Seeking for your true self? Question what you are NOT: INSTEAD

[Grizz Griswold]

Most all of us have heard or know that before we were around two years old
we were just pure awareness. That's the state of awakening or being the witness.

Then a little later we begin to get a sense of i, me, my, self (not the true self)
the mind starts telling us who we are and we become very attached to the minds
version of what it tells us we are, addicted to that thought of ourselves. We take our self very seriously. That's My toy, that's Me in the mirror. Later it becomes My bills,
MY wife or husband, MY bills, My worries, My thoughts.

Just hold it on that last word (thoughts)
We assume that they are our thoughts.
But do we order them and are they totally at our command?
They just come on their own usually don't they?
Remember back at the early age before words and much
thinking there was just ... AWARENESS

Just chew on this.

Maybe I'm not the thinker
Maybe I"m not the doer
Maybe The thoughts aren't mine.

Trying to solve the problem with the problem won't work.
The thinking that got us in this mess.
Try asking what you are NOT instead of letting your thoughts
tell you what you are.

What we really are has never changed.
But then we can believe anything we want can't we?

Namaste

barry

[Blacklight43]

This is something I have pondered most of this life! Thanks for the post.

[Joanne Shepard]

This is so different. What I am not? :)

I am not mean :)
I am not Late :)
I am not there yet :)
I am not Tall :)
I am not weak :)
I am not funny (but I want to be)
I am not a truck driver (but I think I want to learn to be one ) :)
I am not a musician
I am not an artist

[Grizz Griswold]

This is something I have pondered most of this life! Thanks for the post.Blacklight43

Hi Blacklight, When we look for what we ARE, even if we get a glimpse, it's only a reflection, not the real thing
The ego/self/i/me/my always takes advantage and tries to use it for it's own purposes (trying to awaken the ego/self/i/ me/ my)
Sorry, but ego can't come along...it is the problem!

By asking what we're not
We can come up with and use
I'm not the thinker
I'm not the doer
I'm not the thoughts
Ego/self/i/me/my gets left behind

Blessings..barry

I am not funny (but I want to be)Joanne Shepard

Actually you are funny.....Thanks ....barry

[Joanne Shepard]

Barry

You want to know,,,,,,,,, if we know our spirit name?

I don't know mine yet, I just started to look for it.
Its a very cool topic Barry so glad you started it.

[Grizz Griswold]

The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the eternal name
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The named is the mother of myriad things
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
These two emerge together but differ in name
The unity is said to be the mystery
Mystery of mysteries, the door to all wonders....Tao Te Ching

So i suggest we (become as little children) as said in the bible
Little children don't assume that they know.
Richard Rose used to ask everyone, What do you know for sure?
The most common answer was...only that there is awareness!

Blessings.....barry

[Shadowman]

Most all of us have heard or know that before we were around two years old
we were just pure awareness. That's the state of awakening or being the witness.

Then a little later we begin to get a sense of i, me, my, self (not the true self)
the mind starts telling us who we are and we become very attached to the minds
version of what it tells us we are, addicted to that thought of ourselves. We take our self very seriously. That's My toy, that's Me in the mirror. Later it becomes My bills,
MY wife or husband, MY bills, My worries, My thoughts.

Just hold it on that last word (thoughts)
We assume that they are our thoughts.
But do we order them and are they totally at our command?
They just come on their own usually don't they?
Remember back at the early age before words and much
thinking there was just ... AWARENESS

Just chew on this.

Maybe I'm not the thinker
Maybe I"m not the doer
Maybe The thoughts aren't mine.

Trying to solve the problem with the problem won't work.
The thinking that got us in this mess.
Try asking what you are NOT instead of letting your thoughts
tell you what you are.

What we really are has never changed.
But then we can believe anything we want can't we?

Namaste

barry


Hi Bazz,

Beautifully put.

The original sin, or fall from Grace, was, metaphorically speaking, to eat from the tree of knowledge.

While the unified Awareness never actually fell, the illusion of duality, the subjective I and the World, appear simultaneously.

