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.: The following is shared on the author's page at Amazon.com:
In college, I told the young woman I was dating that I was going to be a writer some day. She replied, "I have no doubts." In a recent conversation with her, she reminded me of that prediction, but neither of us would have guessed in the late 1960's that the subject matter of my books would involve the Advaita Vedanta teachings.
What neither of us knew at that time was that there would be many decades of detours before I would finally write and publish several dozen non-duality books and novels. The detours were described thusly in one of those novels entitled THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS:
"In his energy-consuming search for salvation, he'd been dipped, dunked, sprayed, spayed, sprinkled, and neutered; in the quest for truth, he'd been blessed, cursed, cussed, lectured, scolded, and praised; in his pursuit of Life's Meaning, he'd been communion'd, Om'd, grape-juiced, wined, ahsram'd, accepted, rejected, Mu'd, and yoga'd; in his chase for service-work-opportunities, he'd been pulverized, martinized, and frappéd; and in the endeavor to attain Life Eternal, he'd been baptized, Buddha'd, New Aged, powwow'd, Far Eastern Indianized, incense'd, sage'd, Tao'd, Peru'd, Tibet'd, washed in the blood, dunked in the waters, and purportedly purified."
If you find the reading of that list tiring, imagine actually DOING all of that. Eventually, the search ended with the combination of (1) pointers from a Realized teacher and (2) a vision that revealed the exact steps on the "path" that can move persons from identifying with all of the false "I's" to abiding in a manner that requires no searching, no effort, and no fluctuating between happiness and sadness (or between any other dualities, either).
Today, life unfolds in a manner described in FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS while savoring the taste of something even beyond what the Italians call "il dolce di fare niente" (that is, "the sweetness of doing nothing"). There has been a shift to an even simpler level than "the sweetness of doing nothing," namely, to "il dolce di Niente" (or, "the sweetness of Nothing," period).
Best regards if you are seeking freedom from all of the doingness of the relative existence, if you are sensing that natural living might be easier and more enjoyable than the heavy toll of supernatural or unnatural living, and sensing that you might enjoy the lightness of mere being even more than all of the heaviness of doing.
If that sounds of interest, then this point is offered:
The road need not be long and arduous, if (1) you happen to cross paths with a Realized teacher that employs the Direct Path Method and (2) if you happen to cross paths with a teacher that actually knows the exact steps on the direct "path" and (3) if you happen to cross paths with a teacher that knows how to convey to you the directions required to follow the direct path.
[A caution: if you use any of the lists on the internet that "rank" Non-Duality / Advaita Vedanta teachers, you likely will not find what you seek. Why not? Because what you have found is a list that has been compiled by one of the most arrogant of all persons who believes that he or she knows "who is teaching the right way" and "who is teaching the wrong way"; moreover, you will find a list compiled by a person who is revealing that Realization has not happened at all because that person is building and maintaining a hierarchy whereas the Realized discard belief in any and all hierarchies since they generate a sense of separation and better-than-ment. Too, according to Maharaj, you will never find what you seek via those he called "The Big Name Teachers." Why? If they are popular among the masses and have therefore become famous teachers, it is because they have diluted the message with elements that appeal to the masses, and the masses have no tolerance at all for either the truth or The Truth.]
So what are the odds of your finding the kind of teacher that understands the "path" and knows how to travel it in the precise fashion required in order to "go back, in the exact reverse order, of the way that the coming in happened"? According to Maharaj, the odds are 1 in 10,000,000; thus, as the masses wander through their relative existence, they take one detour after another, but most are stuck at one particular "place," specifically:
those who are totally "stuck" on the side road are the persons who are among the 97% who claim a religious affiliation or among the millions of others who brag that they "are not religious but are spiritual instead." They are all now stuck on the detour, on the side route, trapped in their religious and / or spiritual roles and having no clue at all that they have abandoned the "journey" before having even hit the halfway point.
However, seekers on the Direct Path must see that the Direct Path route also has detours: by the third step, seekers have begun to discard body identification and to question the content of the "mind." Yet some of the former "bad" roles that are abandoned by that point have simply been replaced with what are thought to be new, "good" identities, specifically, a variety of religious or spiritual roles.
