Comments on: 68. Randall Friend – Undefinable

By: gilbert

gilbert — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:22:41 +0000

It is obvious that some are convinced about the noble path. Good. Let them walk it if they can actually find it.
It is all in your mind.
The concept about ‘enlightenment’ is also in your mind. Where else could it be?
Whatever you believe is keeping you from that conceptual enlightenment, then that is also in your mind.
So why not remove the obstacle and then tell us about this enlightement – for surely with the obstacle removed enlightenment will surely flourish.
“Oh, but it isn’t that simple” I can almost hear in reply.
The truth is always simple.
It is the mind that complicates everything.
The dreamer cannot wake up because the dreamer is the dream.
Are you not awake right now?
So….be that wakefulness and stop loading it down with dreams about ‘enlightenment’.
With respect – Gilbert.

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By: Ewa

Ewa — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:38:53 +0000

I love you All!
It is such a joy to Love.
Boundless Love
Unconditional Love, blissful oneness, no me no you no one hehehe
Just pure Love.
Big loving hug to you all from Poland

Rate it! +9

By: Scarfox

Scarfox — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:29:45 +0000

The eightfold path is 7 or 8 steps to many. All of the eightfold path is, if anything, is a result of seeing your true nature which is seeing. Anyone who tries to follow some eightfold path is just pretending to do what is so called ‘right’, and it would be done by a ‘person’ anyway.

Rate it! -3

By: fernando

fernando — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:01:38 +0000

«There isn’t a multitude to vote yay or nay to what is.»
What is is what you are. What you are is what is. One without a second. Inescapable !!

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By: anatta

anatta — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:14:31 +0000

Great post Gilbert.

Reality is not a consensual “experience”. There isn’t a multitude to vote yay or nay to what is. THAT WHICH IS appears as all forms and perceptions. There is nothing apart from that. Self-realization is inescapable – there is only self.

Rate it! -4

By: gilbert

gilbert — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:19:16 +0000

One without a second cannot, CANNOT be folded into 2 or 3 noble paths.
The 8 noble paths are nothing but an appearance – 1 sheet of paper folded into neat or clumsy creases, insubstantial lines upon emptiness.
The mind can follow any of these ‘creases’ without ever leaving this immediate presence, this Immediate Actuality.

What is being pointed to here is beyond the minds dualistic tendencies.
The revelation overthrows every notion about traditions and even their leaders are revealed to be nothing but appearances in this Immediate Knowing – this thoughtless reality – THAT, which the mind translates as the words ‘I AM’.
In the immediate knowing there is no one to be humble or proud of this pure functioning, this empty, naked awareness.
There is no one to claim anything whatsoever.
It is sometimes called ‘The Great Liberation’ or simply ‘Self-Liberation’.
It is not the liberation of a self.
It is the liberation from the belief in being a ‘self’. The mind will make a meal out of such information. It will create all kinds of noble activities – but WHO for? It is all self-centered activity. How can such activity free the self – it only perpetuates the belief in being a separate entity.

So, what is being pointed to is totally radical for the mind – and all stories about someone being liberated are just stories for the mind to play with – affirm or deny. The seeking goes on and on because the core belief has not been cut aside.

The (no) thing that everyone misses (so it seems) is that this liberation is already completely actualized. (The minds reaction is to deny – “NO” springs forth in all its Glory. Backed up by all the myriad aspects of the ‘story of me’. “I am not there YET”…..etc.

yet what we are talking about is – Non Duality – ONE without a second.
You are THAT, whether ‘you’ know it or not.
There is NO duality in Non Duality.

The mind can affirm the actuality or deny the actuality – it makes absolutely no difference because the IMMEDIATE ACTUALITY does not rely on the mind. The TRUE nature of mind is EMPTINESS.
(and isn’t that what the Buddha discovered?)

All the Buddhists in all the world can band together and shout out NO – they can try as hard as they can to deny the ‘truth’ about their 8 Noble paths and that sound of ‘NO”, that shouting, will return into the Universal Silence of Pure Being.
In their attachment to denial, they can repeat that ‘No’ over and over until they turn to dust. What is achieved?
Silence and Emptiness swallows up every sound and every appearance.
NO HARM DONE.

The only Reason you are HERE is to realize your true nature.
Fabricated affirmations by the mind and attachment to erroneous beliefs is all useless.

How amusing to see the thumbs down climbing in numbers.
The Robe and the Begging Bowl are symbols. What is passed on?
The Robe is the covering up of Naked Awareness. The Bowl is already EMPTY.
WHO begs? For WHAT?

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By: Mahamati

Mahamati — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:06:00 +0000

Linda,

The Buddhist teachings are marked by what is so often spoken of as “skillful means”. The Buddhist Sutras (scriptures) contain the entire spectrum, from devotion to emptiness, in order to benefit all sentient beings, of all capacities and spiritual inclinations!

The Sutra of the Sixth Zen Patriarch (Hui Neng) clearly addresses this. When both rivals and patriarch candidates posted their gathas (verses) on the wall so that the master could evaluate their level of understanding it went as follows:

The first verse, posted by the favorite candidate:

The body is a Bodhi (enlightenment) tree,
the mind a standing mirror bright.
At all times polish it diligently,
and let no dust alight.

The response of the master to the disciples was: “Practice according to this gatha, you will not fall into the evil realms, and you will receive great benefits. Light incense and pay respect to this gatha, recite it and you will see your essential nature.” All the disciples praised and memorized the gatha.

But privately he told the candidate: “You have arrived at the gate, but haven’t entered it. With this level of understanding, you still have no idea what the supreme Bodhi (enlightenment) mind is. Upon hearing my words, you should immediately recognize the original mind, the essential nature, which is unborn and unceasing. At all times, see it clearly in every thought, with the mind free from all hindrances. In the One Reality, everything is real, and all phenomena are just as they are.”

The second verse, posted by the illiterate aborigine, Hui Neng:

Bodhi (enlightenment) originally has no tree.
The bright mirror also has no stand.
Fundamentally there is not a single thing.
Where could dust arise

The master then told him: “If one recognizes the original mind and the original nature, he is called a great man, teacher of gods and humans, and a Buddha.” He passed the robe and begging bowl as a symbol of the Dharma Seal of Sudden Enlightenment to Hui Neng. “

What you find here is the ultimate teaching, pointing directly at this “Fundamentally there is no single thing”, at the UNBORN and UNCEASING, NO THING that you already are! Randall clearly and beautifully expresses this in his highly recommended book “You Are No Thing.” He also has several scriptures in his blog “You are Dreaming,” including the Diamond Sutra, which speaks brilliantly to the innefable.

Whatever resonates and speaks to your heart… There are no formulas, no rules and no prediction around the myriad ways in which this recognition can apparently occur.

By: Randall Friend

Randall Friend — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:28:19 +0000

Discover what is duality – thingness – then see if a question can arise that doesn’t already assume duality. See the inherent duality in any question.

“How can I discover what I am?” Isn’t this question relying on duality itself? How can a nonexistent entity discover anything? It assumes there is a stand-alone “I” or individual, who exists apart from what IS or reality or oneness or totality, who can then, through various ways, discover something. If there is oneness or totality, is there an individual apart from it who then discovers it? So that basic idea of “thingness” IS the idea of the individual. That basic idea IS the limitation. That basic idea IS the seeking, IS the duality itself. That basic idea assumes the opposite of THAT which it is trying to discover. Yes?

Pull out the duality from the question – I AM remains. Yet even that implies duality – because I AM, in mind, assumes all that I AM NOT. That is the world. That basic “thought” I AM must find some”where” or some”thing” to stand on. That I AM then stands upon the body, the mind – that is what is called identification – from there the beliefs run off in imagination – I am a person, I am an individual…

That I AM, to mind, is some “thing”. As a thing it must have all that is not I AM. Yet that I AM points to something which isn’t a “thing” at all, which isn’t conceptual. Something which is ever-present.

What is that I AM that is always here? It’s YOU. It’s your presence, your Self. It is the pure subjective knowing, aware of even the most subtle sensations which are conceptualized or labeled as “body”.

So Nisargadatta said – “stay with the I AM” – remain with that presence – that presence which cannot be objectified – which doesn’t change – which never leaves. Remain with that most basic knowledge that you ARE, that you exist. That wakefulness or aliveness. Strip off the duality and remain with that pure nonconceptual and indescribable being-ness.

Then notice that any question about it assumes that it’s a thing. And as a thing, it must be limited. See that limitation or bondage is inseparably woven into that idea that what you are is a thing-among-things.

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By: Will

Will — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:02:25 +0000

“RIGHT VIEW” – just figure out this first one and the rest of this shit will sort itself out..

