Comments on: 37. Across Space and Time – Program #3 – Nisargadatta Tapes

By: Morgan

Morgan — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:17:25 +0000

Sorry, I meant no offense but, (sorry again!) it’s not a matter of trusting someone. You don’t need to trust anyone to be what you are, but, until this is seen you might identify with thoughts and feelings and take them to be your identity. One of these thoughts may be “I need a guru” or “I haven’t got it yet”. I don’t think Gilbert wants anyone to trust him – that’s the guru game. I’m sure he wants people to look for themselves and see what is being pointing at (please correct me if I’m wrong Gilbert). Once again, just trying to be helpful. I think all authentic non-dual teachings would say “Look for yourself” and “See what is present now”.

By: Margo

Margo — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:13:02 +0000

Morgan, you should have been a lawyer!
What you just did is TOTAL mental and intellectual masturbation!
You took the sentence out of context and broke into pieces till it completely change its meaning.
Within the context of my post it was all about ‘who do you trust’ and why,when they tell you that you don’t exist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and why Gilbert’s delivery is so powerful.
Maybe I did not expressed this perfectly but you really made a mess out of it.
Talking about non-duality being lost in words-you are the master!

By: Morgan

Morgan — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:12:08 +0000

“The biggest challenge in accepting this non-duality message is the fact that it is asking us to turn everything that we know and are comfortable with upside down”

Accepting some advaita concepts isn’t going to do one any good. When what is pointed at is seen, there is no need to accept concepts about anything. One’s being preceeds any attempts to understand it. Ideas will unfailingly fade while the awareness that registers them is constant. See for yourself.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:31:20 +0000

Kimo,

I would like to contact you via e-mail…Are you amenable to this?
Editor: You can make contact through emails with Gilbert. He (I) will provide email address if approved by the other.
This is not a social club. Many actually use false email addresses for some ‘reason’.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:16:16 +0000

“No one can predict ‘when’ – but whenever it happens, it will be NOW.”
AMEN, Gilbert!

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:13:21 +0000

Exactimoto. Stop friggin’ in the riggin’. Whatever brings you to the ‘point’ of actually investigating what you are, is totally validated by the fact that the investigation is happening. Some loving guru swooning seekers into new beliefs is useless. It may make you feel good, while you are around him, but life throws new stuff at you constantly and the photo of your guru in your pocket is not going to help much.
I know ‘people’ who have Ramana’s photo on their mobile phone. What the Bleep? And they talk non duality crap most of the time. What good is it? Will the image enhance your state of being? Ramana himself may be amused by such a novelty but would he have given it any credence? Hero worship is useless.
Other’s profess to be resting is awareness but a few select words can raise their freckles into red bumps of aggression.
Dig a little and the suffering is seething under the surface of a pretension of being a ‘spiritual person’. Whatever it takes to roust out that facade is completely valid. There have been decades of spiritual ‘programming’ going on in places like California. Hundreds upon hundreds talking the talk. Imitation of being a ‘sacred being’ is an insidious thing. Ironically the most popular gurus are the ones who promote unashamedly such activities – because it is profitable for ‘their ego’. “I am special”. It is only feeding the sense of separation. Where ever there is a lot of money changing hands in the name of truth, there is corruption of truth. The truth is NOT for sale.

By: Kimo (Jim)

Kimo (Jim) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:52:49 +0000

There is nothing and no-one who is “doing the believing”. Impressions or appearances are registering; registering in awareness if you like. Some impressions are conceptualized as the activity of believing–so we take it as truth or as a given that believing is going on. That is assumption #1 and purely conceptual that somebody or something is doing a thing called believing. Also, I agree with supporting Gilbert. He works hard on this site; harder than anyone else would even dare try. I’d also tend to agree that the lulling approach could be less than effective and could keep seeking continuing. Although, some gentle teachers are around who are very effective–John Wheeler is one. I disagree that you have to be a douche-bag or have some insulting nature for wakefulness to be seen; although there’s obviously a drawing of those who enjoy abuse to those types of teachers. It’s all appearing in that undeniable wakefulness. No need for puffing out our chests or accusing “others” as sour grape readers. Who is there to boast over this or to feel bad about not getting it? The wakefulness is as obvious as can be. Get away from all the slick metaphors and tongue-in-cheek tricky comments sometimes made on here. It is no joke that you are your own guru. See what this is all about RIGHT NOW by looking yourself. Is WAKEFULNESS present? Yes or No? Are any impressions registering outside of that wakefulness? Which impression inside that WAKEFULNESS can you honestly call yourself? You’ve got plenty of pointers. Quit thinking you’re missing something in your spiritual toolbox that is keeping you from doing any serious looking and just do the freakin’ investigation RIGHT NOW and see what you come up with.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:26:18 +0000

Don’t waste your time with suspicions. Find out. Explore the consciousness that you ARE. No ‘body’ was mentioned. So don’t make up new stories.
It is YOU who believes – believes in the appearance – that ‘you’ is the appearance.
What you truly are is the pure seeing-knowing. Remove the belief and everything is clear and obvious. ‘Who’ wants to know ‘what’ it is that believes? Dualistic mind plays games with itself.

The average guru aides and abets the seeker by lulling them into a sense of security. All the activities are designed with chromatosis in mind, for the brief states of elation of the devotee.
The loving and kind ways of the guru may be a very welcome thing after years of self-punishment. Decades go by in loving company but the seeking remains. Instead of demolishing the sense of separation, the guru usually enhances â€˜the wallâ€™. His own sense of insecurity drives him to do this. He is very special and on the verge of â€˜entering heavenâ€™. He needs your support before he can return to the right side of God, etc, etc.
No one can hold your hand in this venture. YOU must SEE that the sense of separation (me and not me) is a concept.
If the assistance you get here is of some small benefit, then good.
No one is playing the guru game here.
The only value here is the directness of the pointing. The programs are packed with pointers. The programs are designed to be entertaining, wrapped up in a style that is modern and consumable.
The core of every program is the direct introduction to your own true nature.
Sour grapes served up from those who consistently miss the message, is part and parcel of the program.
These disgruntled souls have the capacity to do nothing.
The true essence beyond the faÃ§ade of the â€˜unhappy meâ€™ is the naked unadorned wakefulness. It will respond unexpectedly and demolish the illusion of separation.
No one can predict â€˜whenâ€™ â€“ but whenever it happens, it will be NOW.

By: Margo

Margo — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:22:48 +0000

The biggest challenge in accepting this non-duality message is the fact that it is asking us to turn everything that we know and are comfortable with upside down- ‘to stand on our heads’ so to speak.You have to trust somebody to do that ,and who are you going to trust if not the charming,loving and charismatic person!
But as we all here have probably learned they have nothing to deliver in the end.The message gets lost in the flowery content of trying to please the audience-the seeker,to keep him hook to continue searching.

So my reason for trusting Gilbert’s delivery more than anybody’s else was EXACTLY THAT what some are complaining about – his directness,precision,relentlessness and no compromising.
Nothing but direct pointing,no bull,no charm to win you over ,no charge ,only endless hours of answering repetitive questions. Only somebody that is asking NOTHING of you ,that have no personal interest or gain can be TRUSTED in my opinion.
The pre-requisite to ‘get’ this message is to believe it first that things are not the way you always believed they are ,investigate-self inquiry and to allow the insight to expand.
So choose who you are going to trust when they tell that you don’t exist ,that the world does not exist, that all is but a dream.
Whoever does the trick for you is valid ,but go and find one that will stop your world
( your mind).
Stop complaining that Gilbert does not want to hold your hand as you are indulging your mind and empowering this ‘me’. You will not find what you are searching for the way you are going about it.
The pointers here are direct,precise, endless and free-what else do you want?
Charm and charismatic personality you can find in different satsangs for $500 at least and the guarantee that comes with it that you will be seeking forever.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:20:29 +0000

“Beliefs appear to hang around because they are believed in, they are fed by the â€˜energy of beliefâ€™.”

