The Search

The only reason we search is that we think awareness is a personal product of our brain. Realization is seeing that our body and mind are in awareness, and we are That.

Be the Source

You can be the experiment source has created, or you can be the source and stand as the observer.

Why Is There a Creation

Everything that has ever been experienced has been the registering of change in awareness. When this happens, we become conscious of the experience. There is always the empty field of awareness as background. If we see a mountain, it is registering a presence as a change (the appearance of form) against the silent, blank, background of awareness.

Everything in the universe changes. Yet change can only be registered if there is something unchanging on which, or to which, it appears. That which registers all the change (experience) in the universe, must be prior to the creation for anything to register. That has been called "The Knower."

Though materialists would like to think that Awareness could be created, it is Awareness itself conducting the experiment in the lab. Awareness is the knower of the scientist and his experiment. You can't create Awareness because it is already here.

Anything known in this universe is known in Awareness as an experience. Any knowing since the beginning of time, since the manifestation of form, has been registered in Awareness. Just as there is personal memory, there is also cosmic memory, known as the Akashic records. As above, so below.

The one unifying force in the universe is the subjective I experience. It is common to all life. It had to be there prior to the first creature. Beingness itself is That Awareness. If it was there prior to the universe, it would be outside the creation, without beginning or end.

If experience is the registering of change, there has to be a background against which change is experienced. Awareness is that background, and the projection or manifestation of form is the process by which Awareness creates boundaries in order to register experience.

Everything we know is in Awareness. The projection of itself into form allows Awareness to know itself. Limitless creates limited form, boundaries of apparent separation in order to experience itself in infinite ways. No two of us are the same, but the subjective experience of I is the same for all of us. That subjective I, Awareness, is what we are.

Personal Responsibility

If you are not the "Doer," where does personal responsibility apply?

With deep examination, great sages have come to the conclusion that "I am not the doer, and neither are you." Assuming that you have read and pondered deeply enough to realize this, where does personal responsibility come into play?

I am not of the persuasion the person does not exist. The individual bodymind does exist even though its appearance is temporary, and it did not create itself. No one can say "I do not exist."

If we stand as Awareness, the Absolute, all responsibility resides here. The manifested creation, the projection into form, is my creation and my responsibility. It follows the universal laws I have laid down.

As the Absolute I can create focal points of limited consciousness, but can I give free will to any of the created beings?

If we have realized "We are not the doer," does that absolve us of responsibility in this world? Common sense says "No."

Realization does not disappear the body, and it does not disappear the mind, even though it may feel like the personal self is dissolved to a great degree.

Knowing that reality is non dual, forms still exist. There is the Absolute and there is the relative world of plants and animals. There are universal laws that obtain to all creatures, including realized beings. 

Regardless of the level of realization, the personal body and mind continue to exist. That existence is in the relative world, and the relative world has universal laws which apply. Jesus acknowledged this in saying "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:21. David Hawkins, likewise, reminded us not to mix levels.

As long as we remain in form, the universal laws apply. It is said, "Next to good manners, enlightenment is best." The point here is that no matter how realized a teacher is, as long as they remain in form, living in this world, the relative universal laws apply. As Jesus said, "Be in the world, but not of it."

The point is this:

Realization does not absolve the teacher of values. Realization does not bestow permission to abuse students. Realization doesn't make one a law unto themselves. 

Freedom Expressing

The only free will is that which is expressing, and it's certainly not the personal I. For me, total freedom is the expression for which I personally am not responsible, and take no credit or blame. A relaxation into this is a great peace.

Intuition, Seeking and Finding

My thoughts on my search and the role that intuition played.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6NjCYBAZeY

You are That

"You are That"  Nonduality Interview with Maury Lee 

Kyle Hilding of Spiritual Download asked for an interview. It was recorded today. Enjoy, and thank Kyle for providing this opportunity.

(Part 1)   LINK:         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guKvG_T7Iyk

(Part 2)  LINK:          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufra667BcNU&t=4s

A Strong Ego Is Necessary

With therapy I developed a much less defensive ego, a healthier, stronger ego. The strength developed by experiencing that which I had repressed gave me the courage to face more and more.  The risk of finding out who you really are, how you really feel, teaches you to challenge yourself. True therapy teaches one to take risks. The result is a quieter more relaxed mind. Contemplation and the search for truth becomes easier.

In the pursuit of truth, a strong ego is necessary. You have to face your conditioning, challenge it, even when parents, family, friends and society are telling you what to think. Being strong allows for self examination. Put no head above your own. This does not mean that you do not learn from others you perceive to know more than you.

A strong ego that no longer needs defenses is much more capable of self examination. An ego that knows it can take a hit is much more open. It knows a threat to a current position can be examined. A strong ego is not threatened by deep contemplation and exploration. The opposite is true of a weak, defensive ego. It is not in a position to allow transcendence.