(from mojo1000.com – “eightfold path now available in fun size”)

Rate it! -2

By: fernando

fernando — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:51:56 +0000

SEEING (what you are) is Non-Conceptual.
The Buddhist Eigthfold Path is a concept, a BELIEF.
SEE this belief.

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By: linda

linda — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:18:11 +0000

Hi Gilbert,
I suppose the reason I ask what now, is because I am also looking into buddhist teachings. The view of no self/emptiness I see hear at UGC, could be similiar to what was taught as the right view in buddhism.
Buddha did not stop at right view he also taught the eightfold path which was a path of non-doing for the non-doer.

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By: gilbert

gilbert — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:31:01 +0000

What now? Meaning what do I do now? or what happens next?
The belief that ‘I am the doer’ can be seen through.
Witness that events happen – deeds are done and that there is no entity that is doing anything.
Be the witness of whatever is happening.
You may observe movements happening – the fridge door opens, some milk is taken out. The milk is poured into a vessel. The milk is replaced into the fridge. The door closes. Walking is observed. Sitting is observed.
There is actually no entity moving about in the world doing things.
Seeing whatever is happening, without the habit of believing in being a person ‘doing’, is empty of an habitual burden.
This SEEING is always happening, prior to what the mind ‘makes of it’. This SEEING is here now. It IS the immediacy of seeing.
There is a peace beyond understanding, which is the natural functioning intelligence – it is not mind.
Seeing in this way does not mean that life comes to a halt or that anything is gained or lost.
The weight or burden of psychological suffering eases away, is not here any more, and it is not missed or hankered for.
The open view cannot be contrived by the mind.
It is simply noticed. The relief is significant but no story is necessary, no making a new drama out of it is necessary.

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By: zenclouded

zenclouded — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:00:19 +0000

I also have to admit that I see the source too, the natural spring, but it disappears as the layers of thought take over and devour the clearness, like waves it comes and goes . . . it really does appear that some attention is required, however I’ve (the me the greater me combined) seen the clearness and know there is nothing I can do . . . I have the answers and the frustration!

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By: linda

linda — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:43:48 +0000

OK. What now?

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By: gilbert

gilbert — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:46:24 +0000

The true nature of mind is clear and empty.
‘We’ take the mind’s translation as being reality and miss the underlying ‘truth’ of all things.
The signature of all things is silent emptiness. The origin of every thought is emptiness.
If there is no awareness of this emptiness, then the ‘objects’ are taken to be real and independent ‘things’.
This clear and present awareness is emptiness.
‘We’ place a label onto it – ‘me’ and then ‘we’ refer every other thing to this ‘me’ and judgment ‘takes place’.
What needs to be recognized is that the minds translations, no matter how refined or how crude they are, they are all emptiness expressing itself.
The wisdom that ‘everyone’ is looking for is IN the Knowing.
Uncluttered by identified consciousness.
The ‘me’ can never be the clear understanding because it cannot truly know anything – it is merely mind translations, words, images, memory and imagination.
If there is a resistance to this pointing – then SEE it for what it is. It is the ‘me’ and the ‘me’ is the bondage of self.

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By: Sandy Jones

Sandy Jones — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:12:41 +0000

Hey Tomaz, thank you too–Yes, William Samuel is totally trustworthy and his book “A Guide To Awareness and Tranquillity” is one of the clearest and most honest books on Non-duality that anyone can ever read, no question. William has a way of writing that takes us to It directly—His work is kind of like music—Somehow his words get us to feel It for our selves, the sense of being shifts our perspective away from the ‘old man-limited-concept’ and moves us, lifts us up, opens the the Heart and we find ourself abiding in this Real and marvelous peace which is right here just awaiting our recognition– Anyway, lest I get carried away again– Thanks for the mention–I and the angels appreciate it.

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By: tomasz vanderspeed

tomasz vanderspeed — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:10:27 +0000

I love your posts Sandy, thanks!
I´m reading “Awareness and Tranquility” and find it very inspiring!
“This not deliberately trying to see or hear is the Unborn …” – Bankei

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By: Ronna

Ronna — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:31:17 +0000

More stick stirring, more podcasts does it get any better!? What more could ‘you’ possibly want or need!

Thanks Gilbert for always cutting through the huge piles of spiritual and intellectual ‘organic, compostable material’

Rate it! -5

By: Ronna

Ronna — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:33:20 +0000

There are some great John Wheeler podcasts here as well.

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By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:09:11 +0000

John Wheeler has a set of seven talks/interviews on his website under the heading ‘pointers.’ Enjoy.

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By: Sandy Jones

Sandy Jones — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:50:15 +0000

Understood when interpreted from their subjective (non-dual) foundations these words make perfect sense to me: “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” I understand “God” and “Awareness” (this awareness right here)are the same, there is no difference between those two words) Therefore the statement means that Awareness, Consciousness, Diefic Mind is First and Last, Beginning and End–All, Total, Complete; There is nothing beyond This and nothing outside of This, and nothing more than This, and nothing bigger than this, and nothing that has any value greater than This—and Low and Behold, Awareness is ‘who and what we are’– There is nothing that can change this Fact, nothing that is going to harm this Fact, nothing that goes on Here as This Awareness that will make any difference to this All Inclusive Presence that is factually right here (without It, we would not aware right now)–Now Is being ‘every word and every thing from the Pleiades at the edges of the universe, and all the universes ‘beyond’ to every grain of sand from the Sahara to Newport Beach–All of it because Awareness Is All That Is. The Principle, First Truth which is Awareness (Godhead, The Beginning-less Beginning) cannot be altered by anything within it—Awareness is judgeless. It is Changeless.
So, we can easily establish that Awareness is before the ‘things’ (and thoughts are things)

Awareness does not judge–but the “old man of few days and full of trouble” is made of judgments, that’s his only gig, without judgments, he ceases to be.

All Knowing Godhead, Mind, Consciousness is the Light that ‘differentiates’ such as tree is not bird, bird is not branch, leaf is not sky (that is This Living Divine Intelligence being The world we experience, Intelligence knows what this is and what that is). However, we can see that Awareness does not judge the things within It, does not say ‘this leaf is prettier and this one is bad and I want to be rid of the ‘bad ones’—No, Awareness is Judgeless, and goes right on being aware, despite the many judgements of ‘man’ no matter how bad the fights can be within It, It remains Total, All and Judgeless– William Samuel comes up with the perfect analogy of this(and I think it has been used by many others since he wrote it) but Awareness is like the TV and the screen and everything on the TV screen does not affect the TV–a fire on TV does not harm the TV set, the bombs going off on the TV screen are images, harmless to the TV. The TV does not judge what the images are doing–

So, it is the same–Judgeless Awareness is just being aware right now and right here–

And another thing to notice, we cannot ever get away from or outside of This Awareness–It is The First and the Last—-It is Always Here and Always Now, and it does not go anywhere, no matter how much goes on within this Awareness, it cannot be doused out, frozen, turned off, shut down, blown up, or harmed or offended– nor is this Awareness altered or hampered or stopped from Being What It is, by any one or by anything or any words that pass across This All-That-Is, this Infinite, Living Presence -And I might add again; This Awareness is ‘who we are’—There is in fact ‘no other’ here–we are no other than this beholding Consciousness.

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By: gilbert

gilbert — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:45:38 +0000

It is the intelligence that you are that sees and hears.
There is only ONE seeing happening, ONE knowing happening.
The ‘me’ cannot see, hear or know anything.
The ‘me’ is nothing but the mind translating.
The translation is erroneously BELIEVED to be real – it is an assumption due to non investigation -thus the ‘me’ seems to be real.
So the drama of identified consciousness appears to be running the show- in control.
It is NOT and it can never DO a thing.
The relief is due to moments when the belief is suspended.
The true nature that you are can never be suspended or negated.

Rate it! +2

By: zenclouded

zenclouded — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:03:44 +0000

I have to admit that listening to these interviews clears the ‘mind’, and appears to provide some temporary relief – you might say rings a bell, that’s the enigma, the bell tolls for who?

Rate it! +3

By: gilbert

gilbert — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:16:44 +0000

Well my stirring stick has almost melted from the heat and friction on these pages. I am well aware that some comments really get up peoples noses. Funny thing is they keep coming back for more.
Well just as a bonus for all you disgruntled ‘players’ another program will soon appear. Or am I just teasing?
By the way, many of these spiritual types who get pissed off carry on about unconditional love all the time. What about unconditional love for Gilbert? Oh No. So, it is unconditional love except for Gilbert, Hitler, Starlin and umpteen other nasty folk.
Just stirring. Bye bye. I am having a break, remember.

