NON-DUALITY
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/1/6/4516117/editor/3-733x489.jpg?1691561443)
The Journey Ahead….
1 - January - Introduction & Prepare for the Journey
2 - February - Feels like Something is Missing
3 - March - Uncover the Clues
4 - April - Locate the Missing Pieces
5 - May - Land a New Approach
6 - June - Concentrate your Practice
7 - July - Impressions of Home
8 - August - Recognize your Wholeness
9 - September - Completely Gone
10 - October - Long for Nothing
11 - November - Enter the World Again
12 - December - Your Homecoming Graduation
1 - January - Introduction & Prepare for the Journey
2 - February - Feels like Something is Missing
3 - March - Uncover the Clues
4 - April - Locate the Missing Pieces
5 - May - Land a New Approach
6 - June - Concentrate your Practice
7 - July - Impressions of Home
8 - August - Recognize your Wholeness
9 - September - Completely Gone
10 - October - Long for Nothing
11 - November - Enter the World Again
12 - December - Your Homecoming Graduation
All the steps are part of the circle.
Identifying the bull, 1,2,3
getting hold of the bull, 4,5
getting on the bull, 5,6
riding the bull, 6
taming the bull, 5
going home on the bull, 6
disappearing the bull 7,8 (seeing no separation with the dynamic energy -unity) and more...
There is no wrong place to be on this circle. Each time we go round the circle, there's a subtle refinement as the illusion fades a little more.
Identifying the bull, 1,2,3
getting hold of the bull, 4,5
getting on the bull, 5,6
riding the bull, 6
taming the bull, 5
going home on the bull, 6
disappearing the bull 7,8 (seeing no separation with the dynamic energy -unity) and more...
There is no wrong place to be on this circle. Each time we go round the circle, there's a subtle refinement as the illusion fades a little more.
Peter Messaged Me:
Bryant, Why don't you keep a file of our conversations/interaction on the Full Circle. They may be of benefit to you in the future. I find there's a lot of great material you've already presented. Big hugs!
I replied:
Yes, I actually am! Mainly for my own benefit right now. If I ever did anything with it I would of course get your permission. But nothing planned as of now, it is just helpful for me to have it all organized so I can review everything.
Peter Replied:
I really think you're going to laugh with joy after we've finished this. I'm so glad you're doing this. You've got me chuckling!
I responded: I am buckled up for the Mr Pete's Wild Ride 😂🙏🙌💙
Peter Responded: 🤣
-----
Full Circle Towards the End Peter Messaged me again:
Dear Bryant, You know we can still stay in touch after the new year. You can email me anytime.
Just to let you know we can further our discussions even if I'm off Facebook.
On Continuing to Keep the Group Going...
Dear Bryant, Know you're free to share any of our conversations with others. Also, please inject the "Bull..." book teachings, poems and commentary to round out the group's understandings as you see fit.
...and please help steer the conversations to non-duality, since it is 4esy to get side tracked.
Dear Bryant, You have my permission to present anything from the Bull book in your own writings, as well as pertinent conversations we've had about non-duality. I trust that your insights are on target and wouldn't be misleading.
I replied: Thank you Peter that is very generous. I am confident I can faithfully convey your ideas/teachings accurately , the challenge for me now is simply really living it (aka radical self honesty and more discipline) as playfully as possible...lol
And so true, and as you told me many months ago (to paraphrase) "it is a fools errand to debate an illusion."
Peter Responded: Bryant, I know your heart and have full confidence in you!
Bryant, Why don't you keep a file of our conversations/interaction on the Full Circle. They may be of benefit to you in the future. I find there's a lot of great material you've already presented. Big hugs!
I replied:
Yes, I actually am! Mainly for my own benefit right now. If I ever did anything with it I would of course get your permission. But nothing planned as of now, it is just helpful for me to have it all organized so I can review everything.
Peter Replied:
I really think you're going to laugh with joy after we've finished this. I'm so glad you're doing this. You've got me chuckling!
I responded: I am buckled up for the Mr Pete's Wild Ride 😂🙏🙌💙
Peter Responded: 🤣
-----
Full Circle Towards the End Peter Messaged me again:
Dear Bryant, You know we can still stay in touch after the new year. You can email me anytime.
Just to let you know we can further our discussions even if I'm off Facebook.
On Continuing to Keep the Group Going...
Dear Bryant, Know you're free to share any of our conversations with others. Also, please inject the "Bull..." book teachings, poems and commentary to round out the group's understandings as you see fit.
...and please help steer the conversations to non-duality, since it is 4esy to get side tracked.
Dear Bryant, You have my permission to present anything from the Bull book in your own writings, as well as pertinent conversations we've had about non-duality. I trust that your insights are on target and wouldn't be misleading.
I replied: Thank you Peter that is very generous. I am confident I can faithfully convey your ideas/teachings accurately , the challenge for me now is simply really living it (aka radical self honesty and more discipline) as playfully as possible...lol
And so true, and as you told me many months ago (to paraphrase) "it is a fools errand to debate an illusion."
Peter Responded: Bryant, I know your heart and have full confidence in you!
Koans
Show Me What Swallows the Universe
Show Me Your Original Face Before Your Parents Were Born
Thoughts Can't Think
Show Me What Swallows the Universe
Show Me Your Original Face Before Your Parents Were Born
Thoughts Can't Think
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/1/6/4516117/published/326682901-416077320708820-270524106129010815-n.jpg?1675021312)
January 20th
Nice Haiku from Peter while he was sipping coffee by the fireplace looking at the snow covered forest...
It struck me as written from such a beautiful and serene "place":
"Tapestry of snow
Web-like, my gazing is caught
Suspended timeless"
(Photo this morning)
Initially Peter had it at 5-6-5, and I noted how apropos that was for a snowflake (6-sided). And he responded: That works as a snowflake perfectly. However, I did intend it as 7. Which I now adjusted. I played around with several versions prior to this one sitting by the fire watching the snow fall, sipping my coffee.
----
Being in Florida with no snow, I sat outside in the semi-cloudy but overall sunny weather with an inspired intention to write a Haiku as well. Looking up to the sky I realized this was all in my own consciousness, in the One Mind as some Buddhist circles would say.
Grey-white crescent clouds
fill Infinite Blue Pastures
my mind meets the Sky
I am reading a book Peter recommends called the Tao of Zen by Ray Grigg. So far it is a very historical accound of the Zen and Zen Buddhism and how the two are different. Zen itself shares more in common with the down to earth practicality of Taoism (grounded Naturalism), while Zen buddhism takes on more of the Buddhist flavor of idealism (lofty Spiritualism) and transcending the earth and cycles of suffering. Ultimately both Spirit and Nature are nondual or not 2, and both paths (and all paths for that matter) find both a common "ground" in ultimate reality and a common summit in the inward seeking path from duality back to Oneness.
From this book, I have been noting some of the words and phrases that best summarize pure Zen (and other similar nondual paths).
