The Fact of Being is not propped up or verified by any concepts. This indisputable, undeniable certainty, is obviously present and already beyond that tireless radio station (the mind). Though experiences, sensations and thoughts come and go, where are the divisions between experiences and Awareness?
If limitations cannot be found, could "other" truly exist?
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Audio Recordings
Podcasts of the Second Life Meetings will be recorded on a semi-regular basis and posted on this site. If you cannot attend the Second Life meetings, feel free to download the audio and have a listen at your convenience.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Doubts
By turning the attention to the mind, immediately there are doubts. More thoughts rush in to question the questions, confirm or contradict other thoughts. A maddening cycle...
Notice when thoughts are paused there are no doubts; the certainty of (doubtless)Being is obviously present; the unquestionable FACT of EXISTENCE. Notice that the Being is ALWAYS presently shining, effortlessly and spontaneously. Stay with that undeniable non-conceptual confidence. Your Being has always been present for every single experience. That natural cognition in which all experiences arise is not a person.
Be as you ARE and not what you imagine yourself to be.
Notice when thoughts are paused there are no doubts; the certainty of (doubtless)Being is obviously present; the unquestionable FACT of EXISTENCE. Notice that the Being is ALWAYS presently shining, effortlessly and spontaneously. Stay with that undeniable non-conceptual confidence. Your Being has always been present for every single experience. That natural cognition in which all experiences arise is not a person.
Be as you ARE and not what you imagine yourself to be.
Monday, March 29, 2010
No Practice, No Method
Q: Came across your blog, you are seeing oneness. I would like to ask what advice you recommend. I found that
simply abiding in the I AM or I knowing seems to be on the correct path, Especially following the advice of Nisargadatta. Say now a question arises, "Who witnesses this "I"?", who is the seer, etc, there are obviously no answers that mind can bring forth. Is it more a thing of persisting and being earnest in
the enquiry until 'eventually' the I AM leaves?
How long did you need to practice self-enquiry before you realized? I know this is a poor question and wont yield any sort of value
to me, just more interested in knowing what you went through up until the point you realized.
A: There is no path or practice. Just know that the I AM is your true nature. It is not the words "I AM", what are the words "I AM" pointing to?
You know with certainty that you are here. How is it so certain (100%, unquestionably certain) that you exist, that you are awake, that you are present?
What effort does it take to be awake?
How could you not abide in this I-AM-ness?
Does this I AM ever change?
Does this I AM ever come and go? Do you ever phase in an out of existence, even if you would, you would KNOW(ing) this!
Therefore, this I AM never leaves. This is not "I am an individual"
The belief that you are an individual, separate entity naturally falls away when it is seen that "name" is just an ephemeral thought.
When the thought "name" is not, I AM (ALWAYS) IS.
Yet, the thoughts "name", "me", "I" floats in and out....like a cloud in the sky.
No one is witnessing this....thoughts float in and out naturally....
Notice that "name" has been entangled with the body-mind. How do you know the body-mind right HERE and NOW?
Isn't it the KNOWING?
The activity of KNOWING is Self-Knowing
BE(ing) the KNOWING.....and how could you not?!?!
HA!
simply abiding in the I AM or I knowing seems to be on the correct path, Especially following the advice of Nisargadatta. Say now a question arises, "Who witnesses this "I"?", who is the seer, etc, there are obviously no answers that mind can bring forth. Is it more a thing of persisting and being earnest in
the enquiry until 'eventually' the I AM leaves?
How long did you need to practice self-enquiry before you realized? I know this is a poor question and wont yield any sort of value
to me, just more interested in knowing what you went through up until the point you realized.
A: There is no path or practice. Just know that the I AM is your true nature. It is not the words "I AM", what are the words "I AM" pointing to?
You know with certainty that you are here. How is it so certain (100%, unquestionably certain) that you exist, that you are awake, that you are present?
What effort does it take to be awake?
How could you not abide in this I-AM-ness?
Does this I AM ever change?
Does this I AM ever come and go? Do you ever phase in an out of existence, even if you would, you would KNOW(ing) this!
Therefore, this I AM never leaves. This is not "I am an individual"
The belief that you are an individual, separate entity naturally falls away when it is seen that "name" is just an ephemeral thought.
When the thought "name" is not, I AM (ALWAYS) IS.
Yet, the thoughts "name", "me", "I" floats in and out....like a cloud in the sky.
No one is witnessing this....thoughts float in and out naturally....
Notice that "name" has been entangled with the body-mind. How do you know the body-mind right HERE and NOW?
Isn't it the KNOWING?
The activity of KNOWING is Self-Knowing
BE(ing) the KNOWING.....and how could you not?!?!
HA!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Light of Knowing
Q: Can it be apparent that i am not a person
and yet still experience limitation and not the boundlessness
that is spoken of?
A: Bob says: Start from the FACT that you ARE ALREADY THAT.
What is being pointed out here?
there has never been an individual separate entity. NEVER.
It is believed that what you ARE is a person--this is entirely false.
There is an assumption that these pointers: "you are KNOWING/SEEING/BEING"
are possessions of a person.....again, entirely false.
KNOWING is ALWAYS shining... miraculously...there isn't a person there "doing it"
"person" or "your name", "me" "I" are just concepts that float in and out appearing like clouds in the open, vast sky....
How are these thoughts recognized?
Just as we look at colours, we overlook the light that is suffused with the colour. It is only due to the light that we can register colours. you ARE the light of KNOWING.
How can anything register without the KNOWING?
