[SriArunachala] Pseudo Advaita: an critical article

[Guest guest]

Gabriele,

 

Thank you for forwarding this important piece of writing. I too agree that it

is necessary to have a deepening understanding between theoretical and practical

advaita and awakening.

 

I was reminded of a passage from Madhukar Thompson's "Teachings en route to

Freedom", where he interviews Lakshmana Swami, and asks whether the

enlightenment that Poonjaji apparently conferred upon him was genuine or not...

 

--

 

 

Madhukar: Often, while he was speaking to me, Papaji would somehow initiate an

energy phenomenon. In the initial phase of such an event, an energy wave of

heat and light would originate from the bottom of my spine and travel upward

through my body. Then my third eye would vibrate and white light would emanate

from it in spiral-shaped circles. When this happened I would not be able to

think any more. Actually, at these times "I" did not exist any more and neither

did he. Then I would hear his voice, though as if from far away. However,

there seemed to be no one who spoke and no one who heard....

At some point during these impersonal experiences, an enormous wave of bliss and

heat would flood my body and fill it with the feeling of love and gratitude. I

would hear Papaji say, "This is it!, you got it! You did your work." But after

some moments or minutes, after the bliss had subsided, thoughts would arise

again in the form of doubts. My question is: How could this be enlightenment

if doubts arise again? Are there different kinds of Enlightenment? If so what

kind of enlightenment is or was "my" enlightenment? Could you please comment?

 

By the end of my long and descriptive question, Lakshmana Swami and Sarada were

laughing, apparently about what I had just told them. They seemed to joke with

each other, speaking in Tamil. Unfortunately , I couldn't understand what they

were saying. Eventually, they stopped laughing and commenting, and Laskshmana

Swami spoke. The following is my recollection of his words.

 

Lakshmana Swami: There are not different kinds of enlightenment. What happened

to you was not enlightenment. Poonjaji was fooling you. (laughter)

When the mind is quiet, the "I" thought may experience a little of the bliss

that is emanating from the Self. But you will not experience pure beingness

until the "I" thought has completely subsided into the Heart. Your imagination

is making you think that a peaceful or blissful experience of the "I" thought is

an experience of the I-Am or the Self. This belief has arisen because of

ignorance and not because you have experienced the real "I" as it really is.

 

 

from Teachings En Route to Freedom, by Madhukar Thompson page 139-140.

 

 

 

--

 

 

-

Gabriele Ebert

SriArunachala ; RamanaMaharshi ;

 

Wednesday, March 06, 2002 3:34 AM

[sriArunachala] Pseudo Advaita: an critical article

 

 

Dear All,

I have found this very critical article about advaita teachers at the advaita

list. One of the members has forwarded it not knowing who is the writer.

I also forward it here because I find many said in this article illustrates

the present "inflation" of advaita teachers very well - one always wonders

wherefrom they arise so suddenly. One need not agree with all said in the

article (not every statement in the article may be correct) but I think it is

worthy to be read as it becomes more and more important to have a close and

critical look whom you trust and accept as a real teacher and not to believe

that with the first glimpses of awakening everything is already done. For

awakening one has to give everything (the ego must vanish) and it is mostly a

hard struggle. It is no cheep path, it is no quick path (only in very rare

cases) - nevertheless it is at the same time all grace and bliss.

In Sri Ramana

Gabriele

 

What I for example don't agree with is the statement that Sri Ramana sat in

the cave for 20 years before he could be complete. That is nonsense. The

awakening of Sri Ramana was final from the beginning. There was nothing left to

be completed. But he was a very rare exception.

 

>>We would like to express our concern regarding the recent phenomenon of

'satsang-culture' which in our opinion has impoverished seriously the

Orignial Spirit of Advaita. These days many individuals, who have very

little or no knowledge at all about the Process of Awakening, feel qualified

to give satsang and lead other souls on the Path.

Enlightenment has become very cheep these days. Nobody actually really knows

what is the meaning of this term as it virtually means everything and

nothing. Nowadays, it is sufficient to say 'I am awakened' in order to give

satsang.

Because of the unverifiable nature of Enlightenment, this term has been much

manipulated. Satsang has been Americanised. In an average satsang-gathering

everybody is laughing, showing signs of euphoric and unauthentic joy, while

the teacher tries to look like

he or she is in a bliss. Just like a TV show. Very few actually meditate.

