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@Javfly33 e.tolle is dead. Bliss lives in that body. And bliss is always bliss. Bliss is that body.

Eckhart Tolle is Bliss I think he is happy 99.9% of time.

Do you think Eckhart Tolle is consciouss that the present moment is all that exists, or do you think he had a powerful Awakening that changed his life, but right now, or at least most of the time, he is not consciouss that the Now is the only thing that exists? Trying to make myself an idea of what is POSSIBLE in this work. Just had a non-dual awareness out of the blue and I entered such an euphoric state I can't believe this was actually possible.

It feels like I've got a new default mode to adjust to now. Some kind of is-ness feels non-abiding. So bizarre, I'm in awe and sadness at the same time tbh. Maybe I'm in a sort of spiritual high, who knows. But it definitely feels like something substantive is here now. It's very different to ecstatic bliss you might get after meditating. It feels more real. Why is it that it always feels like the journey is only just beginning? I think part of me is dead now. But whatever isn't true could never be lost anyway.

Thought: Somewhat cloudy and polarized. Not too loud or distracting though. Overall; positively charged. Several good ideas. Minor downloads. Some echo and delay. Awareness over thought; rather effortless. Prolonged periods of complete silence. Sensation: Woke up with a smile, falling asleep at peace. Minor turbulence. Release of stored tension. Very satisfying resistance exercise. Some drag and some rush. Love showers. - quite a few. Floating. Bliss. Joy. Excitemen. Peace. Contractions; one or two. Overall; nicely balanced and pleasant. Perspective: Mainly clear. Beautiful moments of crystal definition. Cartoon lucidity. Light admiration. Unification of seemingly opposite points of views. Several shifts and minor collapses. Frequent jumping. Bird's eye view. Seeing the mirror. Seeing nothing. Loking back at what is. Transparency. Detachment; rather effortless. *************************************** Overview: Great Day. Nice conscious breathing. - Can be even less disturbed and more grounded. The body is opening up and becoming stronger, firmer. Decent mental and emotional balance. An invitation for improvement: patience, discipline, absolute respect and understanding. Big picture, long game. More inspired action. Less hibernation. More being - less imagination, seeking gratification, pleasure and resonance. Purify senses more. Watch out for awkward body posture. Zoom out more often.

@dimitri How do you find good feeling thoughts? I've tried meditating and just letting go if thoughts as they arise, but I dont get good feelings one that come up to focus on. Did you have any experience with the crown and third eye chakra opening? That's basically all I got right now, I know if these sensations in my head can relax and release fully then I'll feel a stickiness in my head and then bliss Haha

