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.: Using the same technique that Maharaj often employed and beginning a discussion of "a relative-particular," a basis can be laid for then expanding the dialogue and re-focusing the spotlight on pointers that deal with "the Absolute-Universal." Such is the case with this series.
If you review the three, non-personal examples from yesterday, you will see that humans can come from similar backgrounds; can undergo parallel experiences; and can be exposed to comparable programming, domestication, acculturation and conditioning; however, they can follow paths that have no similarity at all.
Diverging from the dark path that the masses follow can happen among the few that cast off their attachment to their backgrounds; reject the bogus ideas and concepts that were accumulated during their early, relative experiences; and eliminate every last vestige of their programming, domestication, acculturation and conditioning.
For the most part, however, the masses will never cast off any of the nonsense and learned ignorance and insanity that are rooted in their backgrounds, their experiences, or their programming, etc.
Thus, while the masses will seldom ever seek anything beyond the bogus concepts and ideas and beliefs that were taught to them via programming, domestication, acculturation and conditioning, there are two types of seekers that might emerge from "the pack":
1. There is the type that is inherently in touch with the inner resource / the inner guru and with the intuitive sense that generates, early on, a propensity for spotting BS when they hear it; a tendency to question authority; a near-passionate urge to rebel against the efforts of those who would fill their minds with nonsense; and a spontaneous drive to find The Authentic Self; and
2. there is the type that may not have been driven originally to care at all about the True Self and one's Original Nature but who crosses paths with either ...
a. one or more of those rare types that march to the beat of a different drummer, one that pounds out a beat that is the 180-degrees opposite of the beat that the masses hear and which causes them to walk in their lock-step, non-questioning, faith-based, loyalist fashion,
or one who crosses paths with ...
b. a teacher that is serving up certain morsels of wisdom that trigger a resonating awareness within the listener ... that triggers the recognition of a certain je ne sais quoi that one nevertheless knows is pointing to some Reality and to some Truth that will never be understood by the masses who have been lulled to sleep, who are fully embroiled in The Dream / Nightmare of the Planet, and who are passing their relative existence on the stage of The Theater of the Lie.
As long as persons align with the masses who never seek anything beyond that which was taught to them, then these Advaitin pointers will apply:
A. Those persons will accept the false identities that were assigned to them or that they adopted;
B. they will arrogantly upgrade themselves - their false selves - inspiring them to accept ego-states as real and noble and splendid and righteous identities; and
C. they will soon use egotism to support their false identities.
From that point forward,
D. they will be trapped in the ignorance of not knowing Who or What They Truly Are;
E. they will be trapped in the insanity of believing that they are choosing what they are thinking and saying and doing though they are actually walking and talking in their sleep; and
F. they will have no clue at all about how totally ignorant they are (or how truly "stupid" they are, to use Maharaj's term); and
G. they will thereafter be unjustifiably proud and gratuitously-conceited and delusionally-arrogant about things that they believe have made them great but which, in fact, they had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with at all.
Reviewing examples from yesterday's post, it can be seen that there are people who are proud of their skin color and their race, as if they had anything to do with determining the color of their skin or their race;
and there are people who are xenophobically-proud to be "a native-born Texan" or "a native-born American," as if they had anything to do with where their mothers' birth canals were at the moment that they were churned out of said passages.
[In place of "Texan" or "American," insert the names of any other places - any city or state or nation - that one is proud of, that one is assuming makes her or him different from and better than people living in other places that "are not nearly so nice." Only the non-Realized could dream up "geographic pride" to go along with all of their other sources of false pride.]
To continue to review the examples from yesterday, it can be seen that there are people who are "proud to be a Christian," as if persons choose their religion rather than having it pre-determined for them and having it assigned to them or imposed upon them by their parents or family or culture.
[Of that, Steve Jobs said: "Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking." In the example above, therefore, you can substitute for the word "Christian" either "Muslim," "Jew," "Hindu," "Buddhist," "Native-American Spiritualist," "Taoist," "Advaitin," whatever.]
Consider the level of ignorance that is necessary for one to be proud to have been "raised in a rural area," as if he / she chose to be raised there. Consider also the level of unmitigated arrogance and dualistic distortion that is required for one to suggest that being raised in a rural area makes one better than people raised in urban areas.
Consider the level of ignorance that is necessary for persons to be "proud of the conservative values and morals" that were imposed upon them by their community, as if those "values and morals" were consciously chosen rather than unconsciously and unquestioningly accepted without benefit of study and investigation.
How ignorant is it for persons to be proud of the way that they were programmed, domesticated, acculturated and conditioned, as if they had anything at all to do with that which was imposed upon them and which they did not choose?
[Steve Jobs: "Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice."]
Consider the level of ignorance that is necessary for persons to be proud of the fact that, as a child, they blindly and unquestioningly accepted the messages they heard from religious and political and community leaders (who were merely passing on their learned, generational ignorance and prejudice and nonsense) and then continued as an adult to blindly and unquestioningly accept and repeat those same messages.
Consider the level of ignorance that is necessary for one who is talking in her or his sleep to say, basically, "I am so proud of the fact that I have never decided anything for myself after careful examination and wise consideration but have, instead, always been exactly like the dummy sitting on the knee of a ventriloquist, seemingly choosing my thoughts and words and deeds although I have actually done nothing but mirror the ignorance of those with whom I was raised."
