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Question: I read these questions and answers always with much interest. But what about this intellectual approach?
Much is written about Advaita and much more will be written about this. But perhaps it is about understanding only one or two sentences: The One is, and encompasses all, manifesting ItSelf as everything. The first sentence is enough I guess. Your comment please! Answer: The intellectual approach - or Jnana Yoga- is appropriate for those who are attracted to it. When the Jnana approach is taken to its ultimate conclusion it will end in surrender. Others are attracted to devotion and surrender, or Bhakti Yoga. When Bhakti is taken to its ultimate conclusion it will dissolve in understanding. Ultimately, understanding and surrender both disappear into a Priorness, which cannot be touched by any concept or emotion. This could indeed be realized from one sentence, one single word, or a 'roaring' silence. On the other hand, this inherent clarity could also be re-cognized after endless seeking and a million words. At this point the whole mental construct around clarity falls apart. Words start to contradict each other and the mind loses its footing. Before and after do no longer apply and instantly it is evident that neither devotion, nor an intellectual approach, can be instrumental to the presence of this all pervading clarity. From the seeking perspective it certainly seems that there is a process leading from confusion to clarity, but when the gateless gate is passed, it is seen that it was never really there, nor any one to pass through it. Whether IT appears AS seeking or AS clarity, whether IT appears as a gate, or as someone passing through it, there always and only is Presence. No-thing can lead to Presence, no-thing has caused the Uncaused, and no-thing ever obscured the clarity in which this whole manifestation appears. So if there is any credit to be given for the clarity that IS, it neither goes to a single sentence nor to a library of books; all 'credit' goes to no-thing.
If or when you have a question you'd like to see answered in this newsletter send it to:
author@awakeningtothedream.com Painting by: Mark Kelvin Horton Title: Summer Silence. Visit him at: http://www.city-art-gallery.com/markhorton.htm |
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When the whole conceptual story of a life extended in
thought beyond the present content of awareness is no longer
seriously entertained, there is a natural relaxing into ease.
Identification as the ‘I’, or psychological self-sense, is merely
an appearance in awareness, an addition to the appearance
of the body image.
The allowing of life as it is – rather than any efforts to be rid of thought or ‘I’, or to become ‘enlightened’ – allows seeking to fall naturally away. Within the play, all efforts to be rid of ‘I’ merely reinforce identification with it. Resting in life as it is does not bring ordinary bodily life to an end in some magical firework display of enlightenment. Thought continues to arise, life carries on, but it is no longer burdened by the complication of the search for unity. Life is seen as the expression of wholeness, rather than as a search for it. You are Consciousness. Whatever Your present appearance, it is already perfect, including any play of identification as ‘I’, and also any seeking to be rid of ‘I’. Life as the character is simply the play of appearances in awareness and has no requirement for awakening. There is only already awakeness.
From Nathan Gill's book: 'Already Awake - Dialogues with Nathan Gill'
Available at: http://www.non-dualitybooks.com/ Painting by: Ann Jenemann Smith Title: Seeking Peace Visit her at: http://www.artsmith.net/index.htm |
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Woods I wish to grow dumber, to slip deep into woods that grow blinder with each step I take, until the fingers let go of their numbers and the hands are finally ignorant as paws. Unable to count the petals, I will not know who loves me, who loves me not. Nothing to remember, nothing to forgive, I will stumble into the juice of the berry, the shag of bark, I will be dense and happy as fur. Noelle Oxenhandler Painting by: Geoff Williams Title: The Clearing Visit him at: http://www.geoffwilliams.com.au/index.html |
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God is a pure no-thing concealed in now and here: the less you reach for Him the more He will appear. Angelus Selesius Art by: Victoria Ryan Title: The Here and Now. Visit her at: http://www.victoriaryan.com/ |
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Skinny dipping A minister, a priest and a rabbi went for a hike one day. It was very hot. They were sweating and exhausted when they came upon a small lake. Since it was fairly secluded, they took off all their clothes and jumped in the water. Feeling refreshed, the trio decided to pick a few berries while enjoying their "freedom." As they were crossing an open area, who should come along but a group of ladies from town. Unable to get to their clothes in time, the minister and the priest covered their privates and the rabbi covered his face while they ran for cover. After the ladies had left and the men got their clothes back on, the minister and the priest asked the rabbi why he covered his face rather than his privates. The rabbi replied, "I don't know about you, but in MY congregation, it's my face they would recognize." |
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