@JayG84 A lot of spiritual masters define enlightenment as being aware of reality/Truth. This reality that you're saying you are aware of, can you see/perceive it? Can you understand it? Are you that reality that you say you intuitively know? Or is reality "out there" and apart from you? If you know that everything is one and you are this oneness, are your attitudes and actions in alignment with this type of knowing? Do you feel light and loving toward all forms? I guess trying to answer these questions will shine some light on it for your and also to see if you are enlightened. I imagine that enlightenment can "happen" without knowing that you are. I recall Eckhart Tolle saying that for years he was just silent, so silent that he didn't recognise that he was silent. Like he had no thought to arise a thought of "oh.. wow.. I have no thoughts". There was just nothing. Emptiness. To address your questions directly: 1. But do you actually see the "substance" of consciousness when you awaken? There are many different stages to awakening (in my experience). It's like things are slowly revealed to you. Doors open and doors close. Sometimes we get a glimpse of something which will uncover a discovery that will slightly shift our understanding and other times we get the full-blown experience, which causes us to change immediately. Some experiences are so powerful that the old way of thinking (or thinking at all) stops. And there is just a silence. Tears can come and so can laughter, for no apparent reason at all. Personally, I am a little stuck on the "substance of consciousness" thing. The only thing I have experienced it to be is "infinity". Infinity beyond the concept of infinity. A good way to tell if you are experiencing reality or have an "awakening" experience is that it will be completely different to what you have learned or imagined. But, when you try to explain what it is (as you're having the awakening experience or moment of "seeing"), you will be saying the same thing you said when you thought you knew what it was, but it will be completely different. This is why you cannot "learn" enlightenment or reality. 2. Is this close to what they call Enlightenment? Enlightenment is an "event" or experience which can be quite profound. It's not a thought or something that you create through imagination. I believe that the reason why people sometimes call it a "non-event" is because it does not occur in time. You know that you as the truth that you are has always been and you just imagined that you were something else. You may even be able to confirm that you have never suffered in life. Not that you will no longer suffer, but that you have never suffered, and you were only imagining your suffering. Also, you may feel as though you know everything. It is like all of life's mysteries just expose themselves to you and you don't need to read anything. Like you do not need to learn it. Many "positivity" quotes that you know take on a whole know meaning. You see how some "positivity" quotes are BS and some are very profound and could have only come from an enlightened person or from someone who at least was enlightened for a period of time. It's almost like everything clicks into place intellectually. 3. Is there a definite "barrier" that you cross when you "Awaken"? Personally, I have experienced many barriers or moments of reaching the "door" or "gate" and being too scared to continue through. It is almost like you are literally fearful of your life and you feel that you will die. One of my most crazy experiences was where I have an intense awakening experience and I was dropped into nothingness. At first I was like "mad, I'm here, I did it" (very identified and spiritually un-woke thing to say at that time because when I said "I" I literally meant me as an ego "did it"). It was a silence beyond silence and an emptiness beyond emptiness. Then a few seconds into it, I sensed something arise, almost like a thought or something maybe even an emotion or energy crept up behind me and then I realised "Could I be this emptiness?" and I thought "If I'm this emptiness then anything could happen". Like I could be dropped into an everlasting pit of sorrow and torture (for literally, ever, and never to escape). I don't recall if I did or not, but I could've let out a shriek of fear and it would have pierced through utter bliss (which was what I experienced first). Later I assessed the whole experience and tried to see where I went wrong because I thought I had "broke through". I later realised that I had a lot of ego identification in that moment and a lot of fear and confusion and I identified with it. I felt like "me", "getting" enlightened - obtaining it like a lost treasure that was for me and for me only. 4. Do you go anywhere? Like waking up from the Matrix or something? From my experiences you stay where you are. It seems as though things come to you rather than you go to things. 5. Does it "Look" different? Or is Enlightenment just the knowledge of Being that brings you peace? Imagine seeing everything you look at the same way that you look at someone who you are deeply in love with, even if it's a sliced-up zucchini or something. You can literally see so much beauty that you can be brought to tears of joy. Every woman and every man look beautiful and you love them. I've had a few experiences like this and it wasn't a thought. You do not "sustain" the beauty that you see by thinking about it in a loving way. it is already amazing and beautiful before you had an opinion. 6. Or is Enlightenment just the knowledge of Being that brings you peace? Enlightenment is not knowledge, but knowledge can come from it. The peace should be there before the knowledge. 7. Is the intuitive knowledge that you are ONE and that the self is an illusion good enough? If you have to ask, "is this good enough?" then it's not good enough. This tells me that you are still looking for something other than what you already are. If this helped let me know. I apologise if my responses are a bit all over the place. I feel that I am still exposing delusions and learning about the reality that I am. I feel confident enough to guide you as I have been where you have been. Consciousness and enlightenment is a funny thing because you could have an enlightenment experience today and you could potentially surpass levels of consciousness that I have experienced. You could then come into the full understanding of life and reality and I would be there in a heartbeat taking advantage of that by asking you some of my burning questions about it lol. Peace dude Lenny

At a personal/human level, what you write is important. If we want to treat the mind and body with care, we don’t want to use substances recklessly or become addicted to them. What if a person has had wonderful experiences on LSD and is miserable without them? If the person starts chasing experiences as an escape of their misery into bliss, this can cause a problem for the person. So I agree that at the human level, we should treat the mind and body kindly. For example, I would not suggest that someone’s first trip be 10 hits of LSD in a crowded train station in New York City. That would be traumatic to the mind and body. At a transcendent level to the person / human, what you write has no relevance. in this realm there is no “me”. There is no “my body”. No “my goals and needs”. My story has no more relevance than a spider in Guatemala. Notice the idea of “you want to get enlightened”. Who/what is the “you”? The mind may quickly think “Me, of course”. What/who is “me” is actually a very deep area of inquiry and exploration. This inquiry/exploration may allow for the realization that there is no “me” and that there is no “me” to get enlightened. There is no one to get enlightened. . . Also, notice the assumption of enlightenment. What exactly is this enlightenment? If “you” are not enlightened, how do you know what it is? How do you know it even exists? If I asked “Are you debkijed?”. You would have no idea if you are debkijed. Also notice how you use the term “drug” for psychedelic. That is very revealing about your mind’s relationship with psychedelics. When I lived in Peru, everyone called the psychedelic Ayahuasca “medicine”. They had a very different relationship with psychedelics. For them, it was medicine that allowed healing. . . If you went on a monthlong meditation retreat in a far away beautiful forest filled with lovely flowers and birds chirping, your chemical physiology would be dramatically altered. The neurotransmitters in your brain would be dramatically altered. This altered state of consciousness could allow for a sense of deep relaxation and the appearance of deep insights. Yet you probably wouldn’t call it a “drug” even it you biochemistry and mindset has been altered more than a psychedelic. This is a form of social conditioning in western culture. Altering one’s mindstate through meditation is “natural” meditation-induced state and altering one’s mindstate with psychedelics is an “drug-induced” state.