Why to meditate if we are already all awakened?

But Is this really Advaita? Is Advaita a poor repetition of a several

slogans like 'There is nobody there,' 'You are That,' You are already

awakened' or 'There is no Path', etc.? Has this anything to do with teaching

of great masters like N. Maharaj or R. Maharishi?

 

Ramana sat in caves for 20 years before he could be really complete. In his

presence disciples had to meditate for months and years before they could

receive from him the glimpse of the Self.

It is true that New Millennium is a time of global awakening. But this

awakening is mostly partial and relative to the level of most people's

unconsciousness. It was Jesus who said that there would be a time when many

false teachers will teach in the name of Light. It seems to be happening

now. Many of these teachers are not necessarily 'bad people' but simply

unqualified and lost, in truth. They have believed too quickly in the

thought 'I am now ready to teach!'

 

It seems that the pauperisation of satsang culture began after the death of

Poonjaji. Many of his followers started to claim that Poonjaji approved

their awakening.' It seems that they just took him too literally. It is an

Advaita custom to say 'you are already awakened.' This is however more a

teaching device than a reflection of reality. And even if some of his

disciples had a glimpse of awakening, Poonjaji knew very well that in most

cases neither it was permanent nor the final state.

An example was Andrew Cohen who was sent to give satsang in the west. He was

meant to represent Poonjaji and attract more westerners to Lucknow. But he

and others thought that Poonjaji actually conformed his Enlightenment. For

that reason, Cohen became very hurt when Poonjaji started to criticize him

when he began to act as a master. From this wound came later the magazine

'What is Enlightenment?' which more represents Cohen's own insecurity and an

unsuccessful attempt to heal himself than a genuine search for clarity. By

the endless investigation into states of all possible masters, and not being

able

to come to any true conclusion, he has been just confusing his students. The

only thing which at the end remains clear from his seemingly 'sincere'

efforts to find clarity is that nobody has the least idea 'What

Enlightenment Is!'

It is not our intention to suggest that nobody reaches

Enlightenment. We just wish to make it clear that Complete Enlightenment and

Understanding of its nature is still an extremely rare phenomenon on the

planet earth, which a plane of low evolution. And equally important, we wish

to emphasize that a

partial or pre-mature experience of awakening does not qualify one at all to

take a role of a Self-realised being.

Enlightenment is not as cheep. Many seekers seem to be unaware of a very

simple fact that there are actually many levels of Self-realisation. There

is an enormous difference between initial awakening and the actual State of

Enlightenment. But who cares?

 

Most seekers would not bother to study these matters, for in their case

there is really 'nobody there' - just a collective seeker's mind.

And most teachers would refuse to enquire into the true nature of

Enlightenment because they already have a hidden doubt and deep fear

concerning the validity of their own attainment.

We would like to suggest not to rush too fast with announcing oneself

'awakened,' and to rush even less with the idea of giving satsang. In Zen

tradition one had to wait 10 to 20 years after Enlightenment before one

could guide others. These days we hear about individuals who give satsang

the next day after their

uncertain awakening!

 

We would like to clarify, for the sake of general knowledge, that there are

actually several levels of expansion beyond the mind.

There are three basic types of Inner Expansion:

1) Awakening to Pure Awareness (the State of Presence behind the mind).

2) Awakening to the Absolute State (unity with the unmanifested).

3) Awakening of the Heart (expansion into the Divine).

> In each of these levels there are three stages: Shift into a state,

Stabilisation and Integration. For instance, many satsang-teachers do not

experience the same state outside of teaching. This is because they are not

established permanently in the state they

have attained. For that reason, they can have a deep state during satasng,

but when they leave the satsang-room, they return back to ordinary

consciousness. In such a case only conscious

cultivation of the particular state can allow one to establish it

permanently. However, if one does not believe in actual process of

awakening, how can one consciously cultivate anything? One does not even

know that one is in a State. Here we see the importance of correct

understanding. If one just follows in a dogmatic and unimaginative way the

Advaita idea that 'I am already That,' how can one cultivate anything?

We recommend to all students and teachers of Advaita to be more critical.

Follow Advaita, if you wish but know that Reality is simply much more rich

than any linear philosophy, with Advaita included.

