Esoteric secrets

[Tony]

Esoteric secrets.

The body and mind a very delicate instruments. Most of the time we, as ordinary sentient beings, live in a coarse comic world of caricatures...we acquire the part we play in this.

To be able to understand the nature of reality, we have to grow up, be stable, and be decent human beings. Therefore, the mind has to have clarity, the emotions have to be tamed and our hearts have to be truly open. This is not achieved through guess work.

The esoteric teachings are secret. They are secret because they cannot be misused. They could damage this delicate mind and body. So it is secret out of compassion. In fact, it is self secret, meaning that even if you heard these teachings, they would be ignore, or wouldn't register.

Of course, we all want “those” sort of teachings, but we have to be ready for them. We have to be prepared. For example, a key element would be seeing the world as a sacred place, and all beings as deities: you therefore give the world the appropriate even though the games of the ego are an illusion. Basically it is Guru Yoga...but you have to understand what that is, before you jump to conclusions.

If we merely approach this as speculation or entertainment, then we will only get more confused, and we will suffer - and probably cause much suffering for those around us. Working for the benefit of those around us, ie compassion, overrides our own inclinations!

The point to these teachings is to enhance already perfect understanding. The whole purpose is to recognise the nature of mind - Essence. These teachings are not really needed for that: we can go direct! They are a backup plan at death and beyond. Just because we can hold our breath and stick our toe in our ear, does not mean we are enlightened! It's a bit like being able to melt ice wearing a wet sheet (tummo), it may be of use and there again, it may not.

There is much perfect visualisation involved in these practices...well, you want to attract the right class of beings don't you?! If we do this for any selfish reason whatsoever, we may get unwelcomed company...! Remember those laws of attraction.

The mind and body have to be strong: some people do a 3 year retreat to complete the preliminary practices - I think they complete those in 4 months.. it took me 20 years. This isn't stuff for a hobbyist!

I am a vajrayana/tantric student, but there are things I - and others - are not ready for (or are too old). When I do a retreat with senior students, of course we make suggestions about these sort of teachings...and the teacher skilfully changes the subject! For some, these teachings are simply not relevant.

My guess is one would need to undertake a 12 year retreat - or even a lifetime retreat – in order to engage on such practices as The Six Doctrines of Naropa. These practices are usually done by monks and nuns. If we were dedicated to this type of teaching and practice, we would do this.

However - here is the good news! We are house holders, and there are special teachings just for us...hooray!
And on this site you have read about this, day in and day out!
And you can enjoy life.
Without attachment.
And you can do this now!

Our problem is our three poisons - desire, aversion and ignorance. But if we understood these correctly, we would see them as our three wisdoms.

Keep life simple, and be where you are.

My personal view is that we can make faster progress being house holders...all those juicy emotions!

This is a personal opinion, and the reason why I am not a monk.

All the best
Tony

[Tony]

Religions are just like travel guides, however we have to make the journey ourselves, and we do not have to be religious.
Some people hold onto religion because they are not ready to let go, yet.

it's just a matter of recognising that we are decent human beings, and actually have a good heart...it is natural. we have a mind that can reason, and we can recognise when that mind is getting emotional and unreasonable. That very recognition is our very own essence, being aware.

When we realise that this awareness in essence is pure, totally open, and loving, all by itself, and has always been so, then we have a inkling of our true nature. But of course we then recognise we have a habit pattern, a residue of ideas from the past, and some we are picking up all the time from our environment around us. When we are free of all those concepts, and truly recognise our true nature, then we are Godlike, Christlike, Buddhalike.

We have been so all the time but just got stuck in a bunch of obscuring ideas.

Of course we do not need religions, we can use other methods of stripping away those layers. Sometime we can use intelligence, sometimes life itself just drops a load of pooh on us...we can learn in many ways!

The hallmark is a growing sense of confidence, and this brings a sense of joy and relief.
The trick then is to, not hold onto this but...love. Love really does open up the mind and heart. When the mind and heart opens, all sort of inspirations occur.

That is when we understand divine secrets.



