The Seer

Silently and serenely one forgets all words;
Clearly and vividly That appears
When one realizes it, it is vast and without edges;
In its Essence, one is clearly aware.
Singularly reflecting is this bright awareness,
Full of wonder is this pure reflection.
Dew and moon,
Stars and streams,
Snow on pine trees,
And clouds hovering on the mountain peaks.
In this reflection all intentional efforts vanish.
Serenity is the final word of all the teachings;
Reflection is the response to all manifestations.

~ Hung-chih Cheng-chueh (1091 – 1157)

A man bought a hundred-hectare place in the country and settled down to farm it. A year later he sold it and moved back to town. One day, he met a friend on the street. “Back to town again?” asked his friend. “I thought you were a farmer.” “You made the same mistake I did,” the man said. ~ Anon.

“All that a guru can tell you is: ‘My dear Sir (or Madam), you are quite mistaken about yourself. You are not the person you take yourself to be.’” ~ Sri Nisargaddatta Maharaj

“A man’s errors are his portals of discovery.” ~ James Joyce

“Never confuse a single mistake with a final mistake.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

“There are only two mistakes one can make in regard to the road to Truth: not starting, and, not going all the way.” ~ Adyashanti

Our modern Western society is now seriously fragmented into four embattled ideological camps, each vying for the minds of the people, each trying to have its views become normative for society as a whole.

These four camps are: 1) mainstream theist religion (with its sub-camps: Christianity, Judaism and Islam — each of which is further split into different denominations); 2) an amorphous New Age movement; 3) scientific/rationalist secularism; and 4) postmodernism (in both its secular and quasi-spiritual forms).

Each ideological camp possesses certain virtues and certain limitations.

So … which of these four basic ideological camps am I favorably biased toward? All and none. I see advantages and disadvantages to each position. I want to completely affirm what is positive about each of these camps, but, because of their serious limitations, I prefer a way beyond all of them — the Perennial Philosophy / Psychology or Primordial Tradition.

This is that esoteric or mystical way of enlightened adepts, found within all the sacred traditions, who live and teach from the context of authentic God-Realization. I want to celebrate and proclaim what these greatest sages and saints have discovered and so beautifully exemplified. We can be enormously enriched by their virtuous life-examples and inspiring wisdom-teachings, which comprise the real gold shining in a glitz-darkened world.

Anyone who resonates with the mystic Traditionalist / Perennialist view will not be enamored of scientism (scientific reductionist materialism), though a mystic-traditionalist will appreciate the scientific method and careful thinking. Nor will a mystic go along completely with the postmodernists, though appreciative of their Zen-like sense of “indeterminancy,” “non-knowing,” emptiness and “this-ness” and deconstructive stance toward phenomena, dogmas and institutions.

Nor will a mystic be enthused by non-mystical, institutionalized religions, though appreciative of their many exceedingly positive contributions for the individual and the commonweal. Nor will a mystic be impressed by New Agers who invent their own religions or sects based on a few “peak / peek” experiences, fancy thinking and garish gimmickry, though a mystic will appreciate the new, open attitude that New Age circles have catalyzed in our society.

Mystic-traditionalists cherish excellence and find themselves being critical of mediocrity, especially in the fields of psychology and spirituality, where mediocrity often runs amok. A mystic clearly sees the potential in each and every person for so much joy, fulfillment and beatitude, and yet so much of this potential goes unrealized, especially when people explore unfruitful or limited psychological and religious paths.

Though I align with the Traditionalist camp of the Perennial Wisdom, like the mystics in whose footsteps I endeavor to follow, I also tend to be a pragmatist. My attitude: whatever truly works or gets results in wholeness / holiness, then use it. This might consist in devotional surrender to the Beloved, selfless service to one’s community, detached mindfulness or witnessing of the flow of experience, formless contemplation, penetrating self-enquiry (“Who Am I?”), radical stillness / relaxation, group chanting, vision quests in nature, pilgrimage to sacred sites, or “letting go, letting God.”

It seems to me that the world’s religious traditions must be evaluated, not in terms of their membership numbers — it would be better to use percentages of authentically holy people, if that could ever reliably be determined — nor the lavishness of their pageantry and pomp, nor the impressiveness of their architecture and artwork, nor the cleverness of their theological or philosophical schemas. Rather, the traditions need to be evaluated on how effectively they free people from the trap of egotism and liberate them into godliness.

All else, to my mind, is ultimately irrelevant.

