Self-Knowledge and Self-Realization

Hi Ed,


my name is Bill and if you are willing to give some advice regarding Advaita it would be much appreciated. Briefly, I have been experiencing the beingness as outlined in Ramana Maharshi's teaching since the beginning of January, including extreme blissful states e.t.c.


Can you advise as to whether there is a transitional stage between the beginning of first realizing and Self realised. I have recently contacted another well known teacher
who has stated that there are no stages and there is no final stage called Self Realised. This seems contrary to Ramana's teaching and to your book autobiography of a Jnani.


Whist his insistence is to be in the now without a second, which would therefore do away with concepts either of past or future. He has also discouraged any notion of the mind dropping ( has Ramana put it the breaking of the knot, Nisargardatta said he witnessed his own death - I, ego ). I sought to clarify this but was brought back to the nowness of the I only. I am a little confused as my experience is taking me in the direction outlined by Ramana etc . Regards Bill


Edji:


The person you talked to probably never had an awakening experience.


There are no stages so to speak. You begin to feel the self and it deepens and deepens and one day you awaken and find out you never existed or ever walked a path.


All concepts and knowledge drop away. At the same time, you recognize that the world you appear to live in continues, but you realize you are in it only when you believe you are in it. It has lost its bite so to speak.


There may be further awakenings later, such as that consciousness itself is not real and you are beyond even consciousness.


Then love awakens in you, if you are unlucky and you can become a teacher.


There is much info and downloads to read on my website: http://itisnotreal.com,


and dialogues with students at http://itisnotreal.blogspot.com




Bill:


My god you have been so helpful, it is the progressive deepening that was at the heart my question. What you have described is as indicated in Ramana Maharshi's teaching and also affirms my beginning experiences, it is difficult putting in words what this means for me ( without a teacher you have to have some guide, Ramana Maharishi's books have been of immense value ). My warmest gratitude. p.s I will visit the sites mentioned.


Regards
Bill Russell