Readings

August 28, 2000

I have been enjoying reading this book "The Science of Enlightenment" by

Nitin Trasi that I know to be a member of the Advaita list and maybe this

one as well.

Here is a quote from it.

"The Paradox of Spiritual Effort

Why is the `succes rate` of any and all of the spiritual techniques so

abysmally low in practice (in spite of claims of the contrary by their

respective adherents)?

Most people presume that this is because the techniques themselves are too

difficult, or that the entire subject too abstruse, and quite beyond an

average person's abilities - both physical and intellectual. But this is

not so. The cause is much more basic, more fundamental than that.

Actually it is not very surprising that Enlightenment should occur so

rarely. Enlightenment, it has already been explained, is the actual

percepttion or realisation (not belief or mere intellectual understanding)

that one is not separate entity. Therefore, the very persuit of this as a

goal to be 'attained' by 'me' will be counter-productive, because the very

effort will reinforce the conviction in the existence of a 'me' as separate

entity. As this is the exact opposite of the result desired, the aspirant

wil be moving around in circles.

(...)

In fact, (though the average seeker may not see this), the very idea that a

'method' or 'technique' is required for Enlightenment, reveals a deep

ignorance of what Enlightement is all about. Most people fail to realise

that Enlightenment is simply the _understanding_ of the situation, and not

a physical, mental or intellectual feat or achievement. (And Liberation is

the automatic, natural result of Enlightenment.) And thus it is that the

seeker makes a very fundamental error right at the point where he begins

the search - he begins with the presumption that he his a separate entity -

and the battle is lost before it is even begun!

For as long as it is the entity which wishes to eliminate itself, it

cannot. And as long as there is any 'wishing' or any question of

'achievement', the entity is involved, and there can be no 'success' in the

endeavour. By no amount of mental gymnastics or contortionism can the

entity acieve its own dissolution.

It is only when there is a totally different type of seing or perception,

when there is no 'wish' to change, when there remains no question of

'achievement' or 'success', that it is seen very clearly that _there really

never was an entity ever_."

Antoine

August 28, 2000

Thanks for the quote: many good morsel's to taste. And, thank you for

sending on a good read. Smiles, Robert

Antoine Carré

[carrea (AT) videotron (DOT) ca]Monday, August 28, 2000 12:10 PMTo:

Subject: ReadingsI have

been enjoying reading this book "The Science of Enlightenment"

byNitin Trasi that I know to be a member of the Advaita list and

maybe thisone as well.Here is a quote from it."The Paradox of

Spiritual EffortWhy is the `succes rate` of any and all of the

spiritual techniques soabysmally low in practice (in spite of claims

of the contrary by theirrespective adherents)?Most people presume

that this is because the techniques themselves are toodifficult, or

that the entire subject too abstruse, and quite beyond anaverage

person's abilities - both physical and intellectual. But this isnot

so. The cause is much more basic, more fundamental than that.Actually

it is not very surprising that Enlightenment should occur sorarely.

Enlightenment, it has already been explained, is the

actualpercepttion or realisation (not belief or mere intellectual

understanding)that one is not separate entity. Therefore, the very

persuit of this as agoal to be 'attained' by 'me' will be

counter-productive, because the veryeffort will reinforce the

conviction in the existence of a 'me' as separateentity. As this is

the exact opposite of the result desired, the aspirantwil be moving

around in circles.(...)In fact, (though the average seeker may not

see this), the very idea that a'method' or 'technique' is required

for Enlightenment, reveals a deepignorance of what Enlightement is

all about. Most people fail to realisethat Enlightenment is simply

the _understanding_ of the situation, and nota physical, mental or

intellectual feat or achievement. (And Liberation isthe automatic,

natural result of Enlightenment.) And thus it is that theseeker makes

a very fundamental error right at the point where he beginsthe search

- he begins with the presumption that he his a separate entity -and

the battle is lost before it is even begun!For as long as it is the

entity which wishes to eliminate itself, itcannot. And as long as

there is any 'wishing' or any question of'achievement', the entity is

involved, and there can be no 'success' in theendeavour. By no amount

of mental gymnastics or contortionism can theentity acieve its own

dissolution.It is only when there is a totally different type of

seing or perception,when there is no 'wish' to change, when there

remains no question of'achievement' or 'success', that it is seen

very clearly that _there reallynever was an entity

ever_."Antoine// All

paths go somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights,

perceptions, and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and

subside back into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not

different than the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of

the nature of Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always

Present. It is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart

to be the Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the

Truth of Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It

Self. Welcome all to a.To from this list,

go to the ONElist web site, at www., and

select the User Center link from the menu bar on the

left. This menu will also let you change your subscription

between digest and normal mode.

August 29, 2000

In a message dated 8/29/00 1:42:29 PM, truthlovepeace writes:

<<

~~~~~Persuit is not spelled correctly.

>>

Antoine is writing in a foreign language, and most of us are typo fluent,

when Americans do this, it makes me nuts, how many languages do most of us

speak? We are in many cases so arrogant, we think the rest of the world

should learn our language.

So, how many languages do you speak?

Your letter is abusive in the extreme, if you have something worthwhile to

contribute, we are all ears. If you have only criticism to offer, may I

suggest you take it elsewhere?

Wisdom and Insight are always welcome. Useless negativity is not. My

intuition is that you are in alot of pain, and do not know how to express

yourself without rage. See if you can write about your pain and you will

find much compassion and wisdom in people on this list.

Anna Maria van der Zon

August 29, 2000

ignore is probably a better response, going to digest mode :-) bo

August 29, 2000

In a message dated 8/28/00 10:20:54 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

carrea writes: