RELATIONSHIPS

                                                ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

            CAN WE CHANGE AN ADDICTIVE RELATIONSHIP INTO A TRUE ONE?

               YES. BEING PRESENT AND INTENSIFYING YOUR PRESENCE BY TAKING YOUR ATTENTION EVER MORE DEEPLY INTO THE NOW. WHETHER YOU ARE LIVING ALONE OR WITH A PARTNER, THIS REMAINS THE KEY, FOR LOVE TO FLOURISH, THE LIGHT OF YOUR PRESENCE NEEDS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH SO THAT YOU NO LONGER GET TAKEN OVER BY THE THINKER OR THE PAIN-BODY AND MISTAKE THEM FOR WHO YOU ARE. TO KNOW YOURSELF AS THE BEING UNDERNEATH THE THINKER, THE STILLNESS UNDERNEATH THE MENTAL NOISE, THE LOVE AND JOY UNDERNEATH THE PAIN, IS FREEDOM, SALVATION, ENLIGHTENMENT. TO DISIDENTIFY FROM THE PAIN-BODY IS TO BRING PRESENCE INTO THE PAIN AND THUS TRANSMUTE IT. TO DISIDENTIFY FROM THINKING IS TO BE THE SILENT WATCHER OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY THE REPETITIVE PATTERNS OF YOUR MIND AND THE ROLES PLAYED BY THE EGO.

             IF YOU STOP INVESTING IT WITH "SELFNESS" THE MIND LOSES ITS COMPULSIVE QUALITY, WHICH BASICALLY IS THE COMPULSION TO JUDGE, AND SO TO RESIST WHAT IS, WHICH CREATES CONFLICT, DRAMA, AND NEW PAIN. IN FACT, THE MOMENT THAT JUDGMENT STOPS THROUGH ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT IS, YOU ARE FREE OF THE MIND. YOU HAVE MADE ROOM FOR LOVE, FOR JOY, FOR  PEACE. FIRST YOU STOP JUDGING YOURSELF, THEN YOU STOP JUDGING YOUR PARTNER. THE GREATEST CATALYST FOR CHANGE IN A RELATIONSHIP IS COMPLETE ACCEPTANCE OF YOUR PARTNER AS HED OR SHE IS, WITHOUT NEEDING TO JUDGE OR CHANGE THEM IN ANY WAY. THAT IMMEDIALTY TAKES YOU BEYOND EGO. ALL MIND GAMES AND ALL ADDICTIVE CLINGING ARE THEN OVER. THERE ARE NO VICTIMS AND NO PERPETRATORS ANYMORE, NO ACCUSER AND ACCUSED. THIS IS ALSO THE END OF ALL CODEPENDENCY, OF BEING DRAWN INTO SOMEBODY ELSE UNCONSCIOUS PATTERN AND THEREBY ENABLING IT TO CONTINUE. YOU WILL THEN EITHER SEPERATE-IN LOVE- OR MOVE EVER MORE DEEPLY INTO THE NOW TOGETHER- INTO BEING. CAN IT BE THAT SIMPLY? YES,IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

         LOVE IS STATE OF BEING, YOUR LOVE IS NOT OUTSIDE, IT IS DEEP WITHIN YOU. YOU CAN NEVER LOSE, IT AND IT CANNOT LEAVE YOU. IT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON SOME OTHER BODY, SOME EXTERNAL FORM. IN THE STILLNESS  OF YOUR PRESENCE, YOU CAN FEEL YOUR OWN FORMLESS AND TIMELESS REALITY AS THE UNMANIFESTED LIFE THAT ANIMATES YOUR PHYSICAL FORM. YOU CAN THEN CREATURE. YOU LOOK BEYOND THE VEIL OF FORM AND SEPERATION. THIS IS THE REALIZATION OF ONENESS. THIS IS LOVE.

          WHAT IS GOD? THE ETERNAL ONE LIFE UNDERNEATH ALL THE FORMS OF LIFE. WHAT IS LOVE? TO FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THAT ONE LIFE DEEP WITHIN YOURSELF AND WITHIN ALL CREATURES. TO BE IT. ALL IS THE LOVE OF GOD.

           LOVE IS NOT SELECTIVE, JUST AS THE LIGHT OF THE SUN IS NOT SELECTIVE. IT DOES NOT MAKE ONE PERSON SPECIAL. IT IS NOT EXCLUSIVE. EXCLUSIVITY IS NOT THE LOVE OF GOD BUT THE "LOVE" OF EGO. HOWEVER, THE INTENSITY WITH WHICH TRUE LOVE IS FELT CAN VARY. THERE MAY BE ONE PERSON WHO REFLECTS YOUR LOVE BACK TO YOU MORE CLEARLY AND MORE INTENSELY THAN OTHERS, AND IF THAT PERSON FEELS THE SAME TOWARD YOU, IT CAN BE SAID THAT YOU ARE IN A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM OR HER. THE BOND THAT CONNECTS YOU WITH THAT PERSON IN THE SAME BOND THAT CONNECTS YOU WILL THE PERSON SITING NEXT TO YOU ON A BUS, OR WITH A BIRD, A TREE, A FLOWER. ONLY THE DEGREE OF INTENSTY WITH WHICH IT IS FELT DIFFERS.

