Ego

Before enlightenment ---- Chopping wood fetching water
After enlightenment ------Chopping wood fetching water

So what has changed?
Perecption has, the world is no longer seen through the lens of ego mind.
The famous Zen pictures of herding oxen, the beast is tamed.

Yoga is union with God
In India there is a linage of Masters goin back thousands of years
The traditional way is to study under a master

There are various yogas some of the heart and some of the mind.
Advaita is the removal of mind by the mind.

The method suggested by Ramana is Self enquiry, Searching within for the answer to the question "Who am I?"
So the student spends many years learning from the master and all bing well eventually becomes a master.
The master can say that the world is the same but perception has changed.

Nothing is taken personally life goes on as before but attitude is entirely different as there is no person left.
There is no enemy out there.

Ego requires identification with the me story, Advaita removes that idea or atleast tames ego to the degree that the mind is quiet.
So the paradox is that a teacher can say "Just be in the moment", total acceptance of what is, but it took years of study under a master to get the quiet mind.
The Indians call the usual state of mind "The monkey mind"

The path of heart is complete humility and devotion to God.

Yogananda advocated and taught Kriya yoga as science,
The thread "A spiritual diary" here is full of his teaching.
His most famous books "An autobiography of a Yogii" and "Divine romance"
.Both well worth reading.

Sepia in another thread here out lines the various pathways.

Science is now catching up see the video a litle further back " Science = Energy = God"
In it the speaker read a book which stated that Yogis thousands of years back shrank their consciousness in meditation to investigate the atom and found within a vortex, the speaker then persued that truth through scientific research.

Th enlightened state is normal, our state abnormal.
Followers of a teacher see it as special, it is not but it is an entirely differnt state which takes time to enter, concepts and belief systems are removed by ones effort and the grace of God
We all have that seed within but it has to be nurtured.

The advice is "Take one step towards God and He will take ten towards you"
One Master was asked "Are you God?" the answer "Yes but so are you but you dont know it yet"

It can be talked about but then it becomes a concept, only subjective experience gives that knowing.

Enlightenment has various level of spiritual energy but is seen as kindergarten by even higher states.

We are in the university of consciousness here and when we grauate we go on to celestial realms to continue our journey.
We can only go so far here as planet Earth is comparatively low vibration very dense, much negativity, violence, ego.

In the west enlightened teachers are not common so it is not that easy to get a master to study under.
it takes enormous spiritual energy to overcome the ego so the master could be considered to be at high voltage and through entrainment lifts the voltage of the student.

The ego will disregard what does not suit it
It thinks it can be an enlightened ego it thinks it master.
No the ego can not be enlightened it is the obstacle to be transcended.

Eckhart says that the words that flow through him have some infromation value but are just the carrier of the energy of enlightenment.
It is all down to spiritual vibration.

However the overall spiritual vibration is being raised and it would seem some separation is occurring.

The violence increasing but so is compassion.

If Dolores Cannon and some others are to be believed we are heading for a new earth.
It would seem that we are heading for an event where many will be enlightened.

Let us pray and hope so.

Namaste

Once a person seriously commits to the search for spiritual truth, life changes radically, basic needs are met.
There is a sense of freedom unknown before.

A story

Yogananda was giving a talk a Carnegie Hall New York
Some intuition told him to remove anything of value from his coat. He did.
When he came to get the coat which was a present from his students it had gone.
He was not pleased.
His friends seeing his displeasure said "Dont worry we will get you another"

"Its not that" he said

They left me with the responsibility of the hat and gloves.


We can have any material thing as long as we are not attached to it.
Some times we have to loose all before we get that.
Then slowly but surely, without wanting any thing, life improves materially.

We dont have a car but I have a free bus pass.
I dont have to park it, I dont have to insure it, I dont have to maintain it, I dont have to put diesel in it, I dont have to drive it -- the bus company does.

Aint life good!!!!!