This subjective I asserts it's reality, by identification with, or negation of, other relative phenomena ie thoughts, concepts, beliefs and forms.


By keeping the focus of attention on the relative world, it's greatest trick, is to postpone or distract any investigation into

whether or not it itself actually IS. It claim's separation from, and equality to, that which actually IS. It even creates clever and

high sounding concepts/definitions of it's eternal existence/separate identity ie Soul or Monad. Not that the Soul or Monad are not

apparent, just that they too are relative phenomena.


In Hebrew, the biblical word ha-satan (השָׂטָן) means "the adversary", or that which stands extant from, or opposes, the whole.


And even when any investigation is eventually carried out, it usurps the enquiry, and becomes the doer of that also.

To seek Mind (Awareness/Self) with the (discriminating) mind is the greatest of all mistakes.


Both the subjective I, and the world, are relative phenomena.


Suffering is caused by trying to make the relative permanent or eternal. People, ego's, soul's, forms and worlds come and go.

Clinging to or desiring what must pass, or to the subjective ego itself, is not accepting the way of things. The Sky can exist without

clouds, but the clouds cannot appear without the Sky.


Tathata, is acceptance of the nature or suchness of relative phenomena. Doing so is a step in transcending the identification with the relative

judging ego, to the absolute non judging eternal Awareness.


To realize this, and I suspect I am a little late in pointing this out in your case, one need only quieten the mind, which is the

basis for both the relative phenomena of the world, and the ego.

Be still, and Gnow that I AM (That I Am) God


One need not annihilate an illusion to attain Yoga/Union with what IS. When the clouds clear, REALITY is perfectly

Self evident, never was separated, and is your true Self. It is then Gnown...

Nothing REAL can be threatened
Nothing unreal exists

Namaste/With Love,
tim

[Grizz Griswold]

Hi Tim, remember this from Revolver? when Jake starts to question that He isn't His ego.
Jake says "You aint Me" ...."You don't control Me, I control you"

VeW7T5Q5mhI

You don't know how many times I watched that movie after you told me about it
or the gains Iv'e had from learning....."You aint Me"!!! or maybe you do.

The ego would hold up two mirrors each facing each other and point saying
look over there, that's the real you and those facing mirrors go on forever.
Until one asks the right question. What am I not? Thanks for helping Me ask
the right question.

In humble gratitude and Love...Bazz


By their fruits you shall know them
And they shall know themselves.

[Mark]

I've always thought that our very first memory is the recollection of the first instance when we became self-aware. Because of that, the context of this memory is very important and determines to a large extent who we are during the course of our lifetimes. If it is a memory steeped in fear, then that first instance informs the formation of our synaptic connections and neural networks, and we then interpret all we experience thru that first flush of fear, which colors everything thereafter. If it is a memory of love, then we live according to that basic understanding and interpretation of life. When I speak to people and they tell me of their first memories, invariably the context can be seen as a continuous stream throughout the rest of their lives up to and including their present-day situations.

My first memory is of Bangor, Maine, about the age of 2. Laying in tall grass in early Spring, the grass rustling, the blue sky above, gazing out from the protection of a furred and hooded parka. Feeling myself to be present in that moment, alive. I felt a vibrant exultation, and then a sense of belonging and peace, a knowing that all was as it should be and I was a part of it all. The grass, the wind, the sky, , the parka, me.

Going back, to move forward. Bless.

[Beren]

I cannot be NOT because I AM.
:madgrin:

[Shadowman]

Hi Bazz,

Would you agree with the following from your own direct realization?


Upon Self realization, it is known you are the whole ocean (of Awareness), and

not the wave (of mind/body individuated consciousness).


While you no longer identify as a wave, others continue to see you that way,

at least as long as they continue to identify themselves as a wave.


Whilst your wave continues to appear to function relatively, it is known

to be transient interdependent phenomena, in constant flux, and is no

longer confused with that which is now unmistakenly ever present and

unchanging.


