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.
F.: In the book FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE, at the point when the discussion is about to turn to "the spiritual" (and is about to debunk the false concepts that are held by the masses about that topic), a warning was offered to the participants to "buckle their seatbelts."
It was understood that much emotional reaction and emotional intoxication was about to be displayed by some in that group when the upcoming pointers were to be shared. Now, some might need to buckle your seatbelts now, too. To start, what did Maharaj have to say about "the spiritual"?
Maharaj: “When the birth is disproved, the great noble meaning of spirituality and the meaning of this world—everything—is disproved."
The pointers in this post will seem to contradict much of what some believe to be a core Advaita principle and what others take to be the core teachings of their dogma, will contradict any and all of the "holy" texts in which their teachings (actually, their "beliefs," yes?) are based, and will seem either shocking or ignorant to most; yet the post shall be written, and written spontaneously, anyway.
[Consideration: Advaita (at the purest and most advanced level of the Teachings) endorses zero concepts. All of the mutated versions of Advaita, especially those which have been morphed into a religion by men with hidden agendas, are bastardizations - fabricated via the warped consciousness, accepted as truth by other specks of warped consciousness, and passed along now by such specks to other such specks.]
The pointers in this post will point (A) less to the quotes placed at the beginning of "I Am That" (quotes which were not chosen to appear there by Maharaj) and will point (B) more to Krishna's take on identification / non-identification and will settle on (C) what Maharaj had to say not to those in the early steps on the "path" but to those that were ready for the final understanding.
Therefore, this post is not for novices because the pointer's in this post will align less with the content of this quote:
"That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings, who is the giver as grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being - I am that"
and less with the content of this quote:
"That which permeates all, which nothing transcends and which, like the universal space around us, fills everything completely from within and without, that Supreme non-dual Brahman - that thou art."
[Maharaj: “I have no faith in anything which has ever been told, not even what has been told by the Vedas. Only my own experience.”]
As noted earlier about the first quote above, all "whoness" and "whomness" are illusions; a giver is an identity; grace and Supreme and soul are concepts, and "I am that" has sent many seekers almost as deep into the rabbit hole as many of dogma's so-called "profundities."
As for the second quote, again, all of the parts of the quote might be mentioned along the "path," but by the "path's" end, there is no "us," there is nothing to be "filled," there is no dualistic "within and without," and there is nothing that is dualistically "Supreme vs. things not-supreme." All of the parts of the quotes above might be mentioned along the "path," but they address neither what is at the end of the "path" nor what is beyond the "path's end."
[By the way: same your energy - don't write in protest. The spin on all of the content of both quotes is well understood; none of it, however, can withstand the light of the nisarga understanding; instead, consider this, or not: “Absolute,” “THAT,” “Brahman,” “God,” “energy,” “energy-matter,” “Consciousness,” “Awareness,” and “SOMETHING” are still man-made labels generated by persons. Persons search for “the divine” and for an understanding of all that is “supernatural” when, in fact, there is nothing that is supernatural at all. Consider too Krishna's pointer that "he" is beyond both beingness and non-beingness. Finally, the ultimate Advaita understanding is that there need not be any understanding. So relax.]
Next, what of "C" above and what Maharaj had to say to those that were ready for the final understanding?
Maharaj: "What is identity, after all? Continuity in memory?"
Memory, stored in the warehouse of all lies - the "mind" - and misperceived as truth by the impure consciousness, cannot possibly be the basis of any "true" identity.
Maharaj: "... identity is merely a pattern of events in time and space."
So identity, identification, is part of the play of the relative, associated with time and space. That which is timeless and spaceless, therefore, is also identity-less. How the ego of "The Super Seeker" or "The Super Realized One" or "His THAT-ness"will hate to hear that!
Maharaj: "It is only when the observer (vyakta) accepts the person (vyakti) as a projection or manifestation of himself, and, so to say, takes the self into the Self, the duality of 'I' and 'this' goes and in the identity of the outer and the inner the Supreme Reality manifests itself."
And that is why both the "True Self" and the (false) "self" / "selves" are part of the domain of the relative, and that is why even the "True Self" is not forever.
The observer can observe only when manifested in the relative state when, for a brief period of "time," "conscious of-ness" can happen; the awareness state is incapable of being "aware of" or "observing" or "witnessing."
