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Question: I have read your book which was a very interesting read. I just have a question about it if that's ok.Would you say that it does not matter what a person does in life as regards trying to improve himself? Will success or failure happen regardless of what I try to do myself? I don't know if to try hard to improve my finances, emotions and life situation, or not for example. I keep thinking if I don't try to make things better for myself my life will not improve. I don't want to regret not having acted on the need to make an effort to improve things. I realize that I do not really exist, but in terms of the dream, I would like my life to improve in many ways. I guess I would feel different if the Ego dropped away for the apparent me. I find it is difficult also to decide what or how I could improve things. Does it not matter as what is, is? Whatever I apparently decide will be or not be? I just feel like I would not be having a good enjoyable life unless I put effort in to improve it some way. I don't want to miss out on what I could have done by not taking action you see. In a way it would be a lot easier if pre destination did exist. This way I would know that I could not do anything to change things and therefore there would be no regret at all. I would really appreciate it if you could share any comments on the above points. Answer: The text of 'Awakening to the Dream' does not state that improvement of personal circumstances is impossible, but that there is no separate you to do it. When improvements happen they happen, and if this seems to include personal action and input then that is what happens. Here -and in 'Awakening to the Dream'- it is said that there is no 'you' having a life, but only life appearing as everything including the pattern identified as 'you.' When we compare life to a river, then such a 'you pattern' is much like one of the ripples or bubbles which appear on the stream's surface. They are but temporal appearances on the river and do not have an independent existence. The invitation extended here, is to recognize that there is only the river of life, and that your true identity is nothing less then the whole river. When there is an urge to improve one's financial status or to learn a new language, or whatever, then that is the way life appears to itself and there is no 'you' in charge of this. Every thought, every action, every hearth beat, every breath, is from and by the One only. The person as the doer and the possessor of 'my' life is again but a pattern in the stream you are. See how often 'I' and 'myself' feature in your email. This 'I' seems to want, hope, fear, and decide. It seems to be the centre and the root of all doubt. When this is acknowledged, it can be investigated thoroughly. Don't accept anyone's words, and don't just say "I realize I don't really exist" but really find out if this is so. The word salt is not salty, but points to an actuality which cannot be captured in words. The word 'I' is not what you are but points to -and is an expression of- THAT what you are. Find out if this is so. If or when it's clear where this 'I' concept points to, then there is no conceptual 'I' to understand this. In the end, when the conceptual 'I' that supposedly is doing the understanding cannot be found, understanding miraculously remains as an expression of 'your' True Nature. See through the idea of being this body, this character, this collection of ideas and habits, boldly go where no 'I' has gone before, and re-cognize the Freedom-You-Are.
If or when you have a question you'd like to see answered in this newsletter send it to:
author@awakeningtothedream.com Painting by: Fred Marsh Title: Poppies at the River Valley Visit him at: http://www.marshstudio.com/index.html |
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Annamalai Swami: If the thoughts 'I should meditate' or I should realize' arise, ask yourself 'To whom are these thoughts arising?' Why do you need to think about your body and your mind so much? If you are the light, there is no darkness. If you are the Self, there is no thought, no body, and no mind to give you any trouble. Any number of thoughts may come. Let them. But remember all the time, 'I am the Self.' You are not the vasanas (subconscious tendencies), you are not the thoughts, you are the Self. Keep that awareness and don't worry too much about what is going on in your mind, and what it means.
Don't allow identification to settle on you. Don't think, 'I am doing, I am acting, I am sitting.' You are the Self, not the body. Even your vasanas are the Self. All is your Self. There are no distinctions, no differences in the Self. Nothing is separate from the Self. You cannot find a single atom, a single thought that is apart from the Self. All is the Self. Question: But is there anything I can do to discover this? Is not all effort pointless if everything that happens to me is predetermined? Annamalai Swami: All these doubts that are troubling you are simply because you are enmeshed in the 'I am the body' thought and all the confusing consequences that it brings. It is more productive to keep the awareness 'I am the Self' than to analyze the usefulness of effort. Sadhana, effort and practice, and any ideas you may have about them, are concepts that can only arise when you believe that you are not the Self, and when you believe that you have to do something to reach the Self. Even the sequence 'To who has this thought come? To me,' is based on ignorance of truth. Why? Because it is verbalizing a state of ignorance; it is perpetuating an erroneous assumption that there is a person who is having troublesome thoughts. You are the Self, not some make-believe person who is having thoughts.
From: '
Annamalai Swami: Final Talks'. By David Godman
Swami Annamalai (1906 - 1995) was the personal attendant of Sri Ramana Maharshi |
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The Seed Market Can you find another market like this? Where, with your one rose you can buy hundreds of rose gardens? Where, for one seed you get a whole wilderness? For one weak breath, the divine wind? You've been fearful of being absorbed in the ground, or drawn up by the air. Now your waterbead lets go and drops into the ocean, where it came from. It no longer has the form it had, but it's still water. The essence is the same. This giving up is not a repenting. It's a deep honoring of yourself. When the ocean comes to you as a lover, marry, at once, quickly, for Allah's sake! Don't postpone it! Existence has no better gift. No amount of searching will find this. A perfect falcon, for no reason, has landed on your shoulder, and become yours. ~ Rumi ~ Translated by Coleman Barks Painting by: John Stoa Title: The Flower Market Visit him at: http://www.johnstoa.co.uk/index.htm |
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"We already have everything we need. There is no need for self-improvement. All these trips that we lay on ourselves--the heavy-duty fearing that we're bad and hoping that we're good, the identities that we so dearly cling to, the rage, the jealousy and the addictions of all kinds--never touch our basic wealth. They are like clouds that temporarily block the sun. But all the time our warmth and brilliance are right here. This is who we really are. We are one blink of an eye away from being fully awake." ~Pema Chodron~ From the NDH news letter. http://nonduality.com/hlhome.htm |
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A penny from God A mullah wanted to build a new mosque but lacked the financial resources. As he was a firm believer in the old adage "Trust in God, but tie up your own camel", he tried to find the millions he needed through fund raising and investors. In the end he was still a million dollar short and decided to pray for it. God heard him and responded by appearing in his dream. "You have been calling on me, mullah. What can I do for you?" The surprised mullah thought for a moment and said "Lord, please tell me, how much is a thousand years for you?" And God said "It is less then one of your seconds." "And how much is a million dollars for you, oh lord?" "That's like a penny to me." "Then, oh almighty one, can you please give me such a penny?" "Sure", God said, "just give me a second." Painting by: Van Der Ouderaa Belgium 1894 Title: Prayer |
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