I rather like living in the now, appreciating the moment, even when it stinks. I don't know advaita from Advil, but I like now, and I have given up on trying to analyze it or explain it. My dogs live "dog" and I just "human" today, whether that's floating and fishing on a river with two of my grandchildren like yesterday, or wrestling with tires in 90F heat today to replace the brakes on my SUV, with my sweet 9-year-old granddaughter helping.
Joan as usual what you post resonates with me enormously. The points you make in this post sound so familiar to me. I am 75 years old and have been exposed to non duality or whatever you want to call it for over 45 years. I also have read many of the books on your reading list and many others besides. The three authors on your list which resonate with me most at this moment are Darryl Bailey, Salvadore Poe, and Robert Saltzman. Also on my list are Nisargadatta, Karl Renz, Wayne Liquorman, Ramesh Balsekar , and UG Krishnamurti to name a few. I must say that Douglas Harding’s work may have the most profound effect on me. You however have always resonated me consistently. It all comes down to in my opinion ( which means nothing) is HERE NOW which is always the case because you can be no where else. Anyway thanks again for being HERE NOW. With much love John
Thank you for your openness, frankness and honesty. I really don’t know very much at all about the names you mentioned. Krishnamurti is probably the only one.
But I find by reading your comments about them that I don’t need to know them only the affect they’ve had on you. And by that it condenses into a few succinct lines what could be a whole library and a lifetime of searching.
I’ve never done drugs, never taken LSD or eaten magic mushrooms, don’t even drink or smoke. I’ve learned to meditate and watch my thoughts. I’m following a few Facebook pages that deal with Non Duality and mysticism and practice a very loose and liberal form of Christianity.
But in all that, I still find myself standing on the same shoreline as you, the here and now, non-duality, no self, Buddha-mind shoreline. And I wonder if there’s a deeper layer within each of us that’s accessible through prayer or meditation, a bit like Jung’s Collective Unconscious. That you don’t really need to read extensively or visit multiple gurus to reach that stage. Only to look inward, deeper and deeper.
Lately I’ve been practicing synchronicity, seeing God in the details, allowing things to happen and just going with the flow. I can have angry thoughts but not be angry, I can have sad thoughts but not be sad. Like you, I can see both sides of an argument and agree with both. It’s liberating.
My online friend, Sterling Doherty, calls it his Three Word book: Presence, Gratitude and Compassion. Each states flows naturally from one to another.
Joan, you have saved me so much work and I look forward to all your posts.
You definitely don't need to read lots of books...or take LSD...or work with a teacher (or multiple teachers). Those things were all part of my path, but they are definitely not essential for anyone else--unless they are. 😎 As I see it, whatever shows up for each of us is apparently essential for us, but everyone's journey is absolutely unique. Books are only useful, in my experience, if they help to illuminate and dispel delusions and if they point to direct exploration. I find no end to deepening in one sense, and at the same time, there is always just THIS, here and now. 🙏
You are an island of comfort for me. I have just begun this mystery of wonder and felt sense of being. I am very much a human being and finding someone that is expressing this relative experience feels like home. An island in the thought that I may be lost at sea.
As you have mentioned, reality does seem multi-dimensional, multi-faceted and impossible to pin down in any one way. That is one reason why the majority of the population does not get attracted to spiritual teachings which creates confusion in their minds. Is there not a simple way which can be professed by all teachers so that the common man , who just wants to remain in peace, benefits.
I rather like living in the now, appreciating the moment, even when it stinks. I don't know advaita from Advil, but I like now, and I have given up on trying to analyze it or explain it. My dogs live "dog" and I just "human" today, whether that's floating and fishing on a river with two of my grandchildren like yesterday, or wrestling with tires in 90F heat today to replace the brakes on my SUV, with my sweet 9-year-old granddaughter helping.
Joan as usual what you post resonates with me enormously. The points you make in this post sound so familiar to me. I am 75 years old and have been exposed to non duality or whatever you want to call it for over 45 years. I also have read many of the books on your reading list and many others besides. The three authors on your list which resonate with me most at this moment are Darryl Bailey, Salvadore Poe, and Robert Saltzman. Also on my list are Nisargadatta, Karl Renz, Wayne Liquorman, Ramesh Balsekar , and UG Krishnamurti to name a few. I must say that Douglas Harding’s work may have the most profound effect on me. You however have always resonated me consistently. It all comes down to in my opinion ( which means nothing) is HERE NOW which is always the case because you can be no where else. Anyway thanks again for being HERE NOW. With much love John
Thank you! Once again, you are singing my song.
Thank you for your openness, frankness and honesty. I really don’t know very much at all about the names you mentioned. Krishnamurti is probably the only one.
But I find by reading your comments about them that I don’t need to know them only the affect they’ve had on you. And by that it condenses into a few succinct lines what could be a whole library and a lifetime of searching.
I’ve never done drugs, never taken LSD or eaten magic mushrooms, don’t even drink or smoke. I’ve learned to meditate and watch my thoughts. I’m following a few Facebook pages that deal with Non Duality and mysticism and practice a very loose and liberal form of Christianity.
But in all that, I still find myself standing on the same shoreline as you, the here and now, non-duality, no self, Buddha-mind shoreline. And I wonder if there’s a deeper layer within each of us that’s accessible through prayer or meditation, a bit like Jung’s Collective Unconscious. That you don’t really need to read extensively or visit multiple gurus to reach that stage. Only to look inward, deeper and deeper.
Lately I’ve been practicing synchronicity, seeing God in the details, allowing things to happen and just going with the flow. I can have angry thoughts but not be angry, I can have sad thoughts but not be sad. Like you, I can see both sides of an argument and agree with both. It’s liberating.
My online friend, Sterling Doherty, calls it his Three Word book: Presence, Gratitude and Compassion. Each states flows naturally from one to another.
Joan, you have saved me so much work and I look forward to all your posts.
Thank you!
You definitely don't need to read lots of books...or take LSD...or work with a teacher (or multiple teachers). Those things were all part of my path, but they are definitely not essential for anyone else--unless they are. 😎 As I see it, whatever shows up for each of us is apparently essential for us, but everyone's journey is absolutely unique. Books are only useful, in my experience, if they help to illuminate and dispel delusions and if they point to direct exploration. I find no end to deepening in one sense, and at the same time, there is always just THIS, here and now. 🙏
Joan
You are an island of comfort for me. I have just begun this mystery of wonder and felt sense of being. I am very much a human being and finding someone that is expressing this relative experience feels like home. An island in the thought that I may be lost at sea.
As you have mentioned, reality does seem multi-dimensional, multi-faceted and impossible to pin down in any one way. That is one reason why the majority of the population does not get attracted to spiritual teachings which creates confusion in their minds. Is there not a simple way which can be professed by all teachers so that the common man , who just wants to remain in peace, benefits.
Luckily, there is no single way that all teachers will agree upon and that will be guaranteed to benefit everyone. 🙃
At times I’ve felt like I had given up but when I read your sharing I see that I’ve given in to the now. Thank you so much for your generosity. ❤️