Enlightenment: The Ego, what is it? How to transcend it.

[Trisher]

A simple explanation of going/Being beyond "Maya" by Robert Adams. Words never can describe it as it is an experience in silence.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZSXx5NvHFMM

[gini]

Feb 26, 2023
George Harrison explains his understanding of Vedanta. Harrison quotes from Swami Vivekananda as the inspiritation for his Search For A Higher Truth.

George Harrison was first exposed to Indian music during the filming of Help! in the Summer of 1965. He sought out Ravi Shankar as a Sitar teacher who gave Harrison books on Vedanta and Swami Vivekananda, who came to American in 1893 to establish Vedanta Centers in New York and San Francisco. Over 30 centers are now scattered across the US and the world.

Harrison had been raised a Cahtholic, but by the age of 15 he renounced it as hypocritical. The Vivekananda quote that grabs his attention and set him on the path of meditation was:

"If there's a God, we must see Him. If there's a soul, we must perceive It; otherwise it's better not to believe."

He got further into meditation during his 1968 trip to India and initiation by the Maharishi.

This was the central factor in the whole rest of his life.-

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Nj0M99siznU

[O Donna]

One sun
Same sun
Infinite role
Light, bathing light

[gini]

Feb 4, 2023
Three ways an enlightened being in remain in this world after Self-Realization as explained by Rev. Swami Sarvapriyananda.--

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=XRArx8RWCrc

[gini]

Master Yogi's Spiritual Secrets - Sri M Returns 14/3/23------

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZnzUoXJc5-8

Honoured to bring back Sri M on The Ranveer Show. Sri M is an Indian Yogi, spiritual guide, social reformer, and educationist. He is the disciple of Sri Maheshwarnath Babaji, who was a disciple of Mahavatar Babaji. Sri M, also known as Sri Madhukarnath Ji. He received the Padma Bhushan, in 2020 He has profoundly impacted my family’s spiritual path, truly a blessing for all my family, my team, and myself.

In this mind-blowing episode, we saw Live On Camera - Creating a Rudraksha out of thin air. Since that moment, I have never stopped thinking about it. The most surprising thing that has ever happened on the show

“When the opportunity comes and the blueprint is ready” - Sri M

Our previous episode with Sri M:

• Master Yogi Sri M...

From being someone who used to consume a lot of alcohol till the age of 22, to now experiencing a path to chase enlightenment has been enriching. In this episode, we spoke about the true purpose of spirituality, past lives, destiny, & the meaning of Yantra, Mantra & Tantra. Hope you enjoy one of our best spiritual podcasts of all time. We will see you at the next one.

(0:00) - Ranveer x Sri M Begins
(5:00) - Purpose of spirituality & Kriya Yoga
(12:12) - Luck and Destiny
(17:14) - His journey & Past Lives
(21:37) - Balance of the Two Sexes
(26:50) - Love & Romance in spirituality
(28:42) - His Wife on spiritual practices
(31:33) - Sri M on meditation & meeting his guru
(39:27) - Creating a Rudraksha LIVE
(42:39) - Why he believes in spreading spiritual learning?
(47:10) - India’s positive role in the 2020s
(50:24) - Evolution, Horror & Dark souls
(54:00) - Meaning of Yantra, Mantra & Tantra
(1:03:50) - Sri M’s Advice to Ranveer
(1:09:20) - Thank you for watching

[Wind]

Enlightenment Is Not an Exotic Experience

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=YHP4suoWEB0

"What is enlightenment? How can you attain enlightenment? And what can you do to aid in the process of awakening to your true self so that you can finally end the search for enlightenment?

Rupert says that enlightenment is simply the recognition of the nature of your being. All that is being spoken of is just the ordinary, intimate, obvious, familiar being that enables each of us to say with absolute certainty, I am. Not some extraordinary, mystical, enlightened being — all 8 billion of us can say I am.

It is the least exotic experience there is. Even the taste of tea is by comparison exotic. The reason you haven't quite yet recognised your own being is precisely because it is so close, so simple, so familiar, so intimate.

