A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: If the main problem of humankind centers in the mind,
and
a. if certain Realized teachers share that, or
b. if certain writers share that, or
c. if certain group members occasionally mention that,
and
d. if certain seekers hear that,
then
e. why do all of those who hear it when the problem of the planet is identified . . . that is, who hear the root of the Ultimate Sickness . . . then why do they remain unwilling to even consider that might apply, much less actually address their “mind-based issues”?
1. BECAUSE OF EGO AND EGOTISM
“Ego” is the false “I,” a persona, a personality, a role, a false identity. Egotism is one of the many ego-defense mechanisms which persons use to defend and sustain one’s image of self, one’s false identities, one's ego-states. All personality assignment and / or adoption involves dysfunctionalism, ignorance, and insanity. All belief in false selves is rooted in dysfunctionalism, ignorance, and insanity. If trapped in ego and egotism, then insane thoughts and words and actions are assured.
2. BECAUSE OF THE TENDENCY OF EGO-DEFENSE MECHANISMS TO INSPIRE A (DUALISTICALLY) COMBATIVE / DEFENSIVE NATURE
A man said yesterday that his counselor had angered him in a session the previous week when she suggested that his current problem was actually rooted in a series of childhood incidents involving his parents and their less-than-logical and far-from-normal approach to child-rearing. His sense of perfectionism required that “those who made him the way he is” also had to have been perfect.
That counselor he mentioned had spotted something already seen here long ago, and she was totally spot on; but the ego-state of “The One Who Was Made Into a Perfect Adult by Perfect Parents” became combative when the validity of that false identity was challenged; then, the ego-defense mechanism of egotism was triggered and came to the defense of his false image.
Here, when a hidden motive is clearly driving persons and they are invited to consider if their actual motivation is quite different from what they claim to be behind their actions, they often vehemently deny the alternative motive which they are being invited to consider. How can any shift away from insanity-inspired behaviors ever end when such defenses are operating at an unconscious level? The odds of such a shift happening are slight.
3. BECAUSE OF PROJECTION
Projection is another ego-defense mechanism that is used frequently. To protect one’s ego / self-image, the tendency among the non-Realized is to ignore their defects and flaws which personality brings to the relative existence, to take those defects and flaws which usually only register on a subconscious level, and to then try to cast them out by spotting them in others and judging them and assigning those defects and flaws to them while ignoring them in “self,” in one’s false selves.
4. BECAUSE OF THE TENDENCY TO DENY AND TO PUT A SPIN ON THE FACTS SURROUNDING ONE’S PERSONALITY FLAWS AND PERSONALITY DEFECTS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING
On the personality inventory test used here, a very low Type Eight score indicates that the person being tested is likely going to behave in the fashion of a doormat, letting those with higher 8 scores walk all over them. A high Type Eight score indicates that one is likely to show certain levels of antisocial behavior. Depending on the score, an above-average score in the 8 might guarantee that there will be occasional evidence of some degree of callousness, meanness, and ruthlessness. A very high 8 score will guarantee that there are some deep-seated sociopathic tendencies.
When that is revealed, some sociopaths in the past have laughed, as if to say, “You got me! Ha. That’s me alright!” They do not care. Others who are still working diligently to maintain a “positive image” in public will become quite angry and will deny the truth regarding their actual “state of mind” and the actual degree to which their personality disorder is manifesting. One person rather recently said quite vehemently, “I am NOT a sociopath! I do not have ANY sociopathic tendencies. Your test results are bogus!” Okay. So long.
5. BECAUSE OF THE NEAR-UNIVERSAL TENDENCY AMONG THE EGO-AND-EGOTISM-DRIVEN, NON-REALIZED MASSES TO BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING (AND TO BELIEVE IT WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT AT ALL): “MY CA-CA STINKETH NOT, BUT THOU CA-CA DOTH MUCH OFFEND”
Ego and egotism, functioning hand-in-hand, will block any possibility of seeing one’s own truth while readily judging others and critiquing them.
6. BECAUSE CRAZY CANNOT SPOT CRAZY
An uncle was the chief administrator at a mental institution in Texas, and I occasionally visited him for a day or two in his home and at his workplace during the summers spent at Grandmother’s cabin. As an adolescent, I visited him in the Texas State Mental Hospital in Rusk, and time was spent around the patients there (an act in the late 1950's and early 1960’s that could not take place nowadays).
In one open area of the facility which provided a place for recreation or exercise or fresh air for the sometimes-violent or for the seriously-mentally-ill patients, there was a three-story-high chain link fence surrounding that section of the facility.
There was shock when I would see certain inmates climbing ten to twenty feet up the fence and swinging back and forth and screaming. My uncle explained that those inmates did not have a clue about who there really were and that they “lived in another world.”
See? When persons do not have a clue about who they really are, and imagine that they are many other things, and take many false, dreamed up selves to be real, they are as insane as those inmates; yet most nowadays who are insane to one degree or another are not locked away as those inmates were.
They are moving about the planet, sharing common roofs with families, going to work, and abiding in a way that appears to be normal in many cultures around the globe. (What goes on behind closed doors in something else entirely.) But like the inmates who were “living in another world,” most roaming about the planet freely are insane to one degree or another without having any clue at all about their actual, mental condition.
The challenges involved with being restored to sanity - after being driven into the depths of the Ultimate Sickness via faulty and perverted programming, conditioning, domestication, acculturation, indoctrination and brainwashing - are usually so overwhelming that the masses are all likely to be driven throughout their entire relative existence by the three key symptoms of the Ultimate Sickness which Maharaj identified: “ignorance, stupidity, and insanity.”
It was by mere chance that the path here crossed the path of one – and then, later, another – both of whom had been restored to sanity and could see clearly by the time our paths crossed. The first was one who would tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may. As here, he would share the obvious and would show that one’s perceptions were all twisted a full 180 degrees from reality (not to mention from Reality). If there has been any lingering tendency to argue rather than surrender to the process completely, the door would have been opened and the invitation to leave would have been extended . . . and enforced.
Yet what are the odds, when so few can see clearly and when most are being driven by the arrogance-fostering and the deception-generating personalities and beliefs that persons hold so dear, that one will ever be able to undo the mental and emotional damage which infects the masses who are suffering from the Ultimate Sickness without even knowing it?
The odds are slight, but if persons reach the point where they are finally able to admit,
“You know what? The way I’m living is totally insane. I am ready to do whatever is required to put an end to that, once and for all”
then
the possibility of “a chance” - as happened here - might also happen for them as well.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
Section Two offers other recent posts. (All of the nearly 2,400 posts as well as any specific topics which you’re interested in can be accessed by using the search feature at the top of the right column.)
Section Three offers ways that seekers have Realized, tools which some have used, and information on floyd's books.
Section Four offers four free eBooks, compliments of Andy Gugar, Jr.
Section Five discusses parallels in Maharaj's and Floyd's "journey" and provides a chance for you to see if you've had any such parallels as well.
Section Six offers information on paperbacks that are available through Amazon.com for those who prefer a book in hand.
* * * * * *
SECTION TWO:
Other Recent Posts
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
and
a. if certain Realized teachers share that, or
b. if certain writers share that, or
c. if certain group members occasionally mention that,
and
d. if certain seekers hear that,
then
e. why do all of those who hear it when the problem of the planet is identified . . . that is, who hear the root of the Ultimate Sickness . . . then why do they remain unwilling to even consider that might apply, much less actually address their “mind-based issues”?
1. BECAUSE OF EGO AND EGOTISM
“Ego” is the false “I,” a persona, a personality, a role, a false identity. Egotism is one of the many ego-defense mechanisms which persons use to defend and sustain one’s image of self, one’s false identities, one's ego-states. All personality assignment and / or adoption involves dysfunctionalism, ignorance, and insanity. All belief in false selves is rooted in dysfunctionalism, ignorance, and insanity. If trapped in ego and egotism, then insane thoughts and words and actions are assured.
2. BECAUSE OF THE TENDENCY OF EGO-DEFENSE MECHANISMS TO INSPIRE A (DUALISTICALLY) COMBATIVE / DEFENSIVE NATURE
A man said yesterday that his counselor had angered him in a session the previous week when she suggested that his current problem was actually rooted in a series of childhood incidents involving his parents and their less-than-logical and far-from-normal approach to child-rearing. His sense of perfectionism required that “those who made him the way he is” also had to have been perfect.
That counselor he mentioned had spotted something already seen here long ago, and she was totally spot on; but the ego-state of “The One Who Was Made Into a Perfect Adult by Perfect Parents” became combative when the validity of that false identity was challenged; then, the ego-defense mechanism of egotism was triggered and came to the defense of his false image.
Here, when a hidden motive is clearly driving persons and they are invited to consider if their actual motivation is quite different from what they claim to be behind their actions, they often vehemently deny the alternative motive which they are being invited to consider. How can any shift away from insanity-inspired behaviors ever end when such defenses are operating at an unconscious level? The odds of such a shift happening are slight.
3. BECAUSE OF PROJECTION
Projection is another ego-defense mechanism that is used frequently. To protect one’s ego / self-image, the tendency among the non-Realized is to ignore their defects and flaws which personality brings to the relative existence, to take those defects and flaws which usually only register on a subconscious level, and to then try to cast them out by spotting them in others and judging them and assigning those defects and flaws to them while ignoring them in “self,” in one’s false selves.
4. BECAUSE OF THE TENDENCY TO DENY AND TO PUT A SPIN ON THE FACTS SURROUNDING ONE’S PERSONALITY FLAWS AND PERSONALITY DEFECTS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING
On the personality inventory test used here, a very low Type Eight score indicates that the person being tested is likely going to behave in the fashion of a doormat, letting those with higher 8 scores walk all over them. A high Type Eight score indicates that one is likely to show certain levels of antisocial behavior. Depending on the score, an above-average score in the 8 might guarantee that there will be occasional evidence of some degree of callousness, meanness, and ruthlessness. A very high 8 score will guarantee that there are some deep-seated sociopathic tendencies.
When that is revealed, some sociopaths in the past have laughed, as if to say, “You got me! Ha. That’s me alright!” They do not care. Others who are still working diligently to maintain a “positive image” in public will become quite angry and will deny the truth regarding their actual “state of mind” and the actual degree to which their personality disorder is manifesting. One person rather recently said quite vehemently, “I am NOT a sociopath! I do not have ANY sociopathic tendencies. Your test results are bogus!” Okay. So long.
5. BECAUSE OF THE NEAR-UNIVERSAL TENDENCY AMONG THE EGO-AND-EGOTISM-DRIVEN, NON-REALIZED MASSES TO BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING (AND TO BELIEVE IT WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT AT ALL): “MY CA-CA STINKETH NOT, BUT THOU CA-CA DOTH MUCH OFFEND”
Ego and egotism, functioning hand-in-hand, will block any possibility of seeing one’s own truth while readily judging others and critiquing them.
6. BECAUSE CRAZY CANNOT SPOT CRAZY
An uncle was the chief administrator at a mental institution in Texas, and I occasionally visited him for a day or two in his home and at his workplace during the summers spent at Grandmother’s cabin. As an adolescent, I visited him in the Texas State Mental Hospital in Rusk, and time was spent around the patients there (an act in the late 1950's and early 1960’s that could not take place nowadays).
In one open area of the facility which provided a place for recreation or exercise or fresh air for the sometimes-violent or for the seriously-mentally-ill patients, there was a three-story-high chain link fence surrounding that section of the facility.
There was shock when I would see certain inmates climbing ten to twenty feet up the fence and swinging back and forth and screaming. My uncle explained that those inmates did not have a clue about who there really were and that they “lived in another world.”
See? When persons do not have a clue about who they really are, and imagine that they are many other things, and take many false, dreamed up selves to be real, they are as insane as those inmates; yet most nowadays who are insane to one degree or another are not locked away as those inmates were.
They are moving about the planet, sharing common roofs with families, going to work, and abiding in a way that appears to be normal in many cultures around the globe. (What goes on behind closed doors in something else entirely.) But like the inmates who were “living in another world,” most roaming about the planet freely are insane to one degree or another without having any clue at all about their actual, mental condition.
The challenges involved with being restored to sanity - after being driven into the depths of the Ultimate Sickness via faulty and perverted programming, conditioning, domestication, acculturation, indoctrination and brainwashing - are usually so overwhelming that the masses are all likely to be driven throughout their entire relative existence by the three key symptoms of the Ultimate Sickness which Maharaj identified: “ignorance, stupidity, and insanity.”
It was by mere chance that the path here crossed the path of one – and then, later, another – both of whom had been restored to sanity and could see clearly by the time our paths crossed. The first was one who would tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may. As here, he would share the obvious and would show that one’s perceptions were all twisted a full 180 degrees from reality (not to mention from Reality). If there has been any lingering tendency to argue rather than surrender to the process completely, the door would have been opened and the invitation to leave would have been extended . . . and enforced.
Yet what are the odds, when so few can see clearly and when most are being driven by the arrogance-fostering and the deception-generating personalities and beliefs that persons hold so dear, that one will ever be able to undo the mental and emotional damage which infects the masses who are suffering from the Ultimate Sickness without even knowing it?
The odds are slight, but if persons reach the point where they are finally able to admit,
“You know what? The way I’m living is totally insane. I am ready to do whatever is required to put an end to that, once and for all”
then
the possibility of “a chance” - as happened here - might also happen for them as well.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
NOTE: Sections Two through Six follow:
Section Two offers other recent posts. (All of the nearly 2,400 posts as well as any specific topics which you’re interested in can be accessed by using the search feature at the top of the right column.)
Section Three offers ways that seekers have Realized, tools which some have used, and information on floyd's books.
Section Four offers four free eBooks, compliments of Andy Gugar, Jr.
Section Five discusses parallels in Maharaj's and Floyd's "journey" and provides a chance for you to see if you've had any such parallels as well.
Section Six offers information on paperbacks that are available through Amazon.com for those who prefer a book in hand.
* * * * * *
SECTION TWO:
Other Recent Posts
29 November 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: To review 20 of the key pointers offered so far:
1. The history of human or human-like beings is that, during the entire pre-mind period, they functioned in a manner guided by the brain (not unlike the deer and not unlike every other life-form on the planet, except for modern humans).
2. The human brain began to expand in size and capability only recently (in evolutionary terms) and developed the capacity to store memories and to retrieve (what were at one time natural) memories in order to recall information that could protect the body and perpetuate the survival of the species.
3. Pre-language memories did their natural job: they created a “mind” that contained information which led to constructive behavior and helped avoid potentially-dangerous situations.
4. After languages developed, persons with personal agendas began programming and conditioning the minds of other persons in order to influence them and control their conduct via the placement of beliefs in a mind and then locking those beliefs in place with the use of positive and negative (that is, dualistic) reinforcement.
5. Rather than storing natural information, the brain began storing unnatural teachings and magical teachings about supposedly "supernatural" beings and events. Perverted “mind stuff” began to prevail.
6. True freedom was lost because behavior came to be controlled by one's programmers and their teachings, even if they were not present. (If one is conditioned, then freedom is nothing more than a concept and certainly cannot be real if a person's actions and reactions are the unconscious result of programming and conditioning. More “mind stuff.”)
(Maharaj: “In reality all is here and now and all is One. Multiplicity and diversity are in the mind only.”)
7. Nowadays, persons are living their relative existence in a manner controlled by, among other factors, a host of relatives both living and long “deceased.” It is as if all non-Realized persons are burdened with a heavy load on their shoulders which becomes a heavy burden on their minds. (Are you familiar with the expression, “Get off my back!”?) The “load” can include a grandfather whispering in one ear; a grandmother whispering in another ear; a father whispering in an ear; a mother whispering in the other ear.
8. And even if, for example, a father was absent as a result of a “death” or a divorce or because he was there but “mental and emotionally unavailable,” he is nevertheless whispering in his absence. What is being heard? “I didn’t love you. You mean nothing. You are not worth my time. Feel abandoned forever. Feel as if you never received all of the love that you wanted as a child. Then spend the rest of your existence seeking love from everyone. Give to others until you are exhausted. Ignore your own relative needs as you put the mental and emotional "needs" of others ahead of your own actual relative requirements in order to try to get them to love you. Be driven by that subconscious driver forever.” More “mind stuff.”
9. Or, in cases where the father was there and abused a child physically, then the message being whispered in the ear and heard to this day is, “You are not good enough. You are unloved because you are not lovable, but keep loving me and trying to get my love.” (It is normal – as with those who suffer from the Stockholm Syndrome - to stay with or attach to abusive people. "Also, spend your entire life being a doormat. Now, go forth and become an abuser yourself and keep our family tradition going for another generation." More “mind stuff.”
10. Or, in the case where the father was there and the abuse was sexual, the whispers being heard now are, “You are your body. Your only worth involves using your body to please others. You will only be loved if you never say ‘No!’ You must always acquiesce to others and allow them to use you for their own gratification.” More “mind stuff.”
(Maharaj: “That you hear . . . is a fact. What you hear . . . is not. The fact can be experienced, and in that sense the sound of the word and the mental ripples it causes are experienced. There is no other reality behind it.”)
11. Thus, the mind forms via programming, conditioning, acculturation, domestication, brainwashing, indoctrination and via examples that were set and via perverse or ignorant behaviors that were modeled. The result? Your mind has now normalized the totally abnormal and redefined the totally-unacceptable as being quite acceptable indeed.
12. Once persons began storing ideas and beliefs and concepts in their minds (instead of recording fact-based observations that could assist in natural living), then memories became dualistic in their nature: “Our tribe is good, but their tribe is bad,” and “We have the right to punish those whose memories contain information that differs from the concepts and beliefs in our memories.” The “mind” thus became a distorted conglomeration of corruptions and lies. More dualistic, perverted “mind stuff.”
13. As human behavior became more deviant and abnormal as a result of dualistic beliefs and concepts, children began forming personalities in an effort to try to deal with abnormal situations in their dysfunctional families. More and more “mind stuff” prevailed.
14. As more dualistic beliefs and concepts were stored in memory because humans were being exposed to more and more programming and conditioning, a greater sense of separation from others and Self became more common as the “mind” became more corrupted and warped and as personas became attached to more and more false identities.
(Maharaj: “There is the Self, the only Self of all. Misled by the diversity of names and shapes, minds and bodies, you imagine multiple selves”)
and
(“Even to talk of re-uniting the person with the Self is not right, because there is no person, only a mental picture given a false reality by conviction. Nothing was divided and there is nothing to unite.”)
15. As more adjusting was required among children who were trying to adapt to more and more abnormal circumstances, more personalities were formed. Then, children attached to their personalities (that is, to that childish set of “tools” being used to cope with the abnormal. More abnormal, perverted “mind stuff.”)
