Shri Atmananda's teachings - 1. Universal and individual

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sri Ananda,

 

I am so glad to hear that you and your guru Atmananda are the kind of

dangerous 'radicals' who are dear to my heart. Not that you

disrespect tradition, but you realize that it is like the training

wheels one sometimes sees on children's bicycles. Modern educated

rationalistic minds can no longer tolerate this, and unless you wish

us all to become atheists, you had better let us try our hand at the

direct path, even if we do not at first succeed.

 

Indeed, it was this emphasis on direct realization which attracted me

to the Indian religions in the first place, specifically Advaita and

Buddhism and other yogic paths. Yoga in the broadest sense is

nothing but direct realization. The instruments to this goal may

vary, but the proof of the pudding is always in the eating ... right

now, in this very life, provided sincerity and commitment are

sufficiently intense.

 

The inquiring mind cannot help but ask questions such as: Does God

exist? How can I escape suffering and attain permanent happiness?

What is my true nature? Why am I here? Etc. All answers based on

an invisible God and heaven hidden away beyond the blackest reaches

of outer space will always remain unsatisfactory to those with

inquiring minds and a measure of impatience.

 

The sages of the Upanishads also posed these questions, and came up

with a brilliant solution: That which we seek is already hidden in

us, because it is us. There is nothing but Consciousness, which is

our very nature. Only this consciousness can manifest in varying

degrees of purity, depending on our mental conditioning. The

unravelling of this mental conditioning is what it is all about.

This basic goal unites Advaitins, Buddhists, Taoists, and many

others. Tradition and dogma, on the other hand, are concerned with

replacing one structure of mental conditioning with a less pernicious

structure. This will never satisfy those who can see through all

structures.

 

There is so much suffering in this world, but the great and tragic

irony is that it is all based on clinging to a finite and imperfect

view of what we truly are. Any distinction in the mind between

'self' and 'other' can only imprison consciousness and prevent it

from manifesting its infinite potential. Infinity, by its very

definition, is the lack of limits, of distinctions, of barriers. The

ego, by its very definition, is a fence. Conflict is the inevitable

outcome. I know that it is very difficult to give it up, but at

least I can benefit from understanding the problem and preparing

myself as much as possible.

 

Also, it is clear that we ARE what we THINK, that conceptual thought

powerfully affects the manifestation of consciousness. How could

this be otherwise? Thought channels the flow of consciousness as a

river bed channels the water. Our thinking is what we *believe*, and

this belief-structure pervades the recesses of our inner being and

thoroughly conditions the energy of consciousness.

 

It is because beliefs are so internal and intimate that people cling

to them so desperately. This is why religion causes so much violence

in the world, because we take offense when we feel challenged in the

core of our being, or what we take to be this core.

 

The solution is to abandon all beliefs and other contrived

psychological and emotional structures and simply allow consciousness

to shine in its own light, to reveal its true nature as pure

luminosity, as infinite being, as the only reality, without limits

and arbitrary restrictions. All paths converge on this goal, where

the naked essence of consciousness simply manifests in utter purity.

Dogma and beliefs are irrelevant in the light of reality. And it

makes sense, too! We are not talking about self-induced brain damage.

 

I would only add that at this level, the 'direct' and 'cosmological'

paths are seen to be the same. If we realize our true self as

consciousness, then we directly perceive that the entire 'universe'

is nothing but that. It is only when we make a false distinction

between subject and object, or otherwise violate the intrinsic purity

and homogeneity of consciousness, that such issues even arise in the

first place.

 

Yes, this may be nothing but fine words, but they've gotten me a bit

energized, as have yours! A kind of meditation. Another step on the

path...

 

Hari Om!

Benjamin

 

 

 

P.S. I always hated going to church and trying to say things like,

'God you're so great and I'm so miserable and worthless'. My heart

was never in it. I never believed it. I instinctively recoiled from

it. It offended my inner sense of dignity as well as my reason. Now

I know why. God, insofar as he exists, never wants us to be any kind

of slave. What an abhorrent notion, contrary to any humanistic sense

of decency! However, we must always be scrupulously honest and

realize the truth about ourselves, or we will become our own slaves!

And I wouldn't mind becoming 'nothing' if that means dissolving into

infinity, like salt in the ocean. Now that DOES make sense. Not to

be confused with slavery.

 

Also, the more benign forms of bhakti do not appeal to me either.

How can one love the 'invisible other'? Seems like sentimentality to

me.

 

I guess I just can't stop talking...