           EVEN IN AN OTHERWISE ADDICTIVE RELATIONSHIP, THERE MAY BE MOMENTS WHEN SOMETHING MORE REAL SHINES THROUGH, SOMETHING BEYOND YOUR MUTUAL ADDICTIVE RELATIONSHIP, THERE MAY BE MOMENTS WHEN SOMETHING MORE REAL SHINES THROUGH, SOMETHING BEYOND YOUR MUTUAL ADDICTIVED NEEDS. THESE ARE MOMENTS WHEN BOTH YOUR AND YOUR PARTNER'S MIND BRIEFLY SUBSIDE AND THE PAIN-BODY IS TEMPORARILY IN A DORMANT STATE. THIS MAY SOMETIMES HAPPEN DURING PHYSICAL INTIMACY, OR WHEN YOU ARE BOTH WITNESSING THE MIRACLE OF CHILDBIRTH, OR IN THE PRESENCE OF DEATH, OR WHEN ONE OF YOU IS SERIOUSLY ILL- ANYTHING THAT RENDERS THE MIND POWERLESS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOUR BEING, WHICH IS USUALLY BURIED UNDERNEATH THE MIND, BECOMES REVEALED, AND IT IS THIS THAT MAKES TRUE COMMUNICATION POSSIBLE.

         ALTHOUGH BRIEF GLIMPSE ARE POSSIBLE, LOVE FLOURISH UNLESS YOU ARE PERMANENTLY FREE  OF MIND IDENTIFICATION AND YOUR PRESENCE IS INTENSE ENOUGH TO HAVE DISSOLVED THE PAIN BODY- OR YOU CAN AT LEAST REMAIN PRESENT AS THE WATCHER. THE PAIN- BODY CANNOT THEN TAKE YOU OVER  AND SO BECOME DESTRUCTIVE OF LOVE.

      

YOGA

                                             SAMADHI AND MINIMISING

 

          MOST OF US MAKE OUR MINDS LIKE SPOILED CHILDREN, ALLOWING THEM TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. THEREFORE, IT IS NECESSARY THAT THERE SHOULD BE CONSTANT PRACTICE OF THE PREVIOUS MORTIFICATIONS, IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE MIND, AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION. THE OBSTRUCTIONS TO YOGA ARISE FROM LACK OF THIS CONTROL AND CAUSE UP PAIN. THEY CAN ONLY BE REMOVED BY DENYING THE MIND, AND HOLDING IT IN CHECK, THROUGH THESE VARIOUS MEANS. THE PAIN- BEARING OBSTRUCTIONS ARE - IGNORANCE, EGOISM, ATTACHMENT, AVERSION AND CLINGING TO LIFE.

         THESE ARE THE FIVE PAINS, THE FIVEFOLD TIE THAT BLINDS US DOWN, OF COUSE IGNORANCE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL THE REST. SHE IS THE ONLY CAUSE OF ALL OUR MISERY. WHAT ELSE CAN MAKE US MISERABLE? THE NATURE OF THE SOUL IS ETERNAL BLISS. WHAT CAN MAKE IT SORROWFUL EXPECT IGNORANCE, HALLUCINATION, DELUSION, ALL THIS PAIN OF THE SOUL IS SIMPLY DELUSION.

        IGNORANCE ARE THE CAUSE OF THESE, AND THESE IMPRESSIONS EXIST IN DIFFERENT DEGREES. THERE ARE THE DORMANT. YOU OFTEN HEAR THE EXPRESSION, INNOCENT AS A BABY, YET IN THE BABY MAY BE THE STATE OF A DEMON OR OF A GOD WHICH WILL COME OUT BY PAST ACTIONS, ARE ATTENUATED, THAT IS, IN A VERY FINE STATE, AND HE CAN CONTROL THEM, AND NOT ALLOW THEM TO BECOME MANIFEST.

         OVERPOWERED MEANS THAT SOMETIMES ONE SET OF IMPRESSIONS IS HELD DOWN FOR A WHILE BY THOSE THAT ARE STRONGER, BUT THEY WILL COME OUT WHEN THAT REPRESSION CAUSE IS REMOVED. THE LAST STATE IS THE EXPANDED, WHEN THE SAMSKARAS, HAVING HELPFUL SURROUNDINGS, HAVE ATTAINED TO GREAT ACTIVITY, EITHER AS GOOD OR EVIL.

        IGNORANCE IS TAKING THAT WHICH IS NON-ETERNAL, IMPURE, PAINFUL, AND NON-SELF, THE ETERNAL, PURE, HAPPY, ATMAN(SELF).