Chris

Ps I have a gratitude prayer at night which keeps me on track.
I start with the moment I open my eyes and make my way through the whole day.
Its amazing what you can find in a day that is good and wholesome if you really look

At one point in my life I was really low -- as a child I nearly died twice.

Dad saw me sinking into despair.

He said
"Count not your past misfortunes, of which you have had a few, but count your present blessings of which there are many."

His childhood was so bad he ran away from home age 15, lied about his age, joined the Royal Navy and was at the Battle of Jutland in HMS Hood 6 weeks later, and I though I had a raw deal --- Ha Ha

Humans we are not!!!

We tend to forget that we are spirit --- consciousness having a human experience.

While we are here we are bound by the Cosmic law governing human experience.

In the words of Christ -- "Wear the world like a loose garment"

Why worry about 2012 and all that goes with this incarnation - we chose all the highlights of this embodiment.
Some challenging, some joyful, some difficult, some requiring courage, many rewarding moments.

In a fearless state enjoy the moment whatever it brings.

Thanks Mudra for reminding me of the essence of this

Chris
Namaste

Who's Driving the Dream Bus

a trailer for a great film

Namaste

I dont know but I know some one who does.
That I means that I dont have subjective experience of enlightenment.
It is beyond the mind to understand it

However
From what I have read over the years and some personal experience I would say that there is only one consciousness which we all share.
So assuming this to be correct duality is an illusion.

Our perception is flawed so we dont see things as they really are.
I am learning to see things in a different way.

Much has been written on this allready here by various contributors and some videos as well
Who is driving the dream bus? is good

You could use a sliding scale like a thermometer.
So that cold is not seen as an opposite to heat just less of it

Same with light --- extremely bright down to dim then absence of light.

Dark has no existence, it can not be shone but light can be.

Enlightenment is a change in perception that happens when duality is transcended -- that is not easy.

It is my belief that unity consciousness already exists we just are not aware of it.

A Course in Miracles says "The moment you take up a position know that you are identifying with an illusion"

Ramana Maharishi quote " Creation and dissolution never happened"

Eckhart Tolle "There was never anyone out there to do you anything to you"

There no enemy

So its a question in our world of what is appropriate action to any perceived event.
even then non duality can be applied --- very appropriate all the way down down to lack of being appropriate.

So this would not be appropriate to say on some other threads Its a question of what is helpful there.
What is helpful to one is not to another "person"
With enlightenment there is no person left-- no individualism only unified consciousness.

Where would the ego be with out its dearly held opinion on everything????? LOL

Chris

A young girl speaks on ego and meditation

This is a lovely video Chris .
It is great to hear innocence speak .
Good to see you my friend

Love for you
mudra

This is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this.

greybeard wrote:A young girl speaks on ego and meditation

Be true, be you!

What a great advice from this good soul!



Be true ( this means be who you are ,remember who you are- the divine child)
Be you ( you are Love for you are born of Love and God is Love)


Matthew 21:16

They said to him, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" Jesus replied, "Yes, I do. Have you never read, 'From the mouths of little children and infants, you have created praise'?"

great to read your poems Beren

Our friendship is valued

Yes out of the mouth of babes.

I am very positive about our future.

Chris

greybeard wrote:great to read your poems Beren

Our friendship is valued

Yes out of the mouth of babes.

I am very positive about our future.

Chris

Me too friend, me too! 
:-)I have a statement , may it be engraved into humanity `s conscience and pillars of universe!
Fare thee well, all of the bad times, good times and all in the past, I leave you and thank you and even you ego, yes you!I couln`t made it without you so thank you for I realized that I am.Fare thee well into other dimensions , all of you -duality`s fears, struggles and miseries, all of half truths and naked lies, all horrors of less being choices instead of more being choices and all fear based actions. You all served well your purpose, you showed that I as a soul am not of you and for you. I `m going home to where I belong - to Love- into I am.

