INVISIBLE GURU FORUM
Member Forum => Member Posts => Topic started by: abrakamowse on March 24, 2016, 10:16:31 am
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Hello Jed and everyone on the forum,
Jed, don't you want to do a comic about your experiences? hehehe...
I am an illustrator and comic artist, in fact I am more a graphic designer trying to move to making comics and illustrations.
And I was all my life disappointed because I didn't follow my dreams, I thought that it was going to be difficult to live doing my illustrations so I took the "safer" way that it was becoming a graphic designer.
Is not that I don't like graphic design, It's my passion too but making comics, illustrations, etc is really a dream for me. I am working on that, and I read one of your books, in fact I am actually reading it
and I really like the honesty you have on what you think about life and what you say to others about your experiences.
I really liked a lot when you said that everyone is your master or teacher, that you learn from everyone. That's is great. I think so too.
And about my spiritual life, it was a bit convoluted. I always was curious about Zen, and Buddhist meditation, Yoga, etc. I read a lot of books as a teen.
I was having a small graphic design studio in my native country, that is Uruguay. But things were not working well, there was a big recession so I took a chance and
I moved to New Jersey and I am working in New York. I came with my wife and now we have a 9 year old daughter.
So, I was very disappointed about my country because I always thought that people there think like an small village, they don't think big. But, in fact now I realize that it was me that wasn't thinking big.
And I was here thinking only about working, and I was in my delusional thinking about getting a high paying job, etc etc... hehehehe.... and things didn't go the way I expected, it was not bad, but not as good as I expected.
And I got very depressed and I ended in the hospital in a psychotic episode. The stress at work, everything took me to that point, I like a lot the teaching of Jesus, so I went to a Church and I fried my brain hehehe...
At that point I did a full circle and I came back to the Buddhist teachings, I am meditating again and I feel much better. And really I learned two things that I needed to learn when I was at the Christian Church,
even when the cost was to go to a psychiatric hospital.
One, is that we have not free will. I didn't understand that part from the Bible, but now I think everything makes more sense. And it is not only from the Bible, I have investigated what science says about it and I found
that there were some scientific experiments that could arrive to the conclusion that there's not free will.
The second one was to make me so humble about the power of God, Nature, Universe, etc... whatever people want to call him. That this disposition opened my mind to a epiphany.
I was going to work on the subway and suddenly, I began to feel like filled with love. I loved everyone in the train, I can't explain with words what I feel.
The only thing I can say is that I thought "Oh, that's the way that God want us to love". It was something so deep and pure that I never experienced in my life.
Then I got off the train and I took another one, I take three trains to go to work hehehe... and when I was in the other train I begin to see like lights coming out from everybody.
It was like lights but the were like connecting dots between everyone, like if everyone where connected and I felt that everything I did was affecting everyone because we were all one.
I didn't think that at that moment, but now I understand that was what happened.
Then I saw my hand, and everything looked more real. My hand and arm had like these lights, like if my blood were done of light running through my arm, it was pretty crazy.
The thing I remember thinking was "that's what Jesus said that we will have rivers of living water running through us". Because that's how it looked like. Like if there was water, and
that water was so clear that it shined through my skin. And I also remember thinking "this is real life, I was dead and now I am alive". Everything looked to me more real than real life.
I saw the horizon, I was getting off the train and it was on a platform on a 2nd or 3rd floor. That's were I got off to go to work. I could see the buildings, everything from a high place.
And I looked everything and it seemed like the earth was breathing, like if it was a living thing. I saw the sky and there was like a swirl in the clouds. And I felt like that was God, or the Universe, or the Absolute, or the laws of nature, whatever people like to "label" him.
And I really felt overwhelmed, like if I was going to fall over my knees and say, Ok... I give up. You win. Hehehehe... it was pretty crazy but beautiful.
And I had some more experiences after that, one more I remember it was that when I wake up I didn't have identity. I didn't know who I was for a moment, before waking up. But I will tell about that in a future post.
Thanks again for opening this forum!
Daniel
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Dear Daniel;
Welcome to the forum, now for the **** slap. Please cut your blah blah down to 200 words or less. It's in your interest and mine. Keep in mind that you are not that important and what you have to say is only of interest to yourself.
Having said that, if you have a specific question, I may be able to assist or point.
Love ya, Jed.
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No problem Jed, I got it.
I know I am not important, is that I just tried to make it short but I didn't know how to do it. Believe that I made it short, I had more stuff but I am not going to fill the forum with that, promised.
I got your message, thanks. I know sometimes I go around the bushes.
My question will be if that kind of experiences are expected when someone is looking for enlightenment or if it was something that wasn't real, only something made by my mind.
I am a bit confused about what's the next step, I was thinking in going to a buddhist center in New York to make meditation with someone who had the experience before.
I apologize for the long post!
Daniel
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Hi Daniel:
Please express the experience you are talking about as concisely as possible. I didn't read you first post as I am simple too busy and assert come controls in the interest of assisting as many students as possible.
