Self-Knowledge and Self-Realization

I can't remember if I asked you already about this.
You say you teach self-enquiry in the light of Robert and Ramana.
But I wonder what Robert might say to your comment about doing
"sesshin" at mount baldy - and only taking a week to
attain samadhi? (not sure which samadhi you're refering to)
How does that jive with Robert and Ramana exactly?

Thanks for your time,
Seeker

Where is the inconsistency you appear to see?

I teach self-abidance as opposed to self-inquiry.

Zen and Advaita are different paths with different experiences and understandings.

Zen is more into perception and immediacy, while traditional Advaita has a theory associated with it, sometimes emphasizing Consciousness and oneness, sometimes the primacy of Turyatta, the state prior to all states, or the stateless states.

All paths are not equal, and many experiences and understandings are mutually exclusive if you hold onto either a Zen understanding or an Advaita understanding.

I was a Buddhist monk many years before I met Robert, and was at Mt. Baldy 17 years before I met Robert. Did you want me to forget my Zen experiences before I met Robert in order to make my life's understanding and experiences consistent over a period of 40 years? Is that what you prize, consistent knowledge and experiences?

That is all the time it takes to attain many states during an intense Zen retreat, a few days. There is really nothing like the intensity of a retreat as at Mt. Baldy, with people beating you with sticks in near sub zero temperatures in a Zendo if you nod off to sleep.

Actually, you can't compare the states between various disciplines. They are not identical across the conceptual lines created by the differing methods and epistemology.

Do not be captured by your understanding of spirituality, but let go, otherwise you will always see problems.

Back At Me:

Just seems like you're diverging from what Ramana and Robert taught here.

Firstly, what good is there to speak of various states of samadhi - when they are not the ultimate unchanging Reality?

Both obviously spoke on them, but only to explain them conceptually - and to remind that they are not the Goal.

And certainly not to claim it can be attained (by a select few? anyone?) doing a few days of meditation?
And further to suggest a retreat of that nature?

It just seems odd and out of line with your teacher and his - and the non dual tradition as a whole.

It could be that I am stuck on a conception of advaita in their lineage/style - but ask yourself this;

Would Robert, Ramana, Nisargadatta, or other Masters in this line ever have spoken those words?
I seriously doubt it.



RESPONSE:


You are stuck on your understanding of Robert and Ramana based on books. Robert, in life, was much different from his teachings. I am different from Robert, I do not teach his Satsang teachings because generally they were for beginners interested in theory and basic techniques.


You should concern yourself less with your apprehension of apparent contradictions between how you perceive Robert's teachings versus mine, and be more concerned about your own teachings, which means your own sense of I Am and self. 


You have to understand this. It does not matter what you think Robert or Ramana would or would not have said. That is all thinking on your part. You need to get out of concepts and perceive the sense of presence, the I Am, then you would not be so concerned with words. There is no truth in words.