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.
As for Maharaj, you will find here some of his early pointers for beginners but some of his later pointers that are for seekers farther along the "path." During his last years, he said of I AM THAT: "That book and whatever was expounded at that time was only relevant for that period. I am speaking differently today" and am "emphasizing different aspects." What he offered later differed considerably from his earlier talks, making clear that the pointers in I AM THAT will take you to the midpoint of "the race" but that his final talks point the way to "the finish line."
F.: Yesterday, it was mentioned that today's post would offer a means of impeding the diffusion of the dualistic messages that are conveyed by cultures steeped in duality.
First, if one would impede the diffusion, then it is necessary to identify the main source or sources of dualistic messages. Millions upon millions of words are written each day via texts, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books. Add to that the words that were written long ago but that are still being circulated via the top best-selling books of all times:
#1 = "The Holy Bible"
#2 = "The Qur'an" / "Koran"
And then add to those two the third source of much learned ignorance nowadays:
#3 = Textbooks
If you would eliminate the top two sources that spread dualistic messages, those both the Bible and the Qur'an would have to go, yet they will not; they are most definitely here to stay, so duality is here to stay. As for textbooks, especially in the U.S., they would need to go as well, history books now teaching little more than revisionist lies and science books teaching the fiction of creationism.
Yet while the written word is widely used to spread dualistic ideas and concepts and beliefs and untruths, nothing compares with the use of the spoken word to do the same. Research shows that "Men use about 15,000 words per day" and that "women use 30,000." (Have you heard, or said, "I can't get him to open up and communicate with me"? Correct.)
If you take the average number of words spoken by men and women and multiply that by the global population (non-speaking infants set aside) that amounts to approximately 157,500,000,000,000 words spoken on a daily basis. That is one-hundred-and-fifty-seven trillion, five-hundred billion words being spoken around the globe every day, on average.
As for infants and youth, the programming and conditioning and domestication and acculturation that they are subjected to is offered partly by modeling by mainly by use of the spoken word, first in the home, later in school, and then continuing during adulthood in the workplace and / or in society and the media in general.
So, if one would impede the diffusion of dualistic messages, then it is a reduction in the use of the spoken word that can have the greatest impact. The number of lies written on a daily basis cannot compare to the number of lies told on a daily basis. And the volume of ignorance that is taught and learned on a daily basis via the written word cannot compare to the number of lies told - and to the volume of ignorance also spread orally - on a daily basis.
The beauty of silence, therefore, is not just the peace that it brings. It is the Truth that it brings. This has been shared in the past but is relevant again here:
Grandmother and the others among her tribe of Aniyunwiyas (Cherokees) taught that "Truth is nothing more than the space between exhalation and inhalation."
Much of each day that was spent with Grandmother in her modest home which was located in the isolated piney woods of East Texas was spent in the quiet, in the silence.
Typically, many hours of any given day spent in each other's company would pass without being driven to say a single word. Once such peace becomes internalized, and once the silence that most people hate becomes something that is cherished instead, the quiet becomes another element of the essential life force.
Noisy disruptions will be avoided spontaneously, as was the case back in those days when Grandmother's nearest neighbor - the widow "Miss Esther" who lived a mile away - dropped by to encroach upon the silence and eventually destroy it completely.
(As an eight-year old, I often concluded that her former husband most likely died from the collateral damage suffered when his ears exploded.)
To add to her stream of non-stop talking, Miss Esther had the habit of swelling every sentence by injecting the phrase "by the way" multiple times. (My cousin and I often made a game of counting the number of "by the ways" that were inserted throughout her monologues).
So a typical assault on the silence might go like this: "I went to the store, by the way, and they had milk on sale, by the way, for twenty cents a gallon, by the way, so I bought two gallons, by the way, so you might want to go into town and get some, by the way, while it's still on sale, by the way."
More often than not, though, the by-the-way-counting-game lost its comic appeal fairly quickly, so Grandmother would be asked, "May I be excused, Grandmother? I'd like to go for a walk in the woods." The response was always "Yes." The accompanying look was always, "And take me with you."
Then, with a slight bow from the waist and a nod of the head, with nothing more being said than "Miss Esther," the escape to the forest happened post haste. (Even in those early days, it was impossible to be so inauthentic as to say, "Nice seeing you, Miss Esther." Only "Miss Esther" was uttered before taking leave.)
Nowadays, when the invitation is offered "to stay in the silence more and more each day," most protest: "Impossible. I have to talk at work to earn my living." That was a belief here, too, at one point. But it was discovered post-Realization that most of the tasks at work could still be accomplished - and with far less talking.