Maharaj: “From the Absolute no-knowing state, spontaneously, this consciousness ‘I am’ has appeared."
There is no knowing in the post-manifestation state. Yes, Maharaj said, "The identity is the witness of the person and sadhana consists in shifting the emphasis from the superficial and changeful person to the ... witness," but witnessing can only happen during the relative manifestation.
Thus, the "True Self" is not even "The Pure Witness" but is "pure witnessing"; however, even witnessing is finite, limited to the relative.
Maharaj: “I take my stand in the original state where I was not aware that I am.”
Again, there is neither witness nor witnessing post-manifestation, so there is no continuity of the witness and there will be no continuation of witnessing by any given speck of conscious-energy.
In the end, Maharaj said, “From my angle, you are nothing. You have no identity.”
In the book From the Absolute to the Nothingness the following pointers are offered:
Ultimately, to try to support any “identity” alongside “the no-concept, non-dual Reality” is itself contradictory.
At the “highest level” of understanding, any “identity” is seen to be conceptual.
When a “state” of zero concepts is reached, it is understood that there is no “identity” at all. Nothing from nothing leaves…nothing, not “SOMETHING.”
Ultimately, to find out “who or what you are” is useless since there is no WHO or WHOM to benefit, no user to use; on the other hand, finding out “who you are not” could eliminate unnatural and supernatural living and allow natural, AS IF living to happen throughout the remainder of the manifestation. That would also allow freedom to happen, and only if free can bliss happen.
To look to the universe and to focus on the concept of “SOMETHING” prevents seeing “The Reality of the Emptiness,” “The Reality of the Void,” “The Reality of the Nothingness.”
It was understood that much emotional reaction and emotional intoxication was about to be displayed by some in that group when the upcoming pointers were to be shared. Now, some might need to buckle your seatbelts now, too. To start, what did Maharaj have to say about "the spiritual"?
Maharaj: “When the birth is disproved, the great noble meaning of spirituality and the meaning of this world—everything—is disproved."
The pointers in this post will seem to contradict much of what some believe to be a core Advaita principle and what others take to be the core teachings of their dogma, will contradict any and all of the "holy" texts in which their teachings (actually, their "beliefs," yes?) are based, and will seem either shocking or ignorant to most; yet the post shall be written, and written spontaneously, anyway.
[Consideration: Advaita (at the purest and most advanced level of the Teachings) endorses zero concepts. All of the mutated versions of Advaita, especially those which have been morphed into a religion by men with hidden agendas, are bastardizations - fabricated via the warped consciousness, accepted as truth by other specks of warped consciousness, and passed along now by such specks to other such specks.]
The pointers in this post will point (A) less to the quotes placed at the beginning of "I Am That" (quotes which were not chosen to appear there by Maharaj) and will point (B) more to Krishna's take on identification / non-identification and will settle on (C) what Maharaj had to say not to those in the early steps on the "path" but to those that were ready for the final understanding.
Therefore, this post is not for novices because the pointer's in this post will align less with the content of this quote:
"That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings, who is the giver as grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being - I am that"
and less with the content of this quote:
"That which permeates all, which nothing transcends and which, like the universal space around us, fills everything completely from within and without, that Supreme non-dual Brahman - that thou art."
[Maharaj: “I have no faith in anything which has ever been told, not even what has been told by the Vedas. Only my own experience.”]
As noted earlier about the first quote above, all "whoness" and "whomness" are illusions; a giver is an identity; grace and Supreme and soul are concepts, and "I am that" has sent many seekers almost as deep into the rabbit hole as many of dogma's so-called "profundities."
As for the second quote, again, all of the parts of the quote might be mentioned along the "path," but by the "path's" end, there is no "us," there is nothing to be "filled," there is no dualistic "within and without," and there is nothing that is dualistically "Supreme vs. things not-supreme." All of the parts of the quotes above might be mentioned along the "path," but they address neither what is at the end of the "path" nor what is beyond the "path's end."
[By the way: same your energy - don't write in protest. The spin on all of the content of both quotes is well understood; none of it, however, can withstand the light of the nisarga understanding; instead, consider this, or not: “Absolute,” “THAT,” “Brahman,” “God,” “energy,” “energy-matter,” “Consciousness,” “Awareness,” and “SOMETHING” are still man-made labels generated by persons. Persons search for “the divine” and for an understanding of all that is “supernatural” when, in fact, there is nothing that is supernatural at all. Consider too Krishna's pointer that "he" is beyond both beingness and non-beingness. Finally, the ultimate Advaita understanding is that there need not be any understanding. So relax.]
