Showing posts with label egotism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label egotism. Show all posts

Thursday, October 25, 2007

SHIFTS IN CONSCIOUSNESS, SHIFTS IN DEEDS, Part Six

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FROM A SITE VISITOR: Do you think that the realized should be able to tolerate any kind of environment or any kind of people? It sounds like you are saying that. I’ve been reading your writings for several months and lately, there are people I spent a lot of time with before but now I’m not spending time with them at all. I’m not realized, but even if I were, I feel certain that there are some people I just wouldn’t want to be around. Art

F.: The non-Realized often “stay” around persons because of desires and fears or perceived needs (such as, “I need a very high lifestyle but I am not willing to work for it and pay for it myself”) or an egotistical sense of entitlement (e.g., “I am so special that I deserve to be taken care of by someone else”).

Driven by their hidden agendas, persons generate ego-states with attachments, which are always accompanied by co-dependency. Why? “Husband” cannot exist without “Wife,” and vice versa; “Employee” cannot exist without “Employer,” and vice versa; “Taker” cannot exist without “Giver,” and vice versa; "The Rescued" cannot exist without "The Rescuer," and vice versa.

After the assumption of false identities with agendas, attachments, and co-dependencies, the non-Realized tolerate misery in order for their perceived needs and desires to be met or in order for their fears to be allayed. All the while, their level of denial allows them to convince themselves that they are happy or “comfortable” in spite of not being free. That is, of course, impossible.

The non-Realized do not gravitate toward peace, silence, and reality. Many among the non-Realized seek out those that they can use (speaking, of course, in the most basic, relative sense). Their misery is then generated when the ones they use assume a sense of “ownership” in the absence of the users’ lack of “earnership.” If you take “their” money and earn none of your own, that might seem “comfortable” for a time (as Case “A” claims) but the observable misery that manifests long-term provides evidence to the contrary.

Thus, the non-Realized do not move toward peace and quiet and agenda-less, attachment-free living. They seek out ways and means by which they can sustain their ego-states and that actually reinforce their dependencies and co-dependencies. The result is mental and emotional imprisonment, as illustrated in case study “C.”

Today’s post studies a man who has distorted his desire to gain power and his desire to have someone meet his financial and sexual needs into what he terms “love.” Because of his agendas (most of which are even hidden from him) he is “staying” even though he has been placed in the role of “The Child” and is claiming that he is “in love with” the woman playing “The Parent.”

Case “C”: Regarding the desire to gain power and to have someone meet financial and sexual needs and then labeling that “love”
Case “C” is a man who has generated a more-than-typical share of relative existence problems and consequences: heavy substance abuse; incarceration; parole; an inability to find decent housing; charming a recently-divorced woman who received a large settlement; moving into a house she owns; and now living the lie of appearing to be a “grand success” in her upscale neighborhood.

At home, he has been told to “cover up his past” among the neighbors and he deals with daily reminders that it is she who owns the house he lives in. Recently, a long-time acquaintance gave him a job, overpaying him $1000 per week out of “friendship.” He was informed by his female benefactor that all of his checks must be direct deposited into her account and that he will receive a weekly allowance (“$50 a week should cover whatever you need. In turn, you get to live in a beautiful home, with me”).

Before, he had felt economically powerless, unable to buy anything on credit and unable to find decent housing. Now, he is able to ride the coattail of her financial “power” as long as they stay together. His sexual “needs” and lifestyle desires are being met, but at the cost of his harmony (and his entire paycheck).

Claiming he is “more than comfortable” and is actually “joyous” and “in love,” he is nevertheless prone to fits and outbursts and raging as a result of the tension of having to hide his past, as a result of playing phony roles in the neighborhood, and as a result of assuming “The Child” ego-state to her “Parent” role. With his current income, he could now live well on his own, but he could not live in a mansion in an upscale neighborhood.

The phoniness of playing “The Successful Businessman” who also appears to be “The Wealthy Homeowner” (while living like “The Child” indoors) is taking a relative toll as he lives a lie while putting on hold earlier efforts to answer, “Who am I, really”?

He slipped for just a moment and admitted that sometimes he “had felt freer a year ago when he was living alone in a tiny apartment in a low-rent area of town,” but he immediately reverted to reciting his lines from the script of the roles being played in “The Drama of the Lie”: “But I’ve found the woman of my dreams, I love her and her children, we’re in a great neighborhood and a beautiful home, so it’s all good.” Meanwhile, she has twice postponed their scheduled marriage.