KNOWING IS the rock-solid foundation. More real than any concrete structure (this too shall crumble).
This KNOWING cannot be shut off (or turned on)....it is the light switch that is ALWAYS shining.
This KNOWING doesn't need enlightenment or need peace or perfection because it doesn't have any characteristics or limitations. Any limitations are concepts that appear and disappear. This KNOWING doesn't care what is registering....it is ALWAYS registering...
What is SEEING the mind? It is certainly not a 'me'...that is another concept!
Undeniably it is happening?
Gilbert asks: where are you SEEING FROM?
Watch the disappearance of thoughts...and re-cognize that this AWARE-ing is ALWAYS happening.
It is obvious that thoughts just....appear.....and disappear.......
Life is just happening.....spontaneously....miraculously....no doer, no one running the show
Has this AWARE-ing ever changed? Has this AWARE-ing ever appeared? Is this a FACT?
Can you deny EXISTENCE? Can you say: "I am NOT" doesn't this presuppose existence? KNOWING IS EXISTENCE...this aliveness...this sense of presence.....yet not a feeling. THAT which knows feelings.
This cannot be understood because this is what you ARE. Has the ocean ever left water?
Can the ocean understand water?
it IS water.
you ARE THAT (one without a second)
ONE singular block of reality
and yet still experience limitation and not the boundlessness
that is spoken of?
A: Bob says: Start from the FACT that you ARE ALREADY THAT.
What is being pointed out here?
there has never been an individual separate entity. NEVER.
It is believed that what you ARE is a person--this is entirely false.
There is an assumption that these pointers: "you are KNOWING/SEEING/BEING"
are possessions of a person.....again, entirely false.
KNOWING is ALWAYS shining... miraculously...there isn't a person there "doing it"
"person" or "your name", "me" "I" are just concepts that float in and out appearing like clouds in the open, vast sky....
How are these thoughts recognized?
Just as we look at colours, we overlook the light that is suffused with the colour. It is only due to the light that we can register colours. you ARE the light of KNOWING.
How can anything register without the KNOWING?
KNOWING IS the rock-solid foundation. More real than any concrete structure (this too shall crumble).
This KNOWING cannot be shut off (or turned on)....it is the light switch that is ALWAYS shining.
This KNOWING doesn't need enlightenment or need peace or perfection because it doesn't have any characteristics or limitations. Any limitations are concepts that appear and disappear. This KNOWING doesn't care what is registering....it is ALWAYS registering...
What is SEEING the mind? It is certainly not a 'me'...that is another concept!
Undeniably it is happening?
Gilbert asks: where are you SEEING FROM?
Watch the disappearance of thoughts...and re-cognize that this AWARE-ing is ALWAYS happening.
It is obvious that thoughts just....appear.....and disappear.......
Life is just happening.....spontaneously....miraculously....no doer, no one running the show
Has this AWARE-ing ever changed? Has this AWARE-ing ever appeared? Is this a FACT?
Can you deny EXISTENCE? Can you say: "I am NOT" doesn't this presuppose existence? KNOWING IS EXISTENCE...this aliveness...this sense of presence.....yet not a feeling. THAT which knows feelings.
This cannot be understood because this is what you ARE. Has the ocean ever left water?
Can the ocean understand water?
it IS water.
you ARE THAT (one without a second)
ONE singular block of reality
Enlightenment is Bullshit
We’ve read books and heard stories about a grand “enlightenment.” This is the ultimate spiritual trophy. A goliath and golden 8 ft. tall symbol of achievement. It is the ultimate war story to show off and brag to friends.
The stories of monks meditating in the Himalayas for twenty years letting out a thunderous laughter imply that this “spiritual” seeking must be an arduous and painful journey. That seems to match what we’ve read about the Hindu yogis that starve themselves and chant endlessly, hoping to one day figure all of this out. And because the seeking of enlightenment was such a difficult path for those special few, enlightenment must be a flowery, holy and permanently blissful state of happiness and permanent high.
This is a huge and heaping pile of bullshit.
Recognize that any experience that pops up is just another transient experience-- just another event that comes and goes. It is rather obvious that what comes/goes. Any experience, no matter how ‘grand’, ‘profound’ or ‘spiritual’ is just another experience that will inevitably pass.
As this ‘mystical’ experience passes, recognize the psychological suffering that arises:
“I want to achieve that state that I worked so hard to get”.
Notice that every single time (without exception) that there is psychological suffering it is referring to an individual, separate ‘I’. It is this ‘I’ that wants more, needs more, needs to become something, needs to be protected against something, is quietly waiting for something to happen and most of all, needs to become enlightened.
What if this fundamental assumption, “I” is completely false—a fiction
What if a ‘person’ is NOT always here?
So we question…
To whom does this thought “I” appear to?
It cannot be “I”? Isn’t this just another thought?
Where is this witness? Where is the seer of thoughts?
What are we really pointing to when we refer to this “I”?
If this “I” is merely a concept that is coming and going…just another transient image, then I am not thoughts. What I am never changes….but this “I” thought is ephemeral.
Thoughts are just appearing/disappearing…..
If I am not the thought “I” then clearly, the opposite of “I” (as an individual) not-“I”, (we can call this “the world”) must also be false. Boundaries (only conceptualizations) fall apart because both are false. Where can you find limitations? Where are there beginnings and endings? Isn’t it only in concepts? Concepts are merely fleeting labels with no substance.
