A Lesson in Unconditional Love

I believe that at a certain juncture, a spiritual seeker comes to a point where he has to let go of all the tools in the path, and even let go of a certain path, or paths, in order to transcend all worldly constructs. I see this process as a pivotal step towards spiritual enlightenment.

When a seeker stops clinging to the tools in the path, and stops holding on to only “one right path,” he arrives at the equanimous, balanced state of Non-duality, or Oneness. 

A non-dualist and unconditionally loving person does not judge and criticize others who act and think in a different way from his definitive notion of what is right and wrong. A non-dualist understands that people act the way they do because of a reason – some reason he can know and understand, but many other reasons he may never know and may never understand. And so his best recourse, as a non-dualist perceiver, is to accept and love others in spite of who they are and what they do, in spite of how they choose to live their lives – knowing and understanding full well that anyone who is in their best state of mind would not deliberately do anything to disadvantage themselves or another. So instead of judging and condemning another who may be doing something “wrong”, a non-dualist perceiver would instead feel compassion towards the other.

In my early journey as a seeker, most of the teachers and spiritual traditions I encountered are wrapped up in dualistic consciousness: they maintain a strong idea about good and evil. In consequence, they tend to act that as if a lurking evil is out there to get them. Some of them do rituals and repeat mantras to “protect” them from the alleged onslaught, or corrupting powers of so-called evil forces. A fear-based spirituality such as this is threatened by so-believed lower vibrational beings, impure situations, sinful elements, immoral people, people who are certain to reap negative karma, etc. As a result of this fear, and perhaps mixed with a feeling of righteousness and superiority, fearful spirituals actively resist associating with certain people and situations which they judge to be of “lower vibrational frequencies”.

Ironically, what we resist persists. The very people and situations we are trying hard to avoid all the more pop up in our reality to get our attention. It is because we attract our disowned parts until such time that we learn to embrace, integrate, and to love them unconditionally.

There are some people, whose ingrained beliefs are threatened and challenged by a different perspective or paradigm, who often form exclusive groups with members who only agree and validate who they think they are. There is certainly nothing wrong in choosing to hang around certain types of people; I see nothing wrong with fortifying oneself with like-minded folks who tend not to create friction in a perfect bubble world. My rebellious temperament, however, often gets the better of me that I find it wrong to judge and censure others who happen to have divergent thoughts from certain established dogmas.

I had a recent personal experience. For the past 1.5 years, a spiritual guru, whom I have neither seen nor talked with in person, often appeared in my dream state. The dreams were repetitive and consistent in their theme. In dream state, he was sending me letters, emails, books, invitations, calling me through a cell phone, gazing at me while projecting very loving vibes. For some reason, the “giving” was only one way: he was doing the action while I was a passive recipient of his actions. In waking state, however, the situation is very different. I was the one initiating communication with him, mostly only to tell him about the dreams and to ask his opinions about it. His vague but standard or typical guru response, as to why I was dreaming about him, is because we have a “soul-connection”, “mystical connection”, “past life connection”. My unusual dreaming about him intrigued me greatly and drew me closer to be more interested in him.

In waking state, our atmosphere of interaction is quite formal. And in fact, we at times vibrationally clashed because of our differing approaches to spirituality. He is one of those teachers who maintain a dualistic mode of thinking and perceiving. He pushed my buttons. I might have done the same to him. Since his vibes in dream state and waking state are incongruent, I was perplexed as to whether he has a conscious agenda or not. It turned out that he has not. He was not telepathically contacting me in dream state, at least, not consciously on his end. Since I thought he was just a source of unnecessary confusion, I tried to totally avoid him. But as I “blocked” him, the dreams became even more intense and outrageous.

Lesson learned:

I claim myself to be a non-dualist and who is then unconditionally loving. Yet I perceived this individual as a dualist, and I was “bothered” by his dualistic teachings. I was provoked by some of his strongly held dualistic beliefs which I considered to be judgmental and discriminatory against other people who do not necessarily share his spiritual convictions.