@Galyna Meditation quiets the activity of the mind, and leads to the “permanent state” referred to as no-mind, samadhi, and satori. I use quotes on “permanent state”, because it is not a state at all, it is who you literally actually are, an infinite being, unconditional love. Maya, is the believing of thoughts, which perpetuates the delusion of believing this place is physical and you are a separate physical person in it. The experience of no-mind is not an experience at all, it is that of pure silence, absolute love & bodily sensations of bliss, all day, everyday. There is no such thing as “body”, nor “days”. There is only infinite bliss. Thought is the activity of consciousness, which is infinite love appearing as thoughts. As such, consciousness appears to veil itself, like clouds appear to veil the emptiness of the sky.

One must know suffering in order to know bliss.

Leo, how can we explain this sweetest feeling of peace and pleasure while sleeping? Every night I go to bed I have this amazing experience of indescribable lightness, deep pleasure...almost like a bliss. It lasts couple of seconds when I wake up. But a soon as I remember myself as human being, as Galyna, it triggers me back to this usual state of consciousness. I always wonder is it how this powerful God mode feels?

Yup. God is utterly terrifying. But also paradoxically sheer bliss. Curious.. Is DMT that "new" substance you were talking about on your blog a month or so ago? (Likely not, but hey... I thought I'd ask)

Hey, I thought this was all Trumps fault. Let's get rid of all ICE and all the police. No borders or Police.....Huh, and then no Guns. Imagine a nation like that...….Ahhhhh Bliss. LOL

It's not a cycle. Nothing repeats in this life. Everytime there is a different cry, a different laught, a different sleep, a different day. And there's the duality : being awake/sleeping because we need sleep in order to function properly. see this man with fatal insomnia for example: And if you're talking about reincarnation,I'm not sure about that. As Leo said,you could stay in the Godhead realm aka Heaven forever. the reason for what?Our reincarnations? Why? You can be innocent at 50 years old too. You can have that bliss at 50 years old too. Some people didn't have it in childhood. Some people won't ever have it.

You wake up, you play, you cry, you go to sleep. You will forget every time, you will eventually remember and you will accept that it's going to continue and will always do so. Childhood is the reason. Sweet innocence and experiencing that absolute fucking bliss.

Walkingstick 111 454 subscribers ***Update***: I no longer work with Dr.Gerardo Sandoval and highly recommend doing your due diligence in researching and finding an appropriate facilitator. One year after a very intense, dramatic experience filmed for Vice TV, I found myself back in the Sonoran Desert and on the launch pad, to both face some fear, immense power and a high level of surrender. Big thanks to Dr.Gerardo Sandoval, Martina and Stepan for taking care of me during my journey. And thanks to Mother Nature for providing this medicine and the amazing setting. Thanks to Lucie Havlínová for filming this experience in its entirety. I have worked with Dr.Sandoval-Isaac on several occasions and highly recommend him as a guide, I literally trust him with my life, luckily I've not been let down. That being said, it is important to remember that the medicine itself is the real star. The doc is there to facilitate and support, the rest is up to you and the medicine. Surrender is key. The medicine is so powerful and my surrender so complete that my physical body gets tossed around. It is surprising to me that the vocal response is always "Ayayayayayayayaa", is this my battle cry? The following describes what I'm feeling around the 9:00 minute mark: I am at the peak of the experience in terms of absolute bliss, the sky is blooming and I'm seeing something so incredibly beautiful, I'm part of it. Beyond fucking words. I feel the presence of everyone and everything together. I feel like we all just experienced something incredible together. We have merged. We are ONE! I couldn't even see the actual people around me and was unaware of my physical movements. There was some turbulence before I got to this point, but when I arrived and got hold of the power, I was rewarded to the core of my existence. PURE LOVE. I've felt it with every particle of my being. It is real and with me always

@Jacobsrw Thanks. I should have prefixed my question with the fact that I have done psychedelics and have had many insights from my trips. They have been useful in untangling my self. I have also achieved psychedelic states from contemplation only. I've been meditating daily for a few years also. My problem is that the "highs" that I have achieved through work felt much more genuine than the "highs" that I've achieved from psychedelics. Somehow I feel unworthy of achieving these peak states just by taking a pill. The bliss is too much and I feel I am not deserving of it. Also, the peak states of psychedelics wear off much faster than the ones done with other methods. @Leo Gura I understand that material reality runs deep, but psychedelics seem too much of a "cheat-code" out of materialism. Why would God offer such an easy "cheat-code" to himself? Sounds too good to be true. It takes thought to untangle your thoughts. It takes awareness to untangle your awareness. It takes something material to untangle materialism. But I still wonder if there is deeper answer than this.

