Shanti, this just shifts the mind to another level of control, as it dutifully starts searching for the true self. It’s got to be, as you say, absent-minded tooth brushing. Or, maybe even better, sit in the chair and let the cosmic barber do his work. That’s it. Don’t add on. Any adding on just shifts the camera position. In other words: “don’t just do something, STAND there!”
Yogani, do you really think the group thing is the way to disseminate AYP? It would heighten the focus on experiences (because participants will share them - really, that’s all they’d have to talk about), and, as we’ve seen, even very experienced AYP practitioners have loads of experiential aims.
You had the great insight of not focusing on “feelings” during practice, but, rather, on feelings during subsequent real-world engagement. So maybe folks ought to meditate solo, then have AYP cocktail parties where they talk about sports and politics, and give each other feedback, week by week, on their apparent social smoothness.
Hi Jim:
AYP groups and gatherings are inevitable. They will happen even if they are not mentioned. And there are real benefits, as many are noticing. Indeed, group practice is a powerful tool to help accelerate the rise of world consciousness.
We really haven’t scratched the surface yet in AYP on groups, retreats, and organized educational programs. There are endless possibilities – all of them good for raising individual and world consciousness.
All of these things need some structure, and we are in the very early stages of filling it in. Several have gone on retreats and have asked for routines to do there, and suggestions have been offered to optimize progress and avoid overloads in an intensive practice situation. I can see large AYP group retreats someday. There is so much to do! Eventually it will be done, definitely not all by me.
As for the open discussions on experiences, it’s sort of like democracy, you know … sometimes messy, but much better than the alternative. Some of us old timers have seen the alternative, living under hierarchies that prohibit discussions on experiences, and it does not work.
As long as we are clear about real spiritual progress being beyond the multitude of our experiences, no matter how long it takes us to catch on, eventually we will. It was mentioned way early in the original AYP lessons – experiences will be there and we will favor the practice. The way I see it, we can’t hide from our own evolutionary process. The more we know about it the better. If we try and sweep it under the rug, what good will it do? The rug is an experience too!
It is the same with the guru. No matter what we say, many will stay focused on the external guru. That’s okay. But where is the guru really? Inside, beyond our external experiences of guru. It is the same thing. In time, we grow and understand what is real and what is a reflection of our inner condition and bhakti. In stillness we know.
In the meantime, we can talk about it. It is good for our motivation to see the signposts along the highway, ours or someone else’s, as long as we don’t get stuck staring at them. Better to be practicing than gawking at the scenery. 
The guru is in you.
It’s been 4 months since we started this meditation group. Just thought I would share something…
Last Friday we were talking about meditation during our regular group meeting…
All of these ladies have been doing 20 min med every day generally twice… along with asanas and alternate nostril breathing… nothing else… no spinal breathing, no mudra or bandhas… they have all told me that they feel they are changing… they have become calmer in their reactions and daily life… they surprise themselves sometimes by how they react to situations now… So, like Yogani says in his books and lessons… meditation is the main thing and it can take you all the way… well that is true… it can change you more that you think possible… They are all 100% converted meditation-er… if there is any such thing… they all look forward to being together on Friday… and try their best not to miss any of their sessions at home or the group meetings…
Thank you Yogani… for introducing us all to such a wonderful and powerful thing.