did Maharaj accept offerings? I read that in addition to flowers he received enough food each day for decades to feed him and his entire family." And from a man in Japan who wrote some time back to say how the postings on this blog had "led to his Realization" but then asked:
"Why do you sell your books and services instead of giving them away? Why do you accept donations when the teachings should be offered the way Jesus did, without accepting any gifts at all?"
[So that question could come on the heels of his acknowledgment that there were at that time over 1,500 postings (now over 1,600) archived and made available on this site for free, no charge required at all? Further, three books were ordered from Amazon last week with no inclination at all to contact their marketing department and ask why there was a charge for those books which should have been provided for free.
As for Jesus, the man ignored the fact, or was at least unaware of the fact, that five wealthy patrons supported the ministry of Jesus, who also taught the Advaitin teachings during the last years of that manifestation.
That complainant also ignored the fact that housing and food and clothing were provided to Jesus by followers so that the teachings could continue, yet Jesus neither accumulated nor became wealthy.
Moreover, are the Realized realtor, playwright, artist, carpenter, bus driver, restaurateur, government employee, waitress, ad infinitum to provide services for free since they have Realized?
He also failed to consider: "Does not the gift of freedom have at least some reasonable value, relatively speaking, or should gurus refuse flowers and fruit and other gifts of gratitude?" Did books that provided transcripts of talks with Maharaj assist in the Realization process here? Yes. Was a letter written to Acorn Press to ask how they dared to charge for those books? Hardly. Whatever the costs, they were a bargain.
A company owned by Louise writes textbooks that are used on several continents around the globe. Should she provide her books for free? Persons...quite the interesting phenomenon, yes?]
Next, have Eastern seekers always "paid" their gurus with gifts presented during each visit? Typically, yes, but none of the gurus became millionaires by re-selling fruit and flowers. The typical gurus (and sometimes families) ate the fruit and survived but did not survive in a "royal" manner.
Few became dependent on seekers to provide a life of luxury, though even some Eastern teachers have not always taken what some call the "high road." Two in India were exposed during the last decade scamming huge sums of money from those who made donations. Other cons by so-called gurus have been exposed regularly.
One who left India moved to a six-million dollar, 65,000-acre ranch in the U.S., owned scores of upscale automobiles, had over six hundred profitable centers around the globe, and ran a series of sex workshops where participants had to undergo VD tests when enrolling before they could participate in his "retreats" ( or were those "re-treats"?)
So the gurus-teachers-priests-rabbis-imams-preachers' "eternal dependency on me" cons and their "wealth accumulation scams" are not a uniquely-western phenomenon.
By way of contrast with leaders who are concerned that seekers come and stay and give money on a daily or weekly basis, Maharaj limited the number of visits by seekers and the size of gifts accepted. He did not seek a paying audience of regular followers who were eternally dependent on him, and he did not seek to be dependent on anyone, either.
Yes, there are some who offer gifts here so that these teaching can continue, but be assured that riches are not being accumulated. And yes, Maharaj accepted reasonable gifts (an expensive carpet being the most extravagant gift ever received);
however, he turned down offers to build a huge ashram for him. (Here, a man in California extended an offer to provide a house, paid in full, as a gift. The offer was refused.)
Maharaj accepted gifts of gratitude, but none made him wealthy and none led him to shift from de-accumulation to accumulation. He sought no seekers who would be forever dependent on him. Nor did he say, "Keep coming back" and he did not say, "You are to attend meetings or services each day or many times a day or weekly for the rest of your lives." He promoted independence, not dependence.
How to be free of dependencies and substitute dependencies and co-dependencies that assure misery in the end? Understand, as shared recently with a site regular, that there can be no independence, and therefore no freedom or peace, if aligned with the manifest consciousness, or if aligned with what persons take to be "this world," or if pre-occupied with relative issues.
The series will conclude tomorrow with the response to this note that was received yesterday: "I would be interested to read about the Advaitin perspective on the destruction of the Gulf of Mexico, the financial collapse, etc. (as relates to the relative, of course,) because it does seem grim."
Those incidents have as much to do with dependence as the other examples covered in this series and will be addressed in tomorrow's conclusion.
Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
Much of what Louise has shared has resonated with many site visitors. to that end, some have inquired recently if Louise offers the online Advaita Internet Course. The answer is, "Yes."
Whether taking the course with Louise or Floyd, the price of the course includes all 11 of the Advaita eBooks, questions sent after completion of the assigned readings, replies to your answers, and follow-up as required.
With either teacher, you will be guided through all seven of the steps, in order, that lead from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond). For more specific information and details about the course, you may click on the link to the right.
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Louise
by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Floyd
by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:
Whether taking the course with Louise or Floyd, the price of the course includes all 11 of the Advaita eBooks, questions sent after completion of the assigned readings, replies to your answers, and follow-up as required.
With either teacher, you will be guided through all seven of the steps, in order, that lead from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond). For more specific information and details about the course, you may click on the link to the right.
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Louise
by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Floyd
by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:
[THE YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE IN LARGER FORMATS BELOW WHICH MIGHT PROVIDE MORE COMFORTABLE VIEWING FOR SOME SITE VISITORS]
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.
TRANSLATED ADVAITA EBOOKS AVAILABLE
Beginning today, the 11 Advaita eBooks listed at the end of this post are available in twenty-two non-English languages. If you are interested in purchasing an eBook in another language, click Contact Floyd to see if the language you prefer is available. Again, the quality of the translation cannot be guaranteed but it might make some pointers available to seekers that might not otherwise receive them. If you want to send a translated eBook to someone as a gift, that can also be arranged via the contact link above.
(Charges will include the regular price of the eBook + a US$10.00 translating fee.)
TO PAY FOR A TRANSLATION - US$10.00 - CLICK THE BUY BUTTON BELOW
(Contact Floyd before paying to be certain the language you prefer is available)
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.
TRANSLATED ADVAITA EBOOKS AVAILABLE
Beginning today, the 11 Advaita eBooks listed at the end of this post are available in twenty-two non-English languages. If you are interested in purchasing an eBook in another language, click Contact Floyd to see if the language you prefer is available. Again, the quality of the translation cannot be guaranteed but it might make some pointers available to seekers that might not otherwise receive them. If you want to send a translated eBook to someone as a gift, that can also be arranged via the contact link above.
(Charges will include the regular price of the eBook + a US$10.00 translating fee.)
TO PAY FOR A TRANSLATION - US$10.00 - CLICK THE BUY BUTTON BELOW
(Contact Floyd before paying to be certain the language you prefer is available)
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.
YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA YOGA VIDEOS
Click on the arrow below to start Video One:
Click on the arrow below to start Video Two:
Click on the arrow below to start Video Three:
Click on the arrow below to start Video Four:
Click on the arrow below to start Video Five:
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