16. As persons attached more and more to personality, which is rooted in childhood and in childishness, the eventual result was a proliferation of adults who lost the ability to choose and instead fell under the influence and control of a childish personality. Childish ways were carried over into adult-age situations. Adults, unconsciously driven by childhood memories and childhood programming and personality, began to behave more and more in childish and nonsensical ways. More really ignorant and insane “mind stuff.”
17. Human behavior which is typically inspired by aberrations of personality now generates the majority of the “problems of the planet” as personality disorders determine (unconsciously) how persons emote, how they think, and, therefore, what they do. Each of the basic personality types eventually began to generate a particular set of personality disorders which then generated suffering for each person plagued by those multiple personality types and for all of those who must try to deal with them. More and more and more “mind stuff.”
18. The result is this: billions of persons are walking about the planet, believing that they are choosing to do what they do when, in fact, they are sleepwalking . . . doing what their programmers would have them do; thus, all that they think and feel and do is determined by the emotional intoxication that they suffer as a result of unconsciously allowing a set of childish, childhood tools to guide them through adulthood. And all of that is based in illusion. Why? The past is an illusion. How can one possibly be free if everything being said or thought or done or felt in “the present” is a reaction to false perceptions and bogus messaging from "the past"?
19. The solution to "the problem of the planet,” to the Ultimate Sickness, could come via Full Realization in many instances, a process which begins with the discarding of all body-mind-personality identifications.
(Maharaj: “When all the false self-identifications are thrown away, what remains is all-embracing Love.”)
20. All thoughts about the body and about false identities come via the mind, so – in the end – the real problem among humans on the planet is a mental problem rooted in mind-full-ness. The solution? Freedom from “mind stuff.”
(Maharaj: “You are so blinded by what is personal, that you do not see the universal. This blindness will not end by itself - it must be undone skillfully and deliberately. When all illusions are understood and abandoned, you reach the error-free and perfect state in which all distinctions between the personal and the universal are no more.”)
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
1. The history of human or human-like beings is that, during the entire pre-mind period, they functioned in a manner guided by the brain (not unlike the deer and not unlike every other life-form on the planet, except for modern humans).
2. The human brain began to expand in size and capability only recently (in evolutionary terms) and developed the capacity to store memories and to retrieve (what were at one time natural) memories in order to recall information that could protect the body and perpetuate the survival of the species.
3. Pre-language memories did their natural job: they created a “mind” that contained information which led to constructive behavior and helped avoid potentially-dangerous situations.
4. After languages developed, persons with personal agendas began programming and conditioning the minds of other persons in order to influence them and control their conduct via the placement of beliefs in a mind and then locking those beliefs in place with the use of positive and negative (that is, dualistic) reinforcement.
5. Rather than storing natural information, the brain began storing unnatural teachings and magical teachings about supposedly "supernatural" beings and events. Perverted “mind stuff” began to prevail.
6. True freedom was lost because behavior came to be controlled by one's programmers and their teachings, even if they were not present. (If one is conditioned, then freedom is nothing more than a concept and certainly cannot be real if a person's actions and reactions are the unconscious result of programming and conditioning. More “mind stuff.”)
(Maharaj: “In reality all is here and now and all is One. Multiplicity and diversity are in the mind only.”)
7. Nowadays, persons are living their relative existence in a manner controlled by, among other factors, a host of relatives both living and long “deceased.” It is as if all non-Realized persons are burdened with a heavy load on their shoulders which becomes a heavy burden on their minds. (Are you familiar with the expression, “Get off my back!”?) The “load” can include a grandfather whispering in one ear; a grandmother whispering in another ear; a father whispering in an ear; a mother whispering in the other ear.
8. And even if, for example, a father was absent as a result of a “death” or a divorce or because he was there but “mental and emotionally unavailable,” he is nevertheless whispering in his absence. What is being heard? “I didn’t love you. You mean nothing. You are not worth my time. Feel abandoned forever. Feel as if you never received all of the love that you wanted as a child. Then spend the rest of your existence seeking love from everyone. Give to others until you are exhausted. Ignore your own relative needs as you put the mental and emotional "needs" of others ahead of your own actual relative requirements in order to try to get them to love you. Be driven by that subconscious driver forever.” More “mind stuff.”
9. Or, in cases where the father was there and abused a child physically, then the message being whispered in the ear and heard to this day is, “You are not good enough. You are unloved because you are not lovable, but keep loving me and trying to get my love.” (It is normal – as with those who suffer from the Stockholm Syndrome - to stay with or attach to abusive people. "Also, spend your entire life being a doormat. Now, go forth and become an abuser yourself and keep our family tradition going for another generation." More “mind stuff.”
10. Or, in the case where the father was there and the abuse was sexual, the whispers being heard now are, “You are your body. Your only worth involves using your body to please others. You will only be loved if you never say ‘No!’ You must always acquiesce to others and allow them to use you for their own gratification.” More “mind stuff.”
(Maharaj: “That you hear . . . is a fact. What you hear . . . is not. The fact can be experienced, and in that sense the sound of the word and the mental ripples it causes are experienced. There is no other reality behind it.”)
11. Thus, the mind forms via programming, conditioning, acculturation, domestication, brainwashing, indoctrination and via examples that were set and via perverse or ignorant behaviors that were modeled. The result? Your mind has now normalized the totally abnormal and redefined the totally-unacceptable as being quite acceptable indeed.
12. Once persons began storing ideas and beliefs and concepts in their minds (instead of recording fact-based observations that could assist in natural living), then memories became dualistic in their nature: “Our tribe is good, but their tribe is bad,” and “We have the right to punish those whose memories contain information that differs from the concepts and beliefs in our memories.” The “mind” thus became a distorted conglomeration of corruptions and lies. More dualistic, perverted “mind stuff.”
13. As human behavior became more deviant and abnormal as a result of dualistic beliefs and concepts, children began forming personalities in an effort to try to deal with abnormal situations in their dysfunctional families. More and more “mind stuff” prevailed.
14. As more dualistic beliefs and concepts were stored in memory because humans were being exposed to more and more programming and conditioning, a greater sense of separation from others and Self became more common as the “mind” became more corrupted and warped and as personas became attached to more and more false identities.
(Maharaj: “There is the Self, the only Self of all. Misled by the diversity of names and shapes, minds and bodies, you imagine multiple selves”)
and
(“Even to talk of re-uniting the person with the Self is not right, because there is no person, only a mental picture given a false reality by conviction. Nothing was divided and there is nothing to unite.”)
15. As more adjusting was required among children who were trying to adapt to more and more abnormal circumstances, more personalities were formed. Then, children attached to their personalities (that is, to that childish set of “tools” being used to cope with the abnormal. More abnormal, perverted “mind stuff.”)
16. As persons attached more and more to personality, which is rooted in childhood and in childishness, the eventual result was a proliferation of adults who lost the ability to choose and instead fell under the influence and control of a childish personality. Childish ways were carried over into adult-age situations. Adults, unconsciously driven by childhood memories and childhood programming and personality, began to behave more and more in childish and nonsensical ways. More really ignorant and insane “mind stuff.”
17. Human behavior which is typically inspired by aberrations of personality now generates the majority of the “problems of the planet” as personality disorders determine (unconsciously) how persons emote, how they think, and, therefore, what they do. Each of the basic personality types eventually began to generate a particular set of personality disorders which then generated suffering for each person plagued by those multiple personality types and for all of those who must try to deal with them. More and more and more “mind stuff.”
18. The result is this: billions of persons are walking about the planet, believing that they are choosing to do what they do when, in fact, they are sleepwalking . . . doing what their programmers would have them do; thus, all that they think and feel and do is determined by the emotional intoxication that they suffer as a result of unconsciously allowing a set of childish, childhood tools to guide them through adulthood. And all of that is based in illusion. Why? The past is an illusion. How can one possibly be free if everything being said or thought or done or felt in “the present” is a reaction to false perceptions and bogus messaging from "the past"?
19. The solution to "the problem of the planet,” to the Ultimate Sickness, could come via Full Realization in many instances, a process which begins with the discarding of all body-mind-personality identifications.
(Maharaj: “When all the false self-identifications are thrown away, what remains is all-embracing Love.”)
20. All thoughts about the body and about false identities come via the mind, so – in the end – the real problem among humans on the planet is a mental problem rooted in mind-full-ness. The solution? Freedom from “mind stuff.”
(Maharaj: “You are so blinded by what is personal, that you do not see the universal. This blindness will not end by itself - it must be undone skillfully and deliberately. When all illusions are understood and abandoned, you reach the error-free and perfect state in which all distinctions between the personal and the universal are no more.”)
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
Previous post
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: Some take great offense at Maharaj’s having shared that most are suffering from the key symptoms of the Ultimate Sickness, namely, “ignorance, stupidity, and insanity.”
They seem to be slightly more accepting when a discussion centers on personality and the problems which are rooted in personality and in the motives of personas (which unconsciously control all thoughts and words and actions).
The point here is that whether the discussion centers on “ignorance, stupidity, and insanity” or on personality-driven problems or on neuroses or on psychoses,
a. all of that involves the mind (i.e., involves mind-full-ness) and
b. all of that is ultimately about one problem - a mind problem - what is simply manifesting in varying degrees.
The sequence from sanity to insanity follows this path:
I. What is called “a newborn” begins with a brain but without what will soon become a fiction-filled, content-filled, warped mind.
II. A mind is stuffed full of nonsense via programming, conditioning, domestication, acculturation, indoctrination, and brainwashing – all of which also involves the assignment of false identifications and the subsequent development of personality / personalities (which results from a “survival response” as children try to adapt to the dysfunctional environments in which all children are being raised nowadays).
III. As more and more personalities are assigned and / or later adopted, an “identity crisis” begins. Persons do not have even the slightest clue about who they are after they are assigned or after they assume multiple personalities (that is, roles / stage characters / personas / guises / facades / fronts / faces / images, etc.) as identities.
IV. Once persons are being driven, subconsciously, by the hidden agendas of their multiple personalities (the end result being that every non-Realized person on the planet ends up suffering from the effects of the Multiple Personality Disorder), then – when stressed - they will begin to suffer from the worst possible traits of each personality which they have been assigned or which they adopted.
V. As stress increases, so does the process of personality disintegration. What may have been early on a state of psychic health becomes a state of average psychic health which, without intervention or Realization, will eventually give way to more psychic disintegration and psychic unhealthiness.
VI. In the absence of intervention or Realization, the deterioration of the mind – of the psyche – continues and then results in the development of neuroses or even psychoses.
Consider an example offered by the Enneagram Institute to show what happens when a person’s mind moves away from the “healthy levels” of psychic health to the levels of disintegration which follow when no intervention or Realization happens.
(The example offered will be of the Type Six because 50% of all persons on the planet have a Type Six Personality style as their primary type. The example will move past “Levels 1, 2, and 3” where “healthy levels” of personality are observable and begin with the traits of Type Sixes as they move through the “average levels” of psychic health and will then show what they are like when they disintegrate to the three “unhealthy levels”).
AVERAGE LEVELS
Level 4: Start investing their time and energy into whatever they believe will be safe and stable. Organizing and structuring, they look to alliances and authorities for security and continuity. Constantly vigilant, anticipating problems.
Level 5: To resist having more demands made on them, they react against others passive-aggressively. Become evasive, indecisive, cautious, procrastinating, and ambivalent. Are highly reactive, anxious, and negative, giving contradictory, "mixed signals." Internal confusion makes them react unpredictably.
Level 6: To compensate for insecurities, they become sarcastic and belligerent, blaming others for their problems, taking a tough stance toward "outsiders." Highly reactive and defensive, dividing people into friends and enemies, while looking for threats to their own security. Authoritarian while fearful of authority, highly suspicious, yet, conspiratorial, and fear-instilling to silence their own fears.
UNHEALTHY LEVELS
Level 7: Fearing that they have ruined their security, they become panicky, volatile, and self-disparaging with acute inferiority feelings. Seeing themselves as defenseless, they seek out a stronger authority or belief to resolve all problems. Highly divisive, disparaging and berating others.
Level 8: Feeling persecuted, that others are "out to get them," they lash-out and act irrationally, bringing about what they fear. Fanaticism, violence.
Level 9: Hysterical, and seeking to escape punishment, they become self-destructive and suicidal. Alcoholism, drug overdoses, "skid row," self-abasing behavior. Generally corresponds to the Passive-Aggressive and Paranoid personality disorders.
Note that
A. the last levels involve neuroses and, in the end, psychoses; that
B. when “Twelve Steps Groups” label someone as a “high bottom,” those persons are usually at level 8 and those whom they label as “low bottoms” are usually at level 9; and that
C. all of the levels involve the mind and its deterioration and degeneration when under stress and when being swept about in a helter-skelter fashion via cultural influences.
Want to be free? Be free of the content of the mind.
Want to be at peace? Be freed from being driven by the hidden agendas of personality / personalities.
Want freedom and peace? Reject all that you have been taught via programming, conditioning, domestication, acculturation, indoctrination, and brainwashing.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
25 November 2014
They seem to be slightly more accepting when a discussion centers on personality and the problems which are rooted in personality and in the motives of personas (which unconsciously control all thoughts and words and actions).
The point here is that whether the discussion centers on “ignorance, stupidity, and insanity” or on personality-driven problems or on neuroses or on psychoses,
a. all of that involves the mind (i.e., involves mind-full-ness) and
b. all of that is ultimately about one problem - a mind problem - what is simply manifesting in varying degrees.
The sequence from sanity to insanity follows this path:
I. What is called “a newborn” begins with a brain but without what will soon become a fiction-filled, content-filled, warped mind.
II. A mind is stuffed full of nonsense via programming, conditioning, domestication, acculturation, indoctrination, and brainwashing – all of which also involves the assignment of false identifications and the subsequent development of personality / personalities (which results from a “survival response” as children try to adapt to the dysfunctional environments in which all children are being raised nowadays).
III. As more and more personalities are assigned and / or later adopted, an “identity crisis” begins. Persons do not have even the slightest clue about who they are after they are assigned or after they assume multiple personalities (that is, roles / stage characters / personas / guises / facades / fronts / faces / images, etc.) as identities.
IV. Once persons are being driven, subconsciously, by the hidden agendas of their multiple personalities (the end result being that every non-Realized person on the planet ends up suffering from the effects of the Multiple Personality Disorder), then – when stressed - they will begin to suffer from the worst possible traits of each personality which they have been assigned or which they adopted.
V. As stress increases, so does the process of personality disintegration. What may have been early on a state of psychic health becomes a state of average psychic health which, without intervention or Realization, will eventually give way to more psychic disintegration and psychic unhealthiness.
VI. In the absence of intervention or Realization, the deterioration of the mind – of the psyche – continues and then results in the development of neuroses or even psychoses.
Consider an example offered by the Enneagram Institute to show what happens when a person’s mind moves away from the “healthy levels” of psychic health to the levels of disintegration which follow when no intervention or Realization happens.
(The example offered will be of the Type Six because 50% of all persons on the planet have a Type Six Personality style as their primary type. The example will move past “Levels 1, 2, and 3” where “healthy levels” of personality are observable and begin with the traits of Type Sixes as they move through the “average levels” of psychic health and will then show what they are like when they disintegrate to the three “unhealthy levels”).
AVERAGE LEVELS
Level 4: Start investing their time and energy into whatever they believe will be safe and stable. Organizing and structuring, they look to alliances and authorities for security and continuity. Constantly vigilant, anticipating problems.
Level 5: To resist having more demands made on them, they react against others passive-aggressively. Become evasive, indecisive, cautious, procrastinating, and ambivalent. Are highly reactive, anxious, and negative, giving contradictory, "mixed signals." Internal confusion makes them react unpredictably.
Level 6: To compensate for insecurities, they become sarcastic and belligerent, blaming others for their problems, taking a tough stance toward "outsiders." Highly reactive and defensive, dividing people into friends and enemies, while looking for threats to their own security. Authoritarian while fearful of authority, highly suspicious, yet, conspiratorial, and fear-instilling to silence their own fears.
UNHEALTHY LEVELS
Level 7: Fearing that they have ruined their security, they become panicky, volatile, and self-disparaging with acute inferiority feelings. Seeing themselves as defenseless, they seek out a stronger authority or belief to resolve all problems. Highly divisive, disparaging and berating others.
Level 8: Feeling persecuted, that others are "out to get them," they lash-out and act irrationally, bringing about what they fear. Fanaticism, violence.
Level 9: Hysterical, and seeking to escape punishment, they become self-destructive and suicidal. Alcoholism, drug overdoses, "skid row," self-abasing behavior. Generally corresponds to the Passive-Aggressive and Paranoid personality disorders.
Note that
A. the last levels involve neuroses and, in the end, psychoses; that
B. when “Twelve Steps Groups” label someone as a “high bottom,” those persons are usually at level 8 and those whom they label as “low bottoms” are usually at level 9; and that
C. all of the levels involve the mind and its deterioration and degeneration when under stress and when being swept about in a helter-skelter fashion via cultural influences.
Want to be free? Be free of the content of the mind.
Want to be at peace? Be freed from being driven by the hidden agendas of personality / personalities.
Want freedom and peace? Reject all that you have been taught via programming, conditioning, domestication, acculturation, indoctrination, and brainwashing.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
25 November 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: So the question at this point is, “Are you seeking Full Realization, are you Fully Realized, or do you only think that you are Fully Realized”? There’s an easy test that can be used by those who understand the pointers in these recent posts on "the mind":
TEST #1: Are you seeking Full Realization? Seek on. (Where are people still seeking usually “stuck?” At the third step where three roles especially are played: “The Super Religious One,” The Spiritual Giant,” and / or “The One Absorbed in Super, Excessive-Level Seeking.” Seek on. Abandon the first two roles and all beliefs and you’ll almost be at the end of the “path.”)
TEST #2: Are you Fully Realized? Only if the following truly apply:
a. you have given up trying to accumulate more information / dogma / spirituality / knowledge; and
b. you have given up everything that your mind was full of and have emptied it completely of all beliefs (which is a catch-all term for ideas, concepts, notions, attitudes, ideas, certainties, faith, etc.), so
c. you have reached a state of what Maharaj called zero concepts and no-mindedness and (therefore ) narrow-mindedness as well,
d. which means you have been purged of all sense of different-from-ment, all sense of better-than-ment, and (therefore) all prejudices and bigotry
e. as well as all distortions, delusions, misperceptions, and other mental accumulations that were stored in your mind when you were being fooled early on by parents and relatives and friends and your culture and during the subsequent years when you continued to be fooled by your culture and most teachers and friends and lovers and spouses and big corporations and big religion and big governments, etc.
TEST #3: Or do you only think that you are Fully Realized, which is the case if “a” through “e” above do not honestly apply.