The Practical Advaita and the Theoretical Advaita are very different. In the

Theoretical Advaita, the Self is the only reality, there is no Path and we

are all already awakened. But Practical Advaita knows that there is a long

way to go before the truth of these statements can become our living truth.

We would like also to create a few practical anti-pseudo-advaita statements:

'You are not awakened unless you awaken!' 'You are not That, unless you

reach unity with Universal I AM!' 'There is no Path but only for those who

Completed it!' 'There is nobody here, but only when somebody has dissolved!

Until that time you are simply a suffering somebody who only tries to

believe in being no one or entertains oneself by giving 'satsang.'

We have request to all those who experience any type of awakening:

PLEASE, THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO GIVESATSANG and HONESTLY

COMTEMPLATE WHAT ARE YOUR TRUE MOTIVES BEHIND THE DESIRE TO TEACH.

Perhaps giving Satsang is not really necessary?

 

Blessings to Seekers of Truth and Clarity who have the courage to renounce

the False.

 

 

Sponsor

 

 

 

 

To read the Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and other Sages of

Advaita click:

http://home.talkcity.com/GaiaWay/Infinite_Freedom

 

For more information about the Sri Arunachala egroup click:

http://home.talkcity.com/GaiaWay/Infinite_Freedom/ARUNACHALA.html

 

At the Sri Arunachala group we are focussed only on Sri Arunachala and Sri

Ramana Maharshi,

therefore we do not discuss the other many thousands of Spiritual Paths and

Teachings.

 

For those who would like to discuss other

Spiritual Paths and Teachings, in the context of Sri Ramana Maharshi, the best

place to do this is the Ramana Maharshi egroup. To to the

Ramana Maharshi egroup click:

RamanaMaharshi

then look upper left and click .

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Gabriele,

Thank you for forwarding this important piece of writing. I too agree

that it is necessary to have a deepening understanding between

theoretical and practical advaita and awakening.

I was reminded of a passage from Madhukar Thompson's "Teachings en

route to Freedom", where he interviews Lakshmana Swami, and asks

whether the enlightenment that Poonjaji apparently conferred upon him

was genuine or not...

Madhukar: Often, while he was speaking to me, Papaji would somehow

initiate an energy phenomenon. In the initial phase of such an

event, an energy wave of heat and light would originate from the

bottom of my spine and travel upward through my body. Then my third

eye would vibrate and white light would emanate from it in

spiral-shaped circles. When this happened I would not be able to

think any more. Actually, at these times "I" did not exist any more

and neither did he. Then I would hear his voice, though as if from

far away. However, there seemed to be no one who spoke and no one

who heard....

At some point during these impersonal experiences, an enormous wave of

bliss and heat would flood my body and fill it with the feeling of

love and gratitude. I would hear Papaji say, "This is it!, you got

it! You did your work." But after some moments or minutes, after

the bliss had subsided, thoughts would arise again in the form of

doubts. My question is: How could this be enlightenment if doubts

arise again? Are there different kinds of Enlightenment? If so what

kind of enlightenment is or was "my" enlightenment? Could you please

comment?

By the end of my long and descriptive question, Lakshmana Swami and

Sarada were laughing, apparently about what I had just told them.

They seemed to joke with each other, speaking in Tamil.

Unfortunately , I couldn't understand what they were saying.

Eventually, they stopped laughing and commenting, and Laskshmana

Swami spoke. The following is my recollection of his words.

Lakshmana Swami: There are not different kinds of enlightenment.

What happened to you was not enlightenment. Poonjaji was fooling

you. (laughter)

When the mind is quiet, the "I" thought may experience a little of the

bliss that is emanating from the Self. But you will not experience

pure beingness until the "I" thought has completely subsided into the

Heart. Your imagination is making you think that a peaceful or

blissful experience of the "I" thought is an experience of the I-Am

or the Self. This belief has arisen because of ignorance and not

because you have experienced the real "I" as it really is.

from Teachings En Route to Freedom, by Madhukar Thompson page 139-140.

-

Gabriele Ebert

SriArunachala ; RamanaMaharshi ;

Wednesday, March 06, 2002 3:34 AM

[sriArunachala] Pseudo Advaita: an critical article

Dear All,

I have found this very critical article about advaita teachers at the

advaita list. One of the members has forwarded it not knowing who is

the writer.