So if there isn’t a person there….who has the problem? Who would be there to suffer psychologically? Who would be troubled by thoughts? Who would be there to make choices?
Whatever your name (or persona, which is Latin for “mask”) is a fictional character perpetuated by conversation, much like our favorite superheroes. We can talk at great lengths about how Lex Luthor is going to expose Superman to kryptonite and jeopardize his ability to save the world—but does Superman really suffer from kryptonite? It’s all fantasy, just stories supported by other stories. This is why we say “nothing is happening.” Whatever you dreamt last night, did it really happen? Did you really show up to class absolutely naked? Did you really get chased by monsters? Is the dream state any different than the waking state?
But to say that “Nothing is happening” falls short in its description. If there is no “I” here that can suffer psychologically, how in the hell is this all happening if there is no ‘doer’ of actions?
We can also say that Life is functioning. Life is expressing itself, spontaneously and miraculously.
No one is driving the bus. And with no one to suffer, all we can say (which still falls short) is THIS.
Without conceptualizing what can be said?
But the fiction keeps on rolling….
As Bob says, ONE essence expressing itself as the many.
ONE (without a second)
How could there be something lacking in ONENESS?
Or, what could be added or attained in ONE (without a second)?
THIS wakefulness loves itself and loves to exist.
We can call it the Infinite because it is unborn; beyond time and space.
The closest we can come to an accurate description in words is “I AM”
You are not the words “I AM”, what are these words pointing to?
This HERE-ness, this CERTAINTY that you EXIST is an undeniable FACT!
A wordless, silent confirmation of existence…
No one walks around and questions their existence, or says “I am not.”
It is not a hypothesis that you are present. It is not something that you theorize and will present at an upcoming conference and reveal your findings to other scholars in the field.
The FACT of BEING is not a concept, yet a 100% certainty.
This is why the Buddhists call what you ARE: “non-conceptual Awareness.”
It does not require a concept to know that you are awake.
How is this known?
Is this KNOWING ALWAYS radiantly shining?
How is this known?
This Aliveness…..
How is this known?
This wakefulness is ALREADY happening effortlessly.
What effort does it take for the ocean to become water?
Are ‘you’ present?
Without conceptualizing, how is this known?
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Urban Guru Cafe
An interview with Jason Swanson has just been posted at the Urban Guru Cafe--give it a lesson if you are moved to do so.
The Urban Guru Cafe is a treasure trove of clear podcasts that point directly to what you ARE.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
the Sun
Does the Sun know darkness? Could the Sun even know light?
Is the Sun still shining at midnight?
Does the Sun ever "shut off"?
Even if the clouds roll through the sky, doesn't the light of the Sun shine through the clouds? Isn't this light what makes knowing the clouds even possible?
Self-shining Knowing
Conversation with Charlie Hayes
A conversation with Charlie Hayes has been recorded and posted to his website. Check out all of his podcasts here.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
You Are No Thing: Recognising Your True Nature
Randall Friend's new book has been recently released courtesy of the folks at Non-duality Press.
With laser-like focus, Randall is undeviatingly pointing to the simple fact of Being.
click here to order the book
Monday, April 27, 2009
What is SEEING the mind?
Q: I know we've must have addressed this, but can you tell me where the thoughts come from? Is the mind creating thoughts and the appearance? ... and then labeling and believing its own made up story? If not, what creates thoughts/appearance? Is this something we cannot comprehend or do we not know?
A:What is happening in direct experience? What is really the truth of what is happening? Isn't this all that is ever happening?
Can you find a location where thoughts arise from? Or do they just appear?
The mind doesn't create thoughts--the mind IS thoughts.
The mind can be defined as an endless train of thoughts....one damn thought after the other...
Thoughts can appear as labels or stories
But there isn't a mind that is witnessing mind.
There isn't a mind that is knowing mind.
Mind cannot known itself and believe in itself.
They are just labels, stories.
THAT which SEES labels and stories is what YOU ARE.
The infinite space in which these stories/labels appear on/in.
The mind gets frustrated because it cannot find SEEING.
The mind cannot and will not ever find it; so it gives up.
No matter how rigorous the search is--it is impossible because thoughts cannot do anything!
Intelligence is functioning; KNOWING the thoughts that spontaneously appear/disappear
The answer is NOT in the mind!
What is SEEING the mind?
What is SEEING the thought 'me' arise?
Surely it cannot be a 'me' that is SEEING the 'me'? Wouldn't that be another thought?
Don't you see the dog chasing its tail?
What is SEEING this maddening cycle?
SEEING is happening THEN thoughts arise
SEEING is happening then the thought 'me' arises
a 'person' is not SEEING
the label 'your name' is not SEEING
the thought 'your name' is an appearance in the SEEING
SEEING is undeniable then BS stories (seemingly) attach to 'your name' rise/fall
THAT KNOWING/SEEING never changes!
This CANNOT be understood
This is not some complex mathematical formula where it said "Yes! I have it"
This is something that is gained--or added, what could be added to the Infinite?
IT IS KNOW-ING!
A:What is happening in direct experience? What is really the truth of what is happening? Isn't this all that is ever happening?
Can you find a location where thoughts arise from? Or do they just appear?
The mind doesn't create thoughts--the mind IS thoughts.
The mind can be defined as an endless train of thoughts....one damn thought after the other...
Thoughts can appear as labels or stories
But there isn't a mind that is witnessing mind.
There isn't a mind that is knowing mind.
Mind cannot known itself and believe in itself.
They are just labels, stories.
THAT which SEES labels and stories is what YOU ARE.