Presently, most of the false sense of separation and different-from-ment and duality that are leading to conflict around the globe involves racial differences, sexual issues (involving debates about males vs. females and about sexual orientation and preference) and religious differences (involving members of one major religion vs. members of another major religion; involving members of one Christian denomination as opposed to members of other denominations; involving members of one sect of Islam against members of another sect of Islam; and involving conflict among the members of various branches of the Jewish religion including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist).
RELIGIOUS CONFLICT
Begin with a 5000-year review of history and then bring the study to the current day by watching any newscast later tonight.
RACIAL CONFLICT
Study history for the last several hundred years and see what you find. Then look at the U.S., which has long made the apartheid-days in South Africa look sane and peaceful by contrast.
In the U.S., racial tension is omnipresent: one side cheered the outcome of the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial while the other side booed the results; one side cheered the outcome of the 2013 George Zimmerman trial while the other side booed the results; one side cheered the outcome of the 2014 Michael Dunn trial in Florida while the other side booed the results; and one side last night cheered the outcome of the Darren Wilson grand jury inquest in Missouri while the other side booed the results.
SEX-BASED CONFLICT
Read recent statements by leaders around the globe and then listen to certain politicians in the U.S. who are making outrageously ignorant and chauvinistic comments about women as those men try to control – as always – what women do with their bodies. Meanwhile, the non-duality-based tool for seeking clarity around one’s persona-based motives can be used to see how personality is driving thoughts and words and actions: WHO cares who has consensual sex with whom? WHO thinks that they, as males or as straight males, are better than anyone else?
Then consider these recent pointers offered by a famous U.S. writer:
"No civilization can be perfect until exact equality between man and woman is included”
and
The United States shall never reach its potential and shall never be at peace unless it addresses its race issues.
Oh . . . wait. Was “recent” the word used? That should have been “consider these pointers offered by a famous U.S. writer, Mark Twain, in the late 1880’s.”
Twain criticized (1) organized religion, (2) sexual discrimination, and (3) racial discrimination. Associated with Missouri as he was, he might look, if he could, at what has happened - or not happened - from135 years ago to the present in terms of addressing the three issues which he identified as key to humanity. He would probably just shake his head in disgust that so little actual change has come.
And nothing regarding any of the key religious issues, sexual issues, and racial issues which lead to the majority of humankind’s problems can or will change until the mind issue is addressed. And that does not involve “changing one’s mind” but involves discarding all of the content of one’s mind, an act which is accomplished fully when the last belief is discarded.
Are you seeking Full Realization? Then all beliefs in your mind regarding religion and spirituality and sexual discrimination and racial discrimination must go, along with all other beliefs held dear.
Are you Fully Realized? Then all beliefs that had been accumulated in your mind regarding religion and spirituality and sexual discrimination and racial discrimination have gone, along with all other beliefs which were held dear.
Or do you only think that you are Fully Realized? That is the case if all beliefs that have been accumulated in your mind regarding religion and spirituality and sexual discrimination and racial discrimination have not gone, along with all other beliefs which you have hold dear.
One organization that works to advance, via higher education, the state of blacks in the U.S. has this as its motto: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
Their laudable intent notwithstanding, a more accurate pointer that can only be appreciated by those that understand non-duality and the role that the mind plays in generating havoc on all levels around the globe would not be “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” but would be instead “A mind is a terrible waste, period.”
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
24 November 2014
TEST #1: Are you seeking Full Realization? Seek on. (Where are people still seeking usually “stuck?” At the third step where three roles especially are played: “The Super Religious One,” The Spiritual Giant,” and / or “The One Absorbed in Super, Excessive-Level Seeking.” Seek on. Abandon the first two roles and all beliefs and you’ll almost be at the end of the “path.”)
TEST #2: Are you Fully Realized? Only if the following truly apply:
a. you have given up trying to accumulate more information / dogma / spirituality / knowledge; and
b. you have given up everything that your mind was full of and have emptied it completely of all beliefs (which is a catch-all term for ideas, concepts, notions, attitudes, ideas, certainties, faith, etc.), so
c. you have reached a state of what Maharaj called zero concepts and no-mindedness and (therefore ) narrow-mindedness as well,
d. which means you have been purged of all sense of different-from-ment, all sense of better-than-ment, and (therefore) all prejudices and bigotry
e. as well as all distortions, delusions, misperceptions, and other mental accumulations that were stored in your mind when you were being fooled early on by parents and relatives and friends and your culture and during the subsequent years when you continued to be fooled by your culture and most teachers and friends and lovers and spouses and big corporations and big religion and big governments, etc.
TEST #3: Or do you only think that you are Fully Realized, which is the case if “a” through “e” above do not honestly apply.
Presently, most of the false sense of separation and different-from-ment and duality that are leading to conflict around the globe involves racial differences, sexual issues (involving debates about males vs. females and about sexual orientation and preference) and religious differences (involving members of one major religion vs. members of another major religion; involving members of one Christian denomination as opposed to members of other denominations; involving members of one sect of Islam against members of another sect of Islam; and involving conflict among the members of various branches of the Jewish religion including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist).
RELIGIOUS CONFLICT
Begin with a 5000-year review of history and then bring the study to the current day by watching any newscast later tonight.
RACIAL CONFLICT
Study history for the last several hundred years and see what you find. Then look at the U.S., which has long made the apartheid-days in South Africa look sane and peaceful by contrast.
In the U.S., racial tension is omnipresent: one side cheered the outcome of the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial while the other side booed the results; one side cheered the outcome of the 2013 George Zimmerman trial while the other side booed the results; one side cheered the outcome of the 2014 Michael Dunn trial in Florida while the other side booed the results; and one side last night cheered the outcome of the Darren Wilson grand jury inquest in Missouri while the other side booed the results.
SEX-BASED CONFLICT
Read recent statements by leaders around the globe and then listen to certain politicians in the U.S. who are making outrageously ignorant and chauvinistic comments about women as those men try to control – as always – what women do with their bodies. Meanwhile, the non-duality-based tool for seeking clarity around one’s persona-based motives can be used to see how personality is driving thoughts and words and actions: WHO cares who has consensual sex with whom? WHO thinks that they, as males or as straight males, are better than anyone else?
Then consider these recent pointers offered by a famous U.S. writer:
"No civilization can be perfect until exact equality between man and woman is included”
and
The United States shall never reach its potential and shall never be at peace unless it addresses its race issues.
Oh . . . wait. Was “recent” the word used? That should have been “consider these pointers offered by a famous U.S. writer, Mark Twain, in the late 1880’s.”
Twain criticized (1) organized religion, (2) sexual discrimination, and (3) racial discrimination. Associated with Missouri as he was, he might look, if he could, at what has happened - or not happened - from135 years ago to the present in terms of addressing the three issues which he identified as key to humanity. He would probably just shake his head in disgust that so little actual change has come.
And nothing regarding any of the key religious issues, sexual issues, and racial issues which lead to the majority of humankind’s problems can or will change until the mind issue is addressed. And that does not involve “changing one’s mind” but involves discarding all of the content of one’s mind, an act which is accomplished fully when the last belief is discarded.
Are you seeking Full Realization? Then all beliefs in your mind regarding religion and spirituality and sexual discrimination and racial discrimination must go, along with all other beliefs held dear.
Are you Fully Realized? Then all beliefs that had been accumulated in your mind regarding religion and spirituality and sexual discrimination and racial discrimination have gone, along with all other beliefs which were held dear.
Or do you only think that you are Fully Realized? That is the case if all beliefs that have been accumulated in your mind regarding religion and spirituality and sexual discrimination and racial discrimination have not gone, along with all other beliefs which you have hold dear.
One organization that works to advance, via higher education, the state of blacks in the U.S. has this as its motto: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
Their laudable intent notwithstanding, a more accurate pointer that can only be appreciated by those that understand non-duality and the role that the mind plays in generating havoc on all levels around the globe would not be “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” but would be instead “A mind is a terrible waste, period.”
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
24 November 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: This was offered at the end of the last post before a break was taken:
“In the next post, the following will be discussed: How personality styles other than the Type Four block all ability and willingness to question, resulting in 97% of all non-Realized persons on the planet reporting an affiliation with one organized religion or the other.” To continue, noting the way that the nine basic personality types control thoughts and words and actions:
THE PERSONALITY TYPE ONES
Looking back, I saw that the Type Ones accepted the teachings in that Southern Baptist church (which I was taken to as a child) without question in order to foster their image of being perfect little boys or girls in the eyes of their parents and relatives and authorities. Moreover, trapped in their perfectionist roles, they never questioned themselves. For them, believing something made it so. Contrary to Maharaj’s advice, they do not question and investigate and learn all they can about confusion - how it operates, what it does to them and others. Why? Because they stubbornly deny that they are confused; thus, they are never clear about confusion so they are never clear of confusion.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE TWOS
Type Twos bought into the dogma unquestioningly because they are people pleasers and want everyone to like them.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE THREES
Type Threes did the same because they wanted to foster a positive image to get applause and recognition. As with the Type Ones that they share many traits with, they never question themselves but are masters at spinning reality.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE FIVES
Type Fives might have had questions, but they did not express them openly as did the Type Fours. They often would later on spend decades in research, trying to figure out what is true and what is false; or, they ended up questioning nothing but worked to become Biblical scholars seen as being "experts."
THE PERSONALITY TYPE SIXES
Type Sixes (making up 50% of all persons on the planet) remain loyal to authority and question nothing. Contrary to the suggestions from Dr. Tyson, Sixes never question authority, they often blindly believe that an idea is true just because someone says so; they are prone to believe ideas just because they want to; and like Type Ones, believing something makes it so to them.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE SEVENS
Sevens in that church were playing too much (and trying to eat all of the cookies and drink all of the punch) to question or not question.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE EIGHTS
Eights accept the teachings in order to use them to their "personal benefit and gain and advancement." Being power hungry, they want all of the power they can get, be it "earthly" or "heavenly."
THE PERSONALITY TYPE NINES
Type Nines might question, but they keep it to themselves. They don’t want any conflict other than what they start when they shift from their passive side to their aggressive side.
Again, looking back on the people dealt with from early on in that church (and after understanding the power of personality to determine subconsciously every thought, every word, and every action of the non-Realized), it became clear that:
The children in that church who were Type Ones were the ones who did all they could to try to be perfect and who grew up to become totally inflexible and rigid and anal, just as had already happened to the Type One adults in that church. It has been seen that many of those types are now involved in local, state, and federal governments or in such groups as ISIS / ISIL / IS and Al Qaeda and other extremists – in every organized religion – and are completely certain that their way is the only right way. They are the persons now who, in the U.S., are involved with the “Christian Reconstructionist” movement (though many do not know that ideology is at the root of the groups they have aligned with) who want to shut down and dismantle and ultimately destroy the government and replace it with a Christian theocracy which will use the Old Testament as its constitution and bring about the privatization of all services now provided by the government and intend to replace public education with home schooling, using their current Christian-based lesson plans and materials. They are extremely obsessive and therefore act compulsively and impulsively after periods of obsession.
The children in that church who were Type Twos were the ones who did all they could to try to be loved by their parents (or by the mother, who was often the only remaining parent) and who grew up to become “love” addicts and helpers and rescuers, those roles all being played to try to get the love now that was not afforded in the quantity desired during childhood. The Type Two adults in that church were already doing the same and volunteering dozens of hours per week “in service to others” (hoping for a payoff of love in return).
The children in that church who were Type Threes were the ones who were constantly performing, creating an image of being perfect, doing all they could to get applause or honorable mention, just as had already happened to the Type Three adults in that church (who usually included a preacher, a music director, and singers in the choir).
The children in that church who were Type Fours were the ones rebelling against all of the nonsense being heard and against belief in all of the myth-and-superstition-based tales that could not have possibly been true and against all of the dictates (and often dictatorial behaviors) of church authorities.
The children in that church who were Type Fives were the ones who avoided. They were the loners who were not quite sure about the teachings but would, as adults, study for decades to try to find truth or – more typically – to become experts and knowers who could use all their accumulated knowledge to try to impress others.
The children in that church who were Type Sixes unquestioningly and loyally and blindly bought into everything anyone in authority told them. They were the ones (making up 50% of the entire planet’s population) who bought lock, stock, and barrel into all of the insane teachings which religions dream up. As adults, they were the ones tithing their 10% in order to help insure that they would receive an eternal reward some day. Because of their fear and anxiety, as adults they often went into law enforcement, the military, security guard jobs, etc. (all of which gave them the right to carry firearms and use them) or in jobs that were menial but seemed to offer steady employment. They developed dependencies and co-dependencies, relying on other to provide support and food and clothing and shelter for them. Many developed attachment disorders and adopted Type Eight traits and ended up being a boss or someone willing to exact retribution and punishment on those who do not honor perfectly all authority and rules and laws. Many become stuck in horrible relationships but stay in them out of loyally and / or a sense of guilt and shame or out of their loyalty to religious vows.
The children in that church who were Type Sevens were the ones who enjoyed play time and cookies and punch, all of which they ate and drank to excess. They were the ones who did not care a bit about the church’s religious messages but took part in everything that fed their fun-loving nature. The Type Seven adults in that church were usually the ones hiding their addictive behavior while openly judging the heavy drinkers in the congregation or judging denominations that use alcohol in their services, that organize in-church gambling activities and that organized dances.
The children in that church who were Type Eights were the ones who were domineering among whatever church group they were in. They were often insensitive and harsh and even cruel, and their behavior often modeled that of the cruel, mean, and murderous God of the Old Testament whom they identified with. They wanted power, so they sought physical power, other-worldly power, and anything else that could be used to advance their often aggressive agendas. As adults, they would seek all forms of power and often show many Type Six traits as well, dedicated to authority (as long as it helps maintain their own “personal authority and power”).
The children in that church who were Type Nines were the ones who appeared to be the most peaceful, who seemed to be real Peacemakers or Peace Lovers but who were really only concerned with maintaining their own peace; however, most often, they are “Ambush Predators,” driven to get ahead by stealth or strategy rather than by speed or work or strength. They feel entitled to be taken care of, so as adults they develop into persons who seem docile enough, yet that docile appearance is really – as is the case with all ambush predators - not as much a result of being calm and inactive but is actually more of a result of hiding and waiting for their prey to come within striking distance. They often are camouflaged – not as they appear to be. They may be solitary much of the time, but their extreme passive nature will eventually give way at times to their just-as-extreme aggressive nature. They are really quite angry, but they deny that. They will claim to be “tired” rather than admitting that they have shifted to the other side of the anger coin, namely, into depression. They will take stubbornness to an extreme degree as well. Often, they attract controlling Type Eights who think they have found someone who will submit to the Eights’ desire to control. Little do the Eights understand what they are actually getting into with Type Nines who will agree to anything the Eight wants (inspired by their passive side) but will then do the exact opposite and break their agreement (a result of their aggressive side). The stage is always set for constant battling, though the Nine will usually refuse to discuss anything.
All of that ignorance and insanity catalogued above is the result of one thing: minds being pumped chock full of nonsense and ideas and concepts and dogma and faith and myth and superstition and prejudice and notions about being "different from and better than" (a.k.a., “beliefs”).
Note that all of those nine basic personality types are the personification of duality and dualistic-thinking. Note how it all involves mindfulness / mind-full-ness. Note how it all is driven by the hidden, unconscious agendas of personality (or multiple personalities). Note how it all involves the ignorant and insane results of programming and conditioning and domestication and acculturation and brainwashing and indoctrination.
The message Christ was teaching during his final years was the message of non-duality, but few Christians have a clue what Christ was really talking about. (Would he be pleased with a Vatican worth billions of dollars which is housing billions or trillions of dollars worth of art and artifacts or with the opulent cathedrals and expensive churches scattered about the globe? What did he model instead?)
Maharaj: “Only the religion of one's true nature (an awareness of one's inner awareness) will last to the end”
and
“True religion is the religion of the Self (existence, consciousness). It lies in searching for one's true nature and stabilizing oneself there”
and
“Religious traditions are based on concepts. There is silence (existence, consciousness) when these concepts are given up”
and
“The ultimate religion is a state of Self-Realization. It is an unbroken and fearless state of Being (existence, consciousness).”
If those persons who were members of the church of my youth - and all like them whom I’ve dealt with for over six decades – were really interested in being like Christ, they would have to do as he did and leave organized religion; they would possibly spend years (as he did) seeking the truth which was not taught during his early years around organized religion; and some of them might finally settle on the teachings of non-duality (as he did) as the means to truth, to understanding, to freedom, and to peace.
If that does not satisfy, then the understanding regarding the role that religion and / or spirituality play along "the path" likely cannot be taught to you. You will likely have to witness or experience firsthand what the total ramifications of religions – all religions - really are in the long run, and even then, little will likely change.
Finally, the prerequisite to being free of the nonsense of dogma and all other baseless beliefs involves questioning . . . involves the setting aside of blind faith.
Teachers offering a legitimate version of non-duality (that is, one without popular pointers that garner mass-appeal) have long endorsed that one key prerequisite that is required for beginning the “journey” to Realization, that is, to realizing the difference between nonsense and sense; between insanity and sanity; between ignorance and wisdom; and then finally being able to differentiate between all which is false and that which is true.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
Previous post
“In the next post, the following will be discussed: How personality styles other than the Type Four block all ability and willingness to question, resulting in 97% of all non-Realized persons on the planet reporting an affiliation with one organized religion or the other.” To continue, noting the way that the nine basic personality types control thoughts and words and actions:
THE PERSONALITY TYPE ONES
Looking back, I saw that the Type Ones accepted the teachings in that Southern Baptist church (which I was taken to as a child) without question in order to foster their image of being perfect little boys or girls in the eyes of their parents and relatives and authorities. Moreover, trapped in their perfectionist roles, they never questioned themselves. For them, believing something made it so. Contrary to Maharaj’s advice, they do not question and investigate and learn all they can about confusion - how it operates, what it does to them and others. Why? Because they stubbornly deny that they are confused; thus, they are never clear about confusion so they are never clear of confusion.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE TWOS
Type Twos bought into the dogma unquestioningly because they are people pleasers and want everyone to like them.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE THREES
Type Threes did the same because they wanted to foster a positive image to get applause and recognition. As with the Type Ones that they share many traits with, they never question themselves but are masters at spinning reality.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE FIVES
Type Fives might have had questions, but they did not express them openly as did the Type Fours. They often would later on spend decades in research, trying to figure out what is true and what is false; or, they ended up questioning nothing but worked to become Biblical scholars seen as being "experts."
THE PERSONALITY TYPE SIXES
Type Sixes (making up 50% of all persons on the planet) remain loyal to authority and question nothing. Contrary to the suggestions from Dr. Tyson, Sixes never question authority, they often blindly believe that an idea is true just because someone says so; they are prone to believe ideas just because they want to; and like Type Ones, believing something makes it so to them.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE SEVENS
Sevens in that church were playing too much (and trying to eat all of the cookies and drink all of the punch) to question or not question.