Thanks in advance.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks Jed again, this was my experience.
I was going to work, I was on a subway. And suddenly I was filled with love. I know it sounds corny but that was what happened. I loved everyone on the train, it was weird.
I remember me thinking "wow, that's the way God want us to love" because it was like an spontaneous love, like without reason just love.
Then I get off that train and I take another one, the love feeling was vanishing slowly. But when I was on the other train, I was almost arriving to my station and I saw my hands an my arm and I felt like more alive. I remember that I thought "I was dead, and now I am alive". It was like a reality more real than what I am perceiving now, it was everything like sharper, I don't know how to define it. I got off the train, and the platform of the station was like high, like a second or third floor. And I saw the city from the top, but I perceived like everything was breathing and everything was alive, and in the sky the clouds were like swirling in a powerful way. It gave me the sensation that it was God, but that was what I thought. The thing is that everything was alive.
Thanks Jed for reading and responding to my questions!
Much appreciated!
Daniel
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Thanks Daniel:
Your experience was just that, and experience. It's pretty difficult to grasp, but actual T/R is not an experience. It my be better described as a beingness, but that not it because no words actually describe it.
Nothing wrong with having that experience, other than the trap of trying to repeat it. Some folks spend the rest of their live trying to repeat it. Don't get caught in that. To any experience that arises (ANY!) just be grateful, say thank you, and the then ''next''.
I trust that helps a little.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thank you very much Jed, you were really helpful.
I'm trying to focus on enlightenment and I am really thankful for the experience.
Thanks for your time!
Daniel
P.S.: I am really thinking into doing a comic about enlightenment, do you mind to read something if I send you an script? It's Ok if you don't have time or you can't do it. But I just had to give it a try hehehe.... Thanks again!!!
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It never hurts to ask, but the reality is I am very busy with the forum and the Nav Series. No can do for you.
Love ya, Jed
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It's Ok, I understand. Thanks anyway.
When I have it done I'll send you a copy.
:)
Thanks again!
Daniel
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Best wishes to you...
Love ya, Jed.
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Jed, I enjoy your books.
Thanks!
Love ya too.
Daniel
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8) 8) 8)
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:P
Jed, thanks in advance for your responses. I know it takes you time and you really are awesome helping us to get a better understanding.
Today I found a video of Mooji, where he was talking about the seer being perceived. There's a witness who is seeing all that's happening.
I thought the seer was our conciousness, but now that I found that video, where Mooji is saying that the seer can be seen, I think he's right.
So there must be something more that perceives the seer or witness.
As I said, I think he's right, but I would like to know your opinion. He said that the response to that can come only from a revelation, not by reasoning or logic.
Thanks again.
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In my experience there is no seer and nothing is ever seen. However, seeing is occurring almost all the time. Subtle, but important distinction.
I agree with Mooji's last statement...that this all can only come from a revelation, not by reasoning or logic.
So, if you think your have figured it out, throw it out. That ain't ''it''.
Love ya, Jed.
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I will continue with strong determination meditation, mindful meditation and self inquiry, any suggestion Jed? I feel I am missing something.
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I feel frustrated, sad and anxious at the same time. I feel like I understand what's happening in my head, but I don't know how to go further.
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On a second thought, I understand that, that thing that feels sad is not me. It doesn't really affect me. But somehow I still call it "me" . I am still identified with the ego. That makes me more sad, but I still know my awareness / consciousness doesn't feel sad. It's like I'm in the middle of something. In fact, I'm dazed and confused.
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Your welcome... hmmm... I think....
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks Jed, I didn't say thanks.
😊
I received this email today
"Without the meditative mind and experience, the Dhamma cannot arise in the heart, because the Dhamma is not in words. The Buddha was able to verbalise his inner experience for our benefit, to give us a guideline. That means we can find a direction, but we have to do the travelling ourselves." - Ayyā Khemā
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Thanks Jed!!!! I just got why you said "you are welcome".
I understood what Mooji was trying to say, the same thing you are telling me. There's nothing there, no witness, just nothing.
Thanks again! You put the perfect words, I felt that answer like an insight.
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Cheers...
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I will send you an email Jed, I want to know more about the Nav Series.
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Talk later,
Cheers...
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Ok
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Jed, I'm just being more and more. I'm happy. Thanks, I was reading posts of you giving advice to others and you gave me some insights. Thanks.
I'll be writing you about the Nav Series tonight.
I just wanted to tell u that, no questions at the moment.
☺
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I think I have a question now Jed. How do you kill the ego without creating a new ego. Maybe better than the other, but an ego anyway. Thanks.
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Don't try to kill it, because, as you point out, that creates more. I suggest you gently, lovingly, and with patience and understanding, love the little b a s t a r d to death.
Love ya, Jed.
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Don't try to kill it, because, as you point out, that creates more. I suggest you gently, lovingly, and with patience and understanding, love the little b a s t a r d to death.
Love ya, Jed.
Thanks!!!! That was awesome, I will do that.
;D
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8) 8) 8)
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I am loving my ego. Ill be back when he leaves me. Cheers.