Perfection of Material Science by Siddharameshwar Maharaj Temporal life or worldliness (Sansara) means an attempt to make oneself happy at the cost and sacrifice of others (total indifference to other’s welfare and miseries). Parmartha means (1) to realise the Origin of the whole Universe (2) to enjoy one’s own natural happiness (i.e. happiness not acquired by any efforts or means – happiness of Self) and (3) to make all people similarly and equally happy and (4) Perfection of Material Science. Material researches are always imperfect and imperfect things cannot bring happiness to anyone. Parmartha is nothing but bringing material researches to perfection. Perfection brings happiness to all. Raw food or not properly cooked food causes pain while ripe food is wholesome. Even bitter ‘Nimb fruit’ when completely ripe gives sweet taste. Material researches when brought to perfection reach the stage of Parmartha which means nothing but God or Brahma. Temporal life (Sansara) or Spiritual life (Parmartha) both have only one goal in view viz: to attain happiness. But material life or material researches bring only temporary happiness whereas the Parmartha means perfect Eternal Happiness which is unexcelled by any other happiness. Material life (sansara) and spiritual life (parmartha) both aim at one thing but results are quite the reverse. In one there is endless misery while in the other there is boundless and unexcelled Eternal joy. Material science has determined that the Origin of the Universe is Ether (imperceptible matter supposed to pervade all space) and what is beyond it is not perceivable. The material scientists observe through the instrumentality of eyes, microscopes, glasses and such others which being themselves objective and inanimate only help with the knowledge of material objects but not in the knowledge of imperceptible Reality beyond Ether. That Reality can only be known by ‘Jnana’ i.e. Truth Consciousness. Objects which are quite near, are felt by the skin and further than those are seen by eyes and still further are known by ears. The inner properties of things such as sweetness, pungency, sourness etc, are however known by the tongue. Such inner properties cannot be known by skin, eyes or ears. Still more subtle and imperceptible substance is known alone by mind (mana) or intellect (buddhi) but it is only the ‘Jnana’ (consciousness) which knows everything. The said Jnana which is the Origin of everything is impossible to be realised by lifeless and inanimate objects like microscopes. Moreover, the inner invisible properties of things viz. sweetness in sweet things, sourness in sour things and pungency in chillies are impossible to be perceived by any instrument or glass. These material instruments go as far as the outward form of objects but they cannot penetrate into their inner properties. If they cannot penetrate into the inner properties of inanimate objects, then how is it possible for them to realise the imperceptible Reality which is the Origin of all things visible or invisible known as Jnana? For realization of the said 2 Origin that is Jnana (Truth Consciousness) it is necessary to have such means which can realise the same. No wonder therefore that the scientists and agnostics who investigate only by material and inanimate instruments, have not been able to know anything of the said Jnana. The ancient Rishis in India first studied the material science but when they could not find the Real happiness therein, they progressed in the study of mental science. Here they made many wonderful discoveries, such as reading the minds of others, knowing things and events happening at a great distance, making one’s own form invisible to others, entering into another’s body, leaving his own, curing diseases both mental and physical by rechanting Mantras and moving through the sky and attained many other supernatural powers (siddhis); but ultimately they having found that these powers would not help them in the attainment of the Real and Eternal Happiness, directed their attention to know and realise the Soul. In this, they attained perfect Spiritual Content – they attained supreme felicity. Here they experienced unexcelled and boundless joy and happiness and in this state every one of them ejaculated “Blessed am I!” “Blessed am I!” The Sublime Truth which they realised in this Knowledge was denominated as Ishwar (God) Deva – i.e. the enlightening Spirit of all or Brahma (than whom nothing is greater) and this they propounded as the Origin of the whole Universe. Material scientists could not approach the Reality or could not realise the said Origin and stopped at a point which is nullity. They are therefore called materialists or agnostics, but the Vedantists (Vedic philosophers) or scholars of similar other religions who propound the same Truth as the Vedas realised the real existence of the Sublime Truth, therefore they are called the propounders or believers of Jnana, the Reality or Truth. It is the said Jnana or the said Reality which is known as Brahma or Ishwara. The same is also known as Deva (div = to shine) because the same is the source of Knowledge of everything or because everything is known of Him and therefore He is the enlightenment of everything i.e. Deva. In Him there is the creation of everything and the whole Universe is created of Him. In fact He is the origin (Father) of everything. Jesus preached that God is beyond sky, and sky means nothing i.e. nullity. Beyond this nullity or sky what really exists is known as Deva (God or Father). Sky or nullity is the complete ignorance (Ajnana) because nothing existing is known. What exists beyond this sky is the Jnana or the Reality which knows even the sky or nullity and this Jnana or the Reality is described by all religions as God. Amongst such religions the Hindu religion has given a vivid and very clear description of God by giving various attributes such as Drishta (seer of all – origin of sight), Chaitanya (i.e. moving Spirit of all), Sakshi (Omnipresent-witnessing everything), Paripurna (the Perfect One), Nirantar (one without distance), Ananta (one having no end in any other as opposed to other things which would ultimately end in Him). He is known as Brahma or Ishwara who is the Origin of the whole