THE PERSONALITY TYPE EIGHTS
Eights accept the teachings in order to use them to their "personal benefit and gain and advancement." Being power hungry, they want all of the power they can get, be it "earthly" or "heavenly."
THE PERSONALITY TYPE NINES
Type Nines might question, but they keep it to themselves. They don’t want any conflict other than what they start when they shift from their passive side to their aggressive side.
Again, looking back on the people dealt with from early on in that church (and after understanding the power of personality to determine subconsciously every thought, every word, and every action of the non-Realized), it became clear that:
The children in that church who were Type Ones were the ones who did all they could to try to be perfect and who grew up to become totally inflexible and rigid and anal, just as had already happened to the Type One adults in that church. It has been seen that many of those types are now involved in local, state, and federal governments or in such groups as ISIS / ISIL / IS and Al Qaeda and other extremists – in every organized religion – and are completely certain that their way is the only right way. They are the persons now who, in the U.S., are involved with the “Christian Reconstructionist” movement (though many do not know that ideology is at the root of the groups they have aligned with) who want to shut down and dismantle and ultimately destroy the government and replace it with a Christian theocracy which will use the Old Testament as its constitution and bring about the privatization of all services now provided by the government and intend to replace public education with home schooling, using their current Christian-based lesson plans and materials. They are extremely obsessive and therefore act compulsively and impulsively after periods of obsession.
The children in that church who were Type Twos were the ones who did all they could to try to be loved by their parents (or by the mother, who was often the only remaining parent) and who grew up to become “love” addicts and helpers and rescuers, those roles all being played to try to get the love now that was not afforded in the quantity desired during childhood. The Type Two adults in that church were already doing the same and volunteering dozens of hours per week “in service to others” (hoping for a payoff of love in return).
The children in that church who were Type Threes were the ones who were constantly performing, creating an image of being perfect, doing all they could to get applause or honorable mention, just as had already happened to the Type Three adults in that church (who usually included a preacher, a music director, and singers in the choir).
The children in that church who were Type Fours were the ones rebelling against all of the nonsense being heard and against belief in all of the myth-and-superstition-based tales that could not have possibly been true and against all of the dictates (and often dictatorial behaviors) of church authorities.
The children in that church who were Type Fives were the ones who avoided. They were the loners who were not quite sure about the teachings but would, as adults, study for decades to try to find truth or – more typically – to become experts and knowers who could use all their accumulated knowledge to try to impress others.
The children in that church who were Type Sixes unquestioningly and loyally and blindly bought into everything anyone in authority told them. They were the ones (making up 50% of the entire planet’s population) who bought lock, stock, and barrel into all of the insane teachings which religions dream up. As adults, they were the ones tithing their 10% in order to help insure that they would receive an eternal reward some day. Because of their fear and anxiety, as adults they often went into law enforcement, the military, security guard jobs, etc. (all of which gave them the right to carry firearms and use them) or in jobs that were menial but seemed to offer steady employment. They developed dependencies and co-dependencies, relying on other to provide support and food and clothing and shelter for them. Many developed attachment disorders and adopted Type Eight traits and ended up being a boss or someone willing to exact retribution and punishment on those who do not honor perfectly all authority and rules and laws. Many become stuck in horrible relationships but stay in them out of loyally and / or a sense of guilt and shame or out of their loyalty to religious vows.
The children in that church who were Type Sevens were the ones who enjoyed play time and cookies and punch, all of which they ate and drank to excess. They were the ones who did not care a bit about the church’s religious messages but took part in everything that fed their fun-loving nature. The Type Seven adults in that church were usually the ones hiding their addictive behavior while openly judging the heavy drinkers in the congregation or judging denominations that use alcohol in their services, that organize in-church gambling activities and that organized dances.
The children in that church who were Type Eights were the ones who were domineering among whatever church group they were in. They were often insensitive and harsh and even cruel, and their behavior often modeled that of the cruel, mean, and murderous God of the Old Testament whom they identified with. They wanted power, so they sought physical power, other-worldly power, and anything else that could be used to advance their often aggressive agendas. As adults, they would seek all forms of power and often show many Type Six traits as well, dedicated to authority (as long as it helps maintain their own “personal authority and power”).
The children in that church who were Type Nines were the ones who appeared to be the most peaceful, who seemed to be real Peacemakers or Peace Lovers but who were really only concerned with maintaining their own peace; however, most often, they are “Ambush Predators,” driven to get ahead by stealth or strategy rather than by speed or work or strength. They feel entitled to be taken care of, so as adults they develop into persons who seem docile enough, yet that docile appearance is really – as is the case with all ambush predators - not as much a result of being calm and inactive but is actually more of a result of hiding and waiting for their prey to come within striking distance. They often are camouflaged – not as they appear to be. They may be solitary much of the time, but their extreme passive nature will eventually give way at times to their just-as-extreme aggressive nature. They are really quite angry, but they deny that. They will claim to be “tired” rather than admitting that they have shifted to the other side of the anger coin, namely, into depression. They will take stubbornness to an extreme degree as well. Often, they attract controlling Type Eights who think they have found someone who will submit to the Eights’ desire to control. Little do the Eights understand what they are actually getting into with Type Nines who will agree to anything the Eight wants (inspired by their passive side) but will then do the exact opposite and break their agreement (a result of their aggressive side). The stage is always set for constant battling, though the Nine will usually refuse to discuss anything.
All of that ignorance and insanity catalogued above is the result of one thing: minds being pumped chock full of nonsense and ideas and concepts and dogma and faith and myth and superstition and prejudice and notions about being "different from and better than" (a.k.a., “beliefs”).
Note that all of those nine basic personality types are the personification of duality and dualistic-thinking. Note how it all involves mindfulness / mind-full-ness. Note how it all is driven by the hidden, unconscious agendas of personality (or multiple personalities). Note how it all involves the ignorant and insane results of programming and conditioning and domestication and acculturation and brainwashing and indoctrination.
The message Christ was teaching during his final years was the message of non-duality, but few Christians have a clue what Christ was really talking about. (Would he be pleased with a Vatican worth billions of dollars which is housing billions or trillions of dollars worth of art and artifacts or with the opulent cathedrals and expensive churches scattered about the globe? What did he model instead?)
Maharaj: “Only the religion of one's true nature (an awareness of one's inner awareness) will last to the end”
and
“True religion is the religion of the Self (existence, consciousness). It lies in searching for one's true nature and stabilizing oneself there”
and
“Religious traditions are based on concepts. There is silence (existence, consciousness) when these concepts are given up”
and
“The ultimate religion is a state of Self-Realization. It is an unbroken and fearless state of Being (existence, consciousness).”
If those persons who were members of the church of my youth - and all like them whom I’ve dealt with for over six decades – were really interested in being like Christ, they would have to do as he did and leave organized religion; they would possibly spend years (as he did) seeking the truth which was not taught during his early years around organized religion; and some of them might finally settle on the teachings of non-duality (as he did) as the means to truth, to understanding, to freedom, and to peace.
If that does not satisfy, then the understanding regarding the role that religion and / or spirituality play along "the path" likely cannot be taught to you. You will likely have to witness or experience firsthand what the total ramifications of religions – all religions - really are in the long run, and even then, little will likely change.
Finally, the prerequisite to being free of the nonsense of dogma and all other baseless beliefs involves questioning . . . involves the setting aside of blind faith.
Teachers offering a legitimate version of non-duality (that is, one without popular pointers that garner mass-appeal) have long endorsed that one key prerequisite that is required for beginning the “journey” to Realization, that is, to realizing the difference between nonsense and sense; between insanity and sanity; between ignorance and wisdom; and then finally being able to differentiate between all which is false and that which is true.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
Previous post
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
Tyson is likely a Type Five which means he also likely developed a Type Four-wing from early on, giuving him the courage to question authority. Maharaj had the same. Likewise the case here. What Type Fours have in common – and which all seekers must develop if they would Realize – is an internal “bullshit detector.”
Some frequent visitors to this site are aware that the early exposure to the right-wing, ultra-conservative, completely-nonsensical version of dogma as presented by Southern Baptists inspired questioning early on by “floyd” and his Type Four style:
“Wait a minute! There was just Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel in the beginning? And Cain killed Abel? That left Adam and Eve and Cain? So who did Cain make babies with? Oh. My. Gosh!”
“Wait a minute! God loves unconditionally but he drowned everyone on the planet except for the members of one family? No way!”
“Wait a minute! Noah was strong enough to build a huge wooden boat when he was already 600 years old? No way!”
“Wait a minute! They got a male and female of every species on one boat, and the tigers didn’t eat the sheep and the mosquitoes and flies all stayed within the confines of the boat, and Noah had plants for the plant-eating animals and . . . what about the carnivorous species? What did he have for them to eat? Noah entered the ark on the 17th day of the 2nd month and left the ark on the 27th day of the 2nd month of the following year, so he and the family and the pairs of all species were on the ark for 370 days. And the meat for the carnivorous species didn't spoil and rot . . . for a year? They had enough edible food to keep everyone and everything alive for a year? No way!”
“Wait a minute! God loves unconditionally but he still killed everyone else on the planet? And He loves unconditionally but will send me to hell for eternal suffering and misery and pain? No way!”
During “the search,” time was spent in study, looking objectively and judiciously and questioningly at those early teachings, focusing for a time on Moses and “what he might have been onto” when he used the Eastern term, “I AM THAT I AM.” This came to be seen while in “my early 20’s” and was shared on this site in 2009:
It is known that some version of the non-dual teachings had reached the Middle East hundreds or possibly thousands of years before Jesus arrived on the scene. How? Moses (or whoever really wrote the Jewish scriptures which Christians call “the first five books of our Old Testament”) actually plagiarized the summative statement "I AM THAT; I AM," left off the semicolon, and then put the words into the mouth of God / "a burning bush."
Moses plagiarized that term and everything else he wrote in what the Jewish people call “the Pentateuch” (or “the five books of Moses”) and which the Christians call the first part of their "Old Testament," including the Advaitin summative statement and including the story of the pagan god Ram.
Five hundred years before Moses (or whoever) wrote Moses into a hero role as the one who freed the supposedly enslaved Jews in Egypt (an imaginary event which, as Asimov pointed out, never actually happened), there was the pagan tale of Ram.
In that mythical tale, Ram had displeased the gods who had cast him into the darkness and dreariness of a subterranean locale. From there he was summoned by the gods to free some of their people who had been enslaved; to lead those children of the gods across a desert to a promised land; and to use a magic stick to hit rocks in order to make water flow. All along the way of a multi-decade journey through the desert, the gods supposedly dropped food from heaven for the wayward travelers.
Having been exposed to “the Moses story” in church as a child and then coming across the story of Ram and seeing that Moses (or whoever) stole the ancient tale and wrote Moses into the lead role that had originally been played by Ram in a fictional, pagan tale, there was a flashback to other tales told in those same five books, including:
orders to stone homosexuals to death; including orders to stone to death women who commit adultery; including the oft-repeated Great Flood story which was a part of the dogma of every prior religion; and including both versions of the creation stories that were circulating among the pagan religions of his time.
(Few know that there are two versions of "The Creation" story in "the book of Genesis," each contradictory of the other. So much for “infallibility of the scriptures,” huh?)
What flashed into consciousness when it was found that the writer of "the book of Exodus" had simply plagiarized a 500-year old story? What else could flash into consciousness except the realization that . . . “It’s ALL bullshit!”
So back to the earlier pointer: seekers are encouraged to “question it all,” but of course time does not permit. What is required instead is what was discussed in the duality-based fictional book entitled “The Board of Directors of Wars” (a sequel to the part-autobiographical, part fictional novel entitled “The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders”):
I want that peace,” Brett almost demanded.
Kirk paused again, not to consider the answer for he knew it exactly. He paused to decide if Brett was anywhere near ready to hear. Then, admitting that Brett had asked, Kirk would offer the answer.
“Brett,” you’ve been shown the answer all your life. It was there for you to see in every play, in every movie, in every mystery you’ve ever read.”
Brett’s confusion kept him in the silence, so Kirk went on.
“My man Shakespeare borrowed the dramatic technique from the Greeks,” Kirk began. “Today, it is the basis of all mystery and suspense stories, and it’s also the basis of Realization.”
“I’m lost,” Brett confessed.
“Well, look at every drama you’ve ever seen. The main character, who represents you and me and everyone, runs around like a chicken with his head cut off. He is confused and in the dark. Those who are in a position to sit back and witness the drama objectively can see that he's just an actor on a stage and that none of the drama is real. But for entertainment's sake, he and the witnesses can pretend it's real. Both, in fact, can get so absorbed in the role that they can take it to be the real for a time.
“But even amidst all the drama, a time comes, that moment in the play when even the actor finds out the truth. It is called the peripetia in drama—that moment in the play or the movie when the lead actor finds out that everything he thought to be true is really false; when he sees that he was being misled at every turn; when those he thought he could trust the most and those whom he thought were telling him the truth were also wrong.
“It’s the moment of freedom that comes when one finds out that everything he ever thought or believed or held sacred or thought worth fighting for was a lie. The freedom comes when he gives up all of the concepts he bought into, drops his head in relief and amazement, shakes his head back and forth, wonders for a moment how he had bought into all their crap, smiles at how easily he was duped, watches how all the rest of the play unfolds automatically until its end, and leaves the stage after saying to himself, Well sonofabitch. I'll be damned. And then he laughs. He laughs at it all. And then he's done with it, once and for all.”
See, your moment of peripetia can come without trying to analyze individually and trying to test for validity individually each of the hundreds of thousands of concepts / beliefs stored in your mind. It comes when you are objective enough to look critically at what you have been taught by grandparents and parents and relatives and your culture, then see that if part of what they said was nonsense or an outright lie then the possibility is great that it's all nonsense or an outright lie. Then you, too, can admit:
"Well sonofabitch. It’s all BS. I'll be damned. At that point, you will cast it all aside and you’ll be done with it, once and for all."
At that point, you will have broken free of the bondage of mindfulness and mind-full-ness and can thereafter reach the peaceful state of mindlessness . . . of no-mind-ness . . . of what Maharaj called a mind-free state of "zero concepts."
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
Taking a break for a few days. In the next post, the following will be discussed:
How personality styles other than the Type Four block all ability and willingness to question, resulting in 97% on the planet reporting an affiliation with one organized religion or another
and
how to overcome that obstacle, how to become free of all beliefs, and thus how to become free of the otherwise endless machinations of an ever-in-motion, peace-robbing mind.
Meanwhile, you’re invited to use the search tool at the top of the right-hand column and read about any non-duality topics that might be on interest.
15 November 2014
F.: Yesterday, pointers offered by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson included these:
a. Question authority.
b. Question yourself.
c. No idea is true just because someone says so, including me.
d. Don't believe anything just because you want to.
e. Believing something doesn't make it so.
Teachers offering a "legitimate version of non-duality" (that is, one without pointers intended to garner popular appeal) have long endorsed one key prerequisite for Realization, namely, questioning.
Maharaj: “Be alert. Question, observe, investigate, learn all you can about confusion, how it operates, what it does to you and others. By being clear about confusion you become clear of confusion.”
The options in that regard are to either “question everything” or to “have blind faith,” the key word being “blind.”
No questioning = “confusion.”
No questioning = a continuation of your having been fooled.
Seekers are encouraged to “question it all,” but of course time does not permit. The "how" will, therefore, be offered below.
Among Personality Type Fours, the type most likely to develop an interest in authenticity, there is a natural tendency to question. (50% on the planet are Type Sixes, loyal to any and all authority and the least likely to ever question authority: "Nowadays in the U.S., the police and border patrol agents and other authorities are killing minorities at an alarming rate? Well, the minorities must deserve it. The police would never just shoot someone who does not deserve to be shot").
Fours, on the other hand, develop their Type Four personality style early on because by the age of 5 or 6, they have already seen the penchant that authorities have for being abusive; they have already seen the tendency that authorities have to abuse persons to one degree or another; they have seen the willingness of authorities to abuse their power and to abuse others; and they have usually felt the sting of some form of abuse from authority figures; thus, their rebelliousness toward authority is fixed early on.
A pointer from Tyson was shared yesterday:
a. Question authority.
b. Question yourself.
c. No idea is true just because someone says so, including me.
d. Don't believe anything just because you want to.
e. Believing something doesn't make it so.
Teachers offering a "legitimate version of non-duality" (that is, one without pointers intended to garner popular appeal) have long endorsed one key prerequisite for Realization, namely, questioning.
Maharaj: “Be alert. Question, observe, investigate, learn all you can about confusion, how it operates, what it does to you and others. By being clear about confusion you become clear of confusion.”
The options in that regard are to either “question everything” or to “have blind faith,” the key word being “blind.”
No questioning = “confusion.”
No questioning = a continuation of your having been fooled.
Seekers are encouraged to “question it all,” but of course time does not permit. The "how" will, therefore, be offered below.
Among Personality Type Fours, the type most likely to develop an interest in authenticity, there is a natural tendency to question. (50% on the planet are Type Sixes, loyal to any and all authority and the least likely to ever question authority: "Nowadays in the U.S., the police and border patrol agents and other authorities are killing minorities at an alarming rate? Well, the minorities must deserve it. The police would never just shoot someone who does not deserve to be shot").
Fours, on the other hand, develop their Type Four personality style early on because by the age of 5 or 6, they have already seen the penchant that authorities have for being abusive; they have already seen the tendency that authorities have to abuse persons to one degree or another; they have seen the willingness of authorities to abuse their power and to abuse others; and they have usually felt the sting of some form of abuse from authority figures; thus, their rebelliousness toward authority is fixed early on.
A pointer from Tyson was shared yesterday:
Maharaj made use of the same BS term, though his translators and editors always edited out the profanities which occasionally sprinkled his talks” (in order to what . . . maintains a “religious and spiritual image”? Really?)
Tyson is likely a Type Five which means he also likely developed a Type Four-wing from early on, giuving him the courage to question authority. Maharaj had the same. Likewise the case here. What Type Fours have in common – and which all seekers must develop if they would Realize – is an internal “bullshit detector.”
Some frequent visitors to this site are aware that the early exposure to the right-wing, ultra-conservative, completely-nonsensical version of dogma as presented by Southern Baptists inspired questioning early on by “floyd” and his Type Four style:
“Wait a minute! There was just Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel in the beginning? And Cain killed Abel? That left Adam and Eve and Cain? So who did Cain make babies with? Oh. My. Gosh!”
“Wait a minute! God loves unconditionally but he drowned everyone on the planet except for the members of one family? No way!”
“Wait a minute! Noah was strong enough to build a huge wooden boat when he was already 600 years old? No way!”
