The FREEDOM Blog

I came across a line of Ramana's where he compared trying to solve the problem of the mind by using the mind as something which simply 'fattens' the mind. I loved this thought and it reminded me of an image I have had recently of 'feeding the dream'. Attention is very much like food. It is an energy, and where our attention goes, that is being fed. It is one of the semi-true aspects of the 'Law of Attraction' that has been making such a hit lately. Where the attention goes, there is the outcome. That is what is being fed. Astavakra Samhita also states it very well, "ya matih sa gatih" - wherever the attention (mind, intention, etc.) there is the goal (outcome, etc.). So...what are you feeding? This is where the razor's edge comes in. It is a very fine line (as well as an enormous gorge) between putting the attention on and feeding the dream, or putting attention on and feeding the recognition of Reality. Every moment... EVERY MOMENT your atten...

Okay... Amar at the Indian store convinced me to take two samosas instead of one. So, you might consider this a guilt blog. If you don't know what a samosa is, you are missing one of the great Indian culinary delights, particularly if it is made well. Deep fried, vegetable savory...well spiced, just plain yummy. So, how is it that in the dream we are concerned with such things as culinary delights? Why not? So, I have a question for you: when you wake up in the morning, where does your dream go? Where does the dream you go? You recognize that it was just a dream and that it had no depth, no substance to it. Similarly, when you wake up from the waking dream, you recognize that it too has no substance to it. However, that doesn't change it. It doesn't necessarily go away...only the experiencer as a separate, localized and independent dreamer as seen as part of the dream scape. The you that disappears in the sleeping dream when you wake up in the morning, is no less substantia...

The other day, my brother in law, who is not philosophical by nature, sent my mind into an interesting story. He had come out to replace our toilet (in exchange for which my wife will sew him a new vest - his wifecan't sew, I don't do toilets). At one point he was taking a short break and was on the phone with a friend who had obviously said something to the effect that they were "Dealing with shit," to which my brother in law wisely replied, "That doesn't do any good, there's always more shit!" Indeed, I thought, there IS always more shit, and yet this is what all the world is trying to do - deal with their shit, as if, at some point there won't be any more. How ludicrous! There will ALWAYS be more shit. The end of shit is the end of the game, and there is no end of the game. The end of the game is called dying...and then you get another life, and try again. At least, that's the way it works in the games. Your character dies, and then you tr...

One of the primary difficulties when it comes to Enlightenment is that hardly anyone understands in the least what it is. For instance, I have often made the distinction between Mastery and Enlightenment, while 'Jed McKenna' makes the distinction between Mysticism and Enlightenment. Expanding those three a little, I would like to give a quick overview of what I'm calling the 5 M's : Morality Maturity Mastery Mysticism Moksha (Moksha being one of the Sanskrit words for Enlightenment and essential means 'Freedom') Many of these categories will have overlaps, and many 'individuals' overlap in where they 'are' or in their 'recognition' of these 5. But the general idea is that if you are seeking something, you better know what the heck that it is you're seeking. If you're not clear, you're not going to be even looking in the right place, and chances are extremely good you're going to get something that ISN'T enlightenment...

First, let me tell you about the miracle... I woke up. And I received a revelation... Everyone can wake up. And what's more... All the 'problems' in the world are due to being asleep, i.e. not knowing who they are, truly as simply the dream of the Absolute. However, the great revelation continued (it was a voice...I heard it in my head as plainly as I hear you groaning right now). It said to me, "Aja, get everyone to come together and we can create another miracle. Get everyone to come together at a particular time and recognize who they are and the entire world can wake up from the dream." "WHEN?" I asked. "Why, Right Now in This Moment!" "Which moment?" I pleaded. "This moment. What other moment is there, bozo?" "But," I remonstrated, "aren't some moments more spiritual than others?" "Yes, of course. This moment, Right Now, is (according to our incredible celestial and cool calculations, and t...

Ooh! Ooh! I've done it again. I seem to have gotten myself in trouble for telling the truth (well, at least my truth). Is there an ultimate Truth? Only God knows. And I get the picture of God sitting alone wondering whether he/she exists - "Most of the people I talk to can't hear me or don't believe it's Me, and half of those who claim I talk to them, I wouldn't give the time of day to. Hmmm?! I wonder if I do exist?" The last few days have been interesting. A wonderful friend wrote me that to him, a friend is, "One with whom I can think out loud," in other words, someone who is totally non-judgmental, totally accepting, etc. In the last day, I have been accused of chewing on rotting corpses, overly flirting, being too ordinary (for an enlightened teacher), and on and on. I recently wrote about 'Being As You Are", and I guess I'd have to say how fascinating it is to see how delightfully the Universe responds: I Am as I Is, and the ...

First, a major caveat: This is not about awakening in the traditional sense. In other words, it is not about exploring consciousness, recognizing who you are, in the Radical Enlightenment way. However, what we are about is Truth. More than anything, our life has been dedicated to the pursuit of what is Truth, what is real, and sometimes this incorporates what is part of the apparent dream. Everything is part of the great Lila, the divine dance. To hide from any aspect is to hide from Truth. So, sometimes it is necessary to ask oneself - are you truly seeking Truth, in EVERY aspect, or are you seeking mollification and escapism? It's all an illusion, right! So whatever happens in the dream is only a dream. If you are sure of this, then truly let it all go and totally retreat into the pure essence of consciousness without stopping. However, if you are only seeking happiness (i.e. pleasure and pleasantries in the name of spirituality) then you are NOT seeking Truth. Truth comes in m...