A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: To continue with the discussion of the results of those three perspectives on humanity.
The Views of Those in the “Reality / reality” Group
One woman who watched the post-talk interview of Prince Ea noted how he was able to enrage so many who then wrote “some really vile comments.”
(For those who might be interested, the interview will be shared one more time):
The reply: "Of course the comment that did not appear was this one:
So the masses replied to Prince Ea's non-dual pointers and his invitation to consider Truth and Love and to find the Real Self, "Hey, hold it down, dammit! We're trying to sleep over here!"
"But consider Prince Ea and I – and Maharaj as well during the later days when he offered psychology-based pointers rather than religious-based or spirituality-based pointers. Note that all have had ‘some really vile comments’ directed our way. And look what happened to Jesus after he abandoned organized religion and in his last years shared non-duality pointers instead. Not only were there ‘some really vile comments’ directed toward him. They actually killed him.
"Over the years, several death threats have been sent here (such as when reference was made to the insanity and ignorance that leads persons to believe such nonsense as ‘72 virgins are waiting for me if I blow myself to smithereens while killing infidels’; moreover, many, many self-described "Christians" have reported that they are praying that I will die 'so that I’ll never, ever again be able to publicly question their dogma and undermine their efforts.’
“But see, neither Prince Ea nor Maharaj nor Christ nor I have ever been able to ‘enrage’ anyone. Already-enraged persons hear Truth and Love being expressed and then their already-existing rage is demonstrated. It has nothing to do with any of us. What might it have something to do with? Maybe childhood abuse? Maybe judgmental perfectionism? Or maybe the long-term-stress-induced-rage of the type discussed in earlier posts regarding those fixated and trapped and stuck at the lower end of one or more hierarchies?
“Many persons who wrote ‘some really vile comments’ after listening to Prince Ea's sharing of some non-dual pointers in an interview - without actually hearing him at all – may well have reached a breaking point from their entrapment at the bottom of a hierarchy and are now among those who are ready for rebelling or for a major rebellion. A few will speak of Truth and Love; a few will ‘rage against the machine’ and endorse ‘rising up against the man.’
"That pattern may well continue, and only a few listening to those in either group will enjoy any significant shift during the relative existence. So it is. Maharaj said to those who would change ‘the world,’ Go ahead . . . give it a shot, but most will do well to even change the way they erroneously see ‘themselves’ . . . their ‘selves.’
“Only a very few will ever reach the “Reality / reality” understanding. As for what happens after that, nothing can be predicted. When Maharaj was asked what he would do if he saw someone being attacked, he pointed out that the Realized abide spontaneously, so nothing that they might or might not do at some future point under any given circumstance can be known or even predicted.”
For those that seek a “Reality / reality” awareness, consider some of the pointers from the video above that are a part of the teachings (which are meant to un-teach and thereby allow seekers to reach that understanding):
1. One can try to change “the world” through peaceful, political action or through more aggressive or violent activism. (Bottomline? How can one change that which is imagined and misperceived in the first place?)
2. Want to address Gaza, Afghanistan, Palestine, Chicago, whatever? Then stop. (Stop what?)
3. Stop believing, that is, become open to the possibility that you have been brainwashed on every level.
4. Be open to questioning every conditioned thought.
5. It is conditioned thoughts (beliefs) that persons have fought over, killed over, died over, been angry over, been sad over, been depressed over.
6. Persons are so loyal to what they take to be their thoughts / beliefs (yet it has been pointed out here time and again that there is no such thing as “your thoughts” and that there are only “their thoughts” which have been unquestioningly, and therefore, blindly adopted as “your own”).
7. Note where Prince Ea said those thoughts really came from: they came from your culture.
8. Then, he invited listeners to consider that word.
9. Break it down: cult-ure, as in cult (be those sky cults / religious cults / spirituality-involved cults; political cults; business cults; eastern religion cults; self-help cults; self-improvement cults; satanic cults; occult cults; racist cults; cults promising transformation; communal cults; ashram cults; Native American cults; etc., etc., etc.)
10. Acculturation has promoted the concepts that race is real; that war and violence can bring peace; that love is weakness.
11. Yet what have all the efforts involving politics, protests, rallies, riots and marches produced? Short-term results, not lasting solutions.
12. Consider: none of the thoughts and beliefs that parents and grandparents (ad infinitum) have believed and passed down have brought about any lasting solutions to humankind's problems, either.
13. We do not have to continue that cycle.
The invitation: set aside what has not worked, namely, hand-me-down beliefs; efforts to change “the world”; promoting war; promoting peace, etc. and seek to know that which is looking outward from within. What is that? Who are you? What are you?
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
Previous post
The Views of Those in the “Reality / reality” Group
One woman who watched the post-talk interview of Prince Ea noted how he was able to enrage so many who then wrote “some really vile comments.”
(For those who might be interested, the interview will be shared one more time):
The reply: "Of course the comment that did not appear was this one:
So the masses replied to Prince Ea's non-dual pointers and his invitation to consider Truth and Love and to find the Real Self, "Hey, hold it down, dammit! We're trying to sleep over here!"
"But consider Prince Ea and I – and Maharaj as well during the later days when he offered psychology-based pointers rather than religious-based or spirituality-based pointers. Note that all have had ‘some really vile comments’ directed our way. And look what happened to Jesus after he abandoned organized religion and in his last years shared non-duality pointers instead. Not only were there ‘some really vile comments’ directed toward him. They actually killed him.
"Over the years, several death threats have been sent here (such as when reference was made to the insanity and ignorance that leads persons to believe such nonsense as ‘72 virgins are waiting for me if I blow myself to smithereens while killing infidels’; moreover, many, many self-described "Christians" have reported that they are praying that I will die 'so that I’ll never, ever again be able to publicly question their dogma and undermine their efforts.’
“But see, neither Prince Ea nor Maharaj nor Christ nor I have ever been able to ‘enrage’ anyone. Already-enraged persons hear Truth and Love being expressed and then their already-existing rage is demonstrated. It has nothing to do with any of us. What might it have something to do with? Maybe childhood abuse? Maybe judgmental perfectionism? Or maybe the long-term-stress-induced-rage of the type discussed in earlier posts regarding those fixated and trapped and stuck at the lower end of one or more hierarchies?
“Many persons who wrote ‘some really vile comments’ after listening to Prince Ea's sharing of some non-dual pointers in an interview - without actually hearing him at all – may well have reached a breaking point from their entrapment at the bottom of a hierarchy and are now among those who are ready for rebelling or for a major rebellion. A few will speak of Truth and Love; a few will ‘rage against the machine’ and endorse ‘rising up against the man.’
"That pattern may well continue, and only a few listening to those in either group will enjoy any significant shift during the relative existence. So it is. Maharaj said to those who would change ‘the world,’ Go ahead . . . give it a shot, but most will do well to even change the way they erroneously see ‘themselves’ . . . their ‘selves.’
“Only a very few will ever reach the “Reality / reality” understanding. As for what happens after that, nothing can be predicted. When Maharaj was asked what he would do if he saw someone being attacked, he pointed out that the Realized abide spontaneously, so nothing that they might or might not do at some future point under any given circumstance can be known or even predicted.”
For those that seek a “Reality / reality” awareness, consider some of the pointers from the video above that are a part of the teachings (which are meant to un-teach and thereby allow seekers to reach that understanding):
1. One can try to change “the world” through peaceful, political action or through more aggressive or violent activism. (Bottomline? How can one change that which is imagined and misperceived in the first place?)
2. Want to address Gaza, Afghanistan, Palestine, Chicago, whatever? Then stop. (Stop what?)
3. Stop believing, that is, become open to the possibility that you have been brainwashed on every level.
4. Be open to questioning every conditioned thought.
5. It is conditioned thoughts (beliefs) that persons have fought over, killed over, died over, been angry over, been sad over, been depressed over.
6. Persons are so loyal to what they take to be their thoughts / beliefs (yet it has been pointed out here time and again that there is no such thing as “your thoughts” and that there are only “their thoughts” which have been unquestioningly, and therefore, blindly adopted as “your own”).
7. Note where Prince Ea said those thoughts really came from: they came from your culture.
8. Then, he invited listeners to consider that word.
9. Break it down: cult-ure, as in cult (be those sky cults / religious cults / spirituality-involved cults; political cults; business cults; eastern religion cults; self-help cults; self-improvement cults; satanic cults; occult cults; racist cults; cults promising transformation; communal cults; ashram cults; Native American cults; etc., etc., etc.)
10. Acculturation has promoted the concepts that race is real; that war and violence can bring peace; that love is weakness.
11. Yet what have all the efforts involving politics, protests, rallies, riots and marches produced? Short-term results, not lasting solutions.
12. Consider: none of the thoughts and beliefs that parents and grandparents (ad infinitum) have believed and passed down have brought about any lasting solutions to humankind's problems, either.
13. We do not have to continue that cycle.
The invitation: set aside what has not worked, namely, hand-me-down beliefs; efforts to change “the world”; promoting war; promoting peace, etc. and seek to know that which is looking outward from within. What is that? Who are you? What are you?
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
Previous post
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
PART “A” of TODAY’S POST
To continue with the discussion of the results of those three perspectives on humanity.
The Views of Those in the “Reality / reality” Group
So, it has been seen that the “Reality and reality” perspective generates a “three-world” view that is rooted in the dualistic message of religion:
(1) There is believed to be “this world” (taken to be “reality,” that is taken to be “real” in the exact way that it is perceived in so many different ways by those among the non-Realized masses . . . one thought to be “a real world” that is exactly as perceived by each and every conditioned and programmed mind of those persons); then
(2) there is “that world” where God is (and where you end up to receive your eternal reward if you’ve been “good” and “moral” and if you have lived your life in a way that has been “pleasing in His sight”); or
(3) there is “that other world” (where you end up in order to be punished eternally if you’ve been “bad” and “immoral” and if you have lived your life in a way that has been “displeasing in His sight”).
The result is a notion that misery and suffering are normal but that it will lead to eternal pleasure and happiness after joining “the Creator” in “that world” where He lives.
[Yet no matter how much that “belief” is expressed, none of those expressing the belief hasten their demise in order to leave behind the misery of “this world” and start collecting their reward ASAP. Ah, that’s because there’s a catch: He wants you to stay in this world and convert as many as possible to the “right religion” and to support that one, “right” religion with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your volunteer work. And then there’s the other catch, that "only God is supposed to decide when people are supposed to die, so you’ll go to Hell if you commit suicide." But then there’s also the belief that if you die in God’s service, you get a "Go Straight to Heaven, Do Not Pass Go" card. So many rules and so many concepts . . . and contradictory concepts at that. No wonder the people in the “Reality and reality” Group are so confused.]
It was then seen that the “Reality vs. reality” Group is made up of escapists and avoiders who, when their desires are take to the max, mentally move into “Foo-Foo Land,” that is, into some dreamed-up castle in the air, and, often, into states beyond neurosis and into states that are deeply psychotic states.
Then there are the few in the “Reality / reality” Group that understand all of the implications of the summative statement “I AM THAT; I AM” and that understand that, post-Realization, there is no “mental relocation” to “The Land of THAT,” much less a physical, embodied relocation later;
instead, they understand that the purpose of Realizing is to be free of the “ignorance and insanity” that Maharaj referenced, to reach a state of Realization whereby one is wise and sane, and then to overlay that Reality on the relative existence (“reality”) for the remainder of the manifestation.
