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Simple – too simple for the grasping consciousness.
NOTICE for local Melbourne residents: John Wheeler will be in Melbourne from 18th to 25th September and those interested can meet him at Bob Adamson’s meetings during that period. Meetings are on Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings and Sunday Mornings. See Bob’s website for address and times.
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The following, in part, can be listened to on the Audio page – “Gilbert’s Note 1″.
There is nothing simpler than one. One without a second, that is what Advaita means. Dvaita is 2. With the A on the front it means NOT TWO. To explain it clearly they say One without a second, meaning that the use of the word one does not imply a second or third etc. The ancients also say “Space-like Awareness” and this means that awareness is like space. Space is nothing – no thing. It does not have a center or a circumference. There is no data point to measure volume or space, in space. So, this means that anything appearing in space is an apparent ‘location’ which may be relative to some other thing that appears in space. Science tells us that an electron cannot be determined to be in any specific location at any time. It appears as a ‘wave’ and then as a ‘particle’. Time is like space, in fact you can’t really divide them, except conceptually. Reference points in the mind are transient appearances and not one remains still or fixed in the mind.
Mind is a concept we use to describe what?
Mind is simply thoughts, concepts, ideas, memories and impressions registering.
Now when it comes to identity, we find the same equation that ‘fits’ space and time.
Where are you seeing from?
Can the idea of ‘me’ or ‘I’ actually see?
Seeing is happening and that does not have a beginning or an end. Like space it has no center and that is what needs to be discovered. The mind has no words for that experiencing – it is non conceptual awareness.
The Oneness that so many try to find is nowhere other than where the seeing is happening. It is clearly obvious that the view is One view. Even though there may be two eyes, the view is one view. If you draw the attention back into the space where seeing is apparently taking place, you find empty space. No thoughts clutter that space. No memories are piled up obscuring the view.
By simply bringing the attention to this obvious openness, all beliefs fall away.
Now, a ‘person’ is nothing but a belief in a form that has an apparent past. It is apparent duration. The ‘person’ is apparently conditioned. This belief can be exposed as a fiction by simply dropping thought and by simply being what you are in this immediacy, without referring to memory. The so called ‘great revelation’ that the so-called ‘Buddha’ experienced is nothing other than the naked seeing, or naked awareness.
“Self-Liberation through seeing with naked awareness” is an ancient expression handed down from Tibetan Dzogchen Buddhism. Dzogchen is radical and demolishes all the ‘paths’ and ‘traditions’ that are clung to by most Buddhists.
What is curious yet understandable is that teachings, such as Dzogchen are ignored or not even known about by most Buddhists. One could say that the average aspirant does not have the capacity to understand what these teaching are pointing out. If you have been following what has been written here and some resonance with it is present, that means that you are not one of those who lack the capacity to understand.
The grasping mind can NEVER get a clear understanding….NEVER.
Why? Because the very nature of belief that I must get something by some sort of effort, merely keeps the consciousness on a ‘path’, like a donkey with a carrot on a stick.
The belief in ‘me’ is the appearance of a seeker. It is nothing but the ignoring of our true nature.
Get a taste of non-conceptual awareness as often as you can. The rest will take care of itself.
Be happy for this news. Even if you cannot follow what is being spoken of, you already are THAT.
Whatever you are seeking, you already are. Doubt is merely a thought.
I really like what you have written here and it suddenly makes perfect sense. I try to find or have a sense of where seeing is taking place but cannot find it and yet it is happening. There is the thought that seeing is in the eyes but that thought is not in the eyes, so where is it? It seems mixed up in the seeing. How could seeing or awareness of the thought of seeing be anywhere? If seeing were somewhere then it would to be some thing that could itself be seen or be aware of, and what is it that would be aware of that? If seeing and awareness are aware of every experience it follows that awareness cannot be separate from experience and therefore be the experience itself not something separate that is aware. Awareness and experience must be one. It must be the ultimate with nothing further to be aware of it. This kind of boggles my mind and I struggle to put it into words.
Thank you for this piece. It has hit me harder than any of your other writings.
Jeffrey
I would like to say…its hard to pretend anymore. My true identity is obvious and clear. Its always been so. Thank you for pointing this out over and over again.
what’s left is just to sit back and enjoy the show and maybe have a cup of tea…
Yes…..a resonance ‘comes’ from hearing ‘something’ and an investigation happens.
Some teachers say there is nothing you can do – and frankly that is probably the most useless piece of ‘wisdom’ any ‘teacher’ could ‘use’. It is debilitating and frustrating.
The heart essence of all beings is intelligence – and through belief in erroneous concepts that intelligence has clouded its own view. The cutting message slices through all beliefs and questions the core essence – and a response arises. There is no one there ‘doing’ anything yet there is no doubt here that the clear pointing does work. I KNOW this because that is how it ‘appeared’ to happen here. Yes it was an appearance and yes no one actually did anything – yet if the investigation had not happened and am sure I would still be chasing my tail like a miserable dog.
There is something you can do – investigate along the lines that have been pointed out a thousand times. Any one of the hundreds of notes points in its own way – to the same essence.
The concept you, or anyone at all, has about awareness – is not the awareness – it is a concept….appearing in or on awareness. ‘You’ as a separate ‘thing’ can NEVER get Non Duality. ‘You’ can NEVER objectify awareness. It is No Thing. Not Two.
Michael sent this message:
I just wanted to let you know I’m half way through your e-book. I’m reading it along with Bob’s new book.
There’s not a wasted word in your e-book Gilbert. It’s a very powerful transmission and an invitation as well.
I got to meet Bob at Open Secret bookstore in California when he was here in the states. I didn’t really know who he was other than he’s been with Nisargadatta Maharaj. I put my seven year old daughter in my truck did the 2 hour drive to see him.
I never forgot how ordinary, humble and open he was. So approachable a lot different than the guru scene that was prevalent here in CA. After the talk I walked up with his book for him to sign and I felt like I knew him my whole life. I’ll never forget the acceptance I felt.
There’s a place in Bob’s new book where he talks about after having seen the mind is the only problem even though the illusion of a problem might arise he’d remember there was nothing there “same old mind crap” and it wouldn’t last.
I really relate to that. I’m grateful for this teaching and appreciate the way you point the way.
I’ve stopped working on myself because I’ve seen there never was a self to work on.