Guru Fat Bastard

Love, is "The Love to Be" or "The Love of Being". "God", "Consciousness" "Brahmin" ,i.e., That One, highest principle, is the Love of Being. Being is causeless. Therefore, true Love is that Love that is without cause. Love/Being, not being two, simply Loves,and, simply Is, for its sake alone. What is really "You" is not separate from that.

I would say, one can never be apart from Truth. Truth being the ever present, non-conceptual, abiding Reality, nothing is separate from it. Even the no one that thinks itself to be a somebody.

? To be realized and not simply believed. While this is the Truth from the Vedanta perspective, it's ultimately the Truth and aim of all the major religions.

They think they're something.

Do you have any experience of birth this lifetime? You were told by other "authorities" you were born on such and such day,in such and such year,in such and such place. Lacking the required discernment at that time,it was readily accepted without question. But at this time,with the ability to draw from your own experience and not what others have told you,did you really experience the birth of yourself. Such a monumental,even traumatic experience, would surely not have been casually forgotten. "Others" can only perceive you as name and form (body), and thus identify you as that. But from your own experience,are you the body, or the name given to that body? Or, are you aware that you experience the body and respond to the name given to "you" as that body. If you inquire "am I the body" the answer is obvious. The body was born,and the body will die,but did you,the one who is aware of the body, actually experience being born. If not, will you,who is clearly not the body, experience death?

The Yogi's of lore knew a thing or two.

Perhaps intellectually. But intellectually awakened is not experientially awakened. The difference can be seen in the manner in which the message is conveyed. The intellectual, by the manner of their words and the way they are conveyed cannot awaken another. On the other hand, the one who is abiding experientially in and speaking from that Reality,can awaken many, with only a few simple uncontrived words,as it is the clear undistorted Truth itself speaking. When real truth is spoken by the one abiding in and as the reality, it will bring silence to the mind of the one who hears them.

A lot, and I would even venture to say, that the vast majority of most spiritual seekers, especially ones in the early stages of a few months to at least a year, miss this point. It's the "I want it fast and with little to no effort" syndrome, not realizing that regardless of what anyone says, and unless they're among the spiritually mature or gifted very few who realize and remain permanently, irreversibly, and unremittingly, in that realized state, there is no "fast track". Of course everyone wants that, but that's just not the case. Many teachers and guru's today, some authentic and some not, state that their way is the fast track. Typically, the 'direct path" self inquiry, and philosophical Advaita Vedanta teachers, are among these claims. Take note that this is not to say that these methods/practices are not viable. Quite the contrary, they are effective and have proven their reliability. The mistake lies in most of these teachers not divulging to those seekers the many years, (anywhere from 10-30 or more) of invested time and also having often times tried various practices/methods other than what they teach. Not going to mention any names out of respect, but quite a few popular/famous teachers of the above "fast track" methods today, (at least the ones that are authentic), have stated their number of years of spiritual practice before stabilized realization occurred. With Ramana,of the many, many spiritual seekers, sanyasis and devotees, only a handful "attained" fast, permanent realization when they came to him. Ramana referred to these as the "ripe ones" or the "spiritually mature" ones. Although as stated the most direct and effortless method, most spend years(upwards of 6 or more, often more) with the method before any stabilized realization occurs. If you're at the beginning or early stages of spiritual development, self inquiry will, in most cases, cause frustration. There is a reason for this, and that reason is real self inquiry arises of its own, from the silent depths of one's being, spontaneously, and not as a question from the mind. This is called "relational" or natural inquiry. Non-relational self inquiry is from the often busy, active mind, and non-relational inquiry will always, always end up in frustration. Unless there is at least some degree of abiding inner silence, and not a fleeting or temporary inner silence, self inquiry will inevitably be non-relational. With that said, do some form of meditative practices for a while and cultivate a degree of inner silence that isn't temporary or fleeting. Then come back to inquiry. You will see a huge difference in the quality of the inquiry. ?

Is that your final answer?

