The Way of the Pilgrim

[another bob]

""Now if you will listen, I will read how you can learn ceaseless interior prayer."' The elder opened the Philokalia to the account of St. Simeon the New Theologian and began reading: "'Sit alone and in silence; bow your head and close your eyes; relax your breathing and with your imagination look into your heart; direct your thoughts from your head into your heart, and while inhaling say, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me," either softly with your lips or in your mind. Endeavor to fight distractions but be patient and peaceful and repeat the process frequently."'"

~ excerpt from 'The Way of a Pilgrim"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim

Blessings!

[Tony]

Devotion does seem to be the key.

[another bob]

Devotion does seem to be the key.

Greetings, Friend!

Yes, steady perseverance in the fusion of attention and intention fuels the power of creation/manifestation.

Devotion may at the outset be by fits and starts. That need not depress the aspirant, for it will develop and become steadier and flow finally in an unbroken current. When devotion is ripe, a moment's (pointing out) instruction suffices for the next step in Jnana (Wisdom). Faith helps in the development of one's intuition and the attainment of complete illumination – Cosmic Consciousness. Thus, the weak aspirant's first efforts at devotion, through name and form at broken intervals, and for attaining finite or lower ends, ultimately carry him beyond all name and form, into an unbroken current of love to the Absolute. This is Salvation (Mukti). ~Ramana Maharshi

Blessings!

[WhiteFeather]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjDojEOiMcE

[Davidallany]

When I was a pre-teen immersing in Islamic studies, I found that devotion can take a person so far, but then things get interesting. The devotee and the devoted become one.

[another bob]

When I was a pre-teen immersing in Islamic studies, I found that devotion can take a person so far, but then things get interesting. The devotee and the devoted become one.

Greetings, Friend!

In your experience of things getting interesting, was it that the subject and object were transformed at a certain moment from a state of duality to one of nonduality?

Or was it more like a recognition that the devotee and the object of devotion have never been separate from the start?

That only the angle of vision had changed, so what once appeared to be two, is now realized to have been one all along?

In which case, the question would be: what precipitates such a transformation in the angle of vision?

Yes, devotion is key, but turned back on itself to its own point of origin, at the heart.

There, devotion need simply abide, alert and still.

The Heart takes care of its own.


Blessings!

[Davidallany]

Hi Bobs,

When I became a teenager, I was intellectually awakened to non duality, such as the idea of oneness, although I have intensly reflected upon this idea since the age of 5. Then when I came to Canada in my early 20's and having immersed in non-Abrahamic religions I had visions as real as the coffee in front of me, then It was not intellectual anymore.
I did need help from 4 different teachers who taught me to experience ultimate reality.
So devotion doesn't work for me anymore, but compassion still does.

[another bob]

So devotion doesn't work for me anymore, but compassion still does.

Thank you, Friend!

Perhaps we can say that compassion (Bodhicitta) is the fruit of devotion.

Blessings!

[Davidallany]

Perhaps we can say that compassion (Bodhicitta) is the fruit of devotion.

Yes Bob, that is correct. Thank you for allowing me to present this on your thread.

[58andfixed]

Maybe the process is called devotion could be more accurately described as being more involved with one's beliefs -- whatever they are.

A commitment to an idea brings about more consciousness about every detail of every idea [or mere belief] as something that will be lived.

The words are semantics, however the experience for the individual is a more concrete tie between ideas, choices and consequences.

Compassion, understanding and caring are natural outcomes.

- 58




When I was a pre-teen immersing in Islamic studies, I found that devotion can take a person so far, but then things get interesting. The devotee and the devoted become one.

In your experience of things getting interesting, was it that the subject and object were transformed at a certain moment from a state of duality to one of nonduality?

Or was it more like a recognition that the devotee and the object of devotion have never been separate from the start?

That only the angle of vision had changed, so what once appeared to be two, is now realized to have been one all along?

In which case, the question would be: what precipitates such a transformation in the angle of vision?