PART “B” of TODAY’S POST [Definitely "Optional"]
While most will never “hear” the message, it in not because they have never heard the message. It is being offered from within many small pockets of unblocked consciousness in some of the least expected places. It might be contained in the lyrics of a John Lennon song;
or it might be contained in a sermon where people hear the words spoken by the one they call “Jesus” or “my Lord and Savior” without having a clue what he was really talking about when he said the following, as discussed in the eBook below entitled “The Non-Duality Pointers offered by Yeshu’a (“Jesus the Christ”):
"When you speak of Me, speak of Me as I AM."
"Before Abraham was, I AM."
"No one shall ever see the kingdom of heaven - it is within."
"Heaven and earth shall fade away” (as will all concepts when the un-manifestation happens and when conscious-energy slowly fades back into the universal field of energy).
"If you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty and you are poverty."
"I will give you what the eye has not seen, and what the ear has not heard, and what the hand has not touched, and what has not arisen in the heart of man."
"If they say to you, 'from where have you originated?' say to them, 'We have come from the light, where the light originated through itself'."
Not "I am the light" but "I AM light."
"If they ask you, 'what is the sign of your father in you?' say to them, 'it is a movement and a rest'."
"Whoever drinks from my mouth shall become as I AM and I myself will become he, and the hidden things shall be revealed to him."
"It is impossible for a man to mount two horses and to stretch two bows; and it is impossible for a servant to serve two masters; otherwise, he will honor the one and offend the other."
"When you make the two one, and when you make the inner as the outer and the outer as the inner, and the above as the below, and When you make the male and the female into a single one, so that the male will not be male and the female not be female, then shall you enter the kingdom."
"I come not to bring peace, but to bring a sword."
"I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
"A man’s enemies will be the members of his household."
"A dual-minded person is unstable in all ways."
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."
Or the message might be heard in the living room of a home north of Houston, Texas.
Remember what Andy Gugar, Jr. said before he came here for his first non-dual retreat after having searched all around the globe?
“I began googling ‘Advaita’ and found a blog site where Floyd Henderson was offering daily postings of non-dual pointers. I began investigating this guy, wondering who he thought he was to be posting pointers about Advaita. He was not even from the Far East. Worse, my investigations uncovered the fact that this guy lived in Texas.
“Being yet embroiled in ego, I asked, ‘Who does this guy living outside of Houston, Texas think he is . . . acting like he knows it all about these teachings?’ I concluded, "Heck, I live in Texas. I guarantee I already know as much about non-duality as any other person living in Texas. Who from Texas could offer anything about this eastern philosophy?"
Yet he came and the rest is, well, many of you know what has followed since.
Or the message might be heard in a talk and the subsequent interview a man recently gave after his talk. In that case, some were also quite surprised to hear the pointers offered by “Prince Ea” in a post-talk interview that was laced with non-dual, “Reality / reality” pointers.
(Others were disgusted, many were dismissive, and some were down-right angry. But most did not hear the message at all, even if among the few who saw the video of his post-talk interview. By the way, many of his early “reviews” were as critical as those by many visitors here. Those who can only see “this world” or “this world and other worlds” or “THAT world” are certainly not ready for “Reality / reality” pointers.)
So who is musician “Prince Ea” and what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, U.S.A. which triggered his talk and the interview afterwards? The facts are not all in on what happened in Ferguson Missouri, but the first take here is that “ignorance and stupidity and insanity” crossed paths with “ignorance, stupidity and insanity.” The results of such crossings seldom have "a happy ending" in the relative.
For those that might be interested, the interview with the caption "Keepin’ It Real: Prince Ea Speaks About The Outrage In Ferguson . . . ‘Mankind Has The Opportunity To Transform Into Kind Man’" is offered here:
Update: As of today, nearly 16 million have now watched that video interview. Maybe more are seeking the message - in whatever form it is offered - than estimated?
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
5 September 2014
To continue with the discussion of the results of those three perspectives on humanity.
The Views of Those in the “Reality / reality” Group
So, it has been seen that the “Reality and reality” perspective generates a “three-world” view that is rooted in the dualistic message of religion:
(1) There is believed to be “this world” (taken to be “reality,” that is taken to be “real” in the exact way that it is perceived in so many different ways by those among the non-Realized masses . . . one thought to be “a real world” that is exactly as perceived by each and every conditioned and programmed mind of those persons); then
(2) there is “that world” where God is (and where you end up to receive your eternal reward if you’ve been “good” and “moral” and if you have lived your life in a way that has been “pleasing in His sight”); or
(3) there is “that other world” (where you end up in order to be punished eternally if you’ve been “bad” and “immoral” and if you have lived your life in a way that has been “displeasing in His sight”).
The result is a notion that misery and suffering are normal but that it will lead to eternal pleasure and happiness after joining “the Creator” in “that world” where He lives.
[Yet no matter how much that “belief” is expressed, none of those expressing the belief hasten their demise in order to leave behind the misery of “this world” and start collecting their reward ASAP. Ah, that’s because there’s a catch: He wants you to stay in this world and convert as many as possible to the “right religion” and to support that one, “right” religion with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your volunteer work. And then there’s the other catch, that "only God is supposed to decide when people are supposed to die, so you’ll go to Hell if you commit suicide." But then there’s also the belief that if you die in God’s service, you get a "Go Straight to Heaven, Do Not Pass Go" card. So many rules and so many concepts . . . and contradictory concepts at that. No wonder the people in the “Reality and reality” Group are so confused.]
It was then seen that the “Reality vs. reality” Group is made up of escapists and avoiders who, when their desires are take to the max, mentally move into “Foo-Foo Land,” that is, into some dreamed-up castle in the air, and, often, into states beyond neurosis and into states that are deeply psychotic states.
Then there are the few in the “Reality / reality” Group that understand all of the implications of the summative statement “I AM THAT; I AM” and that understand that, post-Realization, there is no “mental relocation” to “The Land of THAT,” much less a physical, embodied relocation later;
instead, they understand that the purpose of Realizing is to be free of the “ignorance and insanity” that Maharaj referenced, to reach a state of Realization whereby one is wise and sane, and then to overlay that Reality on the relative existence (“reality”) for the remainder of the manifestation.
PART “B” of TODAY’S POST [Definitely "Optional"]
While most will never “hear” the message, it in not because they have never heard the message. It is being offered from within many small pockets of unblocked consciousness in some of the least expected places. It might be contained in the lyrics of a John Lennon song;
or it might be contained in a sermon where people hear the words spoken by the one they call “Jesus” or “my Lord and Savior” without having a clue what he was really talking about when he said the following, as discussed in the eBook below entitled “The Non-Duality Pointers offered by Yeshu’a (“Jesus the Christ”):
"When you speak of Me, speak of Me as I AM."
"Before Abraham was, I AM."
"No one shall ever see the kingdom of heaven - it is within."
"Heaven and earth shall fade away” (as will all concepts when the un-manifestation happens and when conscious-energy slowly fades back into the universal field of energy).
"If you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty and you are poverty."
"I will give you what the eye has not seen, and what the ear has not heard, and what the hand has not touched, and what has not arisen in the heart of man."
"If they say to you, 'from where have you originated?' say to them, 'We have come from the light, where the light originated through itself'."
Not "I am the light" but "I AM light."
"If they ask you, 'what is the sign of your father in you?' say to them, 'it is a movement and a rest'."
"Whoever drinks from my mouth shall become as I AM and I myself will become he, and the hidden things shall be revealed to him."
"It is impossible for a man to mount two horses and to stretch two bows; and it is impossible for a servant to serve two masters; otherwise, he will honor the one and offend the other."
"When you make the two one, and when you make the inner as the outer and the outer as the inner, and the above as the below, and When you make the male and the female into a single one, so that the male will not be male and the female not be female, then shall you enter the kingdom."
"I come not to bring peace, but to bring a sword."
"I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
"A man’s enemies will be the members of his household."
"A dual-minded person is unstable in all ways."
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."
Or the message might be heard in the living room of a home north of Houston, Texas.
Remember what Andy Gugar, Jr. said before he came here for his first non-dual retreat after having searched all around the globe?
“I began googling ‘Advaita’ and found a blog site where Floyd Henderson was offering daily postings of non-dual pointers. I began investigating this guy, wondering who he thought he was to be posting pointers about Advaita. He was not even from the Far East. Worse, my investigations uncovered the fact that this guy lived in Texas.
“Being yet embroiled in ego, I asked, ‘Who does this guy living outside of Houston, Texas think he is . . . acting like he knows it all about these teachings?’ I concluded, "Heck, I live in Texas. I guarantee I already know as much about non-duality as any other person living in Texas. Who from Texas could offer anything about this eastern philosophy?"
Yet he came and the rest is, well, many of you know what has followed since.
Or the message might be heard in a talk and the subsequent interview a man recently gave after his talk. In that case, some were also quite surprised to hear the pointers offered by “Prince Ea” in a post-talk interview that was laced with non-dual, “Reality / reality” pointers.
(Others were disgusted, many were dismissive, and some were down-right angry. But most did not hear the message at all, even if among the few who saw the video of his post-talk interview. By the way, many of his early “reviews” were as critical as those by many visitors here. Those who can only see “this world” or “this world and other worlds” or “THAT world” are certainly not ready for “Reality / reality” pointers.)
So who is musician “Prince Ea” and what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, U.S.A. which triggered his talk and the interview afterwards? The facts are not all in on what happened in Ferguson Missouri, but the first take here is that “ignorance and stupidity and insanity” crossed paths with “ignorance, stupidity and insanity.” The results of such crossings seldom have "a happy ending" in the relative.
For those that might be interested, the interview with the caption "Keepin’ It Real: Prince Ea Speaks About The Outrage In Ferguson . . . ‘Mankind Has The Opportunity To Transform Into Kind Man’" is offered here:
Update: As of today, nearly 16 million have now watched that video interview. Maybe more are seeking the message - in whatever form it is offered - than estimated?
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
5 September 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: To continue with the discussion of the results of those three perspectives on humanity:
The Views of Those in the “Reality vs. reality” Group
It was shown yesterday that there were those who deemed themselves to be “spiritual” and who presented themselves to their communities as “spiritual leaders” and who then became “political leaders” as well.
Eventually, as more beliefs were added to the mix, various systems of duality-based dogma were developed and then codified and presented in what were claimed to be “holy books.” That led to so-called “spiritual beliefs” eventually giving way to things deemed to be “religious,” (though there was very little difference in the two except specific definitions of what is “right” and what is “wrong” and what is “sinful” and what is “virtuous” were provided, along with specific guidelines for the way people should think and talk and behave).
Beginning in the 1700-1000 B.C. period, the Rig Veda was composed and is the oldest of all Vedas (scriptures in Hinduism).
During the 1200-600 B.C. range, the Upanishads (also Vedic texts) were composed; they set forth some of the central religious concepts of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and have been referred to with the term “Vedanta” (meaning, “the end of the Veda”).
In the 8th century there came Shankara who was one of the most revered of all Hindus and who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. He spoke of the unity of the ātman and Nirguna Brahman (that is, "brahman without attributes") He elaborates on some of the concepts in the Upanishads and he wrote commentaries on ideas and concepts involving Vedic canon.
A trend began developing among some to more away from organized religion (as Jesus did) and move back to “spirituality,” so a circle was (supposedly) about to be completed in some quarters:
there has been thousands of years earlier those who deeded themselves to be "spiritual"; then
there was a shift away from “spirituality” to the dogma of organized religion;
then came a shift by some who claimed that they were returning to the earlier time when there were people who were “spiritual rather than religious.”