~ by Timothy Conway, Ph.D. (Excerpted from his book: Our Religions’ Future, Ch.1: Biases & Basic Issues in Spirituality, 2006.),

~ To read Tim’s unabridged paper on the West’s Four Ideologies and the Perennial Wisdom Tradition, >>> Click Here

Most religions promote humility as an essential quality necessary to gaining God’s favor. The Bible has at least 70 verses that refer to humility. For example, Luke 14:11 promises that those who humble themselves will be exalted and James 4:6 commands Christians to humble themselves before the Lord.

Although some in society still hold humility in high regard, its opposite, unabashed arrogance, has gained widespread acceptance over the last few decades. In fact, it often appears that those who indulge in the most narcissistic and conceited behavior are the most successful. Since “Godly humility” doesn’t appear to reap immediate rewards, but arrogance often does, many wonder if humility has any real value in our world. To answer that question, let’s take a closer look at what humility actually is.

The dictionary definition tells us humility consists of having a modest opinion of ourselves, our importance or our rank. A person who displays humility is thought by most to be meek, subdued, patient and long suffering. From the perspective of most societies, a humble person is one who may be highly accomplished, yet downgrades their accomplishments as insignificant.

The humble often refuse to accept well deserved praise or accolades, pointing out that others are far more deserving (whether they are or not). From a religious standpoint, the humble are expected to recognize their sinful state and consider themselves as nothing without the mercy of the Almighty.

When we look at these definitions, we cannot help but notice that humility often demands that we behave in an inconsistent (dishonest) manner. If we make an honest assessment, we may well feel that we’ve been very successful, but humility demands that we back off and degrade what we have done in the eyes of others. Sometimes this comes off as mock humility, just a backhanded way of tooting our own horn.

But when we believe we have no right to own our accomplishments and constantly downgrade what we’ve done in the eyes of others, it can also cause us to devalue ourselves. We become afraid to accept praise because others might think we’re arrogant, ignoring the fact that there is a wide rift between an honest self-appraisal and arrogance.

Arrogance makes much out of very little, relying on the willingness of others to accept the egotistical person’s own inflated sense of self. But there’s no need for us to be dishonest with ourselves or swing wildly on the pendulum of humility and arrogance.

Instead, we can learn much by discovering the spiritual view of humility.

Consider the words of Rumi: “Abandon all arrogance, all vanity, and acquire Majesty.”

At first glance, his statement makes no sense. How could we give up arrogance and vanity to gain majesty? We can understand if we stop looking at humility from the standpoint of separation and view it in terms of oneness. If you’ve read our blog before, you already know quantum research has demonstrated that we live in a universe of indivisible, interconnected oneness.

The human eye and brain limit us to ’seeing’ a world of separate forms. But material forms are a virtual reality that overlays the Reality of quantum oneness. More important, that oneness is made of, permeated with, and sustained by the Divine. Therefore, everything in existence is the Divine.

Here is where humility takes on new meaning. We are the Divine, but do we truly agree with that statement and live in accordance with it? Or, do we argue that we are either too sinful to be Divine, or refuse to associate ourselves with the Divine, claiming instead that we came about by some cosmic accident?

Making either of these claims is vain and arrogant. After all, who has the right to tell us what we are? We can make all the claims we want to make, but the only valid assessment of who and what we are is the truth of our reality that emanates from the Divine.

It’s impossible for us to be more than we actually are, but it’s equally impossible for us to be less. When we consider that everything is the Divine, how can we see ourselves as either less or more than anything else in existence?

How can our talents, abilities and accomplishments be either less or more than an indivisible part of Divine oneness? Enjoy them, but see all talents, accomplishments and abilities from the standpoint of oneness. When we do that, we can work in unity for the highest good of all without being caught up in either arrogance or mock humility.

Of course in oneness, there is no place for sin and no need of salvation. All we need do is wake up to our Divine oneness. In oneness, humble worship becomes a ridiculous concept. Awe at the magnificence of All That Is, is reasonable, but so is the recognition that you are that magnificence.

From a spiritual standpoint, humility is the recognition and acceptance of Divine oneness, to see that oneness in everything in existence, and the sincere attempt to live in accord with that knowledge. Be humble; claim your majesty.

• One matter, one energy, one Light, one Light-mind, endlessly emanating all things—Rumi
• God is not external to anyone or anything, but exists in everyone and is in all things—Plotinus
• The Lord of Love is the one Self of all. Realize the Self hidden in the heart and cut asunder the knot of ignorance here and now—Mundaka Upanishad
• You are within God and God is within you. You could not be where God is not—Peace Pilgrim
• I am the Self in the heart of every creature—Bhagavad Gita
• At the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and this center is everywhere, it is within each of us—Black Elk
• God is one; and he himself does not … exist outside the world, but in it … being wholly present … the animating soul of the universe—Pythagoras
• I saw my lord with the eye of my heart and I said, “Who art thou?” And he said, “Thou.”—Al-Hallaj
• God’s kingdom is inside you and outside you.—Jesus, Gospel of Thomas

~ by Lee & Steven Hager TheBeginningofFearlessness.com

‘Stillness’ — An Interview with Mukti by Renate McNay of Conscious.TV in the UK.