Simplicity
Just This
Doctrine of Instantaneous Awakening
Immediately accessible
Manifestly Obvious
Organic and spontaneous
Unstructured
Practice of Non practice
Always already [Enlightened, awake, conscious, etc].
Laughter and Playfulness
A little Haiku came inspired from this reading
Spontaneous Life
rising from Creations Core
Eruption of Joy
It seems to me upon reading many books on nonduality, that one of the biggest stumbling blocks is thinking Enlightenment, Awakening, Heaven, Nirvana, Moksha, Liberation, etc. lies in future. And in order to attain this great Awakening, I become a seeker and enter upon the spiritual path, practice meditation for so many years, burn up all my karma, and on and on. This "path-o-logical" mindset is a trap that binds people perhaps almost as much as even worldly pursuits. What Zen and great nondual sages like Ramana Maharshi say is enlightenment is here and now in your basic awareness, it's just this, just what's happening. It is so immediate and obvious that we constantly miss this open secret, that God is everywhere around us, and in us, as us, right here and now! The way of the Tao or the Buddha (enlightened) mind is simply recognizing this simple fact: There is nothing to attain, you are already what you are looking for!
Nice Haiku from Peter while he was sipping coffee by the fireplace looking at the snow covered forest...
It struck me as written from such a beautiful and serene "place":
"Tapestry of snow
Web-like, my gazing is caught
Suspended timeless"
(Photo this morning)
Initially Peter had it at 5-6-5, and I noted how apropos that was for a snowflake (6-sided). And he responded: That works as a snowflake perfectly. However, I did intend it as 7. Which I now adjusted. I played around with several versions prior to this one sitting by the fire watching the snow fall, sipping my coffee.
----
Being in Florida with no snow, I sat outside in the semi-cloudy but overall sunny weather with an inspired intention to write a Haiku as well. Looking up to the sky I realized this was all in my own consciousness, in the One Mind as some Buddhist circles would say.
Grey-white crescent clouds
fill Infinite Blue Pastures
my mind meets the Sky
I am reading a book Peter recommends called the Tao of Zen by Ray Grigg. So far it is a very historical accound of the Zen and Zen Buddhism and how the two are different. Zen itself shares more in common with the down to earth practicality of Taoism (grounded Naturalism), while Zen buddhism takes on more of the Buddhist flavor of idealism (lofty Spiritualism) and transcending the earth and cycles of suffering. Ultimately both Spirit and Nature are nondual or not 2, and both paths (and all paths for that matter) find both a common "ground" in ultimate reality and a common summit in the inward seeking path from duality back to Oneness.
From this book, I have been noting some of the words and phrases that best summarize pure Zen (and other similar nondual paths).
Simplicity
Just This
Doctrine of Instantaneous Awakening
Immediately accessible
Manifestly Obvious
Organic and spontaneous
Unstructured
Practice of Non practice
Always already [Enlightened, awake, conscious, etc].
Laughter and Playfulness
A little Haiku came inspired from this reading
Spontaneous Life
rising from Creations Core
Eruption of Joy
It seems to me upon reading many books on nonduality, that one of the biggest stumbling blocks is thinking Enlightenment, Awakening, Heaven, Nirvana, Moksha, Liberation, etc. lies in future. And in order to attain this great Awakening, I become a seeker and enter upon the spiritual path, practice meditation for so many years, burn up all my karma, and on and on. This "path-o-logical" mindset is a trap that binds people perhaps almost as much as even worldly pursuits. What Zen and great nondual sages like Ramana Maharshi say is enlightenment is here and now in your basic awareness, it's just this, just what's happening. It is so immediate and obvious that we constantly miss this open secret, that God is everywhere around us, and in us, as us, right here and now! The way of the Tao or the Buddha (enlightened) mind is simply recognizing this simple fact: There is nothing to attain, you are already what you are looking for!
January 23rd
Peter's Musing for the day:
In our Sunday discussion I mentioned how the thought of being a separate self creates a bubble which encases us. Thus we see two, the world with it's objects and people and the self. The stronger the sense of separation, the more cloudy the bubble becomes. For some, this becomes a very dark place where everything is about them. Others are not seen, except as oppressors, or as a utility for securing one's own aims. This is a very lonely place of 'us vs them'. As the bubble lightens (and remember, the bubble isn't actually real. Its just a thought or pattern of thoughts.) As thoughts lighten, others are seen as "just like me". As the bubble further lightens, one begins to doubt the separation or at least question it. With the first sincere questions or doubts, we consciously begin the pathless path. Soon, instead of being a dark glass globe, it over many self inquiries gets lighter and lighter and soon becomes like a flimsy soap bubble that finally evaporates in the light. Or for some, suddenly bursts apart releasing what was never captured in the first place except for the thought of being separate from the whole. Now the circle is complete!
----
Had a nice little small mini satori of sorts today. I was cutting up my afternoon snack and while engaging in this very ordinary activity, I felt an upwelling in my heart of laughter. Of course, THIS, so simple! It's always right here and now!
Of course words cannot capture the moment and actually rather spoil it, but poetry is a little better for the task. I sat down and spontaneously wrote this Haiku:
Preparing a snack
my Heart giggled in Delight
and "I" don't know why?
Peter answered my two questions this afternoon that were supposed to be for Sunday's call, but on the call Peter asked each of us to ponder why we asked these questions, and come up with two reasons. I was delighted when he responded:
Question 1:
Can you indulge us and give us a recap of your awakening experience you shared in an interview with Body Mind Spirit Magazine a long while back, and if anything major has shifted since then?
Peter's reply: It felt like the "I" died. But, over the years since then I've realized there wasn't any "I" to die, only an ego that got knocked unconscious. I've come to understand there is no self to realize. It's "not two". There is no self and other than self. Those are only persistent ideas or enslaving thought forms. If my ego hadn't somewhat revived (yea, it's been crippled and pretty banged up) I'd not be doing one more course.
Question 2:
In the interview, you said "self honesty" was the key to this experience. Is there anything else we can have in our toolbox to be open to this shift or realization which is always here and now?
Peter's reply: I try hard to not believe a single thing I think. And always understand what comes out of my mouth may usually be sweet smelling bull shit. I try to question every thought and the honesty of expression. I ask am I saying this to call attention to myself or my accomplishments or my knowledge? Am I trying to impress you with my wisdom? Am I trying to appear special or forgive me, spiritual? That's why I say, radical self-honesty is walking the razor's edge of truth. Whatever the hell that is! Ha, haa!!!
Something I felt inspired to write back to Peter:
The first reminds me of an analogy of the gateless gate (or gateless barrier) in Zen. It 'seems' from many popular spiritual teachers and teachings that there is some great gate to pass through called Enlightenment, and the individual ego that dies in this process.
But.. the great nondual sages say that once on the other (sideless) side, it is seen nothing really happened because enlightenment always IS in our basic awareness right here and now! And.. the ego never existed, so how can it die? There never was a gate to pass through, it was nothing but a mirage; stories that we were sold.