Hmmmm, sounds suspiciously like the elusive Loch Ness Pain Body…

Getting down to conceptual brass tacks: What is it that BELIEVES?

By: Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:48:25 +0000

The â€˜meâ€™ canâ€™t see – there is only one seeing happening. So, why is this me so elusive?
Because of belief. Investigate the belief, with the only INTENT that there is.
Simple. All the rest is stories and endless appearances.

ThanQ G & R & d

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:25:12 +0000

Catching Mice. You can get the usual mouse trap, set it up with cheese and with a fine trigger setting – and nothing happens. In the morning the cheese is gone. So you up the stakes, get your thumb slammed while setting the trap, ouch. Try it again with better cheese. Still the little blighters take the cheese without tripping off the trap.
So you go out and buy the most expensive laced baiting system. This time it will work, yeah. (?)
Next morning, it has not been touched. 20 bloody mice are smarter than 5 foot ten citizen of the human race.
Whatever friction is necessary to expose the fictional character ‘me’ can be applied.
‘People’ get some IDEA of how THIS should appear to be. They ‘think’ that anyone playing the role of a ‘teacher’ should be ‘nice and loving’ etc.
What good is that. The Psychology just plays charades and the ‘me’ hides away in any old convenient corner when things get sticky.
There is a dynamism happening on this site. Hiding places get exposed. The one you trusted, bites you on the ego.
It is all appearances in the knowing presence that you are. One without a second.

Patching up the ‘me’ is common. Licking your wounds may stop the festering but it doesn’t get rid of the belief in ‘me’ – it only prolongs it.
This is no trifling matter. This is no spiritual picnic. Singing your bhajans won’t wipe away the belief system for long.
“I am so and so” is the mantra of delusion. Ruffling up the belief system can be very useful. Decades of spiritual charades can slip by.
Enough of that crap. Time to get down to the nuts and bolts. If you are not ready then you have come to the wrong place. No one is forcing you to stay.
If you perceive a problem, then you have got a problem. ‘Who’ is it that has a problem?
It is ‘ME’ you may say.
Well, have a look at this ‘me’.
This is all that we are suggesting every moment.
The ‘me’ can’t see – there is only one seeing happening. So, why is this me so elusive?
Because of belief. Investigate the belief, with the only INTENT that there is.
Simple. All the rest is stories and endless appearances.

By: dorothy hoffman

dorothy hoffman — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:20:53 +0000

Basically, the message doesn’t massage our comfort zones…it’s only a “me” that gets put off. Its the “me” that is so smug and secure and vulnerable. It’s just an invitation to take take a look…and to discover that it’s only an assumption.

We tend to like the talks and methods prescribed by the “loving doting” kind because essentially they are not geared to challenge or hammer our belief structure. They may speak the right words but really, what’s the point? The “me” now believes that its closer to “the understanding”; = more belief….more baggage…more psychological suffering. In my case, it was basically the psychological suffering in the first place that drove me into this “direction”. Hopes of attaining some special peaceful state of mind which is somehow imagined to be separate from the strife and tribulations of living the ordinary everyday life. It’s heavy duty maintenance – this “me” factor. All this constant hammering is only geared towards pointing us to take a real good look. To say the least, I can only thank Gilbert for being so consistent and uncompromising…how else could compassion be described?

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:58:18 +0000

Mark,

This may help when Gilbert’s comments seem irritating…
Gilbert is YOU!
(Some comment that Kimo posted a while back helped in seeing this.)

By: Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:13:08 +0000

Psychological suffering is unpleasant and is no joke. Clear directions must be given to discard the illusion of self.

When I asked, Gilbert, you pawned off some joke about my wife leaving me because of my obsessive behavior on this subject. Yes, Clear Directions are given here but methinks you have conveniently forgotten the pain of psychological suffering,,, ya know, back in the day that Never was. People (like me) get put off by your sour/ stinging humor and miss the message underneath or within. Your efforts are always appreciated and YES, more story, I know~~

By: Lev

Lev — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:11:20 +0000

Gilbert,
your pathetic attitude of the “one who knows” versus the ignorant ones doesn’t serve the non dual pointing…lack of humor is a very bad disease ;I afraid that with such arrogance you will preach in the desert! don’t delete it this time!

By: Morgan

Morgan — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:42:33 +0000

Obviously no one can “get” what is on here because there’s no one to get it – it’s already “got”(!). Descriptions of a non-dual state only seem to muddle the issue. The heart of the matter seems to be seeing what is directly. No amount of repeating advaitic phrases will help one to see this or be this – it is already the case. That seems to be the insight that “takes all of the wind out of the sails of suffering”. As has been pointed out endless times, looking in the mind for one’s identity is like looking in a trash can for a diamond. One must see what is prior to thought. This is easy once you realize that thought comes and goes. When thought is gone, what is still present? Thanks Gilbert and co.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:22:11 +0000

Message to those who insist on making silly comments: Don’t waste your time. They will be deleted before many, if any, get to read them. You are just being a pest. If you want comedy, go to a comedy site and get your laughs there.
Pathetic comments by smart ass individuals only reveal a profound ignorance. They will NOT be tolerated, on behalf of the majority of readers of these pages.

There are many who would give all their possessions to ‘get’ what is on offer here.
What is on offer is totally free and still only a few will take it.
The irony is that most prefer to pay heavily for a ‘teaching’ that serves their spiritual self-image and their intellectual hunger for knowledge. And yet they never arrive at what they seek, because it is their own mind projection that they seek. The prize metamorphosisâ€™s and remains in the distance like the horizon stays where it appears to be.
The horizon is just an image, the same as the projected prize of the seeker.
The seeking is the problem. Seeking is no laughing matter while you are stuck in it.
Psychological suffering is unpleasant and is no joke. Clear directions must be given to discard the illusion of self.
The way out of seeking is simple – full stop (period).
“Stop talking and thinking and there is nothing you will not be able to know” – Hsin Hisn Ming.
Stop telling your story of ‘me’ to everyone you meet and stop telling it to yourself.
Then see what happens.
The laughter comes after the joke registers.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:01:23 +0000

Had to delete some inappropriate comments. We are not against having a bit of fun where it fits in neatly. Things go off on a tangent at the slightest ‘chance’. The Beam needs to be focused on the topic at hand, more or less.
One good thing about this site is that those who read the comments, don’t have to wade through idiotic statements made by bored web surfers or half interested ‘individuals’ who pretend to be ‘clever non-dualists’ (a ridiculous word). If you think that the ‘pointers’ are something to be turned into a joke, then you have come to the wrong place.
No one will miss you, so save your efforts. I will not hesitate to delete your short lived graffiti. You may impress yourself with your antics but I doubt anyone else is impressed at all. If there is no respect for what this site is about, then there is nothing here for you at all. I can play ball on any court but this place is not for sparring or ‘sport’.
We will continue to delete anything that is ‘off’ or unrelated to the programs basic themes. There are many sites where ‘people’ can go to socialize and be a smart ass. This site is not one of those. If you cannot respect the ‘subject’ don’t waste your time venting your spleen or your sick sense of humor here. No one wants it. If my comments refer to you, then your friends, if you have any, should be able to tell you the same piece of information.
And…what’s more, don’t waste your time coming back with some non dual jargon that anyone can hear in every cafe around ‘sacred spiritual towns’, places like Santa Cruz and Boulder Col.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:09:19 +0000

In the realm of appearance and things, certain things can be expressed in the ‘public domain’. Once they were held secret and hidden in far away places and guarded.
The keepers believed that the general public were profane and had no ability to absorb the direct knowledge. Long preparation was common, before ‘certain information’ was revealed to well prepared aspirants. Those days are gone.
Secret knowledge is now traded by business tycoons, called Gurus and Teachers.
All this activity is only in the appearance. It is all content of mind and the content of seeing. None of it has any substance independent from the seeing-knowing.
In the manifestation, subtle ways of ‘pointing’ are being expressed in many places.
This ‘place here’ is only one of them. Still, the message flies over the heads of most – but it is being shared.
The source is singular – One Essence, expressing and appearing as everything.
No fees are necessary and none are over-due. What is over-due is ‘intent’ to cease from conceptualizing – even if only for a brief moment – and SEE.
Relief and gratitude arises spontaneously in those who actually SEE and Recognize their true nature.