[Steve Jobs: "And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."]
If you review the three, non-personal examples from yesterday, you will see that humans can come from similar backgrounds; can undergo parallel experiences; and can be exposed to comparable programming, domestication, acculturation and conditioning; however, they can follow paths that have no similarity at all.
Diverging from the dark path that the masses follow can happen among the few that cast off their attachment to their backgrounds; reject the bogus ideas and concepts that were accumulated during their early, relative experiences; and eliminate every last vestige of their programming, domestication, acculturation and conditioning.
For the most part, however, the masses will never cast off any of the nonsense and learned ignorance and insanity that are rooted in their backgrounds, their experiences, or their programming, etc.
Thus, while the masses will seldom ever seek anything beyond the bogus concepts and ideas and beliefs that were taught to them via programming, domestication, acculturation and conditioning, there are two types of seekers that might emerge from "the pack":
1. There is the type that is inherently in touch with the inner resource / the inner guru and with the intuitive sense that generates, early on, a propensity for spotting BS when they hear it; a tendency to question authority; a near-passionate urge to rebel against the efforts of those who would fill their minds with nonsense; and a spontaneous drive to find The Authentic Self; and
2. there is the type that may not have been driven originally to care at all about the True Self and one's Original Nature but who crosses paths with either ...
a. one or more of those rare types that march to the beat of a different drummer, one that pounds out a beat that is the 180-degrees opposite of the beat that the masses hear and which causes them to walk in their lock-step, non-questioning, faith-based, loyalist fashion,
or one who crosses paths with ...
b. a teacher that is serving up certain morsels of wisdom that trigger a resonating awareness within the listener ... that triggers the recognition of a certain je ne sais quoi that one nevertheless knows is pointing to some Reality and to some Truth that will never be understood by the masses who have been lulled to sleep, who are fully embroiled in The Dream / Nightmare of the Planet, and who are passing their relative existence on the stage of The Theater of the Lie.
As long as persons align with the masses who never seek anything beyond that which was taught to them, then these Advaitin pointers will apply:
A. Those persons will accept the false identities that were assigned to them or that they adopted;
B. they will arrogantly upgrade themselves - their false selves - inspiring them to accept ego-states as real and noble and splendid and righteous identities; and
C. they will soon use egotism to support their false identities.
From that point forward,
D. they will be trapped in the ignorance of not knowing Who or What They Truly Are;
E. they will be trapped in the insanity of believing that they are choosing what they are thinking and saying and doing though they are actually walking and talking in their sleep; and
F. they will have no clue at all about how totally ignorant they are (or how truly "stupid" they are, to use Maharaj's term); and
G. they will thereafter be unjustifiably proud and gratuitously-conceited and delusionally-arrogant about things that they believe have made them great but which, in fact, they had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with at all.
Reviewing examples from yesterday's post, it can be seen that there are people who are proud of their skin color and their race, as if they had anything to do with determining the color of their skin or their race;
and there are people who are xenophobically-proud to be "a native-born Texan" or "a native-born American," as if they had anything to do with where their mothers' birth canals were at the moment that they were churned out of said passages.
[In place of "Texan" or "American," insert the names of any other places - any city or state or nation - that one is proud of, that one is assuming makes her or him different from and better than people living in other places that "are not nearly so nice." Only the non-Realized could dream up "geographic pride" to go along with all of their other sources of false pride.]
To continue to review the examples from yesterday, it can be seen that there are people who are "proud to be a Christian," as if persons choose their religion rather than having it pre-determined for them and having it assigned to them or imposed upon them by their parents or family or culture.
[Of that, Steve Jobs said: "Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking." In the example above, therefore, you can substitute for the word "Christian" either "Muslim," "Jew," "Hindu," "Buddhist," "Native-American Spiritualist," "Taoist," "Advaitin," whatever.]
Consider the level of ignorance that is necessary for one to be proud to have been "raised in a rural area," as if he / she chose to be raised there. Consider also the level of unmitigated arrogance and dualistic distortion that is required for one to suggest that being raised in a rural area makes one better than people raised in urban areas.
Consider the level of ignorance that is necessary for persons to be "proud of the conservative values and morals" that were imposed upon them by their community, as if those "values and morals" were consciously chosen rather than unconsciously and unquestioningly accepted without benefit of study and investigation.
How ignorant is it for persons to be proud of the way that they were programmed, domesticated, acculturated and conditioned, as if they had anything at all to do with that which was imposed upon them and which they did not choose?
[Steve Jobs: "Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice."]
Consider the level of ignorance that is necessary for persons to be proud of the fact that, as a child, they blindly and unquestioningly accepted the messages they heard from religious and political and community leaders (who were merely passing on their learned, generational ignorance and prejudice and nonsense) and then continued as an adult to blindly and unquestioningly accept and repeat those same messages.
Consider the level of ignorance that is necessary for one who is talking in her or his sleep to say, basically, "I am so proud of the fact that I have never decided anything for myself after careful examination and wise consideration but have, instead, always been exactly like the dummy sitting on the knee of a ventriloquist, seemingly choosing my thoughts and words and deeds although I have actually done nothing but mirror the ignorance of those with whom I was raised."
[Steve Jobs: "And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."]
Please enter the silence of contemplation. (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.
