WHO / WHAT IS THE "I" IN "I AM"? Part Two

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, abiding naturally, the Oneness, the Nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

Here, there is nothing that is believed, so there is no one here who wants you to believe anything, either. Here, the invitation is to be free of all that you have been programmed, conditioned, acculturated, and domesticated to believe so that you can be free, period.

(Please note: The Annual Fall / Winter Season Book Sale is now under way. Most Non-Duality eBooks at floydhenderson.com are on sale at 30-50% off regular price.)

FROM A SITE VISITOR: The challenge for those of us who are trying to follow your instruction to never use the pronoun I to refer to anything other than the consciousness is a 40 yr history of using I to refer to the body and to the roles we've played. How to break the pattern?

F.: The way "out" - that is, out of the dream, out of the nightmare of the pain and / or the misery and suffering that results when persons do not know Who / What the "I" in "I AM" refers to - requires an understanding of this fact: that which is witnessed in the physical realm cannot be the Witness. (Only when Fully Realized can the Pure Witness "see" ItSelf ... come to know ItSelf ... come into a state of Self-knowledge.)

Just as someone looking at a mirage in the desert is not the mirage, someone looking into a mirror and seeing that which is reflected cannot be what is being reflected. It is an image that is being witnessed, not at all unlike the mirage in the desert that is supposedly witnessed but is not real at all.

The Realized in the example of the mirror know that what is being reflected in the mirror is an image and nothing more; the non-Realized do not understand that. With the non-Realized, it is as if they are in a museum, looking at a painting of flowers in a vase and believing that the vase and the flowers are real and are actually there, are truly in their presence.

The Realized would never mistake the image in the mirror for the Real, but the non-Realized always do; and the Realized know that the "I" is the witness while the non-Realized believe that the "I" is that which is seen in the mirror.

To know that the image is merely a play in light can be understood if the image being reflected in the mirror is appearing by virtue of the fact that a light is on in what would otherwise be the pitch-black darkness of a room. Turn off the light and the image disappears. What remains? The witness, even if nothing is being witnessed at the moment.

The witness that is witnessing a mirage in the desert is still the witness even after the angle of the sun changes and the mirage "disappears." In fact, the mirage was never there and was never anything more than a play in light.

If one depends on mirages for pleasure, then at some point the mirage will be exposed as an illusion and the pleasure will end and the pain or misery will begin. So it is with all persons who have taken illusions to be real (or so it shall be eventually for all who are presently taking an illusion as the real).

If it is understood that

(1) the "I" in "I AM" is the witness and not the witnessed

and if it is understood that

(2) whatever the non-Realized think they are witnessing is not at all what it seems (or what "he" seems or what "she" seems or what "they" seem)

then,

the setup for entrapment in the ever-fluctuating pleasure-pain duality can end.

How many persons around the globe at this very instant are experiencing unbelievable misery and suffering over "the loss of a loved one," pining away over what they think they "had" but no longer "have"?

Realize that their bereavement is seldom actually about "losing some person"; it is about losing all of the personas - all of the false self-identifications - that were being sustained when someone who had earlier been present (and who had for a time been willing to play the necessary co-dependent counterpart that is required to support one's false roles) decided to stop playing.

Understand: that which persons think they "had" in the past or "have" in the present is always an illusion, but it will not be seen as such if persons do not know that the "I" in "I AM" only refers to the Self and never to any other identity. The Pure Witness can only witness; it cannot "have" anything.

In the absence of that understanding, persons will also fail to understand that (A) what they think they had, they did not have at all; they will also fail to understand that (B) nothing has been lost because nothing from nothing is always ... nothing. This is the Reality: the mirage will always eventually go away; the witness will remain, for a time. And what of mourning "the loss of a mirage"?

Maharaj said: "Between the remembered and the actual there is a basic difference which can be observed from moment to moment. At no point of time is the actual the remembered. By no effort of will or imagination can you interchange the two."

Thus, the comments that announce the pending end of many "relationships": "I thought I knew you, but I don't really know you at all - you are not the person I thought you were!" or "You have robbed me of my identity with your actions - I don't even know who I am anymore!"

Maharaj: "Wherever you go, the sense of here and now you carry with you all the time. It means that you are independent of space and time, that space and time are in You, not You in them. It is your self-identification with the body, which, of course, is limited in space and time, that gives you the feeling of finiteness. In reality You are infinite and eternal."

Then, Maharaj was asked a question that is tantamount to the question asked by the site visitor quoted above:

Questioner: [To Maharaj]: "This infinite and eternal Self of mine, how am I to know it?"

Maharaj: "The Self you want to know, is it some second self? Are you made of several selves? Surely, there is only one Self and You are that Self."

And the "I" in "I AM" refers to that one and only Self, to the Pure Witness, to the presently but temporarily manifested pure consciousness that can see Reality and Truth when not blocked by the content of a mind filled with ideas and concepts and beliefs.

Maharaj continued: "The Self you are is the only Self there is."

In the case of the mirage in the desert that was referenced above, there actually was no reality to it at all. It was an illusion. Such is the case with all false selves: they never really existed in the first place, so "the Self you are is the only Self there is."

Maharaj advised: "Remove and abandon your wrong ideas about Your Self and there it is, in all its glory. It is only your mind that prevents Self-knowledge."

Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

[PLEASE NOTE: If you are receiving this post via an RSS feed, it is recommended that you view the actual article because the content is often modified or added to after the initial posting.]