Love is not wet...it is juicy!
Tony

[The23rdman]

Tony, I agree. If you are going to attempt to undo yourself then discipline and acknowledgement of what you are about to get yourself into in essential. One must approach this work with all seriousness and dedication, but not without humour.

I was very reckless in my twenties, approaching my work with a haphazard and ill disciplined sense of invincibility. As a wise man once wrote, one should not mess with the masks of reality until one understands the reality of masks.

[Tony]

It is said, that a practitioner will never go hungry, though Milarepa lived on nettles which turned his skin green, but then he did achieve enlightenment in one life time...we are not Milarepa!

Attachment and detachment.
Attachment is holding on, detachment is letting be. This is to do with how we conduct ourselves in this relative world. But it needs a little more understanding. If we merely become detached from everything, and want to live in this detached state, we may lose a sense of reality! We may find ourselves in a pointless state, nihilistic and depressed. And annoy everyone else to boot!

When Christ said, “The meek shall inherit the earth,” It did not mean give away everything and be poor and live just on charity (that is the way of the monk and nun), it meant keep life simple, and do not be so attached to things...or people. Love yes, but do not smother.

Detachment is very gentle and loving.
If we are just ordinary people then our intelligence will tell us not to be too attached to things, thoughts or people. In its own time everything comes to pass. We do the best we can, and move on.
If we hold onto anything, we have to maintain it, defend it, and maybe kill for it...we don't want that do we? We just want to be decent ordinary human beings, do a good job and get on with others, and die peacefully.

From a spiritual point of view, there is a little more to it.
Once we have an inkling of our true nature, which as stated every single day, is pure awareness, knowing and compassionate, then we will wish not to move too far away from that.

So anything that distracts us, does just that. Now, being aware, knowing and compassionate does not mean we do not interact with the world, but we now interact for its benefit, not ours. This is done by being open, spacious and confident.

We start with ourselves first, we allow anything to arise in the mind. Being open, spacious and confident we do not reject anything. We merely note it, and let it pass. What needs to be dropped, dissolves, what needs to be developed, refines.

We can be attached to anything, even meditation and the spiritual life. So if we are meditating and someone calls us to peel the potatoes...we peel the potatoes! One can still peel potatoes being aware, knowing and compassionate.

It is all about letting go, letting go, and letting go. But never let go of love.




Tony

[Tony]

Though esoteric teachings sound fascinating, there is truly nothing more powerful than, compassion, devotion, and awareness of one's true nature. There is nothing beyond pure awareness, it is the ultimate. This is more than words can express, it is pure experience.

This is so simple but at every moment it gets missed, because we are always looking for something more interesting, and of course that is exactly what is fed to us....pity.


We do have to discriminate to what is of value and what is not.








Tony

[The23rdman]

Again, I couldn't agree more with what you have said here. The power of disciplined practice is that it focuses the mind and uses the ego to undo the ego, but once one gets to a certain point it is no longer necessary. That point is, as you so eloquently stated, when one recognises that doing the dishes or taking a dump is just as much a practice as anything else. There is no compartmentalization in spirit so no one experience is more worthy than another if it is approached with awareness. I have always said that we have hundreds of invitations to awaken every day if we are quiet enough to recognise them.

It is true, however, that if one does not have that awareness then there a million and one distractions to keep the ego entertained.

[Cidersomerset]

Hi Pie' n'eal all you say above is true and your experiance in these subjects is valuable on a forum as disperse as this. Yet we are all on
a path of truth and knowledge imo and we come from different countries and background but are drawn here like moths round a light bulb
LOL...looking for Q & A that make more sence.....

I am not religious or esoteric by nature..( now i am going to contradict myselfe, as we all are really ).LOL..But the ion material i quote
from time to time is full of it !

They have just started a new format which is not as chaotic as the old shows
Two years on and Bob is playing exerts from old shows and private readings
with Ion.Bob is 90 and as bright as a button and its great fun with lots
of info and discussion thrown in....Caution if you do get into it its addictive
in a fun way ...LOl...Steve...




http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?52586-Bob-Neveritt-Associates

[Equipoise]

Ah.....Yes

The impetuosity of youth. But that is how we "learn", by "experience".