(Many twelve steps group members often announce proudly, “I am not religious . . . I am spiritual.” That reinforces their sense of being different from and better then, yet both identities – “The Super Religious One” and “The Spiritual Giant” - are nothing more than false identities which are assumed at the third of seven steps on the “path” away from body identification to Realization and, therefore, usually result in their fixating at that midpoint so they never Realize at all.)
While there were some looking for ways to "be spiritual and not religious" who turned to Shankara for guidance in that regard, it should be noted that he endorsed the importance of monastic life as sanctioned in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra, and he reportedly founded four monasteries which, in some cases, helped to spread the Advaita Vedanta message but in other cases reinforced religious principles. Moreover, he also founded the Shanmata tradition of worship which helped maintain a linkage to religion.
So what happened during those periods of fluctuation was this: there was actually far less transitioning away from organized religion and toward “purer spiritual practices” than some claimed.
The tone of discussions at that point began to take on a highly philosophical character, leading many to become more concerned with the THAT-ness than with the AM-ness. They ignored the understanding implied in the summative statement of non-duality (“I AM THAT; I AM”) and they mentally rewrote the statement in their subconscious minds to read (“I AM THAT” only).
The results of the perspective of those in the “Reality vs. reality” group became, in many instances, dissociation; a downgrading of the IS-ness and an upgrading of the THAT-ness; acute detachment; a split or a break or a divorce from reality; a disconnection from the composite unity and its basic requirements;
an abandonment of the joy that can only be enjoyed via that composite unity; disengagement from the relative existence; in some cases, isolation and segregation; a distancing from the opportunities to appreciate non-destructive pleasures;
a tendency to build castles in the air (while in the neurotic state) and a tendency to seemingly move into those castles (when in the psychotic state); an abandonment of the AM-ness as a result of moving away from “this world” and into another supposedly “Noumenal, supposedly-spiritual world” which is characterized here as “Foo-Foo Land” where persons can "go" if practicing psychotic escapism;
an excessively romanticized, idealized perspective; delusions of grandeur, believing that one has attained heights of purity and wisdom and understanding that most will never attain and then being excessively proud of that supposed “fact”; practicing what Maharaj called "kindergarten spirituality";
a tendency toward laziness and “tuning in, turning on and dropping out”; a claim by some who have written here to suggest that I should inform site visitors that in order for them to reach the highest states of consciousness which the writers have (supposedly) reached, all must make use of the “mind-expanding drugs” that the writers have used.
[Note the reinforcement of their beliefs which "The Beatles" received while visiting India as a result of having been told that “the use of drugs could expand their consciousness” alongside the teachings they could hear in India. Other advice heard from some while there suggested that they “abandon the use of psychedelics but continue to use marijuana,” but others advised that "marijuana will not expand the consciousness nearly as well as psychedelics."
One report said that all four members of the "The Beatles" therefore used drugs while at the ashram to assist them with their efforts to “expand their consciousness.” John Lennon - commenting on George Harrison's commitment to meditation and to the suggestion that the IS-ness is to be abandoned and that all attention and focus should be on THAT alone - said: "The way George is going, he'll be flying a magic carpet by the time he's forty.”]
Indeed, many in the group discussed today are either abiding as if on a magic carpet or as if living in that castle in the air mentioned earlier.
Such are some of the results among those who buy into the “Reality vs. reality” perspective.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
4 September 2014
The Views of Those in the “Reality vs. reality” Group
It was shown yesterday that there were those who deemed themselves to be “spiritual” and who presented themselves to their communities as “spiritual leaders” and who then became “political leaders” as well.
Eventually, as more beliefs were added to the mix, various systems of duality-based dogma were developed and then codified and presented in what were claimed to be “holy books.” That led to so-called “spiritual beliefs” eventually giving way to things deemed to be “religious,” (though there was very little difference in the two except specific definitions of what is “right” and what is “wrong” and what is “sinful” and what is “virtuous” were provided, along with specific guidelines for the way people should think and talk and behave).
Beginning in the 1700-1000 B.C. period, the Rig Veda was composed and is the oldest of all Vedas (scriptures in Hinduism).
During the 1200-600 B.C. range, the Upanishads (also Vedic texts) were composed; they set forth some of the central religious concepts of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and have been referred to with the term “Vedanta” (meaning, “the end of the Veda”).
In the 8th century there came Shankara who was one of the most revered of all Hindus and who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. He spoke of the unity of the ātman and Nirguna Brahman (that is, "brahman without attributes") He elaborates on some of the concepts in the Upanishads and he wrote commentaries on ideas and concepts involving Vedic canon.
A trend began developing among some to more away from organized religion (as Jesus did) and move back to “spirituality,” so a circle was (supposedly) about to be completed in some quarters:
there has been thousands of years earlier those who deeded themselves to be "spiritual"; then
there was a shift away from “spirituality” to the dogma of organized religion;
then came a shift by some who claimed that they were returning to the earlier time when there were people who were “spiritual rather than religious.”
(Many twelve steps group members often announce proudly, “I am not religious . . . I am spiritual.” That reinforces their sense of being different from and better then, yet both identities – “The Super Religious One” and “The Spiritual Giant” - are nothing more than false identities which are assumed at the third of seven steps on the “path” away from body identification to Realization and, therefore, usually result in their fixating at that midpoint so they never Realize at all.)
While there were some looking for ways to "be spiritual and not religious" who turned to Shankara for guidance in that regard, it should be noted that he endorsed the importance of monastic life as sanctioned in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra, and he reportedly founded four monasteries which, in some cases, helped to spread the Advaita Vedanta message but in other cases reinforced religious principles. Moreover, he also founded the Shanmata tradition of worship which helped maintain a linkage to religion.
So what happened during those periods of fluctuation was this: there was actually far less transitioning away from organized religion and toward “purer spiritual practices” than some claimed.
The tone of discussions at that point began to take on a highly philosophical character, leading many to become more concerned with the THAT-ness than with the AM-ness. They ignored the understanding implied in the summative statement of non-duality (“I AM THAT; I AM”) and they mentally rewrote the statement in their subconscious minds to read (“I AM THAT” only).
The results of the perspective of those in the “Reality vs. reality” group became, in many instances, dissociation; a downgrading of the IS-ness and an upgrading of the THAT-ness; acute detachment; a split or a break or a divorce from reality; a disconnection from the composite unity and its basic requirements;
an abandonment of the joy that can only be enjoyed via that composite unity; disengagement from the relative existence; in some cases, isolation and segregation; a distancing from the opportunities to appreciate non-destructive pleasures;
a tendency to build castles in the air (while in the neurotic state) and a tendency to seemingly move into those castles (when in the psychotic state); an abandonment of the AM-ness as a result of moving away from “this world” and into another supposedly “Noumenal, supposedly-spiritual world” which is characterized here as “Foo-Foo Land” where persons can "go" if practicing psychotic escapism;
an excessively romanticized, idealized perspective; delusions of grandeur, believing that one has attained heights of purity and wisdom and understanding that most will never attain and then being excessively proud of that supposed “fact”; practicing what Maharaj called "kindergarten spirituality";
a tendency toward laziness and “tuning in, turning on and dropping out”; a claim by some who have written here to suggest that I should inform site visitors that in order for them to reach the highest states of consciousness which the writers have (supposedly) reached, all must make use of the “mind-expanding drugs” that the writers have used.
[Note the reinforcement of their beliefs which "The Beatles" received while visiting India as a result of having been told that “the use of drugs could expand their consciousness” alongside the teachings they could hear in India. Other advice heard from some while there suggested that they “abandon the use of psychedelics but continue to use marijuana,” but others advised that "marijuana will not expand the consciousness nearly as well as psychedelics."
One report said that all four members of the "The Beatles" therefore used drugs while at the ashram to assist them with their efforts to “expand their consciousness.” John Lennon - commenting on George Harrison's commitment to meditation and to the suggestion that the IS-ness is to be abandoned and that all attention and focus should be on THAT alone - said: "The way George is going, he'll be flying a magic carpet by the time he's forty.”]
Indeed, many in the group discussed today are either abiding as if on a magic carpet or as if living in that castle in the air mentioned earlier.
Such are some of the results among those who buy into the “Reality vs. reality” perspective.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
4 September 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: So what have been the relative results on humanity of those three perspectives?
The Views of Those in the “Reality and reality” Group:
The "Reality and reality" view may be 12,000 years old, there being some evidence that as population growth began to explode around 10,000 B.C. - and as people formed communities and set up social and governmental hierarchies - that the earliest “political” leaders were also so-called “spiritual people” or “spiritual leaders.”
[Some think that the phenomenon of so many conservative politicians in the U.S. touting their religious affiliations and their "deeply-held religious convictions" and their "regular practicing of their faith" - all in their effort to garner votes - is a fairly new phenomenon; however, there is some anthropological evidence that the practice can be traced back to “spiritual politicians” who combined their spiritual beliefs and with their governing style as long ago as 10,000 B.C.]
Around 5500 B.C., the belief in a real “this world” and a grander, eternal “Reality” of “some other world” that is beyond “this world” inspired a shift away from the earlier spiritual focus and a shift toward development of what might be termed “pre-religion” practices which were actually just sacrifice-based ideologies.
Ignorance generated superstition and myth, and self-serving “spiritual / religious leaders” came up with some amazing stories that were accepted by the masses after they had been programmed to believe in “this world” and in “gods and goddesses in other worlds” who control every aspect of life in “this world” and who expect to be pleased and appeased and made happy by people in “this world.”
[Consider "communion" which nowadays is a reenactment of virgin sacrifices that were happening more than 7000 years ago. A priest as "the Rain God's representative on earth" would have sex with a virgin - you know how sex can calm down even the angriest man, for a little while at least - and then he would cut out her heart while she was still alive, would eat part of the heart and drink her blood, and would then past the heart around the crowd so all could do the same, believing that they were eating the body and blood of the god in order to commune with him and in order to maintain conscious contact with him and please him by making sacrifices. Now, billions of Christians reenact that cannabilistic-and-vampiristic practice regularly while having no idea that the act was not conceived during "The Last Supper" but began thousands of years earlier.]
So persons came to believe that they were the ones controlling the moods of their unstable gods and goddesses, making them either happy or angry. The ignorant both then and now still fail to see that the invention of that concept led persons to dream up the concepts of “creator gods and goddesses” who could be made glad or sad and happy or angry by humans; of “sustainer gods and goddesses” who could be made glad or sad and happy or angry by humans; and of “destroyer gods and goddesses” who could be made glad or sad and happy or angry by humans.
That invention resulted in a set of gods and goddesses who, if one were to give careful consideration, could be seen to be . . .
a. suffering from the disorder of co-dependency, allowing others to determine how they feel, and who would be . . .
b. suffering from the disorder of histrionics and who can be driven into a state of emotional intoxication by humans and who are really
c. full-blown sociopaths in that they can supposedly be driven into a state of rage and will kill individuals or huge masses of humans in one fell swoop.
If someone were in a relationship with another human who is co-dependent and histrionic and sociopathic, the odds are that she or he will want to get as far away from that person as possible; yet when programmed persons end up believing that they are in a relationship with a god or gods and goddesses who are co-dependent and histrionic and sociopathic, they do not do the same thing and run as far away from such types as possible. Instead, they blindly worship such a god or gods and goddesses.
[No wonder Maharaj said that the main problem of humanity can be summarized with three words: "ignorance, stupidity, and insanity." How else could this behavior be characterized: "I am so blind that I do not see that you are blaming me when you're angry because of your co-dependency; that I am willing to tolerate your histrionics; that I deny that you are sociopathic; and that I have no desire to get away from you but am willing to worship you instead." Really?]