Rate it! -1

By: admin

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:56:53 +0000

Richard Collings, from episode 67, will be attending, speaking and answering questions at the SL UGC meeting on Tuesday Jan. 19th – 7 PM Pacific time.

These meetings are live talks followed by question and answer. SL is not as difficult as it may seem. Jason and Randall are usually there, sometimes Kimo and Gilbert also. JD Hazlewood of the blog That Which Always IS,has also been attending, speaking, and answering questions.

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By: fernando

fernando — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:43:08 +0000

«Bad News: You Will Not Wake Up Tomorrow… Good News: You Will Not Wake Up Tomorrow. Sorry and congratulations.» (Vince Flammini)

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By: Jackson

Jackson — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:57:56 +0000

This is address to no one.

STOP looking at the man, Gilbert!

Instead “SEE” the source (You) from where the words flow. Everything done here is from love, with the intent of “stirring the pot,” to make egos bump together creating a scenario where grosser parts of the personality, such as jealousy, envy, the need for recognition or control, could be brought into the open and destroyed by “Your very own Grace”. Gilbert (not the man) just happens to be a bright light exposing the ego for the imposter it is.

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By: Joe Cap

Joe Cap — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:39:12 +0000

“P.S. It appears that the ’stirring of the pot’ is upsetting far too many readers – so I will ease back and focus on other things.”-

No, please don’t!
Full throttle Gilbert!
They can change the channel if they want fluff or to exercise intellectual debate BS- plenty of that ‘out there’.

Remember what God told you with the tears running off his beard Gilbert?
He’s sick of it too.

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By: suki

suki — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:15:33 +0000

Whether thought is present or absent. Something is still registering all of this. This Presence is ceaseless in all activities, it knows no rest, yet it is inexhaustible! There is no instant when its perfection is not.

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By: Scarfox

Scarfox — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:10:41 +0000

Ha, psychology hasn’t hindered ‘me’.

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By: anatta

anatta — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:40:29 +0000

There is no separate self – this is the essence of non-duality. If there is belief in an ego, then that is what is presently arising and it can’t be helped. All beliefs/thoughts fade – this is their defining characteristic. When thought subsides, what I AM is still present.

Love to all of you pants wetters.

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By: fernando

fernando — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:01:44 +0000

The FACT is, when you don’t think (and this occurs several times a day), there is no you, there is no Gilbert, there is no advaita, there is no UGC, there is no ‘right’, there is no ‘wrong’, there are no questions, there are no answers, there are no offences…

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By: gilbert

gilbert — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:32:49 +0000

This is not about psychology – not at all about psychology. In fact those with degrees in Psychology appear to have the most trouble with Non Duality. This is NOT about psychology or treatment, methods or practices. The SEEING THROUGH is not ’caused’ by anything. Seeing is already happening. The seeing does not change – what appears in the seeing constantly changes.
The Seeing in an ordinary being and the seeing in a so-called self-realized being is the very SAME seeing. Seeing is already ‘happening’.
What obscures the recognition?
Whatever stirs up the belief system can be an excellent opportunity to SEE what is going on. It can bring a fresh look at ‘things’ that are otherwise lurking in the shadows.
Nothing personal has been thrown at anyone.
When you know that there is no person there, then you will know that there is no person here. Until then the drama keeps unfolding as it does. The ONLY ’cause’ of the drama is belief in being a separate entity. You may not have noticed but that is what is being pointed out on this site, almost without a pause.
Getting offended just proves that there is a belief in being an entity.
As Wei Wu Wei says: (paraphrasing) “Why are you so unhappy? Isn’t it because everything you think, everything you do and say is for your ‘self’ – and there isn’t one”.
There is no self.

Well, ‘you’ may disagree strongly with the pointing at that ‘fact’ – but even in your own famous Logical terms, if there is truly no ‘you’, then what value can all the disagreement have?

P.S. It appears that the ‘stirring of the pot’ is upsetting far too many readers – so I will ease back and focus on other things.
If you feel that you have missed the boat so many times already, maybe the boat wont come back this way again.

Whatever you do, don’t panic.

“Me think that ye complaineth too much, Harold”.

Split decision... -3

By: gilbert

gilbert — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:30:45 +0000

There is NO person anywhere at all. Not one person exists in the manifestation called the universe. Knowing that dissipates the drama that you appear to have grabbed onto.
Where is the ‘person’ hiding behind a name? Can you separate awareness from the ‘identification with’ that ‘entity’.

Who is offended by words?
What ever you perceive going on here in a psychological sense is just the mind interpreting and giving meaning to it all. The drama of it all is in your own mind and nowhere else.
Your words don’t bother me in the slightest.

Whatever stirs up the belief system is good. It can bring a fresh look at ‘things’ that are otherwise lurking in the shadows.
Nothing personal has been thrown at anyone.
Thank you for your comment.
When you know that there is no person there, then you will know that there is no person here. Until then the drama keeps unfolding as it does.

Split decision... -3

By: gilbert

gilbert — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:44:10 +0000

Suggestion: Look closely at why you vote with a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Some vote with a thumbs down because they are disturbed by what has been written in a comment. Better to investigate WHO it is that is disturbed. This is not about getting comfortable in a laid back dozy state of mind – in a self-induced hypnotic state of mind.

P.S. If you are convinced that something is happening, then you have missed what is being pointed out.
The CLEAR VIEW is: Nothing is happening. There is no one doing the seeing-knowing.
This Seeing-Knowing is not a ‘happening’ – it is not an event in time or space.
Everything that appears, EVERYTHING that appears is merely an appearance.
The appearance has NO qualities and no abilities to DO or BE anything that could be independent from the pure COGNITION – which is NOT perceivable. ‘We’ conceptualize everything and so ‘create’ a fabricated problem that cannot be solved by the mind.

Who cares? It is only a ‘me’ that can have a problem – and that problem does not exist in REALITY.

If you cannot appreciate the directness present here, then please go somewhere else that is bearable for that ‘You’.
If you hang around here too long, you will surely be robbed of all of your beliefs.
Your protests about the UGC are invalid. It is ALL in your OWN mind.
If you perceive a problem then it is YOUR problem.
We facilitate the exposure of the projections of the mind – that is all. Blame us or praise us – it makes no difference.
Nothing is truly happening.

There is NO point in chasing after the messenger – if you don’t HEAR the message – if the impact does not register and ‘bring about’ a Clear Insight, then chasing after the messenger will not do much good. Look at what is stopping the HEARING from registering cleanly.

Split decision... -1

By: gilbert

gilbert — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:30:08 +0000

Looking for the I with the I is only thoughts appearing.
The ‘I’ CANNOT see.

That is why the mind chases itself in circles.

The mind stares at itself in the MIRROR like AWARENESS and tries to be the MIRROR.

If there is a genuine ‘wish’ to truly investigate, then the seeing WILL cut though the mind’s game of seeking.

In the SEEING there is NO seeking happening. BE the SEEING Only.
Let thought fall away.
This is so simple.

Many Indians cannot let go of the tradition they grew up in. They secretly IMAGINE that they have an advantage over the Westerners.
That ‘advantage’ is actually a blockage – one that they don’t notice.
An Indian will talk to many western ‘teachers’ looking for confirmation for his or her own beliefs.

P.S. Nisargadatta was very strict about the publication of his words (books). He would not allow the Indians to control the process of editing and publication because he knew that they would change his words to fit their own understanding – thinking that they were doing everyone a favor – making the teaching more accessible.
He held a special meeting each day for the local Indians where the ‘material’ presented was traditional. He played the role of traditional guru for the locals.
He said many times that he liked the Westerners because they were so open and willing to hear the DIRECT message.
These comments I am making may upset many Indians.
If they believe that they have an advantage – then they should use it and forget what this Westerner says. No offense intended – and none taken (hopefully).
I am not here to confirm anyone’s belief – I am here to destroy all beliefs. Only ‘then’ will the SEEING be free from erroneous views of what IS.
Of course the SEEING is ALWAYS Free.
That is why I say BE the Seeing and nothing other than that.

Split decision... -3

By: ricnz1

ricnz1 — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:33:51 +0000

As we all know the conceptual assertion that; “I am not the body/mind, I am unbounded awareness”(or something like that) doesn’t bring freedom from suffering and seeking. It might be more helpful to look directly at what the body(sensation) really is, and what thought(subtle energy) really is, because thinking about it hasn’t brought any lasting peace.