U Don't need to answer this Jed. TX.
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Ok, MR. Ego was lying. He can't love himself and I don't know who I am so I will just meditate.
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Sounds like a plan...
Love ya, Jed
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I found a video on youtube about the fruits of zen practice, it seems to me that the person who is talking knows about zen (but I am not an expert).
And he says that just sitting in silence, at some point enlightenment will happen.
I am feeling the uselessness of words and thoughts are making me giving up on continue trying to grasp an understanding with my mind, so I thought staying in silence seems a good option for me.
I know there's no fixed technique on this but do you think Jed that's a good option?
Thanks in advance!
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O.K., excellent.. now start at the beginning, sit.. I assume you can do that, but can you sit still, very, very still for a few hours at a time... maybe...???
Next, silence your mind while you are sitting very, very still.
Be still and be silent, and know you are God. What could be simpler?
I wish you luck, but I'm not going to bet the farm on you.
Love ya, Jed.
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I wish you luck, but I'm not going to bet the farm on you.
Love ya, Jed.
Me neither, thanks!!!!
:D
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:P :P :P
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He is happy...
:P
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But he's not sure why... and if he really is... or he's just deluded
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He is just deluded... trust me.
Love ya, Jed.
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There's no one, it's empty. The body is the trap.
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The body is like a transmitter or receptor through which we experience everything. I understand the emptiness but I still can't accept no self. I believe that I accept the idea of no self but is a lie.
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Now I think I'm Conciousness but that's false.
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I'm lost
>:(
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I think I need a break of thinking and trying, I'm very confused. I just wanna be what is. But no idea how.
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Thinking and trying won't work. You've done those all your life. No wonder you are confused.
Love ya, Jed.
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I'm going to just observe my thoughts and meditate. Thanks Jed.
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Sounds great, now go and do it.
Love ya, Jed.
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☺
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Jed, I am on my way to work. And I was just observing my thoughts, and really I was having not many thoughts. I was just appreciating the moment, enjoying the now. Suddenly I thought about work, and what I will have to do today and out of nowhere this thought appears "stop feeding the beast"
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::) ::) ::)
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Lol
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I know that if I meditate, just meditate at some point enlightenment will happen. But it's like the ego is constantly trying to make "something" or achieve something.
Anyway my thoughts are much more slow, so I am not paying attention to my ego. A lot of feelings inside me, but I am not identified with them anymore, at least for now.
Just a comment, no need to answer Jed.
And thanks for this forum. Really helpful, I hope to do the Nav Series asap.
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No comment. You are doing fine, just stick with it.
Love ya, Jed.
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Jed, I went to a Zen Meditation Center yesterday. I was impressed. We did zazen. Now I bow to everything. It's like bowing to life, an attitude. I found this on the Web.
" Another ancient worthy said,
“This Matter cannot be sought with mind and cannot be attained without mind; it can’t be told with words and it can’t be conveyed with silence.”
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Yup....
Love ya, Jed.
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I continue changing all the time Jed. What it was true today it is false tomorrow (to my ego-identity). And there's no today and tomorrow, just now. So, everything is in constant change in the now.
I am beginning to understand about what you told me about loving my ego, and that's what I am beginning to do.
I found a video from Teal Swan about how to listen to your inner voice. (I know she's one of those which said that we are changing the law of attraction, but I am careful with some of the stuff she says.)
I think that video about the inner voice seems Ok.
:-)
Then I was working on loving my ego, trying to understand why it works the way it works and try to integrate it with my true self, that I don't know how it is but I am trying to understand it too.
Finally I was meditating on a question that Mooji says that It Will Kill all other Questions. An Answer that will kill all other questions.
And the question is if that which is observing can also be observed. I am meditating about it and trying to get a response from my higher self, or inner being, or just being.
Let me know if I am doing some mess with self realization.
Thanks and love you back!
:-)
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Dear A;
There are some pretty sophisticated and effective contemplations in the Series, but they take some time to be taught and learned. I see nothing wrong with the direction you are on. Just stick with.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks Jed!!!
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I understand there's no ego and no "we", it's just I.
I needed that, thanks again Jed.
:-)
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I am noticing more "synchronicity" in a lot of things.
Just wishful thinking, is it possible that a certain point you can see everything synchronized? Like a clockwork?
:-)
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There is no more synchronicity before or after, however your awareness will see more, but it's not to be given any attention. Find out who you are and everything will fall into place.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks again Jed.
You keep me in focus.
;D
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I want self-realization happening by itself.
Who is the "I" who wants something? There's none there. Why the concept is still there?
I need to ignore the thoughts and go further.
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Ok, that was silly. Back to sitting still in silence. I feel better now. 😛 "Feeling better" is being perceived.
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Is it possible that our thoughts at some point, when our personality wants enlightenment could point a little bit to where we have to go?
Or it doesn't make sense?
I am trying just to feel my core being and being the more aware I can, living in the now and trying to forget all dogmas, and unlearn everything I can.
