Dear Forum Member:
I recently said that my 'go-to' guys were Nis, Ramana and UG Krishnamurti, but that has been bugging me a bit... and seeing how few things bug me, I found myself lying in bed wide awake wondering what that was all about. I gave up on sleep and grabbed my computer.
Over the years I have been asked a number of times as to who to recommend as a teacher. At various times I have mentioned a modest and number of people who I felt has something to offer. On one hand, of course, they all have something to offer and what you get is dependent on what you 'think' you need and the stage that a 'teacher' is at, plus a little chemistry also helps.
I would like to be able to say I studied them all, but of course that's not possible. I have taken what I could from those who I felt had what I needed and that might assist me to move on. I have settle down somewhat in what might be called 'old age', although I certainly don't feel old in any way, and I do feel some wisdom has landed upon me over the years. My approach to teaching and students continues to morph... while the reality of Truth remains unchanged.
When asked, I am not inclined to say that this one or that one is NOT a go-to guy/gal, although I recently implied it on a post about one fellow who I have a pretty strong gut feeling about. But the thing that was getting to me tonight was UGK. Something remained unfinished.
There are undoubtedly steps to what I have called T/R. One fairly obvious one is the experience of no-self.. the realization of the fictional nature of the thought constructed thingy that one considers to be him or her... AKA, the personality. It's a very real and, in my experience and observations, requisite step. The confusion arises when one considers that experience to be T/R. Just the basic languaging when someone calls it an 'experience' is a red light to me because T/R is not an 'experience', it's a very unique form or knowingness (realization). You don't 'experience' it, you just know it at a cellular level. It arises to you as an obvious and unquestionable reality.
UGK was a charming human who spoke eloquently and convincingly. I would very much like to have met him. He was an excellent communicator and taught the steps to where he got in a lucid way, i.e., a great teacher up to that point, the point of no-self, I would not hesitate to recommend him to students. But, he stopped there and IMHO failed to push through the last boundary and thus into a full blown Truth Realization. His 'stopping' is quite evident when one listens to him. He pretty much says he found no-self and then stopped searching.
Let me back up. One might compare 'unlearning' with 'learning' in that both involves 'steps'. Steps can occur quickly or then can be so darn slow they are like my childhood attempts to learn the piano. That was frustrating for ALL parties. However, and this is an important point, 'unlearning' the personality is not the final goal, it is just a step. one step.
There is certainly much to be learned from UGK and I have no pause in recommending him... with the caveat that, as with all teachers, there is a point that one leaves them and goes out on their own... or more accurately leaves with the nothing they have received and revealed.
So, in an effort to get back to sleep I will place my recommendations in this order; start with UG, move on to Nis and then, if you feel inclined, on to Ramana. I will stick with this recommendation at least until I wake up tomorrow morning. If, at any time, you feel I might be able to unstick you, or better yet, push you off a cliff... don't hesitate to ask me. I will do my best.
Much love and stay well.
Jed....over and out.