He censured others. I censured him for censuring others. He judged others; I judged him for judging others. I criticized him because I wanted him to be more like me – a non-dualist – one who does not see higher or lower, but only strives to focus on the good in others. However, by judging and perceiving him as a dualist, by being provoked by his dualistic teachings, and by censuring him for censuring others, I have become a dualist myself!

I just found myself re-schooled in my lesson about non-duality and unconditional love!

What is Spiritual and What is Not, And The End of Karma.

There’s this spiritual guru (who is known more for his other profession, though he prefers to be known more as a “spiritual person” — duh?) who wanted me to become a follower. Not that there is anything wrong with his wanting me to be one of his followers or students as I myself is always eager to continually grow and expand. He also appeared to be knowledgeable enough, charismatic, and thus, “followable”. And there was I, eager to learn more from a smooth-talking and good-looking spiritual teacher. I happily followed.

Initially, I thought that he and I share a lot of things in common, such as the deeper understanding of the “spiritual mysteries.” As I followed him, however, I realized that we are on a different level of understanding.

Through his teachings, one could discern that he has a very strong opinion about what spirituality is, or what it should be, and this did not sit well with me because of its presumptions:

It presumes that there is a spiritual reality and a non-spiritual reality, and these are two irreconcilable and incompatible worlds. This implies that there are spiritual people, like said guru and others who fall under the category of accepted “spiritual”, and then there are the “non-spiritual” ones who exhibit characteristics that fall outside the label of what is believed to be “spiritual”.

His continued reference on what is spiritual and what is not made him come across more of a moralist rather than an enlightened guru who knows what he is talking about. I was inspired to ask two questions:

Is his emphasis on what is spiritual and what is not an attempt to make people notice their lack of spirituality so they can get themselves more spiritual? Is it because he wants to get people to think and do more “spiritual” things rather than “nonspiritual” things?  Certainly, these are very lofty intentions.

However.

It also gives off the impression that people have to emulate his brand of spirituality wherein contained all the attributes considered “spiritual,” so that they can then be considered “spiritual”.

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But the question we may be really interested in is, What is spiritual and what is not anyway?

In the highest context, the context of Non Dualism, Oneness and Non Separation (terms which are often referred to by so-called “spirituals” — which of course include above mentioned guru), as these identical terms exactly entail, there is no such thing as “spiritual” and “nonspiritual”. Rather, every thing and every one are spiritual. There are no higher level and lower level creations. No sinner and no saint.

Boring?

Good news!

Karma is non-existent — in the plane of Non Dualism. Everybody is saved, nobody is going to hell!

Oh, that’s bad news! It is surely unfair. What of the evil ones? Are they not going to pay for their sins?

It is certainly bad news to those who are selling salvation and expensive tickets to heaven. Their sales pitch will no longer appeal to the manipulated, frightened, guilt-ridden masses, and so they’ll run out of business.

It is also bad news to those who are hard to forgive others’ trespasses, and to those who absolve themselves from self-responsibility because they find it easier to blame the devil.

It is impossible to really grasp the understanding of Oneness while remaining in a dualistic mindset.

So I’m wondering how a spiritual guru can genuinely teach about Non Dualism, Non Separation, and Oneness if their emphasis lies in the differences, the divisions and separations. Their persistent talk of sin or karma, saint and sinner makes their teachings trite and boring.

While it’s surely a reality that expressions of dualism abound around us, dualistic teachings further the divide rather than bridge the gap to encourage compassion and reconciliation.

Moreover, in a non dualistic context, nobody can really do anything to get more spiritual than they already are. It is a matter of recognizing one’s inherent spirituality, and recognizing exactly that same thing in others. Period.

Aw, I noticed I have become critical of moralistic gurus which makes me judgmental myself! I really, really don’t want to judge, but I just can’t help expressing my observations, sometimes.

Peace!

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The Drunken Zen Master

Hui-k’o, the Second Patriarch of Zen passed on the bowl and robe to his successor, the Third Patriarch, Seng-ts’an, signifying the transmission of the Dharma.