We've always been naked and free in the infinite green pastures of nondual awareness, though perhaps daydreaming a little too much of how to build beautiful and glorious gates made of grass (one after another after another).
Peter Replied: Perfectly expressed.
Peter's Musing for the day:
In our Sunday discussion I mentioned how the thought of being a separate self creates a bubble which encases us. Thus we see two, the world with it's objects and people and the self. The stronger the sense of separation, the more cloudy the bubble becomes. For some, this becomes a very dark place where everything is about them. Others are not seen, except as oppressors, or as a utility for securing one's own aims. This is a very lonely place of 'us vs them'. As the bubble lightens (and remember, the bubble isn't actually real. Its just a thought or pattern of thoughts.) As thoughts lighten, others are seen as "just like me". As the bubble further lightens, one begins to doubt the separation or at least question it. With the first sincere questions or doubts, we consciously begin the pathless path. Soon, instead of being a dark glass globe, it over many self inquiries gets lighter and lighter and soon becomes like a flimsy soap bubble that finally evaporates in the light. Or for some, suddenly bursts apart releasing what was never captured in the first place except for the thought of being separate from the whole. Now the circle is complete!
----
Had a nice little small mini satori of sorts today. I was cutting up my afternoon snack and while engaging in this very ordinary activity, I felt an upwelling in my heart of laughter. Of course, THIS, so simple! It's always right here and now!
Of course words cannot capture the moment and actually rather spoil it, but poetry is a little better for the task. I sat down and spontaneously wrote this Haiku:
Preparing a snack
my Heart giggled in Delight
and "I" don't know why?
Peter answered my two questions this afternoon that were supposed to be for Sunday's call, but on the call Peter asked each of us to ponder why we asked these questions, and come up with two reasons. I was delighted when he responded:
Question 1:
Can you indulge us and give us a recap of your awakening experience you shared in an interview with Body Mind Spirit Magazine a long while back, and if anything major has shifted since then?
Peter's reply: It felt like the "I" died. But, over the years since then I've realized there wasn't any "I" to die, only an ego that got knocked unconscious. I've come to understand there is no self to realize. It's "not two". There is no self and other than self. Those are only persistent ideas or enslaving thought forms. If my ego hadn't somewhat revived (yea, it's been crippled and pretty banged up) I'd not be doing one more course.
Question 2:
In the interview, you said "self honesty" was the key to this experience. Is there anything else we can have in our toolbox to be open to this shift or realization which is always here and now?
Peter's reply: I try hard to not believe a single thing I think. And always understand what comes out of my mouth may usually be sweet smelling bull shit. I try to question every thought and the honesty of expression. I ask am I saying this to call attention to myself or my accomplishments or my knowledge? Am I trying to impress you with my wisdom? Am I trying to appear special or forgive me, spiritual? That's why I say, radical self-honesty is walking the razor's edge of truth. Whatever the hell that is! Ha, haa!!!
Something I felt inspired to write back to Peter:
The first reminds me of an analogy of the gateless gate (or gateless barrier) in Zen. It 'seems' from many popular spiritual teachers and teachings that there is some great gate to pass through called Enlightenment, and the individual ego that dies in this process.
But.. the great nondual sages say that once on the other (sideless) side, it is seen nothing really happened because enlightenment always IS in our basic awareness right here and now! And.. the ego never existed, so how can it die? There never was a gate to pass through, it was nothing but a mirage; stories that we were sold.
We've always been naked and free in the infinite green pastures of nondual awareness, though perhaps daydreaming a little too much of how to build beautiful and glorious gates made of grass (one after another after another).
Peter Replied: Perfectly expressed.
January 25th - The Christ Self
Good morning meditation over 2 hours. Felt the divine presence deeply at times. Buddy, my neighbors dog used to annoy me now reminds me of a zen master swatting a sleeping disciple with a stick. His bark brings me to the hear and now.
Reading Ramana Maharshi and his musings on Christianity. It is so simple and direct stripped of all the mythos and folklore.
1) The Cross is the body,
2) Jesus the son of man is the Ego
‘Jesus, the son of man, is the ego or ‘I-am-the-body’-idea
This is the real original sin (sin means "missing the mark" in archery). Also the idea of a lost soul. But this beginningless ego DOES have an end and once dead, it is recognized it never was. That is, the original sin is simply identifying the Self, your pure awareness with the Ego that does not even exist. One is lost so long as the illusion persists and misidentification continues to take place. But the Ego is a Ghost! When you investigate yourself and look, *poof* it disappears.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 was the last cry of duality of the separate self.
EGO: The Ego, persona is not actually ‘alive’ – it is not actually a reality – only as a cluster of thoughts, memories, beliefs, conditioned impressions that we hold and believe to be something continuous or permanent or real. But – as ‘self enquiry’ shows – if we search to find this ‘me’ that is a result of all these mental images and changeful thought patterns that are related in our minds to our body and personal identity – we find that this entity cannot actually be found! It is not actually real. How can you kill something that is already passing like a cloud, across the sky of awareness? Ego is not a form – it may be associated with the body – but its nature is psychological so there can be no bloody death as there is no flesh to ego! Do you see? The crucifixion is simply the dissolution of an illusion.
3) The Ego/Jesus is crucified and the Glorious Christ, the True Self is resurrected and Jesus is now Jesus Christ son of God!
"I was once lost but now I am found." Luke 15:10
When the ego is crucified, and it perishes, what survives is the Absolute Being (God), (‘I and my Father are one’) and this glorious survival is called Resurrection (Ramana Maharshi – Talks, 86).
"Give up this life if thou wouldst live"
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Matt. 10:39
So God is not old man in the sky, somewhere in some far off in some otherworldly heaven realm where only Jesus Christ Alone knows him and can Alone save us. NO!
Jesus himself gave us the virgin and naked truth when he said, "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you". The second coming of Christ is the awakening to the everpresent truth of your own true nature. You are already the Self, already the Christ, right here and now! Your own true Christ nondual Self is the only savior, and it is within you and without you too. As a Sufi saying goes, "Wherever the eyes falls is the face of God."
Original sin
lost soul becomes the ego
ghost of nothingness.
|
Crucifixion's Light
spears the illusion with Love
ego disappears.
|
Reborn the One Christ
the Truth that is always Here
turn inward and Rise!
-------
"A human being is part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. The striving to free oneself from this delusion is the one issue of true religion. Not to nourish the delusion but to try to overcome it is the way to reach the attainable measure of peace of mind."
~ Albert Einstein~
From a letter written by Einstein on Feb 12, 1950
Peter (hinted at this quote up in his Facebook live talk):
Yes, an "optical delusion of his consciousness." And it is simply by the acceptance of being a separate self that the delusion becomes possible. Thus nothing that is seen is actually what a person thinks it is.
Oh separate self...
why accept this delusion?
It's not what you think!
----
Question: How do I recognize progress on this path?
