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a. Yes, religious and / or spiritual roles must be assumed and played for a time at the third of seven steps on the path away from identification with the false "I" and to an understanding of the Absolute. (Because 97% of the persons on the planet claim to be affiliated with one religion or another, and because millions more boast that they "are spiritual, not religious," then 99% have probably already assumed the role of either "The Super Religious One" or "The Spiritual Giant" anyway and are already playing their roles to the hilt);
b. the answer to your query also calls for an understanding of the paradoxical requirement to play new roles in order to be free of old roles (and shifting from "different-from roles" to "other-than roles " before reaching the "no-assumed-roles condition"). What does that mean? It means that the roles that the masses are playing are ego-states that trigger egotism, so the masses are already convinced that they are "different-from" and "better-than." To move along the direct path, they must play for awhile roles which are something "other-than" the roles that they are already playing;
c. your question also deals with the need for seekers to shift the focus from the physical to the metaphysical for awhile, to focus for a time on the noumenal rather than the phenomenal;
d. the query also calls for understanding "level-appropriate answers";
e. and, yes, Maharaj did change the content of his message after transcending several stages of "evolution" (those shifts discussed in detail in the book "Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and His Evolution");
f. the query deals with the need to understand that the direct path method and the Nisargan yoga deals with a three-legged "journey";
g. and the query deals with these two pointers from Maharaj as well:
" ... You should go back, reverse, to the source"
and
"Follow the same path by which you came."
First, the Direct Path Teaching Method used to teach the non-duality understanding does not include contradictions but it does include many ironies and paradoxes. One paradox is that arrogance-based, dualistic roles that inspire the belief that one is "different from" or "better than" "others" cannot simply be cast aside in one fell swoop by persons accustomed to 20 or 30 or 40 years of role-playing.
The capacity of ego-states (along with the capacity of ego-defense mechanisms to protect ego-states when they feel under attack) cannot be overstated. They will not be cast aside in any posthaste manner. They will fight to the end to sustain themselves, no matter that they are illusions which are rooted in self-deception.
The irony is that roles that would be cast aside must first be replaced with other roles that are something "other-than" the roles already being played. That is an interim step that must be taken before the consciousness can reach a "no-assumed-roles condition."
Thus, the roles that your culture labels as "bad roles" must be replaced with roles that the culture labels as "good roles" in order for any shift to occur. Eventually, if Realized, there will be no concern at all for what your culture either values or scorns, but initially, there must be a shift away from attachment to the "scorned roles" and an attachment to the "valued roles."
So, yes, it is a fact that the seven-step "path" from identification with the false "I" to an understanding of the Absolute which is taught here at retreats and in select books does include a religious and / or spiritual step. Those new roles that one's culture values must be assumed and played for a time at the third of seven steps on the path.
Consider Maharaj's statements:
" ... You should go back, reverse, to the source"
and
"Follow the same path by which you came."
Because the "path in" from the Absolute to identification with the false "I" includes seven steps, and because in almost all cases (about 99%) the steps included a stage where either religious or spiritual roles were assigned and accepted as being real, then the "path out" must also include those steps (contrary to what the Neo-Advaitins claim).
Why? Because one who had been abiding under the influence of programming, conditioning, acculturation, domestication, and brainwashing for 20 or 30 or 40 years cannot simple go from step one (false "I" identification) to step seven (Realization) in a flash.
If your mailbox is seven steps from your front door, you cannot walk the seven steps to the mailbox, place a letter inside, turn, and then in one step be back at your front door. (Sorry, Neo-Advaitins, but that can't happen.)
However, there is a problem that is encountered at the third step on the "journey," and it is this: most who reach that level (or who are among the 99% who are already at that level) never transcend it, certain that they understand all that is to be understood. In fact, at the third of seven steps, they are far from The Understanding and even farther from "The Final Understanding."
Yet that step cannot be skipped, for it does provide one change that is necessary for completion of the "journey," namely, a shift away from focusing on the physical only to considering the metaphysical for awhile; that is, there must be a shift that allows seekers to focus for a time on noumenal matters rather than on phenomenal concerns alone, and playing the third-step religious and / or spiritual roles can allow that shift to happen.
[To be continued.]
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
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For more information, clickVISITOR: [Received 17 May 2012] So why do you say that the religious or spiritual steps are one of the seven steps? And why did Maharaj talk so much about spirituality but then tell people to "Just give up spirituality"?