universe having all the above attributes. Only by one attribute of Nirantar i.e. having no distance, the hollowness of all material researches so far made is exposed. The Origin of this Universe is Brahma which is nir-antar (without distance). Therefore the experiments of radio, wireless etc. have been successful. With the help of a telescope, things at a distance appear nearer. This is of course not on account of the instrument. The instrument does not drag the thing nearer from a distance. All things are in fact from the beginning situated without any distance but they appear at a distance to the material eye. If the objectiveness of the eye is removed by some means, then everything will appear within you and without any distance. Radio does not bring the word nearer but the word itself is within you without any distance whatsoever. Radio etc. does nothing but only help you in the experience of the words which are within you without any distance. Just see that the words uttered by us do not scatter away in the wind like parched rice and the sentence uttered is not broken away in disorderly manner, but all words are heard at one time by several people in all directions! On careful consideration of this point everything becomes intelligible. One must come to the conclusion that whatever is in existence today was in existence from the commencement. The rule is that what exists can only be experienced and nothing else. Hence the modern scientists have not discovered anything new nor have they made any new things. What exists today is or what appears to be discovered today was already in existence from the commencement but it is only this that it became intelligible to us only now, the same being not known to us before. Is this to be called discovery? What was not in existence before, cannot be created, or discovered by any instrument, nor by any means whatsoever. The Vedas are the repositories of many truths. The infiniteness of Vedic knowledge can be imagined if even one of these truths is tried to be understood. Along with this knowledge one would also be convinced of the hollowness and falsity of modern discoveries. The modern researchers ought not to get inflated by vanity for their so called inventions and discoveries. Because truly speaking they have not yet known anything about the Real Truth. These people not having realised the true state of the Universe are under a delusion from the start. It will not therefore be improper if we make this subject clear from further exposition. A microscope gives appearance to a small object as having a big volume. The same appears smaller to the eye without the help of any instrument. Then what is the real state? Does the glass enlarge the volume of the thing or the eye make it smaller? Only one thing appears larger at one time and smaller at another. Then what is the fact? Is the thing really small or large? What is the true state of the thing? The thing which is in fact small, can never be made larger by any instrument. No instrument can make it bigger and if the thing is in fact large then it can never appear smaller to the eye. The reason is neither the machine nor the eye can make the thing large or small. Then what is the cause for one thing appearing smaller or larger by different means (viz. by the eye or by the glass). Deeper thinking on this point would convince us that the glass does not make the thing bigger nor the eye make it smaller. The power of cognizance coming out of the eye being weak, the thing appears smaller. The glass instrument intensifies the power of the eye (that cognizes the objects in the world) and on account of the intensified power, the same thing appears larger. Thus with the help of external instruments we increase the power of cognizance and the thing appears in a larger form. If we extend this process of increasing the cognizing power, the object goes on assuming a larger and larger form until it becomes so large that it would become rarified and would become invisible like sky (vacant space) and would appear as if there is nothing and in the end the thing would not be visible at all. It is common experience that if the power of the light is intensified to a very great degree, the light becomes invisible or blinding. An object appearing at a distance, if seen by the physical eye alone, would appear very near if seen with the assistance of a telescope. Then, whether the telescope dragged that object nearer or the eye took the same further off it would be neither of the two. The reason for the object appearing nearer with the help of a telescope is that the telescope increases the cognizing power of the eye. Similarly if the cognizing power is intensified further and further by more and more powerful means, then the object would appear nearer and nearer and would appear so near that it would appear within us and in the end would become invisible and would disappear altogether. If our eyes were as powerful as telescope would we have experienced the distance between things as we experience now? No. Following the same line of argument one would be faced with the question whether the things that appear nearer or at a distance, or that assume any size or volume whatsoever really exist at all. One must come to the conclusion that nothing appearing really exists and what appears as existing is only an illusion. Does it therefore amount to this that the whole fault lies with the 3 4 cognizing power of the eye or intellect, in the experience of (1) the distance between things (2) the difference in the smaller and bigger volume and size of things and (3) in the existence and non-existence of things. Then people who only believe their experience of what they see and feel as true on account of their weak eyes and intellect must be convinced that the discoveries such as flying by aeroplanes, travelling by railways, driving in motor cars or hearing sound by radios are all nothing but an illusion. Thus in reality there being no distance at all where did you fly and where did you run? Is this not all due to the ignorance of the true state of things? If in reality, there was any distance in the universe, then no radio or any other powerful instrument could have made the sound heard nearer. Just see the sound which is