It is taught that after awakening, reincarnation into further relative

forms ceases, one steps out of the wheel of (relative) life and death.

Hence beings such as Buddha, Jesus, Ramana, etc do not reincarnate

into another relative limited form after enlightenment.


I liken it to a car on the freeway. After transcending the desires of, and

realizing the inherent unreality of the ego, the "engine" switches off. As the car

had momentum at the moment of awakening , the current

apparent incarnation ie person's life, plays itself out as the "car" now gradually

coasts to a standstill. But without the impetus and motivation of the ego "engine" the car cannot

continue driving to the next "state" in the nation ie incarnation ;-)


So, while to others, especially those who observe superficially, there may be

little observable difference of a person pre and post enlightenment, from the awakened

one's "perspective" the difference is profound beyond words.


Others may mistakenly challenge realization by requesting a show of supernatural powers.

They erroneously presume one's ego is claiming to be "god", rather than understanding

the genuine transcendence of ego. This is not to say phenomena may or may not occur,

but if it does, it occurs due to the "will" of the Father (Ocean), not the will of any individual wave,


In Lak'ech
tim

[Grizz Griswold]

Hi Bazz,

Would you agree with the following from your own direct realization?


Upon Self realization, it is known you are the whole ocean (of Awareness), and

not the wave (of mind/body individuated consciousness).


While you no longer identify as a wave, others continue to see you that way,

at least as long as they continue to identify themselves as a wave.


Whilst your wave continues to appear to function relatively, it is known

to be transient interdependent phenomena, in constant flux, and is no

longer confused with that which is now unmistakenly ever present and

unchanging.


It is taught that after awakening, reincarnation into further relative

forms ceases, one steps out of the wheel of (relative) life and death.

Hence beings such as Buddha, Jesus, Ramana, etc do not reincarnate

into another relative limited form after enlightenment.


I liken it to a car on the freeway. After transcending the desires of, and

realizing the inherent unreality of the ego, the "engine" switches off. As the car

had momentum at the moment of awakening , the current

apparent incarnation ie person's life, plays itself out as the "car" now gradually

coasts to a standstill. But without the impetus and motivation of the ego "engine" the car cannot

continue driving to the next "state" in the nation ie incarnation ;-)


So, while to others, especially those who observe superficially, there may be

little observable difference of a person pre and post enlightenment, from the awakened

one's "perspective" the difference is profound beyond words.


Others may mistakenly challenge realization by requesting a show of supernatural powers.

They erroneously presume one's ego is claiming to be "god", rather than understanding

the genuine transcendence of ego. This is not to say phenomena may or may not occur,

but if it does, it occurs due to the "will" of the Father (Ocean), not the will of any individual wave,


In Lak'ech
tim

Hi Timi, Yes Absolutely!

The waves can crash all they want but there is no longer a need to make attachments to them, let them crash.
The Ocean remains unchanged.

The same with every day drama that appears to happen, now able to sit and whistle while Rome burns
and just be the witness of it.

My intent/will was if I had to... I would give up everything and meant everything!

Now I find there was never anything to lose it's all been gain.

When a tornado comes it doesn't tear a hole in the sky.... the sky remains unchanged...I am that

Suddenly there is realization that truth has always been true that the passing is a seeming
compromise made in sleep/illusion about that which never could be compromised.

The ego only a joke that we forgot to laugh at and the passing strain and stress we felt
part of the illusion that we could be who we are not.

Love can never be anything but.... Changeless and unchangeable and Joyously forever one.

In Lak'ech
Bazzazz

[Grizz Griswold]

The original sin, or fall from Grace, was, metaphorically speaking, to eat from the tree of knowledge.

While the unified Awareness never actually fell, the illusion of duality, the subjective I and the World, appear simultaneously.

This subjective I asserts it's reality, by identification with, or negation of, other relative phenomena ie thoughts, concepts, beliefs and forms.