Peter: Good question. It is when progress no longer concerns you. However, small changes in attitude seem to happen without much notice. Things that a parent, partner or work mate might say that used to irritate, prick or disturb you, now seem irrelevant. Issues seem to dissolve more easily. Why? Because the 'me' has been replaced by a witnessing presence. More and more we engage life with open hands and less with clenched fists.
"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences."
-Sosan Zenji (Seng-Ts'an)
Good morning meditation over 2 hours. Felt the divine presence deeply at times. Buddy, my neighbors dog used to annoy me now reminds me of a zen master swatting a sleeping disciple with a stick. His bark brings me to the hear and now.
Reading Ramana Maharshi and his musings on Christianity. It is so simple and direct stripped of all the mythos and folklore.
1) The Cross is the body,
2) Jesus the son of man is the Ego
‘Jesus, the son of man, is the ego or ‘I-am-the-body’-idea
This is the real original sin (sin means "missing the mark" in archery). Also the idea of a lost soul. But this beginningless ego DOES have an end and once dead, it is recognized it never was. That is, the original sin is simply identifying the Self, your pure awareness with the Ego that does not even exist. One is lost so long as the illusion persists and misidentification continues to take place. But the Ego is a Ghost! When you investigate yourself and look, *poof* it disappears.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 was the last cry of duality of the separate self.
EGO: The Ego, persona is not actually ‘alive’ – it is not actually a reality – only as a cluster of thoughts, memories, beliefs, conditioned impressions that we hold and believe to be something continuous or permanent or real. But – as ‘self enquiry’ shows – if we search to find this ‘me’ that is a result of all these mental images and changeful thought patterns that are related in our minds to our body and personal identity – we find that this entity cannot actually be found! It is not actually real. How can you kill something that is already passing like a cloud, across the sky of awareness? Ego is not a form – it may be associated with the body – but its nature is psychological so there can be no bloody death as there is no flesh to ego! Do you see? The crucifixion is simply the dissolution of an illusion.
3) The Ego/Jesus is crucified and the Glorious Christ, the True Self is resurrected and Jesus is now Jesus Christ son of God!
"I was once lost but now I am found." Luke 15:10
When the ego is crucified, and it perishes, what survives is the Absolute Being (God), (‘I and my Father are one’) and this glorious survival is called Resurrection (Ramana Maharshi – Talks, 86).
"Give up this life if thou wouldst live"
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Matt. 10:39
So God is not old man in the sky, somewhere in some far off in some otherworldly heaven realm where only Jesus Christ Alone knows him and can Alone save us. NO!
Jesus himself gave us the virgin and naked truth when he said, "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you". The second coming of Christ is the awakening to the everpresent truth of your own true nature. You are already the Self, already the Christ, right here and now! Your own true Christ nondual Self is the only savior, and it is within you and without you too. As a Sufi saying goes, "Wherever the eyes falls is the face of God."
Original sin
lost soul becomes the ego
ghost of nothingness.
|
Crucifixion's Light
spears the illusion with Love
ego disappears.
|
Reborn the One Christ
the Truth that is always Here
turn inward and Rise!
-------
"A human being is part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. The striving to free oneself from this delusion is the one issue of true religion. Not to nourish the delusion but to try to overcome it is the way to reach the attainable measure of peace of mind."
~ Albert Einstein~
From a letter written by Einstein on Feb 12, 1950
Peter (hinted at this quote up in his Facebook live talk):
Yes, an "optical delusion of his consciousness." And it is simply by the acceptance of being a separate self that the delusion becomes possible. Thus nothing that is seen is actually what a person thinks it is.
Oh separate self...
why accept this delusion?
It's not what you think!
----
Question: How do I recognize progress on this path?
Peter: Good question. It is when progress no longer concerns you. However, small changes in attitude seem to happen without much notice. Things that a parent, partner or work mate might say that used to irritate, prick or disturb you, now seem irrelevant. Issues seem to dissolve more easily. Why? Because the 'me' has been replaced by a witnessing presence. More and more we engage life with open hands and less with clenched fists.
"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences."
-Sosan Zenji (Seng-Ts'an)
January 26th - "A Fools Errand"
Pretty good morning meditations about 2 hours, a little restless about getting a Porsche, which I declined. Tempting because it is one that will hold its value, but I am wanting to free mind life and mind from too much "stuff".
"Dense fog and clouds you can't push apart
Suddenly appear and suddenly depart
Clever people can wear themselves out
Sun lights the rocks the same as before."
- Stonehouse (14th century Chinese hermit)
Bryant: Beautiful poem, I look forward to going through the whole book of poems. I am reading the Tao of Zen right now.
Related to this timely poem, I have to admit, I still find myself thinking I am so clever, lately it has been with flat earthers proving to them the earth ain't flat...lol.. I am transitioning away from that because it was wearing me out as the poem says. All the while the sun cares not about such things, it lights the rocks as before since time immemorial. Just this, nothing more.
Peter: Any attempt to prove correctness is futile. I love Sosan's words, "To set what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind." In my more ignorant days, oh how I loved arguing with preachers. But all the most powerful rational arguments fall in deft ears. And all that ever does is leave a person frustrated or angry. It's simply a fool's errand to debate an illusion.
Note: a fool's errand is a task almost certain to fail.
Haiku:
Cleverness fails me
when debating illusions
disease of the mind.
Pretty good morning meditations about 2 hours, a little restless about getting a Porsche, which I declined. Tempting because it is one that will hold its value, but I am wanting to free mind life and mind from too much "stuff".
"Dense fog and clouds you can't push apart
Suddenly appear and suddenly depart
Clever people can wear themselves out
Sun lights the rocks the same as before."
- Stonehouse (14th century Chinese hermit)
Bryant: Beautiful poem, I look forward to going through the whole book of poems. I am reading the Tao of Zen right now.
Related to this timely poem, I have to admit, I still find myself thinking I am so clever, lately it has been with flat earthers proving to them the earth ain't flat...lol.. I am transitioning away from that because it was wearing me out as the poem says. All the while the sun cares not about such things, it lights the rocks as before since time immemorial. Just this, nothing more.
Peter: Any attempt to prove correctness is futile. I love Sosan's words, "To set what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind." In my more ignorant days, oh how I loved arguing with preachers. But all the most powerful rational arguments fall in deft ears. And all that ever does is leave a person frustrated or angry. It's simply a fool's errand to debate an illusion.
Note: a fool's errand is a task almost certain to fail.
Haiku:
Cleverness fails me
when debating illusions
disease of the mind.
January 27th - "There is Nothing to Obtain"
Nice two hours of Inquiry meditation. 20 Rounds of Hare Ramana.
Nice two hours of Inquiry meditation. 20 Rounds of Hare Ramana.
I felt inspired to share this. I have been reading a book Peter recommends, "The Tao of Zen" by Ray Grigg and read something last night that stopped my mind in its tracks and took my breathe away.