Here is an example of the subtle message:
The mind is dualistic, it ‘sees’ two where there is only one.
The appearance IS the SEEING. ‘Everything is contained in the Seeing’, is a way of expressing it. As ‘you look at the world’ the seeing does not go out from ‘you’ and grab ‘things’ and bounce back into ‘you’. SEEING is already everywhere. The body and the eyes are contained in the seeing.
The true ‘instrument’ of seeing is dimensionless and has no location.
This ‘insight’ stops the mind – awe inspiring revelations unfold within the seeing and these insights have no duration, no time. It is instant deliverance from ignorance.
It may take a little while to unfold and it may require some nurturing. Be patient.
The life of Mankind is a life of Non Recognition – Mankind does not recognize the true nature of things.
Within the realm of All Possibilities this potential of ‘Recognition of one’s true nature’ is ever-present for those who turn towards it. Most need to be directed to it correctly and precisely. That is the nature of it.
For the mind this revelation of ‘timeless cognition’ is a profundity of immense wonder.
For naked awareness it is ordinary existence.
Whether ‘you know it or not’ EVERYONE is this miracle of motion in stillness.
As the consciousness stirs, the sense of ‘I’ comes into play – from WHERE does it spring?
Where are you seeing from?

By: billtys

billtys — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:39:13 +0000

Question:
Will the seeing ever ‘pull the pin’ on the appearance?

Answer:
No…it cannot…there is no pin to pull!

By: suki

suki — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:39:14 +0000

In the infinite elasticity of ‘SEEING/KNOWING’, all is incorporated.
Why divide where there is no division?

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:53:39 +0000

The bottom line is repeated often. There is NO duality in NON duality.
Full Stop. (Period)

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:36:12 +0000

Spot On, Kimo>> Before, During, After Now, what IS there>

By: Kimo (Jim)

Kimo (Jim) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:40:00 +0000

There is a registering of everything; including what we call the body and thoughts (mind). This is UNDENIABLE. But what we choose to call this– registering, awareness, the ultimate witness, no-thing, the supreme being–all those start the big conceptual wheel turning (and are the tip of the iceberg in our “love affair” with the mind) when it’s already simple, undeniable, and always present–Whatever IT is…

One joke I tell is that if I ever went to see Bob in Australia and he asked me about my background or how I saw this, I’d tell him “I found my true nature on page 86 of John Wheeler’s first book”. We all laugh at this! But how many are doing exactly this? Trying to find yourself in a book or an MP3? These non-duality writings and speeches are no doubt an art-form and at times potent pointers. But you won’t find yourself inside a book or inside any catch phrase. You’ve heard before that the only guru is yourself. What do you know right now? What do you know without conceptualizing or forcing some non-duality correct behavior? Is there a WAKEFULNESS? Is there ANYTHING registering that is not in this WAKEFULNESS that was already there before, during, after the first and last non-duality book was read?

By: billtys

billtys — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:11:12 +0000

Gilbert is running hot. Here is another excellent pointer by Gilbert from an above post.

“The recognition of our true nature comes unexpectedly, without prior notice to the intellect.”

Even if the intellect picks up on a concept/thought (which it cannot do because the body/mind does not do anything) direct seeing/knowing/cognition is still happening.

It is not possible for seeing NOT to be…

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:34:29 +0000

The â€˜me of memoryâ€™ is the â€˜Queen Beeâ€™. Without the Queen Bee, the â€˜hiveâ€™ disbands.

Puuuuurrrrfect Gilbert

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:41:14 +0000

They are both thought. Thoughts appear and disappear. Beliefs appear to hang around because they are believed in, they are fed by the ‘energy of belief’. ‘Feelings’ follow thought, so beliefs ‘spread out’ in ‘time’ and ‘appear’ as ‘attitude’, moods and opinions etc.
The core of all beliefs is thought. The ‘me of memory’ is the ‘Queen Bee’. Without the Queen Bee, the ‘hive’ disbands. This is why we are encouraged to investigate the grounds of the belief in ‘me’. All states come and go.
The constant referencing of all impressions to the ‘me of memory’ ‘creates’ a realm of ‘yesterday’ in this immediate presence. Thus ‘we’ never clear the decks and see ‘what is’ in the naked light of pure knowing. An unexpected ‘shock’ can clear the decks.
Even so everything registers cleanly, prior to the minds translation (words).

Where are you seeing from? Where is the seeing happening?

The ‘me’ or the ‘personal agenda’ is always found to be ‘wanting’.
What you truly are is authenticity itself.
As Nisargadatta says: “Stop pretending to be what you are not – and don’t deny what you are” (paraphrasing). That is direct pointing. The ‘me’ is a fiction – an uninvited guest.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:20:25 +0000

Not sure if this makes sense, but is there a difference between thought and belief?

Thoughts obviously come and go, but belief seems to drop anchor…

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:16:39 +0000

Yes.
The best pointing is simple and direct. It cuts through all the mental terrain without effort. Like a hot knife through butter. All the intellectualizing of the basic ‘teaching’ is not relevant to the core essence – and it is just a ‘life style thing’ for those who set themselves up as ‘experts’ on Nisargadatta. ‘People’ are so willing to make a hero out of anyone who ‘sounds’ like an expert – maybe because they are too lazy to ‘hear’ the direct message themselves. Psychology has nothing to do with what is being pointed out.
If you watch the video ‘Awaken to the Eternal’ the pretenders stand out like apples on a tree. It is always all about them. Me, me, me. Self Center on display for all to see.
“I this and I that”, “I had this experience and that experience”……etc.
That which is false is threatened by that which is true – such is the drama of life.
This drama plays itself out ‘inside’ of you in ‘the realm of appearances’ and ‘time’, ‘until’ the core essence is uncovered. The recognition of our true nature comes unexpectedly, without prior notice to the intellect. The direct message is addressed to what you truly are, not what you think you are.

By: nathan

nathan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:51:49 +0000

ok….here goes…

all objects are devoid of inherent existence…nothing stands separate as ‘itself’

the only thing any’thing’ has in common is transience/emptiness

time and change must be perceived from a time-less change-less perceivING

all sense objects including thought appear and disappear against a changeless background that cannot be described, sensed (in the normal sense), known or percieved…for it is ‘that’ which IS the knowing and perceiving…

nothing is the only ( ) that can be said to be…and that which can be said to be is nothing but emptiness…astonishing!

this should scare the living crap out of you….it certainly did me….
the mind does not like to be confronted with it’s own irrelevance….
but when it sees that it is it’s own limitation….it must come to an end….
all ends and beginnings appear in THAT which you are!

one of my favorite quotes of the decade is from Gilbert…”Reality is the total exaggeration of nothing”

By: Morgan

Morgan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:29:53 +0000

Thanks.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:24:43 +0000

There is no duality in non duality.
Conceptualizing is the problem. Don’t go there.
The mind divides that which can never be divided, so it is only a seeming division.
What you are is emptiness appearing as form.
They are one – emptiness is form and form is emptiness.
You cannot slip the thinest concept between consciousness and awareness.
They are words for the SAME NON-THING.
“One thing, all things, move among and mingle” – Hsin Hsin Ming quote.
The sense of ‘I’ is a movement.
The first instant of being is KNOWING.
All the rest is conceptual.
Stay with and AS what you ARE.
What you are is not a concept or word.
Knowledge is dead – Knowing is life itself.
Who can convince you of what is of true value?
Isn’t it obvious?