Why don’t we have a look at what this sensation(body) actually is, and see what we can say about it. First, I can’t actually find where this sensation starts or finishes; it doesn’t seem to have any real boundary to it………….Have a look at just the pure raw sensation, it’s quite a mysterious thing really; I don’t actually know what it is……………What is it!? It is present and that there is awareness of it, but thats about it really. It is quite an exciting thing actually. what is it without the minds interpretation? I haven’t got a clue!!

How about thought. Lets not look at the meaning of thought, but what it actually IS in this experience. Thought is even more mysterious. Try and find where thought actually is……………. I can’t find it anywhere!! It doesn’t seem to have any location. How about what it is? It’s something, but I don’t know what…………….. It really is an amazing thing.

If you “think” you know what these appearances are, than you don’t really know what they are. As Bob says; “the thought is never the thing”. Just like the thought “water” is not water; check this out non-conceptually(touch water, taste water, look at water). You will see that the experience of “water” is mysterious, and there is no boundary between the knowing of “water” and experience of “water”. Amazing.

The thought “I am” is not non-conceptual awareness. The thought “I am” is just a useful conceptual symbol. Look directly at “what” makes you say “I am” so confidently. What can you say about that?

So the “me” as this separate entity really is a bit of a shaky idea to take to be the reality. There is actually no evidence to support the existence of any such thing, but this must be seen directly(non verbally), not intellectually. It’s a big mystery really. You are present and aware right now. You are nowhere to be found, you cannot be known as a thing with a location or form, but you are undoubtably here????

Rate it! +14

By: anatta

anatta — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:52:10 +0000

There isn’t any ego on display here or anywhere else. There isn’t an ego, PERIOD. Within awareness, thoughts arise. Some are expressed and some aren’t via this apparent medium. All thoughts, impressions and forms arise from and have no other “substance” than this indivisible sentience.

This being the case, there is no blame or merit – only what is. There is no high ivory tower of “enlightenment” or squalid shack of ignorance. All such ideas are merely concepts arising within present awareness, as is the idea of a separate self (ego) who can achieve or suffer such states.

ONLY BEING IS.

Rate it! +3

By: Will

Will — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:46:57 +0000

Do I seem brusque?

The “I” to look for is the “I” you think you are. You wont find it.
Yet it will be seen that this is so.
That is what you are.

Is that clearer?

Rate it! -12

By: Will

Will — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:14:31 +0000

I repeat:

It aint there.

Yet here you are.

THAT’S IT.

The rest is bullshit.

Split decision... -8

By: Mahamati

Mahamati — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:54:45 +0000

While looking for the I can be fruitful for some, for others it can be a hindrance. Just a humble addition here (if I may) to your sound comment, Will.

Looking for the I with the I is like wiping blood with blood, a ghost looking for a phantasm. There is no need to look for anything, for that is actually feeding dysfunctional egocentricity and preventing its dissolution into Awareness!

The I you look for is HERE, RIGHT NOW as the ample, imperceptible, the only “be-able” and “live-able” reality…the space where all experiences happen, the “host of all guests” as Zen masters say…
The I has always been HERE, effortlessly, choicelessly and cannot NOT be HERE. The I can’t be found by looking because it is no object of description, IT is the Supreme Subject, YOU! Drop the seeking and just BE the I that you have ALWAYS BEEN.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:54:13 +0000

Or chill out and have a slice of cake x

Rate it! +5

By: Ronna

Ronna — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:50:53 +0000

The Second Life meeting last night was incredible again, thanks Randall and Jason for your clarity and humour.

Rate it! +10

By: gilbert

gilbert — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:03:58 +0000

Well put Will. Good to see some punchy no bullshit articulation.
And the bottom line (find this ‘I’) is spot on.

Split decision... -3

By: Will

Will — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:51:39 +0000

Letting go of all that learned and believed stuff about what is required in order to “awaken” is hard. It was written long long ago and many have believed before, so it must be true – right? Only a small step back from the ride is required to see the nonsense of this thinking. Even if you want to hold onto a belief that Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed et al actually once existed – there is no possibility of knowing anything they actually said.
Even if we did have the movie and the actual soundtrack, the same endless arguments would continue, the same camps would still be hating and killing each other over the actual meaning of the actual word in the actual phrase in the actual sentence on the actual day long long ago.
The message, as now, would be entirely missed in favour of the compulsive need for my or your or their interpretation of the word to be right. My, your, their particular conditioning/programming being superior, of course.
There’s nothing complicated being pointed out here by these speakers on UGC. But the little conditioned bundle of beliefs and insecurities I mistake for me thinks it can make the message fit into its own story of how things are. I I I me me me. I’ll get this, then I’ll really have something.
Consciousness hypnotised, mesmerised, by the story of me. Me in here, fearing you out there. Yet the job is simple, it’s been said here a thousand times but hardly anyone can be arsed to do the work. FIND THIS I. Put the beliefs aside and go looking for it honestly.
It aint there. But here you are. That’s it. The rest is bullshit.

Rate it! +19

By: suki

suki — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:59:20 +0000

Hello Richard,
Having a good sense of humor is a wonderful trait. It appears you are in no short supply and has served you well in some of your posts. I have no issues with any of yours, or for that matter anyone else’s comments on this great site.

Warmest regards – Suki

Rate it! +9

By: fernando

fernando — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:13:04 +0000

That which KNOWS is un-knowable.
That which SEES is un-seeable.
That which HEARS is un-hearable.
That which TOUCHES is un-touchable.
That which TASTES is un-tastable.
That which SMELLS is un-smellable.
That which THINKS is un-thinkable.
That which SPEAKS is un-speakable.
That which SEEKS is un-seekable.
That which UNDERSTANDS is un-understandable.

And THAT is what I am – what you are and what everyone is.

Rate it! +5

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:12:29 +0000

Hi Sully,

Thanks for mentioning my name. (Joke)

Why am I here? I don’t know. Maybe it’s for the laughs.

Maybe it’s to read Suki’s wisdom.

Best wishes,
Richard

Rate it! -9

By: suki

suki — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:02:34 +0000

Whether a microbe or a towering skyscraper is reflected in the mirror, the mirror reflects with absolute equanimity. The scale and mass of the reflected objects do not impede or interfere with the functioning of the mirror and furthermore the mirror is not affected by the contents of the reflection. Even in complete darkness the functioning continues.

In this way, using the analogy of the mirror, your Essence is the mirror. Your experiences are the content, forever changing kaleidoscopically, between the polarities of the sublimely blissful to the grotesquely painful. At NO-TIME is the content is ever separate from the mirror and has NO inherent existence of its own!

However the experiencing of the present is unfolding for you, it is seamlessly indivisible from what YOU ARE.

Rate it! +12

By: Jackson

Jackson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:52:00 +0000

Richard,

I think if you look closer you will see NOTHING in what Gilbert or Areti say is from a place of malice or self righteousness.. nothing here is done with intent to harm.

Have you ever thought maybe the reason you continue here is because the non-existing ego loves to be noticed. You seem to get a lot of attention here. In the other so called nonduality rooms your (ego) feels welcome but I’m guessing you don’t get your name mention so often there. Just a thought!

Sully

Rate it! 0

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:48:14 +0000

Hi Areti,

Good to hear from you. You make some good points, which I shall consider. I’m not just saying that.

Nisargadatta had a relatively small room in which he gave talks. To make space he would ask those who were there a while and who got the message, to leave. Also he, out of hand, would ask the Osho people to leave.

Jesus’ main message was love even though he was a table turner.

Here’s something from a talk of Nisargadatta that may be of interest:

“Don’t forget your knowingness. It is knowledge. Also love is its form. You love yourself. Whom else do you love equally?

“Your love for yourself is the love of love, knowledge, God. The love of Self. One who has attained Self love, succeeds in both the mundane and the spiritual.”

Bob has also said he and Nisargadatta had love for each other and were sad when Bob took his leave. Bob also indicated to me that love is what it’s all about (paraphrased).

It was nice meeting you in Australia and I have enjoyed our email correspondence.

With love (dare I use that word?),
Richard

Rate it! -3

By: gilbert

gilbert — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:36:03 +0000

The ancient Egyptians have an image in some of the temples.
It is the weighing of the heart, after the death of some Pharaoh. The heart is weighed on a set of scales with a feather on the other weighing dish. If the heart is lighter than the feather, the soul flies free. If the heart is heavier than the feather there is a crocodile ready to consume the heart and the soul.
It is a grim reminder that the crap that we cling to ‘in life’ is only weighing us down.
The heavy feelings of resentment and self justification need to be investigated thoroughly. They will not evaporate by themselves so long as they are believed in – so long as they are constantly being fed by belief.
The Bottom Line is: You are ALONE. Your struggle, if any, is with YOURSELF. There is NO OTHER.
Call it SELF if you want – but you cannot find any ‘matter’ that you can say “This is what I am”.