I also forward it here because I find many said in this article

illustrates the present "inflation" of advaita teachers very well -

one always wonders wherefrom they arise so suddenly. One need not

agree with all said in the article (not every statement in the

article may be correct) but I think it is worthy to be read as it

becomes more and more important to have a close and critical look

whom you trust and accept as a real teacher and not to believe that

with the first glimpses of awakening everything is already done. For

awakening one has to give everything (the ego must vanish) and it is

mostly a hard struggle. It is no cheep path, it is no quick path

(only in very rare cases) - nevertheless it is at the same time all

grace and bliss.

In Sri Ramana

Gabriele

What I for example don't agree with is the statement that Sri Ramana

sat in the cave for 20 years before he could be complete. That is

nonsense. The awakening of Sri Ramana was final from the beginning.

There was nothing left to be completed. But he was a very rare

exception.

>>We would like to express our concern regarding the recent phenomenon

of'satsang-culture' which in our opinion has impoverished seriously

theOrignial Spirit of Advaita. These days many individuals, who have

verylittle or no knowledge at all about the Process of Awakening,

feel qualifiedto give satsang and lead other souls on the

Path.Enlightenment has become very cheep these days. Nobody actually

really knowswhat is the meaning of this term as it virtually means

everything andnothing. Nowadays, it is sufficient to say 'I am

awakened' in order to givesatsang.Because of the unverifiable nature

of Enlightenment, this term has been muchmanipulated. Satsang has

been Americanised. In an average satsang-gatheringeverybody is

laughing, showing signs of euphoric and unauthentic joy, whilethe

teacher tries to look likehe or she is in a bliss. Just like a TV

show. Very few actually meditate.Why to meditate if we are already

all awakened?But Is this really Advaita? Is Advaita a poor repetition

of a severalslogans like 'There is nobody there,' 'You are That,' You

are alreadyawakened' or 'There is no Path', etc.? Has this anything

to do with teachingof great masters like N. Maharaj or R.

Maharishi?Ramana sat in caves for 20 years before he could be really

complete. In hispresence disciples had to meditate for months and

years before they couldreceive from him the glimpse of the Self.It is

true that New Millennium is a time of global awakening. But

thisawakening is mostly partial and relative to the level of most

people'sunconsciousness. It was Jesus who said that there would be a

time when manyfalse teachers will teach in the name of Light. It

seems to be happeningnow. Many of these teachers are not necessarily

'bad people' but simplyunqualified and lost, in truth. They have

believed too quickly in thethought 'I am now ready to teach!'It seems

that the pauperisation of satsang culture began after the death

ofPoonjaji. Many of his followers started to claim that Poonjaji

approvedtheir awakening.' It seems that they just took him too

literally. It is anAdvaita custom to say 'you are already awakened.'

This is however more ateaching device than a reflection of reality.