Just close your eyes. Have the thought I am. And then go to the experience in yourself to which those words refer."

[gini]

The Lazy Way To Enlightenment: Bankei's Unborn Zen



Mar 19, 2023 ,17 min.
"The Unborn is not something difficult to attain; it is not something distant.
It is not something we have to search for; it is not something we have to
discover. It is something we already have, right here, right now."
- Bankei Yōtaku. Dogen & Hakuin
Zen Buddhism is a major school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in
China and later spread to Japan.
The term "Zen" comes from the Sanskrit word "dhyana," which refers to a
state of deep meditation and awareness.
Zen emphasises the experience of direct, intuitive realisation of the nature
of reality and the attainment of spiritual enlightenment.
There are two names considered most important to the development of
Zen are: Dogen & Hakuin
Dogen Kigen (1200-1253) was the founder of Soto Zen.
The question that Dogen became obsessed with as a young man and which
motivated his search for truth was:

Simply put, the answer that Dogen came to was that practice itself was an
expression of enlightenment.
Because of this conclusion, one of the main practices of Soto Zen became
Shikantaza.
Shikantaza means just sitting.
In Shikantaza one merely sits. There is no practice of concentration nor of
breath counting, etc..
One merely sits.
As Dogen said: “You cannot get it wrong.”
Soto Zen is known as a gradual enlightenment school, meaning that one
over time eventually realises their inherent Buddha nature.
Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769) was the founder of the Rinzai school of Zen
Buddhism.---

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=UfDyAuN_Xns

Voiceover: Andrea Giordani

[Wind]

When I look into her eyes, I see pure bliss.

[Wind]

Mooji | Who is watching the one watching?

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=8MxMIg1rkYM

[ClearWater]

Revealing the Already Awake Consciousness: Loch Kelly and Tibetan Buddhist Teacher Anam Thubten

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=PvhoYeFeetI

Loch Kelly and Tibetan Buddhist teacher Anam Thubten share a deep dialogue about the ways they each bring a modern approach to ancient teaching to support the awakening of all beings. They explore their appreciation for the simplicity and availability of the nondual Dzogchen teachings, which reveal the already awake consciousness and embodied natural compassion. After the talk, Loch offers a guided micro-meditation to “unhook” awareness from the small mind to drop into the heart mind.

[Wind]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=7Y-AxTmIEDs

[Wind]

"Paul Brunton traveled in India in the 1930's this video is readings from "A Search in Secret India" from the chapter the last chapter "Tablets of a Forgotten Truth" meditations with Ramana Maharshi."

"Let there be no misunderstanding about my connection with Ramana Maharshi. My appreciation and reverence for him remain as great as ever. I still consider him one of the few enlightened seers of modern centuries. I did during his lifetime adopt the outward attitude of an independent student. However, my inner connection with the living mind which manifested as Ramana Maharshi remains unbroken."

~ Paul Brunton

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=PGw2WWVfBog

[gini]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=qo6ZXNBtYrc

- 12/5/23--57 min--In this lecture, recorded in Minnesota in May of 1982, Ram Dass advocates that we be mindful about our identification with being the actor and our attachments to the fruit of our actions.

[gini]

The Three Levels of Satsang (Associating with Eternal Truth)
SantMat


Published in
Sant Mat Meditation and Spirituality

·
6 min read





According to Saint Tulsi Das there are several modes of Bhakti practice. One major practice is called Satsang — the society of realized Saints. Satsang means “association with Eternal Truth” as well as “association with God,” and is to some extent comparable to “church” or “temple,” but not in any institutional sense. A saying of Jesus in the New Testament provides a good definition of this spiritual gathering called a “Satsang”: “Where two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there in their midst.” When devotees or initiates of a spiritual Master sit together for worship, instruction, and meditation, the Masters teach that there’s a spiritual charge or energy, a stronger manifestation of the loving Presence of God and a kind of ‘communion of Saints,’ past and present.