heard through the instrumentality of radio! It is heard as spoken very near. Just see how near is the object which is seen through the instrumentality of a telescope! From all these it is proved that all things are without any distance. There is no distance whatever in anything. There is no difference in size or volume. In fact there is nothing like size or volume. Similarly things which appear to exist have no existence at all. The conclusion which we have shown here is only a fraction of one of the many principles contained in the Vedas. If only this one principle is wholly treated, then people will have altogether a different experience about the true state of things and will at once perceive what a huge difference there is in the knowledge and experience of a Jnani i.e. a person who has realised the Truth and in the knowledge experience of those who have not realised the Truth. But what is the use of explaining the said principles in full to persons who are wholly and solely after materialism? At present we would like to stop at the preliminary exposition only. This is however to give some idea about the infinite and sublime philosophy of the Vedas. The origin of all things in this Universe is known as Ishwara (Lord of all i.e. the controlling Power) Brahma (Infinite Being) or Deva (i.e. enlightening Spirit of all). This Sublime Truth can never be realised by fasts, bodily austerities or various forms of discipline enjoined by various sects of religions but the same is only realised by Jnana (Self Realization) by the teachings of a Spiritual preceptor. The Reality which gives Supreme and Infinite Joy and which can only be realised by the Spiritual thinking is present everywhere and at all times. Then why should not intelligent people make efforts to know it? It is our advice to all again and again to make efforts to realise the said Truth. Without it the world will never have the real happiness or peace. It is the only source of real peace or happiness. The same is the natural Happiness of all and is also known as Samadhana or Religion. The same is the goal of all religions. Religion therefore means realization of the Origin of the whole Universe viz: God or ‘Jnana’ and that alone is called true religion. The present followers of converts to Hinduism, Mahomedanism, Christianity or any other religion have not realised the true religion described above. A Hindu may be asked “What have you known by following Hinduism? Have you realised God, Brahma, or Rama, Krishna and Shiva? No. Then what have you known? Wearing Dhoti, putting on turban and speaking ‘touch me not’ ‘touch me not’, are these the only and real principles of Hindu Religion? Similarly a Mahomedan may be asked what have you known by following Mahomedanism? Have you known “Khuda” or “Allah”? No. Then what have you known? You allow beard to grow, circumcise and rejoice in cow-slaughter-Kurbani. Is the Mahomedan Religion confined to these acts only? A Christian may also be asked what have you known as a Christian? Have you known the Father in Heaven? No. Then what have you done? You have put on boots, pant, collar, necktie and moved in society with wife hand in hand and put on Cross. Is this the religion of Christianity? Where do the Hindus, Mahomedans, Christians etc. know the origin of their own respective religion which is known as God? Of course there might be some exception. In short no one has really known or realised any religion in its real sense and therefore no one belongs to any religion. If that is so, how can any person be converted to another religion or how can one lose his former religion? If change in religion or conversion is to be confined only to change in dress and food and outward appearance then many Hindus dress like Europeans or Mahomedans and many Mahomedans dress like Hindus. If change in dress and food is to be understood as change in religion, then one shall have to admit that many people become converts every day from one religion to another. Therefore change in dress and food is no criterion of conversion. It is the realisation of the root principle of any religion, that is call the real following of or conversion to the said religion, and the root of every religion is one, viz: the Soul. Therefore there can be no two religions and similarly there can be no conversion. Therefore nobody becomes a convert and nobody can convert another. It is also not correct to say, that the body becomes a convert because there is no change in the body or complexion of a convert, nor in his bones, flesh, blood etc. nor are his mother, father, brother etc. changed. His dead relations do not return to him nor the living die. If we say it is only a change in the mental belief, then, it is alright. It comes to this that the mere mental belief of a Hindu that he has become a Christian would make him a Christian and again when he changes his belief and believes him to be following Hindu religion, then again he is a Hindu. The same is the case with all religions. It is the belief that alone works. Where is then the multiplicity of religions and where is conversion? Where is the loss of a religion? What is all this humbug? Many people say that their religion is better than all other religions. Such people may be asked what is the superiority or inferiority in religion? Is it not confined to certain kind of dress, accepting or rejecting certain food or eating many times in a day or fasting? If this is the meaning of religion, it can be observed in any religion and at any place. If however realization of God is the criterion of real religion as stated above, then is there any true lover of any religion who can solemnly declare that immediately on accepting his religion, anybody would be able to realise God in no time? If there is any person to make such a declaration, then all the present followers of his religion must have realised God. But experience tells us that it is not so. In a big conference at Chicago, Swami Vivekanand had stated that many persons propounding the cardinal principles on religion do not know God themselves, then what about their followers? Such people only talk much but when some point blank question is put to them about God they become tongue-tied. The Vedas have boldly propounded that by