The act of replacing roles with roles creates a detour along the "path," a "path" which requires the discarding of ALL roles and identities and personas and personality / personalities - including religious and spiritual personas that are as fictional as any other personas assumed in the past.
Yes, the third step must be completed for it is one of the seven steps that are necessary to shift one from identification with the false "I" to the understanding of the Absolute and to an awareness of the functioning of the totality; nevertheless, the third step is a detour. If seekers ignore Maharaj's warning - that erroneously believing that they are being bathed in the full light of the noonday sun when they are actually still standing in the dull light of the dawn - then they will remain sidetracked.
They will take the detour and become so enamored by their religious and / or spiritual role that they will never find their way back to the path and complete the entire "journey." This is the map that has been offered in the past to those that would understand what the entire "journey" involves:
In college, I told the young woman I was dating that I was going to be a writer some day. She replied, "I have no doubts." In a recent conversation with her, she reminded me of that prediction, but neither of us would have guessed in the late 1960's that the subject matter of my books would involve the Advaita Vedanta teachings.
What neither of us knew at that time was that there would be many decades of detours before I would finally write and publish several dozen non-duality books and novels. The detours were described thusly in one of those novels entitled THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS:
"In his energy-consuming search for salvation, he'd been dipped, dunked, sprayed, spayed, sprinkled, and neutered; in the quest for truth, he'd been blessed, cursed, cussed, lectured, scolded, and praised; in his pursuit of Life's Meaning, he'd been communion'd, Om'd, grape-juiced, wined, ahsram'd, accepted, rejected, Mu'd, and yoga'd; in his chase for service-work-opportunities, he'd been pulverized, martinized, and frappéd; and in the endeavor to attain Life Eternal, he'd been baptized, Buddha'd, New Aged, powwow'd, Far Eastern Indianized, incense'd, sage'd, Tao'd, Peru'd, Tibet'd, washed in the blood, dunked in the waters, and purportedly purified."
If you find the reading of that list tiring, imagine actually DOING all of that. Eventually, the search ended with the combination of (1) pointers from a Realized teacher and (2) a vision that revealed the exact steps on the "path" that can move persons from identifying with all of the false "I's" to abiding in a manner that requires no searching, no effort, and no fluctuating between happiness and sadness (or between any other dualities, either).
Today, life unfolds in a manner described in FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS while savoring the taste of something even beyond what the Italians call "il dolce di fare niente" (that is, "the sweetness of doing nothing"). There has been a shift to an even simpler level than "the sweetness of doing nothing," namely, to "il dolce di Niente" (or, "the sweetness of Nothing," period).
Best regards if you are seeking freedom from all of the doingness of the relative existence, if you are sensing that natural living might be easier and more enjoyable than the heavy toll of supernatural or unnatural living, and sensing that you might enjoy the lightness of mere being even more than all of the heaviness of doing.
If that sounds of interest, then this point is offered:
The road need not be long and arduous, if (1) you happen to cross paths with a Realized teacher that employs the Direct Path Method and (2) if you happen to cross paths with a teacher that actually knows the exact steps on the direct "path" and (3) if you happen to cross paths with a teacher that knows how to convey to you the directions required to follow the direct path.
[A caution: if you use any of the lists on the internet that "rank" Non-Duality / Advaita Vedanta teachers, you likely will not find what you seek. Why not? Because what you have found is a list that has been compiled by one of the most arrogant of all persons who believes that he or she knows "who is teaching the right way" and "who is teaching the wrong way"; moreover, you will find a list compiled by a person who is revealing that Realization has not happened at all because that person is building and maintaining a hierarchy whereas the Realized discard belief in any and all hierarchies since they generate a sense of separation and better-than-ment. Too, according to Maharaj, you will never find what you seek via those he called "The Big Name Teachers." Why? If they are popular among the masses and have therefore become famous teachers, it is because they have diluted the message with elements that appeal to the masses, and the masses have no tolerance at all for either the truth or The Truth.]