By keeping the focus of attention on the relative world, it's greatest trick, is to postpone or distract any investigation into

whether or not it itself actually IS. It claim's separation from, and equality to, that which actually IS. It even creates clever and

high sounding concepts/definitions of it's eternal existence/separate identity ie Soul or Monad. Not that the Soul or Monad are not

apparent, just that they too are relative phenomena.


tim

Tim has said some things above that may be well served by repeating.


The original sin, or fall from Grace, was, metaphorically speaking, to eat from the tree of knowledge.

The knowledge spoken of is also illusion, it is the voice of the ego, via thought, the (I) the self...all equally unreal.


By keeping the focus of attention on the relative world, it's greatest trick, is to postpone or distract any investigation into whether or not it itself actually IS


The subjective (I) Me/My/Self/Ego asserts it's seeming reality by always looking
to the past or future, never the present. In presence, it would disappear and You
would see it for what it truly is...illusion...a vapour.

It maintains it's illusions by running a commentary, narrating events that happen
in life much like a voiceover in a documentary, after the fact, never in the present.

How many have had an incident occur but during the incident, there were no
conclusions drawn, no judgement, only Witnessing?
Only later came the thoughts...that was terrible...made me so mad...
hurt my feelings...could have been killed... etc etc.

At that present moment, you are the Witness, the True Self...Timeless!
But then the self claims it, by saying it happened to I/Me/My/Self
placing it back into time.

Remember: It's greatest trick by way of relative phenomena ie thoughts, concepts, beliefs and forms, is to make You believe it is You.
By making You think it is You, It is then easy to postpone or distract any investigation into whether or not it itself actually IS

The ego is the ultimate con artist and jokester ...if the ego is helping with Awakening, via the relative phenomena above, be sure it will claim it and
keep You seeking for time immemorial.

Actually, it's kinda funny, an illusion, is telling, what's Real....What's Real!


You aint Me...You don't control Me, I control You...to the ego/thought
From Jake...a character in the movie Revolver.

Many Thanks to Tim.
Love...b

[greybeard]

We can read without "getting it" yet think we have.
Oneness can be spoken of, or Unity consciousness, without a clear definition of what this is.

Christ was clear and specific.

The Father and I are One.

Other enlightened text is even more clear "One without a second" there is no other.

Christ "Of myself I do nothing, it is the Father within"

Ramesh Balsekar said The biggest obstacle to enlightenment is the thought "I am the doer"

Other ancient text.
"Events happen
Deeds are done
There is no doer there of"

Every time some thing comes to mind and when I start to claim authorship--its countered with "Im selfing" I am not that.
Virtually everything evokes self-referential---in the form of I have done something similar--I know--all comparisons and opinions---in short everything is turned into, all about me and my experience--opinion---the world revolves round the me and mine thoughts.
Thoughts are all they are---yet I used to define what kind of person I am through these thoughts.
Sure there is a persona, which like the body is/can be useful in this incarnation---I am none of that.

By process of elimination "Neity Neity" not this, not this, the Truth is revealed---There is only One and thou art that.

c

[Grizz Griswold]

We can read without "getting it" yet think we have.
Oneness can be spoken of, or Unity consciousness, without a clear definition of what this is.

Christ was clear and specific.

The Father and I are One.

Other enlightened text is even more clear "One without a second" there is no other.

Christ "Of myself I do nothing, it is the Father within"

Ramesh Balsekar said The biggest obstacle to enlightenment is the thought "I am the doer"

Other ancient text.
"Events happen
Deeds are done
There is no doer there of"

Every time some thing comes to mind and when I start to claim authorship--its countered with "Im selfing" I am not that.
Virtually everything evokes self-referential---in the form of I have done something similar--I know--all comparisons and opinions---in short everything is turned into, all about me and my experience--opinion---the world revolves round the me and mine thoughts.
Thoughts are all they are---yet I used to define what kind of person I am through these thoughts.
Sure there is a persona, which like the body is/can be useful in this incarnation---I am none of that.