...I obtained not the least thing from unexcelled, complete awakening, and for this reason it is called "unexcelled, complete awakening.
-The Buddha (from the Diamond Sutra)
Quoted from Alan Watts, The Way of Zen (New York: Vintage Books, 1957), p45
If you take as a premise that the Ultimate truth is lasting, permanent and eternal, then it must be here and now. If it something to obtain or has a beginning, it is not the ultimate eternal truth. What this means is full enlightenment or awakening is always already here and now, every moment in your very existence and basic awareness.
The great Sage Ramana Maharshi also echoes this truth throughout his teachings. In something of his I read today from one of my favorite books "Talks with Ramana Maharshi":
Realization is already there. No attempt is needed to attain realization. For it is nothing external, nothing new. It is always and everywhere - here and now.
-Ramana Maharshi
---
Peter Comment:
Part 1: It is as simple as knowing your own name. Your mind doesn't labor and search for an answer. Awareness knows itself and with that knowing all the masks drop.
Part2: And we've become so talented in pretending and role playing that we become like the actor on the stage who insists on being the play character off stage.
I remember Jim Carrey relating he lost himself in his role of Andy Kaufman in the movie "Man on the Moon." His fellow actors could see it as he woke up and played the role nonstop all day even off camera.
However, Carrey reached a point towards the end where he realized that “none of this is who I am. None of this matters.” “That’s liberation,” he said.
...I obtained not the least thing from unexcelled, complete awakening, and for this reason it is called "unexcelled, complete awakening.
-The Buddha (from the Diamond Sutra)
Quoted from Alan Watts, The Way of Zen (New York: Vintage Books, 1957), p45
If you take as a premise that the Ultimate truth is lasting, permanent and eternal, then it must be here and now. If it something to obtain or has a beginning, it is not the ultimate eternal truth. What this means is full enlightenment or awakening is always already here and now, every moment in your very existence and basic awareness.
The great Sage Ramana Maharshi also echoes this truth throughout his teachings. In something of his I read today from one of my favorite books "Talks with Ramana Maharshi":
Realization is already there. No attempt is needed to attain realization. For it is nothing external, nothing new. It is always and everywhere - here and now.
-Ramana Maharshi
---
Peter Comment:
Part 1: It is as simple as knowing your own name. Your mind doesn't labor and search for an answer. Awareness knows itself and with that knowing all the masks drop.
Part2: And we've become so talented in pretending and role playing that we become like the actor on the stage who insists on being the play character off stage.
I remember Jim Carrey relating he lost himself in his role of Andy Kaufman in the movie "Man on the Moon." His fellow actors could see it as he woke up and played the role nonstop all day even off camera.
However, Carrey reached a point towards the end where he realized that “none of this is who I am. None of this matters.” “That’s liberation,” he said.
January 28th - "Transparent to Transcendance"
Peter's Thought of the day:
I consider my thoughts as if the translucent quality of a lampshade filtering the light of pure awareness. The more my ego colors the thought, the darker the shade of separation from others. The less the thought is about me, the thinner the shade, the brighter the light. It is there that I see no 'others'.
My Comment:
Beautifully said Peter . This reminds me of a phrase Joseph Campbell said in a quote that we become "transparent to transcendence". The great sages tell us, that as we journey upon this inward seeking path, the illusory ego fades into the nondual True Self and it is recognized as a shadow that never was there to begin with. As you said last Sunday Peter, the great circle gets "lighter and lighter and more faint, until *poof* it too disappears."
I like how you add to this that even thoughts themselves can become transparent if we don't identify with them and make them about us. Perhaps that is part of the mystery behind nonduality? Emptiness is form and form is emptiness also implies thoughts are emptiness and emptiness is thoughts. So in this light, the problem is not thoughts per se, it's about this contracted energy of the "ego" making thoughts about itself and identifying with them?
Much to ponder here
P.S.
I found the original quote from Campbell, very inspiring:
“What is it we are questing for? It is the fulfillment of that which is potential in each of us. Questing for it is not an ego trip; it is an adventure to bring into fulfillment your gift to the world, which is yourself. There is nothing you can do that's more important than being fulfilled. You become a sign, you become a signal, transparent to transcendence; in this way you will find, live, become a realization of your own personal myth.”
― Joseph Campbell, Pathways to Bliss: Mythology and Personal Transformation
Peter's Reply:
Yes, this is capturing it. Thoughts are like the moisture in the air that we breathe. They're ever present. But attempting to breathe underwater is an entirely different experience. You wrote: "So in this light, the problem is not thoughts per se, it's about this contracted energy of the "ego" making thoughts about itself and identifying with them?" That's when the ego drowns us.
My reply:
Thanks Peter!! Big Hugs . That is a very poignant way of driving this point home by saying "...that's when the ego drowns itself".
It also occurred to me that in this nondual mist of bliss, it's not like we just become some amorphous blob of oneness, or some all-encompassing homogeneous goo...lol. Maybe there is room for Uniqueness/Individuality even in an ego-free nondual state?
Nonduality implies not only "not 2", but "not 1" also. Right? It's the big mystery of what lies beyond the death of the illusion of a separate self that never was, but still for many of us, seems to be. Maybe there is a koan to ponder on that one..."What is the sound of no ego clapping?"...
Peter's Reply:
Exactly, "Nonduality implies not only "not 2", but "not 1" also." For consciousness/awareness to imply "one" it would be identifying it against something else. Consider what takes place in deep dreamless sleep, consciousness isn't absent, but content is. Thus, no dream. (To say, "not one" would be to dream.) However, the experience is so peaceful and energizing that we often don't want to leave that state for more dreaming. Nor do we want to engage our senses to create our waking dream reality. While this is a crude example, it can't convey the brightness of consciousness being conscious of itself. We think of losing something as bad, but by losing our self we gain the whole world. (I really can't say world, but you get my drift.)
My concluding remark: Much gratitude Peter, those are very redolent words exuding the sweet perfume of Truth
Peter's Thought of the day:
I consider my thoughts as if the translucent quality of a lampshade filtering the light of pure awareness. The more my ego colors the thought, the darker the shade of separation from others. The less the thought is about me, the thinner the shade, the brighter the light. It is there that I see no 'others'.
My Comment:
Beautifully said Peter . This reminds me of a phrase Joseph Campbell said in a quote that we become "transparent to transcendence". The great sages tell us, that as we journey upon this inward seeking path, the illusory ego fades into the nondual True Self and it is recognized as a shadow that never was there to begin with. As you said last Sunday Peter, the great circle gets "lighter and lighter and more faint, until *poof* it too disappears."
I like how you add to this that even thoughts themselves can become transparent if we don't identify with them and make them about us. Perhaps that is part of the mystery behind nonduality? Emptiness is form and form is emptiness also implies thoughts are emptiness and emptiness is thoughts. So in this light, the problem is not thoughts per se, it's about this contracted energy of the "ego" making thoughts about itself and identifying with them?