Much of what Louise has shared has resonated with many site visitors. to that end, some have inquired recently if Louise offers the online Advaita Internet Course. The answer is, "Yes."
Whether taking the course with Louise or Floyd, the price of the course includes all 11 of the Advaita eBooks, questions sent after completion of the assigned readings, replies to your answers, and follow-up as required.
With either teacher, you will be guided through all seven of the steps, in order, that lead from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond). For more specific information and details about the course, you may click on the link to the right.
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Louise

by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:

Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Floyd

by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:

Now you can receive for $40 a downloadable computer file version of the same 7-hour satsang that seekers receive when they visit for the Advaita Retreat with Floyd. You will be guided through the seven steps from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond).
For more information or to order, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat

SIX WAYS THAT SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED:

1. BY WATCHING the 4-Disk Video (DVD) Set, or the same retreat available as a downloadable file. Either will provide an entire seven-hour retreat / series of satsang sessions showing three seekers being guided through all seven steps by Floyd and can provide viewers with an “experiential,” step-by-step series of satsang meetings that will move the viewers from identification with the I to abidance as the Absolute and then to abidance as That Which Is beyond
Some seekers are already using the computer file version and the DVD sets for meetings in groups in homes, playing the retreat, pausing for discussion, etc.
To find out more or to purchase the DVD set or the downloadable computer file version of the retreat, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
Option “A” is for the downloadable file version, Option “B” is used to order the DVD set for delivery inside the U.S., Option “C” for international orders.
For the download, Paypal will send me a notice that payment has been received and then I will send by e-mail the downloading instruction, password, etc.
[It is recommended that you watch the video with pen and paper in hand. Write whatever you need clarified. You'll see that there are constant reviews and you might find an answer later in the seven-hour presentation. Then, after you watch it all, there will be a common ground for discussion. Purchase of the DVD’s or the file will include the right to clarifications and answers to your specific questions via e-mail.]

2. BY READING these books in this exact order:
IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)
SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)
[Those two prepare the seeker to question it all]
THE MEDITATION GUIDES
[Provide a broad overview of the understanding]
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?
[Begins to free the seeker of body identification and the desire for body continuity]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace if You're Out of Your Mind)
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of the false content of the “mind”]
LIBERATION
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of personas]
THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS
[Provides the final preparation for the seeker to be directed along the “path”]
FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
[Directs the seeker along the “path”]
CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS: The Nature of Reality Beyond Self-Realization (Peace Every Day When Abiding as The Absolute)
[Allows the seeker to understand the functioning of the totality, the manifestation, and what is involved with the un-manifestation]
FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS
[Provides the seeker the wisdom to understand the Noneness as well as the Oneness]
Purchase an e-Book now and begin reading it in minutes (except with e-checks that can take 7-10 days). Trusting our clients as we do, all e-Books are provided to you in printable form.
SAVE IF YOU BUY ALL ELEVEN AT ONCE:
(You may order the books one at a time or you may use the following link to acquire the entire 11-e-Book set on sale for $99 if ordered at one time with the “Buy Now” button below. For this option, there will be no download links provided; once the near-instant notice of payment is received from PayPal, your e-Books will be sent to you as e-mail attachments. All are printable for your convenience.

NOTE: When you order this package, you receive three additional ebooks free: CASTING LIGHT ON THE DARK SIDE OF RELATIONSHIPS, FINDING REAL LOVE IN AN UNREAL WORLD and THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS (offering the Advaita teachings in a fictional novel format)

You may visit The Official Website of Floyd Henderson for information on each book.

3. BY ENROLLING in the Online Advaita Classes

Received 19 August 2010 from one that just completed the entire course:

I would like to extend deepest appreciation towards you for these teachings that you have offered. It has been most valuable towards what may not have been revealed throughout this manifestation labeled "anthony." Understanding Truth and finding words for gratitude are one as is all. Thank you again for pointing "me" to THAT and the understanding that came as well. Hopeful for future "contact"! Sincerely, Anthony M. W.

For information, visit Information on the Advaita Classes on the Internet
To enroll visit Enroll in the Advaita Internet Course

4. BY ATTENDING an Advaitin retreat for satsang with floyd and being guided through all seven steps. For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

5. BY ARRANGING satsang by telephone in the U.S. or by Skype internationally.
Presently, Skype sessions are being conducted with parties in Australia; The Netherlands; New Jersey, U.S.A.; London, England; Italy; and India.
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session
6. BY ARRANGING for floyd to travel to your location and meet with you or your group. Use the contact link above to discuss details.

The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders offers the non-duality message by way of a mystery-adventure novel, discussing the movement from pain to healing to awakening to peace.
From Dr. R.F. Maley, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus and former Head of the Department of Psychology, University of Houston: "Floyd Henderson's book, The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders, is a fun read and an interesting mystery, but perhaps more importantly it serves as a vehicle for blending Eastern Philosophy and Native American Spirituality to make an intellectually challenging novel. The book's insights into both relationships and authoritarian conditioning of people in our society make it a must read, tracing the roots of narcissistic, sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors to the very core of the culture. This truly witty and politically-incorrect study of the aggressive nature of 'the American character' offers not only a diagnosis but also a treatment plan, making the book an excellent supplemental reading in courses such as psychology, anthropology, philosophy, sociology and counseling."

You may purchase your copy of the ebook version of THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS then start reading within minutes:

The Sequel to The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS

For a paperback or eBook version of the book, click:

The Board of Directors of Wars

[THE YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE IN LARGER FORMATS BELOW WHICH MIGHT PROVIDE MORE COMFORTABLE VIEWING FOR SOME SITE VISITORS]

[RE: The "Subscribe To" feature: In some cases, all of the month's postings might be sent the first time after subscribing; after that, you should receive only one day's posting at a time.]

YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA YOGA VIDEOS

Click on the arrow below to start Video One:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Two:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Three:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Four:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Five:



Please enter the silence of contemplation.

WHO / WHAT IS THE "I" IN "I AM"? Part One

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, abiding naturally, the Oneness, the Nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

Here, there is nothing that is believed, so there is no one here who wants you to believe anything, either. Here, the invitation is to be free of all that you have been programmed, conditioned, acculturated, and domesticated to believe so that you can be free, period.

(Please note: The Annual Fall / Winter Season Book Sale is now under way. Most Non-Duality eBooks at floydhenderson.com are on sale at 30-50% off regular price.)

FROM A SITE VISITOR: The challenge for those of us who are trying to follow your instruction to never use the pronoun I to refer to anything other than the consciousness is in my case a 40 yr history of using I to refer to the body and to the roles played. How to break the pattern?

F.: The means are many. For some, the same kind of conditioning (or repetition) that sets the pattern is used to break the pattern. When conditioning has resulted in certain behaviors - such as when your entire culture conditioned you to take the body-mind-personality triad as the "I" - then the conditioning (or repetition) of suffering that is rooted in mis-identification and mis-perception might inspire behavior modification at some point.

Conditioning involves "associating a response with a previously unrelated stimulus" and "repeated use of a specific stimulus in order to create a predictable and controlled response." The Russian Pavlov first noted the way that conditioning worked when a stimulus was controlling responses among his dogs. He began his experiments that established the validity of his theories about conditioning that have been described thusly:

The original and most famous example of classical conditioning involved the salivary conditioning of Pavlov's dogs. During his research on the physiology of digestion in dogs, Pavlov noticed that, rather than simply salivating in the presence of meat powder, his dogs began to salivate in the presence of the lab technician who normally fed them.

From this observation he predicted that, if a particular stimulus in the dog's surroundings were present when the dog was presented with meat powder, then this stimulus would become associated with food and cause salivation on its own. In his initial experiment, Pavlov used a bell to call the dogs to their food and, after a few repetitions, the dogs started to salivate in response to the bell.

Note that conditioning displaces that which is nisarga - natural - with unnatural behaviors. (Among persons, conditioning can also replace that which is natural with that which is thought to be supernatural, that is, spiritual or magical or metaphysical, separating them even more from that which is natural and real).

It is among persons that conditioning results in misery and suffering for it is conditioning that leads to the ignorance of taking appearance for Reality, and such ignorance will always lead (as Maharaj noted) to calamities in the relative existence. Conditioning can lead persons to see the intolerable as tolerable, encouraging a tolerance of pain (which is physical) and / or misery (which is mental and emotional).

However, conditioning (or repetition at least) can also lead to a reversal in the unnatural tendency to see the intolerable as being tolerable by generating levels of pain and / or misery that reach such levels of suffering that persons become forced into action to end the misery that is rooted in earlier conditioning and in being unaware of Self.

Note for example the way some persons will tolerate the pain and / or misery of staying in abusive relationships when they have become conditioned to want and expect a particular lifestyle;

or note the way others stay in abusive relationships because they were conditioned to believe that when persons "take and make a vow in the presence of god," they will be subjected to eternal pain and misery if they break their vow and leave a dangerous environment;

or note the way persons will tolerate pain and / or misery in order to sustain their false identities of "The Lover," "The Spouse," "The Present Parent," "The Homeowner," "The Financially-Dependent Person," "The Co-Dependent One," ad infinitum.

Yet Maharaj noted that the perversion of humanity - of the non-Realized masses - is that they are quite willing to suffer and to be miserable and to experience pain. Why? To keep alive a chance at pleasure.

The kind of conditioning that can break the pattern that drives persons to tolerate the intolerable is actually a repetition of the experiencing of such pain and / or misery that the intolerable reaches such a level that the unnatural acceptable of pain and / or misery drives persons to follow the natural course and to move away from that which is causing pain and / or misery.

It is less about conditioning, actually, and more a matter of patterning, specifically, the repeated pattern of tolerating that which could not be tolerated if one were in touch with the Real Self instead of associated with - and attached to - all of their false identities. Insanely, being conditioned to stay sometimes requires "the condition of severe suffering" for persons to finally be inspired to go. Why such an insane requirement sometimes?

Because persons forgetting Self and subsequently being trapped in their false identities - not knowing Who / What the "I" in "I AM" is referring to - will be trapped as well in the insanity of the pleasure-pain duality that drives non-Realized persons to behave as they do. In order to sustain their false roles and in order to try to provide the pleasures that each false role seeks, attachment to those false roles will also sustain and perpetuate a tolerance of pain and / or misery.

Maharaj said: "Forgetting Your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it"

and

"True happiness cannot be found in things that change and pass away. Pleasure and pain alternate inexorably. Happiness comes from the Self and can be found in the Self only. Find Your Real Self (swarupa) and all else will come with It."

TOMORROW: The way "out," that is, out of the dream ... out of the nightmare.

Please enter the silence of contemplation.

[PLEASE NOTE: If you are receiving this post via an RSS feed, it is recommended that you view the actual article because the content is often modified or added to after the initial posting.]

