New user saying hi

[roscod]

Hello Shawn and everybody else.   

Nice to be here. I'm looking forward to chatting and meeting some new people

[roscod]

...and a little more info. I live in Perth, Western Australia, and I am in my early 60s. I have been interested in various spiritual things most of my life. My upbringing and childhood was basically non-religious. A bit of Sunday school was about it, but I was intrigued by spiritual things from an early age.

I was involved in an anthroposophical community (Rudolf Steiner stuff) for a number of years in my early 20s, but my real spiritual path began after being introduced to the teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj in 2013, while travelling in India. I met an Englishman living near Mudumalai Tiger park in Tamil Nadu who set me on my journey I Would love to meet him again some day, and say thank you). Since then I have been reading and re-reading I Am That, trying to understand the work on more than an intellectual level. I feel I have made some progress, but I am certainly not a self-realised individual at this point in time.

My other favourite teachers are Ramana Maharshi, D. T. Suzuki and Thich Nhat Hahn, though I feel, for me, the best thing to do is stay with the teachings of Sri Nisargadatta. Everything I need is there. Listening to, or reading other people say the same thing in different ways isn't going to add any further clarity. I just need to do the work.

Having said that, I sometimes wonder if finding a teacher, or a community would help me. I haven't found either yet, so I shall continue on my way> perhaps this community will be a starting point for further engagement with other like-minded people.

My other hobbies are playing music (double bass, mandolin and guitar), growing vegies and gardening in general, and trying to stay healthy.

Thanks everybody

[laughter]

Sept 5, 2024 8:41:49 GMT -5 roscod said:

...and a little more info. I live in Perth, Western Australia, and I am in my early 60s. I have been interested in various spiritual things most of my life. My upbringing and childhood was basically non-religious. A bit of Sunday school was about it, but I was intrigued by spiritual things from an early age.

I was involved in an anthroposophical community (Rudolf Steiner stuff) for a number of years in my early 20s, but my real spiritual path began after being introduced to the teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj in 2013, while travelling in India. I met an Englishman living near Mudumalai Tiger park in Tamil Nadu who set me on my journey I Would love to meet him again some day, and say thank you). Since then I have been reading and re-reading I Am That, trying to understand the work on more than an intellectual level. I feel I have made some progress, but I am certainly not a self-realised individual at this point in time.

My other favourite teachers are Ramana Maharshi, D. T. Suzuki and Thich Nhat Hahn, though I feel, for me, the best thing to do is stay with the teachings of Sri Nisargadatta. Everything I need is there. Listening to, or reading other people say the same thing in different ways isn't going to add any further clarity. I just need to do the work.

Having said that, I sometimes wonder if finding a teacher, or a community would help me. I haven't found either yet, so I shall continue on my way> perhaps this community will be a starting point for further engagement with other like-minded people.

My other hobbies are playing music (double bass, mandolin and guitar), growing vegies and gardening in general, and trying to stay healthy.

Thanks everybody

Welcome to the forum . Nisargadatta is widely read by the membership here. Sometimes (if you can believe it) even .. debated! Do you have a favorite memorable quote? I'd be glad to tell you the story of why I started reading him, but only if you're interested.

[roscod]

Hi Laughter.

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure there are debates! It can take a while to wrap my head around some of the things he says, and I've noticed as my understanding of things has deepened my interpretations of his words has altered.

Just recently I was re-reading some of his Q an A sessions and the quote "Wisdom is knowing you are nothing; love is knowing you are everything" really resonated with me.

I'd love to hear your story.

[laughter]

Sept 6, 2024 5:10:40 GMT -5 roscod said:

Hi Laughter.

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure there are debates! It can take a while to wrap my head around some of the things he says, and I've noticed as my understanding of things has deepened my interpretations of his words has altered.

Just recently I was re-reading some of his Q an A sessions and the quote "Wisdom is knowing you are nothing; love is knowing you are everything" really resonated with me.

I'd love to hear your story.

Ah yes, Chapter 57. It took me years to really fully appreciate this as well. The phrase you quote is a real attention getter, as is the creative negation that follows. I think it strikes a particular universal chord. How he describes love can be provocative for some folks. Another thing that eventually caught my attention about the dialog as a whole was just how cranky the dude who asked the question was.

A dear forum friend of mine, one whom I had some passionate debates with over the years (andrew), once commented along the lines of "I AM", "that's an interesting belief". Had to buy the book to prove him wrong!

You're not the first active member here from Perth. Wishing you well on however you are approaching the adventure sir.

[andrew]

Hi, welcome!

I don't know if a local connection would be of any interest to you, but I mentioned to a friend in Perth that someone with an interest in Niz (and non-duality) had showed up on the forum, and she asked to share her facebook page with you, if you are on that website. She's into non-duality, and has spent time with Sailor Bob (who is in Melbourne I believe?).

Hope the forum is interesting for you, it can be a great little space to explore stuff.

Best wishes,
Andrew

FB page: www.facebook.com/coachjulianorris

[roscod]

Thanks Andrew,

I am interested in meeting like minded people who live nearby, and i am on FB, so I shall say hi.

Yes, Sailor Bob is in Melbourne. I've joined a couple of his on-line chats and he seems like a nice guy, but his teaching is a little bit by rote. Mind you, he is well into his 90s now, so he was probably more dynamic in his earlier days.


Apparently he spent time with Niz back in the mid-70s. I am uncertain if he is a self-realised entity. I tend to agree with Shawn's assessment in the ratings but hats off to him. He has been promoting ND in Australia for a long time now.

[tenka]

Welcome to the Madhouse

[roscod]

Sept 8, 2024 2:56:43 GMT -5 tenka said:

Welcome to the Madhouse

Having dived a bit deeper into the discussion boards, i reckon you might be right 

[tenka]

Sept 9, 2024 9:05:37 GMT -5 roscod said:

Sept 8, 2024 2:56:43 GMT -5 tenka said:

Welcome to the Madhouse

Having dived a bit deeper into the discussion boards, i reckon you might be right 

Have you got a hard hat?