And even if some of hisdisciples had a glimpse of awakening, Poonjaji

knew very well that in mostcases neither it was permanent nor the

final state.An example was Andrew Cohen who was sent to give satsang

in the west. He wasmeant to represent Poonjaji and attract more

westerners to Lucknow. But heand others thought that Poonjaji

actually conformed his Enlightenment. Forthat reason, Cohen became

very hurt when Poonjaji started to criticize himwhen he began to act

as a master. From this wound came later the magazine'What is

Enlightenment?' which more represents Cohen's own insecurity and

anunsuccessful attempt to heal himself than a genuine search for

clarity. Bythe endless investigation into states of all possible

masters, and not beingableto come to any true conclusion, he has been

just confusing his students. Theonly thing which at the end remains

clear from his seemingly 'sincere'efforts to find clarity is that

nobody has the least idea 'WhatEnlightenment Is!'It is not our

intention to suggest that nobody reachesEnlightenment. We just wish

to make it clear that Complete Enlightenment andUnderstanding of its

nature is still an extremely rare phenomenon on theplanet earth,

which a plane of low evolution. And equally important, we wishto

emphasize that apartial or pre-mature experience of awakening does

not qualify one at all totake a role of a Self-realised

being.Enlightenment is not as cheep. Many seekers seem to be unaware

of a verysimple fact that there are actually many levels of

Self-realisation. Thereis an enormous difference between initial

awakening and the actual State ofEnlightenment. But who cares?Most

seekers would not bother to study these matters, for in their

casethere is really 'nobody there' - just a collective seeker's

mind.And most teachers would refuse to enquire into the true nature

ofEnlightenment because they already have a hidden doubt and deep

fearconcerning the validity of their own attainment.We would like to

suggest not to rush too fast with announcing oneself'awakened,' and

to rush even less with the idea of giving satsang. In Zentradition

one had to wait 10 to 20 years after Enlightenment before onecould

guide others. These days we hear about individuals who give

satsangthe next day after theiruncertain awakening!We would like to

clarify, for the sake of general knowledge, that there areactually

several levels of expansion beyond the mind.There are three basic

types of Inner Expansion:1) Awakening to Pure Awareness (the State of

Presence behind the mind).2) Awakening to the Absolute State (unity

with the unmanifested).3) Awakening of the Heart (expansion into the

Divine).> In each of these levels there are three stages: Shift into

a state,Stabilisation and Integration. For instance, many

satsang-teachers do notexperience the same state outside of teaching.

This is because they are notestablished permanently in the state

theyhave attained. For that reason, they can have a deep state during

satasng,but when they leave the satsang-room, they return back to

ordinaryconsciousness. In such a case only consciouscultivation of

the particular state can allow one to establish itpermanently.

However, if one does not believe in actual process ofawakening, how

can one consciously cultivate anything? One does not evenknow that

one is in a State. Here we see the importance of

correctunderstanding. If one just follows in a dogmatic and

unimaginative way theAdvaita idea that 'I am already That,' how can

one cultivate anything?We recommend to all students and teachers of

Advaita to be more critical.Follow Advaita, if you wish but know that

Reality is simply much more richthan any linear philosophy, with

Advaita included.The Practical Advaita and the Theoretical Advaita

are very different. In theTheoretical Advaita, the Self is the only

reality, there is no Path and weare all already awakened. But

Practical Advaita knows that there is a longway to go before the

truth of these statements can become our living truth.We would like

also to create a few practical anti-pseudo-advaita statements:'You

are not awakened unless you awaken!' 'You are not That, unless

youreach unity with Universal I AM!' 'There is no Path but only for

those whoCompleted it!' 'There is nobody here, but only when somebody

has dissolved!Until that time you are simply a suffering somebody who

only tries tobelieve in being no one or entertains oneself by giving

'satsang.'We have request to all those who experience any type of

awakening:PLEASE, THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO GIVESATSANG and

HONESTLYCOMTEMPLATE WHAT ARE YOUR TRUE MOTIVES BEHIND THE DESIRE TO

TEACH.Perhaps giving Satsang is not really necessary?Blessings to

Seekers of Truth and Clarity who have the courage to renouncethe

False. To read the Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and

other Sages of Advaita

click:http://home.talkcity.com/GaiaWay/Infinite_FreedomFor more

information about the Sri Arunachala egroup

click:http://home.talkcity.com/GaiaWay/Infinite_Freedom/ARUNACHALA.htmlAt

the Sri Arunachala group we are focussed only on Sri Arunachala and

Sri Ramana Maharshi,therefore we do not discuss the other many

thousands of Spiritual Paths and Teachings.For those who would like

to discuss other Spiritual Paths and Teachings, in the context of Sri

Ramana Maharshi, the best place to do this is the Ramana Maharshi

egroup. To to the Ramana Maharshi egroup

click:RamanaMaharshithen look upper left

and click . Your use of is subject to the

 

[Guest guest]

In my simplicity I used to think that Self-realization was complete

removal of ignorance but now believe that such is not all ways the

case and that there are levels of this state. I agree that one has to

use discrimination in who one follows but I certainly dont believe

that it is practical or relevant to this time to spend years in a

cave meditating.

Realising that I might be in error, I would sugest that there is a

major diference between Satsang and Darshan.

I feel that teaching of the Oneness is valid by anyone who has had experiences of I am That.

Babaji the Mavatar (deathless saint) got so frustrated with his

followers that before he left this last incarnation he asked if there

was anyone who understood his message and if so please teach the

others.

I feel that there is only danger in the perception of danger. The

quote false prophets could relate to doom and gloom merchants who

claim to see only the end of the human race. You can be a prophet

with out being a spiritual teacher.

However I personally do have a little problem with self-realized

"masters" teaching people to teach the methods of self-realization

for money. Almost like a franchaise situation. I accept that everyone

has to make a living but I am just not comfortable with it.

I have snipped the entire message I am commenting on which may not be helpfull.