By: milton

milton — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:00:43 +0000

There are many here among us that realize that life is but a joke. If entertainment is a priority why not try Comedy Central, or the best “knock-knock joke” site? Are smug anti-platitudes necessarily superior to dry platitudes?

Vlad: Word games are amusing but don’t you tire of them after a while? Kudos for cleverness. Have you any doubts about who or what you are?

Sure, non-duality teachings can deteriorate into nonsensical rubbish when parroted. However, the pointers provided on this site are fresh and seem more universal than persona — Well worth sifting through the platitude/anti-platitude parley.

FX:Audience claps…...

By: Morgan

Morgan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:49:16 +0000

Gilbert (and whoever else might like to answer), could we discuss the difference between the definition of consciousness and awareness? Here’s the definition of consciousness from dictionary.com:

“the state of being conscious; awareness of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.”

Definitions of awareness:

“having knowledge; conscious; cognizant”
“state of elementary or undifferentiated consciousness”

It seems from the definition that consciouness includes content whereas awareness may not. One can lose consciousness so, obviously, it’s not the absolute. I think John Wheeler talks about awareness as being that which knows the coming and going of consciousness.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:39:25 +0000

It is the ‘story of me’ that is unnecessary, with all its heavy baggage. It can end right now. Just stop believing in it. Why exchange this clear and present knowing for a heavy burdensome story about a fictional entity? Most do, yet some cease to believe in it.
They do not make up new stories about being a fresh and new enlightened being. They can share some insights from their own direct and immediate experienc-ing or not. It makes no difference.
Everyone is THAT One Essence.
Those who go beyond the story of me, simply are relieved from the burden of me. They don’t have to bang a drum and wake the whole neighborhood. Those who pretend to be an awakened being, make a lot of noise, trying to convince themselves that they are awake. It is all laughable. If they could see their own convoluted postulations, they may be silent and truly SEE.

By: Soul

Soul — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:09:09 +0000

Is it the end of the story?
haha..
I bet it goes on…
Like anyone can help it!
Enjoy this display of knowledge!

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:20:28 +0000

Nothing to obey or disobey.
No ‘doer’ doing. No ‘thinker’ thinking’
What effort are ‘you’ making to BE?
What goal is there to be achieved?

You are that One without a second.

End of story.

By: nathan

nathan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:19:21 +0000

hmm…the ‘goal’ is reality….what ‘is’, is not a concept….your being is not a concept…you are not the thoughts about your being….or the thoughts about ‘reality’…whatever that is…

those are the word bubbles floating up now….

so many words for nothing….how can you not have a good laugh?!

By: Vlad

Vlad — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:55:29 +0000

The “goal” is just a thought though, right? — if I’m reading this site correctly…?

Just let Gilbert provide the responses, methinks. Air your doubts — do something new. Why more contrived ‘answers’?

There is NO DUALITY in NON-DUALITY.

OBEY!

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:42:50 +0000

You think that you think. You can’t change that? They are not ‘your’ thoughts.
The belief in being the ‘thinker’ is the ‘hook’.
The thinker is just another thought appearing.
In SEEING this, it is a revelation beyond description – and it isn’t an ‘event’ in time.
It is simply Naked Seeing.
Perplexing for the intellect, to be sure.
But you innately know this very intimately. Yet you have seemingly forgotten it.
But HOW can it be forgotten?
Without this simple activity of knowing, there is nothing here at all.
The mind of habit will only baulk at such discussions or run and hide. It will make excuses. The mind of time cannot ‘get to’ the immediacy of being. It only arises out of it.
As it dissolves back into this clear and obvious immediacy, it has already lost its form, so no impression is made. We focus on the appearance and miss that upon which the appearance registers.
There is no duality in non duality.

By: nathan

nathan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:16:10 +0000

“You cannot think an “enlightened thought” until you think SOMEthing, but nothing you can think has any real significance regarding this goal. Anything you think about the goal is actually you thinking about a method or a map; you cannot think about the goal, there is nothing you can think about it; whenever you are thinking about the goal your thoughts are mulling about on top of it, hiding it from your view.”

from ‘another’ “J.C.”

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:10:12 +0000

Who are you calling ‘old boy’? The pointing is radically sharp, so long as the attention is undeviating or the mind is open to ‘hearing it’.
‘I’ can lead you to the razors edge of this immediacy but you must put your own intellect across the blade. The KNOWING cannot be touched, cut or harmed in any way. What you seek you already are.
There are those who will charge seekers $12,000 to attend a workshop, just to tell those ‘customers’ that there is NO TEACHER and NO teaching and take 12 days to get the message across. The pointing here is direct and the cost? – not a dime is asked for.
AND the message IS getting through to those who are open to it.
There are beautiful emails that come in confirming an unmistakable ‘resonance and recognition’. We do not use these emails to promote any ‘teaching’. It just IS what it is.
This is not about tricking anyone into believing in the message.
The message is clear and precise. It does its job – but not through ‘belief’ – it is KNOWING. Seeing-Knowing in Being.
No one can predict who will resonate and who will not.
There is a common factor amongst many who do resonate. Most have done the rounds of the gurus and the expensive seminars and are ‘sick to death’ of hearing bullshit dressed up as special, esoteric, spiritual knowledge that can be acquired for a cost. That is just blatant business dealing, obvious and unashamed transactions in the name of ‘truth’. The young man from Narazeth tossed them out of the temple for such activities. They are still at it and wearing a banner of ‘this is it – the real deal’.
In the direct message, it is not all in the words used. There is ‘something’ beyond the words that touches the intelligence beyond the intellect. That mystery remains indescribable.
There are many who love to play with this ‘non duality’ like it is a mind game. They stay stuck to their addiction. Others hear the message and then get on with life, without the burden of the ‘story of me’. Some stick around, like myself, to nudge ‘others’ in the ‘right direction’, which is always ‘back to present evidence’ – non conceptual presence-awareness. In the appearance of things, I have to also deal with the ‘smarty pants’ types who come back to display their knowledge over and over.
If they truly ‘know it all’ why do they need to try and prove something to anyone? It is a sticky point and bound to bring a fresh barrage of comments, all justified in the usual non duality lingo. Boring.
The thing is, all you need is one good taste of naked awareness and things begin to flow differently. Coming out of the stagnant waters of intellectualizing everything is full of fresh insights, which nurtures the resonance of being.
Such words only stir up ‘feelings’ of ‘not getting it’ for those bound to the mind.
But as we keep saying, the answer is not in the mind.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:10:30 +0000

C’mon, old boy, have a go! You’re the only reason I read this site. Refer to the top menu item of your UGC mission statement — entertainment.

I don’t understand or “believe” a lick about what’s being spoken of here. But, you… I like.

Just using some of the Non Dual jargon I picked up while hanging around here over the past couple weeks.

It’s undeniable there’s incredible intelligence running the whole show. Just because the naked eye doesn’t pick up the molecular, atomic, charmed quark substrata — or global, galactic, and universal perspective, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

Although we don’t have to “believe” it, a person’s ego is much like currency in this world — or dream, if you like. Does one have humility, or are they a pretentious and clueless jackass? That’s why folks have anxiety: there IS a separation “in the appearance.”

To paraphrase Gil’: the comments section is an excellent forum for airing doubts.

Oily and warm,
Vlad

SWEEP!