One counselor said, "Floyd, I have to talk eight hours a day in my job." When it was asked,
"Might there be a possibility of switching to the use of techniques that are based more in a 'client-centered approach' or some variation of a Rogerian counseling approach instead of the present 'you-centered, self-centered' approach?"
The notion was rejected outright, yet later, as that seeker moved farther along the path, that shift happened, and likely to the benefit of that counselor's clients. Now, use of EMDR offers the opportunity for less counselor talking and far more benefit to the client. The same movement away from excessive, often needless, talking can happen in almost all professions.
TOMORROW: How, in "relationships," effective but efficient communication (with less "talk for the sake of talking") can also insure more peace and dignity as well as less dissemination of dualistic ideas and concepts and beliefs and lies.
You are invited to enter into the silence. (To be continued)
F.: Yesterday, it was mentioned that today's post would offer a means of impeding the diffusion of the dualistic messages that are conveyed by cultures steeped in duality.
First, if one would impede the diffusion, then it is necessary to identify the main source or sources of dualistic messages. Millions upon millions of words are written each day via texts, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books. Add to that the words that were written long ago but that are still being circulated via the top best-selling books of all times:
#1 = "The Holy Bible"
#2 = "The Qur'an" / "Koran"
And then add to those two the third source of much learned ignorance nowadays:
#3 = Textbooks
If you would eliminate the top two sources that spread dualistic messages, those both the Bible and the Qur'an would have to go, yet they will not; they are most definitely here to stay, so duality is here to stay. As for textbooks, especially in the U.S., they would need to go as well, history books now teaching little more than revisionist lies and science books teaching the fiction of creationism.
Yet while the written word is widely used to spread dualistic ideas and concepts and beliefs and untruths, nothing compares with the use of the spoken word to do the same. Research shows that "Men use about 15,000 words per day" and that "women use 30,000." (Have you heard, or said, "I can't get him to open up and communicate with me"? Correct.)
If you take the average number of words spoken by men and women and multiply that by the global population (non-speaking infants set aside) that amounts to approximately 157,500,000,000,000 words spoken on a daily basis. That is one-hundred-and-fifty-seven trillion, five-hundred billion words being spoken around the globe every day, on average.
As for infants and youth, the programming and conditioning and domestication and acculturation that they are subjected to is offered partly by modeling by mainly by use of the spoken word, first in the home, later in school, and then continuing during adulthood in the workplace and / or in society and the media in general.
So, if one would impede the diffusion of dualistic messages, then it is a reduction in the use of the spoken word that can have the greatest impact. The number of lies written on a daily basis cannot compare to the number of lies told on a daily basis. And the volume of ignorance that is taught and learned on a daily basis via the written word cannot compare to the number of lies told - and to the volume of ignorance also spread orally - on a daily basis.
The beauty of silence, therefore, is not just the peace that it brings. It is the Truth that it brings. This has been shared in the past but is relevant again here:
Grandmother and the others among her tribe of Aniyunwiyas (Cherokees) taught that "Truth is nothing more than the space between exhalation and inhalation."
Much of each day that was spent with Grandmother in her modest home which was located in the isolated piney woods of East Texas was spent in the quiet, in the silence.
Typically, many hours of any given day spent in each other's company would pass without being driven to say a single word. Once such peace becomes internalized, and once the silence that most people hate becomes something that is cherished instead, the quiet becomes another element of the essential life force.
Noisy disruptions will be avoided spontaneously, as was the case back in those days when Grandmother's nearest neighbor - the widow "Miss Esther" who lived a mile away - dropped by to encroach upon the silence and eventually destroy it completely.
(As an eight-year old, I often concluded that her former husband most likely died from the collateral damage suffered when his ears exploded.)
To add to her stream of non-stop talking, Miss Esther had the habit of swelling every sentence by injecting the phrase "by the way" multiple times. (My cousin and I often made a game of counting the number of "by the ways" that were inserted throughout her monologues).
So a typical assault on the silence might go like this: "I went to the store, by the way, and they had milk on sale, by the way, for twenty cents a gallon, by the way, so I bought two gallons, by the way, so you might want to go into town and get some, by the way, while it's still on sale, by the way."
More often than not, though, the by-the-way-counting-game lost its comic appeal fairly quickly, so Grandmother would be asked, "May I be excused, Grandmother? I'd like to go for a walk in the woods." The response was always "Yes." The accompanying look was always, "And take me with you."
