Urban Guru Cafe » awake

54. Ramesh Balsekar (1917-2009) – extract from a typical meeting.

gilbert — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:12:18 +0000

On the 27th Sept 2009 – two days ago, Ramesh Balsekar ‘passed away’. The physical body is a transient appearance. For those who feel a heavy weight because of Ramesh’s ‘departure’ – come back to what he was pointing to, in yourself. Your true essence. Joy is in that simplicity of being. The attachment to the guru is a gift – ‘a final teaching’. In that, there is the potential to truly grasp what was being pointed out all along. May all of his followers be delivered quickly and painlessly into their true essence. – Gilbert

“You may think that you are the doer – I assure you that you have never done a thing” – Ramesh – and “According to my concepts” -Ramesh

Ramesh: “What is the significance of the statement ‘No one can get enlightenment’? This is the very root of the teaching. It means that it’s stupid for any so-called master to ask anyone to do anything to achieve or get enlightenment. The core of this simple statement means, according to my concept, that enlightenment is the annihilation of the ‘one’ who ‘wants’ enlightenment. If there is enlightenment – which can only happen because it is the will of God – then it means the ‘one’ who had earlier wanted enlightenment has been annihilated. So no ‘one’ can achieve enlightenment and therefore no ‘one’ can enjoy enlightenment.”

From an interview – Chris Parish to Ramesh – How can we say that we know it is destiny or God’s will? All we know is that certain events take place. Afterward, we can look back on something we did and say, “It just happened,” and if we like, we can call it destiny. But isn’t it more accurate to say that we don’t really know whether it is destiny or not? Saying that we don’t know is different from saying “We know that it is God’s will.” It’s different from saying we know that everything is fixed. You see, it sounds to me like you’re saying that you do know that everything is the will of God.
Ramesh – We don’t know, and that is the bottom line; so if you like, you can drop the concept of destiny and say that nobody can really know anything. Fine!

Thousands visited Ramesh over the many years that he shared his concepts so willingly. Maybe you were there at some point. If so, this recording will refresh your experience of your own visit, as it did for me. – Gilbert

Includes some of the Bhajans from his regular meetings.

14. Randall Friend – Challenging Assumptions *****

Gilbert — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:46:35 +0000

Randall Friend is “Challenging Assumptions” in this Urban Guru Cafe interview. Our assumptions are based on beliefs.

The voice and music of George Harrison at the head of the program. Other musicians appearing, the Beatles, Arabesque and Carlos Nunez.

Randalls website is located at You Are Dreaming

11. What is Awareness – part two

Gilbert — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:31:36 +0000

A sound-scape with a few words thrown in.

A brief program that may assist in the exploration of ‘one’s own’ conscious presence.

That ‘one’s own’ conscious presence is actually the Universal Presence of Awareness.

No theories or beliefs are needed.

Mandolin music composition and playing by Gilbert.Â – Program is only 7 minutes long.

Gilbert’s website.

10. Exploring what you are

Gilbert — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:15:30 +0000

Everything, including all concepts and all pointing appear nowhere other than in the natural state of seeing, knowing – you are THAT.

Being is silent – just as in nature, the realm of concepts and expressions may also elicit a resonance in being.

This is a relaxed exploration via various ‘pointers’. Recorded in the backyard garden – the birds join in.

Music interludes by these bands: Argentina, Radio Kabul, Zarafa and Yes (a great band from the 70s).

Seeing-Knowing.com

5. A meeting with Randall Friend – part two

Gilbert — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:34:59 +0000

This is the second of two programs that present a meeting I had with Randall Friend.

Randalls website is located at You Are Dreaming

Music used includes: Cheb i Sabbah, Idan Raichel Project, Khaled, and Mercan Dede.

FREE Podcast

4. A meeting with Randall Friend – part one

Gilbert — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:56:41 +0000

This is the first of two programs that present a private meeting I had with Randall Friend. I enjoyed my conversation with him immensely.

Randalls website is located at You Are Dreaming

Music used includes: Flamenco Arabe, Tinerawen, Cheb i Sabbah, Calcutta Slide Guitar, Mercan Dede, and Carlos Nunez.