“Wait a minute! They got a male and female of every species on one boat, and the tigers didn’t eat the sheep and the mosquitoes and flies all stayed within the confines of the boat, and Noah had plants for the plant-eating animals and . . . what about the carnivorous species? What did he have for them to eat? Noah entered the ark on the 17th day of the 2nd month and left the ark on the 27th day of the 2nd month of the following year, so he and the family and the pairs of all species were on the ark for 370 days. And the meat for the carnivorous species didn't spoil and rot . . . for a year? They had enough edible food to keep everyone and everything alive for a year? No way!”
“Wait a minute! God loves unconditionally but he still killed everyone else on the planet? And He loves unconditionally but will send me to hell for eternal suffering and misery and pain? No way!”
During “the search,” time was spent in study, looking objectively and judiciously and questioningly at those early teachings, focusing for a time on Moses and “what he might have been onto” when he used the Eastern term, “I AM THAT I AM.” This came to be seen while in “my early 20’s” and was shared on this site in 2009:
It is known that some version of the non-dual teachings had reached the Middle East hundreds or possibly thousands of years before Jesus arrived on the scene. How? Moses (or whoever really wrote the Jewish scriptures which Christians call “the first five books of our Old Testament”) actually plagiarized the summative statement "I AM THAT; I AM," left off the semicolon, and then put the words into the mouth of God / "a burning bush."
Moses plagiarized that term and everything else he wrote in what the Jewish people call “the Pentateuch” (or “the five books of Moses”) and which the Christians call the first part of their "Old Testament," including the Advaitin summative statement and including the story of the pagan god Ram.
Five hundred years before Moses (or whoever) wrote Moses into a hero role as the one who freed the supposedly enslaved Jews in Egypt (an imaginary event which, as Asimov pointed out, never actually happened), there was the pagan tale of Ram.
In that mythical tale, Ram had displeased the gods who had cast him into the darkness and dreariness of a subterranean locale. From there he was summoned by the gods to free some of their people who had been enslaved; to lead those children of the gods across a desert to a promised land; and to use a magic stick to hit rocks in order to make water flow. All along the way of a multi-decade journey through the desert, the gods supposedly dropped food from heaven for the wayward travelers.
Having been exposed to “the Moses story” in church as a child and then coming across the story of Ram and seeing that Moses (or whoever) stole the ancient tale and wrote Moses into the lead role that had originally been played by Ram in a fictional, pagan tale, there was a flashback to other tales told in those same five books, including:
orders to stone homosexuals to death; including orders to stone to death women who commit adultery; including the oft-repeated Great Flood story which was a part of the dogma of every prior religion; and including both versions of the creation stories that were circulating among the pagan religions of his time.
(Few know that there are two versions of "The Creation" story in "the book of Genesis," each contradictory of the other. So much for “infallibility of the scriptures,” huh?)
What flashed into consciousness when it was found that the writer of "the book of Exodus" had simply plagiarized a 500-year old story? What else could flash into consciousness except the realization that . . . “It’s ALL bullshit!”
So back to the earlier pointer: seekers are encouraged to “question it all,” but of course time does not permit. What is required instead is what was discussed in the duality-based fictional book entitled “The Board of Directors of Wars” (a sequel to the part-autobiographical, part fictional novel entitled “The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders”):
In “Board of Directors,” Kirk is talking with a friend named Brett:
I want that peace,” Brett almost demanded.
Kirk paused again, not to consider the answer for he knew it exactly. He paused to decide if Brett was anywhere near ready to hear. Then, admitting that Brett had asked, Kirk would offer the answer.
“Brett,” you’ve been shown the answer all your life. It was there for you to see in every play, in every movie, in every mystery you’ve ever read.”
Brett’s confusion kept him in the silence, so Kirk went on.
“My man Shakespeare borrowed the dramatic technique from the Greeks,” Kirk began. “Today, it is the basis of all mystery and suspense stories, and it’s also the basis of Realization.”
“I’m lost,” Brett confessed.
“Well, look at every drama you’ve ever seen. The main character, who represents you and me and everyone, runs around like a chicken with his head cut off. He is confused and in the dark. Those who are in a position to sit back and witness the drama objectively can see that he's just an actor on a stage and that none of the drama is real. But for entertainment's sake, he and the witnesses can pretend it's real. Both, in fact, can get so absorbed in the role that they can take it to be the real for a time.
“But even amidst all the drama, a time comes, that moment in the play when even the actor finds out the truth. It is called the peripetia in drama—that moment in the play or the movie when the lead actor finds out that everything he thought to be true is really false; when he sees that he was being misled at every turn; when those he thought he could trust the most and those whom he thought were telling him the truth were also wrong.
“It’s the moment of freedom that comes when one finds out that everything he ever thought or believed or held sacred or thought worth fighting for was a lie. The freedom comes when he gives up all of the concepts he bought into, drops his head in relief and amazement, shakes his head back and forth, wonders for a moment how he had bought into all their crap, smiles at how easily he was duped, watches how all the rest of the play unfolds automatically until its end, and leaves the stage after saying to himself, Well sonofabitch. I'll be damned. And then he laughs. He laughs at it all. And then he's done with it, once and for all.”
See, your moment of peripetia can come without trying to analyze individually and trying to test for validity individually each of the hundreds of thousands of concepts / beliefs stored in your mind. It comes when you are objective enough to look critically at what you have been taught by grandparents and parents and relatives and your culture, then see that if part of what they said was nonsense or an outright lie then the possibility is great that it's all nonsense or an outright lie. Then you, too, can admit:
"Well sonofabitch. It’s all BS. I'll be damned. At that point, you will cast it all aside and you’ll be done with it, once and for all."
At that point, you will have broken free of the bondage of mindfulness and mind-full-ness and can thereafter reach the peaceful state of mindlessness . . . of no-mind-ness . . . of what Maharaj called a mind-free state of "zero concepts."
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
Taking a break for a few days. In the next post, the following will be discussed:
How personality styles other than the Type Four block all ability and willingness to question, resulting in 97% on the planet reporting an affiliation with one organized religion or another
and
how to overcome that obstacle, how to become free of all beliefs, and thus how to become free of the otherwise endless machinations of an ever-in-motion, peace-robbing mind.
Meanwhile, you’re invited to use the search tool at the top of the right-hand column and read about any non-duality topics that might be on interest.
15 November 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
the Brain, the Consciousness, and “A Pale Blue Dot”
vs.
"the Mind"
F.: Offered here often is evidence of the fact that there are small “pockets” of Realization where the consciousness speaks, that consciousness having manifested temporarily as one part of the three-part triads which form billions of composite unities all around the globe.
When those highly-rare cases of unblocked consciousness speak, they provide non-dual pointers for consideration from places that are most surprising to many who erroneously believe that certain countries or “special spots” on the globe have cornered the market on offering non-dual pointers.
Recall that Andy Gugar, Jr. once exhibited such skepticism, a fact which gives us both a great laugh when we talk about it now. He wrote the following about the final phase of his multi-decade-long search:
After being given some labels for further investigation - specifically, "non-duality" and "Advaita" - it soon became clear that I needed to find a capable Advaita teacher.
So 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?"
Then I clicked the link for the retreats he offered and saw that, of even greater offense, he wanted to charge a fee for retreats where he teaches non-duality. A year would pass, and more and more searching continued, but at least once a week, the name "Floyd Henderson" came into the forefront of consciousness.
As much as I tried to ignore the name, it would not leave me, so after a year of continued seeking even after having first found his name and websites, I finally went back to his Advaita blog site, looked at the cost of a retreat with him, and concluded, differently this time, "Well, actually it really is only a nominal fee he is charging, and he does have to pay his bills."
So it came to me, "What if this guy just might have what you've been looking for all of your life?" I determined that I might as well spend a few dollars - a small amount really in comparison to the fortune I had already spent during decades of seeking and searching ... all with no permanent results at all.
Right now, it is giving me cold chills just reflecting on that decision and what happened afterwards.
The result? There is now that speck of unblocked consciousness which some call “a successful entrepreneur” who shares non-dual Truths from a small “pocket” of Realization in northeast Texas;
there was a poor boy in the Middle East who was indoctrinated with Jewish dogma and who then taught that dogma early on, but he eventually left organized religion, found the non-dual teachings, and shared those during the last three years of his manifestation from within a small “pocket” of Realization before being crucified by Romans with the support of the Jewish religious and community leaders who did not approve of his non-religious, non-dual talks;
there was an uneducated but exceedingly wise man who moved from a rural area in India to the city of Bombay (Mumbai) and who offered non-dual pointers from a loft – from a small “pocket” of Realization - over his flat which was located on a very noisy street and which abutted a brothel operating in the connected building behind;
there is a rapper mentioned here in previous posts who is sharing the Truth from a small “pocket” of Realization in the state of Missouri, U.S.A.;
a five-minute drive from the home office here where many of the non-dual books listed below were written, there is a maitre d’ working in a restaurant; he was born in Lebanon, has now read many of the books below and “gets it,” and has two sons in their 20’s who are now reading those books and also “getting it”;
there was a scientist called “Dr. Carl Sagan,” mentioned recently on this site; he was born in an impoverished section of Brooklyn, New York - his father having been a poor immigrant garment worker, originally from a small town in what is today called Ukraine - and he offered the Truth via science and via non-dual pointers:
and now there is his protégé, called “Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson,”
born in Manhattan, New York and raised in the Bronx, his mother a gerontologist of Puerto Rican descent and his father an African-American sociologist; Tyson, an astrophysicist, shares scientific facts while sprinkling his talks with non-dual pointers (and, as was the case with Maharaj) on occasion peppering his talks with the blunt, but totally-spot-on, vernacular which – in Tyson’s case - he often heard growing up on the streets in the Bronx:
It has been noted that often Sagan’s talks - like those of Tyson now - offended conservatives and members of the religious-right (as scientific facts always have); thus, in a nation which has from the beginning been dominated by conservatives and members of the religious-right (and still is to this day) much of what he shared was ignored even though it could have been enlightening and could have been heeded as fair warning (for example, regarding the damage being done to the planet and regarding the ill effects of ignorance on humanity in general).
Mention was also made yesterday of Sagan’s protégé Tyson and his “most recent reminders and warnings” which are also being ignored by those most needing to understand. Referencing those types, he said: “Pretending to know everything closes the door to finding out what’s really there.”
In a recent followup to the 1980 “Cosmos” documentary narrated by Carl Sagan, a recent (2014) series entitled “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” was hosted by Tyson.
Maharaj predicted that someday science would advance to the point that it will prove all of the non-dual pointers being shared. It has reached that point, but many around the globe are never exposed to the science and many more – especially in the U.S. – reject all scientific facts they hear and instead accept only what was written in their “holy book” thousands of years ago when ignorance and myths and superstition ruled.
In the finale of the newer “Cosmos” series, Tyson offers certain pointers for consideration:
1. He began with a discussion of a library and its associated research institution which existed more than two millennia ago in the city of Alexandria, noting that it was rare then, and now, for a government to be willing to spend so much of its gross national product on eliminating ignorance and engaging in research.
Estimates vary regarding the total number of scrolls in that library, but the range is somewhere between 500,000 to 1,000,000. Yet the library no longer exists. So what happened to it? Access to its contents was in the hands of the “elite”; thus, in the fourth century AD, when “a mob” came to destroy the library and the genius of classical civilization, there were not enough people to defend it. Then Tyson asked: “What will happen the next time the mob comes?”
2. Of course he knows that, in the U.S., the mob has already come, attacking all that science has proven to be fact to date and (as candidate Barack Obama stated in August of 2008), “It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant.”
3. To expose the arrogance and ignorance of those seemingly proud of being ignorant, Tyson suggests this: “I think we're ready to perform an experiment. Pick a star, any one of the hundreds of billions of stars in our Milky Way Galaxy, which is just one galaxy out of the hundred billion in the known universe."
He picked “this one,” called “our sun” by billions of persons on earth. He continued: “Suppose, on one of them, there lives an intelligent species, one of the millions of life-forms on that planet, and there's a subgroup of that species who believe they have it all figured out, that their world is the center of the universe, a universe made for them, and that they know everything they need to know about it. Their knowledge is complete. How seriously would you take their claim?”
4. Yet, he says, that claim is exactly what was believed and is believed even now by the majority: “Our ancestors believed that the universe was made for them. It was natural to assume that we were at the center. After all, it looks like the Sun and stars all revolve around us. We still speak of the Sun ‘rising.’ In 1492, people believed that there were only three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia) and only a great ocean in between. They had no clue that North and South America even existed.” Then he noted, “It's easy to feel smug, right?”
He then noted that it is as if “we had been standing on the seashore at night, mistakenly believing that the froth on the waves was all there was to the ocean.” Then came an admission that “scientists certainly do not know all of the answers about the cosmos” after which he added: “It's okay not to know all the answers. It's better to admit our ignorance than to believe answers that might be wrong. Pretending to know everything closes the door to finding out what's really there.”
[Yet “admitting to ignorance” is far different from “taking pride in being ignorant,” yes?]
5. The final episode also suggested that science, in its own way, carries fewer risks for those who believe in it than religion does. Tyson: “It’s one of the things I love about science: we don’t have to pretend we have all the answers.”
Recent understandings have come, Tyson says, from the work of generations of searchers who took some simple “rules” to heart:
a. Question authority.
b. Question yourself.
c. No idea is true just because someone says so, including me.
d. Don't believe anything just because you want to.
e. Believing something doesn't make it so.
f. Test ideas by the evidence gained from observation and experiment.
g. If a favorite idea fails a well-designed test, it's wrong! Get over it!
h. Follow the evidence, wherever it leads.
i. If you have no evidence, reserve judgment.
j. Science is a way to keep from fooling ourselves and each other.
k. These values undermine the appeals of fanaticism and ignorance.
l. It matters what's true.
m. And perhaps the most important rule of all: remember, you could be wrong.
The final episode marked a return to an earlier theme, that of dismissing religion-fueled ignorance. Tyson’s comments about being open to considerations that differ from engrained beliefs called back pretty directly to pointers he’s offered before about “creationists” who use the Bible as if it were a valid science book.
He noted that the “Cosmos” series was conceived
not to tell you what is true
but
to share how we have come to learn what is true.
Ah, but how many truly want to learn the truth, much less the Truth? Throughout most of the six-seven years that this composite unity has been exposed to sleep-walkers and sleep-talkers, the final conclusion has to be: “Few.”
So it has been; so it is now; but so it need not be for the few that are willing to cast aside all that they have been programmed and conditioned and indoctrinated and brainwashed and acculturated and domesticated to believe and then seek the Truth instead.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
15 November 2014
CLEAR PERSPECTIVE
via the Brain, the Consciousness, and “A Pale Blue Dot”
vs.
"the Mind"
F.: Offered here often is evidence of the fact that there are small “pockets” of Realization where the consciousness speaks, that consciousness having manifested temporarily as one part of the three-part triads which form billions of composite unities all around the globe.
When those highly-rare cases of unblocked consciousness speak, they provide non-dual pointers for consideration from places that are most surprising to many who erroneously believe that certain countries or “special spots” on the globe have cornered the market on offering non-dual pointers.
Recall that Andy Gugar, Jr. once exhibited such skepticism, a fact which gives us both a great laugh when we talk about it now. He wrote the following about the final phase of his multi-decade-long search:
After being given some labels for further investigation - specifically, "non-duality" and "Advaita" - it soon became clear that I needed to find a capable Advaita teacher.
So 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?"
Then I clicked the link for the retreats he offered and saw that, of even greater offense, he wanted to charge a fee for retreats where he teaches non-duality. A year would pass, and more and more searching continued, but at least once a week, the name "Floyd Henderson" came into the forefront of consciousness.
As much as I tried to ignore the name, it would not leave me, so after a year of continued seeking even after having first found his name and websites, I finally went back to his Advaita blog site, looked at the cost of a retreat with him, and concluded, differently this time, "Well, actually it really is only a nominal fee he is charging, and he does have to pay his bills."
So it came to me, "What if this guy just might have what you've been looking for all of your life?" I determined that I might as well spend a few dollars - a small amount really in comparison to the fortune I had already spent during decades of seeking and searching ... all with no permanent results at all.
Right now, it is giving me cold chills just reflecting on that decision and what happened afterwards.
The result? There is now that speck of unblocked consciousness which some call “a successful entrepreneur” who shares non-dual Truths from a small “pocket” of Realization in northeast Texas;
there was a poor boy in the Middle East who was indoctrinated with Jewish dogma and who then taught that dogma early on, but he eventually left organized religion, found the non-dual teachings, and shared those during the last three years of his manifestation from within a small “pocket” of Realization before being crucified by Romans with the support of the Jewish religious and community leaders who did not approve of his non-religious, non-dual talks;
there was an uneducated but exceedingly wise man who moved from a rural area in India to the city of Bombay (Mumbai) and who offered non-dual pointers from a loft – from a small “pocket” of Realization - over his flat which was located on a very noisy street and which abutted a brothel operating in the connected building behind;
there is a rapper mentioned here in previous posts who is sharing the Truth from a small “pocket” of Realization in the state of Missouri, U.S.A.;
a five-minute drive from the home office here where many of the non-dual books listed below were written, there is a maitre d’ working in a restaurant; he was born in Lebanon, has now read many of the books below and “gets it,” and has two sons in their 20’s who are now reading those books and also “getting it”;
there was a scientist called “Dr. Carl Sagan,” mentioned recently on this site; he was born in an impoverished section of Brooklyn, New York - his father having been a poor immigrant garment worker, originally from a small town in what is today called Ukraine - and he offered the Truth via science and via non-dual pointers:
and now there is his protégé, called “Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson,”
born in Manhattan, New York and raised in the Bronx, his mother a gerontologist of Puerto Rican descent and his father an African-American sociologist; Tyson, an astrophysicist, shares scientific facts while sprinkling his talks with non-dual pointers (and, as was the case with Maharaj) on occasion peppering his talks with the blunt, but totally-spot-on, vernacular which – in Tyson’s case - he often heard growing up on the streets in the Bronx:
It has been noted that often Sagan’s talks - like those of Tyson now - offended conservatives and members of the religious-right (as scientific facts always have); thus, in a nation which has from the beginning been dominated by conservatives and members of the religious-right (and still is to this day) much of what he shared was ignored even though it could have been enlightening and could have been heeded as fair warning (for example, regarding the damage being done to the planet and regarding the ill effects of ignorance on humanity in general).
Mention was also made yesterday of Sagan’s protégé Tyson and his “most recent reminders and warnings” which are also being ignored by those most needing to understand. Referencing those types, he said: “Pretending to know everything closes the door to finding out what’s really there.”
In a recent followup to the 1980 “Cosmos” documentary narrated by Carl Sagan, a recent (2014) series entitled “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” was hosted by Tyson.