Beyond that apparent ‘personal drama’ of some comments made here – it all serves to touch upon various aspects that may not be touched upon otherwise. if we imagine it is merely entertainment, then we miss the value of these ‘stirrings up’ of the belief system and the central character we call ‘me’.

Split decision... -7

By: gilbert

gilbert — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:15:37 +0000

It will take more and less than your mate Jesus to rescue you.
The demon you perceive ‘here’ is none other than your own ‘ego’ which you obviously flaunt as IF it were the wise one you so long and wish to be. Unfortunately that lame rooster isn’t going to lay any golden eggs – it will be lucky to make it as the Sunday roast.
You should have taken up the cloth as a minister of the church, at least there you would have been amongst your own kind. The Self righteous?
Now before you reel off into another dark corner of your mind – have a look at WHO it is that is offended by words?
Stop being so occupied with presenting the IMAGE of being so wise and knowledge-Able. Instead of taking the bait like a dumb fish biting on the same hook over and over – just have a look at what your intention is.
All this ‘drama’ may be quite entertaining for the readers but does it serve your intention well?
You have said many times that your comments are most welcome on other Non Duality websites – so if you only get grief here, why the hell do you keep coming back? Loyalty?
Maybe there is a niggling doubt that you actually missed the message and the pretending to know is not satisfying?
The true essence (of everyone) cannot be harmed by words or deeds, not by anyone.
The natural wisdom is masked by the minds interpretation of right and wrong.
Cease from pretending to yourself (and to everyone else) to be the knower.
You are not impressing anyone with your word game except your self – and there isn’t one. (The is no self)

Split decision... -5

By: areti

areti — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:02:48 +0000

Richard, I don’t know if you are aware of this or not but Nisargadatta asked some people who attended his meeting to leave the room and to never come back. From the perspective of a ‘me’ this could easily be misconstrued as not being loving.

When Nisargadatta talked about being loving, it is not being ‘loving’ in the way that an identified character sees love – behaving a particular way. And as Bob says,to paraphrase, ‘Was Jesus loving when he overthrew the money lenders’ tables in protest at what they were doing?’

If you feel peeved at something someone on the site has written, it is an invitation for you to examine the root of this for yourself, to see if you are still hanging on to some idea of yourself or of what ‘love’ actually is.

Many have a notion of how people should behave when re-cognition of the true essence occurs but any notion is false. As Randall says, ‘Anything you say is automatically false.

There are people who post messages sometimes that are full of resentment and hostility and these messages are deleted. Such messages are of no value to anyone, least of all the poster. Holding onto resentment is just standing in the way of true clarity.

Split decision... +4

By: Ronna

Ronna — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:57:25 +0000

‘The mind will justify anything just so it can continue to dominate.’

Thanks for this pointer Gilbert as it appears that justification and dominance of mind is happening.

Rate it! -4

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:17:00 +0000

As Jesus wisely said, Take the beam out of your own eye before you try to remove the mote from someone else’s eye.

Rate it! -10

By: Scarfox

Scarfox — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:14:16 +0000

If it is truly seen that there is no me then murder probably would not occur. It could though since nothing is set in stone so to speak. Who knows what will happen in self-defense or spontaneity.

Also, how many sociopaths are reading non-duality and using it as an excuse to kill? That is quite out there, plus it would just be another excuse or reason wouldn’t it? Lets stop pointing because of this hypothetical garbage? Get that out of here! Nisargadatta has became a reference point and this is could make it appear to be impossible to see. I would say to the hell with him and start the investigation.

Rate it! +4

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:31:16 +0000

“Whatever brings about a clear view of that pretending to be a person is VALID.” says Gilbert.

Maybe if someone were to ask you for help, that statement might hold more weight.

But to lash out at folks who posts here and justify it with your end-justifies-the-means fascist philosophy, makes no sense. Not everyone wants to be or needs to be your project. That’s an arrogant assumption of your massive ego.

Many in this group have divided it into “the seekers” and “the teachers”. I am neither. I see no reason to teach because as I have been saying here for a long time, in the spiritual everything is fine as is. For this same reason I have no desire to seek anything. There is already Knowing!

There is a difference between transcendental states and the primordial state. Some in the former mistake it for the latter.

The only reason I’m in this group is to enjoy myself. This group can be better and to that end I make suggestions.

I’m also taking a break and will be out of this country, away from computers. Continue the word dance without me. And in the name of decency, be kind to each other.

Rate it! -6

By: vinaya

vinaya — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:43:07 +0000

Although I can’t fully understand English … I love listening to music from the UGC, I love the beauty of the voice of Gilbert … I love conversations with Jeff Foster ….

Happy new NOW!
kisses!

Rate it! +4

By: gilbert

gilbert — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:11:38 +0000

The mind will justify anything just so it can continue to dominate.
It conceptualizes love and ‘thinks’ it knows what love is.
When challenged the mind may reel for awhile and then re-group in solitude and build new ‘reasons’ why it is right and have all the memorized sacred texts to back up its posture.
When you truly SEE that there is no ‘me’ then all defense mechanisms that once appeared to defend the ‘me’ are not necessary.
When you are no longer offended by anything or anyone – when hours of ruminating over what someone said ceases to happen, then it may be true that the ‘me’ has been seen through.
There is actually no teaching to protect.
The ACTIVITY of KNOWING is the ingredient that actualizes and that can take many forms as a message.
Sometimes compassion can appear to be fierce and penetrating.
WHO is afraid?
Underneath all the drama everyone knows that the ‘person’ is not real.
Whatever brings about a clear view of that pretending to be a person is VALID.

Split decision... +4

By: Ronna

Ronna — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:11:41 +0000

Yes, everything is appearing within awareness.

Rate it! -2

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:47:10 +0000

Hi Ronna,

Thanks for the feedback.

Agreed, there is only the inseparable oneness (which you call not two).

Yet here are Ronna and Richard communicating with each other. Funny.

How I see it, everything is emptiness. When it is condensed, there is the manifest appearance. When spread out there is the invisible unmanifest. This is not original with me. Einstein and others, perhaps Nisargadatta, may have had similar thinking. It seems to be a good explanation..

In the manifest there is multiplicity just as in the one ocean there are many waves. This is the relative dimension of the oneness. It is where activity appears to happen.

In the absolute dimension of the oneness it is unmanifest, there is no name or form.

Of course, words are primitive tools but I hope what I wrote made some sense anyway.

Best wishes,
Richard

Rate it! -9

By: Ronna

Ronna — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:30:51 +0000

Maybe more important to ask ‘who and what am I’ also you will have to ask yourself not your wife. There is no absolute and relative, this is duality. You are not two.

Rate it! -4

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:54:26 +0000

In the absolute the Essence cannot be harmed, as Gilbert says. Yet confusing the absolute with the relative, where character assassination and meanness can indeed harm, is a mistake some make.

Using the logic that there is no “me” to be harmed could also be used by a sociopathic personality to justify physical harm and murder. This doesn’t hold water, imo.

Nisargadatta talked about love. If love is absent a red flag goes up for me. An unloving product (person) of this teaching is a poor advertisement for the teaching and for his or her teacher, also imo.

I wish an earth where people treated each other with respect, as if everyone else had a mind and feelings. If we can’t even do that here in a spiritually oriented forum, what hope is there?

And in anticipation of criticism: No, I don’t think I’m perfect. Just ask my wife.

Rate it! -8

By: gilbert

gilbert — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:27:53 +0000

Doubt is a thought.
Thoughts come and thoughts go.
If you adhere yourself to any thought it will take you on a journey to nowhere other than right here, right now.
Imagination is a wondrous ‘tool’ but the moment you believe it is real…….well you know the rest.

The ONLY fact you cannot negate is the fact of your own being.
Try it and you may see the futility of the imaginary ‘doer’.
You have NEVER done a thing. You cannot make the smallest action without THAT which animates everything.
You imagine that you are separate and so confusion and suffering ‘appear’ to take place. yet even these activities are Nothing but THAT.
It ALL appears in what you ARE.
The use of the word ‘you’ is simply conventional.
Explore that ‘you’ and SEE that it has no substance apart from THAT which is SEEING.
As some ancient saint said: “What you are looking for is looking”.

Split decision... 0

By: Dogribb

Dogribb — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:57:33 +0000

Thanks for that.