       ALL THESE VARIOUS SORTS OF IMPRESSIONS HAVE ONE SOURCE IGNORANCE. WE HAVE FIRST TO LEARN WHAT IGNORANCE IS. ALL OF US THINK THAT, I AM THE BODY, AND NOT THE SELF, THE PURE, THE EFFULGENT, THE EVER BLISSFUL, AND THAT IS IGNORANCE. WE THINK OF MAN, AND SEE MAN AS BODY. THIS IS THE GREAT DELUSION.

        EGOISM IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SEER WITH THE INSTRUMENT OF SEEING.

        THE SEER IS REALLY THE SELF, THE PURE ONE, THE EVER HOLY, THE INFINITE, THE IMMORTAL. THAT IS THE SELF OF MAN. AND WHAT ARE THE INSTRUMENTS? THE CHITTA, OR MIND-STUFF, THE BUDDHI, DETERMINATIVE FACULTY, THE MANAS, OR MIND, AND THE INDRIYAN, OR SENSE ORGANS. THESE ARE THE INSTRUMENTS FOR HIM TO SEE THE EXTERNAL WORLD. AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SELF WITH THE INSTRUMENTS IS WHAT IS CALLED THE IGNORANCE OF EGOISM. WE SAY, I AM THE MIND, I AM THOUGHT, I AM ANGRY, OR I AM HAPPY, HOW CAN WE BE ANGRY, AND HOW CAN WE HATE? WE SHOULD IDENTIFY OURSELVES WITH THE SELF, THAT CANNOT CHANGE. IF IT IS UNCHANGEABLE, HOW CAN IT BE ONE MOMENT HAPPY, AND ONE MOMENT UNHAPPY? IT IS FORMLESS, INFINITE, OMNIPRESENT. WHAT CAN CHANGE IT? BEYOND ALL LAW. WHAT CAN AFFECT IT? NOTHING IN THE INIVERSE CAN PRODUCE AM EFFORT ON IT, YET, THROUGH IGNORANCE, WE IDENTIFY OURSELVES WITH THE MIND-STUFF, AND THINK WE FEEL PLEASURE OR PAIN.

ABOUT SPIRITUAL

                                                      KEY OF SPIRITUAL

  

                 IN LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THE SHIFT IN CONSIOUSNESS FROM TIME TO PRESENCE SOMETIMES HAPPENS NATURALLY. THE PERSONALITY THAT HAS A PAST AND FUTURE MOMENTARILY RECEDES AND IS REPLACED BY AN INTENSE CONSCIOUS PRESENCE, VERY STILL BUT VERY ALERT AT THE SAME TIME. WHATEVER RESPONSE IS NEEDED THEN ARISES OF THAT STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

               THE REASON WHY SOME PEOPLE LOVE TO ENGAGE IN DANGEROUS ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, CAR RACING, AND SO ON, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF IT, THAT IF FORCES THEM INTO THE NOW- THAT INTENSELY ALIVE STATE THAT IS FREE OF TIME, FREE OF PROBLEMS, FREE OF THINKING FREE OF THE BURDEN OF THE PERSANALITY. SLIPPING AWAY FROM THE PRESENT MOMENT EVEN FOR A SECOND MAY MEAN DEATH. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY COME TO DEPEND ON A PARTICULAR ACTIVITY TO BE IN THAT STATE. BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO CLIMB THE NORTH FACE OF THE ELIGER. YOU CAN ENTER THAT SATE NOW.

                SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, SPIRITUAL MASTERS OF ALL TRADITIONS HAVE POINTED TO THE NOW AS THE KEY TO THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION. DESPITE THIS, IT SEEMS TO HAVE REMAINED A SECRET, IT IS CERTAINLY NOT TAUGHT IN CHURGES AND TEMPLES. IF YOU GO TO A CHURCH, YOU MAY HEAR READINGS FROM THE GODPELS SUCH A TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW, FOR THE MORROW SHALL TAKE THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW, FOR THE THINGS OF ITSELF, OR NOBODY WHO PUTS HIS HANDS TO THE PLOW AND LOOKS BACK IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. OR YOU MIGHT HEAR THE PASSAGE ABOUT THE BEATIFUL FLOWERS THAT ARE NOT ANXIOUS ABOUT TOMORROW BUT LIVE WITH EASE IN THE TIMELESS NOW AND ARE PROVIDED FOR ABUNDANTLY BY GOD. THE DEPTH AND RADICAL NATURE OF THESE TEACHINGS ARE NOT REGOGNIZED. NO ONE SEEMS TO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO BE LIVED AND SO BRING ABOUT A PROFOUND INNER TRANSFORMATION.

                 THE WHOLE ESSENCE OF ZEN CONSISTS IN WALKING ALONG THE RAZOR'S EDGE OF NOW- TO BE SO UTTERLY, SO COMPLETELY PRESENT THAT NO PROBLEM, NO SUFFERING, NOTHING THAT IS NOW WHO YOU ARE IN YOUR ESSENCE, CAN SURVIVE IN YOU. IN THE NOW, IN THE ABSENCE OF TIME, ALL YOUR PROBLEMS DISSOLVE. SUFFERING NEEDS TIME, IT CANNOT SURVIVE IN THE NOW.