Much to ponder here
P.S.
I found the original quote from Campbell, very inspiring:
“What is it we are questing for? It is the fulfillment of that which is potential in each of us. Questing for it is not an ego trip; it is an adventure to bring into fulfillment your gift to the world, which is yourself. There is nothing you can do that's more important than being fulfilled. You become a sign, you become a signal, transparent to transcendence; in this way you will find, live, become a realization of your own personal myth.”
― Joseph Campbell, Pathways to Bliss: Mythology and Personal Transformation
Peter's Reply:
Yes, this is capturing it. Thoughts are like the moisture in the air that we breathe. They're ever present. But attempting to breathe underwater is an entirely different experience. You wrote: "So in this light, the problem is not thoughts per se, it's about this contracted energy of the "ego" making thoughts about itself and identifying with them?" That's when the ego drowns us.
My reply:
Thanks Peter!! Big Hugs . That is a very poignant way of driving this point home by saying "...that's when the ego drowns itself".
It also occurred to me that in this nondual mist of bliss, it's not like we just become some amorphous blob of oneness, or some all-encompassing homogeneous goo...lol. Maybe there is room for Uniqueness/Individuality even in an ego-free nondual state?
Nonduality implies not only "not 2", but "not 1" also. Right? It's the big mystery of what lies beyond the death of the illusion of a separate self that never was, but still for many of us, seems to be. Maybe there is a koan to ponder on that one..."What is the sound of no ego clapping?"...
Peter's Reply:
Exactly, "Nonduality implies not only "not 2", but "not 1" also." For consciousness/awareness to imply "one" it would be identifying it against something else. Consider what takes place in deep dreamless sleep, consciousness isn't absent, but content is. Thus, no dream. (To say, "not one" would be to dream.) However, the experience is so peaceful and energizing that we often don't want to leave that state for more dreaming. Nor do we want to engage our senses to create our waking dream reality. While this is a crude example, it can't convey the brightness of consciousness being conscious of itself. We think of losing something as bad, but by losing our self we gain the whole world. (I really can't say world, but you get my drift.)
My concluding remark: Much gratitude Peter, those are very redolent words exuding the sweet perfume of Truth
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/1/6/4516117/published/328124774-966765504218868-5678817554379343274-n.jpg?1675196659)
January 29th - "Roots"
While this cannot be correctly put into words, 'enlightenment' is the recognition of what you are not. So, what is left? What is always present - knowingness, awareness, presence.
(Photo: Walking quietly in Finland)
Looking into my roots
My comment: Beautiful picture Peter and commentary. What is left indeed? It would be nice if I could 'Finnish' this illusory ego once and for all and find out . p.s.: I am 1/2 Finnish by genetics; it looks like such a beautiful, albeit cold LOL, place to visit!
Peter's Reply: Naa, cold??? No you've got to get beyond where Santa lives for that! Hahaaa. Where in Finland are your relatives from?
My response: LOL Funny...
I don't know I was adopted, but the papers said 1/2 Finnish and 1/2 English. I tried to find out more but it was a closed adoption.
Peter Responded: Katrina and I both did an ancestry chart. I used "23 and Me", I was shocked at how much information one's DNA contains. They pinpointed regions in Finland where my ancestors came from. Also, any predisposition I would have for any ailments, even my preferences etc... As for the photo; Okay, it gets cold here!
My Response: Great Picture Peter! You would make a great Santa, but you might need a pillow over your stomach to play the part. You are certainly jolly enough .
Yes, I was recommended '23 and Me' before now that you mention that. I am going order it today.
Peter Replied: I'll be curious about the results you get.
And I replied back: I will post the results when I get them back!
So the theme of today is roots, our ancestors and genetic heritage. Though perhaps this is all part of the illusion within the dream of duality, it is intriguing to me to explore this.
[2 weeks later] RESULTS:
While this cannot be correctly put into words, 'enlightenment' is the recognition of what you are not. So, what is left? What is always present - knowingness, awareness, presence.
(Photo: Walking quietly in Finland)
Looking into my roots
My comment: Beautiful picture Peter and commentary. What is left indeed? It would be nice if I could 'Finnish' this illusory ego once and for all and find out . p.s.: I am 1/2 Finnish by genetics; it looks like such a beautiful, albeit cold LOL, place to visit!
Peter's Reply: Naa, cold??? No you've got to get beyond where Santa lives for that! Hahaaa. Where in Finland are your relatives from?
My response: LOL Funny...
I don't know I was adopted, but the papers said 1/2 Finnish and 1/2 English. I tried to find out more but it was a closed adoption.
Peter Responded: Katrina and I both did an ancestry chart. I used "23 and Me", I was shocked at how much information one's DNA contains. They pinpointed regions in Finland where my ancestors came from. Also, any predisposition I would have for any ailments, even my preferences etc... As for the photo; Okay, it gets cold here!
My Response: Great Picture Peter! You would make a great Santa, but you might need a pillow over your stomach to play the part. You are certainly jolly enough .
Yes, I was recommended '23 and Me' before now that you mention that. I am going order it today.
Peter Replied: I'll be curious about the results you get.
And I replied back: I will post the results when I get them back!
So the theme of today is roots, our ancestors and genetic heritage. Though perhaps this is all part of the illusion within the dream of duality, it is intriguing to me to explore this.
[2 weeks later] RESULTS:
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/1/6/4516117/published/328320492-687580839665755-2933503510359136883-n.jpg?1675230927)
January 31 - "Nondual Wrestling in Scotland"
Question to Peter:
So question: do you think presence is a natural flow process or something positive to be attained? (Or neither or both haha. ) Perhaps the former way you simply shift away from “non presence” noise and the latter you “strive to attain or eliminate”?
Peter's Response: Presence is recognized anytime we ask, what is having this experience. If you ask is it a natural flow, then you're assuming there's a place it comes from and some where it is going. Presence is awareness being aware of itself. "Not two." It is ever-present.
My Reply to this: Great Post and comments Peter (and Bonnie and Mike).
In positive psychology, a flow state, also known as being "in the zone", is defined as "the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity".
Perhaps what this description is "missing" is the enquiry: what is having this experience? Though it seems these athletes, performers, etc that have the experience of "being in the zone" are getting a glimpse of the ever-presence nondual Awareness. Something that is paradoxically there all along. But perhaps this label "flow state" (or any label for that matter) in some ways spoils the experience from "sticking". And then techniques and practices are recommended to get back into (or attain) this flow state and the "seeker" keeps seeking. There is nothing to attain, we are already THAT. But something in me (mr Ego) keeps occluding this obvious & simple truth ?
Peter's Response to me: Again all descriptions mislead. So if we use the word "flow", imagine your experience as water. The scenery changes as images on the screen of consciousness flow by. You are both the images and the vast screen upon which the movie plays. There's nothing to say. You're simply watching, only watching, no thoughts, no cares, no words, nothing! Simply just experiencing and being the same experience that is both subject and object together. Not two!