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I found some of your articles online at Ezine articles, I like how you write.
;)
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Jed, I feel changes constantly. Every second that passes I feel different. I am having a more sense of the I AM. Today I saw my personality as a kid. First time I don't associate myself with its tantrums.
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I haven't written any ezine articles... someone else might have. Perhaps condensation of the books. IDK and IDC (I don't care.)
Love ya, Jed.
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People do crazy stuff. Ok.
😛
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Change in perspective, step back about everything. Do nothing. Keep quiet.
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I am beginning to notice that something observes the thought "I am"
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I am observing everything as sensations, and not concepts or labels. Let's see what happens.
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Excellent observation, just be with it.
Don't expect anything in particular.
Lovey ya, Jed.
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Ok, Jed.
When I was waking up today, I had a sensation I never had.
I felt like reality was merging with me. I can't explain it with words.
I tried to be in that state or feeling, but thoughts began to analyze and the sensation began to fade. I see that, so I let the thoughts go, and the sensation came back again.
I had my eyes closed, and I saw inside my eyelids like brilliant lights of different colors, and very bright. Just a comment, you don't need to answer it.
Thanks again.
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Thanks, I won't...
Love ya, Jed.
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😊
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Just my ego, looking for having some "result"
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Jed, reading thread of others is helping me a lot to understand myself. And I really appreciate what you are doing. And I consider you my guru, I'd you are OK with that.
☺
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I am reading Damnedest Thing right now, at the bus going to work and letting things be the way they are. Trying not to get in the middle of how I suppose it should be.
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We are life itself, but I'm not sure if the way I'm saying it is correct.
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I'm beginning to grasp the concept.
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How do we drop the sense of "I" without creating another belief?
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I was reading other posts, and I found one where you say to other member to come back after reading the book.
I will do the same.
;D
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Cheers... now further.
Love ya, Jed.
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Ok Jed, I am trying to go further. After seeing that the thought "I" can be observed. Now, I am noticing that there's thoughts thinking about other thoughts.
I'm arriving to the conclusion that the thoughts that I get more attached to them give me the idea of "me". But in fact is just thoughts. Like a conversation made up of thoughts.
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Very good Abra, keep on doing what you are doing and don't stop for anything except a large truck.
Love ya.
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Thanks Jed, you are really helpful. Your books are amazing.
I just realized that human beings are very simple. Everything is about thoughts. That's how we fall in love with our wife, girlfriend, etc.
We just begin to think about her, and we can help but think. And then, we call that love.
Lol
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I'm also seeing how selfish I am.
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So do I ... ;D ;D ;D
Love ya, Jed.
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Lol
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Meditating tonight, I began to look for myself and see if I can localize it anywhere and I don't see nothing.
I see just, thoughts, sensations, sounds, and the mind that it try to make sense of it and creates the false ego.
There's nothing there...
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A void?
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Yes, but today in the morning, the mind went into attack mode. I feel I can't stop thinking.
Now I am observing my mind trying to go crazy.
I still see the illusion.
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I can notice there's sadness now. But I don't feel it's me who feels it. It is there. Somehow.
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Who is it?
Cheers...
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It's just a sensation there, it's gone now. I feel peace now. But still there's identification.
I'm going to keep more quiet. And silent.
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There's moments I feel identification, but I feel like a breakthrough. I need to keep going further.
Thanks Jed!!!
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The mind is like trying to appropriate the feeling, but somehow I can see it from "outside". Like not feeling so involved.
☺
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That was the mind. It's not me. I'll be quiet.
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Did you read "the art of being" by Erich Fromm?
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Why do you ask???
Love ya, Jed.
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I have an application for reading digital books and audio books with my library card. I was looking for an audio book of mindfulness and this book appeared in my recommendations. The title attracts me, The Art of Being. And it's talking about how virtues are tried to be acquired. I think that's what I need to drop next. My idea of "helping others" or convincing them enlightenment is good.
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Spiritual enlightenment can be something more to have, like a mundane possession.
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Like having a house, a car or a beautiful girl.
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If that's what you want, but it has nothing to do with genuine T/R.
Love ya, Jed.
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Maybe I have the wrong idea of enlightenment. Everybody says that once it happens "you will know"
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You will know... trust me.
Love ya, Jed.
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Ok Jed
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So, I think I understood at an intellectual level about No-self. I'm stuck.
Wait, that's a thought. Ok. I'll continue being quiet.
I have to forget everything I know.
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Forget everything you THINK you know.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks Jed, there's no one who knows. Not knower or perceiver.
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Bingo... yet, there is knowing and perceiving. There just is no you doing it. That's the key, you ain't required for it to happen.
Love ya, Jed.
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Bingo... yet, there is knowing and perceiving. There just is no you doing it. That's the key, you ain't required for it to happen.
Love ya, Jed.
My mind is playing the game of "the seeker"... Being quiet and not getting identified with thoughts can be the key to make it happen by itself?
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If I see Jesus, I'll kill him
;D
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Just find a humane way.
Cheers.