Hui-k’o, who had received the seal of approval from Bodhidharma himself, then went everywhere drinking and carousing around like a wild man and partaking in the offerings of the brothel districts. When people asked how he could do such a thing, being a Patriarch of the Zen school and all, he would respond with:

“What business is it of yours?”

🙂

Emotion Vs. Intellect in Personal Transformation

If Knowing is Acting, how do we go beyond the intellect in order to really feel, understand, and truly know what the sages know so we can act accordingly?

If you ask the “how” or the process, I won’t be able to tell you in a precise way.

The process is different for everybody.

What I can only say is based on my version of the story which, naturally, is based on personal experience.

The “how” of every transformation necessarily involves the emotions.

Emotion is more powerful than the intellect. Emotions move the body, whereas the intellect may or may not. Intense emotions penetrate every fiber, every cell of our being, causing the transformation of these very cells; the transformation of our physical as well as energetic bodies.

How potent emotion really is?

How do you think people like Hitler are able to influence, as if in a spell, large numbers of people including undoubtedly highly intelligent ones? People whose I.Q. are even much higher than Hitler himself? He appealed to these people’s emotions.

How do you think political organizations and governments, religious institutions, capitalist companies and the media, stir and play with people’s emotions to advance their interests? By evoking fears, insecurities and even sympathy.

How do you think highly intelligent and technologically advanced aliens, such as the Greys, look up to us, very much desirous of that one thing that we have – our ability to feel? You would think that these advanced beings, on their way to greater evolutionary heights, fully equipped with high intelligence and technological prowess, would not be bothered to take an interest on little dramatic earthlings like us. But they do because of what we have which they had long killed within themselves in their unbalanced quest for technological advancement.

We can learn from their experience as they learn from us.

If emotions can be used in very destructive ways, it can also be used in very positive and transformative ways.

Deaths, separations and breakups profoundly affect us that their effect on us are almost always life-changing. Emotion is so powerful that people in love go crazy and it changes their body chemistry.

Emotion is a very effective tool for personal transformation which may eventually lead to that which we seek – enlightenment.

To use emotion for personal transformation, it is crucial that one is able to feel deeply and intensely. And you feel deeply when you fully engage with the world. You interact with other people who serve to trigger within you deep and intense emotional reactions that almost always lead to changes in your life.

In spirituality, this technique or process seems to be the opposite of the other path which involves withdrawing from the world. That path of withdrawing from the world, a path which many in the past have taken, may actually be a longer path.

It was after seeing the truth, after he was enlightened, that the Buddha aptly advised his followers to take the Middle Path.

In my personal process, I am both a recluse and a “party girl”. I immerse myself fully into the world and then extricate myself to contemplate on my experiences and extract the insights I got from them. I follow my passions and whatever it is that is summoning me. This oftentimes requires boldness and vulnerability as I can get hurt and wounded in the process. But each time I come out of an emotionally charged experience, I gain more invincibility and a new level of illumination.

So feel deeply. Live passionately in the world. Play hard. Taste fully the flavors the world has to offer. Seek balance between the two extreme paths. You do not have to deny yourself one thing in order to get another thing.

Finally, do not wait until you “know” what the sages know before acting on their deep realizations and teachings. Because deep inside you, something already knows what the wise ones know.

 

The Stream of Peace

There is a continuous stream of peace running in the background,

quietly, it runs, in the background,

drowned by the noise in the foreground.

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It is a clear, peaceful stream flowing,

unobstructed, unconditioned, pure,

unaffected by the turbulence around it.

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Peacefully and joyously constant, it remains

oblivious of anything else – aware only of itself and its purity,

quietly, it flows . . .

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Within this peace is joy, within this joy is love,

peace, joy and love – all in one – untouched, uncontaminated,

innocent: knows no regrets, no blame, no sin, no karma.

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A steady stream . . .

a source of strength, a fall back, a respite from it’s opposite –

the ever-shifting, tumultuous, raging river of the manifest world.

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It is certainty where there is uncertainty.