By: Soul

Soul — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:01:38 +0000

consciousness displaying some ‘knowledge’
which, to who I am,
doesn’t mean a thing…

there’s no one to GET IT
no one ever did
no one ever will…

consciousness having fun!!!

By: Morgan

Morgan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:09:22 +0000

“I am.”

“I am who?”

“You are the awareness in which everything arises.”

Love.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:39:57 +0000

“Who’s there?”

By: Soul

Soul — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:31:23 +0000

Morgan wrote: “Who is there to be earnest? A thought image?”

This question comes from reading
Nisargadattas words about earnestness right?

Who is asking this question?
We can sound like owls if we like…
who? who?
asking the ‘who’ question….

haha!

Doesn’t make one more or less what we already are….

By: Robin

Robin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:07:50 +0000

“Humor is the affectionate communication of insight.”
-Leo Rosten

By: Vlad

Vlad — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:35:50 +0000

So there’s nothing to get, and no one to get it. AWARENESS simply IS.

I like that Kimo at least attempts to break up the seeming monotony. Yes, there’s an accumulation of thought patterns indexed and stored in invisible memory that likes it.

So the “desire to be earnest” is only a thought arising in awareness? You’re not the thought, much like you’re not the pungent smelling asparagus pee — or the smelling for that matter.

You are THAT which registers these patterns prior to the translating mind. The thought “I wish Non-Duality offered better answers” is only a conditioned mind response appearing in AWARENESS.

YOU ARE THAT. Damn, I wish this pronouncement made life rosy and shiite…

By: Morgan

Morgan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:23:08 +0000

“Knock-knock”

By: Kimo (Jim)

Kimo (Jim) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:40:22 +0000

Yes, God forbid somebody posts a non-duality knock-knock joke or a “what did the guru say” riddle! We must constantly remember this is serious business and the seeker likes to remain in agony. We cannot risk getting “off-topic” and making him laugh. He may forget his misery for awhile in a heartfelt full-stop belly-laugh and lose his focus on getting some “attainment” in reading one dry post after another.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:54:15 +0000

“I (Atma) am formless, unblemished, pure, spotlessâ€¦I have no birth and deathâ€¦whatever mind says, I am not like thatâ€¦his or her earnestness being the only deciding factor (in realizing self).”

Who is there to be earnest? A thought image?

By: milton

milton — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:17:24 +0000

Some gleanings from the Neti-Neti audio- thanks G for moving consciousness in this direction of greater accessibility:

I (Atma) am formless, unblemished, pure, spotless…I have no birth and death…whatever mind says, I am not like that…his or her earnestness being the only deciding factor (in realizing self).

Kimo: “Present Awareness just IS. Full stop. Donâ€™t take it any further.” Amen

G: “You are not the â€˜doerâ€™ but for â€˜once in your lifeâ€™ this singular ACT must be put into Action.” Those words have got me full stopped, the mind can’t compute them, but something does.

By: kale

kale — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:32:48 +0000

point noted…and understood…thanx…

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:24:09 +0000

The policy of this website is to keep things relatively clear of obscurities and ‘personal issues’. Some entertaining material is allowed to stay but anything off the beam will be deleted. No one is going to want to plow through masses of nit picking trash.

By: Kimo (Jim)

Kimo (Jim) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:04:23 +0000

Being present and aware is not a “hobby” or an “attainment” for a non-dual seeker.
Being present and aware is unavoidable; even more so than breathing.
The only hobby on display is wanting to be a character.
And that includes wanting to be a character who understands awareness.
Forget about it.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:42:58 +0000

The only pointer that is worth its salt, is the one that STOPS the mind dead in its tracks. The enjoyment of pointers is just indulgence in the same old mind crap. Excuse my bluntness, I can't help it. On the question about Donations: This website is a free service. Anyone and everyone can listen without paying for any of it. No one here is pushing the donation 'point' onto anyone. Enough. Well done for getting this far.

By: Mike in SF

Mike in SF — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:27:42 +0000

Jim,

I for one have really been enjoying your pointers lately.

Thanks,
Mike

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:40 +0000

Keep the mind close to this immediacy – don’t let it wander off into the maze of mind stuff.

It is Only the so-called ‘mind’ that seemingly, SEEMINGLY, SEEMINGLY DIVIDES This Clear Space of Knowing.

Even if you look for this mind, it can’t be found – yet what is the instrument used – to look for it?

There is NO duality, NO duality, NO duality, NO duality……. in Non Duality.

Full Stop.

By: stephen met

stephen met — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:50:36 +0000

” When you find that this intimate awareness that you call â€œyoursâ€ belongs to no â€œyouâ€, then the question of other awarenesses dissolves “.

Thanks K

By: Kimo (Jim)

Kimo (Jim) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:42:26 +0000

“Are suffering thoughts trace-able to the assumed existence of a separate me? A separate independent entity THAT I CANNOT FIND AND SAY THIS IS ME” (Bill East)

Present Awareness. “Nobody” on this site denies it–confused or not. Pristine no matter what. Isn’t that Great??!!

The only wrinkle is the “yeah buts”. Yes, I am present and aware but I am suffering. Yes, I am present and aware, but if I’m the only awareness, how come I don’t feel so supreme/ultimate or know this other guy’s awareness or know every fact and figure some other guy/the multitude knows?

1. Are you really suffering? Does awareness ever suffer or is there just a story appearing about a suffering character and feelings of pain or what we label as suffering thoughts? Are you really this suffering character that appears in the knowing? If you see that the character appears in the knowing, you wouldn’t know that unless you were the knowing. The object, character thought, body never knows/knew anything.

2. How about this guy’s awareness? That question will go away when you recognize this awareness that you assume is “yours” (the separate character who does things in the world and has a chance at “enlightenment”). When you find that this intimate awareness that you call “yours” belongs to no “you”, then the question of other awarenesses dissolves. If you said “hey, wait a minute, how come it’s not mine?” Think about it, and if you find an entity who owns the knowing….where does that entity appear? As something doing the knowing or within the knowing? Answer that one for yourself.

Present Awareness just IS. Full stop. Don’t take it any further. It’s already un-confused now. Don’t even listen to the “full-time experts” or Monday morning quarterbacks who will come in afterward and nullify this post by saying it’s a dualistic/inaccurate/misleading story which just leaves you floundering and not knowing what intuition to trust. No need for competition; there’s enough bandwidth for everyone to speak and more than one teat to suckle for the thirsty. Pointing is pointing….

By: billtys

billtys — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:47:11 +0000

To pee…or not to pee? That is the question!

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:40:44 +0000

“Wherever it leads you, it will be a dream. The very idea of going beyond the dream is illusory. Why go anywhere?
ust realize that you are dreaming a dream you call the world, and stop looking for ways out.
The dream is not your problem. Your problem is that you like one part of the dream and not another.
When you have seen the dream as a dream, you have done all that needs be done.” – Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

By: tomvds

tomvds — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:32:48 +0000

Following a short conversation with Nisargadatta where he explains that ‘I AM’ is chemistry. And you are NOT that chemistry !

M:”When this being won’t be here anymore, then the Absolute won’t know the ‘I AM’.
Appearance and disappearance, birth and death, are the properties of being; they’re not your properties.
You have been peeing and the smell is arising – Are you that smell?”
Q: “No, I am not !”
M: “This being is something like pee. Are you that being? ”
Q: “Definitely not !”
M: “You don’t have to do Sadhana any more. For you the words of the Guru are the last.”

From the book “Consciousness and the Absolute” (29th July 1980)

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:27:06 +0000

There is a contact point on the main page near the donation tab. If you have suggestions for the UGC, please write them to us. Placing links on the comment pages for such purposes is not necessary, Thank you.
Looks like Neti Neti Films have been inspired to share some tapes they have of Nisargadatta’s meetings. Excellent. A link to the first one is on the Program Title section of this program. No doubt the Urban Guru Cafe has prompted some action. Well done boys – Life is Beautiful.