He has not yet realized that dreams can easily become nightmares when phony role-playing blinds persons to the fact that whatever provides pleasure will someday provide pain. He has not realized how loosely persons toss about the word “love” in order to justify and even “sanctify” their self-centered actions that have nothing to do with love. Such are the circumstances of those persons who are attached to the illusions of the phenomenal and who haven’t the slightest clue about the reality of the Noumenon.

Is it any wonder that Maharaj said,
“The world is nothing but the picture of your own ‘I’ consciousness”
and
“All is dishonesty”

and
“There is no truth in this fraud”
and
“Only that false ‘I’ is attached. Everything is just happening, and the false ‘I’ is taking the credit for doing things.”
Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

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    Saturday, October 20, 2007

    SHIFTS IN CONSCIOUSNESS, SHIFTS IN DEEDS, Part One

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    FROM A SITE VISITOR: Do you think that the realized should be able to tolerate any kind of environment or any kind of people? It sounds like you are saying that. I’ve been reading your writings for several months and lately, there are people I spent a lot of time with before but now I’m not spending time with them at all. I’m not realized, but even if I were, I feel certain that there are some people I just wouldn’t want to be around. Art

    F.: Hello, Art. What you describe is typical when the consciousness re-purification process begins to happen. Since non-Realized persons function along a thought-word-deed continuum, it seems logical that when the content of the programmed and conditioned “mind” is allowed to fade away, then all those thoughts that it had generated will fade away. Then, the use of words will be diminished. Thus, deeds / actions cannot remain the same.

    Few would question whether or not my teacher was Realized, yet he threw out many people who entered the loft where he offered satsanga (especially those showing up in garb that indicated they had added new personas while thinking they were free of all personas). He also sent packing those who only showed up to show off; thus, even Realized, there were "certain people that he didn't want to be around," but that was based in the fact that they were not ready or were not truly seeking.

    Those types are sent on their way on this site as well, inspiring some to think that “floyd is all about tough love” or “floyd doesn’t even know what love is.” Those who prefer emotionally-intoxicated teachers and an emotionally-charged “life” can find both, and often do.

    The fact is that the readiness is all, and a Realized teacher will determine before offering a pointer to any given seeker (a) which step the seeker is on or (b) whether or not the seeker is even ready to begin a “journey.” To begin the “journey” before the readiness has manifested can set the seeker back for years or can prevent Realization from happening at all.

    That having been said, understand that among the Realized, there is no question of “tolerating” or not; however, there is an aspect to the movement along the “path” to Realization which can physically remove the body from the “company of others.” That stage has been called “the forest dweller stage” by some teachers in India or among the indigenous peoples of the “Americas.” (Maharaj tried that for a time until he was informed that he need not isolate in the wilderness but should return to Bombay, should teach, and should live naturally.)

    That stage happened with this speck for a 25-month period, and it happens with many specks, yet it is certainly not a requirement. Another element of the “journey” and its outcomes is that the Realized automatically gravitate toward the silence, and even if employment continues in workplaces, there are often quiet locations that can be found. If not, one can be quiet wherever one is and not contribute to the noise. That will never be the case among those trapped in ego-states and egotism. Why?

    Because the ego is infatuated with noise. Examples include the look-at-me driver of the car who forces all within several blocks to listen to his music; the non-Realized who gather regularly in buildings with loud organ music and loud choirs and who sing loudly and recite and chant words in unison; or those who attend meetings where their self-absorption can be massaged by having a captive audience to listen to their thought-generated, egotism-inspired words.

    As for the Realized “being able to tolerate,” or not, notice that the movement only appears to be away from the noisy, the egotistical and the arrogant. The modified deeds/actions are not as much about intolerance or moving away from anything. The movement in actually toward something, namely a movement toward the silence, toward environs that are ego-state free, and toward places that are egotism-free because of the absence of persons who are assuming ego-states and using arrogance as an ego-defense mechanism.

    Are your current deeds inspired by your own arrogance, judging others and deciding they aren’t worthy of your company? Or is the movement you reference simply happening spontaneously as You move toward the silence…toward an ego-less environment…toward humility? See the difference? Please enter into the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
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    YES, WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY. New rates by the USPS went into effect in May 2007. You may visit http://ircalc.usps.gov/ to calculate rates and view options. (Select your country, then in the “weight” box, estimate 1 pound per each book ordered.) Add $5 to cover package preparation, the assistant's trip to and from the PO, and the time for completion of international shipping forms.