The infinite space in which these stories/labels appear on/in.
The mind gets frustrated because it cannot find SEEING.
The mind cannot and will not ever find it; so it gives up.
No matter how rigorous the search is--it is impossible because thoughts cannot do anything!
Intelligence is functioning; KNOWING the thoughts that spontaneously appear/disappear
The answer is NOT in the mind!
What is SEEING the mind?
What is SEEING the thought 'me' arise?
Surely it cannot be a 'me' that is SEEING the 'me'? Wouldn't that be another thought?
Don't you see the dog chasing its tail?
What is SEEING this maddening cycle?
SEEING is happening THEN thoughts arise
SEEING is happening then the thought 'me' arises
a 'person' is not SEEING
the label 'your name' is not SEEING
the thought 'your name' is an appearance in the SEEING
SEEING is undeniable then BS stories (seemingly) attach to 'your name' rise/fall
THAT KNOWING/SEEING never changes!
This CANNOT be understood
This is not some complex mathematical formula where it said "Yes! I have it"
This is something that is gained--or added, what could be added to the Infinite?
IT IS KNOW-ING!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Nothing to achieve
No personal enlightenment.
No grand awakening.
No final understanding.
No getting it.
No permanent state of bliss.
Absolutely nothing to achieve.
The Infinite is already present. How could the Infinite disappear/reappear?
The Infinite is what ‘you’ ARE.
Who do all of these transient images appear to?
Isn’t the answer ‘me’ just another image that appears and disappears?
Can images ‘do’ anything?
Knowing ALWAYS IS—but these words inevitably fall short…
‘Knowing ALWAYS IS’, what are these words pointing to?
Is this undeniable? Has this ever changed?
No grand awakening.
No final understanding.
No getting it.
No permanent state of bliss.
Absolutely nothing to achieve.
The Infinite is already present. How could the Infinite disappear/reappear?
The Infinite is what ‘you’ ARE.
Who do all of these transient images appear to?
Isn’t the answer ‘me’ just another image that appears and disappears?
Can images ‘do’ anything?
Knowing ALWAYS IS—but these words inevitably fall short…
‘Knowing ALWAYS IS’, what are these words pointing to?
Is this undeniable? Has this ever changed?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Everything happens NOW
Q:Hi Jason - I like your blog a lot and realised that all non-dual people say there is ONLY THIS . The mind tries to conceptualise THIS but cant understand. So finally I just forget about it. Is THIS something that can be pointed in a more meaningful way? I keep hearing there is only this happening - what is happening , how can happening be described because everything moves into the past so quickly and I wonder if there is even a present moment?
I only experience thoughts all the time , thoughts about past and future and so dont know what is present moment. And then I just give up...All this is too complicated. I am OK with my pain, stories, suffering - who cares? I know I will live and die without any eventful stories.
A: Thank you for writing my friend. Time is thought--merely a concept about the past, future that is some sort of fear/worry/regret that can only be happening NOW. A thought cannot happen five minutes, five hours, five weeks or five years ago... There is an immediate registering that is happening spontaneously that cannot be 'turned off' so to speak. These thoughts, as you seem to recognize, are ephemeral appearances that cannot last. Whatever these stories may be, stories of pain, stories of suffering, stories of bliss, stories of peace, they appear and disappear without exception. All of these appearances in consciousness are transient, yet what 'you' ARE is the changeless, infinite background in which these seemingly separate images appear; just THIS. THIS is the changeless background in which all of the apparently separate objects appear on/in.
Exactly right! THIS cannot be known as a thought/concept, nor is it a thing to grab onto and say 'yes here it is...i have it' because that story of 'getting it' is just another appearance that appears and disappears. We can never know THIS, just the contents of THIS. There is not a special state that confirm this because any state that would appear would assuredly disappear. But, the habit of the mind doesn't 'like' that because it is used to finding and labeling. What knows the mind? Is 'me' or 'I' or 'your name' a thought? Can thoughts know thought?
So there is nothing to get or receive, no 'special' understanding or esoteric gain of any sort.
Recognize that the KNOWING....is not a thought. The effortless registering, that is ALWAYS shining this SEEING, for example of the computer monitor, doesn't require a thought.
This is what you ARE, prior to any investigation, prior to any search, prior to reading any scriptures....so start from the FACT that 'you' already ARE THAT, not a 'person' who is trying to 'get it'!
Any practice to obtain or get something is immediately futile because 'you' already ARE the infinite! What would be needed to add to the Totality?
That sense of BEING is always present, but it gets translated through the mind as the thought 'I AM'. This is where the separation appears to happen. Then the thoughts of 'me', 'I', 'your name' appear/disappear or 'i am a man, i am a good person'....So, 'your name' is just another thought/concept; thoughts and concepts don't 'do' anything (they're just labels), so there was never a person that existed who could have suffered!
My friend, suffering never happened.
Look now!
Do 'you' exist? (Surely 'you' do not say I AM NOT!!!, wouldn't that require existence to even state?)
Are 'you' awake?
What effort is needed to recognize the FACT of BEING? (certainly not twenty years in the Himalayas....)
Wouldn't BEING be a prerequisite for thoughts to appear?
That KNOWING is what 'you' ARE!
'You' are SEEING-ONENESS looking at itself, KNOWING, knowing itself, BEING, being itself....
much love,
jason
I only experience thoughts all the time , thoughts about past and future and so dont know what is present moment. And then I just give up...All this is too complicated. I am OK with my pain, stories, suffering - who cares? I know I will live and die without any eventful stories.
