David - The Fall (Elizabeth)

[Guest guest]

Hi David,

 

As consciousness, welcome aboard the spaceship USS " Mind " as it

travels through Maya (the illusion). Given the grace of vision in

this illusion, we're flying towards eternity with the wings of

desire. As to your questions, I believe that the most of them will

disappear in time. To borrow a line from the movie Malena I saw last

night, " Yes, I've done it...I've imagined it many times. "

 

What abour our beloved Maharaj? You'll find that Nisargadatta

Maharaj's classroom is beyond the kindergarden spirituality level.

That's perhaps one of the reasons why Nisargadatta attracts students

at the graduate level. It may not be just our luck then that we have

some of those students on this list. But of course, Advaita is not

the type of esoteric teaching that the secret is told after twenty

years of chopping wood. Everyone is welcome. You're in. In fact,

we're told, we've always been knocking the club's door from inside.

Oh sure, they tell us after we pay the dues!

 

Hur

 

" ...this pain is not for those who come as lovers. " -Rumi

 

Nisargadatta, truthseeker@c... wrote:

> I've been popping in and out of this group for about a month now

> reading the posts but never posting myself. What seems very unique

> about this group is that they so often refrain from writing

personal

> notes and more often than not just quote one of the great teachers.

> That to me shows great humility and also that real practice is

> happening.

>

> My name is David and I will break this tradition simply because the

> Maharaj's teachings are not the only reason I come to this group. I

> also come for social interaction around his teachings. Why don't we

> spend some time talking about the trials in our own lives of

trying

> to live what Ramana Maharshi or Nisargadatta speak about? About a

> year ago I came upon these great sages: first Ramana then

> Nisargadatta. I instantly recognized their teachings as the vehicle

I

> had been searching for to find the truth of myself. They were

direct,

> they did not preach seperation from the world, they integrated

their

> practice with life, and they stayed away from quoting holy books

and

> becoming lost in traditions and rituals. I especially identified

with

> Nisargadatta. When I read him it is as though every word is

precious.

> I have tried to underline the key passages, but it seems that I

could

> underline the entire book (I Am That). Much of what resonates with

me

> about him is his cutting to the point and at the same time his

gentle

> and loving urging of us. I'm sure the fact that he lived so

recently

> also helps in his communication with me.

>

> I've become pretty good at coming back to the " I am " throughout the

> day. It has greatly helped my meditation periods too. They have a

> stillness that was never there before. Also, I actually hunger for

my

> meditation sessions which is definitely new. Of course the

spiritual

> life goes in cycles. Recently my mind has become very caught up in

> career plans. It is so interested in its thoughts that it doesn't

> want to rest in the " I am. " That is why the Maharaj's words about

the

> fall: " accepting experiences as the truth, it gets more and more

> involved... " resonated with me so much. The pleasure in thinking

and

> weaving a world of experiences is so great with me that I am

> sometimes reluctant to step beyond it. I think this is one of my

> greatest challenges. It has become very clear to me why

Nisargadatta

> speaks so often of earnestness and of not taking on new ventures.

The

> spiritual work is so easily thrown off by the mind's interests and

> preoccupations. But is also flourishes so easily when there is

> earnestness and focus.

>

> What are your (all) experiences with this and how do you resolve

this

> issue?

>

> David