Are you seeing why Maharaj’s approach to treating the Ultimate Sickness changed drastically two times before he found the actual treatment?
Edward Jenner used the trial-and-error method that all scientists use in their laboratories, and he experienced many failures prior to finding an effective vaccine that could be used to immunize people for smallpox. He had tried other approaches first before finding the proper treatment he sought;
Marie Curie used the trial-and-error method that all scientists use in their laboratories, and she experienced many failures prior to finding the benefit of radiation. She had tried other approaches first before finding the proper treatment she sought;
And Joseph Lister used the trial-and-error method that all scientists use in their laboratories, and he experienced many failures prior to discovering germs and ways to treat or even prevent the illnesses they cause.
Thus, it should, be no surprise that Maharaj (and yes, “i”) used the same trial-and-error method that all scientists use in their laboratories as he experimented with the theory that religion might be the Ultimate Medicine that could be used to treat the Ultimate Sickness, but the experiment failed;
as he experimented with the theory that spirituality might be the Ultimate Medicine that could be used to treat the Ultimate Sickness, but the experiment failed;
and then, after using those trial-and-error methods, he finally found that the Ultimate Sickness has nothing to do with a dogma-deficiency or with a spiritual malady but that it is a mental problem which is centered in the mind and which is rooted in personality and the personality disorders which personality identification generates.
The failure of his two earliest experiments showed that neither religion nor spirituality restore people to sanity but actually makes persons crazier, inspiring them to believe all sorts of ignorant and insane beliefs that any wise and sane person would dismiss as “unbelievable” and then move away from.
To continue:
Eventually, dualistic thinking was given an amazing boost as “two-ness style” thinking and believing began to be codified. Dualistic beliefs were spelled out more literally as people were taught by their “spiritual” (eventually-to-be-religious) leaders that
1. there is “this world” and “that world” and in “that world” there are Supreme Beings or gods and goddesses that control every aspect of life in “this world” and that
2. there are people who please the gods and goddesses and there are people who displease the gods and goddesses (so the notion that all communities have some “good” people and some “bad” people became the accepted belief).
As more codification came, the development of creeds and doctrine and tenets would eventually evolve into the various religions' dogma which was formulated, defining specifically what dualistically differentiates . . .
3. the “sinful” from the “virtuous”; the “moral” from the “immoral;” the ones who should be rewarded now and who will be rewarded later; and the ones who should be punished now and who will also be punished later.
4. With the “this world” and “that world” mentality, and with the tendency of those trapped in personality and playing roles to practice their ego–and-egotism-influenced upgrading and downgrading, then there developed a belief in . . .
5. “heaven” vs. “hell” or “a series of births-lives-deaths-rebirths with varying degrees of decline or with levels of ascent that can allow persons to escape the cycles of life in “this not-so-pleasant world” and eventually escape the cycles of rebirth and suffering and finally reach a state of bliss.
It was possibly around 2000 B.C. that a fellow named Abraham began to teach that there are not multiple gods and goddesses who control everything on earth but that there is actually just one, single god instead.
The people who had been taught that there’s a “god of war” and a “god of thunder” and a “god of rain” and a “goddess of fertility” and on and on and on, said, “Oh, only one god? Okay. And he's male? Okay, we’ll buy that too, but we’ll conclude that he is in charge of everything that all of the other gods and goddesses had controlled. He too can be made happy or sad. He too will kill everyone on the planet by drowning except for one family if we make him angry.
"And if he is in charge of everything that we thought multiple gods and goddesses were in charge of, then he must be a Creator God, a Sustainer God, and a Destroyer God, all rolled into one." Hence, the present concept of "God," by that definition and characterization, must have alter-egos and must be suffering from the Multiple Personality Disorder and from the Dissociative Identity Disorder and must be as schizophrenic as those persons who claim that they hear him speaking to them.
Now, three major religions are all rooted in the teachings of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The members of all three honor Abraham and the members of all three worship the same god of Abraham, but - ironically - the members of all three have been killing each other for centuries while fighting over their dualistic views which have generated a sense of different-from-ment, of better-than-ment and of being the ones who are “right” while all others with different views are “wrong.”
Now, nearly 4 billion of the 7 billion people on the planet are members of one of "the three religions of Abraham," yet a large majority certainly appear to be bent on destroying each other and wiping out all other religions besides their own.
Such are the results of the perspective of those in the “Reality and reality” group.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
3 September 2014
The Views of Those in the “Reality and reality” Group:
The "Reality and reality" view may be 12,000 years old, there being some evidence that as population growth began to explode around 10,000 B.C. - and as people formed communities and set up social and governmental hierarchies - that the earliest “political” leaders were also so-called “spiritual people” or “spiritual leaders.”
[Some think that the phenomenon of so many conservative politicians in the U.S. touting their religious affiliations and their "deeply-held religious convictions" and their "regular practicing of their faith" - all in their effort to garner votes - is a fairly new phenomenon; however, there is some anthropological evidence that the practice can be traced back to “spiritual politicians” who combined their spiritual beliefs and with their governing style as long ago as 10,000 B.C.]
Around 5500 B.C., the belief in a real “this world” and a grander, eternal “Reality” of “some other world” that is beyond “this world” inspired a shift away from the earlier spiritual focus and a shift toward development of what might be termed “pre-religion” practices which were actually just sacrifice-based ideologies.
Ignorance generated superstition and myth, and self-serving “spiritual / religious leaders” came up with some amazing stories that were accepted by the masses after they had been programmed to believe in “this world” and in “gods and goddesses in other worlds” who control every aspect of life in “this world” and who expect to be pleased and appeased and made happy by people in “this world.”
[Consider "communion" which nowadays is a reenactment of virgin sacrifices that were happening more than 7000 years ago. A priest as "the Rain God's representative on earth" would have sex with a virgin - you know how sex can calm down even the angriest man, for a little while at least - and then he would cut out her heart while she was still alive, would eat part of the heart and drink her blood, and would then past the heart around the crowd so all could do the same, believing that they were eating the body and blood of the god in order to commune with him and in order to maintain conscious contact with him and please him by making sacrifices. Now, billions of Christians reenact that cannabilistic-and-vampiristic practice regularly while having no idea that the act was not conceived during "The Last Supper" but began thousands of years earlier.]
So persons came to believe that they were the ones controlling the moods of their unstable gods and goddesses, making them either happy or angry. The ignorant both then and now still fail to see that the invention of that concept led persons to dream up the concepts of “creator gods and goddesses” who could be made glad or sad and happy or angry by humans; of “sustainer gods and goddesses” who could be made glad or sad and happy or angry by humans; and of “destroyer gods and goddesses” who could be made glad or sad and happy or angry by humans.
That invention resulted in a set of gods and goddesses who, if one were to give careful consideration, could be seen to be . . .
a. suffering from the disorder of co-dependency, allowing others to determine how they feel, and who would be . . .
b. suffering from the disorder of histrionics and who can be driven into a state of emotional intoxication by humans and who are really
c. full-blown sociopaths in that they can supposedly be driven into a state of rage and will kill individuals or huge masses of humans in one fell swoop.
If someone were in a relationship with another human who is co-dependent and histrionic and sociopathic, the odds are that she or he will want to get as far away from that person as possible; yet when programmed persons end up believing that they are in a relationship with a god or gods and goddesses who are co-dependent and histrionic and sociopathic, they do not do the same thing and run as far away from such types as possible. Instead, they blindly worship such a god or gods and goddesses.
[No wonder Maharaj said that the main problem of humanity can be summarized with three words: "ignorance, stupidity, and insanity." How else could this behavior be characterized: "I am so blind that I do not see that you are blaming me when you're angry because of your co-dependency; that I am willing to tolerate your histrionics; that I deny that you are sociopathic; and that I have no desire to get away from you but am willing to worship you instead." Really?]
Are you seeing why Maharaj’s approach to treating the Ultimate Sickness changed drastically two times before he found the actual treatment?
Edward Jenner used the trial-and-error method that all scientists use in their laboratories, and he experienced many failures prior to finding an effective vaccine that could be used to immunize people for smallpox. He had tried other approaches first before finding the proper treatment he sought;
Marie Curie used the trial-and-error method that all scientists use in their laboratories, and she experienced many failures prior to finding the benefit of radiation. She had tried other approaches first before finding the proper treatment she sought;
And Joseph Lister used the trial-and-error method that all scientists use in their laboratories, and he experienced many failures prior to discovering germs and ways to treat or even prevent the illnesses they cause.
Thus, it should, be no surprise that Maharaj (and yes, “i”) used the same trial-and-error method that all scientists use in their laboratories as he experimented with the theory that religion might be the Ultimate Medicine that could be used to treat the Ultimate Sickness, but the experiment failed;
as he experimented with the theory that spirituality might be the Ultimate Medicine that could be used to treat the Ultimate Sickness, but the experiment failed;
and then, after using those trial-and-error methods, he finally found that the Ultimate Sickness has nothing to do with a dogma-deficiency or with a spiritual malady but that it is a mental problem which is centered in the mind and which is rooted in personality and the personality disorders which personality identification generates.
The failure of his two earliest experiments showed that neither religion nor spirituality restore people to sanity but actually makes persons crazier, inspiring them to believe all sorts of ignorant and insane beliefs that any wise and sane person would dismiss as “unbelievable” and then move away from.
To continue:
Eventually, dualistic thinking was given an amazing boost as “two-ness style” thinking and believing began to be codified. Dualistic beliefs were spelled out more literally as people were taught by their “spiritual” (eventually-to-be-religious) leaders that
1. there is “this world” and “that world” and in “that world” there are Supreme Beings or gods and goddesses that control every aspect of life in “this world” and that
2. there are people who please the gods and goddesses and there are people who displease the gods and goddesses (so the notion that all communities have some “good” people and some “bad” people became the accepted belief).
As more codification came, the development of creeds and doctrine and tenets would eventually evolve into the various religions' dogma which was formulated, defining specifically what dualistically differentiates . . .
3. the “sinful” from the “virtuous”; the “moral” from the “immoral;” the ones who should be rewarded now and who will be rewarded later; and the ones who should be punished now and who will also be punished later.
4. With the “this world” and “that world” mentality, and with the tendency of those trapped in personality and playing roles to practice their ego–and-egotism-influenced upgrading and downgrading, then there developed a belief in . . .
5. “heaven” vs. “hell” or “a series of births-lives-deaths-rebirths with varying degrees of decline or with levels of ascent that can allow persons to escape the cycles of life in “this not-so-pleasant world” and eventually escape the cycles of rebirth and suffering and finally reach a state of bliss.
It was possibly around 2000 B.C. that a fellow named Abraham began to teach that there are not multiple gods and goddesses who control everything on earth but that there is actually just one, single god instead.
The people who had been taught that there’s a “god of war” and a “god of thunder” and a “god of rain” and a “goddess of fertility” and on and on and on, said, “Oh, only one god? Okay. And he's male? Okay, we’ll buy that too, but we’ll conclude that he is in charge of everything that all of the other gods and goddesses had controlled. He too can be made happy or sad. He too will kill everyone on the planet by drowning except for one family if we make him angry.
"And if he is in charge of everything that we thought multiple gods and goddesses were in charge of, then he must be a Creator God, a Sustainer God, and a Destroyer God, all rolled into one." Hence, the present concept of "God," by that definition and characterization, must have alter-egos and must be suffering from the Multiple Personality Disorder and from the Dissociative Identity Disorder and must be as schizophrenic as those persons who claim that they hear him speaking to them.