following the path led by the Sadguru (one who has realised the Eternal Truth which is God) who alone is the guide and Saviour, one can realise God in this very body. All religions and scriptures propound the same thing. The seekers of Parmartha are therefore warned to be very careful not to allow themselves to be led astray about the Parmartha laid down in the Vedas by the pseudo teachings of the inexperienced imposters. It is on account of association with such people that parmartha has become a difficult problem. It is however not difficult for those who come into touch with true guides who have realised the Self. It is stated in a Sanskrit verse that there is some trouble in withering a fully blossomed flower but there is not the least trouble in the attainment of Parmartha. At present the Parmartha has become very difficult because inexperienced imposters have thrust into the Parmartha path many false and misleading principles and therefore various sorts of beliefs, superstitions, sentiments and usages are to be found which have caused great confusion in Religion. For the 5 6 removal of such superstitions and confusion some followers of our Sadguru Shri Sidha Rameshwar Maharaj have published a book in Marathi, Gujarati and Canerese languages called “Parmarth Marga Pradeep” which may be gone through with advantage. It many a time happens that people of other countries, desirous of knowing Vedic philosophy fall into the hands of inexperienced pandits who disappoint them. Such people conclude that there is not much in Vedant. Therefore all people are hereby warned from making hasty judgement by merely listening to incapable and inexperienced pandits but they should wait for their decision until they hear the Vedic philosophy from Shri Sidha Rameshwar Maharaj. Those who emphasise the superiority of their own religion and underrate that of others have not understood the root principle of any religion, not only so but in fact they do not even understand what is Religion. The main object of all religions is one and the same viz: realisation of God who is the Origin of the whole Universe. He is otherwise known as the Samadhan or the perfect Natural Happiness described above in the beginning hereof. The whole Universe depends upon Him and the life of all beings is preserved on account of Him. Every living being requires as of necessity Samadhana. It is the final goal of every one and the whole world is striving for it. What is the principal need of life? On what does it depend? It depends principally on Samadhana. Which food is taken most? By what is the life really preserved? This is a point for careful consideration. Does happiness depend on wife? No. In which case people would have carried their wives with them everywhere. Does it depend on a son? No. Son is sent to school. If it depends on food, people do not fasten a bag of food to their mouth. All these things are done for mental happiness i.e. for samadhana. When this samadhana (happiness) is disturbed, people get tired of the very things which were once pleasing to them and throw them off. Why that is done? Because otherwise the samadhana would be disturbed. Nobody says “enough of samadhana” or that he is tired of it. The whole substance is that samadhana is required as principal food in every morsel and at every step in every walk of life. It is required in every work every minute and in every word. It is for the sake of this samadhana that people, eat, drink or go and sit in latrines. People do not know what their wants i.e. necessities of life are. They require space, air, water, light, and earth. They also require respect and honour and desire to be addressed as Sir, Lord, Rao, Sahib etc. Why all these? It is all for samadhana, i.e. (eternal) joy and (eternal) happiness. Some people beg of God, death, why is that? It is for samadhana. When a man thinks he cannot get happiness in this life, he desires death and sometimes commits suicide. Throughout life people live only for samadhana. Desire for heaven, prayer to God for happiness or blessings or begging of the spiritual preceptor for the removal of miseries or giving salvation (Moksha) – all these are for samadhana. Thus every living being requires samadhana as a necessity. It is clear that renunciation, rejection or acceptance of anything including even body, is for samadhana and samadhana alone. What does religion mean? Parmartha (Self realisation) or attainment of Supreme Bliss. What is its object? Freedom or salvation. Samadhana means to be free from all and every misery and to obtain Eternal and Supreme Happiness. The Samadhana described in the above paragraphs is only temporary because it relates to temporal life. The Pleasure from material objects is temporary or for the time being, but the attainment of Perfect and Supreme or Eternal Bliss (samadhana) is the real Parmartha or Moksha i.e. freedom from all miseries, anxieties, toils and labours &c. It gives Supreme Bliss. The very life depends on happiness. To make happiness Eternal and perfect and supreme is Parmartha. People have come to this world to attain this Eternal and Natural Happiness. How can this Eternal and Natural Happiness be secured? It is only possible to be attained by the grace of a Sadguru (Spiritual preceptor). It is now clear that Real and true Happiness means Parmartha (Perfect, Eternal and Natural). It is the duty of all to secure the same. Everyone is striving for it. Body, wife, son etc. all are for that Ananda. The Parmartha giving Eternal happiness is not confined to any particular sect or religion. It is the religion and birth right of everybody. It is impossible to live without it. Even death is for the attainment of the said Happiness, i.e. Parmartha. Knowingly or unknowingly everyone attempts for it. One striving for it knowingly and willingly with a mind and zeal gets it permanently. But one who does not understand what is the Parmartha and does not know the path for its attainment makes useless and futile efforts day and night to get happiness. For happiness he at times takes a dose of opium or wine or indulges in politics or in making new discoveries and inventions or does a number of other things. But he does not find real happiness in any of them and ultimately he gets tired of