Fwd: Questions from a newcomer

[Guest guest]

advaitin , " V. Krishnamurthy " <profvk>

wrote:

Namaste.

In the following my comments and questions are enclosed in [VK ...].

 

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

advaitin , marshalt@a... wrote:

>>

> Hello,

>

> I joined this list a few weeks ago and have been reading messages.

I have found them very interesting.

> I joined because I have some questions regarding Hindu teachings,

related to the nature of consciousness and the process of

enlightenment, or awakening. I am a stay at home mother to two

children and I live in the Metro DC area. I am a practicing

Christian but love the teachings of all religions. When I

was in my early 20s and started having spiritual experiences,

 

[VK: Of what kind were these spiritual experiences?]

 

 

> I read Hindu

> teachings. They nourished me and helped me greatly on my path.

>

> I am now reading a book called " Vasistha's Yoga " and it is helping

me as well.

> But I have been having intense spiritual experiences lately

 

[VK: Again, what are these spiritual experiences?]

 

>and I began looking for a place to have some questions answered.

Perhaps someone on this list would be so kind as to take some time

and help me. I am afraid I am not familiar enough with your

terminology to use it comfortably so I will use my own words

>

> 1. Is fear a necessary part of the process of becoming truly free?

I have experienced a great deal of fear, and dread, when confronted

with spiritual realizations. For example, in processing the idea

that " I " am nothing, an illusion, I dealt with a great deal of

>fear and pain in doing so.

 

[VK: This 'fear' is because you were jumping the line. There are

prerequisites before one goes to the stage of practice of " I am

nothing " ]

 

I feel I have

> completed a cycle and have a new awareness and peace now, and do

not feel that heavy dreadful feeling. But it was very diffulcult

for a while. So my question is: Is fear a part of the process? Is

that awful dread a necessary part, since a part of the ego is

>dying?

 

[VK: Fear need not be a part of the process. But in order that the

fear does not confront us, one has to have the trust in God. Jesus

tells us: 'Except ye be born again, ye cannot enter the Kingdom of

God'. This rebirth, this birth in spirit is the death of the ego.

Die the death of the ego and be reborn spiritually. This is the

teaching. But in order to implement the teaching, trust in God,

indeed a one hundred percent. faith is a necessary prerequisite.

Then He will Himself help us towards the death of our ego.]

 

> 2. My second question is related. I have been experiencing that

everything is one. That I am all of life, my children, the trees,

etc. But to fully realize this and experience this all the time,

and live as in a dream while fully awake, as I read in the

>scriptures, I experience a deep loneliness.

 

[VK: If you have been experiencing that everything is one, then

where is the loneliness? Loneliness comes only when there is another

thing away from you. When nothing is away from you, there should not

be any loneliness. Your feeling is again due to the fact that you

are taking it as an exercise in self-hypnosis. It is not. As I said

earlier, first we should develop trust in God. And for a Christian

such as you, that should be easy. Now Hindu Vedanta says, see that

God in everything that confronts you. When you see your own God in

everything, then you will develop a sense of love towards

everything -- which is exactly what Jesus taught.]

 

> Where in the Hindu teachings is this spoken of or explained? I

would like to know how others deal with this, how they experienced

it, and how it resolves itself. I feel that to fully realize I am

one with the universe, I have to experience this most horrible

>reality that I am all there is.

 

[VK: In order that it may not be a horrible reality, one has to

first practise seeing one's own God in everything. Instead of

forcing yourself to feel that I am one with the universe, first be

comfortable with the thought, vision and practice of " Everything is

God " . The step towards advaita has to be taken AFTER one is

comfortable with " sarvam khalvidam brahma " -- All this is brahman!]

 

 

It is like the

> archetypal dream where you wake up and realize you are alone,

there is nobody else in your house. I lie in bed at night and am so

sad to think that my husband, my children, are in reality the same

as me, I am all there is, there is nobody else. If diversity is an

>illusion, it is a very lonely universe.

 

[VK: Again, I have to say, you are jumping the queue. The thought

that diversity is an illusion, should be fostered only after the

thought of unification of all that diversity into one God.]

 

>

> What is the teaching about this loneliness? It is truly is more

than I can bear at times. Is this why God created the universe,

>because he could not bear to be alone?

 

[VK: This question God alone can answer. Do not allow your intellect

to fool you by raising questions which no created being can answer.

That itself is the first prerequisite even before one trusts in God.]

 

>

> Thank you for any help on these matters.

>

> Warmly,

> Jennifer Damashek

 

 

[V K: I have attempted some answers to your questions. I hope I

have talked sense.]

 

PraNAms to all azdvaitins.

profvk

--- End forwarded message ---