Now, three major religions are all rooted in the teachings of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The members of all three honor Abraham and the members of all three worship the same god of Abraham, but - ironically - the members of all three have been killing each other for centuries while fighting over their dualistic views which have generated a sense of different-from-ment, of better-than-ment and of being the ones who are “right” while all others with different views are “wrong.”
Now, nearly 4 billion of the 7 billion people on the planet are members of one of "the three religions of Abraham," yet a large majority certainly appear to be bent on destroying each other and wiping out all other religions besides their own.
Such are the results of the perspective of those in the “Reality and reality” group.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
3 September 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: During the long and winding and arduous “path” that was followed prior to coming across the non-dual teachings, there had been exposure to preachers; Sunday school teachers; public school teachers; college professors; priests; a Sikh; a Buddhist; a New Age guru; a Taoist; sponsors; a life coach; etc.
In the fictional non-duality-based novel entitled “THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS,” the laborious and grueling “journey” of the lead character Kirk / “floyd” was described this way:
“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. Then in the end, each of the religious or spiritual leaders had always charged him 10% of his total income for the whole sorry treatment, plus a building-fund-tax and a foreign-missions-surcharge to boot—all in spite of the complete ineffectiveness of their claims to ‘redeem and save’.”
That near-endless compilation of persons who were met along the way all had several traits in common:
(1) they all had many beliefs;
(2) they all had assumed false identities that were associated with one religion or another; one spiritual movement or another; one philosophical movement or another; one ideology or another; one "program" or another, etc;
(3) their beliefs were all rooted in a “Reality and reality” perspective, meaning that they dualistically believed not only in “this world” (their “reality,” which they viewed as a temporary existence for each person) but also in “another world” (their “Reality,” the other world or worlds which they thought would be “eternal” for every person, one "world" being a "world of rewards," the other being a "world of punishment");
(4) so they all believed in “this world” and then additionally other worlds that were either an upgraded version of "this world" (“heaven with pearly gates and streets of gold,” “Nirvana,” “the Pure Land,” “heaven with seventy-two virgins and a host of whores and wives as well,” etc.) or a downgraded version of "this world" (“Hell,” “Hades,” “another life on this planet but as a lower species,” an “underworld,” etc.); and the other trait they all had in common was this:
(5) they all wanted me to believe exactly what they believed.
Here, to the contrary, this has been posted on occasion on this site:
"Here, there is nothing that is believed, so there is no one here who wants you to believe anything, either. Here, the invitation is to be free of all that you have been programmed, conditioned, acculturated, and domesticated to believe so that you can be free, period."
This has also been shared:
"There is no one here who wants you to learn more. What is offered here is an invitation to un-learn all. There is no one here who would teach you anything. What is offered here is an invitation to be un-taught."
And that is a stance which
(A) was never heard before coming across the non-duality teachings - at least as presented by some non-dual teachers who are not among the Big Name Teachers - and which
(B) has never been heard since in any other "venue."
Here, there are no fears and no desires, but if there were anyone here who could wish for anything for you - should you be ready for a change and should you be completely amenable - it would be . . .
that you would be at peace;
that you would be free, meaning that you could relax and take it easy by being freed from the misery and suffering of abiding unnaturally (and, therefore, impulsively and impetuously and rashly and blindly and unwisely and insanely);
that you would be freed from all of the work and effort and nonstop toiling that happens when trying to live supernaturally / religiously / spiritually (as described above regarding Kirk’s / “floyd’s” ineffective and exhausting “journey”);
and that you could abide naturally and spontaneously and instinctively instead.
Again, through, that would only apply if you are earnestly and totally in agreement that abiding naturally and spontaneously and instinctively (instead of the way you have been living) would allow for a far more enjoyable relative existence than the one currently being experienced.
Yet no peace and freedom and clarity can come as long as one is trapped in a “Reality vs. reality” perspective or in a “Reality and reality” perspective instead of understanding the non-dual “Reality / reality” perspective and thereby giving the AM-ness its proper due and thereby allowing peace and freedom and happiness and enjoyment to manifest at the only time they can: NOW.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
3 September 2014
In the fictional non-duality-based novel entitled “THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS,” the laborious and grueling “journey” of the lead character Kirk / “floyd” was described this way:
“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. Then in the end, each of the religious or spiritual leaders had always charged him 10% of his total income for the whole sorry treatment, plus a building-fund-tax and a foreign-missions-surcharge to boot—all in spite of the complete ineffectiveness of their claims to ‘redeem and save’.”
That near-endless compilation of persons who were met along the way all had several traits in common:
(1) they all had many beliefs;
(2) they all had assumed false identities that were associated with one religion or another; one spiritual movement or another; one philosophical movement or another; one ideology or another; one "program" or another, etc;
(3) their beliefs were all rooted in a “Reality and reality” perspective, meaning that they dualistically believed not only in “this world” (their “reality,” which they viewed as a temporary existence for each person) but also in “another world” (their “Reality,” the other world or worlds which they thought would be “eternal” for every person, one "world" being a "world of rewards," the other being a "world of punishment");
(4) so they all believed in “this world” and then additionally other worlds that were either an upgraded version of "this world" (“heaven with pearly gates and streets of gold,” “Nirvana,” “the Pure Land,” “heaven with seventy-two virgins and a host of whores and wives as well,” etc.) or a downgraded version of "this world" (“Hell,” “Hades,” “another life on this planet but as a lower species,” an “underworld,” etc.); and the other trait they all had in common was this:
(5) they all wanted me to believe exactly what they believed.
Here, to the contrary, this has been posted on occasion on this site:
"Here, there is nothing that is believed, so there is no one here who wants you to believe anything, either. Here, the invitation is to be free of all that you have been programmed, conditioned, acculturated, and domesticated to believe so that you can be free, period."
This has also been shared:
"There is no one here who wants you to learn more. What is offered here is an invitation to un-learn all. There is no one here who would teach you anything. What is offered here is an invitation to be un-taught."
And that is a stance which
(A) was never heard before coming across the non-duality teachings - at least as presented by some non-dual teachers who are not among the Big Name Teachers - and which
(B) has never been heard since in any other "venue."
Here, there are no fears and no desires, but if there were anyone here who could wish for anything for you - should you be ready for a change and should you be completely amenable - it would be . . .
that you would be at peace;
that you would be free, meaning that you could relax and take it easy by being freed from the misery and suffering of abiding unnaturally (and, therefore, impulsively and impetuously and rashly and blindly and unwisely and insanely);
that you would be freed from all of the work and effort and nonstop toiling that happens when trying to live supernaturally / religiously / spiritually (as described above regarding Kirk’s / “floyd’s” ineffective and exhausting “journey”);
and that you could abide naturally and spontaneously and instinctively instead.
Again, through, that would only apply if you are earnestly and totally in agreement that abiding naturally and spontaneously and instinctively (instead of the way you have been living) would allow for a far more enjoyable relative existence than the one currently being experienced.
Yet no peace and freedom and clarity can come as long as one is trapped in a “Reality vs. reality” perspective or in a “Reality and reality” perspective instead of understanding the non-dual “Reality / reality” perspective and thereby giving the AM-ness its proper due and thereby allowing peace and freedom and happiness and enjoyment to manifest at the only time they can: NOW.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
3 September 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: Those persons with a “Reality vs. reality” perspective are the ones most likely to seek and the ones most likely to use teachings such as the non-duality teachings or certain teachings with more philosophical leanings to supposedly effect . . .
an escape from “this world”
or
from “undesirable things relative”
or
from “the basic challenges of the relative existence” which they cannot handle as a result of having developed no coping skills
or
from any form of work which is a result of their being unbelievably lazy.
Those are the ones most likely to ignore the “not-two” aspect of the non-dual teachings and who are most likely to move – mentally – into some “Foo-Foo Land,” some out-of-touch-with-reality type of mental state. They can spend their days and night talking their supposedly-Noumenal nonsense with others of their same ilk. Those are the ones who take on the role of “The Intellectual Philosopher” as they practice their escapism.
The “Reality and reality” bunch includes the non-Realized masses all around the globe. They are among the 97% who report an affiliation with one organized religion or another.
They include in the West and the Middle East
(1) a fairly-large Jewish contingency which has a history of wearing their suffering like a badge of honor (their very-common admission, not my characterization) and they also include
(2) some 2.2 billion Christians (most of whom have adopted a Judaeo-Christian persona - talk about duality! - and who include in their “holy book” an entire front section of Jewish writings and dogma). They are the type I was exposed to during childhood:
Their religion-based stand in regards to suffering and misery was exhibited by relatives in East Texas and Northwest Louisiana who were members of ultra-conservative religions and whose message was: “This life is all about misery and suffering, Floyd, so you need to be good and live your life according to the Bible so when you meet your Creator one day you can escape this miserable life and enjoy an eternal reward. Misery now but great joy later. You don’t want more of this kind of punishing existence in the afterlife.”
[An afterlife? A Creator? Look, as Maharaj suggested, to the simple scientific facts: All is energy / matter. Neither energy nor matter can be created nor destroyed; ergo, nothing has ever been created so there is no “Creator god”; nothing have ever been destroyed, so there is no “Destroyer god”; moreover, there is no "Sustainer god,” either.]
Later, at a university, I would be exposed to fellow students from around the globe, and I heard the same kind of nonsense being spouted by many from the Far East who talked about “rebirth” and “continued lives of one lesser rank after another” and “efforts to be pure so they could eventually escape this realm and reach a state of Nirvana.”
Maharaj: “You were not born once. How could you be reborn?”
Those in this group display one of the ultimate levels of ignorance and insanity because they normalize their misery and suffering rather than taking the steps to be free of their ignorance and insanity which are generating their misery and suffering.
The third group – with an understanding of “Reality / reality” - is a truly tiny group. It is the group that “really gets it” in terms of the summative statement of non-duality: I AM THAT; I AM.
However, Maharaj said that “It is enough to know what you are not.” If one never understands THAT, it matters not. If persons were to understand that they are not “The Super Spouse,” imagine the peace that would manifest in that instant all around the globe;
if persons were to understand that they are not “The Super Knower,” imagine the peace that would manifest in that instant all around the globe;
if persons were to understand that they are not “The Super Religious One” or “The Spiritual Giant,” imagine the peace that would manifest in that instant all around the globe; and
if persons were to understand that they are not “The Super Patriot and the Super Citizen of the Greatest Nation on Earth,” imagine the peace that would manifest in that instant all around the globe.
And if persons were to understand that THAT offers nothing post-manifestation, then they might take the steps to become free and at peace and then enjoy the only existence they will ever know – namely, the relative existence.
Existing as THAT awaits, yes, but it is a state of not-being-conscious-of anything. There will be no reward to enjoy. There will be none of the various heavens and hells that persons have dreamed up in order to control the masses and in order to become rich or privileged in the process.
And imagine what peace and relaxation could come if persons understood that THAT is nothing more than a field of specialized energy ("conscious-energy") which may, or may never, be pulled into a manifested state.
Do you live in a house that has electricity? Then you are within feet or inches of something which models for you what the THAT-ness is like and what it will be like for you. For comparison, consider electricity / electrical energy.
An “electric field,” just like the field of energy called “The Absolute” or THAT” or “Awareness-at-rest,” is an especially simple type of electromagnetic field produced by an electric charge even when it is not moving.
“Electric potential” is the capacity of an electric field to do work, not unlike the capacity of THAT – if manifested – to “do work.”
Just behind the plug in a wall is electrical “energy at rest, not moving” so to speak. Plug in an appliance, hit the "on" switch, and the electricity can move - can manifest within a space formed by a blender or mixer or television or computer - and can “do work.”