              THE GREAT ZEN MASTER RINZAI, IN ORDER TO TAKE HIS STUDENTS ATTENTION AWAY FROM TIME, WOULD OFTEN RAISE HIS FINGER AND SLOWLY ASK, WHAT AT THIS MOMENT IS LACKING? A POWERFUL QUESTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ANSWER ON THE LEVEL OF THE MIND. IT IS DESIGNED TO TAKE YOUR ATTENTION DEEPLY INTO THE NOW. A SIMILAR QUESTION IN THE ZEN TRADITION IS THIS, IF NOT NOW WHEN?

              THE NOW IS ALSO CENTRAL TO THE TEACHING OF SUFISM, THE MYSTICAL BRANCH OF ISLAM. SUFIS HAVE A SAYING. THE SUFI IS THE SON OF TIME PRESENT AND RUMI, THE GREAT POET AND TEACHER OF SUFISM, DECLARES, "PAST AND FUTURE VEIL GOD FROM OUR SIGHT, BURN UP BOTH OF THEM WITH FIRE".

              MEISTER ECKHART, THE THIRTEENTH-CENTURY SPIRITUAL TEACHER, SUMMED IT ALL UP BEAUTIFULLY, TIME IS WHAT KEEP THE LIGHT FROM REACHING US. THERE IS NO GREATER OBSTACLE TO GOD THAN TIME.

THE POWER OF PRESENCE

                                                     DIVINE PRESENCE

  

        DON'T GET ATTACHED TO ANY ONE WORD. YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE "CHRIST" FOR PRESENCE. IF THAT IS MORE MEANINGFUL TO YOU. CHRIST IS YOUR GOD ESSENCE OR THE SELF, AS IT IS SOMETIMES CALLED IN THE EAST. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHRIST AND PRESENCE IS THAT CHRIST REFERES TO YOUR INDWELLING DIVINITY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE CONSCIOUS OF IT OR NOT, WHEREAS PRESENCE MEANS YOUR AWAKENED DIVINITY OR GOD-ESSENCE.

            MANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND FALSE BELIEFS ABOUT CHRIST WILL CLEAR IF YOU REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO PAST OR FUTURE IN CHRIST. TO SAY THAT CHRIST WAS OR WILL BE IS A  CONTRADICTION IN TERMS, JESUS WAS. HE WAS A MAN WHO LIVE TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO AND REALIZED DIVINE PRESENCE, HIS TRUE NATURE. AND SO HE SAID. " BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM " HE DID NOT SAY, I ALREADY EXISTED BEFORE ABRAHIM WAS BORN. THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT THAT HE WAS STILL WITHIN THE DIMENTION OF TIME AND FORM IDENTITY. THE WORDS I AM USED IN A SENTENCE THAT STARTS IN THE PASTTENSE INDICATE A RADICAL SHIFT, A DISCONTINUITY IN THE TEMPORAL DIMENSION.

               IT SI A ZEN-LIKE STATEMENT OF GREAT PROFUNDITY, JESUS ATTEMPTED TO CONVEY DIRECTLY, NOT THROUGH DISCURSIVE THOUGHT, THE MEANING OF PRESENCE, OF SELF-REALIZATION. HE HAD GONE BEYOND THE CONSCIOUSNESS DIMENSION GOVERNED.BY TIME, INTO THE REALM OF THE TIMELESS. THE DIMENSION OF ETERNITY HAD COME INTO THIS WORLD. ETERNITY, OF COURSE, DOES NOT MEAN ENDLESS TIME, BUT NO TIME. THUS, THE MAN JESUS BECAME CHRIST, A VEHICLE FOR PURE CONSCIOUSNESS. AND WHAT IS GOD'S SELF-DEFINITION IN THE BIBLE? DID GOD SAY " I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, AND I ALWAYS WILL BE? OF COURSE NOT. NO TIME HERE, JUST PRESENCE. 

               THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST IS A TRANSFORMATION OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS, SHIFT FROM TIME TO PRESENCE, FROM THINKING TO PURE CONSCIOUSNESS, NOT THE ARRIVAL OF SOME MAN OR WOMAN. IF CHRIST WERE TO RETURN TOMORROW IN SOME EXTERNALIZED FORM, WHAT I COULD HE OR SHE POSSIBLE SAY TO YOU OTHER THAN THIS. I AM THE TRUTH. I AM DIVINE  PRESENCE. I AM ETERNAL LIFE. I AM WITHIN YOU. I AM HERE. I AM NOW.