Maharaj predicted that someday science would advance to the point that it will prove all of the non-dual pointers being shared. It has reached that point, but many around the globe are never exposed to the science and many more – especially in the U.S. – reject all scientific facts they hear and instead accept only what was written in their “holy book” thousands of years ago when ignorance and myths and superstition ruled.
In the finale of the newer “Cosmos” series, Tyson offers certain pointers for consideration:
1. He began with a discussion of a library and its associated research institution which existed more than two millennia ago in the city of Alexandria, noting that it was rare then, and now, for a government to be willing to spend so much of its gross national product on eliminating ignorance and engaging in research.
Estimates vary regarding the total number of scrolls in that library, but the range is somewhere between 500,000 to 1,000,000. Yet the library no longer exists. So what happened to it? Access to its contents was in the hands of the “elite”; thus, in the fourth century AD, when “a mob” came to destroy the library and the genius of classical civilization, there were not enough people to defend it. Then Tyson asked: “What will happen the next time the mob comes?”
2. Of course he knows that, in the U.S., the mob has already come, attacking all that science has proven to be fact to date and (as candidate Barack Obama stated in August of 2008), “It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant.”
3. To expose the arrogance and ignorance of those seemingly proud of being ignorant, Tyson suggests this: “I think we're ready to perform an experiment. Pick a star, any one of the hundreds of billions of stars in our Milky Way Galaxy, which is just one galaxy out of the hundred billion in the known universe."
He picked “this one,” called “our sun” by billions of persons on earth. He continued: “Suppose, on one of them, there lives an intelligent species, one of the millions of life-forms on that planet, and there's a subgroup of that species who believe they have it all figured out, that their world is the center of the universe, a universe made for them, and that they know everything they need to know about it. Their knowledge is complete. How seriously would you take their claim?”
4. Yet, he says, that claim is exactly what was believed and is believed even now by the majority: “Our ancestors believed that the universe was made for them. It was natural to assume that we were at the center. After all, it looks like the Sun and stars all revolve around us. We still speak of the Sun ‘rising.’ In 1492, people believed that there were only three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia) and only a great ocean in between. They had no clue that North and South America even existed.” Then he noted, “It's easy to feel smug, right?”
He then noted that it is as if “we had been standing on the seashore at night, mistakenly believing that the froth on the waves was all there was to the ocean.” Then came an admission that “scientists certainly do not know all of the answers about the cosmos” after which he added: “It's okay not to know all the answers. It's better to admit our ignorance than to believe answers that might be wrong. Pretending to know everything closes the door to finding out what's really there.”
[Yet “admitting to ignorance” is far different from “taking pride in being ignorant,” yes?]
5. The final episode also suggested that science, in its own way, carries fewer risks for those who believe in it than religion does. Tyson: “It’s one of the things I love about science: we don’t have to pretend we have all the answers.”
Recent understandings have come, Tyson says, from the work of generations of searchers who took some simple “rules” to heart:
a. Question authority.
b. Question yourself.
c. No idea is true just because someone says so, including me.
d. Don't believe anything just because you want to.
e. Believing something doesn't make it so.
f. Test ideas by the evidence gained from observation and experiment.
g. If a favorite idea fails a well-designed test, it's wrong! Get over it!
h. Follow the evidence, wherever it leads.
i. If you have no evidence, reserve judgment.
j. Science is a way to keep from fooling ourselves and each other.
k. These values undermine the appeals of fanaticism and ignorance.
l. It matters what's true.
m. And perhaps the most important rule of all: remember, you could be wrong.
The final episode marked a return to an earlier theme, that of dismissing religion-fueled ignorance. Tyson’s comments about being open to considerations that differ from engrained beliefs called back pretty directly to pointers he’s offered before about “creationists” who use the Bible as if it were a valid science book.
He noted that the “Cosmos” series was conceived
not to tell you what is true
but
to share how we have come to learn what is true.
Ah, but how many truly want to learn the truth, much less the Truth? Throughout most of the six-seven years that this composite unity has been exposed to sleep-walkers and sleep-talkers, the final conclusion has to be: “Few.”
So it has been; so it is now; but so it need not be for the few that are willing to cast aside all that they have been programmed and conditioned and indoctrinated and brainwashed and acculturated and domesticated to believe and then seek the Truth instead.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
15 November 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
CLEAR PERSPECTIVE
via
the Brain, the Consciousness, and “A Pale Blue Dot”
vs.
"the Mind"
[Continued from yesterday]
F.: TO REVIEW:
Clear perspective cannot manifest in the present of ignorance and insanity, that is, in the presence of one abiding under the auspices of the content of a mind.
Clear perspective cannot manifest alongside mindfulness.
Clear perspective can only come post-Realization, when all of the distortions and false beliefs that had been accepted blindly and unquestioningly (such acceptance having been based only in the dreamed up concept of "faith") are finally seen to be false.
Clear perspective can only manifest in the present of mindlessness alongside the natural functioning of the elemental brain and the manifest, unblocked conscious-energy.
Then, if one understands all of the relative nonsense which had been thought to be fact but which is finally seen to have been total fiction, then one can understand the functioning of the totality.
Understanding the functioning of the totally allows for an even clearer perspective because the focus will shift from (a) the over-rated silliness and minutiae of happenings on planet earth to (b) the broadest possible perspective that comes with seeing “The Big Picture.”
Yesterday it was noted that such is a part of what American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, and astrobiologist Carl Sagan discussed in his book Pale Blue Dot, the term referring to a very-long-distance-picture of earth that was taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft on 14 February 1990.
To review some of Sagan’s pointers shared yesterday in regards to "the Pale Blue Dot" and to provide the rest of his comments on the topic. Upon seeing that picture, Sagan said:
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.
Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light.
Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.
The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.
It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.
Yesterday, you were invited to consider the happenings referenced above and to determine which were mind-driven. Those include:
suffering
thousands of confident religions
every destroyer of civilization
every corrupt politician
the endless cruelties of humankind
frequent misunderstandings
an eagerness to kill one another
fervent hatred
posturings
imagined self-importance
the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe
the failure to understand that there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves
and
the folly of human conceit.
Note that there is nothing on that list which Maharaj and other sages had not already identified for ages as the side effects of the mind-centered Ultimate Sickness. Those sages' discussions of the side effects have been as largely ignored by the masses as Sagan's somewhat more recent reminder (the same way that Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's most recent reminders and warnings are now being ignored by the masses and the same way that actual, legitimate non-dual pointers are being ignored by the masses even as they are buying wholeheartedly into duality-based pointers which are being presented in the guise of non-dual pointers).
Sagan's points, which were inspired by having seen the "pale blue dot" from a distance which provided a far-clearer perspective of its actual "place" - and insignificance - in the universe, offer a more accurate historical record of what the mind has actually generated in recent centuries, cataloguing the actual effects of the near-complete contamination of the “mind” with nonsense and distortions and false beliefs.
In the process, he eradicated - at least among those with the wisdom to differentiate fact from fiction - the unwarranted value that is nowadays assigned to “the mind” and to “mind-full-ness.”
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
14 November 2014
via
the Brain, the Consciousness, and “A Pale Blue Dot”
vs.
"the Mind"
[Continued from yesterday]
F.: TO REVIEW:
Clear perspective cannot manifest in the present of ignorance and insanity, that is, in the presence of one abiding under the auspices of the content of a mind.
Clear perspective cannot manifest alongside mindfulness.
Clear perspective can only come post-Realization, when all of the distortions and false beliefs that had been accepted blindly and unquestioningly (such acceptance having been based only in the dreamed up concept of "faith") are finally seen to be false.
Clear perspective can only manifest in the present of mindlessness alongside the natural functioning of the elemental brain and the manifest, unblocked conscious-energy.
Then, if one understands all of the relative nonsense which had been thought to be fact but which is finally seen to have been total fiction, then one can understand the functioning of the totality.
Understanding the functioning of the totally allows for an even clearer perspective because the focus will shift from (a) the over-rated silliness and minutiae of happenings on planet earth to (b) the broadest possible perspective that comes with seeing “The Big Picture.”
Yesterday it was noted that such is a part of what American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, and astrobiologist Carl Sagan discussed in his book Pale Blue Dot, the term referring to a very-long-distance-picture of earth that was taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft on 14 February 1990.
To review some of Sagan’s pointers shared yesterday in regards to "the Pale Blue Dot" and to provide the rest of his comments on the topic. Upon seeing that picture, Sagan said:
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.
Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light.
Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.
The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.
It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.
Yesterday, you were invited to consider the happenings referenced above and to determine which were mind-driven. Those include:
suffering
thousands of confident religions
every destroyer of civilization
every corrupt politician
the endless cruelties of humankind
frequent misunderstandings
an eagerness to kill one another
fervent hatred
posturings
imagined self-importance
the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe
the failure to understand that there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves
and
the folly of human conceit.
Note that there is nothing on that list which Maharaj and other sages had not already identified for ages as the side effects of the mind-centered Ultimate Sickness. Those sages' discussions of the side effects have been as largely ignored by the masses as Sagan's somewhat more recent reminder (the same way that Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's most recent reminders and warnings are now being ignored by the masses and the same way that actual, legitimate non-dual pointers are being ignored by the masses even as they are buying wholeheartedly into duality-based pointers which are being presented in the guise of non-dual pointers).
Sagan's points, which were inspired by having seen the "pale blue dot" from a distance which provided a far-clearer perspective of its actual "place" - and insignificance - in the universe, offer a more accurate historical record of what the mind has actually generated in recent centuries, cataloguing the actual effects of the near-complete contamination of the “mind” with nonsense and distortions and false beliefs.
In the process, he eradicated - at least among those with the wisdom to differentiate fact from fiction - the unwarranted value that is nowadays assigned to “the mind” and to “mind-full-ness.”
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
14 November 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
PERSPECTIVE via the Brain, the Consciousness, the Mind, and “A Pale Blue Dot”
F.: At the root of all of the distortions and illusions and delusions and ignorance and insanity which plague humanity and which trap the masses in the throes of the Ultimate Sickness, and its accompanying misery and suffering, are mind-generated misperceptions. To have a clear and proper perspective is to have the faculty to see everything clearly, including any relevant data that is available in regards to any subject.
For example, when working with clients or couples and sharing what has been revealed about them via the results of a personality inventory test, if they have the faculty to see clearly and objectively, then the results will show them the exact degree to which they are being driven subconsciously – without the slightest clue at all – by the hidden agendas of the personalities which were either assigned to them early on or which they have adopted since.
The test used here has a 98+% validity rate, but the egotism which supports those ego-states / personalities which are revealed via their test scores typically drives them to conclude that the results have no validity at all and reveal nothing worth understanding.
Maharaj could listen to a visitor for a few minutes and, as is the case here, he could quickly determine precisely where on the seven-step “path” that visitor is stuck and precisely which ego-states are at play.
Here, the personality test results usually just confirm what was already clear because a proper perspective and clear seeing allow one familiar with personality to perceive exactly what is driving any given speaker’s thoughts and words and actions.
For example, persons playing the role of the Type Two (“The Helper” / “The Rescuer” / “The Savior”) will be driven by a subconscious agenda to be liked and / or loved in order to compensate for the love not received early on from an absent - or "present but nevertheless unavailable" - father. An average score on the test in the Type Two would be “16,” so when a 50% higher than “normal” or higher than “average” score of “24” shows up, it is obvious that there’s a “father issue” at play.
The result: the Type Two is constantly helping; constantly giving gifts or money to others (who seldom pay it back); often encouraging their adult-age children to become "boomerang kids" and move back home and let a parent once again take care of their housing and food and clothing needs “for a little while until you get on your feet.” Yet Two's complain constantly because “people are always taking from me and are always just using me.”
When a Type Two woman said that yesterday, explaining that she is destitute because she can’t get her relatives and friends to repay the thousands of dollars she has loaned them, it was asked, “Isn’t it pretty clear that if you earn and save some money in the future that you might be wise to keep it?”
Her reply was, “That would be totally selfish on my part. Do you believe that being selfish is a good thing?”
Without the slightest evidence of even a tiny degree of clear perspective . . . end of conversation. There was no explaining that there are no beliefs here; there was no explaining that there is never any discussion here about “good things” vs. “bad things”; and there was no explaining that she could not be any more trapped in the ignorance and insanity of her personality’s warped perspectives than she already is.
What she did not say when the Type Two’s agenda was explained was:
“Oh my gosh! That right! That explains exactly why I've done what I’ve done all my life. I’m giving time and service and gifts and money to people, hoping I can get the love that I wanted from my father but did not get when I was a little girl. I don’t have to live in this insane manner anymore! I don’t have to be driven by my ignorance and insanity that result when personalities determine what I think and what I say and what I do and how I feel. I can be free of those blind and unconscious motivators and then behave in a wise and sane fashion! What a great gift the results of the test are, to be able to find the truth I have not seen for forty years!”
That would be a realization driven by a healthy brain and by the unblocked consciousness. To the contrary, her reaction was driven (as is usually the case) by the content of the mind, including the agendas of the personas stored therein, so what she said instead was, “My father was a wonderful man! He cared for me, he loved me, he was there when I needed him! So to hell with you and your crackpot test that is totally wrong!”
Little did she know that in an earlier session with her husband, he had already explained the challenges that both of them were having as a result of absentee fathers. He had seen that fact before the test was ever taken. His father was occasionally in the picture, but rarely. Her father was gone for years at time.
Yet her egotism-driven mind, bent on protecting her false personas rather than admitting that her father was not there and was not perfect, prevented her from reaping that which comes when the brain and consciousness are functioning naturally and clearly and facilitating a proper perspective along with an ability to differentiate true from false.
[Why are persons so defensive about their parents? Ego and egotism. The subconscious conclusion which most persons draw about their parents is, “If one of the two persons who raised me (or who had the greatest influence on me, whether present or not) happens to have been ‘imperfect” or “flawed,’ then I – the product of those loins – must be ‘half-imperfect’ or ‘half-flawed.’ And if both of my parents were ‘imperfect’ or ‘flawed,’ then I’m totally screwed up. But I am perfect, so obviously those who raised me must have been perfect.”]
A second example: a man scored "22" in the Type Eight. (That is a score which, on a scale of 100, amounts to a “110 out of 100.” In other words, his Eight score is “through the roof” . . . "off the charts.")
Having worked with thousands of test scores, it has been seen that those with such high Eight scores are usually overly-assertive, highly-controlling, anti-social, very angry, highly-combative, insensitive, domineering, aggressive, self-centered, and not just trapped in narcissism but trapped in what could be called “malignant narcissism.”
When he was asked if he could possibly relate to any of those traits, he went into a rage, became angry, became highly-combative, became very aggressive, and began using highly-assertive language as he denied everything I said. (Of course, projection followed, so he said that I was insensitive and lacked social skills to even dare to make such assertions to his face.)
[In other cases, those Type Eights who have disintegrated into the levels of sociopathy that very high-scoring Eights have often descended into, actually laugh and admit readily that I had “pegged them.” They admit they’re that way and couldn't care less. Note, though, that there are levels and degrees of sociopathy. Sociopaths are everywhere. You deal with them every day if you are out and about, but they are not all Ted Bundys.]
No one can be trapped in their personalities without also being trapped in their minds (where those false identities are stored and where egotism can be called upon to protect and defend their ego-states). Those trapped in personality and mind have no clear and accurate perspective at all. Are some in denial? Yes. Have some dissociated from the unpleasant facts surrounding their upbringing? Yes. And there's the rub: distortion cannot see distortions.
But whatever the case, misperceptions reign:
“My dad was too available!” (though he was not).
"My spouse is a really good person" (all of the abuse he or she heaps on you and your children notwithstanding.)
“These test results are all a bunch of crap! I am a Really. Nice. Person!” (that and all other self-concepts having being reached without the benefit of a second opinion from acquaintances, friends, spouses, children, other family members, co-workers or employees).
Clear perceptive cannot manifest in the presence of ignorance and insanity. It can only come post-Realization, when all distortions and false beliefs that had been accepted unquestioningly are finally seen to be false.
Then, if one understands all of the relative nonsense that was thought to be absolute fact but that was actually total fiction, then one can begin to understand the functioning of the totality.
In turn, understanding the functioning of the totally allows for an even clearer perspective because the focus will shift from the minutiae of the events being blown totally out of perspective on planet earth to the broadest possible perspective that comes with seeing “The Big Picture.”
That is some of what American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, and astrobiologist Carl Sagan discussed in his book, Pale Blue Dot.
The term was inspired by an image taken, at Sagan's suggestion, by Voyager 1 on 14 February 1990. As the spacecraft left our planetary neighborhood for the fringes of the solar system, engineers turned it around for one last look at its home planet.
What was Sagan’s reaction to seeing "that tiny little pale blue dot" lost in a massive universe? His words pointed to the results of human thought and words and actions when driven by
(A) a naturally functioning brain in combination with the unblocked consciousness
instead of
(B) the ignorance-and-insanity-based actions of humankind when they are being controlled by the bogus content of a mind. Sagan said:
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives.
The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.
Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light.
So what part of what was referenced by Sagan has been rooted in a naturally-functioning brain in combination with the unblocked consciousness? And what part has been rooted in the ignorance-and-insanity-based actions of humankind when controlled by the bogus content of a mind?
Consider:
love
joy
suffering
confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines
every destroyer of civilization
every corrupt politician
the rivers of blood spilled by generals and emperors
“glory”
“triumph”
endless cruelties
frequent misunderstandings
an eagerness to kill one another
hatreds
posturings
imagined self-importance
and
the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
F.: At the root of all of the distortions and illusions and delusions and ignorance and insanity which plague humanity and which trap the masses in the throes of the Ultimate Sickness, and its accompanying misery and suffering, are mind-generated misperceptions. To have a clear and proper perspective is to have the faculty to see everything clearly, including any relevant data that is available in regards to any subject.
For example, when working with clients or couples and sharing what has been revealed about them via the results of a personality inventory test, if they have the faculty to see clearly and objectively, then the results will show them the exact degree to which they are being driven subconsciously – without the slightest clue at all – by the hidden agendas of the personalities which were either assigned to them early on or which they have adopted since.
The test used here has a 98+% validity rate, but the egotism which supports those ego-states / personalities which are revealed via their test scores typically drives them to conclude that the results have no validity at all and reveal nothing worth understanding.
Maharaj could listen to a visitor for a few minutes and, as is the case here, he could quickly determine precisely where on the seven-step “path” that visitor is stuck and precisely which ego-states are at play.
Here, the personality test results usually just confirm what was already clear because a proper perspective and clear seeing allow one familiar with personality to perceive exactly what is driving any given speaker’s thoughts and words and actions.