F.: [Continued from yesterday] Your question touches on several aspects of the teachings, actually:
a. Yes, religious and / or spiritual roles must be assumed and played for a time at the third of seven steps on the path away from identification with the false "I" and to an understanding of the Absolute. (Because 97% of the persons on the planet claim to be affiliated with one religion or another, and because millions more boast that they "are spiritual, not religious," then 99% have probably already assumed the role of either "The Super Religious One" or "The Spiritual Giant" anyway and are already playing their roles to the hilt);
b. the answer to your query also calls for an understanding of the paradoxical requirement to play new roles in order to be free of old roles (and shifting from "different-from roles" to "other-than roles " before reaching the "no-assumed-roles condition"). What does that mean? It means that the roles that the masses are playing are ego-states that trigger egotism, so the masses are already convinced that they are "different-from" and "better-than." To move along the direct path, they must play for awhile roles which are something "other-than" the roles that they are already playing;
c. your question also deals with the need for seekers to shift the focus from the physical to the metaphysical for awhile, to focus for a time on the noumenal rather than the phenomenal;
d. the query also calls for understanding "level-appropriate answers";
e. and, yes, Maharaj did change the content of his message after transcending several stages of "evolution" (those shifts discussed in detail in the book "Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and His Evolution");
f. the query deals with the need to understand that the direct path method and the Nisargan yoga deals with a three-legged "journey";
g. and the query deals with these two pointers from Maharaj as well:
" ... You should go back, reverse, to the source"
and
"Follow the same path by which you came."
First, the Direct Path Teaching Method used to teach the non-duality understanding does not include contradictions but it does include many ironies and paradoxes. One paradox is that arrogance-based, dualistic roles that inspire the belief that one is "different from" or "better than" "others" cannot simply be cast aside in one fell swoop by persons accustomed to 20 or 30 or 40 years of role-playing.
The capacity of ego-states (along with the capacity of ego-defense mechanisms to protect ego-states when they feel under attack) cannot be overstated. They will not be cast aside in any posthaste manner. They will fight to the end to sustain themselves, no matter that they are illusions which are rooted in self-deception.
The irony is that roles that would be cast aside must first be replaced with other roles that are something "other-than" the roles already being played. That is an interim step that must be taken before the consciousness can reach a "no-assumed-roles condition."
Thus, the roles that your culture labels as "bad roles" must be replaced with roles that the culture labels as "good roles" in order for any shift to occur. Eventually, if Realized, there will be no concern at all for what your culture either values or scorns, but initially, there must be a shift away from attachment to the "scorned roles" and an attachment to the "valued roles."
So, yes, it is a fact that the seven-step "path" from identification with the false "I" to an understanding of the Absolute which is taught here at retreats and in select books does include a religious and / or spiritual step. Those new roles that one's culture values must be assumed and played for a time at the third of seven steps on the path.
Consider Maharaj's statements:
" ... You should go back, reverse, to the source"
and
"Follow the same path by which you came."
Because the "path in" from the Absolute to identification with the false "I" includes seven steps, and because in almost all cases (about 99%) the steps included a stage where either religious or spiritual roles were assigned and accepted as being real, then the "path out" must also include those steps (contrary to what the Neo-Advaitins claim).
Why? Because one who had been abiding under the influence of programming, conditioning, acculturation, domestication, and brainwashing for 20 or 30 or 40 years cannot simple go from step one (false "I" identification) to step seven (Realization) in a flash.
If your mailbox is seven steps from your front door, you cannot walk the seven steps to the mailbox, place a letter inside, turn, and then in one step be back at your front door. (Sorry, Neo-Advaitins, but that can't happen.)
However, there is a problem that is encountered at the third step on the "journey," and it is this: most who reach that level (or who are among the 99% who are already at that level) never transcend it, certain that they understand all that is to be understood. In fact, at the third of seven steps, they are far from The Understanding and even farther from "The Final Understanding."
Yet that step cannot be skipped, for it does provide one change that is necessary for completion of the "journey," namely, a shift away from focusing on the physical only to considering the metaphysical for awhile; that is, there must be a shift that allows seekers to focus for a time on noumenal matters rather than on phenomenal concerns alone, and playing the third-step religious and / or spiritual roles can allow that shift to happen.
[To be continued.]