A strong ego is actually capable of pursuing truth, capable of discovering that it is not the doer, that it is not the center of the universe. It can handle the shift from primary identification, to secondary. After realization my ego is still intact. It is not who I am, but remains an excellent tool I use to navigate this realm.

Freedom and Bondage

When people use the word God they usually have many assumptions attached. That gets people into arguments. I like to use more neutral words such as Source, The Absolute, or The Ineffable. If we just drop all God concepts and just think of the indescribable force creating the universe, that's enough. Since the Source manifests everything out of itself, anything that has existence is That. Whatever That is in it's essence is what everything is. That means you are just as much That as I am. No matter who we are, we all say "I am." It's all the same existence. Non duality simply acknowledges that Oneness. Since all is one, the Absolute is the doer. We appearances have to make choices, and that certainly feels like free will. It isn't. You chose one action over another. The higher value wins out. Just common sense. It's a setup. The Absolute is in charge. When you identify with the Absolute, you can forget about the issue of free will. From the standpoint of one essence there is neither free will nor bondage. Nothing is opposed to it. The limitless knows nothing of bondage or freedom.

Disinterest

I haven't written much lately. I haven't lost my realization, it's just not that interesting. Once it's obvious, the obsession with enlightenment is gone. I'm just as interested in working on my old car. I did happen on this video which I thought was very good. Pretty much says it.

Darryl Sloan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0xzZ4L7ZpA

Playfulness

When one relaxes into the Absolute with trust, playfulness arises spontaneously.

Seek And You Will Find

There is this myth that seeking is the problem. But, where does the seeking come from? None other than That. The inefable is all there is, any seeking is That seeking itself. My seeking was never to avoid anything. During my many years of seeking, I may have not been able to see or accept the deep impersonal implications of the Absolute, but my seeking was not in the way. Whatever detours I took were necessary or they would not have happened. Could not have been otherwise. Jesus said, "Seek and ye shall find." It works. 

Reprogramming the Subconscious

Realization is nice. It stops the seeking and gives incredible peace of mind. However, it does not wipe the slate clean of your habits, conditioning, and unconscious programs. These buried vassanas still operate: "A vasana literally means 'wishing' or 'desiring', but is used in Advaita in the sense of the sub-conscious or latent tendencies in one's nature."

The first changes are due to a loss of wishful thinking, imagining that something outside yourself will make you happy. These wishes diminish over time. You find that you avoid drama and discover that peace is a primary virtue. You don't go seeking experiences. It's all right here.

The subconscious is programed from ages one to seven years. An animal has instincts, they are hardwired and there isn't much they can do about it. If you've been around animals you know how strong the instincts are. In humans, instincts are few, but what we are programed with during our early years becomes our instinctual behavior. Because they are unconscious, not chosen, but taken in to survive our family and culture. In other words, to fit in. Realization does not automatically remove these.

I have never been one to meditate. Contemplation always suited me better. However, I have had some success doing subconscious reprogramming just before I fall asleep. I developed acid reflux due to a stressful family situation. It lingered after the situation was resolved. I felt guilt, and resentment. As a last resort I spent three evenings before I fell asleep imagining a golden light coming down and through me removing all guilt, shame, and fear. I told myself that I no longer stored these emotions in my body.

It took three days for all the symptoms to stop. That was a few years ago, and the acid reflux has not returned. That's a pretty big return on a few meditation sessions of reprogramming my subconscious. Below is a link to a short video by Dr. John Lipton. I think it makes the case very well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpGsAgE3TkA

Simple Happens

The ego is just fine, it gets a loss of power on awakening, but after adjustment you find it carried a lot projections and drama you no longer need. Without needing to get happiness out there, life becomes a lot simpler. The head of the outfitter company Patagonia said, "The more you know, the less you need." There's a lot of truth in that statement. Simple happens. 

What Reading Judo Krishnamurti Meant for Me

After my interview on batgap.com, someone asked me to post on what reading J. Krishnamurti did for me. I've been very hesitant to video myself and put myself out on the youtube scene, but I decided to give it a try since I enjoy other peoples videos. I'm old enough now that I really don't care what people think. I don't really care if it's not polished. Just sharing what might be interesting to some.

https://youtu.be/nLbCipr-yqc

One Truth, Many Paths

No matter what one's background, some of us are born with an intuition that things aren't as they seem. We have an intuition that what has been accepted as truth, isn't quite so. It is a problem for the possessor of this intuition as it puts one at odds with one's parents, culture, and tradition. The pursuit of truth does not seem like an option, but a drive, a devotion that requires an answer. When one is ready to give all for the uncovering of the truth, grace often removes the veil. 