For example, persons playing the role of the Type Two (“The Helper” / “The Rescuer” / “The Savior”) will be driven by a subconscious agenda to be liked and / or loved in order to compensate for the love not received early on from an absent - or "present but nevertheless unavailable" - father. An average score on the test in the Type Two would be “16,” so when a 50% higher than “normal” or higher than “average” score of “24” shows up, it is obvious that there’s a “father issue” at play.
The result: the Type Two is constantly helping; constantly giving gifts or money to others (who seldom pay it back); often encouraging their adult-age children to become "boomerang kids" and move back home and let a parent once again take care of their housing and food and clothing needs “for a little while until you get on your feet.” Yet Two's complain constantly because “people are always taking from me and are always just using me.”
When a Type Two woman said that yesterday, explaining that she is destitute because she can’t get her relatives and friends to repay the thousands of dollars she has loaned them, it was asked, “Isn’t it pretty clear that if you earn and save some money in the future that you might be wise to keep it?”
Her reply was, “That would be totally selfish on my part. Do you believe that being selfish is a good thing?”
Without the slightest evidence of even a tiny degree of clear perspective . . . end of conversation. There was no explaining that there are no beliefs here; there was no explaining that there is never any discussion here about “good things” vs. “bad things”; and there was no explaining that she could not be any more trapped in the ignorance and insanity of her personality’s warped perspectives than she already is.
What she did not say when the Type Two’s agenda was explained was:
“Oh my gosh! That right! That explains exactly why I've done what I’ve done all my life. I’m giving time and service and gifts and money to people, hoping I can get the love that I wanted from my father but did not get when I was a little girl. I don’t have to live in this insane manner anymore! I don’t have to be driven by my ignorance and insanity that result when personalities determine what I think and what I say and what I do and how I feel. I can be free of those blind and unconscious motivators and then behave in a wise and sane fashion! What a great gift the results of the test are, to be able to find the truth I have not seen for forty years!”
That would be a realization driven by a healthy brain and by the unblocked consciousness. To the contrary, her reaction was driven (as is usually the case) by the content of the mind, including the agendas of the personas stored therein, so what she said instead was, “My father was a wonderful man! He cared for me, he loved me, he was there when I needed him! So to hell with you and your crackpot test that is totally wrong!”
Little did she know that in an earlier session with her husband, he had already explained the challenges that both of them were having as a result of absentee fathers. He had seen that fact before the test was ever taken. His father was occasionally in the picture, but rarely. Her father was gone for years at time.
Yet her egotism-driven mind, bent on protecting her false personas rather than admitting that her father was not there and was not perfect, prevented her from reaping that which comes when the brain and consciousness are functioning naturally and clearly and facilitating a proper perspective along with an ability to differentiate true from false.
[Why are persons so defensive about their parents? Ego and egotism. The subconscious conclusion which most persons draw about their parents is, “If one of the two persons who raised me (or who had the greatest influence on me, whether present or not) happens to have been ‘imperfect” or “flawed,’ then I – the product of those loins – must be ‘half-imperfect’ or ‘half-flawed.’ And if both of my parents were ‘imperfect’ or ‘flawed,’ then I’m totally screwed up. But I am perfect, so obviously those who raised me must have been perfect.”]
A second example: a man scored "22" in the Type Eight. (That is a score which, on a scale of 100, amounts to a “110 out of 100.” In other words, his Eight score is “through the roof” . . . "off the charts.")
Having worked with thousands of test scores, it has been seen that those with such high Eight scores are usually overly-assertive, highly-controlling, anti-social, very angry, highly-combative, insensitive, domineering, aggressive, self-centered, and not just trapped in narcissism but trapped in what could be called “malignant narcissism.”
When he was asked if he could possibly relate to any of those traits, he went into a rage, became angry, became highly-combative, became very aggressive, and began using highly-assertive language as he denied everything I said. (Of course, projection followed, so he said that I was insensitive and lacked social skills to even dare to make such assertions to his face.)
[In other cases, those Type Eights who have disintegrated into the levels of sociopathy that very high-scoring Eights have often descended into, actually laugh and admit readily that I had “pegged them.” They admit they’re that way and couldn't care less. Note, though, that there are levels and degrees of sociopathy. Sociopaths are everywhere. You deal with them every day if you are out and about, but they are not all Ted Bundys.]
No one can be trapped in their personalities without also being trapped in their minds (where those false identities are stored and where egotism can be called upon to protect and defend their ego-states). Those trapped in personality and mind have no clear and accurate perspective at all. Are some in denial? Yes. Have some dissociated from the unpleasant facts surrounding their upbringing? Yes. And there's the rub: distortion cannot see distortions.
But whatever the case, misperceptions reign:
“My dad was too available!” (though he was not).
"My spouse is a really good person" (all of the abuse he or she heaps on you and your children notwithstanding.)
“These test results are all a bunch of crap! I am a Really. Nice. Person!” (that and all other self-concepts having being reached without the benefit of a second opinion from acquaintances, friends, spouses, children, other family members, co-workers or employees).
Clear perceptive cannot manifest in the presence of ignorance and insanity. It can only come post-Realization, when all distortions and false beliefs that had been accepted unquestioningly are finally seen to be false.
Then, if one understands all of the relative nonsense that was thought to be absolute fact but that was actually total fiction, then one can begin to understand the functioning of the totality.
In turn, understanding the functioning of the totally allows for an even clearer perspective because the focus will shift from the minutiae of the events being blown totally out of perspective on planet earth to the broadest possible perspective that comes with seeing “The Big Picture.”
That is some of what American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, and astrobiologist Carl Sagan discussed in his book, Pale Blue Dot.
The term was inspired by an image taken, at Sagan's suggestion, by Voyager 1 on 14 February 1990. As the spacecraft left our planetary neighborhood for the fringes of the solar system, engineers turned it around for one last look at its home planet.
What was Sagan’s reaction to seeing "that tiny little pale blue dot" lost in a massive universe? His words pointed to the results of human thought and words and actions when driven by
(A) a naturally functioning brain in combination with the unblocked consciousness
instead of
(B) the ignorance-and-insanity-based actions of humankind when they are being controlled by the bogus content of a mind. Sagan said:
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives.
The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.
Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light.
So what part of what was referenced by Sagan has been rooted in a naturally-functioning brain in combination with the unblocked consciousness? And what part has been rooted in the ignorance-and-insanity-based actions of humankind when controlled by the bogus content of a mind?
Consider:
love
joy
suffering
confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines
every destroyer of civilization
every corrupt politician
the rivers of blood spilled by generals and emperors
“glory”
“triumph”
endless cruelties
frequent misunderstandings
an eagerness to kill one another
hatreds
posturings
imagined self-importance
and
the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
13 November 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: To continue with a sharing of some excerpts from the eBook below entitled THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS “PEACE OF MIND”(There is Only Peace if You’re Out of Your Mind):
It is emphasized again that
(1) it’s all energy at the core, that
(2) nowadays natural living can only happen under the auspices of the brain and never while under the influence of the corrupted "mind," and that
(3) all learned ignorance—stored as a “mind”—must be tossed if peace is to happen.
Note how each step in the following analysis moves from something wrongly-perceived (such as "a human body") down to the most basic “ingredient” of the universe that is common to all in the universe. (Call it "strings," call it "that," call it "sparticles," or point toward it with any term you choose, but there is that single, most basic "whatever" that all is. Ultimately, all is energy-matter, and neither energy nor matter can be created nor destroyed. Everything is just a variation of one type of energy or another, conscious-energy being only one variety. Differences in appearance are caused by nothing more than a variance of the vibrational rate at which "that" moves when manifested.) Here’s how it works:
1. A human’s body mass is mostly water. Carbon, the basic unit of organic molecules, is the second most common element.
2. A “molecule” is a group of atoms in a definite arrangement held together by chemical bonds.
3. At the core of the sun, four hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form one helium nucleus, and that happens over and over. The part of the energy that process releases as light travels in particle and wave form. Plant photosynthesis sets the stage for another cycling of manifested energy-consciousness.
So far, all is totally natural.
4. Likewise, the energy drawn into a cycle from the Absolute pool manifests in plants after it “travels” in a particle or wave form; humans consume the plants (or consume the animals that ate the plants), triggering a “transfer” of energy; multi-part atoms of energy are at the core of organic molecules, and organic molecules are at the core of the human body. Everything that is considered “body” can be traced back to its most basic ingredient and that ingredient can be seen to be a temporary manifestation of energy from that field of energy called the Absolute. Again, all involved so far happens naturally and spontaneously (so that is what your original nature is like).
What does that have to do with clarifying the role of the brain, the “mind,” and the consciousness in the Teachings? Recall the earlier pointer: “Consciousness is rooted in the Absolute. The brain is rooted in the elements. The ‘mind’ is rooted in wrong programming and faulty conditioning and lies and concepts and ideas and superstitions and falsehoods.”
THE CONSCIOUSNESS:
The conscious-energy, temporarily manifested, is “real” to the degree that it is a form of energy with specific levels of functioning that can be measured. (Why “real” in quotes? Because even this manifested consciousness is time-bound, a temporary expression of that which is truly and eternally real.) Among the triad of elements-breath-consciousness which sustains “life,” the manifest consciousness is required. The energy cannot be destroyed. It is and will be. Again, all natural, so far.
THE BRAIN:
The science above shows that the brain, at its most basic level, is elemental and that conscious-energy is temporarily manifested via those elements; therefore, it is “real” to the degree that all is energy. (This differs not at all from what is revealed about a steel beam if it is studied under an electron microscope: what is not real is the beam as it appears; what is real is that swirling mass of energy that is not visible to the naked eye. Such is the case with the body and with parts such as the brain.) Among the triad of elements-breath-consciousness that sustains “life,” the elemental brain is required, the modern use of resuscitating equipment to sustain a body notwithstanding. The elements cannot be destroyed. They will be. Still, all discussed so far was totally natural, but that would change after the human brain evolved to 6-and-1/2 times its original size, allowing for a similar expansion of the area of the brain (the "mind" part) which stores and retrieves information. Once the information stored in “the mind” shifted from a minimal quantity of facts which could be used to assure the survival of the species to a maximum overload of fiction involving false ideas, concepts, views, etc. (a.k.a., “beliefs” rather than facts) then the stage was set humankind’s levels of ignorance and insanity to expand geometrically. That expansion is still continuing, and it is happening on a larger scale and at a faster rate than ever before. So much for what had been an all-natural process. That ended with the development of the expanded mind.
THE “MIND”:
The “mind” is neither elemental nor energy, so it is not real and it will fade away. It is nothing more than a conglomeration of images and memories which are not real, which are fictional, and which are misperceptions. Because the mind is false and is not “real,” it can be purged.
Pluck out your brain: end of manifestation. Take steps to end the manifest consciousness: end of manifestation. Purge the mind: not the end of the manifestation.
(Because the mind is only temporary, an Advaitin said, “Heaven and earth shall fade away.” Meaning? Just as with all images, when the consciousness fades away, so shall the misconceived images stored in the brain. One could as easily say to the ex-husband mourning the loss of his imagined role, “Your wife and family shall fade away someday.” They are just misperceived images in the “mind,” and those wrongly-perceived images will not last. When "he" "dies," "she" "dies.")
Among the triad of elements-breath-consciousness which sustain “life,” the “mind” is not included. It has been shown why “the mind” happened: there was originally a natural part that it was to play in the process of natural living. That is no longer happening.
Maharaj revealed much about that fictional conglomeration called "the mind" and about its false character. He pointed out that awareness is the source of (but different from) the personal, individualized consciousness which manifests via the nervous system of an elemental body and which becomes corrupted.
The “mind” and memory, he said, are responsible for association with a particular body; awareness (that pool of energy which has the ability to be "aware of" if pulled into a cycle of manifestation) exists prior to both mind and memory. He said that "this world" (which is known to be an illusion) is nothing more than a collection of memories. The collection differs in the mind of every individual, so there are as many imaginary worlds as there are persons. "The world" for each is "in them," in their "minds."
He spoke of memories as being time-bound and transient, so they cannot be real. He made the point that only that which is free of memories is timeless and therefore real. He said that desires and fears are based in the memory and that the root of desires and fears are the expectations that are born of memory. Persona / personality is just a shadow of the mind, he said, and the mind he identified as nothing more than “the sum total of memories.”
Imagination based on memories is unreal. He said the understanding of that could free persons of the trap of memory. The light of consciousness passes through the film of memory and throws pictures on your brain, he said. Thus, because of the chaotic and distorted state of that part of the brain where memories are stored, what most perceive is distorted and colored by feelings of "like" and "dislike."
The result: a tiny fraction of humans ever Realize (that is, realize the truth, realize their learned ignorance and reject it, realize their insanity and become free of it). For the other 99.9%, all among the non-Realized masses, they cannot even differentiate between what is true from what is false. That which they believe and value the most is the most false and worthless of all.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
It is emphasized again that
(1) it’s all energy at the core, that
(2) nowadays natural living can only happen under the auspices of the brain and never while under the influence of the corrupted "mind," and that
(3) all learned ignorance—stored as a “mind”—must be tossed if peace is to happen.
Note how each step in the following analysis moves from something wrongly-perceived (such as "a human body") down to the most basic “ingredient” of the universe that is common to all in the universe. (Call it "strings," call it "that," call it "sparticles," or point toward it with any term you choose, but there is that single, most basic "whatever" that all is. Ultimately, all is energy-matter, and neither energy nor matter can be created nor destroyed. Everything is just a variation of one type of energy or another, conscious-energy being only one variety. Differences in appearance are caused by nothing more than a variance of the vibrational rate at which "that" moves when manifested.) Here’s how it works:
1. A human’s body mass is mostly water. Carbon, the basic unit of organic molecules, is the second most common element.
2. A “molecule” is a group of atoms in a definite arrangement held together by chemical bonds.
3. At the core of the sun, four hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form one helium nucleus, and that happens over and over. The part of the energy that process releases as light travels in particle and wave form. Plant photosynthesis sets the stage for another cycling of manifested energy-consciousness.
So far, all is totally natural.
4. Likewise, the energy drawn into a cycle from the Absolute pool manifests in plants after it “travels” in a particle or wave form; humans consume the plants (or consume the animals that ate the plants), triggering a “transfer” of energy; multi-part atoms of energy are at the core of organic molecules, and organic molecules are at the core of the human body. Everything that is considered “body” can be traced back to its most basic ingredient and that ingredient can be seen to be a temporary manifestation of energy from that field of energy called the Absolute. Again, all involved so far happens naturally and spontaneously (so that is what your original nature is like).
What does that have to do with clarifying the role of the brain, the “mind,” and the consciousness in the Teachings? Recall the earlier pointer: “Consciousness is rooted in the Absolute. The brain is rooted in the elements. The ‘mind’ is rooted in wrong programming and faulty conditioning and lies and concepts and ideas and superstitions and falsehoods.”
THE CONSCIOUSNESS:
The conscious-energy, temporarily manifested, is “real” to the degree that it is a form of energy with specific levels of functioning that can be measured. (Why “real” in quotes? Because even this manifested consciousness is time-bound, a temporary expression of that which is truly and eternally real.) Among the triad of elements-breath-consciousness which sustains “life,” the manifest consciousness is required. The energy cannot be destroyed. It is and will be. Again, all natural, so far.
THE BRAIN:
The science above shows that the brain, at its most basic level, is elemental and that conscious-energy is temporarily manifested via those elements; therefore, it is “real” to the degree that all is energy. (This differs not at all from what is revealed about a steel beam if it is studied under an electron microscope: what is not real is the beam as it appears; what is real is that swirling mass of energy that is not visible to the naked eye. Such is the case with the body and with parts such as the brain.) Among the triad of elements-breath-consciousness that sustains “life,” the elemental brain is required, the modern use of resuscitating equipment to sustain a body notwithstanding. The elements cannot be destroyed. They will be. Still, all discussed so far was totally natural, but that would change after the human brain evolved to 6-and-1/2 times its original size, allowing for a similar expansion of the area of the brain (the "mind" part) which stores and retrieves information. Once the information stored in “the mind” shifted from a minimal quantity of facts which could be used to assure the survival of the species to a maximum overload of fiction involving false ideas, concepts, views, etc. (a.k.a., “beliefs” rather than facts) then the stage was set humankind’s levels of ignorance and insanity to expand geometrically. That expansion is still continuing, and it is happening on a larger scale and at a faster rate than ever before. So much for what had been an all-natural process. That ended with the development of the expanded mind.
THE “MIND”:
The “mind” is neither elemental nor energy, so it is not real and it will fade away. It is nothing more than a conglomeration of images and memories which are not real, which are fictional, and which are misperceptions. Because the mind is false and is not “real,” it can be purged.
Pluck out your brain: end of manifestation. Take steps to end the manifest consciousness: end of manifestation. Purge the mind: not the end of the manifestation.
(Because the mind is only temporary, an Advaitin said, “Heaven and earth shall fade away.” Meaning? Just as with all images, when the consciousness fades away, so shall the misconceived images stored in the brain. One could as easily say to the ex-husband mourning the loss of his imagined role, “Your wife and family shall fade away someday.” They are just misperceived images in the “mind,” and those wrongly-perceived images will not last. When "he" "dies," "she" "dies.")
Among the triad of elements-breath-consciousness which sustain “life,” the “mind” is not included. It has been shown why “the mind” happened: there was originally a natural part that it was to play in the process of natural living. That is no longer happening.
Maharaj revealed much about that fictional conglomeration called "the mind" and about its false character. He pointed out that awareness is the source of (but different from) the personal, individualized consciousness which manifests via the nervous system of an elemental body and which becomes corrupted.
The “mind” and memory, he said, are responsible for association with a particular body; awareness (that pool of energy which has the ability to be "aware of" if pulled into a cycle of manifestation) exists prior to both mind and memory. He said that "this world" (which is known to be an illusion) is nothing more than a collection of memories. The collection differs in the mind of every individual, so there are as many imaginary worlds as there are persons. "The world" for each is "in them," in their "minds."
He spoke of memories as being time-bound and transient, so they cannot be real. He made the point that only that which is free of memories is timeless and therefore real. He said that desires and fears are based in the memory and that the root of desires and fears are the expectations that are born of memory. Persona / personality is just a shadow of the mind, he said, and the mind he identified as nothing more than “the sum total of memories.”
Imagination based on memories is unreal. He said the understanding of that could free persons of the trap of memory. The light of consciousness passes through the film of memory and throws pictures on your brain, he said. Thus, because of the chaotic and distorted state of that part of the brain where memories are stored, what most perceive is distorted and colored by feelings of "like" and "dislike."