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😊
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Does this make sense? "We are a manifestation of what is not."
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Sense or not doesn't matter. What is YOUR experience.
Don't look out, look in. Looking at thoughts is looking out.
Love ya, Jed.
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You are right Jed
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There's frustration, because I can't see what is. Even when I know there's no self.
The frustration doesn’t affect "me", there's a separation but I can notice it.
But I'm still blind to reality. That frustration is not letting me see, my experience tells me there's no I.
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I'm not sure if the problem is "frustration". I'm looking inside me, but I can't find nothing. Anyway I can't see reality as is.
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Just dwell in that nothingness.
Love ya, Jed.
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Cool Jed, thanks. I'll do that. Love you back. 😊
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Question, I don't feel I am the experience neither the experiencer.
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There's just experience, but I'm none of that.
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But I don't feel also that I AM THAT
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I know I don't exist, but the I AM is not the phenomena that makes the body work. What's the I AM?
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Note: I didn't have idea what I was going to ask, the question appeared as I was typing. 😛
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I was crazy. Forget it.
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Consider it forgotten.
Love ya, Jed.
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I thought I was asking something "deep" that even "me" couldn't understand. Crazy how the ego works.
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;) ;) ;) ::) ::) ::)
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Lol!!!
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I've seen there's no one there. I've seen it. I can't believe it, but because there's no one to believe it.
Thanks Jed!!! You were key to help me see, not just believe, I saw it. Or better said, no one saw it. There was seeing.
That's so great, and a relief... thanks!
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Great.. you did it, not me.
Love ya, Jed.
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Great.. you did it, not me.
Love ya, Jed.
Jed, I am back.
Still working after that initial seeing. What I saw was that I am really doing nothing, I noticed how is not me who moves my hands, do the thinking, move my legs to walk, I am not the one who talks, really who I think I am know nothing. That can't be "unseen".
I am having glimpses of my true self, I am learning more to understand what comes from that higher self and what comes from the non-existent ego self. But I still didn't see the void.
Some friends on the path told me that 5meo can shock our ego, and that shock can help for awakening to happen, what do you think about that? For the first time I am thinking in trying something like that, but I am not sure.
Blessings!
Mowse
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Drugs cause more problems than they cure... the only problem you have is you still think there is a you. Do the work, not the drugs.
Love ya, Jed
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Thanks Jed. You are right.
I am listening to an audio book of Ramana Maharshi, "Who am I".
I will keep doing self inquiry.
Blessings!
moWse
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How can we contemplate the sense of "I am" and not some thoughts about it?
Thanks Jed,
moWse
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Focus on the feeling/sense of I am, doing best to avoid thoughts.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks Jed, I will work on that.
;D
Blessings,
moWse
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I'm watching Rays of the absolute. The documentary about Nisargadatta Maharaj. Very enlightening. He says the state of being was created when we were born. There's more after beingness ?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
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Go find out for yourself.
Love ya, Jed.
P.S. My bad... stay with your self and find out for yourself.
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I know Jed...
anxiety is just a thought.
:P
No more question...
(for now)
;D
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Ok... I began to do what you just tell me Jed. Contemplating the I thought and I discovered something that I heard about... but I didn't quite understood before.
I am aware, that I am aware.
That's awareness aware of itself. And it is there, so simple... I will stay in that "space" all the time.
thanks!
:-)
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Yes, very simple and almost startling when realized. How can your be aware that you are aware? Make up a story, anyone will do.
Have a look for yourself. Are you aware that you are aware?
Love ya, Jed.
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I realized Jed, that I don't know anything.
The only thing for sure is that I AM... that I exist. But I can't say anything else about whatever happens around me. Or whatever is perceived.
The story about how I am aware that I am aware is simple. I was watching on youtube a guy that is also a follower of Nissagardatta and I liked the way he explain things.
He recorded a chat with some people in a kind of "satsang" and the person asked about how could he be aware of awareness.
He asked the guy to watch him and tell him if he was aware that they were chatting. The guy said Yes, I am aware.
Then he said "Are you aware that you are aware?" And the guy said yes.
Then he said that this knowledge is always there at our disposition.
So when I was going to work I began to observe my surroundings, so I was being aware. Just a mindfulness practice, trying to be focus on everything that it was happening in my experience.
And then noticing that something is aware that awareness is happening. I don't know how to explain but I will try. This is what I think.
I still feel identified with my ego. So when I am aware, that is a thought. I can't really know if I am aware. But there's something in the background that is not a thought, I would call it a presence (as Eckhart Tolle calls it). Is like something that knows that awareness is happening, but is silent. No thoughts just a perception.
There's no thoughts in that space, but the ego comes and goes and my little I am feels like it's learning to walk. It's a learning of a new way of "seeing" with awareness.
Am I doing it right Jed?
:P
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I was thinking more about your question and when I said "So when I am aware, that is a thought."
I think it's not a thought, it's like someone/something is aware and at the same time awareness sees that someone/something is being aware.
Hard to explain with words, right?