==> The moment who is having this experience is answered, thoughts fade from view.
My Reply to Peter: Thanks Peter, I cannot hear this reminder enough, keep unpreaching the nondual ungospel...LOL.
Peter then Share's a true Story: Okay, here's a "dualistic" example, On a whim, I entered the Scottish Highlands Wrestling competition at the Highland Game. I borrowed a Kilt and when my turn came I entered the stadium. I felt as if I were home in bed having a dream. Totally relaxed as my opponent exploded toward me. I wasn't there. It was only two men fighting in a dream in slow motion. The image dressed in my kilt won the light Heavyweight Championship. And I went home with the first place award. I won because I didn't do anything.
My Response: I love it ! Thanks for sharing! That is such a beautiful and inspiring story that also makes me laugh out loud envisioning you wrestling and kicking butt in a kilt... But it is a very poignant living example of nondual action (Wei-wu-wei). Such a paradox that things get done (even better) with no one there (no self or ego there). Yeah there is 'Something' there dreaming which is called by many names, but remains forever nameless.
Peter Concludes: This made the Sunday Newspaper with a big photo splashed across it. You could see my rolled up blue jeans under the edge of the kilt. Ha, haa! I didn't know about it until that Monday morning when the vice Pres. of the Bank yelled at me, "Hey Peter, I saw you in a dress!!!"
Question to Peter:
So question: do you think presence is a natural flow process or something positive to be attained? (Or neither or both haha. ) Perhaps the former way you simply shift away from “non presence” noise and the latter you “strive to attain or eliminate”?
Peter's Response: Presence is recognized anytime we ask, what is having this experience. If you ask is it a natural flow, then you're assuming there's a place it comes from and some where it is going. Presence is awareness being aware of itself. "Not two." It is ever-present.
My Reply to this: Great Post and comments Peter (and Bonnie and Mike).
In positive psychology, a flow state, also known as being "in the zone", is defined as "the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity".
Perhaps what this description is "missing" is the enquiry: what is having this experience? Though it seems these athletes, performers, etc that have the experience of "being in the zone" are getting a glimpse of the ever-presence nondual Awareness. Something that is paradoxically there all along. But perhaps this label "flow state" (or any label for that matter) in some ways spoils the experience from "sticking". And then techniques and practices are recommended to get back into (or attain) this flow state and the "seeker" keeps seeking. There is nothing to attain, we are already THAT. But something in me (mr Ego) keeps occluding this obvious & simple truth ?
Peter's Response to me: Again all descriptions mislead. So if we use the word "flow", imagine your experience as water. The scenery changes as images on the screen of consciousness flow by. You are both the images and the vast screen upon which the movie plays. There's nothing to say. You're simply watching, only watching, no thoughts, no cares, no words, nothing! Simply just experiencing and being the same experience that is both subject and object together. Not two!
==> The moment who is having this experience is answered, thoughts fade from view.
My Reply to Peter: Thanks Peter, I cannot hear this reminder enough, keep unpreaching the nondual ungospel...LOL.
Peter then Share's a true Story: Okay, here's a "dualistic" example, On a whim, I entered the Scottish Highlands Wrestling competition at the Highland Game. I borrowed a Kilt and when my turn came I entered the stadium. I felt as if I were home in bed having a dream. Totally relaxed as my opponent exploded toward me. I wasn't there. It was only two men fighting in a dream in slow motion. The image dressed in my kilt won the light Heavyweight Championship. And I went home with the first place award. I won because I didn't do anything.
My Response: I love it ! Thanks for sharing! That is such a beautiful and inspiring story that also makes me laugh out loud envisioning you wrestling and kicking butt in a kilt... But it is a very poignant living example of nondual action (Wei-wu-wei). Such a paradox that things get done (even better) with no one there (no self or ego there). Yeah there is 'Something' there dreaming which is called by many names, but remains forever nameless.
Peter Concludes: This made the Sunday Newspaper with a big photo splashed across it. You could see my rolled up blue jeans under the edge of the kilt. Ha, haa! I didn't know about it until that Monday morning when the vice Pres. of the Bank yelled at me, "Hey Peter, I saw you in a dress!!!"
My Favorite Comments from January
When we partake on the inward facing path and enter the circle, it is helpful reviewing the previous turn before starting another that is hopefully a little lighter and transparent. Here are my favorite comments from Peter in January that will give us a good foundation for the next circle.
1) Radical Self Honesty
I try to question every thought and the honesty of expression. I ask am I saying this to call attention to myself or my accomplishments or my knowledge? Am I trying to impress you with my wisdom? Am I trying to appear special or forgive me, spiritual? That's why I say, radical self-honesty is walking the razor's edge of truth. Whatever the hell that is! Ha, haa!!!
2) Einstein Quote:
Peter's answer: Yes, an "optical delusion of his consciousness." And it is simply by the acceptance of being a separate self that the delusion becomes possible. Thus nothing that is seen is actually what a person thinks it is.
3) How we change, measures or Progress?
However, small changes in attitude seem to happen without much notice. Things that a parent, partner or work mate might say that used to irritate, prick or disturb you, now seem irrelevant. Issues seem to dissolve more easily. Why? Because the 'me' has been replaced by a witnessing presence. More and more we engage life with open hands and less with clenched fists.
"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences."
-Sosan Zenji (Seng-Ts'an)
4) The Futility of "Trying to be Right".
Any attempt to prove correctness is futile. I love Sosan's words, "To set what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind." In my more ignorant days, oh how I loved arguing with preachers. But all the most powerful rational arguments fall in deft ears. And all that ever does is leave a person frustrated or angry. It's simply a fool's errand to debate an illusion.
5) Realization is Here and Now Awareness is Here and Now.
Realization is already there. No attempt is needed to attain realization. For it is nothing external, nothing new. It is always and everywhere - here and now.
-Ramana Maharshi
6) Awareness knows Itself
It is as simple as knowing your own name. Your mind doesn't labor and search for an answer. Awareness knows itself and with that knowing all the masks drop.
Part2: And we've become so talented in pretending and role playing that we become like the actor on the stage who insists on being the play character off stage.
7) No Others when thoughts are clear
I consider my thoughts as if the translucent quality of a lampshade filtering the light of pure awareness. The more my ego colors the thought, the darker the shade of separation from others. The less the thought is about me, the thinner the shade, the brighter the light. It is there that I see no 'others'.
Thoughts are like the moisture in the air that we breathe. They're ever present. But attempting to breathe underwater is an entirely different experience. You wrote: "So in this light, the problem is not thoughts per se, it's about this contracted energy of the "ego" making thoughts about itself and identifying with them?" That's when the ego drowns us.