[another bob]

Maybe the process is called devotion could be more accurately described as being more involved with one's beliefs -- whatever they are.

78W0c_lYl3I

Blessings!

[Davidallany]

This video is a great find Bob. It sums up what we have been discussing. But 99% of people on Avalon claim that they are awakened, so devotion is good for the scilent 1% of people on Avalon.

[another bob]

..99% of people on Avalon claim that they are awakened.

Hello, my Friend!

Everyone seems to have a different understanding about what the term "awakened" signifies. Some seem to think it involves special insider knowledge about conspiracy themes and the activities of a global cabal of powerful renegades. Others believe it entails contact with or direct knowledge about extraterrestials. Still others assume it consists of acquiring certain health information, such as how to eliminate diseases and attain physical well-being without resorting to the medical/phamaceutical establishment. Awakened for some might involve being able to discern which politician/religion is telling the most truth, or perhaps it indicates experiencing certain mystical-type states like OBE's and so forth. These sorts of awakenings, of course, are always conditional, and contingent on the ripening, endurance, and inevitable dissolution of temporal causes and conditions.

Another view is that, in our true light being form, we are already always awakened (fully aware of our real identity beyond the 3D body), and that this immortal condition comes, moreover, with full access to Universal Knowledge. However, in order to advance our soul evolution, we set that awakened level of awareness aside to inhabit and fuse with human hosts, so that we can enjoy the virtual experience of being an un-awakened human animal. Upon the death of the physical creature, in turn, we again transform/transition back to our original state of Awake-ness through a gradual process of letting go and release of any un-awakeness we may have picked up on our earthly tour.

One well-known fellow out and about on the Satsang Circuit these days (Adyashanti) was interviewed about the topic of his own awakening:

http://evolutionarymystic.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/the-taboo-of-enlightenment-an-interview-with-adyashanti-by-stephan-bodian/


For myself, the term means nothing in particular. Whatever reality I grant it merely points out where I still have baggage to discard.

Blessings!

[Davidallany]

Posted by Davidallany
..99% of people on Avalon claim that they are awakened.
Hello, my Friend!

Everyone seems to have a different understanding about what the term "awakened" signifies. Some seem to think it involves special insider knowledge about conspiracy themes and the activities of a global cabal of powerful renegades. Others believe it entails contact with or direct knowledge about extraterrestials. Still others assume it consists of acquiring certain health information, such as how to eliminate diseases and attain physical well-being without resorting to the medical/phamaceutical establishment. Awakened for some might involve being able to discern which politician/religion is telling the most truth, or perhaps it indicates experiencing certain mystical-type states like OBE's and so forth. These sorts of awakenings, of course, are always conditional, and contingent on the ripening, endurance, and inevitable dissolution of temporal causes and conditions.

Another view is that, in our true light being form, we are already always awakened (fully aware of our real identity beyond the 3D body), and that this immortal condition comes, moreover, with full access to Universal Knowledge. However, in order to advance our soul evolution, we set that awakened level of awareness aside to inhabit and fuse with human hosts, so that we can enjoy the virtual experience of being an un-awakened human animal. Upon the death of the physical creature, in turn, we again transform/transition back to our original state of Awake-ness through a gradual process of letting go and release of any un-awakeness we may have picked up on our earthly tour.

One well-known fellow out and about on the Satsang Circuit these days (Adyashanti) was interviewed about the topic of his own awakening:

http://evolutionarymystic.wordpress....tephan-bodian/


For myself, the term means nothing in particular. Whatever reality I grant it merely points out where I still have baggage to discard.

Blessings!
I fully understand what you've said Bobs. I could go on discussing even more notions about awakening, but since the subject of the thread relates to spirituality then I don't see the point of mentioning anything lesser than spiritual awakening, which is seeing the big picture as suggested by Mooji's video above.
I had to say what I said for the benefit of everyone reading your thread, it's my baggage, great concern for others, which I will evatually discard as you suggested, but not just yet because the future is predetermind by the character of the ones who shape it. Why? Because those who do not hope, creat.