                 NEVER PERSONAIZE CHRIST. DON'T MAKE CHRIST INTO A FORM IDENTITY. AVATARS. DIVINE MOTHERS, ENLIGHTENED MASTERS, THE VERY FEW THAT ARE REAL, ARE NOT SPECIAL .AS PERSONS. WITHOUT A FALSE SELF TO UPHOLD, DEFEND, AND FEED, THEY ARE MORE SIMPLE, MORE ORDINARY THAN THE ORDINARY MAN OR WOMAN. ANYONE WITH A STRONG EGO WOULD REGARD THEM AS INSIGNIFANT OR, MORE LIKELY, NOT SEE THEM AT ALL.

              IF YOU ARE DRAWN TO AN ENLIGHTENED TEACHER, IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS ALREADY ENOUGH PRESENCE IN YOU TO REGOGNIZE PRESENCE IN ANOTHER. THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE WHO DID NOT RECOGNIZE JESUS OR THE BUDDHA, AS THERE ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DRAWN TO FALSE TEACHERS. EGOS ARE DRAWN TO BIGGER EGOS. DARKNESS CANNOT RECOGNIZE LIGHT. ONLY LIGHT CAN RECOGNIZE LIGHT. SO DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE LIGHT IS OUTSIDE YOU OR THAT IT CAN ONLY CAN ONLY COME THROUGH ONE PARTICULAR FORM. IF ONLY YOUR MASTER IS AN INCARNATION OF GOD, THEN WHO ARE YOU? ANY KIND OF EXCLUSIVITY IS IDENFICATION WITH FORM, AND IDENTIFICATION WITH FORM MEANS EGO, NO MATTER HOW WELL DISGUISED.

             USE THE MASTER'S PRESENCE OF REFLECT YOUR OWN IDENTITY BEYOND NAME AND FORM BACK TO YOU AND TO BECOME MORE INTENSELY PRESENT YOURSELF. YOU WILL SOON REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO "MINE" OR "YOURS" IN PRESENCE. PRESENCE IS ONE.

              GROUP WORD CAN ALSO BE HELPFUL FOR INTENSIFYING THE LIGHT OF YOUR PRESENCE GENERATES.  GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER IN A STATE OF PRESENCE GENERATES A COLLECTIVE ENERGY FIELD OF GREAT INTENSITY. IT NOT ONLY RAISES THE DEGREE OF PRESENCE OF EACH MEMBER OF THE GROUP BUT ALSO HELPS TO FREE THE COLLECTIVE HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS FROM ITS CURRENT STATE OF MIND DOMINANCE. THIS WILL MAKE THE STATE OF PRESENCE INCREASINGLY MORE ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, UNLESS AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP IS ALREADY FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN IT AND THUS CAN HOLD THE ENERGY FREQUENCY OF THAT STATE, THE EGOIC MIND CAN EASILY REASSERT ITSELF AND SABOTAGE THE GROUP'S ENDEAVORS. ALTHOUGH GROUP WORK IS INVALUABLE, IT IS NOT ENOUGH, AND YOU MUST NOT COME TO DEPEND ON IT. NO TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, WHEN YOU ARE LEARNING THE MEANING AND PRACTICE OF PRESENCE.

THE VALUE OF NOW

 

                                                              NOW.....

                 I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT TRUE ENLIGHTENMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE EXCEPT THROUGH LOVE IN A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. ISN'T THIS WHAT MAKES US WHOLE AGAIN? HOW CAN ONE'S LIFE BE FULFILLED UNTIL THAT HAPPENS?

               IS THAT TRUE IN YOUR EXPERIENCE? HAS THIS HAPPENED TO YOU?

              NOT YET, BUT HOW COULD IT BE OTHERWISE? I KNOW THAT IT WILL HAPPEN.

            IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE WAITING FOR AN EVENT IN TIME TO SAVE YOU. IS THIS NOT THE CORE ERROR THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT? SALVATION IS NOT ELSEWHERE IN PLACE OR TIME. IT IS HERE AND NOW.

           WHAT DOES THAT STATEMENT MEAN, SALVATION IS HERE AND NOW? I DON'T UNERSTAND IT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT SALVATION MEANS.

         MOST PEOPLE PURSUE PHYSICAL PLEASURE OR VARIOUS FORMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL GRATIFICATION BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WILL MAKE THEM HAPPY O FREE THEM FROM A FEELING OF FEAR OR LACK. HAPPINESS MAY BE PERCEIVED AS A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF ALIVENESS ATTAINED THROUGH PHYSICAL PLEASURE, OR A MORE SECURE AND MORE COMPLETE SENSE OF SELF ATTAINED THROUGH SOME FORM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL GRATIFICATION. THIS IS THE SEARCH FOR SALVATION FROM A STATE OF SATISFACTORINESS OR INSUFFICIENCY. INVARIABLY, ANY SATISFACTION THAT THEY OBTAIN IS SHORT- LIVED, SO THE CONDITION OF SATISFACTION OR FULFILLMENT IS USUALLY PROJECTED ONCE AGAIN INTO AN IMAGINARY POINT AWAY FROM THE HERE AND NOW. WHEN I OBTAIN THIS OR AM FREE OF THAT- THEN I WILL BE OKEY. THIS IS THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND-SET THAT CREATES THE ILLUSION OF SALVATION IN THE FUTURE.