Satsang is also an experience of spiritual community, an opportunity to be uplifted by the collective energy of our brothers and sisters on the Path, for we’re influenced by the company we keep. Devotees make this a time and place of spiritual Remembrance, and this helps to keep us on the Path.
The format of Satsang can include: a spiritual discourse, guidance about following the teachings of the Masters, a recording of a Master giving a talk, readings from the writings of the Masters, the reciting or singing of banis, bhajans or kirtans (hymns of worship composed by Sants), and silent group meditation. It’s considered the greatest of blessings if it is a genuine spiritual Master (Sant Satguru) who conducts the Satsang in person.

The effect of Satsang is that of divine remembrance, thus, with such a spiritual boost, encouragement and support for the spiritual journey, those who attend Satsang are much more likely to stay-on-the-Path and put effort into daily spiritual practice at home. (from the article, The Yoga of Love, Becoming a Lover of the Beloved)

“Dear Aspirants! Each day strive to do both kinds of satsang: inner and outer. Outer satsang is listening to the teachings of great saints and studying the sacred texts. Inner satsang is the practice of one-pointed meditation.” (Maharishi Mehi Paramahans)

“Without the association of great saints, there is neither discourse of the Divine nor the understanding of the scriptures. Without these two, selfish attachment does not loosen its grip. And without dispelling attachment to the world one cannot attain the realm of the Divine and the true devotion that is essential to realize the Divine.” (Sant Tulsi Das)

“On the gate of liberation are found four gate keepers endowed with wisdom. These four are: discipline, thoughtfulness (reflection), contentment and association with saints.” (Maha Upanishad)

“Discord and delusion can be removed by the power of the association of saints. For those who associate with saints, suffering dissolves and they will remain immersed in joy. Joy arises from noble company and pain arises from association with the wicked, says Kabir, go to a place where saints dwell and their association is possible.” (Kabir)

“By association with a pure soul the mind becomes pure and the darkness of attachment is dispelled. In attending to these quotes from different saints it becomes clear that satsang is vital and very necessary for any serious spiritual seeker.” (Yogi Panchanan Bhattacharya)

The Three Levels of Satsang (Associating with Eternal Truth), by Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj

The word satsang is comprised of two words sat and sang. What is sat?

Sat is that which can never be destroyed. It is the essential element which is indestructible and beyond the limitations of time. And it is Truth. Sang means association or contact. Thus association or coming in contact with Sat or Truth is satsang.

In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says:

“Whatever is Truth always exists and is never non-existent. That which is non-Truth has no existence whatsoever.”

* The First Level of Satsang (Association with God)

What is this element which is indestructible, has always been constant and will forever remain as such? That element is the Supreme Being of the universe. Association with this Being, in reality, is association with Truth (satsang). But, what is it that would associate with this Supreme Being? Is it the body or the senses? The answer is that it is neither of these two. It is only apart from the body and senses that we will be able to associate with the Supreme Being. This is because it is only our soul that is an inseparable part of the Divine. It is only we (our soul) that is capable of merging with the Divine. Our individual soul is truth, and also, the Supreme is Truth. True satsang is the unity of the soul with the Supreme Truth. This is the highest kind of sat-sang. However, this highest kind of satsang, unity with the Divine, does not occur all of a sudden. This category of satsang requires many lifetimes of good actions and spiritual imprints (samskaras).

* The Second Level of Sat-sang (Association with the Saints)

Sant Tulsidas says:

“The association of the saints brings association with the Divine, and alliance with people who are engrossed in the world leads the way back to this world again and again.”

To attain Ultimate Liberation it is essential to have association with the saints. Saints, having realized the true form of God, become that True Form. The accomplished great beings who have attained unity with the Divine, and who have experienced the Supreme Being even while living in this body, have become the Supreme Being [They become one with their true Divine Form]. Association with these saints is this second category of satsang. However, finding such a saint is not an easy task. A true saint is rare and difficult to find.

Sant Tulsidas says:

“Without accumulation of many good deeds one will be unable to gain the association of a great saint.”

When our good karmas permit, we are able to come to experience the association of these sentient beings. A more important point is that even if we have a direct encounter with such a saint, we often do not have the wisdom to be able to recognize a genuine sage.