Next, what of "C" above and what Maharaj had to say to those that were ready for the final understanding?
Maharaj: "What is identity, after all? Continuity in memory?"
Memory, stored in the warehouse of all lies - the "mind" - and misperceived as truth by the impure consciousness, cannot possibly be the basis of any "true" identity.
Maharaj: "... identity is merely a pattern of events in time and space."
So identity, identification, is part of the play of the relative, associated with time and space. That which is timeless and spaceless, therefore, is also identity-less. How the ego of "The Super Seeker" or "The Super Realized One" or "His THAT-ness"will hate to hear that!
Maharaj: "It is only when the observer (vyakta) accepts the person (vyakti) as a projection or manifestation of himself, and, so to say, takes the self into the Self, the duality of 'I' and 'this' goes and in the identity of the outer and the inner the Supreme Reality manifests itself."
And that is why both the "True Self" and the (false) "self" / "selves" are part of the domain of the relative, and that is why even the "True Self" is not forever.
The observer can observe only when manifested in the relative state when, for a brief period of "time," "conscious of-ness" can happen; the awareness state is incapable of being "aware of" or "observing" or "witnessing."
Maharaj: “From the Absolute no-knowing state, spontaneously, this consciousness ‘I am’ has appeared."
There is no knowing in the post-manifestation state. Yes, Maharaj said, "The identity is the witness of the person and sadhana consists in shifting the emphasis from the superficial and changeful person to the ... witness," but witnessing can only happen during the relative manifestation.
Thus, the "True Self" is not even "The Pure Witness" but is "pure witnessing"; however, even witnessing is finite, limited to the relative.
Maharaj: “I take my stand in the original state where I was not aware that I am.”
Again, there is neither witness nor witnessing post-manifestation, so there is no continuity of the witness and there will be no continuation of witnessing by any given speck of conscious-energy.
In the end, Maharaj said, “From my angle, you are nothing. You have no identity.”
In the book From the Absolute to the Nothingness the following pointers are offered:
Ultimately, to try to support any “identity” alongside “the no-concept, non-dual Reality” is itself contradictory.
At the “highest level” of understanding, any “identity” is seen to be conceptual.
When a “state” of zero concepts is reached, it is understood that there is no “identity” at all. Nothing from nothing leaves…nothing, not “SOMETHING.”
Ultimately, to find out “who or what you are” is useless since there is no WHO or WHOM to benefit, no user to use; on the other hand, finding out “who you are not” could eliminate unnatural and supernatural living and allow natural, AS IF living to happen throughout the remainder of the manifestation. That would also allow freedom to happen, and only if free can bliss happen.
To look to the universe and to focus on the concept of “SOMETHING” prevents seeing “The Reality of the Emptiness,” “The Reality of the Void,” “The Reality of the Nothingness.”
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:
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.
The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders offers the non-duality message by way of a mystery-adventure novel, discussing the movement from pain to healing to awakening to peace.
From Dr. R.F. Maley, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus and former Head of the Department of Psychology, University of Houston: "Floyd Henderson's book, The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders, is a fun read and an interesting mystery, but perhaps more importantly it serves as a vehicle for blending Eastern Philosophy and Native American Spirituality to make an intellectually challenging novel. The book's insights into both relationships and authoritarian conditioning of people in our society make it a must read, tracing the roots of narcissistic, sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors to the very core of the culture. This truly witty and politically-incorrect study of the aggressive nature of 'the American character' offers not only a diagnosis but also a treatment plan, making the book an excellent supplemental reading in courses such as psychology, anthropology, philosophy, sociology and counseling."
You may purchase your copy of the ebook version of THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS then start reading within minutes:
The Sequel to The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS
[THE YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE IN LARGER FORMATS BELOW WHICH MIGHT PROVIDE MORE COMFORTABLE VIEWING FOR SOME SITE VISITORS]
[RE: The "Subscribe To" feature: In some cases, all of the month's postings might be sent the first time after subscribing; after that, you should receive only one day's posting at a time.]
YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA YOGA VIDEOS
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Please enter the silence of contemplation.