Much of what Louise has shared has resonated with many site visitors. to that end, some have inquired recently if Louise offers the online Advaita Internet Course. The answer is, "Yes."
Whether taking the course with Louise or Floyd, the price of the course includes all 11 of the Advaita eBooks, questions sent after completion of the assigned readings, replies to your answers, and follow-up as required.
With either teacher, you will be guided through all seven of the steps, in order, that lead from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond). For more specific information and details about the course, you may click on the link to the right.
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Louise

by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:

Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Floyd

by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:

Now you can receive for $40 a downloadable computer file version of the same 7-hour satsang that seekers receive when they visit for the Advaita Retreat with Floyd. You will be guided through the seven steps from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond).
For more information or to order, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat

SIX WAYS THAT SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED:

1. BY WATCHING the 4-Disk Video (DVD) Set, or the same retreat available as a downloadable file. Either will provide an entire seven-hour retreat / series of satsang sessions showing three seekers being guided through all seven steps by Floyd and can provide viewers with an “experiential,” step-by-step series of satsang meetings that will move the viewers from identification with the I to abidance as the Absolute and then to abidance as That Which Is beyond
Some seekers are already using the computer file version and the DVD sets for meetings in groups in homes, playing the retreat, pausing for discussion, etc.
To find out more or to purchase the DVD set or the downloadable computer file version of the retreat, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
Option “A” is for the downloadable file version, Option “B” is used to order the DVD set for delivery inside the U.S., Option “C” for international orders.
For the download, Paypal will send me a notice that payment has been received and then I will send by e-mail the downloading instruction, password, etc.
[It is recommended that you watch the video with pen and paper in hand. Write whatever you need clarified. You'll see that there are constant reviews and you might find an answer later in the seven-hour presentation. Then, after you watch it all, there will be a common ground for discussion. Purchase of the DVD’s or the file will include the right to clarifications and answers to your specific questions via e-mail.]

2. BY READING these books in this exact order:
IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)
SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)
[Those two prepare the seeker to question it all]
THE MEDITATION GUIDES
[Provide a broad overview of the understanding]
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?
[Begins to free the seeker of body identification and the desire for body continuity]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace if You're Out of Your Mind)
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of the false content of the “mind”]
LIBERATION
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of personas]
THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS
[Provides the final preparation for the seeker to be directed along the “path”]
FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
[Directs the seeker along the “path”]
CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS: The Nature of Reality Beyond Self-Realization (Peace Every Day When Abiding as The Absolute)
[Allows the seeker to understand the functioning of the totality, the manifestation, and what is involved with the un-manifestation]
FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS
[Provides the seeker the wisdom to understand the Noneness as well as the Oneness]
Purchase an e-Book now and begin reading it in minutes (except with e-checks that can take 7-10 days). Trusting our clients as we do, all e-Books are provided to you in printable form.
SAVE IF YOU BUY ALL ELEVEN AT ONCE:
(You may order the books one at a time or you may use the following link to acquire the entire 11-e-Book set on sale for $99 if ordered at one time with the “Buy Now” button below. For this option, there will be no download links provided; once the near-instant notice of payment is received from PayPal, your e-Books will be sent to you as e-mail attachments. All are printable for your convenience.

NOTE: When you order this package, you receive three additional ebooks free: CASTING LIGHT ON THE DARK SIDE OF RELATIONSHIPS, FINDING REAL LOVE IN AN UNREAL WORLD and THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS (offering the Advaita teachings in a fictional novel format)

You may visit The Official Website of Floyd Henderson for information on each book.

3. BY ENROLLING in the Online Advaita Classes

Received 19 August 2010 from one that just completed the entire course:

I would like to extend deepest appreciation towards you for these teachings that you have offered. It has been most valuable towards what may not have been revealed throughout this manifestation labeled "anthony." Understanding Truth and finding words for gratitude are one as is all. Thank you again for pointing "me" to THAT and the understanding that came as well. Hopeful for future "contact"! Sincerely, Anthony M. W.

For information, visit Information on the Advaita Classes on the Internet
To enroll visit Enroll in the Advaita Internet Course

4. BY ATTENDING an Advaitin retreat for satsang with floyd and being guided through all seven steps. For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

5. BY ARRANGING satsang by telephone in the U.S. or by Skype internationally:
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

6. BY ARRANGING for floyd to travel to your location and meet with you or your group. Use the contact link above to discuss details.

The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders offers the non-duality message by way of a mystery-adventure novel, discussing the movement from pain to healing to awakening to peace.
From Dr. R.F. Maley, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus and former Head of the Department of Psychology, University of Houston: "Floyd Henderson's book, The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders, is a fun read and an interesting mystery, but perhaps more importantly it serves as a vehicle for blending Eastern Philosophy and Native American Spirituality to make an intellectually challenging novel. The book's insights into both relationships and authoritarian conditioning of people in our society make it a must read, tracing the roots of narcissistic, sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors to the very core of the culture. This truly witty and politically-incorrect study of the aggressive nature of 'the American character' offers not only a diagnosis but also a treatment plan, making the book an excellent supplemental reading in courses such as psychology, anthropology, philosophy, sociology and counseling."

You may purchase your copy of the ebook version of THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS then start reading within minutes:

The Sequel to The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS

For a paperback or eBook version of the book, click:

The Board of Directors of Wars

[THE YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE IN LARGER FORMATS BELOW WHICH MIGHT PROVIDE MORE COMFORTABLE VIEWING FOR SOME SITE VISITORS]

[RE: The "Subscribe To" feature: In some cases, all of the month's postings might be sent the first time after subscribing; after that, you should receive only one day's posting at a time.]

YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA YOGA VIDEOS

Click on the arrow below to start Video One:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Two:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Three:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Four:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Five:



Please enter the silence of contemplation.