Mukti, a Californian spiritual teacher of Irish descent is married to Adyashanti. Their teaching in Australia in 2007 is still much appreciated.

Mukti had an early yearning to know God. She felt a fire in herself to find a direct experience of the Divine. This led to her discovering her true nature — an awareness that recognised itself as ‘emptiness’.

If the video does not appear above: Click Here

You can read more about Mukti and what she has to say on ’spiritual marriage’, >>>HERE

Within Wisdom is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, active, incisive, unsullied, lucid, invulnerable, benevolent, sharp, irresistible, beneficent, loving to man, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, all-surveying, penetrating all intelligent, pure, and subtle spirits; for Wisdom is more mobile than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates all things.

She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; hence nothing impure can find a way into her.

She is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, image of his goodness.

Although alone, she can do all; herself unchanging, she makes all things new.

In each generation she passes into holy souls, she makes them friends of God and prophets; for God loves the man who lives with Wisdom.

She is indeed more splendid than the sun, she outshines all the constellations; compared with light, she takes first place, for light must yield to night, but over Wisdom, darkness can never triumph.

She deploys her strength from one end of the earth to the other, ordering all things for good.

Her I loved and sought after from my youth; I sought to take her for my bride and was enamoured of her beauty.

She glorifies her noble birth by living with God; and the Lord of all loves her.

For she is instructress in the understanding of God; and an associate in his works.

And if riches be a desirable possession in life, what is more rich than Wisdom, who produces all things?

Therefore I determined to take her to live with me.

~ From: The Book of Wisdom (7:22 – 8:5). Thought to be written in the 1st or 2nd cent. BCE, by an author unknown.

Love all and hate none.
Mere talk of peace will avail you naught.
Mere talk of God and religion will not take you far.
Bring out all the latent powers of your being
and reveal the full magnificence of your immortal self.
Be overflowing with peace and joy,
and scatter them wherever you are
and wherever you go.
Be a blazing fire of truth,
be a beauteous blossom of love
and be a soothing balm of peace.
With your spiritual light,
dispel the darkness of ignorance;
dissolve the clouds of discord and war
and spread goodwill, peace, and harmony among the people.
Never seek any help, charity, or favors
from anybody except God.
Never go the court of kings,
but never refuse to bless and help the needy and the poor,
the widow, and the orphan, if they come to your door.¨
This is your mission, to serve the people…..
Carry it out dutifully and courageously,
so that I, as your Pir-o-Murshid,
may not be ashamed of any shortcomings on your part
before the Almighty God and our holy predecessors
in the Silsila [lineage] on the Day of Judgment.

~ The final discourse of the Sufi master, Khwaja Mu’inuddin Chishti, to his students, one month before his death. From: Sayings of Hazrat Khwaja Mu’inuddin Hasan Chishti

On the human level, many give their lives in dedicated selfless service of mankind, and there’s nothing more noble than this. But Jesus said, despite all he did, “Greater works than these shall ye do,” and that is where the work, the consciousness, the vision, and the awareness of the mystic comes in.

Indeed, “among all those born of woman [the mortal] there is none greater than John the Baptist; yet even the very least in the kingdom is greater than he.” Such is the kingdom of Consciousness.

Universal Christ-Consciousness constitutes the true nature of Individual Being and is that towards which we journey. It is the coming of that Day of Awakening for which we must prepare, the awakening to Christ within ourselves; then the realization of Its omnipresence, the omnipresence of the One Indivisible Life.

This is the goal and Call of God in man, the life and world God intended for Man.

Any sense of waiting for “Christ to come” or the “Messiah to return” is but the out-picturing and perpetuation of man’s ignorant belief that Christ, “The Messiah” of every faith, is not ever present; as if Reality ever went anywhere and if only Reality could come back, all would be well.

Yet how many there are who well-meaningly entertain such a belief, thereby overlooking the original revelation of the Masters of all religion throughout all time that God constitutes Individual Being and is ever present.

Awakening reveals the nature of “this world” as a state of hypnotism, and the true nature of Man as eternal through his oneness with God.

“I and the Father are One” is not a personalized reference, true of one man alone, and is certainly not true of any “person,” no matter who, but the truth of Individual Being universally. When Jesus admonished, “Why callest thou me good? There is but One Good, thy Father in heaven,” he was revealing the good in us all through the Father of us all, rendering us all Children of the same Father.