    Tuesday, May 08, 2007

    THE “ADVAITA ADVANTAGE”: For Those Who Are Convinced That They Will Never Realize Fully

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    FROM A SITE VISITOR: I can’t get it. I’ve tried and tried, and I can’t get it. I’ve wasted years in my study of AV, for all I’ve got to show. Anonymous

    F.: Dear Anonymous,

    First, it sounds as if you have read some of the advanced Teachings without having mastered the basics. That will always prove to be discouraging and even frustrating. (A solution will be offered at the end of the post should you decide not to abandon your seeking.)

    Meanwhile, thanks for writing since your e-mail will cause a sharing on the site of some pointers that have only been offered before in a few one-on-one sessions with some seekers who felt just as frustrated as you. This posting is only for those who have truly sought, who “haven’t got it, yet” and who believe that they likely never will:

    To the Fully Realized, it becomes clear on a certain level that You Have Always Been That Which you sought. It becomes clear on another level that there is no “one” to gain and no “one” to lose. At another level, Consciousness/Awareness, The Absolute, the beingness, the non-beingness, and the functioning of the totality are understood completely. Yet you are not at any of those points on the “path.”

    Too, only 5% at best are ever likely to Realize Fully. That does not mean, however, that your study of Advaita Vedanta has all been a “waste.” Such need not be the case, relatively speaking. Can the terms “Applied Advaita” or “Advaita Advantage” have any applicability in the relative? The answer is resoundingly, “Yes.” How can that be, if there is no “experiencer” and no “applier” and no “do-er” and no “one” to “gain” any advantage?

    Here is how: if you never realize Who or What You Truly Are, the freedom and joy and happiness that most persons seek can manifest to some degree if you at least find out WHO you are not. And if you find out WHO you are not, some freedom will come to you and then to all others persons who have to deal with you in the relative existence. They too will experience some additional degree of joy and happiness as well.

    Why? Because all suffering in the relative existence is generated by persons who do not know WHO they are not. To not know that you are not the roles you play will assure that you will take those roles as identities, will guarantee that you will dedicate yourself to sustaining your ego-states, will guarantee that ego-defense mechanisms will become your tools of trade, and will assure that egotism (and the separation it causes) will mark every phase of your relative existence. Look at the widespread effects of ego in the history of the planet as well as now:

    EGO HAS HAD A GLOBAL IMPACT
    For example, if one believes that he/she really is the role being played of “God’s Agent” (a.k.a. “Super Agent of God”), then the following types of beliefs will follow:

    “We have the right to conduct an inquisition and torture and kill the unfaithful,” or
    “We good Lutherans have the right to kill 12,000,000 of the bad Jews and homosexuals and handicapped people,” or
    “We are better than you so we have the right to take this land from you and to form a Christian nation and to kill 150,000,000 of you non-Christians in the process,” or
    “We good Muslims have the right to kill you bad Christians because you’re infidels,” or
    “I talked to God and he told me to bomb them,” or
    “We were guided by God to fly airplanes into your buildings.”

    EGO HAS HAD A NATIONAL IMPACT
    In such cases where leaders have national influence, people can form a nation and say that “All are created equal…except women and blacks,” and
    Some can say, “Ownership of another person is OK” while others can claim “It is not,” and then a civil war can erupt, and
    Some can believe that their nation on the African continent has the right to kill those living in adjacent nations, and
    Some can claim that they have the right to kill others in their nation who belong to a different religious sect from theirs.

    EGO HAS HAD A LOCAL IMPACT
    If one believes that he/she is “Spouse” (a.k.a. “Super Spouse”) or “Boss” (a.k.a. “Super Boss”) or “The Authority” (a.k.a. “Super Authority”), then words such as “How dare you speak to me that way! I must be shown respect!” will be spoken; then, conflict and suffering will follow adoption of those ego-states which will conclude that “She/he is not good enough for me” or “I am entitled to be honored and cared for.”