What Cults Have You Joined In Your Search?

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, abiding naturally, the Oneness, the Nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

Here, there is nothing that is believed, so there is no one here who wants you to believe anything, either. Here, the invitation is to be free of all that you have been programmed, conditioned, acculturated, and domesticated to believe so that you can be free, period.

(Please note: The Annual Fall / Winter Season Book Sale is now under way. Most Non-Duality eBooks at floydhenderson.com are on sale at 30-50% off regular price.)

F.: In her most recent series, Louise offered a pointer about cult membership that generated considerable response. Many, however, reached a new level of understanding when they sat in the quiet and contemplated the pointer objectively.

Before reviewing her spot-on pointer, consider: What is a cult? Who is a cult member? Cult members have been defined as "followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices"; or "persons who show adulation or adoration for a particular leader, a particular book, or a particular set of beliefs";

or "those who follow teachings with an exaggerated zeal" (which can also include persons who are obsessively-driven Advaitin seekers); or "those who attach to charismatic leaders, speakers, or writers who do not share pointers to truth but who shape a political, religious or spiritual message that is sculpted to appeal to the masses";

or "persons who join a group that encourages or requires its new members to learn how the existing members think and talk and act and that conditions and programs the new members to think and talk and act in the same way."

Note that "cult" is an abbreviated form of the word "culture" and that "culture" refers to a group with particular beliefs about the way people should live and think and talk and behave and perceive and interpret and understand "the world around them."

All cults / cultures have a particular value system and shared pursuits that become demonstrated in a variety of events that are practiced in unison; usually, they show considerable rigidity and a sense of always being "right" while others outside the cult / culture are always believed to be "wrong"; thus, all cults / cultures are dualistic at their very core.

Many cults have specific chants or prayers, slogans that are unique to their group, and often a book or books that are believed to be unique and different (the latter being the meaning of the word "holy"):

** "This land is holy," (i.e., "different from other land")

** "This book is holy," (i.e., "different from other books")

** "Our leader / founder is holy," (i.e., "different from other people")

So in that light, Louise's pointer can be reviewed:

The cult of modern society has one function – to programme its members so that the false consensual reality is reinforced. Every person who is non-realized can be described as a cult member. Why? Each non-realized person has been subjected to systematic programming and conditioning from an early age, resulting in a fiction-filled mind that blocks understanding of the true nature of reality.

The main programming machines of the society are: the family, culture, religion, education, politics, and the media. These programming machines function together to produce persons who think, believe and act in particular, ego-based and conditioned ways. Since the cult is so huge and since virtually all persons are members, the cult is not perceived as a cult – but rather as natural and normal.

Thus, if one is a member of a society, which all except hermits are, then that person is a cult member. (Consider in light of that fact why one stage of the process to Realization in the Far East has included "the forest dweller stage." Pointers can come in groups, but Realization never comes in groups. It is a most solitary event.)

Within societies, a plethora of groups flourish that - by definition - fall into the category of being "cults":

RELIGIOUS CULTS
Religious (or religious-philosophical) cults for thousands of years have flourished, including but not limited to: Christianity, Judaism, Bábism, Bahá'í Faith, Islam, the Rastafarian movement, Mandaeans and Sabians, Samaritanism, Unitarian Universalism, Ayyavazhi, Baul, the Bhakti Movement, Buddhism, Din-i-Ilahi, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, the Persian religions, all of the ancient pagan religions, Confucianism, Shinto, Taoism, the African diasporic religions, Historical Polytheism, all of the Ancient Near Eastern religions / cults, all of the Indo-European religions / cults, the Hellenistic religions, Neopaganism, Mormonism, Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, ad infinitum.

SPIRITUAL CULTS
Spiritual Cults include Twelve Step Groups, New Age groups, Esotericism and Mysticism, Occult and Magical groups, the Left-Hand Path, and hundreds and thousands of Fraternal and Secretive Societies, including but not limited to: the Masons, Skull and Bones, The Pitt Club, Bullingdon Club, 16' Club, the Strafford Club and Shinshukyo.

GANG CULTS
The Ku Klux Klan, the Crips, the Bloods, etc.

THE "ANTI" CULTS
The members of the "anti" cults are against any freedom-guaranteeing practices, including those cults with members who are anti-women's rights; anti-abortion; anti-the right to vote; anti-a-particular-race; anti-multi-racial dating or marriage; etc.

If the list were added to each day for all of the remaining days that this speck of consciousness is manifested, the list could not begin to list all of the cults that have come and gone and all of the cults that presently remain.

Therefore, the post deals not with any effort to compile a complete list of cults. It offers only a sampling in order to invite others to take Louise's pointer into quiet and objective consideration and to honestly admit that all persons have indeed been members of one or more cults / cultures that have programmed or conditioned them to believe certain beliefs, to adopt certain ideas, and to attach to certain concepts.

Businesses take regular inventories in order to be fully aware of the state of their affairs. Persons are invited to take inventories in order to be fully aware of the state of their affairs. One such inventory would include a listing of all of the cults in which they have held membership without consciously being aware of the fact that they have been conditioned and programmed.

The inventory might lead to a recognition of the fact that, even after some persons realize that they have been programmed and need to be free of programming, they join new cults that re-program them rather than invite them to be de-programmed completely.

To what end might the inventory guide persons? To the end of discarding all concepts and ideas and beliefs, understanding that the Truth can be known but cannot be stated. To the end of rejecting every concept and idea and belief, each of which forms one of the bars that make the prison of the mind.