So what are the odds of your finding the kind of teacher that understands the "path" and knows how to travel it in the precise fashion required in order to "go back, in the exact reverse order, of the way that the coming in happened"? According to Maharaj, the odds are 1 in 10,000,000; thus, as the masses wander through their relative existence, they take one detour after another, but most are stuck at one particular "place," specifically:
those who are totally "stuck" on the side road are the persons who are among the 97% who claim a religious affiliation or among the millions of others who brag that they "are not religious but are spiritual instead." They are all now stuck on the detour, on the side route, trapped in their religious and / or spiritual roles and having no clue at all that they have abandoned the "journey" before having even hit the halfway point.
However, seekers on the Direct Path must see that the Direct Path route also has detours: by the third step, seekers have begun to discard body identification and to question the content of the "mind." Yet some of the former "bad" roles that are abandoned by that point have simply been replaced with what are thought to be new, "good" identities, specifically, a variety of religious or spiritual roles.
The act of replacing roles with roles creates a detour along the "path," a "path" which requires the discarding of ALL roles and identities and personas and personality / personalities - including religious and spiritual personas that are as fictional as any other personas assumed in the past.
Yes, the third step must be completed for it is one of the seven steps that are necessary to shift one from identification with the false "I" to the understanding of the Absolute and to an awareness of the functioning of the totality; nevertheless, the third step is a detour. If seekers ignore Maharaj's warning - that erroneously believing that they are being bathed in the full light of the noonday sun when they are actually still standing in the dull light of the dawn - then they will remain sidetracked.
They will take the detour and become so enamored by their religious and / or spiritual role that they will never find their way back to the path and complete the entire "journey." This is the map that has been offered in the past to those that would understand what the entire "journey" involves:
The results of completing only a part of the "journey," the part up to the third step, are far worse than not completing any part of the "journey" at all. Why? The case here makes clear why that pointer is valid:
When the detour happened here and there was a fixation at the third step, all sorts of religious and spiritual roles were assumed. When an ego-state is assumed, four events follow:
1. the ego-state is assumed to be real, to be an actual identity;
2. egotism and arrogance - two ego-defense mechanisms - activate to "protect and defend" the role;
3. as a result of such egotism and arrogance, the identity is soon upgraded;
4. then, a new set of belief systems develop that inspire judging and inspire a sense of separation, and that sense of separation is far worse than the sense of separation that existed prior to beginning the "journey."
Prior to Realization, when "floyd" assumed several religious and spiritual personas as identities, arrogance led to the upgrading of those roles. Soon, "floyd" was on the mountaintop, speaking to "The Poor Lost Souls" lulling about in the darkness of the shadows of the valley:
if only they would be as spiritual, they too could reach the same heights and be washed in the light of the knowledge that comes with mastering dogma and spiritual principles. But alas, they are not, so they shall continue to suffer.
The result: while abiding on the mountaintop, there was an even greater sense of separation, and a far more disgusting sense of better-than-ment, than had existed during the darkest days before both religious and spiritual roles had been assumed. The level of arrogance before could not compare with the degree of arrogance that came via the self -upgrading that comes with playing either or both of those two false roles.
In this case, therefore, the effects of completing only one-half of the "journey" proved to be far worse than if the "journey" had not been undertaken at all. In the 1980's and early 1990's, ownership of a European tour company required flying frequently from Houston to destinations in Western Europe. If only half of one of those flights had been completed, the airplane would have ended up in the Atlantic Ocean. The results of completing half of a seven-step "journey" to Realization are similar.
If you are reading this and either trying to follow the Direct Path or considering the undertaking of the "journey," you can expect to reach the third step and take a detour; however, you need not fixate there by identifying with the roles that are accumulated on the side road. This "journey" is about de-accumulation, not accumulation (and that includes not accumulating more identities and it includes eventually being free of all identity).
You need not take the long and arduous route that the non-Truth-seeking masses follow. They have no other option, so this is not to judge them but is only to understand the facts regarding that which will continue to trap them in darkness. At this moment, if you read and consider the content of this post and then follow through, You do have a different option.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
If you would like to support the site or to help insure that those seeking this understanding have someone available, you may click the following button to donate:
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
and
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
and
Jesus Christ the Advaitin
William Shakespeare the Advaitin
The "Final" Talks of Floyd Henderson
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.