A great Sant, Tulsidas, says:

“If someone says ‘I have recognized a saint,’ then I put my hands on my ears in astonishment. [It is not an easy task.]”

If ordinary people could recognize saints, then why, since antiquity, have so many great saints, sages, and prophets been tortured, maimed and killed? Many saints have had to face horrible atrocities. This simply would not have happened if we were able to recognize the genuine great saints.

* The Third Level of Satsang (Association with the Writings of Sages and Saints)

In daily life we need the guidance of a great sage or saint. Even though we might encounter many so called mahatmas or sadhus, the task of finding and identifying an accomplished guide is difficult. So, in consideration of this, how would satsang (association with a true saint) be possible? The answer is that we can study the teachings of the great saints of the past, because in their teaching we will find the elaboration of the Truth. This then is the third category of sat-sang. Generally, when we speak of satsang, it is this third category that is meant. This kind of satsang includes the study of scriptures and the words and writings of the saints and prophets of the past.

As we continue diligently in this third type of satsang we accumulate the meritorious karmas which will lead to the meeting with a true saint. Then we will be able to do the second category of satsang. As we continue in association with a great saint, and with the saint’s blessings, we will gradually begin to meditate and undertake the prescribed spiritual disciplines. By diligently practicing these disciplines, we will one day, experience the first category of sat-sang — the association with the Supreme. When we have thus accomplished the highest category of satsang, our life’s purpose will be fulfilled.

— Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj, “Harmony of All Religions”:

[Wind]

"It is none other than He who progresses or journeys as you. There is nothing to be known but He; and since He is Being itself, He is therefore also the journeyer. There is no knower but He; so who are you? Know your true Reality. He is the essential self of all. But He conceals it by [the appearance of] otherness, which is “you.”

If you hold to multiplicity, you are with the world; and if you hold to the Unity, you are with the Truth …. Our names are but names for God; at the same time our individual selves are His shadow. He is at once our identity and not our identity … Contemplate!"

~ Ibn Arabi

[O Donna]

If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.
- George Orwell

All the enlightenment needed if willing to deconstruct.

[greybeard]

I read Ramana and others many years ago.
I thought I understood the concept of what he and others were saying.
I did not and even now If I think I have understood no I havent
Its beyond the mind to takein at bests itsan itillecual understanding --thats not it.
David Carse has been clearest for me. "Perfect Brilliant Stillness"
There is no Chris -- never has been
Just an appearance in consciousness.
An illusion, though even an illusion has a level of reality -- it exists but not what itt seems, or appears to be.

I know less now about spirituality than I did years ago - all I need to know is
I am eternal. I am That. --The totality, all of it.
This is my current understanding, but not what is experienced.
With Love "Chris"

[O Donna]

Posted by greybeard (here)
There is no Chris -- never has been
Just an appearance in consciousness.

Cosmic Play:

It appears 'to be'.

The light of light is light.

[greybeard]

Posted by O Donna (here)

Posted by greybeard (here)
There is no Chris -- never has been
Just an appearance in consciousness.

Cosmic Play:

It appears 'to be'.

The light of light is light.

Yes
The play of consciousness
Indra's dream
Events happen
Deeds are done
But there is no individual doer there of

Writing is happening
Reading will happen.
No space no time.


Love "Chris"

[rgray222]

Posted by greybeard (here)
I know less now about spirituality than I did years ago - all I need to know is
I am eternal. I am That. --The totality, all of it.
This is my current understanding, but not what is experienced.
With Love "Chris"

I have spent this lifetime (most of my adult years) trying to figure out life, the meaning of life, purpose, religion, war, afterlife, time, death, living in the now, consciousness, illness, God, creator, etc. While I believe it has been a worthwhile journey and I have definitely reached a few conclusions I often envy those that simply live life without concern for purpose or meaning. I am extremely fortunate because in my journey I have been shown things beyond this earth's province but it does not answer my one burning question.........where and what is the destination. Even while I am typing these words I believe that everything is exactly as it should be and I am not sure if that is good or bad, it simply is.