              TRUE SALVATION IS FULFILLMENT , PEACE, LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS. IT IS TO BE WHO YOU ARE, TO FEEL WHITHIN YOU THE GOOD THAT HAS NO OPPOSITE, THE JOY OF BEING THAT DEPENDS ON NOTHING OUTSIDE ITSELF. IT IS FELT NOT AS A PASSING EXPERIENCE BUT AS AN ABIDING PRESENCE. IN THEISTIC LANGUAGE, IT I TO KNOW GOD NOT AS SOMETHING OUTSIDE YOU BUT AS YOUR OWN INNERMOST ESSENCE. TRUE SALVATION IS TO KNOW YOURSELF AS AN INSEPARABLE PART OF THE TIMELESS AND FORMLESS ONE LIFE FROM WHICH ALL THAT EXISTS DERIVES ITS BEING.

            TRUE SALVATION IS A STATE OF FEEDOM- FROM FEAR, FROM SUFFERING FROM A PERCEIVED STATE OF LACK AND INSUFFICIENCY AND THEREFORE FROM ALL WANTING, NEEDING, GRASPING, AND CLINGING. IT IS FREEDOM FROM COMPULSIVE THINKING, FROM NEGATIVITY, AND ABOVE ALL FROM PAST AND FUTURE AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED. YOUR MIND IS TELLING YOU THAT YOU CANNOT GET THERE FROM HERE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN, OR YOU NEED TO BECOME THIS OR THAT BEFORE YOU CAN BE  OR COMPLETE, YOU SEE TIME AS THE MEANS TO SALVATION, WHEREAS IN TRUTH IT IS THE GREATEST OBSTACLES TO SALVATION. YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM WHERE AND WHO YOU ARE AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT YET COMPLETE OR GOOD ENOUGH, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT HERE AND NOW IS THE ONLY POINT FROM WHERE YOU CAN GET THERE. YOU "GET" THERE BY REALIZING THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO SEEK GOD. SO THERE IS NO ONLY WAY TO SALVATION. ANY CONDITION AWAY FROM THIS MOMENT. YOU ARE LONELY AND WIHTOUT A PARTNER? ENTER THE NOW FROM THERE. YOU ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP? ENTER THE NOW FROM THERE.

                     THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN EVER DO OR ATTIN THAT WILL GET YOU CLOSER TO SALVATION THAN IT IS AT THIS MOMENT. THIS MAY BE HARD TO GRASP FOR A MIND ACCUSTOMED TO THINKING THAT EVERYTHIN WORTHWHILE IS IN THE FUTURE. NOR CAN ANYTHING THAT YOU EVER DID OR THAT WAS DONE TO YOU IN THE PAST PREVENT YOU FROM SAYING YET TO WHAT IS AND TAKING YOUR ATTENTION DEEPLY INTO THE NOW. YOU CANNOT DO THIS IN THE FUTURE. YOU DO IT NOW OR NOT AT ALL.

                     

ABOUT WOMEN

                                                               WOMENS..

 

  

              ARE THE OBSTACLES TO ENLIGHTENMENT THE SAME FR A MAN AS FOR A                    WOMAN?

  

         YES, BUT EH EMPHASIS IS DIFFERENT. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT IS EASIER FOR A WOMAN TO FEEL AND BE IN HER BODY, SO SHE IS NATURALLY CLOSER TO BEING AND POTENTIALLY CLOSER TO ENLIGHTENMENT THAN A MAN. THIS IS WHY MANY ANCIENT CULTURE INTINCTIVELY CHOSE FEMALE FIGURES OR ANALOGIES TO REPRESENT OR DESCRIBE THE FORMLESS AND TRANSCENDENTAL REALITY. IT WAS OFTEN SEEN AS A WOMB THAT GIVES BIRTH TO EVERYTHING IN CREATION AND SUSTAINS ANS NOURISHES IT DURING ITS LIFE AS FORM. IN THE TAO TEACHING, ONE OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND PROFOUND BOOKS EVER WRITTEN, THE TAO, WHICH COULD BE TRANSLATED AS BEING, IS DESCRIBED AS " INFINITE, ETERNALLY PRESENT, THE MOTHER OF THE UNIVERSE, NATURALLY, WOMAN  ARE CLOSER TO IT THAN MEN SINCE THEY VIRTUALLY "EMBODY" THE UNMANIFESTED. WHAT IS MORE, ALL CREATURES AND ALL THINGS MUST EVENTUALLY RETURN TO THE SOURCE. ALL THINGS VANISH INTO THE TAO. IT ALONE ENDURES. SINCE THE SOUCE IS SEEN AS FEMALE, THIS IS REPRESENTED AS THE LIGHT AND DARK SIDES OF THE ARCHETYPAL FEMININE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND MYTHOLOGY. THE GODDESS OR DIVINE MOTHER HAS TWO ASPECTS. SHE GIVES LIFE, AND SHE TAKES LIFE.