A: Thank you for writing my friend. Time is thought--merely a concept about the past, future that is some sort of fear/worry/regret that can only be happening NOW. A thought cannot happen five minutes, five hours, five weeks or five years ago... There is an immediate registering that is happening spontaneously that cannot be 'turned off' so to speak. These thoughts, as you seem to recognize, are ephemeral appearances that cannot last. Whatever these stories may be, stories of pain, stories of suffering, stories of bliss, stories of peace, they appear and disappear without exception. All of these appearances in consciousness are transient, yet what 'you' ARE is the changeless, infinite background in which these seemingly separate images appear; just THIS. THIS is the changeless background in which all of the apparently separate objects appear on/in.
Exactly right! THIS cannot be known as a thought/concept, nor is it a thing to grab onto and say 'yes here it is...i have it' because that story of 'getting it' is just another appearance that appears and disappears. We can never know THIS, just the contents of THIS. There is not a special state that confirm this because any state that would appear would assuredly disappear. But, the habit of the mind doesn't 'like' that because it is used to finding and labeling. What knows the mind? Is 'me' or 'I' or 'your name' a thought? Can thoughts know thought?
So there is nothing to get or receive, no 'special' understanding or esoteric gain of any sort.
Recognize that the KNOWING....is not a thought. The effortless registering, that is ALWAYS shining this SEEING, for example of the computer monitor, doesn't require a thought.
This is what you ARE, prior to any investigation, prior to any search, prior to reading any scriptures....so start from the FACT that 'you' already ARE THAT, not a 'person' who is trying to 'get it'!
Any practice to obtain or get something is immediately futile because 'you' already ARE the infinite! What would be needed to add to the Totality?
That sense of BEING is always present, but it gets translated through the mind as the thought 'I AM'. This is where the separation appears to happen. Then the thoughts of 'me', 'I', 'your name' appear/disappear or 'i am a man, i am a good person'....So, 'your name' is just another thought/concept; thoughts and concepts don't 'do' anything (they're just labels), so there was never a person that existed who could have suffered!
My friend, suffering never happened.
Look now!
Do 'you' exist? (Surely 'you' do not say I AM NOT!!!, wouldn't that require existence to even state?)
Are 'you' awake?
What effort is needed to recognize the FACT of BEING? (certainly not twenty years in the Himalayas....)
Wouldn't BEING be a prerequisite for thoughts to appear?
That KNOWING is what 'you' ARE!
'You' are SEEING-ONENESS looking at itself, KNOWING, knowing itself, BEING, being itself....
much love,
jason
Seeing, Seeing itself
Q:How can there be this Presence/Awareness without a body? Isn't this awareness contingent upon the body after all? I've sat with several people who have died-one moment they seem 'there'/aware and the next-nothing--like a rock. My understanding is that you saying that awareness is still there even when the body dies--and I can't seem to grok this!
Everything that is expressed about what never changes etc makes so much sense-it is indeed seen- but the thought quickly appears that it is because there is a body functioning. Without it, ??? How can anything be aware without that apparatus which then makes me wonder about ALL of the non duality message. It seems inextricably connected to the human form.
Even though I hear that it is not in the mind, the mind will never understand this, etc...is there no way to put this whereby the mind would feel at rest about it and stop this yes, but...business????
How can there be seeing, awaring, being without a physical apparatus in which to transmit this 'energy'????
Well hopefully you get the gist of the question and any words you'd like to share would be greatly appreciated.
A:Presence/Awareness ALWAYS IS. If what we say is that Presence/Awareness is Reality, then it must ALWAYS BE; there is never a time when it is not. First of all, can 'you' honestly say, at anytime, "I am not"? It seems that the sense of Being or Presence/Awareness ALWAYS IS.
But, somehow, there is a misunderstanding. The thought "I", "me" or "your name" is a label that is put on the body and that is seemingly taking credit for all of the actions that take place. But, thoughts cannot "do" anything--they are merely labels.
Take a good look: Does the body appear and disappear? Doesn't the body disappear in deep sleep? Notice that everything that is perceived or conceived is an appearance that comes and goes like waves in the ocean, but the waves are not separate from the ocean. There is only ONE essence appearing as the many.
So who is it, that sees this body? Isn't the answer: "I see the body"? It seems that everything refers back to this "I"?
Who/What is this "I"? Isn't this just another thought that appears and disappears? If you were to pause thoughts, surely 'you' don't disappear, because the word/label is not the thing being pointed out. The word fire will never burn anything, the word water will never get anything wet.....
Thoughts are merely labels or stories, and the mind is just a collection of thoughts or stories. The mind is hunger, searching, needing.....that's what the mind does, just see it for what it is. Isn't every thought, without exception, about some "other time" the past and future: "I really don't want to go to work tomorrow...I can't believe I said that at work yesterday.....I don't want to see my parents this weekend...."
But, aren't all of these thoughts happening HERE and NOW? It is impossible to "get out of" NOW!
SEEING is just happening spontaneously and effortlessly....then thoughts arise: "I am seeing the body" or "Is this body necessary to function?"
LIFE is living itself, SEEING itself, KNOWING itself....BEING itself....
What effort does it take to KNOW that 'you' are looking directly at a computer monitor RIGHT NOW?
What effort does it take to KNOW that 'you' are registering, effortlessly, the sensation of 'your' butt pressing up against a chair?