To that end, you might also consider the pointer from Maharaj that is relevant here and that Louise shared earlier:

Maharaj: "It is useless to search for the truth when the mind is blind to the false. It must be purged of the false completely before truth can dawn on it."

Thus, the Advaitin approach: you must find all that you are not if You would find That Which You Are; you must find all that is false before you can find the Truth; and you must see the purveyors of lies and ignorance as purveyors of lies and ignorance before being able to tap into the inner resource and then be fully in touch with Reality.

Please enter the silence of contemplation.

[PLEASE NOTE: If you are receiving this post via an RSS feed, it is recommended that you view the actual article because the content is often modified or added to after the initial posting.]

Much of what Louise has shared has resonated with many site visitors. to that end, some have inquired recently if Louise offers the online Advaita Internet Course. The answer is, "Yes."
Whether taking the course with Louise or Floyd, the price of the course includes all 11 of the Advaita eBooks, questions sent after completion of the assigned readings, replies to your answers, and follow-up as required.
With either teacher, you will be guided through all seven of the steps, in order, that lead from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond). For more specific information and details about the course, you may click on the link to the right.
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Louise

by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:

Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Floyd

by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:

Now you can receive for $40 a downloadable computer file version of the same 7-hour satsang that seekers receive when they visit for the Advaita Retreat with Floyd. You will be guided through the seven steps from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond).
For more information or to order, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat

SIX WAYS THAT SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED:

1. BY WATCHING the 4-Disk Video (DVD) Set, or the same retreat available as a downloadable file. Either will provide an entire seven-hour retreat / series of satsang sessions showing three seekers being guided through all seven steps by Floyd and can provide viewers with an “experiential,” step-by-step series of satsang meetings that will move the viewers from identification with the I to abidance as the Absolute and then to abidance as That Which Is beyond
Some seekers are already using the computer file version and the DVD sets for meetings in groups in homes, playing the retreat, pausing for discussion, etc.
To find out more or to purchase the DVD set or the downloadable computer file version of the retreat, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
Option “A” is for the downloadable file version, Option “B” is used to order the DVD set for delivery inside the U.S., Option “C” for international orders.
For the download, Paypal will send me a notice that payment has been received and then I will send by e-mail the downloading instruction, password, etc.
[It is recommended that you watch the video with pen and paper in hand. Write whatever you need clarified. You'll see that there are constant reviews and you might find an answer later in the seven-hour presentation. Then, after you watch it all, there will be a common ground for discussion. Purchase of the DVD’s or the file will include the right to clarifications and answers to your specific questions via e-mail.]

2. BY READING these books in this exact order:
IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)
SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)
[Those two prepare the seeker to question it all]
THE MEDITATION GUIDES
[Provide a broad overview of the understanding]
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?
[Begins to free the seeker of body identification and the desire for body continuity]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace if You're Out of Your Mind)
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of the false content of the “mind”]
LIBERATION
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of personas]
THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS
[Provides the final preparation for the seeker to be directed along the “path”]
FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
[Directs the seeker along the “path”]
CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS: The Nature of Reality Beyond Self-Realization (Peace Every Day When Abiding as The Absolute)
[Allows the seeker to understand the functioning of the totality, the manifestation, and what is involved with the un-manifestation]
FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS
[Provides the seeker the wisdom to understand the Noneness as well as the Oneness]
Purchase an e-Book now and begin reading it in minutes (except with e-checks that can take 7-10 days). Trusting our clients as we do, all e-Books are provided to you in printable form.
SAVE IF YOU BUY ALL ELEVEN AT ONCE:
(You may order the books one at a time or you may use the following link to acquire the entire 11-e-Book set on sale for $99 if ordered at one time with the “Buy Now” button below. For this option, there will be no download links provided; once the near-instant notice of payment is received from PayPal, your e-Books will be sent to you as e-mail attachments. All are printable for your convenience.

NOTE: When you order this package, you receive three additional ebooks free: CASTING LIGHT ON THE DARK SIDE OF RELATIONSHIPS, FINDING REAL LOVE IN AN UNREAL WORLD and THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS (offering the Advaita teachings in a fictional novel format)

You may visit The Official Website of Floyd Henderson for information on each book.

3. BY ENROLLING in the Online Advaita Classes

Received 19 August 2010 from one that just completed the entire course:

I would like to extend deepest appreciation towards you for these teachings that you have offered. It has been most valuable towards what may not have been revealed throughout this manifestation labeled "anthony." Understanding Truth and finding words for gratitude are one as is all. Thank you again for pointing "me" to THAT and the understanding that came as well. Hopeful for future "contact"! Sincerely, Anthony M. W.

For information, visit Information on the Advaita Classes on the Internet
To enroll visit Enroll in the Advaita Internet Course

4. BY ATTENDING an Advaitin retreat for satsang with floyd and being guided through all seven steps. For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

5. BY ARRANGING satsang by telephone in the U.S. or by Skype internationally:
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

6. BY ARRANGING for floyd to travel to your location and meet with you or your group. Use the contact link above to discuss details.

The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders offers the non-duality message by way of a mystery-adventure novel, discussing the movement from pain to healing to awakening to peace.
From Dr. R.F. Maley, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus and former Head of the Department of Psychology, University of Houston: "Floyd Henderson's book, The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders, is a fun read and an interesting mystery, but perhaps more importantly it serves as a vehicle for blending Eastern Philosophy and Native American Spirituality to make an intellectually challenging novel. The book's insights into both relationships and authoritarian conditioning of people in our society make it a must read, tracing the roots of narcissistic, sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors to the very core of the culture. This truly witty and politically-incorrect study of the aggressive nature of 'the American character' offers not only a diagnosis but also a treatment plan, making the book an excellent supplemental reading in courses such as psychology, anthropology, philosophy, sociology and counseling."