The result: a tiny fraction of humans ever Realize (that is, realize the truth, realize their learned ignorance and reject it, realize their insanity and become free of it). For the other 99.9%, all among the non-Realized masses, they cannot even differentiate between what is true from what is false. That which they believe and value the most is the most false and worthless of all.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
13 November 2014
A DAILY CONSIDERATION FOR YOU
F.: Today, a pause to review and to offer a few additional considerations, using more excerpts from the eBook below entitled THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS “PEACE OF MIND”(There is Only Peace if You’re Out of Your Mind):
1. The brain (which was intended by nature to function in a “sustain and preserve” capacity) has now been overridden by the “mind” (which is bent toward chaos, destruction, and self-destruction).
2. The parts of the brain that store and retrieve memories are overshadowing and overpowering all of the rest of the brain in determining how persons think and talk and emote and behave.
3. Historically, humankind in general attempted to take all necessary action to survive. That has changed. Today, honor is bestowed by some on those who brag, "I'm willing to die for my country." Today, some other persons are willing to strap on a dynamite vest and blow up their own bodies and the bodies of those whom they dualistically view as “others” simply because those “others” have different beliefs stored in their “minds.”
4. The brain would say, “This is stupid. Do not do that.” The dualistic beliefs that make up the “mind” say, “Do it anyway. They are different, so they deserve to die.”
5. Indeed, whether authority and power are being abused by a black-robe-wearing leader of ISIS / ISIS / IS or by a uniform-wearing members of “the powers that be” in the U.S., the willingness of “the ones in authority” and the willingness of “those in power” to kill “others who are different” is running rampant all around the globe, increasing in direct correlation to the rampant expansion of dualistic thinking and dualistic beliefs about being “different from” and “better than.” Yet in the U.S., the black-robed abuser of power above is hated while the uniformed abusers of power are lauded (in fact, darn near worshipped) by those trapped in fear who believe that their "tenuous safety" is only being secured moment to moment by those authorities who are "holding back the criminal element that would otherwise be coming for the citizenry at large."
6. Supernatural (i.e., religious or spiritual) thinking has perverted the “mind’s” original role and has produced more dualistic concepts than any other single source. That single source, in turn, has resulted in more "relative existence human deaths" than all other causes combined (after natural causes).
7. When such pointers are offered, volumes of mail typically arrive, asking, “Do you hate religions and spiritual movements?” The response is, “What WHO could be present to hate anything?”
8. If the bag containing your household garbage for several days is finally discarded, are you discarding it because you hate it? Or is it just the sane thing to do? As the garbage is sitting there, are you hating it? No.
9. If your neighbors have not taken out their garbage and really want to hang onto their garbage for a few more days, or even forever, do you hate them for clinging to their trash? Of course not.
10. As you are taking the garbage out to the collection site, are you resenting the garbage? No. You are not giving it a single thought. You realize that there is nothing of value which is being cast aside but that it is, instead, just garbage.
11. The tossing of the trash happens without emotion or attachment if enough wisdom manifests for one to be able to look objectively at the garbage that has been accumulated and to see clearly that it is garbage. And if a roommate or spouse or guru or sharer of non-dual pointers says, “This trash has been here too long. It’s having a negative impact our lives / your lives, so would you throw it away, please?” would you then ask angrily, “Why do you hate the garbage so much? Why do you suggest I get rid of it? I was taught to love the garbage. I am even willing to fight to preserve the garbage. What is wrong with you that you do not love the garbage?”
12. (Actually, the garbage might have served "some purpose" for a time, but it cannot serve a purpose for all time. There comes a point in the history of all garbage when the sane thing to do is to cast it aside and move on. Today, most garbage is stored in that part of the brain called the "mind." It's time to discard the garbage. Will that happen? Only among a very small percentage of the earth's population. So it is.)
13. Ah, but one who has not developed enough wisdom to even see that garbage is garbage, or that one’s grandparents’ beliefs and one’s parents’ beliefs and now one’s own beliefs are total nonsense – total garbage – then they will not only refuse to toss out their garbage but will actually ennoble it . . . even love it . . . and even be willing to fight with those who do not value the garbage in the same fashion.
14. And the fighting over whether one’s garbage (mind content / beliefs) should be respected or not will happen with flat mates and house mates; with a friend or lover or spouse; with a member of a different religion or a member of a different sect; with a member of a different race; with someone of a different sexual orientation; with the heads of various nations; ad infinitum.
15. All of the accompanying misery is rooted in mind-full-ness. Only mindlessness can facilitate the manifestation of freedom and peace and happiness and even occasional joy and bliss. "What?! Occasional?!" Yes. Occasional.
16. The delusion of those not fully Realized? As explained in the eBook below entitled “What Bliss Is and What Bliss Is Not,” their misery-guaranteeing delusions - which are a product of their totally distorted thinking - include such childish and naïve beliefs as:
A. “Even as the relative manifestation continues I want to be fixed in an unwavering state of bliss, and I have been promised that can happen; in fact, I deserve unwavering happiness";
or
B. “The only thing I want for my children is for them to just be happy”;
or
C. “I want to reach a point where I have enough money that I can avoid the effects of relative challenges that are always coming my way.”
17. Such mindful / mind-full nonsense would also suggest that one who likes ice cream can – and should – be able to eat it uninterruptedly, 24 / 7; that a sex addict can – and should – be able to experience the ecstasy of orgasms uninterruptedly, 24 / 7; or that “the Realized one” should be able to be totally free of anything and everything involving the AM-ness.
18. What age-level would be most likely to have such naïve desires or expectations as those in “A” through “C” above? Somewhere around five or six? Exactly, because those concepts are rooted in the agenda of certain personalities, because all desires are personality-driven, and because one’s primary personality type is usually set in stone by the age of six or shortly after. No matter the age of any plant food body - be it 40 or 50 or 60 - if personality is driving thoughts and words and actions, then the thoughts and words and actions will be those that are typical of an immature child.
19. To witness objectively and impartially whatever comes is not to love everything that comes; nor is it to hate whatever comes; nor is necessary to “Love what is”; nor is it necessary to "accept whatever is"; and neither is it necessary to spin the facts or truth about reality by using the favorite dualistic distortion which Personality Type Threes and Type Ones and Type Sevens use habitually to detach and to deny the way they that are really feeling inside, namely, the statement that “It’s all good.”
20. As long as mindfulness / mind-full-ness is present, so too shall be distortions, delusions, misrepresentations, belief in things false, and all of the misery that those bring.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
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. BY USING EBOOKS available at
Floyd Henderson's Website
Anthology of four books
Anthology of six books
SELF-TRANSFORMATION MEDITATION GUIDE (VOLUME ONE)
WHY YOU MUST BE EMPTY IF YOU WOULD BE FULL
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS
The following three eBooks are available without charge for you or for friends:
I.
"GOOD vs. EVIL?" or "IGNORANCE, STUPIDITY, and INSANITY?"
II.
"THE VISION"
III.
24. both made the decision that whatever amount of the relative existence remains shall be spent in sharing the teachings in the way that has been seen to be the most effective method: not suggesting that there are not enough religious persons; not suggesting that the Ultimate Sickness is caused by being "spiritually-unfit"; but by seeing that the problem centers in the mind (which must come to an end, which it will the moment all beliefs are abandoned)
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.
SECTION SIX:
1. The brain (which was intended by nature to function in a “sustain and preserve” capacity) has now been overridden by the “mind” (which is bent toward chaos, destruction, and self-destruction).
2. The parts of the brain that store and retrieve memories are overshadowing and overpowering all of the rest of the brain in determining how persons think and talk and emote and behave.
3. Historically, humankind in general attempted to take all necessary action to survive. That has changed. Today, honor is bestowed by some on those who brag, "I'm willing to die for my country." Today, some other persons are willing to strap on a dynamite vest and blow up their own bodies and the bodies of those whom they dualistically view as “others” simply because those “others” have different beliefs stored in their “minds.”
4. The brain would say, “This is stupid. Do not do that.” The dualistic beliefs that make up the “mind” say, “Do it anyway. They are different, so they deserve to die.”
5. Indeed, whether authority and power are being abused by a black-robe-wearing leader of ISIS / ISIS / IS or by a uniform-wearing members of “the powers that be” in the U.S., the willingness of “the ones in authority” and the willingness of “those in power” to kill “others who are different” is running rampant all around the globe, increasing in direct correlation to the rampant expansion of dualistic thinking and dualistic beliefs about being “different from” and “better than.” Yet in the U.S., the black-robed abuser of power above is hated while the uniformed abusers of power are lauded (in fact, darn near worshipped) by those trapped in fear who believe that their "tenuous safety" is only being secured moment to moment by those authorities who are "holding back the criminal element that would otherwise be coming for the citizenry at large."
6. Supernatural (i.e., religious or spiritual) thinking has perverted the “mind’s” original role and has produced more dualistic concepts than any other single source. That single source, in turn, has resulted in more "relative existence human deaths" than all other causes combined (after natural causes).
7. When such pointers are offered, volumes of mail typically arrive, asking, “Do you hate religions and spiritual movements?” The response is, “What WHO could be present to hate anything?”
8. If the bag containing your household garbage for several days is finally discarded, are you discarding it because you hate it? Or is it just the sane thing to do? As the garbage is sitting there, are you hating it? No.
9. If your neighbors have not taken out their garbage and really want to hang onto their garbage for a few more days, or even forever, do you hate them for clinging to their trash? Of course not.
10. As you are taking the garbage out to the collection site, are you resenting the garbage? No. You are not giving it a single thought. You realize that there is nothing of value which is being cast aside but that it is, instead, just garbage.
11. The tossing of the trash happens without emotion or attachment if enough wisdom manifests for one to be able to look objectively at the garbage that has been accumulated and to see clearly that it is garbage. And if a roommate or spouse or guru or sharer of non-dual pointers says, “This trash has been here too long. It’s having a negative impact our lives / your lives, so would you throw it away, please?” would you then ask angrily, “Why do you hate the garbage so much? Why do you suggest I get rid of it? I was taught to love the garbage. I am even willing to fight to preserve the garbage. What is wrong with you that you do not love the garbage?”
12. (Actually, the garbage might have served "some purpose" for a time, but it cannot serve a purpose for all time. There comes a point in the history of all garbage when the sane thing to do is to cast it aside and move on. Today, most garbage is stored in that part of the brain called the "mind." It's time to discard the garbage. Will that happen? Only among a very small percentage of the earth's population. So it is.)
13. Ah, but one who has not developed enough wisdom to even see that garbage is garbage, or that one’s grandparents’ beliefs and one’s parents’ beliefs and now one’s own beliefs are total nonsense – total garbage – then they will not only refuse to toss out their garbage but will actually ennoble it . . . even love it . . . and even be willing to fight with those who do not value the garbage in the same fashion.
14. And the fighting over whether one’s garbage (mind content / beliefs) should be respected or not will happen with flat mates and house mates; with a friend or lover or spouse; with a member of a different religion or a member of a different sect; with a member of a different race; with someone of a different sexual orientation; with the heads of various nations; ad infinitum.
15. All of the accompanying misery is rooted in mind-full-ness. Only mindlessness can facilitate the manifestation of freedom and peace and happiness and even occasional joy and bliss. "What?! Occasional?!" Yes. Occasional.
16. The delusion of those not fully Realized? As explained in the eBook below entitled “What Bliss Is and What Bliss Is Not,” their misery-guaranteeing delusions - which are a product of their totally distorted thinking - include such childish and naïve beliefs as:
A. “Even as the relative manifestation continues I want to be fixed in an unwavering state of bliss, and I have been promised that can happen; in fact, I deserve unwavering happiness";
or
B. “The only thing I want for my children is for them to just be happy”;
or
C. “I want to reach a point where I have enough money that I can avoid the effects of relative challenges that are always coming my way.”
17. Such mindful / mind-full nonsense would also suggest that one who likes ice cream can – and should – be able to eat it uninterruptedly, 24 / 7; that a sex addict can – and should – be able to experience the ecstasy of orgasms uninterruptedly, 24 / 7; or that “the Realized one” should be able to be totally free of anything and everything involving the AM-ness.
18. What age-level would be most likely to have such naïve desires or expectations as those in “A” through “C” above? Somewhere around five or six? Exactly, because those concepts are rooted in the agenda of certain personalities, because all desires are personality-driven, and because one’s primary personality type is usually set in stone by the age of six or shortly after. No matter the age of any plant food body - be it 40 or 50 or 60 - if personality is driving thoughts and words and actions, then the thoughts and words and actions will be those that are typical of an immature child.
19. To witness objectively and impartially whatever comes is not to love everything that comes; nor is it to hate whatever comes; nor is necessary to “Love what is”; nor is it necessary to "accept whatever is"; and neither is it necessary to spin the facts or truth about reality by using the favorite dualistic distortion which Personality Type Threes and Type Ones and Type Sevens use habitually to detach and to deny the way they that are really feeling inside, namely, the statement that “It’s all good.”
20. As long as mindfulness / mind-full-ness is present, so too shall be distortions, delusions, misrepresentations, belief in things false, and all of the misery that those bring.
To be continued.
Please enter the silence of contemplation.
SECTION THREE:
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. BY USING EBOOKS available at
Floyd Henderson's Website
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 Kindle reader.
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")
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)
SECTION FOUR:
THREE FREE eBOOKS
(Compliments of Andy Gugar, Jr.)
THREE FREE eBOOKS
(Compliments of Andy Gugar, Jr.)
The following three eBooks are available without charge 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.
In “PART ONE” it will be seen that most persons on the planet are not seeking, and most will never seek, but for those who are seeking, most will face several obstacles:
Often, many do not really know WHY they are seeking. Too, many who are asked WHAT they are seeking often offer no clear-cut answer beyond the standard talk about "Realization" or "Enlightenment." For those who have come this way and have a clear notions about why they are seeking and what they are seeking, many have not yet found anyone that has shown them exactly HOW to go about the process. The content in "Part One" offers some considerations about all three.
In “Part Two” of this book, it will be seen why many criticized Maharaj for “changing his message in his later talks.” It will be seen that the changes were not about changing the message per se as much as about changing his methodology as he experimented with one version of the Ultimate Medicine after another in order to try to find an effective means for addressing the Ultimate Sickness.
Maharaj’s loft was actually more of a laboratory in a loft in Bombay (now “Mumbai”) because he undertook in that loft many experiments in his efforts to find an effective form of the Ultimate Medicine that could treat the Ultimate Sickness effectively and successfully. In fact, he would eventually have three laboratories:
He first ran . . .
** a “Religion Laboratory,” then later
** a “Spirituality Laboratory” and eventually
** a “Psychology Laboratory.”
All three will be discussed in detail in "Part Two."
[Sorry - for security reasons, no "clickable" link is provided. You'll need to type the address in to your emailed request manually. Also, the initial response to free eBook offerings is usually significant so it takes some time to process the requests. A new series will begin after those initial responses are taken care of. THX.]
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.
IV.
In “PART ONE” it will be seen that most persons on the planet are not seeking, and most will never seek, but for those who are seeking, most will face several obstacles:
Often, many do not really know WHY they are seeking. Too, many who are asked WHAT they are seeking often offer no clear-cut answer beyond the standard talk about "Realization" or "Enlightenment." For those who have come this way and have a clear notions about why they are seeking and what they are seeking, many have not yet found anyone that has shown them exactly HOW to go about the process. The content in "Part One" offers some considerations about all three.
In “Part Two” of this book, it will be seen why many criticized Maharaj for “changing his message in his later talks.” It will be seen that the changes were not about changing the message per se as much as about changing his methodology as he experimented with one version of the Ultimate Medicine after another in order to try to find an effective means for addressing the Ultimate Sickness.
Maharaj’s loft was actually more of a laboratory in a loft in Bombay (now “Mumbai”) because he undertook in that loft many experiments in his efforts to find an effective form of the Ultimate Medicine that could treat the Ultimate Sickness effectively and successfully. In fact, he would eventually have three laboratories:
He first ran . . .
** a “Religion Laboratory,” then later
** a “Spirituality Laboratory” and eventually
** a “Psychology Laboratory.”
All three will be discussed in detail in "Part Two."
To receive free copies, or to have us send free copies to your friends or
relatives, send the request (or their email addresses) to the following name:
nondualfloyd
@gmail.com
[Sorry - for security reasons, no "clickable" link is provided. You'll need to type the address in to your emailed request manually. Also, the initial response to free eBook offerings is usually significant so it takes some time to process the requests. A new series will begin after those initial responses are taken care of. THX.]
SECTION FIVE:
COMPARE YOUR "JOURNEY" AND SEE IF YOU'VE UNDERGONE ANY EVENTS THAT PARALLEL THOSE OF MAHARAJ AND FLOYD
COMPARE YOUR "JOURNEY" AND SEE IF YOU'VE UNDERGONE ANY EVENTS THAT PARALLEL THOSE OF MAHARAJ AND FLOYD
The "experiences" of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Floyd share many parallel. Many visitors have said that they have also shared some of the same parallels. Can you relate to any of these?
1. Both grew up in very poor families
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 initially tried to address the Ultimate Sickness with religious teachings but realized that did not work, so both tried to address the Ultimate Sickness with spirituality, only to see eventually that "being spiritual" did not cure the Ultimate Sickness either
8. both then realized that the main problems of humanity center in the mind so both turned to the sharing of psychology and scientific-and-fact-based pointers to free persons of the effects of programming, conditioning, acculturation, domestication, brainwashing and indoctrination
9. both had highly religious wives who were quite displeased with the shift away from religion
10. both had grown 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 initially tried to address the Ultimate Sickness with religious teachings but realized that did not work, so both tried to address the Ultimate Sickness with spirituality, only to see eventually that "being spiritual" did not cure the Ultimate Sickness either
8. both then realized that the main problems of humanity center in the mind so both turned to the sharing of psychology and scientific-and-fact-based pointers to free persons of the effects of programming, conditioning, acculturation, domestication, brainwashing and indoctrination
9. both had highly religious wives who were quite displeased with the shift away from religion
10. both had grown 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 (and no longer having a husband who brought in huge sums of money)
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 offered satsang
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 (and no longer having a husband who brought in huge sums of money)
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 offered satsang
21. both saw that most who hear the teachings are still not going to understand
22. both, therefore, offered pointers without expectation, without attachment to outcome, and without any concern about the way that persons react to hearing Truth
23. both suggested that seekers focus on the exact, step-wise "path
22. both, therefore, offered pointers without expectation, without attachment to outcome, and without any concern about the way that persons react to hearing Truth
23. both suggested that seekers focus on the exact, step-wise "path
24. both made the decision that whatever amount of the relative existence remains shall be spent in sharing the teachings in the way that has been seen to be the most effective method: not suggesting that there are not enough religious persons; not suggesting that the Ultimate Sickness is caused by being "spiritually-unfit"; but by seeing that the problem centers in the mind (which must come to an end, which it will the moment all beliefs are abandoned)
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.
SECTION SIX:
FOR THOSE WHO PREFER A BOOK IN HAND TO READING eBOOKS, 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)