By: billtys

billtys — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:59:18 +0000

Seeing is immediate, right now…it is presence awareness.

At any mini nano point “in time” there is no comparison, no evaluation, no labelling…just instantaneous and immediate direct cognition…no time and no space…

Awareness of the present…that which is present right now!

The mind joins all the “nows” up via the memory…but all there is, is right now.

Even if the mind is recalling an event…it is right now…it is in this moment…it can only be immediate…and now.

How can anyone see what happened a second ago…or a year ago…

Even in remembering your childhood, you are recalling it right now and the recall is fresh and ever new…

How could “anyone” NOT see what is pointed to? It is happening right now…that is all there is…nothing else!

The imagined entity does not “get” this…the reference point or the ego or the body/mind configuration is a phantom and does nothing.

The seeing/knowing/awareness is what is happening right now…not for an individual. Illumination simply occurs…

Prior to the seer and the seen, the seeing is happening. The seeing is the natural state…and there is only seeing.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:34:08 +0000

SEEING is happening. There is no ‘seer’.
So ‘who’ is it that doesn’t get it? It is all ‘pointing’ – some direct and some ‘around a corner’.
If you ‘think’ you can’t see THIS, this ‘obviousness’ that is being pointed out, then investigate what it is that seemingly blocks the view.
Simple. Do it. Don’t go with the mind, when it says “Yes but who is going to do it?” That is just more mind delay tactics.

By: Charlie Hayes

Charlie Hayes — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:17:16 +0000

A GREAT piece of Nisargadatta audio courtesy of Maurizio at netineti films …
the LINK is now on the Program description page for this program plus the whole video of “Awaken to the Eternal”.

Editor: Thanks Charlie.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:01:29 +0000

I don’t get it. What do you mean by “So, who could possibly NOT see what is being pointed out?”

‘WHO could possibly see what is being pointed out’ is equally true, right…?

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:10:40 +0000

The Urban Guru Cafe has raised the Bar in this Guru Games – and almost all the teachers (of methods) are failing to make it over the top.
The direct message is revealing their shortcomings and hitting home directly without their input.
The direct message is hitting bullseye, it is hitting home. Don’t miss it.

Dualdave: The question about “is it an event or not an event?” is an excellent question.
The problem is, is the answer to this question an event or not an event?
Let me answer like this: A mirage is up ahead on the road. Looks like water there. You walk towards it and as you get closer it starts to dissolve.
Then it is gone altogether.
Now, has anything happened?
The vanishing of the ‘water’, was that an event? In the PRESENT ‘we’ NAME something as ‘an event’ – yet it has already gone, it is ‘past’.
Is the ‘anticipation’ of a predicted future event, an ‘event’?
“I am going to become enlightened” can NEVER eventuate.
Stick with me on this.
Was the appearance of ‘water’ an event?
‘When’ the recognition of our true nature ‘arises’ it is the dissolving of an appearance of being separate.
The IMPRESSIONS are definitely registering with a seeming chronological sequence – which is simply another series of impressions.
There APPEARS to be a before, a during and an after.
NOW, get this: The essential nature of recognition is SEEING-KNOWING.
Seeing-knowing is HERE NOW.
It can’t be anywhere other than THIS here and now.
The Immediacy of here and now is NOT an event – Nothing is happening – NO THING is HAPPENING.

So, now you KNOW – WHY postulate a ‘time’ when there was ‘not knowing’?

All seeming events are composed of impressions, a movement in consciousness.
THAT which REGISTERS all movement is absolutely STILL.

As Nisargadatta expressed it so beautifully: “When I see that I am nothing, that is wisdom – when I see that I am everything, that is love – my life moves between these two”.

So, who could possibly NOT see what is being pointed out?

The teacher and the pupil are truly one and the same – as the impressions registering, they appear to be separate.

“What use are names when reality is so near?”.

Exactly. Names are from memory – that immediate registering of all impressions, needs no names to be what it is. The word ‘event’ loses it fascination.

Does this mean I can now take a break?
Probably not. Someone will say “I don’t get it”. “What do you mean by……….etc”

By: suki

suki — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:37:14 +0000

“Look closely and you will see that all names and forms are but transitory waves on the ocean of consciousness, that only consciousness can be said to be, not its transformations. In the immensity of consciousness a light appears, a tiny point that moves rapidly and traces shapes, thoughts and feelings, concepts and ideas, like the pen writing on paper. And the ink that leaves a trace is memory. You are that tiny point, and by your movement the world is ever re-created. Stop moving and there will be no world. Look within and you will find that the point of light is the reflection of the immensity of light in the body, as the sense “I am”. There is only light, all else appears. To the mind, it [that light] appears as darkness. It can be known only through its reflections. All is seen in daylight – except daylight. To be the point of light tracing the world is turiya. To be the light itself is turiyatita. But of what use are names when reality is so near?”

Source:I AM THAT~ by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

By: Tj

Tj — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:18:59 +0000

“I was watching one of the Eckhart Tolle videocasts with Oprah. He said a couple of things that were very clear. He would not say such things unless the experiencing had happened.
What is puzzling is, why all these stories and so much fodder for the mind to play mind games with.”
***
Have him on and ask him.

An easy, lucrative living. Did he have a career/job skills before? People willingly pay for those expensive meetings and retreats. All part of ‘what is’, right?

By: dorothy hoffman

dorothy hoffman — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:15:33 +0000

The mind probably has an idea of what freedom should feel like; but it is only an idea. An “event” can only appear and disappear…in this clear space of knowing…

By: Morgan

Morgan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:58:35 +0000

If I may Dave, no event is needed to be what you are. “Fireworks” are not necessary, no experience or perception will make you more or less what you are. The crux of this whole “problem” lies in seeing who you are FROM YOUR OWN DIRECT EXPERIENCE. Forget what anyone else has said (including science which tells us that we are a physical body in a material universe and that consciousness is materially based). The mind will never figure it out. Throw out all of the ideas of bodies, minds, worlds, etc and what is present, right now? If you look at it from direct experience, the body and the world are just a series of intermittent sense impressions. The “mind” is a series of thoughts that appear then disappear so, what is constant? Who do these transitory impressions occur to?

By: dualdave

dualdave — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:17:05 +0000

What is, is, for sure. The only thing that could possibly change is the personal perception of what is. The assessment of what is, or a lack of any assessment.

Is ‘waking up’/enlightenment/’seeing things as they are’, etc. an event or not? The classic definition says that something ‘happens’, a shift of some kind occurs. There appear to be mixed messages from modern ‘teachers’ about this, and sometimes you’ll get the feeling it is an event an sometimes not from the same ‘teacher’.

It would appear (ha, ha) that there is a recognition of something ever present, and that recognition blows all these stupid, circular questions out the window.

‘I’ recognized something constant in this experience many years ago, before I started all this seeking crap. So many of the words seem to point to that, and it is undeniable, yet undefinable. It is apparently recognized, but the seeking and the personal story continue and apparently still carry weight (belief).

As a seeker, the ‘thing’ that continues coming into view, after frustratingly trying to find ME/I, is the clear space that becomes evident when I look inward. Literally cast my gaze inward. The mind all but stops and there is a subtle but undeniable peace. ‘Look inward’ is a constant refrain in all this spitual literature, and it *seems* like I see what is pointed out, but the fascination with mental crap continues.

‘I’ don’t know if it is the lack of ‘the event’ happening or just fascination with the personal story that keeps this going.

I didn’t mean for this to be so long winded, but hopefully others will be able to relate or even better offer insight.

Thanks Gilbert for your efforts, and everybody else for sharing where they are coming from.

By: Lev

Lev — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:04:24 +0000

Don’t forget to put down “THIS IS IT” on your bedroom door! Yes,THIS IS IT,it can’t be other way!