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I found an exercise on the web, based on Ramana and Nissagardatta teachings.
And it says:
"Try an experiment:
Just look at an object in the room.
Notice the awareness that is looking through your eyes.
Now shut your eyes and notice that you are still aware.
It is the same awareness that was a moment ago looking at the room.
Now, with your eyes still closed, observe your awareness."
There's awareness of the object... and awareness of the fact that something is aware of that object.
I know there's no I who watch the object, but for now it's what I will do. Is that what Niss and Ram talk about Jed?
Thanks!
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Hi Jed,
I feel much more peaceful and more accepting of things as they are. I am becoming more aware of a lot of traps I had. Like common thoughts that I never questioned before, now I am seeing patterns that are creating the idea of a "me" or a separated "self" who suffers.
I am still doing the things I normally do, I didn't quit my job or anything crazy but I am seeing more and more the stories we play in life and how everyone believes in them and get involved as if they were real. It's amazing.
But I know now that there's much more work "to do". I am trying the whole day to be aware of everything without paying attention to my thoughts or my ego judging and labeling everything.
At this moment I realize that there's like a feeling or thought trying to ask you if I am doing it right. And immediately there's another thought saying that everything is perfect the way it is and there's nothing to ask Jed about how things are unfolding.
Not sure if that is good or bad hehehe...
Thanks Jed for this forum!
Love ya!
:-)
Mowse
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;) ;) ;)
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Hi Jed, I am back.
I like the read the post of others and what you say to them, it helps me a lot. Thanks for that.
I really don't fell I got anything to ask, because everything it is said or thought is not the real thing. Maybe it can help, but right now I am just trying to leave logic to one side.
The mind is always trying to look for explanations, making logic from disconnected stuff... it doesn't know anything.
I am meditating, reading a book that it is said Ramana recommended reading "The Lamp of Non Dual Knowledge, and it's really good.
I also have the bhagavad gita to read after that.
I am not looking for logic anymore, I am just waiting without any expectation, but my ego is like excited thinking "I want to become enlightened"... stupid ego, he can't get enlightened. Because there's no "I" to be enlightened.
And enlightenment is not something he can get. But, I let it have fun while I observe how he plays.
Thanks again Jed!
Now I want to go further!!!!
:-)
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Pretend you are in a butterfly farm. You want the butterflies to land on you, what do you do?
Tell me.... in 50 words or less.
Love ya, Jed.
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Just stay in the middle of the farm (or where there are more butterflies) and stay completely quiet.
:)
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So, stay in the middle of this apparent world and remain completely still.... mentally that is.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks Jed, I will work on that.
😊
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Let me know how it goes.
Love ya, Jed.
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I will Jed, thanks again.
😊
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Let me know how it goes.
Love ya, Jed.
Ok Jed, I was trying to stay totally quiet in the middle of the farm and it's crazy difficult. But I am still trying. The first time I could not do it. My mind was wandering, I got anxious of being so quiet. I feel like I went backwards, because some time ago I used to do zazen two hours straight, and now I couldn't be sitting 15 minutes. Not good... I need to work on that.
I remember once when I told you that I could see that we are not the doers. I felt that I was walking without walking, etc...
So I told you that "I" saw "that".
And you asked me "what did you see? the void?" (or something like that).
And I really didn't see a void, or the world falling down into pieces as you say in your book.
I realized that all those experiences happen in awareness, and if "I" am looking for an experience to know that there's enlightenment, that's a trap.
I know that I am enlightened but without any experience, because enlightenment doesn't happen to "me".
I am not looking for any experience at the moment, but I will continue meditating. I just wanted to share it with you because I like the way you "teach" what is not "teachable"...
And like UG krishnamurti said, I know I am just a dog barking.
:-)
Thanks Jed for your patiente reading all our "stories".
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Thank you for sharing. I read you every word.
Best wishes on your journey.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks again!
;)
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Smiles all around... :o :o :o
Love ya, Jed.
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Jed...
I still have questions.
I realized that there's not a me who looks for enlightenment, I tried to stop wishing enlightenment to become enlightened. But I am still wishing not to wish Lol...
Buddha explained that very clearly when he said desires are the root of all the human "problem". So, if "I" stop having desires "I" will find my true self.
But how do you stop desiring not to desire?
I am back to meditating, I really am in a point where I don't know anything. I just do whatever I feel it's correct.
I think what you suggested about stopping all thoughts can help "me".
I am also practicing concentration on my breath, focusing only in my breath with no thoughts and sometimes with zazen.
I consider zazen being sitting in meditation, doing nothing just being aware and seeing what arises without reaction of my part.
Thanks!
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Excellent question: But how do you stop desiring not to desire?
Simple answer: You are pretending everything else, why not pretend to stop desiring without desiring to stop. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Love ya, Jed.
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Excellent question: But how do you stop desiring not to desire?
Simple answer: You are pretending everything else, why not pretend to stop desiring without desiring to stop. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Love ya, Jed.
Nice... hehehehe.... I will continue doing the work.