Then when he went on to say, “but I go unto my Father and your Father, unto my God and your God,” he was saying that all, unconditionally, are children of the One Father and as such, each one an emanation and offspring of the fullness of God; that we are all Children of God, “My Beloved Son,” that One in all, that One that is all, “in whom I am well pleased,” who through true recognition is known to be none other than Christ, the “Son of the Living God.”

It’s a state of being, potentially available to and attainable by all men, in which man realizes and experiences himself as that One Divine Presence. It is a dissolution of all that man the mortal has ever known and a revelation of all that Man the Immortal truly IS and has ever been.

It is Man’s true eternal Identity as the Child, or Son, of God.

~ From: The Day of Awakening, by Tony Titshall. See: TonyTitshall.com

Due to a prolonged dry spell in nearby forest areas, the leafy outer suburbs of a certain city in southern Australia were invaded by hoards of bush possums.

There were five places of worship in this part of the city: a Presbyterian Church, a Baptist Church, a Uniting Church , a Catholic Church, and a Jewish Synagogue.

Each church and synagogue was plagued with pesky possums that generally distracted worshippers and caused more than a little damage to property.

One day, the Presbyterians called a meeting to decide what to do about the possums. After much prayer and consideration they determined that the possums were predestined to be there and that God’s people shouldn’t presume to interfere with Divine Will.

In the Baptist Church, the possums had taken up habitation in the empty baptistery. The deacons met and decided to fill the baptistery in the hope that they could drown the possums, but they escaped somehow and took up noisy residence in the cavity under the roof.

The Uniting Church oversight committee got together, and decided that they weren’t in a position to harm any of God’s creation. So they humanely trapped the possums, and set them free a few miles away (nearer one of the other churches). Three days later, the possums were back.

The Catholic priest consulted with his bishop and together they came up with a fairly effective solution. The following week, the priest had the possums in his area rounded up, confirmed and registered as members of ‘The True Church’. Now he only sees them on Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday!

Not much was heard about the response to the incursion at the Jewish Synagogue, but finally the word got out that they had captured one possum early on and, before they let him go, the Rabbi and a few elders had a short service with him called Circumcision … and they haven’t seen a possum on or near their property since!

~ sent in by Marg Coombes-Pearce. Thanks Marg.

I don’t usually talk or write a lot about Oneness, since so many already do this so brilliantly. But I have a few musings today to offer on this subject just because Oneness has especially been in my awareness recently. I’ve been noticing how beautifully everyone plays their role in this life we are all living out on planet earth.

It amazes me how I’m provided with roads, food, the internet, someone to cut my hair and fix my computer, giant trucks to pick up my trash and keep up my city, dogs to keep me company and make me smile, a husband who loves me, information that comes to me from various places.

Everything that happens is support for my life and supports other people’s lives too. Isn’t it a miracle that what you and I offer the world also seems to be enough to provide us with this support? We are all contributing and we are all receiving.

We are all moved to contribute, and we are moved by something very mysterious. How is it possible for this immensely complex existence we are part of to function and actually support us? Isn’t this such a miracle! What good fortune to be born into a world that provides for us. Some would argue that it doesn’t do this very well, but truly, isn’t it amazing that it does it to the extent that it does!

It seems that something behind life moves each of us to contribute as we do. We have enough people doing the things that need to be done to make it all work. How does that happen? We didn’t all decide to be doctors, for instance. That would be too many doctors! Some of us had to be patients, anyway. What is behind our choosing to do what we do? Life is a great mystery.

When I can see that others are playing out their role perfectly (and, as a bonus, they’re doing it with their own personal style and unique personality), then I relax and can just let it happen as it is happening. Something much wiser than we are is making it all happen through us. How interesting! I think I will just enjoy the unfolding of the show in front of me. Maybe I’ll jump up and do something too. Who knows? It’s fun not knowing, especially when you realize that we are in good hands.

Even those who cause difficulty and trouble for others have a place in this mystery. They serve a role too. It’s hard to see how they are contributing, but at the very least they contribute to our growth and evolution by challenging us. And sometimes we are the one causing trouble and pain!

I will let the troublemakers be as they are too, since they are as they are. I will let them be part of this drama on earth, since they already are part of this drama. I might be moved to do something in response to them or not. We’ll see. It might be someone else’s role to respond instead.

We all have a part to play, and we just need to play that part. We can hardly not play our part. So I will let life be as it is and let it move me as it does, and I will revel in this great mystery in which I am participating and bring as much consciousness, gratitude, and joy to it as I can. To see the truth about life — that we are part of one Consciousness creating it all — is to be happy and at peace, and from that place of peace, it’s easy to love it all.

~ by Gina Lake from her Blog