Similarly, THAT has the capacity to “do work” if manifested as consciousness within the space of a composite unity with its elemental plant food body. Once the consciousness unmanifests and returns to the Absolute field of energy-at-rest, then it will not work, it will not be conscious of anything, it will not enjoy a reward, and it will not suffer punishment.
So THAT is not special. It is just like the electricity that awaits behind a wall plug to go into motion if all of the necessary circumstances converge at one moment. Same with awareness manifesting as consciousness within a space formed by an elemental plant food body.
Those in the third group with an accurate “Reality / reality” understanding realize that THAT was totally irrelevant prior to the manifestation of consciousness and will remain totally irrelevant after the manifestation ends.
In between a “prior-to-consciousness, THAT state” and the "after the manifestation of consciousness and a return to THAT state," there is during that middle period the only opportunity which exists to either be wise and sane and free or to be ignorant and insane and trapped. Both of those states are mental states (or “psychological states” as Sapolsky called them).
Richard Lovelace wrote: “Stone walls do not a prison make, / Nor iron bars a cage.” What does make a prison, according to Lovelace? “A mind.”
John Milton: “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven . . . .”
John Lennon: said, “Imagine there's no heaven / It's easy if you try / No hell below us / Above us only sky. / Imagine all the people / Living for today.”
He could have more accurately said, “Understand that there is no actual heaven or hell.”
He continued: “Imagine there's no countries / It isn't hard to do / Nothing to kill or die for / And no religion too. / Imagine all the people / Living life in peace.”
Well, with what is understood about hierarchies, it is not likely that “all the people” will ever “live in peace.” What is possible is for YOU to live in peace.
It’s all about perspective. Which perspective would you prefer?
The one that inspires mental escapism, the “Reality vs. reality” perspective?
The one that normalizes misery and suffering, the “Reality and reality” perspective?
Or the one that can facilitate the enjoyment of enjoying at the only time that joy can be enjoyed, which is the “Reality / reality” perspective, that is, “the I AM THAT / I AM but THAT can offer nothing to anyone” perspective?
The only relevance the Reality can have is if the wisdom and sanity of Realization is overlaid on the relative and then ignored as the relative reality thereafter unfolds sanely and wisely and logically and reasonably. So it must be asked:
WHO - what ego-state - would want "power" now? Power is a bogus concept. But "JOY NOW"? That's a real possibility, but it's only possible now, not "later." Are you interested in "going for that," or is (a) escaping or (b) normalizing misery more your style?
Surely not, right?
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
"GOOD vs. EVIL?" or "IGNORANCE, STUPIDITY, and INSANITY?"
II.
"THE VISION"
III.
Therefore, another movement or shift is happening here spontaneously after reflecting on the more than two decades since the teachings were first offered here and looking at the results of Maharaj sharing pointers in his loft and looking at the results of "Floyd" sharing pointers in this electronic loft: Looking objectively at his results, Maharaj's satsang method of sharing - in the end and by his own admission (only "one out of 10,000,000") - did not produce the intended outcome.
* * * * * * *
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rather than inviting seekers to learn more, the invitation here is to unlearn all; rather than offerings teachings, what is offered are unteachings; rather than offering to provide seekers more of anything, seekers will find that the process will take away everything. And via that process, the bliss of Your Original Nature will manifest and remain until mahasamadhi is taken.
To that end, the content of this book will seem radical to the seekers of more, but for those truly ready to be totally free and totally independent - and for those who are truly ready to abandon efforts to accumulate and to de-accumulate instead - the pointers in this book might be relevant.]
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WHY YOU MUST BE EMPTY IF YOU WOULD BE FULL
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS
an escape from “this world”
or
from “undesirable things relative”
or
from “the basic challenges of the relative existence” which they cannot handle as a result of having developed no coping skills
or
from any form of work which is a result of their being unbelievably lazy.
Those are the ones most likely to ignore the “not-two” aspect of the non-dual teachings and who are most likely to move – mentally – into some “Foo-Foo Land,” some out-of-touch-with-reality type of mental state. They can spend their days and night talking their supposedly-Noumenal nonsense with others of their same ilk. Those are the ones who take on the role of “The Intellectual Philosopher” as they practice their escapism.
The “Reality and reality” bunch includes the non-Realized masses all around the globe. They are among the 97% who report an affiliation with one organized religion or another.
They include in the West and the Middle East
(1) a fairly-large Jewish contingency which has a history of wearing their suffering like a badge of honor (their very-common admission, not my characterization) and they also include
(2) some 2.2 billion Christians (most of whom have adopted a Judaeo-Christian persona - talk about duality! - and who include in their “holy book” an entire front section of Jewish writings and dogma). They are the type I was exposed to during childhood:
Their religion-based stand in regards to suffering and misery was exhibited by relatives in East Texas and Northwest Louisiana who were members of ultra-conservative religions and whose message was: “This life is all about misery and suffering, Floyd, so you need to be good and live your life according to the Bible so when you meet your Creator one day you can escape this miserable life and enjoy an eternal reward. Misery now but great joy later. You don’t want more of this kind of punishing existence in the afterlife.”
[An afterlife? A Creator? Look, as Maharaj suggested, to the simple scientific facts: All is energy / matter. Neither energy nor matter can be created nor destroyed; ergo, nothing has ever been created so there is no “Creator god”; nothing have ever been destroyed, so there is no “Destroyer god”; moreover, there is no "Sustainer god,” either.]
Later, at a university, I would be exposed to fellow students from around the globe, and I heard the same kind of nonsense being spouted by many from the Far East who talked about “rebirth” and “continued lives of one lesser rank after another” and “efforts to be pure so they could eventually escape this realm and reach a state of Nirvana.”
Maharaj: “You were not born once. How could you be reborn?”
Those in this group display one of the ultimate levels of ignorance and insanity because they normalize their misery and suffering rather than taking the steps to be free of their ignorance and insanity which are generating their misery and suffering.
The third group – with an understanding of “Reality / reality” - is a truly tiny group. It is the group that “really gets it” in terms of the summative statement of non-duality: I AM THAT; I AM.
However, Maharaj said that “It is enough to know what you are not.” If one never understands THAT, it matters not. If persons were to understand that they are not “The Super Spouse,” imagine the peace that would manifest in that instant all around the globe;
if persons were to understand that they are not “The Super Knower,” imagine the peace that would manifest in that instant all around the globe;
if persons were to understand that they are not “The Super Religious One” or “The Spiritual Giant,” imagine the peace that would manifest in that instant all around the globe; and
if persons were to understand that they are not “The Super Patriot and the Super Citizen of the Greatest Nation on Earth,” imagine the peace that would manifest in that instant all around the globe.
And if persons were to understand that THAT offers nothing post-manifestation, then they might take the steps to become free and at peace and then enjoy the only existence they will ever know – namely, the relative existence.
Existing as THAT awaits, yes, but it is a state of not-being-conscious-of anything. There will be no reward to enjoy. There will be none of the various heavens and hells that persons have dreamed up in order to control the masses and in order to become rich or privileged in the process.
And imagine what peace and relaxation could come if persons understood that THAT is nothing more than a field of specialized energy ("conscious-energy") which may, or may never, be pulled into a manifested state.
Do you live in a house that has electricity? Then you are within feet or inches of something which models for you what the THAT-ness is like and what it will be like for you. For comparison, consider electricity / electrical energy.
An “electric field,” just like the field of energy called “The Absolute” or THAT” or “Awareness-at-rest,” is an especially simple type of electromagnetic field produced by an electric charge even when it is not moving.
“Electric potential” is the capacity of an electric field to do work, not unlike the capacity of THAT – if manifested – to “do work.”
Just behind the plug in a wall is electrical “energy at rest, not moving” so to speak. Plug in an appliance, hit the "on" switch, and the electricity can move - can manifest within a space formed by a blender or mixer or television or computer - and can “do work.”
Similarly, THAT has the capacity to “do work” if manifested as consciousness within the space of a composite unity with its elemental plant food body. Once the consciousness unmanifests and returns to the Absolute field of energy-at-rest, then it will not work, it will not be conscious of anything, it will not enjoy a reward, and it will not suffer punishment.
So THAT is not special. It is just like the electricity that awaits behind a wall plug to go into motion if all of the necessary circumstances converge at one moment. Same with awareness manifesting as consciousness within a space formed by an elemental plant food body.
Those in the third group with an accurate “Reality / reality” understanding realize that THAT was totally irrelevant prior to the manifestation of consciousness and will remain totally irrelevant after the manifestation ends.
In between a “prior-to-consciousness, THAT state” and the "after the manifestation of consciousness and a return to THAT state," there is during that middle period the only opportunity which exists to either be wise and sane and free or to be ignorant and insane and trapped. Both of those states are mental states (or “psychological states” as Sapolsky called them).
Richard Lovelace wrote: “Stone walls do not a prison make, / Nor iron bars a cage.” What does make a prison, according to Lovelace? “A mind.”
John Milton: “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven . . . .”
John Lennon: said, “Imagine there's no heaven / It's easy if you try / No hell below us / Above us only sky. / Imagine all the people / Living for today.”
He could have more accurately said, “Understand that there is no actual heaven or hell.”
He continued: “Imagine there's no countries / It isn't hard to do / Nothing to kill or die for / And no religion too. / Imagine all the people / Living life in peace.”
Well, with what is understood about hierarchies, it is not likely that “all the people” will ever “live in peace.” What is possible is for YOU to live in peace.
It’s all about perspective. Which perspective would you prefer?
The one that inspires mental escapism, the “Reality vs. reality” perspective?
The one that normalizes misery and suffering, the “Reality and reality” perspective?
Or the one that can facilitate the enjoyment of enjoying at the only time that joy can be enjoyed, which is the “Reality / reality” perspective, that is, “the I AM THAT / I AM but THAT can offer nothing to anyone” perspective?
The only relevance the Reality can have is if the wisdom and sanity of Realization is overlaid on the relative and then ignored as the relative reality thereafter unfolds sanely and wisely and logically and reasonably. So it must be asked:
WHO - what ego-state - would want "power" now? Power is a bogus concept. But "JOY NOW"? That's a real possibility, but it's only possible now, not "later." Are you interested in "going for that," or is (a) escaping or (b) normalizing misery more your style?
Surely not, right?
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
[You can access previous posts in this series by using the "older posts" option] at the bottom of this page]
The following three eBooks are available without charge, compliments of Andy Gugar, Jr. You can scroll down through the book section below to find information for requesting free copies for you or for friends:
I.
The following three eBooks are available without charge, compliments of Andy Gugar, Jr. You can scroll down through the book section below to find information for requesting free copies for you or for friends:
I.
"GOOD vs. EVIL?" or "IGNORANCE, STUPIDITY, and INSANITY?"
The content of this eBook deals with one of the most common but erroneous beliefs that the non-Realized masses cling to and which they will fight about (and even kill over), namely, that there is a planet-wide duel going on between “the forces of good and evil” in the universe.
Maharaj said of each that visited his Bombay loft, “Only that person will visit this place whose virtue and sin have come to an end.” He also said that the problems of humankind are problems associated with the Ultimate Sickness and that three of the key traits of the Ultimate Sickness are "ignorance, stupidity, and insanity."
To that end, either (1) the ancient view is spot on: that the "ills of the planet" are rooted in evil people, in people not being religious enough or spiritual enough, and are caused solely by bad morality; or, (2) the "ills of the planet" are rooted in ignorance, stupidity and insanity and "being good" or "being moral" does not put an end to ignorance, does not eliminate stupidity, and does not treat insanity in any way.