Rate it! 0

By: Sandy Jones

Sandy Jones — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:52:49 +0000

I have always loved this little snipet from William Samuel—Here ’tis, you might like it too:

“Every teacher, book, writer, practitioner, sage, guru or peanut vendor, by whatever name, title or label they go by, is an aspect of the Awareness (Identity) “we” are. We take the book from the shelf most likely to render a specific service at a given moment. Exactly so, we have appeared to go to the philosophy, teacher, church, friend, stranger or peanut vendor that has unfolded as sufficient for the moment–but that philosophy, teacher, church, friend or stranger is WITHIN the awareness WE are. So is the peanut vendor. We are forever looking at our Self.”…..William Samuel

By: Dogribb

Dogribb — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:38:40 +0000

In the east Belief and Faith in the Guru are a must and a part worship and the teachings.The Guru set up as something beyond ordinary man possessed of uncommon knowledge ,wisdom and power.Given sweets ,flowers and comforts.The Guru in turn harassed for favors,blessings,marriages,miracles and all the like.The effects of this practice taken too far are readily apparent.

In the West critical examinations ,doubt,and disbelief in the words and veracity of the priests and gurus has created a climate of disbelief and distrust.Think Jones Town,Waco,Osho ,abuse by priests.These are the cultural paradigms now and the field of play for Guru and seeker alike.

Frankly you don’t know the Guru. You only know his performance.Should that matter ? I have my doubts.

Rate it! +1

By: michael

michael — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:18:46 +0000

This site is frigging awesome.
Thanks Gilbert, Areti and all the speakers for your time
No programs is another pointer about where not to look.

Rate it! +6

By: suki

suki — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:28:28 +0000

Your natural state is non dual. There can be no center point of reference. The Whole is Primary without there being a secondary, except conceptually. Whatever is observed is secondary, including the idea of an observer. The secondary (unreal) is content and subject to change within the infinite field of the Primary, which is the context or the Real.

The secondary is never separate from the Primary, for the simple reason that it does NOT exist! It is only an appearance that arises in the Primary (aka: Consciousness, Awareness or simply THAT ) much like a dream. ‘Who’ cares what goes on in the secondary? There is only the Primary. And You are THAT. ONE without a Second.

Rate it! +6

By: gilbert

gilbert — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:04:36 +0000

It is debatable how much direct pointing one can consume without truly seeing through the whole facade. The net has so much on it, even on this relatively minor ‘subject’ called Non Duality. Much of it is dubious of course. Most is centered of a guru on teacher who just happens to be full of charisma and subversive ego tendencies. Some put on a convincing show and even say things that appear to be very similar to direct pointing. Where is the pointing coming from – that is the question. We have all seen the ‘results’ of the manic behavior of such characters.
Spirituality is full of nonsense and erroneous beliefs. Also, the Church is often appearing to be corrupted by its own holiness, via its representatives and their antics. Leaked information of what goes on behind the curtain is often shocking – and in some cases the followers are manipulated by the culprit into believing that it is all permissible.

It does appear that some good clean guidance is necessary, because left to their own devises ‘seekers’ will simply manufacture an ‘idol’ to worship. Many gurus are aware of this tendency and manipulate the psyche of their followers and keep them all in bondage for decades. He lives off the fat of the lamb while his sheep just get old and die in captivity.
How is one to find their way when the trusted leader turns out to be not what he pretended to be?

What is on offer here is a message that appears to be so radical the mind cannot ‘believe’ it.
As I say so often “It is not a matter of belief – it is naked Knowing”.
The potential is that the so-called freedom that seekers strive for is, for them, just one breath away ‘at all times’.
The ‘me’ never did take a breath.
BEING breathes. Billions of breathes are happening right now – it is One Being Breathing.
BEING-SEEING is timelessly Present.
The SEEING through that ‘happens’ is a hundred thousand times ‘faster’ than one breathing cycle.
In fact it is beyond calculated ‘speed’ because there is no way to measure its activity – it is KNOWING and knowing does not move away from what you ARE. Any measurement requires the knowing for it to even ‘happen’ – and what is the first data point for the measurement to take place? What is the second data point? One data point on its own is nothing.
Realizing that this knowing is all inclusive is a mind blowing experience and that experience passes – but the knowing does not budge.
Don’t get lost in complex mind games.
Knowing is Simple.

P.S. Many do not trust me and I do not blame them for that. I have never done a damn thing. Intelligence acts through this ‘pattern’ just as it does through ALL patterns. No Harm Done anywhere. The ESSENCE that you are cannot be harmed. That is not a belief – it is KNOWING.
Just like the fact that you exist. You do not believe that you are – you KNOW that you are. You don’t need anyone to tell you that you are.
What more do you need?

Split decision... 0

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:29:13 +0000

Paul Hedderman has some good recorded talks on his site. Enjoy your break everyone.

Rate it! -1

By: WallyD

WallyD — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:44:57 +0000

Enjoy your break you have left many with much.
the idea that this should be other than it is, is what drives us crazy. I think I need a break also. Some perpetuate spirtual violance by beleving the lie that what they are doing isnt what they should be doing, they could be doing something better. This pocast broke me of that belief.

Rate it! +5

By: KarlisD

KarlisD — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:21:03 +0000

Thanks Areti and Gilbert for all yours stupendous efforts
What about a little story…?

There’s the story of the Baby bear playing outside it’s cave when it becomes aware of a huge tiger approaching it…
It decides to follow it’s instincts and stand on it’s hind legs and growl at the tiger.
The tiger changes it’s attack into retreat and the baby bear smiles a huge smug smile, goes back onto all fours and continues playing.
During this time, what the baby bear didn’t notice was that right behind him, his 12ft mother had raised herself up onto her hind legs to face the tiger as well.

The question from this story is… what are you and what is the Universe?

Rate it! +4

By: anatta

anatta — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:47:33 +0000

Dogribb, there is no wall, that’s why “you” can’t find a door. There is no self apart from some essential wisdom that it needs to become enlightened. You are being and that is whole and complete in it’s emptiness RIGHT NOW. It is all encompassing and, for anything to appear to be, you must be.

Rate it! +9

By: gilbert

gilbert — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:11:43 +0000

As Nisargadatta says “You are waiting for a ‘painted door’ to open” (paraphrasing).
(It is a brick wall with the image of a doorway painted on it).
You can knock as hard as you like and all you will get is sore knuckles.

What you are trying to SEE or KNOW is like ‘empty space’ – ‘we’ perceive things and ignore the ‘space’ while the ‘things’ could never appear if the space was not ‘present’ for them to appear in.
Space is nothing – it appears as volume and distance.
Where are you SEEING from?
Where is the SEEING happening?
Investigate that with total openness and do not try to conceptualize any answer.
Let it reveal itself.
It will reveal itself – AS what you ARE.
However telling you so much may be a hindrance.
The mind has a habit of conceptualizing everything and it may even have a concept about what awareness is.
Those who THINK and believe that they know what awareness is have missed the essential message.
That is the common stumbling block that seems so hard to shift in ‘seekers’.
The KNOWING is unshakable.

Rate it! -3

By: Dogribb

Dogribb — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:13:01 +0000

I liken myself to a blind man searching for the door.Every time I come close to the door I remove my hand from the wall to scratch my head and pass the door.Over and over again

Thank you Gilbert and all.I am and have been listening over and over again.To my credit and my ignorance

Rate it! +3

By: Ronna

Ronna — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:53:06 +0000

Enjoy your well deserved rest!!!! Will be waiting and watching for your already much anticipated return. Thank you so much for all you have done for so many.

Happy Right Now!

Rate it! +6

By: areti

areti — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:39:29 +0000

Hi all,

It looks like we are going to be taking a break, for a while, from producing these amazing podcasts.

As you are all no doubt aware a lot of our spare time goes into producing these podcasts and we figure we have earned a rest for now. There’s lots there already to listen to and you have to admit that almost all of them are worth more than one listen, some are worth many, many listens. Go back and hear them again and we, hopefully, will be back with more wonderful podcasts for your listening pleasure (yes, I know it is more than listening pleasure in them).

Happy new year to all.

By: gilbert

gilbert — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:02:55 +0000

Your question is not applicable. The understanding IS the knowing.
I am not speaking to anyone (in particular). I am speaking to everyone and no one.
We are not talking about a book or the history of mankind.
If you have forgotten your true nature then anything can re-introduce you to your true nature – a single bird singing at dawn, a cloud disappearing into thin air – a train disappearing on the horizon of a desert.
The mind wants a story and it gets a story, an endless story but it is not satisfied. It keeps looking and finding, losing and searching over and over.
The mind divides THAT which is plainly and obviously ONE into a multiplicity through ‘perception’ and it sees multiplicity where there is only One – not even one actually.
What you are SEEING out of is THAT ONE – without a second.
If you perceive someone ‘here’ telling someone ‘there’ some information, then the ‘pointing’ does ‘not work’.
EVERYTHING IS PERFECT JUST AS IT IS.
There is no ‘person’ to perceive anything – any ‘thing’.