[another bob]

...the future is predetermind by the character of the ones who shape it. Why? Because those who do not hope, creat.

This is a difficult one for many aspirants to accept -- that hope can actually represent a hindrance, an obstacle on the path. Hope is just the flip-side of fear. For the functioning of manifestation (creating) to flow harmoniously, at one with cause and effect, intention must be purified of both grasping and aversion. This is the purpose of devotion as indicated in the instructions from the Philokalia in the OP, to unify attention and intention in ceaseless prayer, uninterupted by fantasies of hope and fear, gain or loss.

Blessings!

[Davidallany]

This is a difficult one for many aspirants to accept -- that hope can actually represent a hindrance, an obstacle on the path. Hope is just the flip-side of fear. For the functioning of manifestation (creating) to flow harmoniously, at one with cause and effect, intention must be purified of both grasping and aversion. This is the purpose of devotion as indicated in the instructions from the Philokalia in the OP, to unify attention and intention in ceaseless prayer, uninterupted by fantasies of hope and fear, gain or loss.

Blessings!

Exactly Bob, also activating kundalini plays a major rule in the process.

[another bob]

...activating kundalini plays a major rule in the process.

Yes, the evolutionary potential and latent power of this human design, including the whole chakra system and subtle energy network, is the wonder of nature, to be sure, but kundalini activation is not required for "graduation", in my understanding. For most of us, working on eliminating greed, envy, hatred, and delusion is the prime directive. In the course of our efforts, there may be an activation as a by-product (gifts of the Spirit). In such cases, working directly with a qualified teacher is suggested, in order to avoid certain common pitfalls associated with powerful energy fluctuations, etc.. In Zen training, to use an example of one esoteric school, apparent kundalini experiences are typically regarded as makyo (akin to hallucination), and are not to be sought after or nurtured.

Btw, perhaps you have read "Daughter of Fire", by Irina Tweedie? Her marvelous journal of training with a Sufi guru in the last century came to mind. Had she not been under his skilled care, she likely would have gone mad as a result of the spiritual ordeal she was put through during her sadhana.

Blessings!

[Jenci]

When the river is rushing back to its source, it knows what it is doing.

Devotion is the realisation of this.
....Getting out of the way of the flow.
....Understanding that it is futile to try to direct the river in a certain way when the river already knows what it is doing and where it is going.

Not many wake spontaneously to the sense they are the One with no more separation. When this happened to Maharshi, other people had to take care of his physical needs because it was no longer relevant for him. Tolle talks about the fact that he literally spent two years on a park bench barely able to function as the awakening was so sudden.

For most of us these seems to happen at a slower rate as the seperate indentity is slowly dismantled and ideas, beliefs, desires and fears are discarded one by one. Perhaps a good thing when you have a child to care for and need to function in this 3D world.

The river knows what it is doing :)


Jeanette

[another bob]

When this happened to Maharshi, other people had to take care of his physical needs because it was no longer relevant for him.

http://www.mountainrunnerdoc.com/page/page/5213285.htm


Blessings!

[Kindred]

""Now if you will listen, I will read how you can learn ceaseless interior prayer."' The elder opened the Philokalia to the account of St. Simeon the New Theologian and began reading: "'Sit alone and in silence; bow your head and close your eyes; relax your breathing and with your imagination look into your heart; direct your thoughts from your head into your heart, and while inhaling say, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me," either softly with your lips or in your mind. Endeavor to fight distractions but be patient and peaceful and repeat the process frequently."'"

~ excerpt from 'The Way of a Pilgrim"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim

Blessings!

It's my personal belief that the way to 'pray', is to be Continually 'Lovingly Grateful'. One does not need to speak aloud, but to hold in one's heart these most basic feelings - that of (Spiritual) Love, and of our Gratefulness for All Creation. That we've been given the opportunity to Experience and Learn.

For Experience is how Source exists, and comes to Know Itself.

In Unity and Peace