Then, with a slight bow from the waist and a nod of the head, with nothing more being said than "Miss Esther," the escape to the forest happened post haste. (Even in those early days, it was impossible to be so inauthentic as to say, "Nice seeing you, Miss Esther." Only "Miss Esther" was uttered before taking leave.)
Nowadays, when the invitation is offered "to stay in the silence more and more each day," most protest: "Impossible. I have to talk at work to earn my living." That was a belief here, too, at one point. But it was discovered post-Realization that most of the tasks at work could still be accomplished - and with far less talking.
One counselor said, "Floyd, I have to talk eight hours a day in my job." When it was asked,
"Might there be a possibility of switching to the use of techniques that are based more in a 'client-centered approach' or some variation of a Rogerian counseling approach instead of the present 'you-centered, self-centered' approach?"
The notion was rejected outright, yet later, as that seeker moved farther along the path, that shift happened, and likely to the benefit of that counselor's clients. Now, use of EMDR offers the opportunity for less counselor talking and far more benefit to the client. The same movement away from excessive, often needless, talking can happen in almost all professions.
TOMORROW: How, in "relationships," effective but efficient communication (with less "talk for the sake of talking") can also insure more peace and dignity as well as less dissemination of dualistic ideas and concepts and beliefs and lies.
You are invited to enter into the silence. (To be continued)
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For those seeking the full explanation of the topics addressed on this site: there are non-duality books offered below as well as retreats and Skype or telephone sessions available at Floyd Henderson's Website
The full explanations are also available in the books in the author's collection that explain in detail all of the non-duality, nisarga teachings offered here:
1. Most non-duality books below are available through Amazon.com.
2. Read Kindle books on your own device by downloading a free app.
The full explanations are also available in the books in the author's collection that explain in detail all of the non-duality, nisarga teachings offered here:
1. Most non-duality books below are available through Amazon.com.
2. Read Kindle books on your own device by downloading a free app.
The available books are arranged on the carousels below. Use the arrows to move each book to the forefront; then, you may click on any book that you might be interested in to find more information or to purchase.
THE ADVANCED SEEKERS' SERIES
From the I to the Absolute
Consciousness / Awareness
From the Absolute to the Nothingness
The Final Understanding
The Advanced Seekers' Series in paperback
The Two Meditation Guides
From the I to the Absolute
Consciousness / Awareness
From the Absolute to the Nothingness
The Final Understanding
The Advanced Seekers' Series in paperback
The Two Meditation Guides
The BLISSFUL ABIDANCE SERIES, PART ONE
What BLISS Is and What BLISS Is Not
Why You Must Be Empty If You Would Be Full
When Reality Is Overlaid Upon the Relative
Freedom from Shifting Between States of Happiness and Unhappiness
Liberation
The Blissful Abidance Series (6 books) in paperback
What BLISS Is and What BLISS Is Not
Why You Must Be Empty If You Would Be Full
When Reality Is Overlaid Upon the Relative
Freedom from Shifting Between States of Happiness and Unhappiness
Liberation
The Blissful Abidance Series (6 books) in paperback
The ADVAITINS Collection
with THE MAHARAJ QUATRO, including:
(1) Why NISARGA YOGA in addition to the ADVAITA TEACHING?
(2) Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and His Evolution
(3) A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
(4) Going Crazy / Going Sane
Jesus Christ the Advaitin
William Shakespeare the Advaitin
with THE MAHARAJ QUATRO, including:
(1) Why NISARGA YOGA in addition to the ADVAITA TEACHING?
