The Advaita Shuffle

[Guest guest]

 

Roger Isaacs [rbi]

Tuesday, February 01, 2000 10:34 AM

NondualitySalon

[NondualitySalon] The Advaita Shuffle

 

"Roger Isaacs" <rbi

>From the "What Is Enlightenment?" publication Volume 1, #1, Jan 92:

 

The Advaita, or non-dual teachings, are widely considered the highest

teachings. When their depth and subtlety are not fully understood, they

can be misinterpreted and misused.

....

The "Advaita Shuffle" can be used skillfully at the right time by a

spiritual teacher to temporarily stop the mind and thereby reveal the

beginningless and endless ocean of being, usually obscured.

Unfortunately this technique is frequently used as a way to deceive

oneself and others when the user is placed in a position of threat,

challenge or difficulty.

....

[exchange with Ganga deleted along with most of the article, the usual

"Who's identifying...? Who's judging?" etc..]

This exchange illustrates the impossibility of having a rational, mutual

inquiry with someone who is stuck in the Absolute viewpoint. It defies

all common sense and logic. Prolonged exposure can even lead one to

doubt one's sanity. Ganga is continually answering any question with

further questions about who the questioner is. Superficially this man

seem profound, but in a mutual investigation it can all too easily be

used as a smokescreen to avoid any real inquiry whatsoever. The "Advaita

shuffle" enables a person to use the Advaita teachings of non-duality to

"Advaita away" conflicts, disagreements, or uncomfortable aspects of

reality. The attention is drawn away from the actual content of the

discussion and put back on the questioner himself. This excerpt also

shows how proponents of the Advaita view can be so fixated on the

Absolute position that they regard any form of discussion as a descent

into the relative, and a manifestation of ignorance. In this way, all

desire and possibility for investigation, learning and change are

destroyed...

 

 

 

 

This is hilarious Roger. Look at it this way. Everyone is shuffling one way

or the other. Whether it is the Advaita Shuffle or the anti Advaita Shuffle,

the Yoga Shuffle, or the modified Advaita Shuffle or the Tantra shuffle or

the Neo versions of various shuffles. Whether it is the guru shuffle or the

student shuffle, and whether it is the intellectual shuffle or the emotional

shuffle, or the bliss shuffle, shuffling happens. Any point of view on which

type of Shuffling is best will quickly lead to an opposing view. The central

question always is "Where do I stand." To Know Where One Stands One must

Know One's Own Self. Well, if you are always shuffling and watching other

people shuffle and trying to decide which is the most competitive shuffle,

then the question, "Where do I stand" cannot capture the attention and hold

your interest and is of limited value. In such a case where is the harm in

shuffling? Any type of shuffling will do. Shuffle away.

 

Love to all

Harsha