More on practice and compassion.
Dear Ed,
From where i am coming from (albeit illusory) you are not only Robert's friend, but as evidenced by your wonderful website based on his teaching, maybe his greatest devotee. Yours is one of the few websites by a truly Enlightened Soul, extolling his Teacher, while downplaying his own long, difficult journey, and obvious wisdom. I salute you.
Thanks Mike, that you said that is touching. Hope you never meet me and find out how flawed I am.
Thank you for taking interest in my practice. The bliss i experience seems to be in the form of happiness, which lasts for a while after getting up from meditation. i am excited to try your new suggestions of looking for the looker, and falling backwards into oneself.
The experience of the awareness, which i experience by realizing that somthing is aware of my thoughts, feelings, beliefs and personality feels glassy and transparent, keeping me contained in what is clearly "my awareness" and not beyond.
I hope i am not a nusiance to you. If i could return the favor to you somehow, let me know.
You will never be a nusiance to me. You are more advanced than I think you think you are. Write often. You are not a burden.
With Love and Gratitude,
M
The best you can do for me is to become a totally compassionate soul, helping everyone and everything. being a shepherd for all sentient beings.
Robert said that is more importance than enlightenment. I agree.
Muktananda's daily Jyota se Jyota chant includes the phrase:
Kindle my heart flame with Thy flame.
Do that for others.
Ed
Realizing the Manifest Self--the Life Force permeating our humanity--and the Unmanifest source from which it arises.
26 November 2006
25 November 2006
More on Inner Space and Self -Dialogue with M
I seem to feel Roberts energy (Shaktipat) from looking at the picture on your website. Although i assume that his body was not well at the time, his Presence is remarkable.
True, I did not appreciate it as much when he was alive. My mistake. He let me be his only friend as opposed to being a devotee, so maybe I missed something in that.
When i go to the space through the third eye, besides emptyness, there is an almost giddy feeling of bliss. Right now it seems to block all other experiencing, except for ego thoughts, which come and go, sometimes pulling me out of my focus.
Does the bliss feel like happiness or more like body comfort? If the former, you are doing fine. If the latter, it will pass.
Besides more practice, do you have any pointers to help me sink into the sense of existence you spoke of?
Several ways. One is to look for the looker while inside your inner illumined space.
The other is to mentally fall backward into yourself. That is, imagine you are sinking into your basic self, devoid of anything else.
Just as a side note, are you familliar with the work of Dr. David Hawkins? I wondered if you had any dealings with him in Sedona. Do you subscribe to his practice of callibrating levels of consciousness using muscle testing? I'm curious as to your thoughts as a Psychologist, if you are familiar with his writings.
Never heard of him. Levels of conciousness and muscle testing is a fraud. Stay away from him and his writings if that is his method and teaching.
No levels; no body; no muscles.
NO BODY AT ALL!!!
Concentrate on the body and you make it more real. Instead concentrate on finding the source of your being, and that becomes most real.
I seem to feel Roberts energy (Shaktipat) from looking at the picture on your website. Although i assume that his body was not well at the time, his Presence is remarkable.
True, I did not appreciate it as much when he was alive. My mistake. He let me be his only friend as opposed to being a devotee, so maybe I missed something in that.
When i go to the space through the third eye, besides emptyness, there is an almost giddy feeling of bliss. Right now it seems to block all other experiencing, except for ego thoughts, which come and go, sometimes pulling me out of my focus.
Does the bliss feel like happiness or more like body comfort? If the former, you are doing fine. If the latter, it will pass.
Besides more practice, do you have any pointers to help me sink into the sense of existence you spoke of?
Several ways. One is to look for the looker while inside your inner illumined space.
The other is to mentally fall backward into yourself. That is, imagine you are sinking into your basic self, devoid of anything else.
Just as a side note, are you familliar with the work of Dr. David Hawkins? I wondered if you had any dealings with him in Sedona. Do you subscribe to his practice of callibrating levels of consciousness using muscle testing? I'm curious as to your thoughts as a Psychologist, if you are familiar with his writings.
Never heard of him. Levels of conciousness and muscle testing is a fraud. Stay away from him and his writings if that is his method and teaching.
No levels; no body; no muscles.
NO BODY AT ALL!!!
Concentrate on the body and you make it more real. Instead concentrate on finding the source of your being, and that becomes most real.
November 25, 2006
Daily I get many emails from seekers who have questions. Most of the questions have answers that can be found by reading my site or this blog or Robert's talks.
Usually my answers are short now and contribute little for a general audience.
Below is an exception. It is a deeper question.
Hi M, good to hear from you.
Let me comment between your lines.
Hi Ed,There is somthing about your site, perhaps the pictures of Robert, that has me back time and time again, like a moth to the flame.I am a Family Physician in XXX, and a "seeker", who has partaken too many times in the spiritual buffet. The sad thing is that intellectualy i know that there is no me and nothing out there. That and a token gets you a ride on the Adviata bus (which doesn't exist either).
Intellectually is not enough. Seeing there is no I with your whole being is world shattering. Not at all intellectual.
On my current "path", i have been following the teaching of a young sage named YYYYY. He had no guru, but 3 months after quiting, after a year of intense spiritual practice, enlightenment happened to "him". He is a gentle being who seems to live to teach. He combines the path of the heart and mind.
This is how it happens; it sneaks up on you when you are not practicing, but you need to "practice" intrensely before that.
At one satsang, in total surrender there was a dissolution of everything, and a 72 hour period of "expanded consciousness".
Good as such, but not enlightenment. Enlightenment "begins" when you "see" there is no I.