Beren wrote:
Me too friend, me too! 
:-)I have a statement , may it be engraved into humanity `s conscience and pillars of universe!
Fare thee well, all of the bad times, good times and all in the past, I leave you and thank you and even you ego, yes you!I couln`t made it without you so thank you for I realized that I am.Fare thee well into other dimensions , all of you -duality`s fears, struggles and miseries, all of half truths and naked lies, all horrors of less being choices instead of more being choices and all fear based actions. You all served well your purpose, you showed that I as a soul am not of you and for you. I `m going home to where I belong - to Love- into I am.

namaste
devakas
with

full movie

THE COLOR OF PARADISE (1-19)

Mohammad joyfully returns to his tiny village on summer vacation from the Institute for the Blind, unaware of his widowed father's intentions to disown him in order to win the hand-and dowry- of a local woman. With the wedding swiftly approaching, Mohammad's future hangs precariously in the balance as his father struggles against his destiny, unable to see the wonder of life and love that's so clear to his son

“What the ego cannot lift with all its might is like a feather to the Grace of God.” (Transcending the Levels of Consciousness, p. 56) David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

“Straight and narrow is the path … waste no time.” David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

For Atheists

You never know the day nor the hour.

Laughing

We can get too serious.
Best wishes Chris

An atheist was walking through the woods.

'What majestic trees!
'What powerful rivers !
'What beautiful animals!
He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him.

He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him..

He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer.

He tripped & fell on the ground.

He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him.

At that instant the Atheist cried out,
'Oh my God!'

Time stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky.

'You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident.
'Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament?

Am I to count you as a believer?'

The atheist looked directly into the light, 'It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian'?

'Very well,' said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed.. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke:



'Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen'.

greybeard wrote: For Atheists

You never know the day nor the hour.

Laughing

We can get too serious.
Best wishes Chris

An atheist was walking through the woods.

'What majestic trees!
'What powerful rivers !
'What beautiful animals!
He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him.

He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him..

He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer.

He tripped & fell on the ground.

He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him.

At that instant the Atheist cried out,
'Oh my God!'

Time stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky.

'You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident.
'Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament?

Am I to count you as a believer?'

The atheist looked directly into the light, 'It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian'?

'Very well,' said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed.. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke:



'Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen'.

Well you can`t escape your own choices...

He he nice one ... reminds me of this one Chris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O6RizcAigs


Love for you
mudra

You could compare the energy of God to electricity and the person to a light bulb.
Some light bulbs shine exceedingly bright some are dim.
Same electricity.
Whats the difference?
In the 40watt bulb there is a lot of resistance.
In the brilliant light bulb there is very little.

So we can resist the power of God or let it flow through.
The enlightened one who is ego less is a clear channel for that power to flow.
The ego sets up the degree of resistance.
The enlightened light up the life of all (collective consciousness.)
Yet Eckhart Tolle has likened enlightenment in this heavy density world to "graduating into kindergarten", it is only a start, yet seems complete.
Eckhart also says that the ego begins the spiritual search because it thinks it is going to be an enlightened ego, there is no ego left at the end of it, and the ego being the person-- there is no person left to claim enlightenment.
Chris

This is fascinating

Barely on topic but well worth the watching

Chris

Rupert Sheldrake
I am enjoying these last two posts you made Chris .
The one before ... very much Aikido style : being the flow rather
than the resistance .

Thank You


Love from me
mudra

Great video Cris. Thanks for sharing. amazing message

much respect
devakas

Originally Posted by Eternal_One at Avalon

"How does one seek union with God?"

"The harder you seek, the more distance you create between Him and you."

"So what does one do about the distance?"

"Understand that it isn’t there."

"Does that mean that God and I are one?"

"Not one. Not two."

"How is that possible?"

"The sun and its light, the ocean and the wave, the singer and his song. Not one. Not two."

Talk given by "me" on a new web site "Wash Your Brain"
The site is to assist and support people waking up.

Chris

http://www.washyourbrain.org/Wash_Your_Brain/home/Entries/2011/7/27_WAKING_UP!.html