By process of elimination "Neity Neity" not this, not this, the Truth is revealed---There is only One and thou art that.

c

Most of us start out seeking, looking to others who know more, know better. To the Teacher/Guru who we think can give us the wisdom we need to awaken.
Sat Guru has a double meaning, one of them being inner teacher, intuition, your heart, true self, when we can begin to listen to that inner guidance from Love
Awakening cannot be far.

Here are two passages from A Course In Miracles that seem appropriate.
Holy Spirit is another word for inner teacher/sat guru.


Here again is the paradox often referred to in the course. To say, "Of myself I can do nothing" is to gain all power. And yet it is but a seeming paradox. As God created you, you have all power. The image you made of yourself has none. The Holy Spirit knows the truth about you. The image you made does not. Yet, despite its obvious and complete ignorance, this image assumes it knows all things because you have given that belief to it. Such is your teaching, and the teaching of the world that was made to uphold it. But the Teacher Who knows the truth has not forgotten it. His decisions bring benefit to all, being wholly devoid of attack. And therefore incapable of arousing guilt.

Who assumes a power that he does not possess is deceiving himself. Yet to accept the power given him by God is but to acknowledge his Creator and accept His gifts. And His gifts have no limit. To ask the Holy Spirit to decide for you is simply to accept your true inheritance.

Remember you are His completion and His Love. Remember your weakness is His strength. But do not read this hastily or wrongly. If His strength is in you, what you perceive as your weakness is but illusion. And He has given you the means to prove it so. Ask all things of His Teacher, and all things are given you. Not in the future but immediately; now. God does not wait, for waiting implies time and He is timeless. Forget your foolish images, your sense of frailty and your fear of harm, your dreams of danger and selected "wrongs." God knows but His Son, and as he was created so he is.




Love

b

[greybeard]

All it takes is a "Holy Instant"
Doing as best I can to be "Accident prone"

Love
c

[Carmen]

I've always thought that our very first memory is the recollection of the first instance when we became self-aware. Because of that, the context of this memory is very important and determines to a large extent who we are during the course of our lifetimes. If it is a memory steeped in fear, then that first instance informs the formation of our synaptic connections and neural networks, and we then interpret all we experience thru that first flush of fear, which colors everything thereafter. If it is a memory of love, then we live according to that basic understanding and interpretation of life. When I speak to people and they tell me of their first memories, invariably the context can be seen as a continuous stream throughout the rest of their lives up to and including their present-day situations.

My first memory is of Bangor, Maine, about the age of 2. Laying in tall grass in early Spring, the grass rustling, the blue sky above, gazing out from the protection of a furred and hooded parka. Feeling myself to be present in that moment, alive. I felt a vibrant exultation, and then a sense of belonging and peace, a knowing that all was as it should be and I was a part of it all. The grass, the wind, the sky, , the parka, me.

Going back, to move forward. Bless.

Interesting Rahkyt, my first memories are also of grass! I must have been on all fours (crawling) as the recollections are from ground level. All my senses were alive and recording! The smells of summer long grass. The sounds of the the wind swishing the grass and the cacophony of insects and bird sounds! The feel of rough concrete on my soft skin as I crawled along the path and into the grass! Imm! pleasant memories of nature. Probably why I still love nature and live close to it. Alone and safe in the natural world. A time of pure awareness. It took many many years to again experience pure awareness, but we all know it from our childhood.

[Grizz Griswold]

Yes, Most all of us have heard or know that before we were around two years old
we were just pure awareness. That's the state of awakening or being the witness.

But most of us don't recognize it with plain old everyday awareness, though it's still
here. The present moment is a state of awareness/witness but we've attached the
I/Self/Me to it and it is covered up by the huge stack of thoughts we associate with the (I)

Problem is (I) can't be experienced in the present, only remembered in the past or
put in the future. Making pure awareness seem to be something in the past or something
we are working towards in the future. Then when the future gets here we're blind
to it and we look further into the future.

Even though it's HERE right NOW...and being experienced through the five senses and the mind constantly.
Remember: St Francis of Assisi.
"What you're looking for is what's looking"

Namaste.....b