             WHEN THE MIND TOOK OVER AND HUMANS LOST TOUCH WITH THE REALITY OF THEIR DIVINE ESSENCE, THEY STARTED TO THINK OF GOD AS A MALE FIGURE. SOCIETY BECAME MALE DOMINATED, AND THE FEMALE WAS MADE SUBORDINATE TO THE MALE.

           I AM NOT SUGGESTING A RETURN TO EARLIER FEMALE REPRESENTATION FO THE DIVINE. SOME PEOPLE NOW USE THE TERM GODDESS INSTEAD OF GOD. THEY ARE REDRESSING A BALANCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE  THAT WAS LOST A LONG TIME AGO, AND THAT IS GOOD. BUT IT IS STILL A REPRESENTATION AND A CONCEPT, PERHAPS TEMPORARILY USEFUL, JUST AS A MAP OR A SIGNPOST IS TEMPORARILY USEFUL, BUT MORE A HINDRANCE THAN A MAP OR A SINGPOST IS TEMPORAILY USEFUL, BUT MORE A HINDRANCE THAN A HELP WHEN YOU ARE READY TO REALIZE THE REALITY BEYOND ALL CONCEPT AND IMAGES. WHAT DOES REMAIN TRUE, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE ENERGY FREQUENCY OF THE MIND APPEARS TO BE ESSENTIALLY MALE. THE MIND RESISTS, FIGHTS FOR CONTROL, USES, MANIPULATES, ATTACKS, TRIES TO GRASP AND POSSES, AND SO ON. THIS IS WHY THE TRADITIONAL GOD IS A PATRIARCHAL,CONTROLLING AUTHORITY FIGURE, AN OFTEN ANGRY MAN WHO YOU SHOULD LIVE IN FEAR OF, AS THE OLD TESTAMENT SUGGESTS. THIS GOD IS A PROJECTION OF THE HUMAN MIND.

            TO GO BEYOND THE MIND AND RECONNECT WITH THE DEEPER REALITY OF BEING, VERY DIFFERENT QUALITIES NEEDED. SURRENDER, NONJEDGEMENT, AN OPENESS THAT ALLOWS LIFE TO BE INSTEAD OF RESISTING IT, THE CAPACIY TO HOLD ALL THINGS IN THE LOVING EMBRACE OF YOUR KNOWING. ALL THESE QUALITIES ARE MUCH MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE FEMALE PRICIPLE WHERE AS MIND- ENERGY IS HARD AND RIGID, BEING - ENERGY IS SOFT AND YIELDING AND YET INFINITELY MORE POWERFUL  THAN MIND. THE MIND RUNS OUR CIVILIZATION, WHEREAS BEING IS IN CHARGE OF ALL LIFE ON OUR PLANET AND BEYOND. BEING IS THE VERY INTELLIGENCE WHOSE VISIBLE MANIFESTATION IS THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE. ALTHOUGH WOMEN ARE POTENTIALLY CLOSER TO IT, MEN CAN ALSO ACCESS IT WITHIN THEMSELVES.

               

                AT THIS TIME, THE VAST MAJORITY OF MEN AS WELL AS WOMEN ARE STILL IN THE GRIP OF THE MIND. IDENTIFIED WITH THE THINKER AND THE PAIN- BODY. THIS, OF COURSE, IS WHAT PREVENTS ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE FLOWERING OF LOVE. AS A GENERAL RULE, THE MAJOR OBSTACLE FOR MEN TENDS TO BE THE THINKING MIND, AND THE MAJOR OBSTACLE FOR WOMEN THE PAIN- BODY, ATTHOUGH IN CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL CASES THE OPPOSITE MAY BE TRUE, AND IN OTHERS THE TWO FACTORS THE TWO FACTORS MAY BE EQUAL.

YOGA TELL ABOUT YOUR CONCENTRATION

                                                       CONCENTRATION

                     MORTIFICATION, STUDY, AND SURRENDERING FRUITS OF WORK TO GOD ARE CALLED KRIYA YOGA.

                     THOSE SAMADHIS WITH WHICH WE ENDED OUR LAST CHAPTER ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN, SO WE MUST TAKE THEM UP SLOWLY. THE FIRST STEP, THE PRELIMINARY STEP, IS CALLED KRIYA YOGA. LITERALLY THIS MEANS WORK, WORKING TOWARDS YOGA. THE ORGANS ARE THE MEANS WORK, WORKING TOWARDS YOGA.  THE LITERALLY THIS MEANS WORK, WORKING TOWARDS YOGA. THE ORGANS ARE THE HORSES, THE MIND IS THE REINS, THE INTELLECT IS THE CHARIOTEER, THE SOUL IS THE RIDER, AND THIS BODY IS THE CHARIOT. THE MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD, THE KING, THE SELF OF MAN, IS SITTING IN THIS CHARIOT.