The apparently "separate" object cannot be separated from the SEEING/KNOWING. For instance, you hear the doorbell ring, without concepts or labels, what can 'you' possibly say about that sound without a concept? Later the thought appears: "I heard the doorbell ring" which creates duality a subject "me" or "I" then the "doorbell". Prior to those concepts of subject/object there was only the ringing of the doorbell.
Presence/Awareness cannot be separated from NOW.
This KNOWING is self-shining like the sun....and always shining....always aware-ing....
This KNOWING or sense of BEING is translated through the mind as the thought: "I Am". No one walks around and affirms to themselves, "I am" "I am" "I am"......
That KNOWING is always shining....this activity of KNOWING (that's right, 'you' are a verb!) ALWAYS IS.
love,
Jason
Everything that is expressed about what never changes etc makes so much sense-it is indeed seen- but the thought quickly appears that it is because there is a body functioning. Without it, ??? How can anything be aware without that apparatus which then makes me wonder about ALL of the non duality message. It seems inextricably connected to the human form.
Even though I hear that it is not in the mind, the mind will never understand this, etc...is there no way to put this whereby the mind would feel at rest about it and stop this yes, but...business????
How can there be seeing, awaring, being without a physical apparatus in which to transmit this 'energy'????
Well hopefully you get the gist of the question and any words you'd like to share would be greatly appreciated.
A:Presence/Awareness ALWAYS IS. If what we say is that Presence/Awareness is Reality, then it must ALWAYS BE; there is never a time when it is not. First of all, can 'you' honestly say, at anytime, "I am not"? It seems that the sense of Being or Presence/Awareness ALWAYS IS.
But, somehow, there is a misunderstanding. The thought "I", "me" or "your name" is a label that is put on the body and that is seemingly taking credit for all of the actions that take place. But, thoughts cannot "do" anything--they are merely labels.
Take a good look: Does the body appear and disappear? Doesn't the body disappear in deep sleep? Notice that everything that is perceived or conceived is an appearance that comes and goes like waves in the ocean, but the waves are not separate from the ocean. There is only ONE essence appearing as the many.
So who is it, that sees this body? Isn't the answer: "I see the body"? It seems that everything refers back to this "I"?
Who/What is this "I"? Isn't this just another thought that appears and disappears? If you were to pause thoughts, surely 'you' don't disappear, because the word/label is not the thing being pointed out. The word fire will never burn anything, the word water will never get anything wet.....
Thoughts are merely labels or stories, and the mind is just a collection of thoughts or stories. The mind is hunger, searching, needing.....that's what the mind does, just see it for what it is. Isn't every thought, without exception, about some "other time" the past and future: "I really don't want to go to work tomorrow...I can't believe I said that at work yesterday.....I don't want to see my parents this weekend...."
But, aren't all of these thoughts happening HERE and NOW? It is impossible to "get out of" NOW!
SEEING is just happening spontaneously and effortlessly....then thoughts arise: "I am seeing the body" or "Is this body necessary to function?"
LIFE is living itself, SEEING itself, KNOWING itself....BEING itself....
What effort does it take to KNOW that 'you' are looking directly at a computer monitor RIGHT NOW?
What effort does it take to KNOW that 'you' are registering, effortlessly, the sensation of 'your' butt pressing up against a chair?
The apparently "separate" object cannot be separated from the SEEING/KNOWING. For instance, you hear the doorbell ring, without concepts or labels, what can 'you' possibly say about that sound without a concept? Later the thought appears: "I heard the doorbell ring" which creates duality a subject "me" or "I" then the "doorbell". Prior to those concepts of subject/object there was only the ringing of the doorbell.
Presence/Awareness cannot be separated from NOW.
This KNOWING is self-shining like the sun....and always shining....always aware-ing....
This KNOWING or sense of BEING is translated through the mind as the thought: "I Am". No one walks around and affirms to themselves, "I am" "I am" "I am"......
That KNOWING is always shining....this activity of KNOWING (that's right, 'you' are a verb!) ALWAYS IS.
love,
Jason
Friday, January 9, 2009
Being is indisputable
How many more books need to be read?
How many more blogs need to be visited?
How many more meetings need to be attended?
How many more podcasts need to be listened to?
How many more Youtube videos need to be watched?
Memorizing and parroting quotes are completely worthless.
Any practice for that matter is worthless. It's all futile.
This hunger for more, presupposes that there is something to get or to achieve.
Anything that comes, most certainly goes…
There is nothing to get.
Seeing is already happening—prior to any searching.
Once this message is ‘heard’, take a look and investigate NOW.
YOU ARE, this is the only FACT that you are absolutely sure of, this isn’t debatable, a hypothesis or an assumption.
Surely you don’t doubt the FACT of Existence or Being!
Everything else is an assumption, simply an ephemeral appearance.
YOU ARE THIS—the open and empty space that these transient images appear and disappear in/on.
Are you present? Are you here? Are you awake? Is SEEING spontaneously happening?
With brutal honestly, is this an undeniable, indisputable Fact?
How many more blogs need to be visited?
How many more meetings need to be attended?
How many more podcasts need to be listened to?
How many more Youtube videos need to be watched?
Memorizing and parroting quotes are completely worthless.
Any practice for that matter is worthless. It's all futile.
This hunger for more, presupposes that there is something to get or to achieve.
Anything that comes, most certainly goes…
There is nothing to get.
Seeing is already happening—prior to any searching.
Once this message is ‘heard’, take a look and investigate NOW.
YOU ARE, this is the only FACT that you are absolutely sure of, this isn’t debatable, a hypothesis or an assumption.