You may purchase your copy of the ebook version of THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS then start reading within minutes:

The Sequel to The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS

For a paperback or eBook version of the book, click:

The Board of Directors of Wars

[THE YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE IN LARGER FORMATS BELOW WHICH MIGHT PROVIDE MORE COMFORTABLE VIEWING FOR SOME SITE VISITORS]

[RE: The "Subscribe To" feature: In some cases, all of the month's postings might be sent the first time after subscribing; after that, you should receive only one day's posting at a time.]

YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA YOGA VIDEOS

Click on the arrow below to start Video One:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Two:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Three:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Four:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Five:



Please enter the silence of contemplation.

YOU'RE NOT REALLY "ALONE"

An Advaita forum focusing on Realisation, enlightenment, non-duality, Real Love, peace, freedom, Your original nature, abiding naturally, the Oneness, the Nothingness, and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

Here, there is nothing that is believed, so there is no one here who wants you to believe anything, either. Here, the invitation is to be free of all that you have been programmed, conditioned, acculturated, and domesticated to believe so that you can be free, period.

(Please note: The Annual Fall / Winter Season Book Sale is now under way. Most Non-Duality eBooks at floydhenderson.com are on sale at 30-50% off regular price.)

FROM A SITE VISITOR: So reading some of your writing, it seems you are alone much more than you are with people. How can that jive with being "at one"?

F.:Persons have asked often about the hours that are passed here in the solitude, about the lack of any need for an audience or for applause, about the total bliss that is enjoyed even if "alone."

Yet consider: "alone" or "aloneness" are offshoots (and even corruptions) of the terms "all-one" or "all-oneness." And whatever connotations that persons apply to "alone" or "all-one" are influenced by the nine basic personality types:

"The Reformer" must have persons available if the desire to reform can be undertaken; "The Helper," obviously, must have persons available to save, rescue and help so those persons will then give to "The Helper" the love she / he longs for;

"The Performer" must have persons to form an audience which "The Performer" constantly desires; "The Loyalist" must have persons around in order to feel secure; "The Boss / Controller" must have persons around to control and to do his / her bidding;

and "The Peacemaker" must have persons around to fulfill that persona's sense of entitlement and to do for "The Peacemaker" what that persona will often not do for itself. Most living under the influence of those personality types will give "aloneness" a "bad connotation."

That leaves "The Analyst" who can withdraw into thinking and knowledge-gathering in a solo fashion; "The Adventurer," who can enjoy the company of persons but eventually withdraws as the often-present addictive personality disorder develops; and

and, lastly, the type that can truly appreciate the solitude of aloneness while understanding and sensing the unicity of the all-one.

That type (referred to with several labels including "Personality Type Four," "The Individualist," "The Romantic and Artistic One," "The Rebel," "The Original One," "The Innovative One" or "The Seeker of the Authentic Self") is the one type that is most likely to intuitively understand that I AM THAT and I AM need not necessarily imply "two-ness."

The Realized Type Four Writer Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) evidenced on occasion all of the Type Four characterizations above, having been described as "an author, an abolitionist, a naturalist, a poet, a tax resister, a philosopher, a critic of government and societies, and a transcendentalist."

Thoreau, who spoke and wrote often of "the unity beyond the multiplicity," said: "I have a great deal of company in the house, especially in the morning when nobody calls." Note that neither he nor I is at one with persons. They are mirages. I the consciousness cannot be at one with a mirage. I can be at one with the universal consciousness (and the prior state of the Absolute and the state prior to that: the Nothingness).

As you consider whether you truly grasp how alone and all-one can exist without being a dualistic contradiction - as is the case with the I AM THAT-ness and the I AM-ness - you are invited to consider some of the lyrics from a song on the recently-released Mavis Staples CD in terms of the Advaita message, in terms of the Advaita teacher offering the message, and in terms of the seeker hearing the message:

You're not alone,
I'm with you.
A broken home?
A broken heart?
Isolated and afraid?
Open up.
This is a raid.
I wanna get it through to you:
You're not alone ...
You're not alone.
Every night,
I stand in your place.
Every tear,
On every face,
Tastes the same.
Isolated and afraid?
Open up.
This is a raid.
I'm gonna get it through to you:
You're not alone.
An open hand,
An open heart,
There's no need to be afraid.
Open up.
This is a raid.
I wanna get it through to you:
You're not alone.

You understand, yes?

If interested, hear Mavis perform the song live by clicking here

Please enter the silence of contemplation.

[PLEASE NOTE: If you are receiving this post via an RSS feed, it is recommended that you view the actual article because the content is often modified or added to after the initial posting.]