(2) Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and His Evolution
(3) A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
(4) Going Crazy / Going Sane
Jesus Christ the Advaitin
William Shakespeare the Advaitin
The BLISSFUL ABIDANCE SERIES, PART TWO
Overcoming the Fear of Being Totally Independent
I AM THAT (vs. "This Is Who I Think I Am")
The Essence of the Teachings
There Is Nothing That Is Personal (Including You and Including God)
Lessons in Non-Duality from Travels in South Africa
The Path to Freedom vs. the Path to Misery
Overcoming the Fear of Being Totally Independent
I AM THAT (vs. "This Is Who I Think I Am")
The Essence of the Teachings
There Is Nothing That Is Personal (Including You and Including God)
Lessons in Non-Duality from Travels in South Africa
The Path to Freedom vs. the Path to Misery
The FREEDOM FROM THE MIND Series
Instability / Insanity: What the Advaita Teachings Can (and Cannot) Address
PROGRAMMING, CONDITIONING, DOMESTICATION, AND ACCULTURATION
The Ultimate Sickness, The Ultimate Medicine
Going Crazy / Going Sane
There's No Such Thing As "Peace of Mind" (There Is Only Peace If You're Out of Your Mind)
Dancing Lightly
Instability / Insanity: What the Advaita Teachings Can (and Cannot) Address
PROGRAMMING, CONDITIONING, DOMESTICATION, AND ACCULTURATION
The Ultimate Sickness, The Ultimate Medicine
Going Crazy / Going Sane
There's No Such Thing As "Peace of Mind" (There Is Only Peace If You're Out of Your Mind)
Dancing Lightly
RECOVERY LITERATURE, the RELATIONSHIP books
A Twelve-Step Journey to SELF-Realization [Kindle]
A Twelve-Step Journey to SELF-Realization [Paperback]
A Guide for Working the Twelve Steps (In the Manner Used by the Founders)
The Twelve Steps and Advaita / Non-Duality: A 21-Day Plan for a Psychic Change
Finding Real Love in An Unreal World
Casting Light on the Dark Side of Relationships
A Twelve-Step Journey to SELF-Realization [Kindle]
A Twelve-Step Journey to SELF-Realization [Paperback]
A Guide for Working the Twelve Steps (In the Manner Used by the Founders)
The Twelve Steps and Advaita / Non-Duality: A 21-Day Plan for a Psychic Change
Finding Real Love in An Unreal World
Casting Light on the Dark Side of Relationships
The NO DEATH books, NON-DUALITY IN FICTION, FINANCIAL SANITY
The Myth of Death
What Happens When I Die?
The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders (Non-Duality) [Kindle]
The Board of Directors of Wars (Non-Duality) [Kindle]
The Board of Directors of Wars (Non-Duality) [Paperback]
Living Within Your Means
How Your Personality Type Shapes Your Spending Habits
The Myth of Death
What Happens When I Die?
The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders (Non-Duality) [Kindle]
The Board of Directors of Wars (Non-Duality) [Kindle]
The Board of Directors of Wars (Non-Duality) [Paperback]
Living Within Your Means
How Your Personality Type Shapes Your Spending Habits
NON-DUALITY BOOKS, EACH CONTAINING A SERIES OF ESSAYS DISCUSSING ONE OF THE SEVEN STEPS ON THE PATH TO REALIZATION
FOR THOSE WHO PREFER PAPERBACK, THE FOLLOWING PAPERBACK BOOKS ARE ON SALE NOW
(Click the pictures for information on the paperback versions)
(Click the pictures for information on the paperback versions)
(FOUR BOOKS IN ONE)
(SIX BOOKS IN ONE)
FOR THOSE SEEKING FURTHER EXPLANATION
An online Advaita Internet Course is offered here. The price of the course includes the four Advaita eBooks used as the texts; questions sent after completion of the assigned readings; replies to your answers; and follow-up as required.
The price of the course includes the four Advaita eBooks used as the texts; questions sent after completion of the assigned readings, replies to your answers, and follow-up as required.
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. To get started now now, click the pay button below and receive the $365 course for a discounted price of $325.00.
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Floyd
by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:
Or, if you prefer, begin by arranging a one-hour Advaita session via Skype with Floyd:
Next, you can now 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).
The price of the course includes the four Advaita eBooks used as the texts; questions sent after completion of the assigned readings, replies to your answers, and follow-up as required.
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. To get started now now, click the pay button below and receive the $365 course for a discounted price of $325.00.
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Floyd
by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:
Or, if you prefer, begin by arranging a one-hour Advaita session via Skype with Floyd:
Next, you can now 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, Seven-Hour Video (DVD) Set of an advaita retreat, or the downloadable file version. To find out more or to purchase the DVD or downloadable computer file version of the retreat, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
International buyers: note the separate option for those outside the continental U.S.
2. BY READING the explanations offered in the collection of non-duality books that are available on this site.
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 information or use the link below to pay for your first Advaita session.
You may click the BUY NOW button below to begin arrangements for your first Advaita session with Floyd via Skype and he will contact you to schedule:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
SIX WAYS THAT SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED:
1. BY WATCHING the 4-Disk, Seven-Hour Video (DVD) Set of an advaita retreat, or the downloadable file version. To find out more or to purchase the DVD or downloadable computer file version of the retreat, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
International buyers: note the separate option for those outside the continental U.S.
2. BY READING the explanations offered in the collection of non-duality books that are available on this site.
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 information or use the link below to pay for your first Advaita session.
You may click the BUY NOW button below to begin arrangements for your first Advaita session with Floyd via Skype and he will contact you to schedule:
6. BY ARRANGING for floyd to travel to your location and meet with you or your group. Use the contact link below to discuss details.