II.
"THE VISION"
Comments regarding the free eBook entitled “THE VISION”:
“My thanks to you and Andy.” – Andrew “Mac” McMaster
“Thanks so much for the book! And, by the way, it is brilliant and the most effective pointing that you have done. It has served to help clear the remaining blockages.” – Stan Cross
“Greatly appreciate having “THE VISION” added to my Henderson resource library that is situated on the right side of my bed for easy access! Eternally grateful for what was received and what was given.” – Robert Rigby
“ ‘THE VISION’ is such a well-written, condensed version of the Nisarga Yoga approach to understanding and enjoying Reality that I feel it can serve as a must-read ‘meditation guide’ for all earnest seekers.” – Andy Gugar, Jr.
“My thanks to you and Andy.” – Andrew “Mac” McMaster
“Thanks so much for the book! And, by the way, it is brilliant and the most effective pointing that you have done. It has served to help clear the remaining blockages.” – Stan Cross
“Greatly appreciate having “THE VISION” added to my Henderson resource library that is situated on the right side of my bed for easy access! Eternally grateful for what was received and what was given.” – Robert Rigby
“ ‘THE VISION’ is such a well-written, condensed version of the Nisarga Yoga approach to understanding and enjoying Reality that I feel it can serve as a must-read ‘meditation guide’ for all earnest seekers.” – Andy Gugar, Jr.
III.
While in South Africa in 2011, I was introduced to A Primate’s Memoir (2002) by Dr. Robert Maurice Sapolsky. Sapolsky is an American neuroendocrinologist; a professor of biology, neuroscience, and neurosurgery at Stanford University; a researcher; an author; and a Research Associate at the National Museums of Kenya.
A Primate’s Memoir (which documents Sapolsky’s years in Africa while studying baboons), was recommended because there is much that a non-dualist or Advaitin or Nisargan can relate to by comparing and contrasting what Sapolsky reveals about the way certain troops of baboons live in Africa with the way that humans abide all around the globe. The book also portrays an unconventional way of studying neurophysiology to determine the effects of stress on life expectancy. (And the reduction or elimination of stress among humans is one of the aims of the non-dual understanding.)
Now Sapolsky’s recent findings are offered in a documentary film entitled “Stress: Portrait of a Killer.” [The 56-minute film is available on YouTube in many countries.]
This 152-page eBook catalogues the common, non-dual message shared by Sapolsky and Maharaj and reveals the ways that Sapolsky’s scientific research supports the non-dual pointers offered by Maharaj.
SHIFTING THE FOCUS FROM THAT WHICH DOES NOT WORK TO THAT WHICH DOES, Part One
A Primate’s Memoir (which documents Sapolsky’s years in Africa while studying baboons), was recommended because there is much that a non-dualist or Advaitin or Nisargan can relate to by comparing and contrasting what Sapolsky reveals about the way certain troops of baboons live in Africa with the way that humans abide all around the globe. The book also portrays an unconventional way of studying neurophysiology to determine the effects of stress on life expectancy. (And the reduction or elimination of stress among humans is one of the aims of the non-dual understanding.)
Now Sapolsky’s recent findings are offered in a documentary film entitled “Stress: Portrait of a Killer.” [The 56-minute film is available on YouTube in many countries.]
This 152-page eBook catalogues the common, non-dual message shared by Sapolsky and Maharaj and reveals the ways that Sapolsky’s scientific research supports the non-dual pointers offered by Maharaj.
SHIFTING THE FOCUS FROM THAT WHICH DOES NOT WORK TO THAT WHICH DOES, Part One
A "movement" or "shift" happened here that added another parallel to the many parallels in terms of the phenomenal "experiences" and the noumenal revelations that "Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj" and "Floyd" share in common. (Many visitors over the years have said that they also shared the same parallels with "Maharaj" and "Floyd" as well.)
In the case of "Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj" and "Floyd":
1. both grew up in very poor families 2. both moved to populated areas to seek employment opportunities 3. both exhibited business skills that led to their opening and operating many businesses and to their having a large number of employees working for them 4. both succeeded financially 5. both became attached to accumulating; 6. both married and had a family 7. both were initially religious 8. both moved away from organized religion and became interested in "spiritual" matters, finding and following the teachings of a big name teacher (or, in "Floyd's" case, many big name teachers) 9. both had highly religious wives who were quite displeased with the shift away from religion and toward "spirituality" 10. both began to feel empty in spite of all of their "spiritual seeking" and in spite of all of their accumulated "spiritual knowledge";
1. both grew up in very poor families 2. both moved to populated areas to seek employment opportunities 3. both exhibited business skills that led to their opening and operating many businesses and to their having a large number of employees working for them 4. both succeeded financially 5. both became attached to accumulating; 6. both married and had a family 7. both were initially religious 8. both moved away from organized religion and became interested in "spiritual" matters, finding and following the teachings of a big name teacher (or, in "Floyd's" case, many big name teachers) 9. both had highly religious wives who were quite displeased with the shift away from religion and toward "spirituality" 10. both began to feel empty in spite of all of their "spiritual seeking" and in spite of all of their accumulated "spiritual knowledge";
11. both began to de-accumulate after both saw that they could survive quite well on a fraction of the income they had been making
12. both had wives who were unhappy when the de-accumulation stage was entered and both had wives who became unhappy about their husbands' focus on non-duality and who blamed their unhappiness on no longer having a religious husband
(The facts be known, in both cases the unhappiness involved the fact that their husbands were no longer interested in - or willing - to work 80+ hours per week and that their husbands were no longer interested in accumulating wealth and possessions and providing the rich lifestyle to which their wives had grown accustomed)
13. both eventually came to see that the religious and spiritual states were also ego-states, and both saw that there are far more steps on the "path" to complete after reaching the religious and spiritual steps and after playing those roles which are the third of seven steps on the entire "path" 14. both "lost" their wives (one via "death," the other through divorce); 15. both accelerated their seeking; 16. both entered into the "forest dweller stage" 17. both Realized 18. both began to de-accumulate even more
19. both began sharing the teachings 20. for years, both answered questions in whatever order those questions were received, though both said that the movement from identification with the false "I" / "I's" involved an exact, step-wise manner of moving along a "path" that involved "going back" in the same (but reverse order) of the way they "came in" - that is, the way that the manifestation happened and the way that the consciousness was blocked through seven stages that resulted in their becoming identified solely with their false personas, with the content of the "mind," and eventually, with the body. But the most significant awareness that finally came to both after years of offering satsang and after having answered thousands and thousands of questions was this: After years of "Maharaj" offering satsang in his loft, and after years of "Floyd" offering satsang in meeting halls and in his home and via what one site visitor called "Floyd's electronic loft," this fact became obvious to both: "Maharaj" came to see in the 1970's and into 1980 and 1981 that his approach was not working and "Floyd" finally came to see the same.
13. both eventually came to see that the religious and spiritual states were also ego-states, and both saw that there are far more steps on the "path" to complete after reaching the religious and spiritual steps and after playing those roles which are the third of seven steps on the entire "path" 14. both "lost" their wives (one via "death," the other through divorce); 15. both accelerated their seeking; 16. both entered into the "forest dweller stage" 17. both Realized 18. both began to de-accumulate even more
19. both began sharing the teachings 20. for years, both answered questions in whatever order those questions were received, though both said that the movement from identification with the false "I" / "I's" involved an exact, step-wise manner of moving along a "path" that involved "going back" in the same (but reverse order) of the way they "came in" - that is, the way that the manifestation happened and the way that the consciousness was blocked through seven stages that resulted in their becoming identified solely with their false personas, with the content of the "mind," and eventually, with the body. But the most significant awareness that finally came to both after years of offering satsang and after having answered thousands and thousands of questions was this: After years of "Maharaj" offering satsang in his loft, and after years of "Floyd" offering satsang in meeting halls and in his home and via what one site visitor called "Floyd's electronic loft," this fact became obvious to both: "Maharaj" came to see in the 1970's and into 1980 and 1981 that his approach was not working and "Floyd" finally came to see the same.
21. Both saw that many who heard the teachings are not going to understand (Maharaj reporting that "only 1 in 100,000 are going to 'get' this" understanding)
22. both soon saw that even more than expected of those who heard the teachings were not going to understand (Maharaj modifying his "guesstimate" and reporting that "only 1 in 1,000,000 are going to 'get' this" understanding)
23. eventually both saw that even far more than expected of those who heard the teachings were not going to understand (Maharaj eventually concluding that "only 1 in 10,000,000 are going to 'get' this" understanding). And the failings were not the fault of seekers.
A "one -in-ten-million" estimate is proof that satsang was not working for most seekers, and the evidence here lately is proof of the same.
Both "Maharaj" and "Floyd" invited seekers to focus on the exact, step-wise "path." Yes, during satsang, "Maharaj" sometimes alluded to the steps while discussing them in no particular order - but he never once laid out the steps in the exact order in which they had to be completed. That was not his teachings style or approach.
Therefore, another movement or shift is happening here spontaneously after reflecting on the more than two decades since the teachings were first offered here and looking at the results of Maharaj sharing pointers in his loft and looking at the results of "Floyd" sharing pointers in this electronic loft: Looking objectively at his results, Maharaj's satsang method of sharing - in the end and by his own admission (only "one out of 10,000,000") - did not produce the intended outcome.
Looking objectively at the results here when using an "electronic loft" satsang method of sharing has not produced the intended outcome nearly as often as any of the three "face-to-face" methods used with seekers by which they have been led through the seven steps in order.
Here, the body is growing older, of course. Mahasamadhi could be taken today, or it could be taken in twenty years.
Obviously, that cannot be known. But the decision here has been made that whatever amount of the relative existence remains shall be spent in sharing the teachings in the ways that have been seen over the last 20+ years to be the most effective methods.
Looking back over the list of those that have truly received the understanding, it is seen that Robert R. read all of the books, then took the online Advaita course and then completed some face-to-face Skype sessions to receive the final clarifications required. It was seen that Mac read all of the books, completed the online course, and then attended a retreat where he was guided through the seven steps. Mac said that the online course work inspired him to attend the retreat in order to be able to receive the final "pieces." It was seen that Andy Gugar, Jr. read all of the books, then came here for a retreat and was taken through the seven steps in order, and then returned once more for the final clarifications required. After reviewing the shifts that happened with him after attending two retreats, he reaffirmed this past week his commitment to helping spread the non-duality, nisarga understanding as presented here. As a result of seeing what has "worked" during the last 20+ years of sharing the non-duality understanding - and seeing what had not "worked" as well - changes will be made.
SHIFTING THE FOCUS FROM THAT WHICH DOES NOT WORK TO THAT WHICH DOES, Part Two
Looking back over the list of those that have truly received the understanding, it is seen that Robert R. read all of the books, then took the online Advaita course and then completed some face-to-face Skype sessions to receive the final clarifications required. It was seen that Mac read all of the books, completed the online course, and then attended a retreat where he was guided through the seven steps. Mac said that the online course work inspired him to attend the retreat in order to be able to receive the final "pieces." It was seen that Andy Gugar, Jr. read all of the books, then came here for a retreat and was taken through the seven steps in order, and then returned once more for the final clarifications required. After reviewing the shifts that happened with him after attending two retreats, he reaffirmed this past week his commitment to helping spread the non-duality, nisarga understanding as presented here. As a result of seeing what has "worked" during the last 20+ years of sharing the non-duality understanding - and seeing what had not "worked" as well - changes will be made.
