Hello Folks,
I have had the good fortune of meeting someone recently that had the experience of THAT ( I AM THAT, all this is THAT).
He has been discussing this with me for a bit; had this experience for ~4 months, and then ‘retuned’. Thought to share just a snippet for your consideration. It happened suddenly, I was driving back home when I remembered the I Am That, by Nisargadatta, and without advice I was “THERE”. I realized that the book was written just for me, but not me John, but for “me” the non dual reality. There are no others, and there is no “I”.
I asked him if he had any guidence for an aspirant that wished to experience this himself/herself, he said the following:
Since I didnt reached the peace associated to THAT I would refrain myself as for giving any guidance. Still, this would be my best: Be attentive to the moment. Don’t forget that you are being attentive. Be even more attentive when you realize you are being attentive. Attention is the key.
I then asked, what about the individual that is looking for a ‘smooth ride’? to I AM THAT, he said, Be ready to see something that goes well beyond anything you can imagine. One thing is to think about non duality, and another, VERY DIFFERENT is to actually see it. I would say that its like have lived without sight for all your life and then, because an advance treatment, begin to see for the first time. Whatever you thought it was going to be the “light” it is not!
more if there is interest.
Okay, Frank, this is probably THE naive post of the month, but haven’t we all had minor experiences of That? That is, anyone who’s acquired a degree of inner silence? I’ve had brief nano-moments during meditation, and sometimes in my external life, where I encounter - as in brush up against - a realization that might easily be expressed with the words I AM THAT. But by the time I finish the thought and cross the T, the realization is gone. The aftershocks are stunning in themselves; indeed, maybe all I can handle at this point.
So with the above in mind, your friend’s experience doesn’t floor me, unless he was able to linger there for a spell. Plz correct any confusions on my part.
Non-duality follows the perception of emptiness. Penetrate THAT.
Thanks, Frank.
You mean to tell me that these brushes I’ve had are mere shadows of THat? Wow. That’s pretty profound. Are you quite sure of this? Yes, Frank - I’d like to hear more of what our friend said.
Sure? No. I take it on faith from things I’ve read and heard from people whose experiences struck me as on the money.
Plus increasing intuition.
All we perceive and all we think is in mind, mind, mind. And this prison of mind is a mere energetic burp, an inconsequential side effect to an overeager organ (the brain, wise guy). That I know to be true. But I know it with my mind, so I can’t be “sure” of anything. What’s the uncolored, unfiltered direct raw experience of things, devoid of mental processing? Who am I when I stop clinging for dear life to the delusion that I am my cognitive, narrative, grasping/recoiling self image? That’s what all the mystic dudes are talking about…but can’t do so adequately because description is exactly that same coloring, filtering, cognating, narrating, processing, etc. It’s labeling that got us into this mess to begin with.
Are you sure that suffering is needless? Wouldn’t you say that we suffer according to our needs? And in spite of it all, wouldn’t you say the whole mess is incredibly beautiful? As you’ve said - what are we gonna do? Drop the paintbrush, or keep painting?
It’s all needless. It all just “is”. And it’s all unimaginably beautiful, regardless.
Those with sufficient perspective to see this don’t discriminate. They see beyond the dichotomies of pain and pleasure, and therefore pain can’t make them suffer (this isn’t “enlightenment”, btw…I’m nowhere near enlightened, but I can inhabit this particular truth a lot of the time, if not continuously, so I’m giiving it to you straight!).
Those who lack that perspective torture themselves. That’s what suffering is: needless self-torture. And the process of gaining perpective connects you somewhat more directly to the love in which we all steep. And that triggers a deep impulse to help alleviate that needless suffering.
It’s all perfect exactly as-is, with suffering and everything. Every color belongs in this painting we’re all collaborating on (even ugly painful ones). But as we gain perspective on things, we naturally begin to paint in the color of compassion. It’s just what we do. It’s how it works.
Dropping the paintbrush is always an option. But that itself is a gesture of beauty. You can’t stand apart from the beauty. Not for a moment. Even if you’re dressed sloppy and screaming at your kid in the shopping mall.
Frank in SD said:
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Be ready to see something that goes well beyond anything you can imagine. One thing is to think about non duality, and another, VERY DIFFERENT is to actually see it. I would say that its like have lived without sight for all your life and then, because an advance treatment, begin to see for the first time. Whatever you thought it was going to be the “light” it is not!
more if there is interest.
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Yes, there is interest. Please do continue…
Light and Love,
Kathy
I’d just like to note that Nisargadatta was the teacher of that Sailor Bob guy I’m always going on about. A great lineage of non-dualism.
How’d you meet him, Frank?
Hi Frank,
Thank you for sharing… Dont stop, keep going… It may be a common every day experience for some here, but not for me. So please do tell us more.
-Shanti.
Wow. Very powerful. I take it that this guy has no real ego struggles. It sounds like he’s completely empty/open/receptive. What is it that brings a person to that place, anyway? Is it diligence? Pure grace? Is it like asking what makes a Mozart?
Thank You Frank… it must have been wonderful talking to him. Sometimes I wonder how much is involved in getting to this point that John is in. I wonder how it must feel to not see all your life and then suddenly its all there… and to think of it… it is all here… we just don’t see it… I am glad you had a chance to meet John and you are at a point of awareness where you can ask such beautiful questions and you understand what he is talking about and can appreciate it. Thank you for sharing your conversation with him, with us.
Pranams.
-Shweta
