Arjuna - 1

[Guest guest]

I read Arjuna Nick Ardagh's new book, How About Now? Satsang

with Arjuna. He's in the lineage of Ramana and Papaji, but

he speaks for himself. You don't get the feeling Arjuna's

trying to be someone else or to speak as though he were

those guys.

 

A lot of people are familiar with Arjuna's first book,

Relaxing Into Clear Seeing. I hear it recommended all the

time. How About Now? is another book that will push people

to the next level.

 

Here's an excerpt or two that I really like:

 

" In the 1960's, when (spiritual) teachers first arrived,

there was no way for us to have direct realization. It was

next to impossible. You could listen to the right words and

repeat them verbatim, but it was not possible until a few

years ago to sit firmly in the realization that 'I am

awareness, infinite and eternal.' Such realizations were not

happening for ordinary Westerners, or at most very

fleetingly. The consciousness began to shift in our culture

in this decade, in the 1990's. Now, if we seek out teachings

of awakening, they are mostly being shared by ordinary

Westerners -- people just like you and me. There are very

few Indian teachers left. These days, spiritual teachers of

note ... are all Western people. There is a new generation

now, and it is all up to us. The good news is that if this

shift from the identification with form to being

formlessness itself can happen to an ordinary Western person

with children, a bank balance and the rest of it, it can

happen to you, too. There is really no reason left for

anyone to be a seeker. "

 

----------

 

Question: Is it merely a coincidence that Awakening and the

coming demise of seeking, parallel the growth of the

Internet? It's a side question that some of us may care to

ponder. Clearly the Internet plays a role. Without the

Internet, it might be asked, would Awakenings spread so

quickly and broadly?

 

Here's some more from How About Now?:

 

--------------

 

" You could come up with the most extreme reason why you

think that you can't have this awakening right now: 'Well, I

get irritated with my kids.' So do I. 'Well, I get anxious

about my financial situation.' So do I. 'Well, when I

haven't had enough sleep, I get grouchy.' So do I.

 

" None of this is as it seems to the mind. It has nothing to

do with changing anything at all. There is nothing wrong

with trying to improve things...(but)...The personality can

be fairly neurotic and still this realization is absolutely

available to you.... There is a way that whatever is

happening in your life, including the worst, can become an

invitation to go even deeper into wakefulness. Suffering is

probably the best way to reach depths of understanding.

Suffering cuts attachment. This is profoundly good news.

This is the time right now...when there can be widespread

awakening. "

----------------------

 

TWO OM's UP!!

 

I'll quote more from the book later. Andrew Macnab and I,

topping off a five hour 'lunch' replete with good food,

cigars, and wine (but no women, the massage parlor was

closed [laughter]) watched an Arjuna Satsang video. It was

good stuff. We liked it because Arjuna is a straight-shooter

and he made sense to us. He cuts right to the bone, while

being gentle and humorous. We give the video, entitled

Beyond Flinching, Two OM's Up.

 

Here's Arjuna's website:

 

http://www.livingessence.com

 

Jerry

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