It is order where there is disorder.

It is the light where there is darkness.

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This is where we want to be.

It is heaven – undisturbed peace, true love, lasting happiness.

It is God – constant, cannot be taken away, never abandons, never fails.

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It is ever present . . .

It is enlightenment.

And it lies in wait to be uncovered.

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A steady stream running in the background

drowned by the noise in the foreground.

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Knowing is Acting: Are We There Yet?

It is one thing to intellectually understand the statements: We are All One, No Separation, Life is a Dream, the World is an Illusion, It is All Vibrations, and such other descriptions presented by those who have “seen” it.

The mind can only get us so far.

If it stays at the level of the mind only, these statements would just be vague innuendos and empty words that we regurgitate without knowing what they really mean.

And it would show if we don’t really know what they mean. It shows in our actions because our actions reflect our understanding of the things we claim to know.

Knowing is indeed Acting.

Are we there yet?

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Why Enlightenment?

Why would anyone want to be enlightened?

The ultimate goal of enlightenment is to attain a lasting peace of mind and happiness. It is an attempt to fill the ‘void’. A desire to transcend the pain, the suffering embedded in the human condition.

Why is it that mystics always advise against chasing after enlightenment?

It is because the more you pursue it, the more elusive it becomes.

In the past, spiritual seekers spent lifetimes meditating in caves, or in the mountains, or facing blank walls in cell-like abodes. They tried too hard. I wonder what percentage of them got enlightened  in the end.

It does not seem that such long and seemingly severe process is necessary now. Just my opinion. It is all up to how one chooses to have a go at it.

It is still the most prevalent notion that meditation is the best way to get enlightened. It may be true. Some people meditate a lot, for long hours, for a lifetime; and for sure, they become more peaceful, more loving and more compassionate as a result of quieting their minds and withdrawing from external distractions. But they may never attain the enlightened state they are wanting to reach.

This is because enlightenment is not something to reach out for. Enlightenment, like happiness, like God, is not an object out there that is separate from one’s be-ing. So the harder you strive to reach out for it, the more you are distancing yourself from it because you are perceiving it as something outside yourself.

Do not meditate with the expectation to get enlightened. Meditate to refresh your mind, to ward off stress, to feel more peaceful, contented and connected.

It is, however, possible that through meditation, one may have a glimpse of the Infinite which may ultimately lead to enlightenment. Hence, meditation as one of the potent tools towards Illumination, cannot be  discounted.

Enlightenment is not attained after a long hard work, or through a tensed struggle to finally ‘get there’. What I mean is, it does not come by subjecting oneself to self-flagellation-like rigid disciplines.

It is not handed to the aspirant by somebody else, say, a guru.

It is a realization. No, it is even easier than that – it is revealed when you relax and let go of the tightness.

It is something already existing in you, but you are just not consciously aware of it.

True enlightenment is not something given or transferred from one person to another as this would be like saying that one person has God in him while the other has not.

Nobody can give you what you already possess. But if it is in your belief system that you do not have it, and that you then have to ‘obtain’ it from another, you will manifest the reality where you create a middleman/woman to hand enlightenment, or God to you. It is not wrong; it is just a long, indirect process where there is a huge possibility to get lost in translation.

All a good teacher can do is to activate some vibrations or frequency within you that may facilitate your own enlightenment.

By using the metaphor of awakening from sleep to refer to enlightenment, many spiritual teachers talk about the experience of awakening from a deep slumber to be like the experience of spiritual enlightenment. Because when you are sleeping, you are not aware. When you awaken, you become aware.

You become aware of what?

You become aware of your true self. You become aware of the true nature of  reality.

And so?

And so, as the awakened ones have said, this awareness brings lasting happiness and an imperturbable inner peace. And, indeed, who does not want these?

The question remains, how to get there from there?

Really, don’t try too hard. “Just be.”

It is hard to say more without going deep into metaphysics. But most of the time, metaphysics, instead of making it clearer, muddles it more. So we leave it at this, for now.

“Just Be.”