Can an intellectual realize nonduality? Surely they can, even though it is said that the Jnana (intellectual path) is the most difficult. Franklin Merrell-Wolff approached enlightenment with philosophy and pure mathematics, and his realization was profound. The branch of philosophy called Phenomenology tries to examine the base from which all scientific exploration can be pronounced valid. 

A philosophical form of meditation called phenomenological reduction is not widely known. It does not have the popularity of the Eastern yogas, or the authority of religion, but it works just the same. This video by Tomaj Javidtash shows the power of phenomenological reduction meditation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=hFm1_Yf9gYM

Awareness is All

Some say that Awareness is just another thought, a description of an object we are thinking about. I have to disagree. We have the word food. We know what it refers to, an actual object, say spaghetti. We can't eat the word, but we can eat the spaghetti.

In the case of Awareness we are speaking of something we know, but it isn't really an object, it is what we are. Although we have a form through which we perceive, Awareness is a function, a principle that allows for consciousness. There is nothing outside of Awareness. It is the perceiving of the Subject, the Absolute.

Every being is a perspective, a focal point of Awareness. Each focal point perceives in its own way. It perceives according to the faculties it has, type of eye, ear, or nose, but however different, depending on the organs of perception, Awareness is what delivers the perspective.

Awareness is. It is not another object. It is what perceives all objects. Awareness is the Subject. It is what we are.

Whatever objects are, matter and energy projected, they are created by the Absolute, and perceived by the function of Awareness. We can only know via Awareness. It is the basis of all knowing. We know we are because we are Awareness itself, and whatever the Absolute is.

There is not anything in the universe that is not aware on some level. That awareness is conscious of something, even if only the attraction between positive and negative particles of atoms. From the outer limits of the cosmos to the tiniest quark, Awareness reigns. 

Before Good and Evil, You Are

Are you aware that it is God looking out through your eyes? Do you see that Awareness itself is revealing without judgment? Do you see that it is your mind, your positions and opinions, that judge? Do you know that if you could see this you would have peace?

You are wrapped up in judgment of what you see, do, and feel. Your mind has opinions about all these experiences, and judges them accordingly. This is essentially where good and evil come from, your opinions, conditioning, likes and dislikes. Your suffering comes from these positions.

Awareness comes first, without judgment, then your mind comes in with opinions, likes and dislikes, good and bad. Awareness has no opinion about what is going on. It is simply the field in which all you know appears. Have you ever stepped back from your mind to realize Awareness itself?

Awareness is the function of God. It is the revealing function, the function that allows for knowing. Everything you have ever known has been in the light of Awareness. Have you not heard that "You are the light." Of course you have, but do you know it is the truth?

Awareness, the function, is a field of knowing. It is always present. It is the one truth you cannot deny. If asked, "Do you exist?" can you answer other than yes. That knowing is existence itself. It is primary. Without this knowing function you cannot say anything exists.

You might think Awareness is yours. It's not. You borrowed it from the Absolute. When your body dies, the universe still exists because the Absolute, with its function of Awareness still exists. Awareness is primary. The content of awareness is all that exists.

Step back from your opinions for a moment. Stand as Awareness the knowing function, and see whatever appears is revealed by that alone. It is only after the revealing that your mind comes in to deliver its judgments. But Awareness, the revealer, never makes a judgment.

You are the light simply means that your true Self is Awareness. The light does not belong to you as a body with a mind. Awareness is not personal. It is impersonal until your mind takes over to judge what it reveals. This is where suffering begins.

Existence is whatever Awareness is conscious of. Existence and Awareness cannot be separated. This is why Awareness, the knowing function, is primary.  You are this impersonal Awareness. The world is your projection. It is your imagination, your play at the highest level. You are this Awareness right here, right now. Leave your mind out of it and feel the peace.

There Are No Things

When a sage says "There are no things," it is not dismissing the fact that we see things, tables, chairs, trees, and flowers. It means that although we perceive these different objects, their separateness isn't real.

What the sage means is that name and form are creations of our mind. A chair only exists to a human. A snail or a snake does not see a chair. It sees a form, but it is just another part of the environment.

The whole of creation is a perception in Awareness. It is one field with apparent difference. Whatever the thing is in itself, it is not separate from Awareness. All separateness is just an interpretation.

We can't say these things don't exist, yet, being all one, we can say "There are no things." There is only existence, and all existence is known in Awareness. One, being all that is. 

The Unified Field

There is hope for the world in that Quantum mechanics and nondual Advaita Vedanta are both science based. Both are interpretations of what is. Although Quantum Mechanics looks at matter and discovers consciousness, Advaita Vedanta looks at human experience and reveals nothing but consciousness.

As Quantum Mechanics reveals further proofs of the primacy of consciousness, the oneness of creation that Advaita Vedanta espouses will be more easily accepted. In simple terms, existence is nothing more than consciousness.

The Unified Field is nothing more than consciousness expressing Itself as everything that is.