https://youtu.be/4KXidr0z1RY
Christi,
Thanks for the reassurance about Advaita. I don’t think I am ‘ripe’ to really get it yet - I still lose myself in pointless intellectual striving to understand it. The link I have given above is to a very amusing cartoon called ‘the Advaita trap’ and clearly shows how it can all go wrong. It served as a useful warning to me years ago when I met someone who became quite joyless by going down that path. I’ll just keep practicing and hope to’ripen’.
I really appreciate all of the engagement from each of you.
Christi, Your reminder that relational self inquiry and the awakening of non dual awareness requires ripeness in the seeker has been something I’ve taken to heart. I have incorporated “I thought, who am I” into my Samyama practice and will just continue on without any additional focus on this until it calls to me.
Maheswari, I was just being playful in describing you as the stern Zen teacher. I do not know you beyond your words but appreciate the opportunity to interact with you and gain insight from the struggle in trying to understand your perspective. I do realize the ultimate goal is abandoning trying to understand. I enjoyed your plain croissant analogy.
Didier, Nice to see you join the conversation. I do recall lesson 258 really speaking to me. If you look at some of my posts over the last couple years you will see ecstatic conductivity has been a gift and a source of fear for me. I have come to trust in Yogani’s teachings as everything he has shared has come true. I hope you are able to find the balance with your EC as it really is a gift. You may just need to dial things back.
The contradiction between different spiritual statements is similar with the problem of giving reports about an elephant in the dark. These statements are evolving perspectives on the same path. It is good to know that our beliefs about the reality and our self-identity evolve. We may see the mind as a mirror covered by dust that can be removed with practices to allow the true nature shine. The perfect Buddha nature is there, unaltered. We may get to a point to see that nothing really affects our true nature – and any problem was due to a misunderstanding. Our evolving beliefs and identity are rings on a spiritual ladder: we have to let go of the previous one to reach for the higher ring, hold on it, and eventually push and let go of it.
There is a subtle judgement that the advaita perspective is somehow better than others. It is just another step, and another invitation to let go – or hang on for dear life and get stuck. 
It is good to recognize that others go through these steps just like we have done, and not push concepts or realizations that are not true for them and/or us. It is not enough to say “there is no problem, everything is perfect” and so on. As the saying goes, “Do not mistake understanding for realization, or realization for liberation.”
Along the way, one constant remains: meditation. 
Blanche, Thank you! This is a beautiful way to reframe this issue.