The old saying:
Experience teaches slowly and at the cost of mistakes.
James A. Froude (1818 - 1894)

Many other notable quotes about those things called mistakes (or learning experiences) http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/mistakes/

A FEW OF THEM:
Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault.
Dr. David M. Burns
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually afraid you will make one.
Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)
Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Franklin P. Jones
It's always helpful to learn from your mistakes because then your mistakes seem worthwhile.
Garry Marshall, 'Wake Me When It's Funny'
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)
While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior.
Henry C. Link

AND EXPERIENCE http://www.quotegarden.com/experience.html
Experience is what you got by not having it when you need it. ~Author Unknown

Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment. ~Rita Mae Brown

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. ~Auguste Rodin


God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas, but for scars. ~Elbert Hubbard

Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald. ~Proverb

[mahalall]

Respect your right path, pie!

Is tolerance of the left hander's games wearing thin?

[Tony]

Respect your right path, pie!

Is tolerance of the left hander's games wearing thin?

You're entirely right: it is important to find the path that suits one's temperament and follow it.

Tony

[Sebastion]

Perhaps one of the biggest esoteric secrets of all is that each and every one has the ability to leave the body and travel in the great beyond. No one ever told you that you could and any mention of it is ridiculed for the most part.

Makes me wonder sometimes if that is what Christ meant when he said The meek shall inherit the earth.....

[soleil]

It is said, that a practitioner will never go hungry, though Milarepa lived on nettles which turned his skin green, but then he did achieve enlightenment in one life time...we are not Milarepa!

Attachment and detachment.
Attachment is holding on, detachment is letting be. This is to do with how we conduct ourselves in this relative world. But it needs a little more understanding. If we merely become detached from everything, and want to live in this detached state, we may lose a sense of reality! We may find ourselves in a pointless state, nihilistic and depressed. And annoy everyone else to boot!

When Christ said, “The meek shall inherit the earth,” It did not mean give away everything and be poor and live just on charity (that is the way of the monk and nun), it meant keep life simple, and do not be so attached to things...or people. Love yes, but do not smother.

Detachment is very gentle and loving.
If we are just ordinary people then our intelligence will tell us not to be too attached to things, thoughts or people. In its own time everything comes to pass. We do the best we can, and move on.
If we hold onto anything, we have to maintain it, defend it, and maybe kill for it...we don't want that do we? We just want to be decent ordinary human beings, do a good job and get on with others, and die peacefully.

From a spiritual point of view, there is a little more to it.
Once we have an inkling of our true nature, which as stated every single day, is pure awareness, knowing and compassionate, then we will wish not to move too far away from that.

So anything that distracts us, does just that. Now, being aware, knowing and compassionate does not mean we do not interact with the world, but we now interact for its benefit, not ours. This is done by being open, spacious and confident.

We start with ourselves first, we allow anything to arise in the mind. Being open, spacious and confident we do not reject anything. We merely note it, and let it pass. What needs to be dropped, dissolves, what needs to be developed, refines.

We can be attached to anything, even meditation and the spiritual life. So if we are meditating and someone calls us to peel the potatoes...we peel the potatoes! One can still peel potatoes being aware, knowing and compassionate.

It is all about letting go, letting go, and letting go. But never let go of love.




Tony
(similar quote)
In times of change, the learners will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists.” quoted by bob proctor, who quoted someone else. :)

[Tony]

The actual problem is, we make things far too complex and confusing, and I'm the worst of the bunch!
However questions product answers and answer produce more question, and that is just part of the process.
We ask questions till we are satisfied. Then we slowly have to learn how to express it.


The truth is so simple, so ordinary, so right under our noses that we do not value it.
Maybe calling it a secret makes it worthwhile looking for, only to realise that it costs
nothing and is here all the time.

Actually esoteric teachings are only toys, for those who like toys. I once sat next to someone who wanted a certain practice, the teacher just stared at him. This person was very insistent to do this practice, so the teacher said 12 million recitations...it will take him years to do it. But he now has something to play with! That's why I stop receiving empowerments years ago, a commitment is a commitment.

We have to find what suits us...but we can always change!



Tony