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The Relative Results of Returning to "The Child Ignorance Stage" or "The Child No-Knowing State"
The Relative Results of Returning to "The Child Ignorance Stage" or "The Child No-Knowing State"
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(QUOTATIONS AND POINTERS dealing with NON-DUALITY, ADVAITA, NISARGA YOGA and more)
(QUOTATIONS AND POINTERS dealing with NON-DUALITY, ADVAITA, NISARGA YOGA and more)
(Note: Contrary to what you might read, every quote in this book is identified by its author or speaker)The work contains quotations and pointers not only from scores of non-duality books and talks but also offers non-duality pointers that have appeared in works of non-fiction, fiction, classic literature, and movies.
The book include the following:
The offering of non-duality quotations and pointers by category and subject matter but from Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj exclusively.
Quotations and pointers from Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj that discuss nisarga yoga and nisarga living.
Quotations that other seekers / readers have indicated that they found to be significant.
A section with an arrangement of non-duality quotations and pointers by category and subject matter. The rationale: when offering non-duality quotations, some collections provide key pointers that are offered in no particular order, but here the approach is to group pointers according to subject matter so that a seeker dealing with "body identification issues" can find quotations addressing body identity while a seeker dealing with "being free of the influence of the mind" can find quotations and pointers that offer information on that topic. Other subjects in this part of the book include personality, the child ignorance or no-knowing stage, the two types of witnessing, the Absolute, the Void or the Nothingness, and many more.
Miscellaneous non-duality quotations and pointers which are relevant to Advaitins and that have been offered by philosophers and sages and seers of truth from various periods, including Plato, St. Francis of Assisi, Desiderius Erasmus, Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, Richard E. Lingenfelter; Robert Burton, Daniel H. Boorstin, Gary Zukav, E. Bayda, Mark Twain, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Brad Thor, Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr.; Nelson Mandela, Immanuel Kant, Bruce Lipton, Clive Cussler, Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, Lewis Thomas, Max Planck, Heinrich Hertz; the bands "Pink Floyd" and "The Beatles"; and others.
Non-duality pointers that have appeared in the non-fiction writings of Ralph Klein and in the works of such scientists as Barbara McClintock, Erwin Schrodinger, Fritjof Capra, Niels Bohr, David Bohm, Neil deGrasse Tyson. Also, there are selections from the works of Marvin Kaye, S.H. Sharp, Paul Krassner, Ken Kesey, Russell Brand, G.I. Gurdjieff; and a variety of examples of the non-duality messages that are contained in the body of Native American wisdom as well as non-duality pointers that can be found in the book "ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS" (a.k.a., "the A.A. Big Book").
An offering of non-duality messages that have appeared in the fictional works of Jack Kerouac, Michael Connelly, Mary Shelley, Victor Hugo, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Robert Lewis Stevenson, Abraham "Bram" Stoker and others as well as quotations with the non-duality message as offered in film with a list of over thirty movies that are based in non-duality, including The Matrix (Part One), The 13th Floor, Inception, The Truman Show, Dark City, Existenz, Avatar, and many more.
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( QUOTATIONS AND POINTERS dealing with NON-DUALITY, ADVAITA, NISARGA YOGA and more)
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FREEDOM FROM BELIEFS
(Believers, Non-Believers, and "No-Belief-ers")
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 SRI NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ SERIES, 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
(5) The Final Fifteen Topics Discussed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
and
(6) The Non-Duality Pointers Offered by YESHU'A ("Jesus the Christ")
(7) William Shakespeare the Advaitin
with THE SRI NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ SERIES, 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
(5) The Final Fifteen Topics Discussed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
and
(6) The Non-Duality Pointers Offered by YESHU'A ("Jesus the Christ")
(7) William Shakespeare the Advaitin
(8) The "Final" Talks of Floyd Henderson
(9) QUOTATIONS AND POINTERS dealing with NON-DUALITY, ADVAITA, NISARGA YOGA and more)
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
The Relative Results of Returning to "The Child Ignorance Stage" or "The Child No-Knowing State"
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
The Relative Results of Returning to "The Child Ignorance Stage" or "The Child No-Knowing State"
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
Your Original Nature
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)
Freedom from Beliefs (Believers, Non-Believers, and "No-Belief-ers")
Dancing Lightly
Instability / Insanity: What the Advaita Teachings Can (and Cannot) Address
PROGRAMMING, CONDITIONING, DOMESTICATION, AND ACCULTURATION
Your Original Nature
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)
Freedom from Beliefs (Believers, Non-Believers, and "No-Belief-ers")
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
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(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.
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.
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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).
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:
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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
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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:
