An excerpt

Here's an excerpt from a new book by J.C. Amberchele. I love his writing style and the message is pure Advaita. Enjoy!

http://www.non-dualitypress.com/sample/Almighty%20Mackerel_sample.pdf

If you were enlightened, would you know it?

When the ego (thought) isn't active, is there any criteria by which to measure one's progress or station in life? No. When thought is silent, all such abstractions are gone and there is only the naked, essential witnessing presence. In this open presence, words such as sage and saint loose their meaning -- in pure, conscious perception, such things aren't designated and differentiated between. This is always the case but sometimes overlooked in favor of arising thought stories.

For there to be an "enlightened one", there would have to be an "unenlightened one" and such a distinctions appear only in thought, not actuality. Anyone trying to sell you on the idea of their "specialness" is still worshiping at the throne of ego. Being is an undivided field and to call one aspect "special" and another "common" is an unreal abstraction, looking non-conceptually, no such divisions appear -- it's all one.

Simplicity itself

What is always being pointed at, that which is referred to as Advaita, is not some special, vaunted experience but simple, everyday, garden variety consciousness. When separation (the ego idea) is believed in, there is the idea that one needs an experience of reunion with all that is. But, when one realizes that they were never limited by arising images but, instead, are the open, borderless presence in which everything appears, then the search is over.

Authoritarian power structures

When one hears accounts of the relationship between gurus and disciples, it seems that their social organizations are often modeled on a sort of hive mentality with the guru representing the "queen" and everyone else being workers, warriors or drones. All decisions come from the guru and move downward through the organization. Is such a surrendering of one's will to another healthy? Is the guru actually closer to truth/God than any of their followers? If they are such a great, wise teacher, why aren't they able to help their students to become self-realized and independent?

We've all heard the phrase "Power corrupts" but I think it could also be said that only the corrupt seek power. A teacher may start out with the greatest of intentions but, once the idea that they are special and others are not enters the picture, it's clear that the false self-image of ego is rearing its ugly head. Consciousness is universal. For one appearance to aggrandize itself at the expense of another is pure egoic delusion, no matter if the person doing it is considered a saint or not.

A good book on Sri Chinmoy's organization is "Cartwheels in a Sari". It is suggested reading for those interested in how "spiritual" groups become corrupted. Of course political power structures operate on the same principles but generally there is less of a pretense of holiness.

The pinnacle of control seems to be repression of the human sexual instinct. Most gurus demand to be the center of attention and romantic love certainly thwarts this, so many "spiritual" groups develop rules against sex. Truly, to control sex by blind obedience is an amazing feat. Of course, one of the main functions of these bodies isn't so easily suppressed so sexual deviancy usually results and we find that the guru, priest or whatever has often broken all of their own rules and, often, worse.

If God is the creator, maintainer and destroyer of the universe, then who created sex? Isn't the answer obvious? To brand sexuality evil is ignorance and leads to true perversions, if in doubt, look at the problems within the Catholic Church.

Advaita isn't likely to win any popularity contests

For the simple reason that, in its pure essence, it offers nothing to seekers. Most "spiritual" or religious systems suggest actions that you can take to "get closer to perfection": meditation, prayer, devotion, fasting, contemplation, submitting to authority, etc. There is the idea that: "Now I am imperfect but, if I take the right steps, in the future I will be closer to truth." Non duality doesn't even allow for a future apart from the past, and, without a conceptual future, seeking goes right out the window. That which is being pointed to must be present in this very moment.

Do you see that you see? Do you know that you know? Of course. Most of the confusion lies around who sees. We think that we are a separate material body with a brain in it that is the seat of consciousness and perceives that which is outside of it, but, looking now, aren't the body and mind (thoughts) just more sensations/perceptions, as "the world" is? All of these experiences would be impossible without the witnessing presence that is the kernel of everything. There is no division in the process of knowing. The knower and the known are merely conceptual phantoms that dissolve into natural, effortless unity when thought is silent. Thought will make a jumble of this because it's too easy; it is absolutely already the case.

Once it's seen that we aren't the chaotic and confused self-image but the seeing itself, seeking is done. It's a blessed realization.

How to be a successful modern guru

First off, claim that you have achieved a state called "enlightenment", then, claim that you have the ability to show others how to "achieve" it. You'll have seekers banging down your door all times of the day and night trying to get close to the special "enlightened one". Claim to have special powers, to be able to make ashes appear from your fingertips or to walk on water. Only surround yourself with people who worship you and who you can mistreat without pissing them off because their self esteem is so low. Take the highest seat in the room and wear special clothing that distinguishes you from everyone else. Talk about renunciation while owning a fleet of sports cars and wearing astronomically expensive jewelery. Talk about celibacy while taking the "choicest fruits" of your flock for your own pleasure. Talk about how everything you do is without ego while demanding that you are always the center of attention and in control of the minute details of your follower's lives.

This game goes on all the time. Does this have anything to do with truth? Of course not. Who could be nearer to God than you are at this moment? The stream of thoughts (arising from source) conceptually dissect life and, when we mistake these projections for reality, we believe in limitation and separation, but, in the absence of such ideas, there is simply boundless being.

There is no mind to be in bondage. There is no separate self. Laboring under the weight of these concepts is suffering. With or without these beliefs, the aware presence that is the source of all creation shines and appears as the ever-changing kaleidoscopic universe of experience. Nothing is apart from that.

A change of mind can make all of the difference

We feel like our "problems" are real things with mass and weight but a simple shift of perspective takes all of the gravity and feeling of substantiality away from them. What is the ultimate change of mind? The realization that I am no mind. I have never been bound by arising thought forms, they are just another expression of my emptiness as form. I am nothing and that is a damn beautiful thing. It is total, utter, unconditional freedom.

It's OK if identification with the life story and appearance arises, it's not a personal thing. Anything you have ever seen, felt, known, touched and dreamt of has been nothing less than the dream/play/dance of God. What happens when the dream ends? Nothing - it never began.