With love chris

[Guest guest]

could you please list info on the other two groups that you send to:

SRIARUNACHA and RAMANAMAHARSHI, how do i get into these groups????

thanks you, aruji

-

AnneChris

; R ; RamanaMaharshi

Cc: MillionPaths

Tuesday, March 12, 2002 3:13 PM

Re: Re: [sriArunachala] Pseudo Advaita: an critical article

In my simplicity I used to think that Self-realization was complete

removal of ignorance but now believe that such is not all ways the

case and that there are levels of this state. I agree that one has to

use discrimination in who one follows but I certainly dont believe

that it is practical or relevant to this time to spend years in a

cave meditating.

Realising that I might be in error, I would sugest that there is a

major diference between Satsang and Darshan.

I feel that teaching of the Oneness is valid by anyone who has had experiences of I am That.

Babaji the Mavatar (deathless saint) got so frustrated with his

followers that before he left this last incarnation he asked if there

was anyone who understood his message and if so please teach the

others.

I feel that there is only danger in the perception of danger. The

quote false prophets could relate to doom and gloom merchants who

claim to see only the end of the human race. You can be a prophet

with out being a spiritual teacher.

However I personally do have a little problem with self-realized

"masters" teaching people to teach the methods of self-realization

for money. Almost like a franchaise situation. I accept that everyone

has to make a living but I am just not comfortable with it.

I have snipped the entire message I am commenting on which may not be helpfull.

With love chris

/join

All paths go

somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions,

and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back

into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of

Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It

is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the

Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of

Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self.

Welcome all to a.Your use of is subject

to the

[Guest guest]

Dear John,

thank you for this story. To be satisfied with a certain kind of blissful

experience may stop the search believing too quickly realization has happened.

Stopping half way and not be aware of it - this is perhaps one of the main

obstacles on the spiritual path.

-

Kalpa

SriArunachala ; RamanaMaharshi ; Harsha

Satsangha

Cc: MillionPaths

Tuesday, March 12, 2002 3:07 AM

Re: [sriArunachala] Pseudo Advaita: an critical article

 

 

Gabriele,

 

Thank you for forwarding this important piece of writing. I too agree that it

is necessary to have a deepening understanding between theoretical and practical

advaita and awakening.

 

I was reminded of a passage from Madhukar Thompson's "Teachings en route to

Freedom", where he interviews Lakshmana Swami, and asks whether the

enlightenment that Poonjaji apparently conferred upon him was genuine or not...

 

 

 

 

Madhukar: Often, while he was speaking to me, Papaji would somehow initiate

an energy phenomenon. In the initial phase of such an event, an energy wave of

heat and light would originate from the bottom of my spine and travel upward

through my body. Then my third eye would vibrate and white light would emanate

from it in spiral-shaped circles. When this happened I would not be able to

think any more. Actually, at these times "I" did not exist any more and neither

did he. Then I would hear his voice, though as if from far away. However,

there seemed to be no one who spoke and no one who heard....

At some point during these impersonal experiences, an enormous wave of bliss

and heat would flood my body and fill it with the feeling of love and gratitude.

I would hear Papaji say, "This is it!, you got it! You did your work." But

after some moments or minutes, after the bliss had subsided, thoughts would

arise again in the form of doubts. My question is: How could this be

enlightenment if doubts arise again? Are there different kinds of

Enlightenment? If so what kind of enlightenment is or was "my" enlightenment?

Could you please comment?

 

By the end of my long and descriptive question, Lakshmana Swami and Sarada

were laughing, apparently about what I had just told them. They seemed to joke

with each other, speaking in Tamil. Unfortunately , I couldn't understand what

they were saying. Eventually, they stopped laughing and commenting, and

Laskshmana Swami spoke. The following is my recollection of his words.

 

Lakshmana Swami: There are not different kinds of enlightenment. What

happened to you was not enlightenment. Poonjaji was fooling you. (laughter)

When the mind is quiet, the "I" thought may experience a little of the bliss

that is emanating from the Self. But you will not experience pure beingness

until the "I" thought has completely subsided into the Heart. Your imagination

is making you think that a peaceful or blissful experience of the "I" thought is

an experience of the I-Am or the Self. This belief has arisen because of

ignorance and not because you have experienced the real "I" as it really is.

 

 

from Teachings En Route to Freedom, by Madhukar Thompson page 139-140.