So the awakening process, as it were, begins either by an innate and innocent natural curiosity, there is suffering and one seeks a way out of it. One has had a profound experience of something more "real" and substantial beyond what is normally taken or perceived to be true and/or "reality". Or, by the knowledge/word of those who have awakened to something more true and substantial and are open to it as a possibility over what has unquestionably, and unknowingly, taken to be true (by socially accepted standards .)

Maybe start by throwing away the belief/idea that the mind is the reality. Of course, this is dependent on what ones definition of, or, in what way the term mind is being used. "Mind" as being synonymous with Consciousness, or mind as being synonymous with thoughts, constructs, ideas, opinions, judgements, memory etc.

Whatever can be aware of the present moment, must itself already be aware and present. The present moment, and that which is already and always aware and present, are not two separate things. So what is aware and present in any given moment? For instance, this one happening right now? Pay attention to that one. It's always here, always present and never goes anywhere. Moments may come and go, but this one is the eternal moment.

Right ..direct experience, which doesn't refer to the mind, and it's accumulation of "knowledge".

Hence,

Looks like what claims to be "no-self , has come to claim that it knows.

Without the identity of "person", who or what would you be?

Thinking/mind, is not the problem. Attachment/Identification with the mind, which is nothing more than an accumulation of what has been gathered from outside( i.e., second hand "knowledge") is the problem. What has been gathered from outside can never be 'you". This identifying with what is not true (false knowledge), is the bondage and cause of suffering. There is something already present, boundless, non-attached (i.e.transcendent) of the body-mind-intellect (an accumulation of food and memory and/or past respectively). The Reality and ultimately what is referred to as Self, is not of time(i.e., mind/memory/past), or space (i.e., body).

Read this. Start with the first section... self-inquiry then section 2.. attention , then section 3 etc., etc.,. Also understand that self inquiry requires the ability to stabilize attention in the "object-less", thoughtless silence. Unless the ability to sustain this one pointed attention has been at least "adequately" developed, self inquiry as a stand-alone practice, will be tough because of the mind's activity and tendency to wander or get distracted. https://selfdefinition.org/ramana/quotes/sadhu-om-self-inquiry.htm

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This is a good teacher, especially for the current time and scientifically oriented world. Those that have trouble understanding or get confused by the vague "spiritual" lingo most often used, what you have graciously provided here will be tremendously helpful. ??

Yeah, this is one of the ways one can get at least a glimpse. That brief moment upon waking up, and before the "I" thought has arisen is the Reality. As a practice, which some have gotten success, is not easy. The "I" thought moves in swiftly (no more than a second). To have this happen naturally as I am assuming you did , then consider yourself one of the few. ???

God is just another name of the countless names given to that which is nameless. If you feel more comfortable with Buddhism substitute "God" with Nirvana,or Emptiness,or No-self or just invent a new one .

God,You , and Now are the same one Reality. God is infinite/eternal You, are not other than God and are also eternal Now, is not in time or space and therefore also eternal. The absence of time,is the Presence of God.

Shambhavi mudra is one specific technique taken from hatha and tantric yoga practices.It's primary benefit is to help settle/still the mind, and with repeated practice, reach higher states of consciousness. Where attention goes,energy flows. In this way, instead of the energies being scattered in different directions due to mind activity, it helps bring them to a single focal point. Mind becomes more still and calm which leads to deeper states of meditation. It also opens up the "third eye"and/or one's capacity to gain intuitive insight and wisdom. It's a very useful technique imo. Initiation is a transmission of energy and/or consciousness between the initiator and the recipient which greatly facilitates movement of consciousness to a higher plane. By raising the consciousness of the recipient, the latter has, or can have, at least an initial glimpse of their potential consciousness and power. There is an essential transmission which empowers the techniques. This is why initiatory traditions have managed to pass the direct experience of truth from one generation to the next effectively. Their strength lies in the power and the consciousness of those who have done the form or forms of practice given and have embodied and realized the Truth themselves. Do you need to be initiated? I will just say that if it is available, you have access to it, and Truth is at the top of your priorities, it will certainly be worthwhile. If not, do what you can and let grace do the rest. Any honest and sincere desire for truth can't go unanswered.