TODAY'S CONSIDERATIONS
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Now, back to the discussion which at this point in the series is focusing on "The Most Influential Obstacles Of All" which have come via dreamed up myths and superstitions and via "religious" and / or "spiritual" sources, including religious and / or spiritual thoughts, ideas, concepts, notions, views, theories, inklings, perceptions, a.k.a., "beliefs."
The focus is also on this pointer:
Of those who seek, many seek in bars, on dating sites, in brothels, in malls and clothing stores, in restaurants, in self-help groups (as if that is really a thing), in want ads, in pharmacies, from their drug dealers, etc., etc., etc. as well as in any other places where their addictive personality disorders drive them to seek.
Yet with 97% of the planet's population claiming a "religious affiliation" and with others claiming the supposedly-higher status of "being spiritual, not religious," billions seek in religious and / or spiritual venues. Of those billions, few understand that realization can come without dogma, without continuous spiritual practices, and without an exclusive preoccupation with "the nature of reality and things noumenal."
Why is that significant? Recall the man who approached me after a talk and said, "I was abused as a child by a priest. I've done years of work to try to get beyond that, but where I am today is, I still cringe when people start talking religion to me. So my question is, have you found a way to guide people to realization and freedom without their having to buy into the dogma you talk about?"
That question made clear that I had not even reached the "kindergarten level of spirituality" which Maharaj condemned, much less the understandings beyond that which awaited. It was that question which would send me along a "different route" and would eventually lead me to the entirely different version of the Ultimate Medicine which is offered now which allows for realizing without being fanatical about dogma and without engaging incessantly in spiritual practices and without a never-ending preoccupation with things noumenal rather than relaxing and taking it easy and then abiding naturally and then dancing lightly throughout the remainder of the manifestation.
THE RATIONALE FOR CONCLUDING THAT "IT'S TIME TO TRY 'A DIFFERENT ROUTE' WHEN SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF HUMANITY BECAUSE THE ACTUAL RESULTS OF FOLLOWING THE MOST POPULAR ROUTE FOR 5000+ YEARS HAVE PROVED INEFFECTIVE," Continued
A week does not pass (and sometimes a day does not pass) without hearing from another person who writes to say that her or his life has "gone to hell" and who reports that the method or plan or approach or set of steps or path they've tried for ten years, fifteen years, recently eighteen years, twenty year, and even twenty-years "is not working" or "has not worked . . . yet."
What they have in common are several beliefs which will guarantee that they shall continue to suffer:
1. They have been convinced by the persons offering the method or plan or approach or steps or path which has failed is not actually a failure of the plan but is their fault because of their own half-hearted approach;
or,
2. with little urging from persons offering the plan, the sufferers have concluded that the plan failed because of their half-hearted approach, taking 100% responsibility for plans that do not work (with clear evidence of that fact right before their very eyes though not yet seen).
Either way, they are asking for me to guide them or to recommend a guide for them who will work with them by using - once again - one of the ineffective methods or plans or approaches or set of steps or paths which have a track record of ineffectiveness which they would see were they able to see clearly. So what else do they have in common?
3. an inability or unwillingness to "think outside the box" and to seek a totally different approach.
Most are ensnared in a conviction that either religion or spirituality of some kind must be at the heart of their seeking; thus,
a. they'll leave one church to find another church of the same denomination; or
b. they'll leave one denomination to join up with a different denomination.
(For example, one man told me that he left the Baptist church which he was a member of and joined a Methodist church, thinking that might "work." I dismissed his plan, explaining that "a Methodist is just a Baptist who can read. Beyond that, the same nonsense is going to be offered in both venues.")
Some who have tried a twelve step approach will
c. join a different group, and a different group, and a different group; or
d. will seek out "a better sponsor who will teach me the steps in the right way."
Some will attach to someone whom Maharaj warned seekers to stay away from, namely, "The Big Name Teachers," buying all five of one authors books at $28.99 each or attending a workshop for $5000.00 or attending the longer, full workshop at $10,000.00 a pop.
A few of those have come here over the years not for more programming and not for a different program but for de-programming. Others simply move on the next "Big Name Teacher," and the next and the next and the next.
Some are attached to their "Super Seeker" identity, and subconsciously, they are set up to never find. Why?
Because if they find that which should have been sought all along (namely, freedom from learned ignorance and insanity) then their false identity of "The Super Seeker" would have to end. Why is that not an option they'll even consider?
Because if they have a spouse and / or children, they might have to stay home and address the issues which have left them unable to be available, to interact in a psychologically-healthy manner, to engage, to give rather than just take, to love and to Love, and either
to nurture wholesome "relationships" for a change
or
to enter into a state where they are perfectly comfortable in the solitude (as opposed to isolating and avoiding and escaping).
The invitation is to consider an option or other options which are "outside any and all of the boxes" where you've been before.
Recently, when on an out of town trip, I found myself in need of some new tires. I asked for some recommendations from people living in that town and I also searched the web for reviews and ratings and then visited the store which seemed to have the best reputation.
The manager came out, looked at my tires, and said, "No problem. We have those in stock and I can have them on your car and you'll be out of here in less than an hour."
How insane would it be if he were to have said,
"We've not really had much luck getting those tires and, truth be told, they don't have a very good history anyway. Very few who have them are happy with what they've got"
but I replied,
"Well, a lot of people are still buying those and even though you don't know if you can ever provide me with what I'm seeking, I'm just going to sit here in your lobby and wait and see what happens."
Or, what if I left and returned every day for a week, a month, a year, and repeated that for many years, even though I was not getting what I needed while I waited there.
Or what if I was convinced that the place I was going to really did have what I needed and it was just a matter of time before they would finally provide that so I stayed there and returned there over and over and over?
You would have no doubt if you witnessed that behavior, that something was really and truly screwed up in my head, yes?
So?????
To be continued.
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