Much of what Louise has shared has resonated with many site visitors. to that end, some have inquired recently if Louise offers the online Advaita Internet Course. The answer is, "Yes."
Whether taking the course with Louise or Floyd, the price of the course includes all 11 of the Advaita eBooks, questions sent after completion of the assigned readings, replies to your answers, and follow-up as required.
With either teacher, you will be guided through all seven of the steps, in order, that lead from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond). For more specific information and details about the course, you may click on the link to the right.
Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Louise

by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:

Purchase at Discount the Advaita Internet Course with Floyd

by
Clicking the Buy Now Button below:

Now you can receive for $40 a downloadable computer file version of the same 7-hour satsang that seekers receive when they visit for the Advaita Retreat with Floyd. You will be guided through the seven steps from identification with the false "I" to the Absolute (and beyond).
For more information or to order, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat

SIX WAYS THAT SEEKERS HAVE REALIZED:

1. BY WATCHING the 4-Disk Video (DVD) Set, or the same retreat available as a downloadable file. Either will provide an entire seven-hour retreat / series of satsang sessions showing three seekers being guided through all seven steps by Floyd and can provide viewers with an “experiential,” step-by-step series of satsang meetings that will move the viewers from identification with the I to abidance as the Absolute and then to abidance as That Which Is beyond
Some seekers are already using the computer file version and the DVD sets for meetings in groups in homes, playing the retreat, pausing for discussion, etc.
To find out more or to purchase the DVD set or the downloadable computer file version of the retreat, click:
DVD or Downloadable computer file versions of the Four-Day Advaita Retreat
Option “A” is for the downloadable file version, Option “B” is used to order the DVD set for delivery inside the U.S., Option “C” for international orders.
For the download, Paypal will send me a notice that payment has been received and then I will send by e-mail the downloading instruction, password, etc.
[It is recommended that you watch the video with pen and paper in hand. Write whatever you need clarified. You'll see that there are constant reviews and you might find an answer later in the seven-hour presentation. Then, after you watch it all, there will be a common ground for discussion. Purchase of the DVD’s or the file will include the right to clarifications and answers to your specific questions via e-mail.]

2. BY READING these books in this exact order:
IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)
SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)
[Those two prepare the seeker to question it all]
THE MEDITATION GUIDES
[Provide a broad overview of the understanding]
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?
[Begins to free the seeker of body identification and the desire for body continuity]
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace if You're Out of Your Mind)
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of the false content of the “mind”]
LIBERATION
[Shows the seeker how to be free of the subconscious motivators of personas]
THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS
[Provides the final preparation for the seeker to be directed along the “path”]
FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
[Directs the seeker along the “path”]
CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS: The Nature of Reality Beyond Self-Realization (Peace Every Day When Abiding as The Absolute)
[Allows the seeker to understand the functioning of the totality, the manifestation, and what is involved with the un-manifestation]
FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO THE NOTHINGNESS
[Provides the seeker the wisdom to understand the Noneness as well as the Oneness]
Purchase an e-Book now and begin reading it in minutes (except with e-checks that can take 7-10 days). Trusting our clients as we do, all e-Books are provided to you in printable form.
SAVE IF YOU BUY ALL ELEVEN AT ONCE:
(You may order the books one at a time or you may use the following link to acquire the entire 11-e-Book set on sale for $99 if ordered at one time with the “Buy Now” button below. For this option, there will be no download links provided; once the near-instant notice of payment is received from PayPal, your e-Books will be sent to you as e-mail attachments. All are printable for your convenience.

NOTE: When you order this package, you receive three additional ebooks free: CASTING LIGHT ON THE DARK SIDE OF RELATIONSHIPS, FINDING REAL LOVE IN AN UNREAL WORLD and THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS (offering the Advaita teachings in a fictional novel format)

You may visit The Official Website of Floyd Henderson for information on each book.

3. BY ENROLLING in the Online Advaita Classes

Received 19 August 2010 from one that just completed the entire course:

I would like to extend deepest appreciation towards you for these teachings that you have offered. It has been most valuable towards what may not have been revealed throughout this manifestation labeled "anthony." Understanding Truth and finding words for gratitude are one as is all. Thank you again for pointing "me" to THAT and the understanding that came as well. Hopeful for future "contact"! Sincerely, Anthony M. W.

For information, visit Information on the Advaita Classes on the Internet
To enroll visit Enroll in the Advaita Internet Course

4. BY ATTENDING an Advaitin retreat for satsang with floyd and being guided through all seven steps. For details of the retreats offered, please visit the retreat information site.

5. BY ARRANGING satsang by telephone in the U.S. or by Skype internationally:
Use the Contact link for details or for information on making arrangements for a session

6. BY ARRANGING for floyd to travel to your location and meet with you or your group. Use the contact link above to discuss details.

The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders offers the non-duality message by way of a mystery-adventure novel, discussing the movement from pain to healing to awakening to peace.
From Dr. R.F. Maley, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus and former Head of the Department of Psychology, University of Houston: "Floyd Henderson's book, The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders, is a fun read and an interesting mystery, but perhaps more importantly it serves as a vehicle for blending Eastern Philosophy and Native American Spirituality to make an intellectually challenging novel. The book's insights into both relationships and authoritarian conditioning of people in our society make it a must read, tracing the roots of narcissistic, sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors to the very core of the culture. This truly witty and politically-incorrect study of the aggressive nature of 'the American character' offers not only a diagnosis but also a treatment plan, making the book an excellent supplemental reading in courses such as psychology, anthropology, philosophy, sociology and counseling."

You may purchase your copy of the ebook version of THE TWICE-STOLEN NECKLACE MURDERS then start reading within minutes:

The Sequel to The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS

For a paperback or eBook version of the book, click:

The Board of Directors of Wars

[THE YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE IN LARGER FORMATS BELOW WHICH MIGHT PROVIDE MORE COMFORTABLE VIEWING FOR SOME SITE VISITORS]

[RE: The "Subscribe To" feature: In some cases, all of the month's postings might be sent the first time after subscribing; after that, you should receive only one day's posting at a time.]

YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA YOGA VIDEOS

Click on the arrow below to start Video One:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Two:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Three:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Four:



Click on the arrow below to start Video Five:



Please enter the silence of contemplation.