SHIFTING THE FOCUS FROM THAT WHICH DOES NOT WORK TO THAT WHICH DOES, Part Two
In "Part One," examples were given of seekers that were led to Realization not by satsang but by following the various protocols outlined farther down this page which provide the understanding in the step-wise, orderly, required fashion which moves seekers along a "path" that is as prescribed by Maharaj ... "going back" in the "reverse order" by which the consciousness manifested and became blocked.
However, conversations with some that just read the majority of the books have revealed that they certainly seem to have grasped the understanding and Realized as well.
As a result of seeing what has "worked" during the last 20+ years of sharing the non-duality understanding - and seeing what has "not worked" as well - changes are being made.
There are seven specific steps that happen when awareness-energy is "pulled" into a cycle of manifestation. When that energy manifests as conscious-energy, that formerly pure and unadulterated energy becomes "corrupted" (or "blocked" from seeing clearly) via programming, conditioning, domestication, acculturation, and brainwashing. Soon, there is a belief in the not-Real as a result of seven degrees of separation from an understanding of the Real.
Using the method that was also employed by his contemporaries - a method which focused on offering non-duality pointers via satsang - Maharaj addressed questions in the order in which they were received. He might receive a question from a seeker at the third step and his reply would include what amounted to an invitation to move to the fourth step. The next question might come from a seeker at the first step, and the reply would include an invitation to move to the second step.
The information offered to the second seeker would seemingly contradict what was offered to the first seeker, so visitors who have come here for decades have asked questions which showed how confused they were by the fact that Maharaj's statements to each visitor in his loft were "level-appropriate" yet were provided in no precise order, resulting in what seemed to be an inconsistent message.
So the process overall was confusing in that
seekers were told to follow the "path back" in the same way that they "came in," except in reverse order,
but
pointers were not given in a specific, step-wise order at all.
Maharaj did recognize the seven steps that are taught here, but by offering the teachings in an order that was dictated by the order in which questions were received from seekers who were at different steps on the "path," the result was this:
a pointer about moving beyond the fourth step might be followed by a pointer about moving beyond the first step, and that pointer might be followed by a pointer about how to move beyond the sixth step.
The same was done on this site for seven years. The result is a collection of 1,800 or so essays discussing almost every non-duality topic that can be discussed, and the search button on the top right side of this page will now allow seekers with a question about a specific topic to find an explanation. That method, however, will never provide the manner in which the seven steps on the "path" must be transmitted and received in order to Realize Fully.
An objective study of the history here of more than twenty years of offering non-duality pointers reveals this: seekers that were given pointers in the exact order in which they needed to receive them were the ones that Realized.
They read the books, then they completed the online course and / or completed seven Skype or telephone sessions or came here for a retreat (or watched the downloadable DVD version of an actual retreat, available below).
Some found that which they were seeking by reading the author's book that deal with non-duality subject matter. Via all of those venues, the steps are taught in their proper order.
The essays available on this site will remain for those interested in searching for a discussion of a particular non-duality topic without charge, but the focus here until mahasamadhi is taken is going to be on offering the teachings in the step-wise fashion that has been seen to work.
THESE PAPERBACK BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON.COM
(Four by Floyd Henderson and two by Dennis Waite. Click the picture for more information or to order)
(Four by Floyd Henderson and two by Dennis Waite. Click the picture for more information or to order)
* * * * * * *
ALL EBOOK AND PAPERBACK VERSION OF HENDERSON'S NON-DUALITY BOOKS
and
RECOVERY LITERATURE
and
FINANCIAL BOOKS
are available at www.floydhenderson.com
Within minutes of purchase you can be reading any of the eBooks below on your mobile devices, including an iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, Android phone, laptop, home computer or on a Kindle reader. For Apple and Android, either download the eBook directly onto your device or email the eBook file to your mobile device and open the file from your email. For Kindles or other similar devices, use your USB cable to transfer the eBook to your reader.
FOR THOSE SEEKING FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE NON-DUALITY UNDERSTANDING, AS NOTED ABOVE, SOME SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED BY USING THE METHODS BELOW, OR A COMBINATION OF THE METHODS:
International buyers: note the separate option for those outside the continental U.S.
II. BY READING the explanations offered in the collection of non-duality books that are available on this site and at www.floydhenderson.com.
III. 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
IV. BY ATTENDING an Advaitin retreat with floyd and being guided through all seven steps. For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.
V. BY ARRANGING a one-hour session via Skype or telephone with Floyd. (Skype is a free service.)
Click the button to pay and you will be contacted to arrange a date and time for the call.
VI. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING BOOKS are available at
Floyd Henderson's Website
are available at www.floydhenderson.com
Within minutes of purchase you can be reading any of the eBooks below on your mobile devices, including an iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, Android phone, laptop, home computer or on a Kindle reader. For Apple and Android, either download the eBook directly onto your device or email the eBook file to your mobile device and open the file from your email. For Kindles or other similar devices, use your USB cable to transfer the eBook to your reader.
FOR THOSE SEEKING FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE NON-DUALITY UNDERSTANDING, AS NOTED ABOVE, SOME SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED BY USING THE METHODS BELOW, OR A COMBINATION OF THE METHODS:
WAYS THAT SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED:
I. 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, DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
I. 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, 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.
II. BY READING the explanations offered in the collection of non-duality books that are available on this site and at www.floydhenderson.com.
III. 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
IV. BY ATTENDING an Advaitin retreat with floyd and being guided through all seven steps. For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.
V. BY ARRANGING a one-hour session via Skype or telephone with Floyd. (Skype is a free service.)
Click the button to pay and you will be contacted to arrange a date and time for the call.
VI. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING BOOKS are available at
Floyd Henderson's Website
Floyd Henderson's Website
FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE: A Seven-Step Journey to Reality
CONSCIOUSNESS / AWARENESS
FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS
THE FINAL UNDERSTANDING
THE ADVANCED SEEKERS' SERIES
Anthology of four books
THE BLISSFUL ABIDANCE SERIES
Anthology of six books
SRI NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ AND HIS EVOLUTION
THE FINAL FIFTEEN TOPICS DISCUSSED BY SRI NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ
A TWELVE-STEP JOURNEY TO SELF-TRANSFORMATION
For more information on this book, or to purchase a copy now, click:
A GUIDE FOR WORKING THE STEPS (IN THE MANNER USED BY THE FOUNDERS)
THE TWELVE STEPS AND ADVAITA / NON-DUALITY: A 21-DAY PLAN FOR A PSYCHIC CHANGE
SELF-TRANSFORMATION MEDITATION GUIDE (VOLUME ONE)
SELF-TRANSFORMATION MEDITATION GUIDE (VOLUME TWO)
WHY NISARGA YOGA IN ADDITION TO THE ADVAITA TEACHINGS?
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE via the Non-Duality Teachings and the Nisarga Yoga
YOUR ORIGINAL NATURE
GOING CRAZY / GOING SANE
INSTABILITY / INSANITY: WHAT THE ADVAITA TEACHINGS CAN (AND CANNOT) ADDRESS
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (THERE IS ONLY PEACE IF YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND)
FREEDOM FROM SHIFTING BETWEEN STATES OF HAPPINESS AND UNHAPPINESS
THE ULTIMATE SICKNESS / THE ULTIMATE MEDICINE
PROGRAMMING, CONDITIONING, DOMESTICATION, AND ACCULTURATION (THE SOURCES OF THE ULTIMATE SICKNESS; THE NON-DUALITY TREATMENT)
"WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?"
THE MYTH OF "DEATH"
THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS: THE SIMPLICITY OF REALIZATION
FINDING REAL LOVE IN AN UNREAL WORLD
CASTING LIGHT ON THE DARK SIDE OF RELATIONSHIPS
OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF BEING TOTALLY INDEPENDENT
THE NON-DUALITY POINTERS OFFERED BY YESHU'A ("JESUS THE CHRIST")
NOW ACCEPTING REQUESTS FOR FREE COPIES OF THE FOLLOWING EBOOKS:
A free copy of the 278-page eBook entitled
"GOOD vs. EVIL?" or "IGNORANCE, STUPIDITY, and INSANITY?"
and / or
A free copy of the 267-page eBook entitled
"THE VISION"
and / or
A free copy of eBook entitled
"SAPOLSKY, MAHARAJ AND THE NON-DUAL TEACHINGS"
is available to be sent to you and anyone else you choose.
[Please note: When the Direct Path Teaching Method is offered in conjunction with the Nisarga Yoga, something unique results when compared to what happens via the approach used by religions, spiritual movements, philosophies, ideologies, etc.:
rather than inviting seekers to learn more, the invitation here is to unlearn all; rather than offerings teachings, what is offered are unteachings; rather than offering to provide seekers more of anything, seekers will find that the process will take away everything. And via that process, the bliss of Your Original Nature will manifest and remain until mahasamadhi is taken.
To that end, the content of this book will seem radical to the seekers of more, but for those truly ready to be totally free and totally independent - and for those who are truly ready to abandon efforts to accumulate and to de-accumulate instead - the pointers in this book might be relevant.]
To receive your free copy, or to have us send a free copy to your friends or relatives, send the request (or their addresses) to the following gmail name:
nondualfloyd
Simply state in your email that you want the book sent as a gift to you (or as a gift from you to as many people as you choose.)
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE ADVAITIN
WHEN ONLY THREE HOURS OF MANIFESTATION REMAIN (THE "FINAL" TALKS OF FLOYD HENDERSON)
I AM THAT (vs. "This Is Who I Think I Am")
QUOTATIONS AND POINTERS DEALING WITH NON-DUALITY, ADVAITA, NISARGA YOGA, AND MORE
DANCING LIGHTLY
THE PATH TO FREEDOM VS. THE PATH TO MISERY
THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS PERSONAL (INCLUDING YOU AND INCLUDING GOD)
LIBERATION (ATTAINING FREEDOM FROM PERSONALITY VIA REALIZATION)
WHY YOU MUST BE EMPTY IF YOU WOULD BE FULL
FREEDOM FROM BELIEFS (Believers, Non-Believers, and "No-Belief-ers")
WHEN REALITY IS OVERLAID ON THE RELATIVE
THE RELATIVE RESULTS OF RETURNING TO "THE CHILD IGNORANCE STAGE" OR "THE CHILD NO-KNOWING STATE"
WHAT BLISS IS AND WHAT BLISS IS NOT
THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS
LESSONS IN NON-DUALITY FROM TRAVELS IN SOUTH AFRICA
A SERIES OF ESSAYS DISCUSSING THE FIRST STEP ON THE SEVEN-STEP PATH TO REALIZATION
A SERIES OF ESSAYS DISCUSSING THE SECOND STEP ON THE SEVEN-STEP PATH TO REALIZATION
A SERIES OF ESSAYS DISCUSSING THE THIRD STEP ON THE SEVEN-STEP PATH TO REALIZATION
A SERIES OF ESSAYS DISCUSSING THE FOURTH STEP ON THE SEVEN-STEP PATH TO REALIZATION
A SERIES OF ESSAYS DISCUSSING THE FIFTH STEP ON THE SEVEN-STEP PATH TO REALIZATION
A SERIES OF ESSAYS DISCUSSING THE SIXTH STEP ON THE SEVEN-STEP PATH TO REALIZATION
A SERIES OF ESSAYS DISCUSSING THE SEVENTH STEP ON THE SEVEN-STEP PATH TO REALIZATION
SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (RECOVERING WHAT RELIGIONS LOST)
IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (AND WHY KNOWING IT SETS YOU FREE)