Surely you don’t doubt the FACT of Existence or Being!
Everything else is an assumption, simply an ephemeral appearance.
YOU ARE THIS—the open and empty space that these transient images appear and disappear in/on.
Are you present? Are you here? Are you awake? Is SEEING spontaneously happening?
With brutal honestly, is this an undeniable, indisputable Fact?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
It Is
It seems that everything without exception—absolutely everything—that is perceived or conceived appears and disappears.
What is it that never changes?
This uninterrupted, direct and immediate self-shining experiencing, always, is just happening—NOW.
Has this direct and immediate experiencing ever been disrupted? Can you get ‘outside of’ of this. Can this experiencing be separated from HERE and NOW?
Have a look and see if this ‘me’ or ‘I’ is another story that appears and disappears?
If these thoughts disappear do ‘you’ disappear?
This unbroken sense of Presence cannot be denied.
The wise and ancient texts point that the Truth or Reality has never changed, not even for a ‘moment’.
The Fact of Being cannot possibly be a theory, hypothesis or belief. This is not hearsay—this very simple point cannot be ignored.
This sense of Being or Knowing-Presence is completely indescribable because concepts appear in it.
What is it that never changes?
This uninterrupted, direct and immediate self-shining experiencing, always, is just happening—NOW.
Has this direct and immediate experiencing ever been disrupted? Can you get ‘outside of’ of this. Can this experiencing be separated from HERE and NOW?
Have a look and see if this ‘me’ or ‘I’ is another story that appears and disappears?
If these thoughts disappear do ‘you’ disappear?
This unbroken sense of Presence cannot be denied.
The wise and ancient texts point that the Truth or Reality has never changed, not even for a ‘moment’.
The Fact of Being cannot possibly be a theory, hypothesis or belief. This is not hearsay—this very simple point cannot be ignored.
This sense of Being or Knowing-Presence is completely indescribable because concepts appear in it.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Nobody is Looking
There isn’t a person looking to see that there really isn’t a person there.
What is a person? Isn’t it just a compilation of thoughts?
Is there spontaneous and effortless pure registering prior to the thoughts ‘me’ or ‘I’?
Do ‘ you’ need to walk around and affirm: ‘I am’ 'I am’ 'I am’?
In that open and empty space, prior to the thought, ‘I am’ where is this person?
Prior to the thought 'I am' isn't there just a Knowing-Presence?
You are THAT.
What is a person? Isn’t it just a compilation of thoughts?
Is there spontaneous and effortless pure registering prior to the thoughts ‘me’ or ‘I’?
Do ‘ you’ need to walk around and affirm: ‘I am’ 'I am’ 'I am’?
In that open and empty space, prior to the thought, ‘I am’ where is this person?
Prior to the thought 'I am' isn't there just a Knowing-Presence?
You are THAT.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Pure KNOWING is not a concept
What is happening RIGHT NOW?
Is there SEEING of a computer monitor? Is a thought needed to verify this?
KNOWING is prior to thought; there will never be an answer in the mind.
If a fastball is moving right towards ‘your’ head,‘you’ don’t need to think
about moving out of the way?
There is just an immediate KNOWING – and that is what ‘you’ ARE, this immediate activity of KNOWING. ‘You’ are not a ‘thing’ – not a noun, but a verb – always shining…..
That’s why there is no practice to ‘get there’, nothing to find, no final question to finally ‘get it’ because there is absolutely no answer, no ‘stoned out’ bliss, no profound ‘Great Truth’….
You ARE ALREADY IT.
Gilbert points clearly – SEEING is happening…
Ordinary and simple – SEEING/KNOWING.
Is there SEEING of a computer monitor? Is a thought needed to verify this?
KNOWING is prior to thought; there will never be an answer in the mind.
If a fastball is moving right towards ‘your’ head,‘you’ don’t need to think
about moving out of the way?
There is just an immediate KNOWING – and that is what ‘you’ ARE, this immediate activity of KNOWING. ‘You’ are not a ‘thing’ – not a noun, but a verb – always shining…..
That’s why there is no practice to ‘get there’, nothing to find, no final question to finally ‘get it’ because there is absolutely no answer, no ‘stoned out’ bliss, no profound ‘Great Truth’….
You ARE ALREADY IT.
Gilbert points clearly – SEEING is happening…
Ordinary and simple – SEEING/KNOWING.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Light Switch
What YOU ARE is much like a light switch that is always turned on.
IT IS-ALWAYS KNOWING
There is never a time when YOU ARE not KNOWING
Nothing can possibly happen to it.
If 'you' were to get punched in the face, the skin may bruise...
Is the KNOWING of this effected?
Even in deep sleep, who hears the phone ring-or the alarm clock buzz?
So simple and ordinary
So incredibly subtle
So incredibly obvious.
The alleged difficulty is due to the fact that it is so simple and ordinary.
KNOWING is happen-ING, NOW!
YOU ARE this KNOWING.
IT IS-ALWAYS KNOWING
There is never a time when YOU ARE not KNOWING
Nothing can possibly happen to it.
If 'you' were to get punched in the face, the skin may bruise...
Is the KNOWING of this effected?
Even in deep sleep, who hears the phone ring-or the alarm clock buzz?
So simple and ordinary
So incredibly subtle
So incredibly obvious.
The alleged difficulty is due to the fact that it is so simple and ordinary.
KNOWING is happen-ING, NOW!