    Again, all suffering in the relative existence is generated by persons who do not know WHO they are not. If students of the Advaita philosophy never understand anything other than what they are not, then they could abandon the ego-states that they think define who they are. And if persons were to abandon the ego-states that they think define who they are, then the use of ego-defense mechanisms would end. And if egotism were to end, so would most of the international, national, and “relational” problems that mar the relative existence. If persons were to fully complete only the first three of the seven steps to Realization, they would be free of fears about their bodies and free of body desires that drive so much insane-like behavior on the planet.

    They would be free of the insane-like thoughts and behaviors that are generated from the influence of their “minds,” which are nothing more than the repository of outlandish lies and warped beliefs and dreamed up concepts and insane ideas; they would be free of being driven by illusory identities and personality disorders; and they would forfeit the last two personas to be forfeited on the "journey," namely, “The Super Religious One” and/or “The Spiritual Giant.”

    The ego is always about separation. The ego always imagines a hierarchy or pecking order with itself at the top. The ego can never be satisfied. The ego will always generate imagined divisions and imagined insults and imagined slights and imagined causes for attack or retaliation. Ego is always about going and doing and zooming and making noise, so ego and peace can never coincide.

    So, Anonymous, you are invited to revisit the Advaita Teachings and determine if you might be able to at least transcend body-mind-personality identification, even if you never move any farther along the “path.” That much freedom from ego-states and ego can only have a positive impact on you and on persons having to deal with you, relatively speaking. It was mentioned earlier that you might have read some of the advanced Teachings without having mastered the basics. If you realize that you need one-on-one instruction with a teacher to lay that foundation, you might consider at least doing “Level One” of the course offerings (at www.advaitaclasses.blogspot.com). If you lay that foundation which you have missed so far, then you might find at some point that Full Realization is attainable as well. Please enter the silence of contemplation.

    Wednesday, April 25, 2007

    THE RELATIVE NATURE OF “GOOD” AND “BAD”: What Makes you Think you Know?

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    Tom and Jim met in a nearby mall:

    Tom: Hey Jim. Long time no see.
    Jim: It's been a while, hasn't it?
    Tom: Fall of 2002, I think, at the state championship game when Jim Junior played. Did he go on to play college ball?
    Jim: Yeah. He got a full scholarship to the University of Texas.
    Tom: Well that’s good.
    Jim: No, that was bad because the pressure was too much for him…football…studies…9-11 trauma and the aftermath…and then he broke a leg in a game.
    Tom: Awww, that’s too bad.
    Jim: Actually, he thought it was good. The time required to heal gave him time to think about what he wanted to do with his life.
    Tom: Well then, that was a good thing.
    Jim: Well, we thought it was bad. He decided he wanted to join the military and fight for his country. He said that was his calling and wanted to make a career of the army. The leg healed perfectly and they took him.
    Tom: Well, that’s a good thing…at least he found a direction for his life, and he followed his heart.
    Jim: Well, my wife and I think it was a bad thing...they sent him home a month ago.
    Tom: Well, that sounds like a good thing to me.
    Jim: Not really. He was in a flag-draped coffin.
    Tom: Oh my gosh, Jim! That’s horrible!

    Persons are trapped in ignorance because of their dualistic perspectives and because of their supposed "need" to classify everything as "positive or negative," as "good or bad," as "black or white" with no possible chance of any gray areas existing at all. Religious persons have been heard for nearly fifty-five years, explaining exactly what will get me a reward and exactly what will get me punishment, though their criteria vary by denomination or sect; judgmental persons have been heard as they share what they are sure is moral and what they are sure is immoral; politicians have informed the nation that “this country” or “that country” was evil, only to start a war, end a war, and then become their trading partners and allies decades later; spiritual persons have assumed me over the last several decades that they could teach me some spiritual disciplines that—if practiced on a daily basis—will guarantee a good life.
    Persons talk about “good weather” and complain about “bad weather”; about getting a “good job” but later about leaving that “bad job”; about finding “a good man” or “a good woman," only to leave after finding they had “married some kind of wicked devil”; about finding "a great lover" who would later be re-labeled as "a sex maniac" instead; about a man with "a good work ethic" who would later be re-classified as "a workaholic"; about a "really cool woman" who would later be labeled as "an emotionally-unavailable witch."

    In an existence in which everything is relative, in which change is the only constant, and in which there are no absolutes, what (other than colossal egotism, self-satisfied arrogance, and total blindness) would make persons think they know—for a fact—exactly what is “good” and exactly what is “bad”? Please enter the silence of contemplation.

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