‘People’ get offended with direct pointing that comes from ’someone’ that is not ‘approved by society’ or who is not famous in the spiritual circle. Christians want Jesus himself to come down out of the clouds before they will feel complete. Buddhists believe that they will have to live a thousand life times before they can be enlightened. When someone like me says that all that ’stuff’ is total crap, they get offended. But I know it is crap because the bondage of self has fallen away. I do not have to prove it to anyone. For some incomprehensible ‘reason’ there is a sharing happening ‘here’. My mind may say “Don’t bother, they are all as thick as a brick” but ’something’ over-rides that nonsense more or less instantly. That ‘something’ is what I call intelligence. It is sharper than the sharpest ‘thing’. It cleves away erroneous beliefs effortlessly without ‘raising a finger’.
I do remember what it is like to feel trapped like a rabbit in a rabbit trap.
Now, you may feel battered and bruised by life but your heart is still beating and all I am saying is that the trap is in your own mind and you are the only one who can release it. Why are you so stubborn?
If you believe that you are not stubborn, so then, take the advice that is offered over and over…..and over and over and over again. How anyone can miss it is just incredible. How they are not moved to apply the advice is equally incredible. (No credit) You need a certain amount of available intelligence to recognize the pointer(s).
It seems that many are ‘bankrupt’. Or they have been filled up with so much spiritual bullshit by bullshitting gurus and teachers that they can’t move freely and intelligently without referring to that blockage (Constipated Bullshit).
I will not repeat here what the advice is. This is not kinder-garden.
If you have missed it and you do not know what I am talking about, then ‘tough nuts’. Don’t waste time getting all offended because it is a complete waste to go back into that crap. It leads nowhere. It is bondage of self.
You can go back through the programs and find that single piece of advice. Then by making the effort yourself, you might take note of it an apply it. In truly applying it you cannot fail.
It is plainly presented in my interview, the program called “So Clear – So Obvious”. Listen to the program over and over until what needs to be seen is seen. There is no escape for the mind and the mind is the ‘me’. The first few minutes of that program has offended quite a few ‘spiritual types’ – only because they have investment in the concept that they are an advanced spiritual ‘person’.
There is NO PERSON, anywhere, there never was and never will be. Knowing that is liberation – (for no one)
The mind is time. Seeing-Knowing is timeless.
I am not speaking to anyone (in particular). I am speaking to everyone and no one.
Same same.

I have a big bonfire blazing – come throw your ‘me’ in it. You will not regret it.

Split decision... +1

By: gilbert

gilbert — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:58:05 +0000

Your question is not applicable. The understanding IS the knowing.

Rate it! +11

By: KarlisD

KarlisD — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:54:26 +0000

what follows the understanding of knowing ?

No more questions

I don’t know about chapter 1

You don’t need a book

Rate it! +2

By: Dogribb

Dogribb — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:50:58 +0000

It is an introduction to your true nature.

Gilbert What then is Chapter 1 or what follows the understanding of knowing ?

Rate it! +1

By: Mahamati

Mahamati — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:20:52 +0000

Mark, the only help there is, appears as earnestness, and that is an inside thing.

Bob, Gilbert or Randall’s blurred image (as you see) is due the faulty lenses you are wearing. Your mind (the separate individual, the thought I) believes it exists independently and the more it does, the more blurry and frustrating “your” reality appears to become!

There is no helper, no doer, no one who needs help and no one who can act on any knowing! This doesn’t mean that the individual is inexistent. It simply means that the appearance of the individual is not self-standing, is not a separate, permanent, independent entity, capable of volitional actions. This does not mean that there is no “doing” happening, it simply means the doing does not come at will from an inexistent entity, from the ghost of the thought I!

This realization, which comes about though genuine investigation, lifts the imagined burden of finding the truth in some future with an illusory mind that expects illusory help (which is the impossible, imaginary task you seem to be engaged in and taking it as real). Seeking the truth is not reality, it is imagination.

The individual exists only as a manifestation of TRUTH, never apart from IT. The individual is none other than TRUTH, therefore you are IT already and you can see it for yourself! Just take off your faulty lenses (investigate) and simply notice that all images are already crystal clear! No one needs any help to notice what they already are and noticing this is the only “authentic help for others!”

You said you can see that there is nothing behind thought… stay with that!

By: Randall Friend

Randall Friend — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:27:05 +0000

The individual is not seeing. That which is called the individual is an appearance IN the seeing. And what is that individual?

It is composed of sensations – those are called “body”. Those are called “thought”. It is an idea – a belief – an assumption. It may be an emotion. That individual is an image, a story, a memory of past sensations and images. It is a concept you have about yourself.

You are not a concept. What you are is always here – it’s a wakefulness. It’s a livingness. You are presently looking FOR this true nature or essence, when what you are IS the looking itself, the SEEING, the present activity of knowing, not going on yesterday or tomorrow – five minutes ago or five minutes from now. It is the present “happening”.

Every sensation and perception are known somehow. And everything you have TAKEN yourself to be, is either a sensation or a perception. You are not any objective content. You are obviously and intimately known right this very moment, as the capacity by which these words are read, the fullness in which the computer screen appears, the moment which has no beginning and no ending.

Reality is just THIS, right here and now. And that reality is YOU. Seeking is an assumption that THIS, right here and now, is NOT IT. Seeking is an assumption that what you are is the “SEER” and that there is an objective world outside of YOU to be SEEN, a world which limits you, which exists apart from you, which was here before you came and will remain when you die.

I assure you this is false. Investigate this as if it’s with your last breath. Look for the SEER – see if you can find a SEER. Notice with honesty this framework of identifications, this mental image which you call yourself. It’s such a shaky foundation, built upon words and concepts. A little shaking and the house of cards collapses. This idea of a separate “ME” falls away naturally because it’s so obviously a false idea.

What is left? Only this immediacy, this present totality. We call it “awareness”.

Rate it! +18

By: Scarfox

Scarfox — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:00:47 +0000

Van Morrison having a son is as false as the me-seeing.

Rate it! +1

By: gilbert

gilbert — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:58:46 +0000

Lord Mark, King of Heaven says: “I can’t help but wonder if the truth has become an abstraction”.

Examine closely the ‘wisdom’ of it.
Firstly the Truth never BECOMES anything.
Secondly the ‘wondering’ is imagination as is the ‘I can’t help..’ and the ‘IF’ is the postulation of something other than ‘what is’.
Talk about abstraction…..I guess the big MISS is ‘you’.

Please don’t speak about ‘helping others’ with such fabricated authority.
You want to see activation – well taste that little bit…..and don’t forget to swallow.

There is no conflict in Non Duality.

Rate it! -7

By: Scarfox

Scarfox — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:56:21 +0000

No one acts on knowing, all ‘things’ are the knowing so life is spontaneous period. SO called problems resolve themselves. The ultimate help is to help yourself. What do you define as authentic help? No one is paid for this. Doing still happens just without reference, perfection.

Rate it! +5

By: mark

mark — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:49:37 +0000

‘pause a thought. What is wrong with right now?’ thats all fine. Most can see that there is nothing behind thought. What Bob or Gilbert or Randall fail to concentrate their wisdom towards is that ‘there’ is potential. The potential to DO. Its all lovely to be aware of presence or be present to awareness, but what really matters is how one acts on that knowing. This site, for all its many qualities, is so fixated on the individual – and its non-existence – that its almost just another flavour of existentialism. The real MISS here is in activation. Authentic help for others. What else is there? (Once one has lost too much sense of expectation) As for this site not being suitable for beginners.. .. What can i say? Should one study ‘in time’ before coming here? Cut the hypocrisy .. .. For all your help, and it is valued, i cant help but wonder if the truth has become an abstraction.. Untouchable and ultimately unworkable.

Rate it! -7

By: Mahamati

Mahamati — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:46:02 +0000

The I that is spotting the ego is none other than the ego. If there is a belief that thoughts (ego included) must be relinquished and an expectation of some future event, it is the believer, the “expecter”, who is actually fueling these appearances. There is no ego, no game and no future when it will all be over. There is no one who can selectively monitor thoughts or have any control over whatever appears. These are also just thoughts, with no self-existence, clouds passing by. The illusion of interfering, altering or controlling is the problem, it is mind-made and it presumes an independent, separate subject.

By: Randall Friend

Randall Friend — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:38:59 +0000

Joe,

There is no game to be over.