By: Morgan

Morgan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:55:12 +0000

A few things I didn’t like about the movie (btw – thanks to the person who posted it) is that “enlightenment” is discussed once or twice (who could become enlightened except an imagined entity?) and that the idea of time (process) is brought in a few times, mostly by the people interviewed. I don’t think that one can gradually “get this” – it is either seen or it isn’t. I guess the self image can imagine time needed to become something but it all still happens in present awareness.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:38:07 +0000

It seems it’s OK to talk in relative terms sometimes, as long as the the underlying reality is understood. If not, it all becomes semantic play – “Let’s see who can out Advaita-speak the other one.” All words are relative. The description shouldn’t be confused with what is described. Of course there is no future and therefore no hope and fear. Of course there is noone to wish well or ill. Of course none of this is really necessary or important but this image is wishing that image well. Thanks again.

By: Charlie Hayes

Charlie Hayes — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:57:34 +0000

Sri Nisargadatta’s words are a potent solvent for the fictional “entity that never was” … and hope? Hope is icing on a turd … sweet sugar hiding despair. Oh well … Is IS and That’s THAT …… … this end-game, it’s kind of a disappearing of what is not … in a lovely way.

LOVE this bit from “Awaken To The Eternal”: “Your own self is your ultimate teacher (sadguru). The outer teacher (Guru) is merely a milestone. It is only your inner teacher, that will walk with you to the goal, for he is the goal.”

You can watch the entire video via a link on the program description page on UGC

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:52:53 +0000

Well ‘hope’ is a little like a dream of the future. Those who are moved to donate may not be able to afford to. Those who can afford to support this incentive may do so now and then. It isn’t about money and should never stoop so low as to be about money. However, there are costs to be covered and ‘personal time’ that gets eaten away by an increasing ‘demand’ on keeping this thing floating and as a vibrant site.
We are only a little over a year old, so it is ‘early days’. The popularity has already surpassed any of my own expectations. What is truly heart warming is to see how many are resonating with the ‘pointers’. I see this as a new ‘phase’ of getting the message ‘out there’. Side stepping the ‘group’ mentality and bringing the clear pointers into thousands of homes around the globe. I get emails from very remote places, from all over this planet. The days of the ‘privileged few’ are over and the message is spreading far and wide.
There will be those who want to pull my words apart and denigrate what I have just said.
But I ask them “What have you done to spread the clear message lately?”
It is the easiest thing to be critical and down on things. When asked to help out, they run and hide, too busy with their own problems. Which, by the way they seem to be very good at creating for themselves.
This podcast is for everyone, regardless of color or creed, religious beliefs or plain old ‘ordinary people’. No one can predict when or how a recognition of one’s own true nature can ‘happen’. I get plenty who write and thank me for my ‘efforts’ and plenty who write and ‘have a go’ at me. The ‘ego ridden’ mind sees (imagines) ego everywhere.
And there is no ego – not one, anywhere. It is all a fiction.
As they say in Monty Python: “Nudge nudge, wink wink – Say no more”.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:13:14 +0000

Agreed. I hope that people that enjoy this site as much as I do will donate. Thank you and keep up the good work.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:06:39 +0000

The clarity is yours. Everything IS Clear and Obvious.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:43:55 +0000

UGC = my favorite podcasts ever. Thanks for the clarity.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:12:25 +0000

Conceptualizing IS thought. Belief in thought as being something with some substance is the seeming problem. For whom?
WHO is enticed?
Only because of this ‘long standing’ belief in being a ‘person’. It has not been seriously questioned. As soon as it is brought into question, it immediately starts to fall apart.
If this opening up does not happen, then it is just mind games going on. Be the seeing only.
A thought cannot see.
Where is the seeing taking place?
That is all you need to investigate. Do it until it opens up.
The tight and limited view is the ‘me’. It is like looking through a hole in the fence.
While the vastness of the open sky is ignored.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:17:41 +0000

Conceptualized thought is so enticing (magnetic) hypnotic…

It’s like a giant sticky note right on the frontal lobe or some shit.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:42:41 +0000

Look it up in a dictionary or on Wikipedia. Not sure what you are getting at. It is just a point of view, the scientists, looking for extra-terrestrial intelligence. Theis Planet is teeming with intelligence, miraculous expressions of it. Animals, insects, plant life and a whole array of life forms. In the appearance of things, ‘we’ are arrogant and exploit all the natural resources beyond our needs. ‘We’ are hungry for power over nature and so we deny our own true nature. ‘We’ even want to control the weather. ‘We’ introduce species into places that they don’t belong to serve our short term requirement and havoc sooner or later it bites back a thousand fold. ‘We’ play God with Nature.
It is all just the way it appears. It can’t be any different. The tyrant is self-centered activities. ME, me, me, mine, mine, mine.
I am just stirring up the pot again. See what comes to the surface. Self-importance is an act of ‘excluding’ – it is just the sense of separation playing itself out in another form.
‘We’ hunger for ever new experiences and are never satisfied because the ‘me’ is fragile and vulnerable. It requires constant maintenance otherwise it starts to get shaky.
We think that some new experience is going to do the trick. All the while the immediate experiencing is not noticed.
Be conscious of this consciousness – then all of these ‘matters’ resolve themselves naturally. It isn’t about find some ultimate concept that is going to resolve every problem.
The answer is not in the mind. So stop looking there for one.

P.S. Dorothy, your email address does not work. Please contact me via my email address.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:31:15 +0000

What’s sentient? Just bringing this down to basics.

As in reference to, “What is so bad about being the ONLY Planet that has Sentient beings?”

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:25:17 +0000

Remove the story and what is left?
What IS.
No matter what condition the body is in, it is consciousness expressing itself.
The bugs that plague mankind are life forms. Who says that ‘man’ is more important than any other life form? ‘We’ think we are so important.
Scientists scan the heavens with every conceivable instrument, searching for another planet like ours. Why? If we ever found one with similar life forms, would we be a peaceful friend? Would we be like pirates and plunder their resources? We have already plundered our own planet.
If this new planet was immaculate, we would all line up to move there.
“We F….d up our own planet, now we can come and wreck yours”.
Are ‘we’ alone in the Universe?
What is so bad about being the ONLY Planet that has Sentient beings?
All this kind of mental gymnastics is simply the way the pattern appears, as thoughts, ideas and images.
Like a Fractal Pattern, it is all here in the immediate and obvious nature of things.
As above, so below.
The Macro IS the Micro. The Micro IS the Macro. They are just reflections of the one pattern. The scale of the view can change. SEEING is unaltered.
If you cease to tell your sad story to yourself, even for just one day, it may dawn on you that you are not this body, nor the content of mind.
True compassion is not about soothing the sense of separation. True compassion may be ruthless in exposing that there is NO separation.
All it takes is one ‘wave of relief’ from that incessant belief in me and it can all wash away.
Pain in the body is so much more bearable if you stay with the immediacy.
Psychological pain is the story of me – which is a resistance to WHAT IS.

By: big john

big john — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:53:01 +0000

Hi Gilbert, it seems to this apparent entity that what is being pointed to is known, that this entity is seen by that which remains unseen and Iam That. However when what manifests is not only the suffering in mind but in body also there is deep disastifaction with what is.
Its also seen that the search is driven by the above perpetual appearances, which seem to create continuity. If the appearance ( as in illness) can not be changed which would bring relief, then the suffering remains and illness fuels the search in an never ending cycle. The “me” that writes this has not been found and is known not to exist, so why this apparent dilema.
Apart from suffering in silence is there a way to end the search for relief and the disatisfaction in what is. If you could comment or share some pointers in this it will be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.