8) Non-duality Not 1, Not 2
"Nonduality implies not only "not 2", but "not 1" also." For consciousness/awareness to imply "one" it would be identifying it against something else. Consider what takes place in deep dreamless sleep, consciousness isn't absent, but content is. Thus, no dream. (To say, "not one" would be to dream.) However, the experience is so peaceful and energizing that we often don't want to leave that state for more dreaming. Nor do we want to engage our senses to create our waking dream reality. While this is a crude example, it can't convey the brightness of consciousness being conscious of itself. We think of losing something as bad, but by losing our self we gain the whole world. (I really can't say world, but you get my drift.)
9) Presence (not a flow state or being in the zone)
Presence is recognized anytime we ask, what is having this experience. If you ask is it a natural flow, then you're assuming there's a place it comes from and some where it is going. Presence is awareness being aware of itself. "Not two." It is ever-present.
==> Presence is recognized anytime we ask, "What is having this experience?"
10) Nondual Action (Wei-wu-wei): Wrestling in Scotland
On a whim, I entered the Scottish Highlands Wrestling competition at the Highland Game. I borrowed a Kilt and when my turn came I entered the stadium. I felt as if I were home in bed having a dream. Totally relaxed as my opponent exploded toward me. I wasn't there. It was only two men fighting in a dream in slow motion. The image dressed in my kilt won the light Heavyweight Championship. And I went home with the first place award. I won because I didn't do anything.
When we partake on the inward facing path and enter the circle, it is helpful reviewing the previous turn before starting another that is hopefully a little lighter and transparent. Here are my favorite comments from Peter in January that will give us a good foundation for the next circle.
1) Radical Self Honesty
I try to question every thought and the honesty of expression. I ask am I saying this to call attention to myself or my accomplishments or my knowledge? Am I trying to impress you with my wisdom? Am I trying to appear special or forgive me, spiritual? That's why I say, radical self-honesty is walking the razor's edge of truth. Whatever the hell that is! Ha, haa!!!
2) Einstein Quote:
Peter's answer: Yes, an "optical delusion of his consciousness." And it is simply by the acceptance of being a separate self that the delusion becomes possible. Thus nothing that is seen is actually what a person thinks it is.
3) How we change, measures or Progress?
However, small changes in attitude seem to happen without much notice. Things that a parent, partner or work mate might say that used to irritate, prick or disturb you, now seem irrelevant. Issues seem to dissolve more easily. Why? Because the 'me' has been replaced by a witnessing presence. More and more we engage life with open hands and less with clenched fists.
"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences."
-Sosan Zenji (Seng-Ts'an)
4) The Futility of "Trying to be Right".
Any attempt to prove correctness is futile. I love Sosan's words, "To set what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind." In my more ignorant days, oh how I loved arguing with preachers. But all the most powerful rational arguments fall in deft ears. And all that ever does is leave a person frustrated or angry. It's simply a fool's errand to debate an illusion.
5) Realization is Here and Now Awareness is Here and Now.
Realization is already there. No attempt is needed to attain realization. For it is nothing external, nothing new. It is always and everywhere - here and now.
-Ramana Maharshi
6) Awareness knows Itself
It is as simple as knowing your own name. Your mind doesn't labor and search for an answer. Awareness knows itself and with that knowing all the masks drop.
Part2: And we've become so talented in pretending and role playing that we become like the actor on the stage who insists on being the play character off stage.
7) No Others when thoughts are clear
I consider my thoughts as if the translucent quality of a lampshade filtering the light of pure awareness. The more my ego colors the thought, the darker the shade of separation from others. The less the thought is about me, the thinner the shade, the brighter the light. It is there that I see no 'others'.
Thoughts are like the moisture in the air that we breathe. They're ever present. But attempting to breathe underwater is an entirely different experience. You wrote: "So in this light, the problem is not thoughts per se, it's about this contracted energy of the "ego" making thoughts about itself and identifying with them?" That's when the ego drowns us.
8) Non-duality Not 1, Not 2
"Nonduality implies not only "not 2", but "not 1" also." For consciousness/awareness to imply "one" it would be identifying it against something else. Consider what takes place in deep dreamless sleep, consciousness isn't absent, but content is. Thus, no dream. (To say, "not one" would be to dream.) However, the experience is so peaceful and energizing that we often don't want to leave that state for more dreaming. Nor do we want to engage our senses to create our waking dream reality. While this is a crude example, it can't convey the brightness of consciousness being conscious of itself. We think of losing something as bad, but by losing our self we gain the whole world. (I really can't say world, but you get my drift.)
9) Presence (not a flow state or being in the zone)
Presence is recognized anytime we ask, what is having this experience. If you ask is it a natural flow, then you're assuming there's a place it comes from and some where it is going. Presence is awareness being aware of itself. "Not two." It is ever-present.
==> Presence is recognized anytime we ask, "What is having this experience?"
10) Nondual Action (Wei-wu-wei): Wrestling in Scotland
On a whim, I entered the Scottish Highlands Wrestling competition at the Highland Game. I borrowed a Kilt and when my turn came I entered the stadium. I felt as if I were home in bed having a dream. Totally relaxed as my opponent exploded toward me. I wasn't there. It was only two men fighting in a dream in slow motion. The image dressed in my kilt won the light Heavyweight Championship. And I went home with the first place award. I won because I didn't do anything.
Memorable sayings from Peters first live telephone call:
*Most of us are hungry ghosts searching for identity. Because the ego is an illusion it is indeed a ghost, unreal, a phantom of consciousness.
But this ghost is hungry with all its desires, cravings, grasping and lusting for objects, activities, feelings, knowledge, relationships, status, fortune, and yes even enlightenment.
*The sole purpose of seeking is actually to frustrate the seeker, until the seeker stops in their tracks and looks around and asks the question, Who am I? What is this gaping hole I am trying to fill?
*"Show me your original face before your parents were born."
Hopefully that is the face you see now!
Become a nobody and going nowhere
"Moonlight doesn't wet the water anymore than enlightenment wets the man."
- Paraphrasing Dogen
(The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in dewdrops on the grass, or even in one drop of water.)
*Feel what's happening inside. Notice things that pop up that have resistance. Where is this coming from? We are such conditioned creatures.
*Glorious, indescribable, unspeakable sense of freedom.
*Most of us are hungry ghosts searching for identity. Because the ego is an illusion it is indeed a ghost, unreal, a phantom of consciousness.
But this ghost is hungry with all its desires, cravings, grasping and lusting for objects, activities, feelings, knowledge, relationships, status, fortune, and yes even enlightenment.
*The sole purpose of seeking is actually to frustrate the seeker, until the seeker stops in their tracks and looks around and asks the question, Who am I? What is this gaping hole I am trying to fill?
*"Show me your original face before your parents were born."
Hopefully that is the face you see now!
Become a nobody and going nowhere
"Moonlight doesn't wet the water anymore than enlightenment wets the man."
- Paraphrasing Dogen
(The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in dewdrops on the grass, or even in one drop of water.)
*Feel what's happening inside. Notice things that pop up that have resistance. Where is this coming from? We are such conditioned creatures.
*Glorious, indescribable, unspeakable sense of freedom.