                      IF THE HORSES ARE VERY STRONG, AND DO NOT OBEY THE REINS, IF THE CHARIOTEER, THE INTELLECT, DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THE HORSES, THEN THIS CHARIOT WILL COME TO GRIEF. BUT IF THE ORGANS, THE HORSES, ARE WELL CONTROLLED, AND IF THE REINS, THE MIND, ARE WELL HELD IN THE BANDS OF THE CHARIOTEER, THE INTELLECT, THE CHARIOT, REACHES THE GOAL. WHAT IS MEANT, GUILDING THIS BODY AND MIND. NOT LETTING THE BODY DO ANYTHING IT LIKES, BUT KEEPING THEM BOTH IN PROPER CONTROL. STUDY. WHAT IS MEANT BY STUDY IN THIS CASE? NOT STUDY OF NOVELS, OR FICTION, OR STORY BOOKS, BUT STUDY OF THOSE BOOKS WHICH TEACH THE LIBERATION OF THE SOUL. THEN AGAIN THIS STUDY DOES NOT MEAN CONTOVERSIAL STUDIES AT ALL. THE YOGI IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FINISHED HIS PERIOD OF CONTROVERSY.

                     HE HAS HAD ENOUGH OF ALL THAT, AND HAS BECOME SATISFIED. HE ONLY  STUDIES TO INTENSIFY HIS CONVICTIONS. VADA AND SIDDHANTA ARE THE TWO SORTS OF SCRIPTUAL KNOWLEDGE, VADA( THE ARGUMENTATIVE) AND SIDDHARTA ( THE DECISIVE). WHEN A MAN IS ENTIRELY IGNORANT HE TAKES UP THE FIRST PART OF THIS, THE ARGUMENTATIVE FIGHTING, AND REASONING, PRO AND CON, AND WHEN HE HAS FINISHED, HETAKES UP THE SIDDHARTA, THE DECISIVE, ARRIVING AT A CONCLUTION. SIMPLY ARRIVING AT THIS CONCLUTION WILL NOT DO. IT MUST BE INTESIFIED. BOOKS ARE INFINITE IN NUMBER, AND TIME IS SHORT, THEREFORE THIS IS THE SECRET OF KNOWLEDGE, TO TAKE WHICH IS ESSENTIAL. TAKE THAT OUT, AND THEN TRY TO LIVE UP TO IT. THERE IS AN OLD SIMILE IN INDIA THAT IF YOU PLACE OF CUP OF MILK BEFORE A RAJA HAMSA(SWAN) WITH PLENTY OF WATER IN IT, HE WILL TAKE ALL THE THE MILK AND LEAVE THE WATER. IN THAT WAY WE SHOULD TAKE WHAT IS OF VALUE IN KNOWLEDGE, AND LEAVE THE DROSS. ALL THESE INTELLECTUAL GYMNASTICS ARE NECESSARY AT FIRST. WE MUST NOT GO BLINDLY INTO ANYTHING.

                    THE YOGI GAS PASSED THE ARGUMENTATIVE STAGE, AND HAS COME TO A CONCLUSION, WHICH IS LIKE THE ROCKS, IMMOVABLE. THE ONLY THING HE NOW SEEKS TO DO IS TO INTENSIFY THAT CONCLUSION. DO NOT ARGUE, HE SAYS, IF ONE FORCES ARGUMENTS UPON YOU, BE SILENT.

 DO NOT ANSWER ANY ARGUMENT, BUT GO AWAY FREE, BECAUSE ARGUMNENTS ONLY DISTURB THE MIND. THE ONLY THING IS TO TRAIN THE INTELLECT, SO WHAT IS THE USE OF DISTURBING IT ANYMORE. THE INTELLECT IS BUT A WEAK INSTRUMENT, AND CAN GIVE ONLY KNOWLEDGE LIMITED BY THE SENSE, THE YOGI WANTS TO GO BEYOND THE SENSES. THEREFORE THE INTELLECT IS OF NO USE OF HIM. HE IS CERTAIN OF THIS, AND THEREFORE, IS SILENT, AND DOES NOT ARGUE. EVERY ARGUMENT THROWS HIS MIND OUT OF BALANCE, CREATES A DISTURBANCE IN THE CHITTA, AND THIS DISTURBANCE IS A DRAWBACK. THESE ARGUMENTATIONS AND SEARCHINGS OF THE REASON ARE ONLY ON THE WAY. THERE ARE MUCH HIGHER THINGS BEHIND THEM. THE WHOLE OF LIFE IS NOT FOR SCHOOLDBOY FIGHTS AND DEBATING SOCIETIES. BY " SURROUDERING THE FRUITS OF WORK TO GOD" IS TO TAKE TO OURSELVES NEITHER CREDIT NOR BLAME, BUT TO GIVE BOTH UP TO THE LORD, AND BE AT PEACE.