Ed, i realize that "i" have no control, and Awakening happens to "no one", but your practice section seems helpful. When i look inward- through the third eye chakra, i "see" light, but there is nothing for it to illuminate. Almost as if my head were empty (is it?)
This is perfect. A great first step. Now, if this is stabilized, try to sink into your sense of existence--the felt sense of I Am--totally the subject of all experience. This is not spacial, nor inner-outer, but the subjective pole of you vs. the world..
The emptiness you see illumined is your true narure so to speak, but the small I must be destroyed before you can be one with it,
What should this practice lead to? Also, since "who am I" seems to infer there is an "I", What thought or phrase would you suggest in it's place, and when to use it in meditative practice.
Use I exclusively. You must understand deeper than understanding that there is no I. Don't look at the I, look at the source of I. Ask who is seeking the I and asking the question "Who am I?"
Read Ramana Maharshi's early books exclusively--and Robert's. Advaita must sink deeply inside. Get tbe Collected works of Ramana Maharshi. Practice compassion every moment; practice humility; continue helping others--that is, act like a saint.
Hang around gurus. Question your teacher about who and what he is, and what he has that you don't. Have him explain his subjectivity. Don't let him get away with Advaita talk.
Thank you for all your work and effort to make Robert's work known to the world. Thank you for your kindness to animals.With Much Love,
M
Thanks M. Keep in close touch as questions arise or progress is made.
Ed
Daily I get many emails from seekers who have questions. Most of the questions have answers that can be found by reading my site or this blog or Robert's talks.
Usually my answers are short now and contribute little for a general audience.
Below is an exception. It is a deeper question.
Hi M, good to hear from you.
Let me comment between your lines.
Hi Ed,There is somthing about your site, perhaps the pictures of Robert, that has me back time and time again, like a moth to the flame.I am a Family Physician in XXX, and a "seeker", who has partaken too many times in the spiritual buffet. The sad thing is that intellectualy i know that there is no me and nothing out there. That and a token gets you a ride on the Adviata bus (which doesn't exist either).
Intellectually is not enough. Seeing there is no I with your whole being is world shattering. Not at all intellectual.
On my current "path", i have been following the teaching of a young sage named YYYYY. He had no guru, but 3 months after quiting, after a year of intense spiritual practice, enlightenment happened to "him". He is a gentle being who seems to live to teach. He combines the path of the heart and mind.
This is how it happens; it sneaks up on you when you are not practicing, but you need to "practice" intrensely before that.
At one satsang, in total surrender there was a dissolution of everything, and a 72 hour period of "expanded consciousness".
Good as such, but not enlightenment. Enlightenment "begins" when you "see" there is no I.
Ed, i realize that "i" have no control, and Awakening happens to "no one", but your practice section seems helpful. When i look inward- through the third eye chakra, i "see" light, but there is nothing for it to illuminate. Almost as if my head were empty (is it?)
This is perfect. A great first step. Now, if this is stabilized, try to sink into your sense of existence--the felt sense of I Am--totally the subject of all experience. This is not spacial, nor inner-outer, but the subjective pole of you vs. the world..
The emptiness you see illumined is your true narure so to speak, but the small I must be destroyed before you can be one with it,
What should this practice lead to? Also, since "who am I" seems to infer there is an "I", What thought or phrase would you suggest in it's place, and when to use it in meditative practice.
Use I exclusively. You must understand deeper than understanding that there is no I. Don't look at the I, look at the source of I. Ask who is seeking the I and asking the question "Who am I?"
Read Ramana Maharshi's early books exclusively--and Robert's. Advaita must sink deeply inside. Get tbe Collected works of Ramana Maharshi. Practice compassion every moment; practice humility; continue helping others--that is, act like a saint.
Hang around gurus. Question your teacher about who and what he is, and what he has that you don't. Have him explain his subjectivity. Don't let him get away with Advaita talk.
Thank you for all your work and effort to make Robert's work known to the world. Thank you for your kindness to animals.With Much Love,
M
Thanks M. Keep in close touch as questions arise or progress is made.
Ed
20 November 2006
Satsang in Los Angeles
For those of you in Los Angeles, I have been meeting with people face to face on an individual basis off and on for a few months. Not that I don't enjoy it, but I've got a limited amount of energy to do this, and a more effective way for me is to have an informal satsang, where we just get together and you ask questions. If pople like it, we will have chanting after a while.
I have two times in mind, either Wednesday evening about 7:30 pm or Sunday morning, 11:30-ish. Of course, there is no charge.
When Robert had satsang, we had twice as many people on Sundays as Thursdays. But satsang was a 1 pm, which sort of kills the day. I thought earlier might be better.
This would be in the West Valley--i.e., Chatsworth-Canoga Park.
You will be required to bring chocolate chip cookies. If you are interested, reply to ed_online@sbcglobal.net.
Ed
For those of you in Los Angeles, I have been meeting with people face to face on an individual basis off and on for a few months. Not that I don't enjoy it, but I've got a limited amount of energy to do this, and a more effective way for me is to have an informal satsang, where we just get together and you ask questions. If pople like it, we will have chanting after a while.
I have two times in mind, either Wednesday evening about 7:30 pm or Sunday morning, 11:30-ish. Of course, there is no charge.
When Robert had satsang, we had twice as many people on Sundays as Thursdays. But satsang was a 1 pm, which sort of kills the day. I thought earlier might be better.
This would be in the West Valley--i.e., Chatsworth-Canoga Park.
You will be required to bring chocolate chip cookies. If you are interested, reply to ed_online@sbcglobal.net.
Ed
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