A Special Invitation

[Anonymous]

I invite all people to see a simple truth. There are no versions or flavors of finding God anymore than there are flavors or versions of God. If you can see one you can see the other. There is no “like-mindedness” in looking for God, just “God-mindedness” or the lack thereof.

Likewise there are not different ways of finding God. God is not lost, we are. There is one way- to remove what stands between you and God. There are only different ways insofar as there are different things in our way.

The Truth, or God is everywhere and everything; people cannot name it. When named by people it becomes a finite thing. When worshiped through another person, it is contaminated by their Ego. A spiritual teacher does not set out to be a teacher. When they do- they have become their Ego.

Find God not through anyone but yourself. Why would you go to your local grocery store by way of another town? It is there inside of you. If you cannot find it there, you will never find it elsewhere. Use the words of others only to unlock what you have. Beware of anyone who claims spiritual progress, for the wisest man knows he is not wise at all.

See how much searching you have done and see the truth of what has come of it. Maybe it is time to try not a different “way”, but a different “you.”

[sophia]

I do tend to overanalyze things, so feel free to ignore this question.

If God is everywhere and everything, then, would it not be logical to assume that Ego is also of God?

[razorsedgezen]

You know, it's been a few days. No one's responded. Funny.

One can have ecstasies and visions and realizations every day, but, without examining the most core belief that makes experience possible, questions like this will be confounding and even threatening.

What do you think or feel, Sophia? Would it be logical or not? And does the assumption feel right or not?

[someNOTHING!]

Hi Sophia,

The question conceals the answer, and this is an answer must be experienced as existence, not merely satisfied intellectually. The question assumes there's a division (i.e., a conflict between expectation/assumption of what one thinks one is as opposed to what One really Is). The division creates a tension. Follow this question (and/or the questions that follow!) to its very core, and you will find bliss. Please understand, there is no shortcut and intellectual understanding is just the beginning.

One can be aware of the mind since it is only a tool for use in this world.

The problem (tension) with the mind is that it can only hold what has passed, and the ego identifies with it (tension) while projecting into the future, and thought gives/perpetuates the illusion that it(you) is doing something. The mind is the very "organism" within which the ego survives. That's the other thing (not problem); the ego will be with you until your "lil' you's" sojourn in this life ceases, but the path is to eradicate it as best as possible, and usually requires a pretty amazing display! Fear not for it is exactly this that is meant by the spiritual renewal/rebirth (the ego can not see this because it can only see itself in a continuity). The process allows the Real You to emerge from the muck and see what the ego actually is; what its place is (less tension). The ego will, of course, trick you into thinking you have done so several times, or that “you know”, or that you are tired, or that you are fed up with such spiritual crap (tension)....maya is truly amazing, really.

So, the real searching happens within. Notice, You can be aware of the mind. Big hint here (You are the Witness, and It's All One), but until fully realized/experienced, it means nothing...it is only conceptually understood, however rightly. Going right to this realization is the simplest and most direct path, but is not easy. For some, that is the only true practice; being the Witness and letting what will be. In the end, that’s really all there is to do. Quite amazing and Beautiful. Consciousness.

The real You doesn't identify with the mind (no tension); only the little you, the ego, does, and maya plays on and on and on, but only with the energy you give it (around and around, chasing that tail)....(tension). Through the practice (awareness), the whole structure of the mind/ego/maya becomes more and more apparent (less tension),,,and as this process continues, everything you thought was you disappears <click>. Beyond this, you as a person doesn't seem to matter. The “individual” dissolves into the “cosmic” (like the drop in the ocean).... (no tension). Life Is what It Is, and that’s All there Is. It’s All Good.

The telltale signs are various forms of tension that arise on the path. When it gets down to the nitty gritty, when we identify with the body/mind, tensions arise. It's not practice to run from the tensions, or deny them, but to be aware of them and let them pass/go through them, understanding them for what they are. You’ll be surprised by what maya can do though. People can be surprised by what they are actually capable of, but, alas, most are often not aware of their capabilities...slippery stuff. Non-awareness is tension. Awareness is non-tension.

Gotta go!!

[Rose]

A lot of what Anonymous says is true bit I wonder if, while warning us to do our own work in finding the truth and avoid teachers and preachers and others who try to tell us what to do, Anonymous is in fact telling us what to do. Or have I misunderstood?

[Rose]

Sophia,

Good question. And I think the answer is probably yes - for those who believe in God.

I (trying not to sound like a crazy person here) believe it is more than God. But having said that, I don't think it matters what name we give it, it is there and it is within each of us.

[sophia]

Hi Chris,

I don't think there is anything that is separate from God, nothing outside It. Even evil is not outside It. Having said this, I am sure that, just as we can choose not to partake in evil, we can also choose not to partake in getting wrapped up in Ego or its many dramas.

I wonder if anyone has anything to say about this. I would like to learn more.

[sophia]

Hi someNOTHING,

In another thread, I asked LightMystic if his enlightenment is similar to apathy? Would you say that it is kind of like apathy? Not apathy as coldness, but apathy as in I'm-not-getting-so-wrapped-up-in-maya-anymore kind of attitude? Like, I'm-not-reacting-so-much-to-things-anymore?

And, awareness of the mind... is this like being aware of our thoughts as we think them, aware of our reactions as we react, as opposed to thinking and reacting without being aware?

Thank you.

[lightmystic]

I love the way you describe these things Sophia. Very beautiful. You've inspired me to add my two cents.

I feel like this also relates to the idea of apathy, which I'm sorry but I don't remember you asking or remember me posting, so either I missed it, or this could be a repeat. Apologies if it's the latter, although it's pretty on point with what you're talking about.

For me, I could have the opinions and ideas about not being involved, but it never really worked. Ultimately, the only thing that worked is examining why I was already feeling involved to realize that there was no truth to those fundamental feelings/beliefs.

This is when perceiving everything as God, and eventually perceiving everything that which is beyond everything (as personally impersonal ) came clearly, unmistakably and fundamentally - although the clarity of all levels of that unfolded over time. When that happened I had no choice. I couldn't be overly involved even if I wanted to, because I saw that it wasn't real fundamentally. I even have some old programs that behave as if they think it's separate, but I just can't put any stock in them anymore. Interestingly, I'm noticing that even those old programs and fading very very quickly, which is quite exciting.

Finally, I want to say that being uninvolved is kind of a misnomer, even though I know what you're talking about. If you are reading a enthralling story, are you involved? Very. But you ARE aware that you're reading a story and so there is this total safety that goes with it. You still want the main character, whom you're identifying with as the reader, to do well, but the awareness that it's all happening in your imagination because you're reading the story is unshakable. It's self evident.

I don't see anything as separate from God either. I see God as relative though, because he can do things, he can change, etc.. And so I connect most deeply with the source of God, which is beyond all relativity. I am That. This is just my experience and way of talking about it though, still, I enjoy to hear your experience when you look for the source of God, even though God is the source of all Creation.

Oct 24, 2008 21:00:26 GMT -5 sophia said:

Hi Chris,

I don't think there is anything that is separate from God, nothing outside It. Even evil is not outside It. Having said this, I am sure that, just as we can choose not to partake in evil, we can also choose not to partake in getting wrapped up in Ego or its many dramas.

I wonder if anyone has anything to say about this. I would like to learn more.