:-)
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Excellent.....
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Awareness IS
and thoughts appear and create reality... it's all ideas.
I think I was born, but there's not real experience of that. It's a thought.
Working on self inquiry.
I need to go deeper making my mind still. And not trying to get or gain anything at all...
I have to lose my life, lose everything, lose the world created by the stories in my head.
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Excellent...now go do it.
Love ya, Jed.
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(https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/500x/58606836/lets-do-it.jpg)
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Why do we want to be accepted by others, loved, cared, etc. If there's really not "others"?
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Ok. I think I know now. I was reading your Rants Jed, and that's Maya.
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Ok, I have my question now. We are supposed to be the observers, just being aware can make T/R arise. The "Iamness" never disappears. It has become not focused on this body, this mind, this little idea of a self. Right?
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Nis explained the I am quite lucidly, but you really have to know how to interpret what he is saying.
His approach, which is quite effective IMHO, is to continuously contemplate the I am, that sense that you are. NOW, listen closely because here is the trick. That one thing that everybody thinks is the end-all and be-all, the only thing you can know... is that you are, or, I am. It is obviously foundational.. and all a lie. You aren't. ::) ::) ::) To think you are was a necessary rule of the human dream game. :P :P :P YOU are not anything at all.
Now, go back and track your sense of I am to its beginning and prove me wrong.... I double-dog-dare ya.
Cheers and happy hunting.
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I can not prove you're wrong, Lol ...
Ok, this is something I was contemplating. (It's even fun to say that because there is no "I" to contemplate). But, to continue with the "game", some time ago I was in a facebook group (they threw me out of it) where the administrator always said that I am awareness, and that that was fundamental or basic, the only thing I know.
But they did not dare to go further. They said that there always had to be an experience, there had to be a me that was aware of that, otherwise how will I know?.
Saying anything beyond that was religious hogwash, it was a belief, bla bla bla...
Then I told them that they were doing awareness dependant on experience.
If there was no experience there was no awareness ... that was ridiculous. So they told me that everything was really concepts. In reality experience and awareness were concepts and that everything was one. I told them that with that criterion, a tree is awareness, a chair is also awareness ... (which is true too) hehehe ... so they got angry when I said that, because I was not seeing "their point". Everything is the same, so we are experience. Lol...
Sorry for the long story, but I wanted to explain how I was arriving to the conclusion that you just said, that we are really nothing, and now you are confirming that I was not so crazy.
In deep sleep, I know I AM but because there's no experience of anything, no time, no nothing, there's nothing for the "I" to remember, there's just a knowing... that nothing is there.
It can not be explained in words, because it transcends concepts and "nothing" is also a concept. So, thanks JED, it's like I take a weight off my shoulders.
We are nothing, cool ... that's a paradox, right?
Thanks Jed.
P.S.: Sorry again if I did a long post.
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Excellent work, no avoid all that F/B crap.
Love ya, Jed.
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Excellent work, no avoid all that F/B crap.
Love ya, Jed.
Thanks Jed. I will avoid FB as if it is the devil. Lol.
Another thing that you helped me to notice is when you said that Nis said that we have to abide in the I AM. And then we will know that even that is false.
Now finally I understand more deeply what Jesus meant when he said "I am the way".
The I AM takes you there, but that's only the way to reach the absolute which is beyond everything.
Love you too,
Daniel
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Excellent...
8) 8) 8) 8)
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Omg...
the truth it is so deep hiding in Jesus messages.
He said... "and you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32
He said you will know... he didn't say "you will believe in the truth"
It is a knowing that make us "see" the truth... contrary to what the Church says that you have to "believe"...
Layers and layers of what we are not have to be teared down to finally know the truth.
:)
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Belief, faith, all that good stuff ... is only an affirmation that you don't KNOW. Someone that knows doesn't require belief or faith or even hope. They just know. Anyone seeking to reinforce their beliefs by bringing in new believers is like a blind man trying to guide another blind man across a busy freeway. Sometimes reality bites.
Love ya, Jed.
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True Jed.
The I AM is the way. Until you lose your life, so you can have true life.
:-)
But, there's not a person in that new life.
Thanks Jed!!!
Love you back
Dan
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Cheers mate....
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Cheers mate....
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Jed,
I was doing (not really doing, but you know right? :-) I was contemplating where the feeling of "being-ness" comes from. So, I began to focus on the I am. Where is it the idea that I AM or that something exists.
And when I do that, I notice like I disappear. In the sense that there's no I thought. And I feel like the sense of being is all around everything. Not focused on my body, or in a point or place.
It made me recall when Nisargadatta said that the I AM pervades everything.
But the I AM is not the truth, or at least not the whole truth. You were saying that the I AM is the way. So, I am the way, as Jesus said.
The idea of I AM creates the illusion, but beyond the I AM is the absolute.
When you realize that is when you are enlightened? Because sometimes they say that knowing "who you are" is enlightenment, but if the I AM or that which makes you "be" or points to what "you really are" is really only part of what is (The absolute) What is there to know or be conscious of? If the Absolute transcends even the I AM or consciousness. Even awareness?