By: Lev

Lev — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:49:19 +0000

Gilbert,
sorry to have turned back your stomach!:-)

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:42:05 +0000

THIS IS IT.

It can’t be any other way.

Chisel it in stone: THIS IS IT.

Years ago, after having this insight (this is it), I wrote these words on a big piece of paper and tacked it to my living room wall.
It caught my attention quite often and what it says could not be faulted.

Try it yourself.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:36:58 +0000

So this is it, right?

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:30:59 +0000

You heard it wrong dear Lev. I would rather shoot myself than have them on this site. Their names appearing is enough to turn my stomach (just kidding).
So, Kimo strikes again. Honed up the old bayonet and wham. Keeping the ‘machine’ well oiled and the barrel clean, pays off.
The competitive mind will ‘assume’ that there is a competition going on. I get accused of having the ‘last word’. I am just keeping the ball rolling and ‘potting the black’ whenever it is open for a shot.
No matter what anyone says, a guru or ‘sage’, a butcher or a baker – whatever they say can be pulled apart word by word – torn up into shreds.
There is only one factor that can’t be ripped apart – that is this activity of knowing.
Every expression is THAT. It can’t be any different.
An example of straightening up the way the balls are set on the table is:
It is incorrect to say that anyone knows that knowing is going on. That is a dualistic split.
You are the KNOWING – or simply put, Knowing is all that is happening. There is NO ‘knower’.
There is no separation.
When ‘the game is over’, everyone goes home for a hot cup of chocolate and a Tim Tam.
Do Tim Tams go on forever? You can go on rubbing that lamp till the cows come home, no genie is going to pop out and grant you three wishes.
But if but some miracle he does, tell him to drop a donation in for the Urban Guru Cafe. And NOT a pack of Tim Tams either.
(Tim Tams are chocolate covered dream biscuits)

By: Lev

Lev — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:27:16 +0000

Gilbert,
I’ve been heard that Andrew Cohen and Adyashanti will appear on UGC?
Why playing the Guru Game?

By: Kimo (Jim)

Kimo (Jim) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:59:35 +0000

Thoughts, concepts, objects don’t “know” anything. They appear “in” the knowing. You already know that there is a knowing “going on”. So, to be able to know that there is a knowing going on–what does that make you—(1) the knowing or (2) some transitory object like the body or particular thoughts that appear in the knowing? Pretty easy answer there–”the knowing”. And you didn’t have to do anything to BE THAT. You didn’t need to read one page, go to one Satsang, or spend one penny on your “development”. The only development or transformation is an assumed/perceived/conceptualized condition of objects taken to be ourselves. All throughout that maze of thoughts of becoming and “getting there”, we always were/are what had been sought.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:09:35 +0000

If you can ask a clear and precise question, then a clear and precise answer can be given. You have to do some ‘homework’. Get it clear what it is you need to clear up.
‘People’ get some IDEA about HOW ‘this’ should appear to be LIKE.
Many gurus play this ‘idea’ to the ‘enth degree because it keeps the seeker bound to an unattainable future time, when this mind projected ‘image’ will manifest.
It is a highly profitable ‘business deal’ and the guru can always ‘blame’ the customer, the seeker, for not being pure enough in intention or whatever they want to use as a lever.
It is all conceptualization.
The EXPRESSION that is immediately being expressed right NOW, right HERE where ‘you’ appear to be – is PERFECT.
Prior to the mind grabbing it and turning on itself with its habitual ‘ways’ – some sort of masochistic tendencies, before that – what is actually wrong with anything or about anything? Without a thought, you can’t say it is good or bad, right or wrong. Isn’t that significant?
Dogma is useless. Belief is useless. What good are beliefs if they bind the mind into a fictional representation of reality. Reality is not a belief.
Spirituality is nonsense. Religious doctrine is no different than the establishes rules of a Prison. The inmates are all fictional characters. The costume is different to be sure but the ESSENCE is singular. The seamless garment (no parts) is the manifest universe.
What you truly are has never manifested itself, except as the ‘whole appearance’.
Long and thin, short and black, fat and frumpy or just plain old cool and calm.
It is all one – or One is ALL.
May as well enjoy it. Psychological suffering is unnecessary. That is the main point being offered over and over. It is the top item on the Menu at this Cafe.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:09:59 +0000

The weird thing is, there’s people here that don’t give a bowels’ drop about the yogic, meditating, green, vegan, Whole Foods-shopping, elitist-pig malarkey. They just want quote-unquote answers, you know?

I’m one of those people. Yes, yes — there’s “no people.” “Intelligence here” gets that… OK.

But I do find myself, however Advaita-incorrectly, constantly here at the UGC drinking Uncle Gil’s iced Kool-Aid cappuccino.

What’s up with that?

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:07:01 +0000

Intelligence in action. It is true that because Nisargadatta is well known and thousands have the book “I am That”, these programs may deliver the message more efficiently – simply because more may take the time to listen – to ‘hear it’.
Maharaj was not interested in being famous and I see the same ‘attitude’ with Bob Adamson. When I ‘discovered’ Bob he was an unknown ‘gem’. On the scale of things, he still is relatively unknown.

The basic message is not directed at the masses. The mass consciousness is often gross and hypnotic in behavior. Give them enough space and time and they will form into opposing groups and then try to kill each other. Give them a uniform and a manufactured ‘purpose’ and endless trouble ensues. Tribal consciousness can operate on a very gross level – Hypothalamus. Football is not much different to Religion. It all serves a purpose, or does it? Is it just mass psychosis gone wild all over a bag of wind (ball) being chased about on a cow paddock trying to score a win. What is it but some exercise and fun? But things turn nasty and very serious, over what?
During war times, everyone says “God is on Our side”. Bollocks. Dream on soldiers of misfortune.
As soon as you take sides, the battle has begun.
When all the aggression is spent and the dead bodies have rotted back into the ground, the ‘battle field’ is peaceful. The grass grows all by itself and the bluebird flits from tree to tree without a single concept about ‘me’ to disturb its perfect flight.
So I say to you: “May the Blue-Bird of Happiness fly up your nose”.
and “May a big fat elephant step on your toes”
Whatever is necessary, to bring about this recognition – it is VALID.

Innovative – Entertaining – Informative and Controversial………
The Urban Guru Cafe is totally free – the best show in town. Babbling ‘experts’ are banned.
Why would you want to go back to those ‘tight’ atmospheres of endless Satsangs with that Trickster Guru of yours?
He is telling you bullshit, about time and deliverance. It is so manipulative but his designer wardrobe isn’t cheap and do you know how much those sunglasses cost?
My God, you could buy a small house with that amount. Ha…….
The most destructive force in the universe is ‘gossip’.…….”Did you hear about what is going on at……..?” – “You won’t believe it. Well, you know that so and so has been flirting with……so and so…..well, I heard it on the grape vine, that……blah blah blah……add infinitum.

By: gilbert.

gilbert. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:04:28 +0000

There is no duality in non duality.
We label ‘things’ and things are not things. Form is formless.
It is all movement – it is all consciousness.
The discussion brings fresh opportunities to recognize your true nature.
The recognition is ALWAYS unexpected. Once it arises, it is irreversible.
The stillness and the silence of the Universe is far too obvious for the mind.
Look out into the heavens at night………vast stillness, expansive silence.
A plane emerges from the distance, travels towards you. It roars past and disappears into thin air again a hundred miles away. Silence returns? No.
The collective noise of a city merges into a humm at a thousand meters. A few miles up, nothing much is heard.
All thoughts appear in the clear and empty mind.
All sounds appear in the clear and empty silence.
All appearances appear in the clear and empty ‘Space of Knowing’.

What benefit can there be in any of it – for whom?

This is not some religion. This is total liberation.
Why pretend to want liberation? The spiritual life style club, so popular in places like California is shallow, meaningless, like traffic noise.