There is only ever THIS, just as it is. “WHAT” THIS is, is always the domain of the mind, the taking of reality to be made of “things”. See that this reality of “part-ness” can only ever be a mental construct. What IS doesn’t change – only the translations seem to change.

No translation, no definition can capture what IS. And without translations or definitions, where is separation? Where is the individual? Where is your “life”?

Reality is not subject to division. Thoughts/translations cannot divide what is indivisible. What IS, is reality. Is it not true?

The only thing you are absolutely certain of, the only aspect of what IS that doesn’t appear to change, is your presence, the presence of knowing, that seeing in which the translations come, the appearance changes.

You ARE that singular reality. And that isn’t true AFTER seeking is finalized, AFTER all the pointers have been intellectually digested, AFTER spirituality is finally figured out. That is true NOW. It’s simply recognized.

What IS, is reality. What is needed to find that? The first attempt at seeking it or describing it, is already one step too far. It’s an assumption that what IS, ISN’T it. It’s an assumption that something is presently lacking.

The search will go on until that individual “seeker” is itself investigated, seriously questioned. All else is dependent on that root illusion of “person”, that “separate being”. Can you find a separate entity who is seeing? Isn’t this so-called person an appearance IN the seeing?

love
randall

Rate it! +17

By: Joe Cap

Joe Cap — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:46:21 +0000

No Gilbert, that note was directed at me – even if you don’t know it. In fact, it could be added to somethng Randall told me yesterday.
After all this time I still keep pretending to see through my own b s not truely looking at what is being stated. “yeah I know I am not the body mind and everything but….. (complain complain)”
self loathing must somehow be enjoyable to me!
So the same questions and the same thoughts pop up, over and over…. If I can spot the ego then why isn’t the game over already.

Rate it! -3

By: Scarfox

Scarfox — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:39:53 +0000

Yes the energy never truly leaves.

Rate it! 0

By: gilbert

gilbert — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:40:38 +0000

This Note is not addressed to anyone – it is NOT personal, so don’t be bothered about getting offended.
The KNOWING is ‘rock-solid’.
There is no ‘knower’.
The ‘pulse’ of LIFE flows through this KNOWING and it is this movement that ‘creates’ experiencing.
In this experiencing the ‘form’ of a knowing presence ‘appears’ to be.
It is NO THING.

Nisargadatta says “You are not the body nor the mind (content)”.

That is direct pointing which leaves ‘you’ with nothing to hold onto.
Neti neti (Not this – not this).

It is an introduction to your true nature. The mind cannot abide with the pointing unless the mind is empty. The true nature of the mind is emptiness. Since ‘you’ insist on being a ‘seeker’ there can be no revelation. Yet it is so obvious – the only knowing that is happening is silent and wordless. Upon THAT everything ‘appears’ as a movement of consciousness and the pulsation of the core experiencing is the KNOWING – knowing is an activity – the activity of knowing. Nothing can appear anywhere ‘outside’ of that (this) Knowing. No description can touch it or explain it.
All that can be done is to point.
The recognition of itself is already happening because everything is THAT. It IS the SEEING.
It is not personal – it is Cosmic.
‘You’ insist on being a limited ‘person’ trying to get the unlimited and you fail – and the tools that you use are merely concepts and beliefs which are all suspended in the knowing – like ants in honey.
Is it any wonder that ‘you’ fail?
There is only One Essence and THAT is this Knowing which is happening right now.
‘You’ insist that it must be something ‘special’ that you do not have yet – and many gurus and teacher have told you that it is very special and that they have got it and that they can give it to you. Foolish to believe such nonsense.
The bondage of self is the core issue.
There is no self and there is no bondage.

This Ordinary Wakefulness is THAT which ‘you’ automatically ignore.
You perceive a world that you believe that you are in – and you do not know what it truly is even though it is obvious – without thought.
Also, you do not know the difference between perception and seeing. You do not question your beliefs – and you expect so much help when it is obvious that you are so mean and stubborn. You are offended by words and put off the trail of truth merely because your ego is upset. Cut the crap and get down to the nitty gritty. You have dilly dallied around for far too long and you are even getting pissed off with yourself.

You perceive so many things when in truth it is all No Thing.
It is No Thing that is SEEING. That is very obvious right there where the seeing ‘appears; to be taking place.
How do you expect your ignorance and/or your concepts to free you? There truly is no bondage.
The believed in bondage is your own doing and you ‘appear’ to avoid at all costs this necessary investigation of your true nature.

No one can do it for you and no university can teach you how to become what you already are.
You ARE this KNOWING.
It is only erroneous beliefs that prevent this knowing from blossoming fully.
Eliminate what you are not and discover what you are.

The pathway is called ‘Neti neti’.

By: anatta

anatta — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:59:24 +0000

” what makes this KNOWING known, or rather it is not known to anyone?..
i find it confusing that some “know” it and others are ignorent to it while it is the same KNOWING for all.”

The knowing is non-fragmented and the same “everywhere” (always HERE). Within this knowing appears a concept of a “me” who is “doing the knowing” and “not-me”s who are known. The belief (another thought) in this separation is what could be called ignorance of one’s true nature but it doesn’t change the fact that being/awareness is all there is. Thoughts of isolation are as much an appearance of being as anything else. “You” can’t choose your next thought. The “me” is absolutely powerless and insubstantial – unreal.

The important “point” is to see that all thoughts/forms pass. When this happens, what is left? What is the “background” they appear in? This is unchanging and perfectly stable and if anything can be called “I”, it is only that.

Rate it! +7

By: suki

suki — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:06:24 +0000

“That subjectivity is there whether thoughts are there or not.” – Randall
Yes, this automatically implies that subjectivity is there whether there is a ‘me’ there or not, which is only thought in it self.

Rate it! +6

By: Randall Friend

Randall Friend — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:10:06 +0000

Nothing dies. Can a wave die? It has no separate existence from ocean itself, therefore it neither comes nor goes. Only ocean ever IS. It is ocean appearing AS wave. Wave is a concept placed upon ocean.

If you melt down a gold chain, does the chain die? No. It remains gold, although the form-ation changes. Nothing happens to gold. There never was a chain apart from gold.

If you take yourself to be a chain, then you are seeking gold. You look everywhere. You read each book of strict non-duality pointers. You meditate in a cave for 20 years. How far does chain need to go to find gold? Does it go within through deep meditation and pull out a treasure of gold? Does gold arrive to chain in a fantastic spiritual experience?

No. Chain is an appearance OF gold. There is no such thing as chain, except as a concept. It is not chain seeking. It is ever gold. The essence is gold. Chain does not realize it is gold. Gold realizes it is not-chain.

You are not the chain, seeking. You are the gold. Chain never had independent existence. It was always gold anyway. Chain didn’t need to seek, nor could it seek. Nothing is needed for gold to BE.

Rate it! +13

By: Scarfox

Scarfox — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:41:09 +0000

Anything that comes and goes ‘dies’, you still are. But in that moment of any sense perception, like you said the waves of the ocean are still the ocean. I think it is sometimes helpful to point in a more non-dual way.

Rate it! +1

By: Randall Friend

Randall Friend — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:09:01 +0000

If thought comes, how do you know it? You must be the subject to that object-thought. If there is a bodily sensation, how do you know it? You must be the subject to that object-body. Is it not true?

Every single thing you know and take yourself to be, is either a thought or a sensation – 100% objective. You are the subject which knows. As such you are not an appearance. You are not definable. Yet you are ever there, undeniable. That YOU is that KNOWING, that subjectivity by which all objects are known. Is it not true?

Every problem is what? – a thought first. So all conditions placed are in thought alone. All problems are in thought alone. None of it affects YOU. None of it touches YOU. You are the subject which witnesses the problem and the conditions.

As such you are undefinable – what you are we really cannot say, except IN thought – which are always going to be translations of that subjectivity – we might call it awareness or consciousness or whatever. We can’t say WHAT it is, only THAT it is. That subjectivity is there whether thoughts are there or not. That subjectivity is there whether sensations are there or not.

And because all conditions are placed or come in thoughts, that subjective witnessing is not doing the conditions, not placing the conditions. That subjectivity is pure and untouched – the problem comes in thought. All conditions are placed in thoughts. Conditions are the opposite of happiness, joy, love, peace, and freedom – which really are all words for the same “thing”.

The absence of conditions is what we call Peace. We call it Love. We call it Joy or Bliss or Freedom. And the absence of conditions is your natural state. Already.

Rate it! +12

By: gilbert

gilbert — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:40:57 +0000

Removed comment.

Rate it! -10