What really is, isn't. Or si both at the same time.
One silly thing that I wanted to tell you is that since I began to contemplate more and trust more in that sense of I AM or awareness I remember my passwords (not all of them but more than what I used to).
When I am going to sign in on a website (I design websites so I have lots of passwords to remember) without thinking the passwords appears in my mind. And normally I doubt if that's really the password (because I don't really remember or I am not sure) but I trust in that and I write it anyway.. and voila! It works...
Weird. I don't know if just my mind playing games with me. (Even knowing I don't exist).
:-)
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Stick with it, you are on a good track.
Love ya, Jed.
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Stick with it, you are on a good track.
Love ya, Jed.
Thank you Jed!
Love ya!
:-)
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8) 8) 8)
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Life is hitting me hard, but every time I think about problems I think "who is the one that is having problems?"
Right now, I'm not sure about anything and I'm exploring the world as if I were a kid.
Maybe that's the famous born again thing.
I don't know. Lol
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No one is having anything, however, some flimsy appears seem to insist that it know what is a problem and what isn't.
Love ya, Jed.
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No one is having anything, however, some flimsy appears seem to insist that it know what is a problem and what isn't.
Love ya, Jed.
The guy who complicates everything, lol... he is unreal and the problems he says he knows are unreal too...
crazy, right?
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Darn that flimsy guy....
Cheers.
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Hi Deborah:
Thank you for your suggestion, however there are some simple forum rules. I ask that you start your own thread and keep you focus on your experiences, yours only. No posting on another members posts and not suggest of the kind you made. Granted, it might be valuable, but if I don't maintain some control the forum will devolve and eventually start looking like (heaven forbid) Facebook. I trust you understand and thanks for you post, even though I removed it, I know you had good intentions.
Love ya, Jed.
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Jed...
Weird things are happening. I am loosing my judgments on everything and my emotions are like non existent. It doesn't mean that I don't feel anything. I wanted to say I am not attached to feelings, but that sounds like the ego trying to be "spiritual"....
I doubt about everything, but I don't know what is right or wrong. I am talking about right or wrong to see the ultimate reality, not about doing harm or being hateful or stuff like that.
I don't know what to do, so I am doing nothing really. Only I continue watching my character do whatever he does. Going to work, doing my habitual stuff, drawing comics, etc...
Also I noticed changes of mood, like a not so strong "dark night of the soul" in the sense that there are days I fell super depressed, but I still see it from the pov of the witness, so it really doesn't affect me much. But I notice the sadness or depressed state. Then the next day is gone, I feel "normal' again.
Any advice?
Thanks! Love!
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Sheesh, you always complicating things. What am I going to do with you.... oh, yeh, there is not you. So all is well.
love ya, Jed.
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I am not awareness.
I am the absolute.
Awareness happens in the absolute. It's dependent on the absolute. So, it can not be the ultimate truth, and I am the ultimate truth.
:-)
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Correctomundo (as the Fonz would say). Awareness is like a marker along the trail to Truth.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks Jed.
:)
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Cheers...now further...
Love ya, Jed
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Nis said "The Supreme gives existence to the mind. The mind gives existence to the body"
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Really there's not "I". But everything seems to continue as before. The only difference is there's not so much pain or suffering.
Unless mind becomes confused again thinking that is this character that is hitting the keyboard and sending posts to this forum.
I am you... and you are me.
And we are everything. And nothing at the same time...
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Yup.... welcome home.
Love ya, Jed.
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Thanks Jed!
Love you back!
:)
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Jed, how are you doing.
I wanted to mention something, it's been a long time since my last post. I realized that I had or was very close to an "ego death" but I didn't know it until now. I though it was a panic attack or a bad nightmare but now I realize I was in the door of my own death as a person.
The only problem was that I was so scared (because I didn't know anything about that the moment it happened to me, I wasn't ready) that I jumped from my bed yelling like crazy, as if I was going nuts. Because I was losing all my identity.
Now I feel prepared but it's not happening and the only thing happening now is confusion, sadness, then happiness come back and then sadness, anger... all types of emotions. I don't pay attention to them. I just let them do their thing.
I also feel like disconnected from the world, from the consumerism, from TV programs, anything is interesting anymore to me, only to become awakened. Sometimes the ego wants to cry, but I feel he is just acting.
Trying to make me feel like "I want to cry" but there's no I. The though program or software want's to cry to continue creating the idea of a me.
I feel stronger now, but not sure what to do next. I want just to go a solitary place and sit in silence all the time.
I just wanted to share this with you, peace.
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Perhaps the 'bad nightmare' is that you think you are human...
Love ya, Jed
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Perhaps the 'bad nightmare' is that you think you are human...
Love ya, Jed
Something is changing, lately I just want to be in silence. And I feel more focused, I need to let that nightmare go...
:P
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Perhaps it is simple than that, you need to realize there never was a nightmare and never was a you who could hold on to anything.
Love ya, Jed.