YOU ARE this KNOWING.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Stephen Wingate Interview
The Urban Guru Cafe is very highly recommended. The latest installment is an interview with Stephen Wingate.
The Urban Guru Cafe
Stephen Wingate's website
The Urban Guru Cafe
Stephen Wingate's website
Sunday, July 13, 2008
BE
Almost any 'teacher' can point to THAT which YOU ALREADY ARE-AWARENESS. But, it seems that very few ‘seekers’ accept this possibility and cannot conduct a thorough investigation. This investigation does not require an extraordinarily high I.Q, ‘spiritual’ preferences, a pious family, visiting ‘saints’ or twenty years in the Himalayas.
Accept this invitation as a possibility and discard the story of a separate individual.
The mind is one story after the other.....
A story arises...and another story arises to verify that story….
and an endless supply of stories are in the queue….. one fiction after the other
...fictions that lead to other fictions….but, they are just fictions...see them for what they are.
Have a look:
Who is this ‘I’ that doesn’t understand?
Who is this ‘I’ that is stressed out?
Who is this ‘I’ that doesn’t see clearly?
Who is this ‘I’?
Aren't there stories that verify this story of ‘I’? Can a thought do anything?
Isn't the 'I’ a subtle story for the sense of BEING?
Discard all stories and BE.
This BE-ING is the open space of KNOWING/SEEING that YOU ALREADY ARE.
Accept this invitation as a possibility and discard the story of a separate individual.
The mind is one story after the other.....
A story arises...and another story arises to verify that story….
and an endless supply of stories are in the queue….. one fiction after the other
...fictions that lead to other fictions….but, they are just fictions...see them for what they are.
Have a look:
Who is this ‘I’ that doesn’t understand?
Who is this ‘I’ that is stressed out?
Who is this ‘I’ that doesn’t see clearly?
Who is this ‘I’?
Aren't there stories that verify this story of ‘I’? Can a thought do anything?
Isn't the 'I’ a subtle story for the sense of BEING?
Discard all stories and BE.
This BE-ING is the open space of KNOWING/SEEING that YOU ALREADY ARE.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Discard all stories
There isn’t a ‘you’ who is SEEING, there is only SEEING.
Who is SEEING/KNOWING?
Perhaps the thought: “I see” arises.
This is an extraordinarily subtle story.
The mind takes credit for SEEING/KNOWING.
Discard the thought “I see” and what’s left?
Discard the concept SEEING/KNOWING.
What’s left?
Perhaps in that open space of KNOWING a thought will arise:
“Is this it?”
Discard it.
Didn’t the thought appear on THAT?
SEEING/KNOWING cannot be grasped by the mind because thoughts appear on THAT.
The description that thoughts appear “on” THAT is still duality, which implies that thoughts can appear some place other than THAT. Can a thought exist without it being known? The thought and SEEING/KNOWING, seemingly two are ONE.
There isn’t an answer…
(do not stop there and cling to the story of “no answer”)
In response to the reader who left the anonymous post “So then what?”
Just THIS – without an explanation; that’s about as close as words can point but even that’s false. All concepts are immediately duality and therefore, false.
Extremely subtle and so easily overlooked- so simple and very ordinary…
There seems to be some that are searching for an explosion of permanent bliss or supernatural powers as a confirmation. This is another story. Clinging to the idea of achieving a ‘stateless’ state is another trap. Abandon the search because there isn’t a goal to be reached. You ARE already THAT.
Who is SEEING/KNOWING?
Perhaps the thought: “I see” arises.
This is an extraordinarily subtle story.
The mind takes credit for SEEING/KNOWING.
Discard the thought “I see” and what’s left?
Discard the concept SEEING/KNOWING.
What’s left?
Perhaps in that open space of KNOWING a thought will arise:
“Is this it?”
Discard it.
Didn’t the thought appear on THAT?
SEEING/KNOWING cannot be grasped by the mind because thoughts appear on THAT.
The description that thoughts appear “on” THAT is still duality, which implies that thoughts can appear some place other than THAT. Can a thought exist without it being known? The thought and SEEING/KNOWING, seemingly two are ONE.
There isn’t an answer…
(do not stop there and cling to the story of “no answer”)
In response to the reader who left the anonymous post “So then what?”
Just THIS – without an explanation; that’s about as close as words can point but even that’s false. All concepts are immediately duality and therefore, false.
Extremely subtle and so easily overlooked- so simple and very ordinary…
There seems to be some that are searching for an explosion of permanent bliss or supernatural powers as a confirmation. This is another story. Clinging to the idea of achieving a ‘stateless’ state is another trap. Abandon the search because there isn’t a goal to be reached. You ARE already THAT.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
A Simple Experiment
Try this…..
Hold your breath
Turn your head –very slowly- until your head cannot turn anymore to the left
Then, rotate– very slowly – until your head cannot turn anymore to the right
Exhale.
Were there any worries or problems? Any sort of drama?
Was there a judgmental attitude of good/bad 'separate’ objects?
Was there a pure nakedness without labels? A pure recording?
Was this a direct experience or a belief?
Rest in THIS
SEEING/KNOWING....
Hold your breath
Turn your head –very slowly- until your head cannot turn anymore to the left
Then, rotate– very slowly – until your head cannot turn anymore to the right
Exhale.
Were there any worries or problems? Any sort of drama?
Was there a judgmental attitude of good/bad 'separate’ objects?
Was there a pure nakedness without labels? A pure recording?
Was this a direct experience or a belief?
Rest in THIS
SEEING/KNOWING....
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