them. In the end everyone will have to take a dose of Parmartha knowingly and with a will for it. Such Parmartha which is Ananda (Perfect Happiness) is the religion of all. It does not belong to nor is confined to any sect or religion. Those who say they do not want Anand or Parmartha should rather unhesitatingly and loudly cry “We are not alive” “We are dead”. Even death is also for that Parmartha or Samadhan-Annand or Happiness. Where will you go leaving Parmartha? How can you live without it? What humbug? The world is hankering for happiness. Everyone is striving hard only for happiness, if this is so, then how is it that instead of happiness, unhappiness and misery result. In these days from peasant to the prince everyone is found to be unhappy. On careful consideration on the point one must come to the conclusion that the methods adopted to gain happiness are wrong and defective and there is some serious blunder at the bottom of the said methods. In all civilized countries nothing but misery is found. As new discoveries are being made by the modern civilisation, miseries and terror also keep pace with them. By such discoveries there is a growing increase in the needs of people and to meet the same people must toil and labour more and more. The demand upon the resources of people for satisfying their fresh and new wants is growing everyday with the new invention. Every new invention would make only the inventor rich but the pockets of millions of other people are emptied because of the new and fresh wants created by his invention. It is better to suffer from a serpent bite than to increase a single want. A serpent’s poison can be cured by its remedy once only but the want is required to be satisfied for the whole life. Once a new invention is out then the same is widely advertised and all sorts of tactics are used to create a demand for the same only to make moneys thereout by exploiting the ignorance. Very often Governments also have to make use of their powers and resort to oppression, intrigues or politics. Sometimes Governments go to the length of waging wars with other countries to force such inventions upon other countries. Thus with the progress in invention, peoples’ wants are increased and various tactics are in progress to extort moneys. In such circumstances how can you expect real fraternity or unity? This is nothing but open enmity. Such robbery and extortion are however described as the great progress in civilization and as increasing universal brotherhood and fraternity in the world. Let those who say so rejoice in such fraternity but it is certain that the world will not be happy by such discoveries. These discoveries are dragging the people to hell. The world is galloping towards hell. If the world will continue to proceed in the same manner and in the same direction, the result would be cruelty, bloodshed, and horrible warfare. Nobody can deny that these new manufacturers of the modern science have only increased risks and dangers to life. Why in ancient times people could maintain strict morality and the virtues of truth, honesty and compassion? The reason is obvious. Peoples’ wants were few and they could secure their necessities with a slight labour. There was therefore no reason for people to addict to immorality. Now the wants are so 7 8 immensely increased that they cannot be satisfied even by hard work, hence rogueries, intrigues, immorality are rampant and people have gone to the length of committing thefts. People are inclined to vices on account of wants. They would supply their needs by any foul means. Need is the mother of all vices. It causes anxiety and worry. People have no trust in one another and they adopt unscrupulous and unlawful means and fear, unrest and violence prevail everywhere. Bravo! Oh! Need! Such is thy power! The whole universe is being dragged into a deep valley on account of you. In short, the immortality which is rampant in the whole world at present, is the result of the ever growing wants. It is on account of the said wants that a man labours. A man having no need would flatly refuse to work. “What do I care for” is the expression often used by un-needy persons. The substance is, it is the need which compels one to labour and to stoop to do immoral acts. It is for the sake of sheer want that a man suffers the humiliation and indignity. It is said that when times are adverse, even fools are adored. Necessity knows no law nor dignity and nobody can preserve self-restraint or respect with their needs staring at them. In these days of modern civilization people are always in need and surrounded with difficulties to satisfy their wants. As for law! For the due observance of one principle of law people have to do several unlawful things secretly. The more the restraint the more the immorality. When the straight path becomes impossible a man has to resort to any crooked ways and means. This rule applies to all beings equally. To say that the world is being made happy by such reforms and inventions which are productive of constant wants is equivalent to saying that a house on fire can be extinguished by rock oil. What is the present social life also? It is nothing but dramatic and artificial! It is not that the ancient sages in India were incapable of making such reforms, inventions etc. as are now made by the modern scientists which push down the world into the deep valley of misery. They were quite competent to make such discoveries but the reason why those scientists (sages) kept aloof and abandoned such reforms and inventions is that they knew full well that the same were not meant for any happiness to the world but were for total destruction of the peace and tranquillity of the whole world. It was their firm conviction that such reforms and inventions of the present day type would produce endless miseries and worldwide anxieties and worries as are now being experienced. The natural peace and joy enjoyed by the world before the times of modern civilization has now completely disappeared. People of modern civilization cannot have any idea about it by any stretch of the imagination. In those days peace and joy reigned supreme everywhere and people could live with ease and pleasure with a little labour. The whole family was easily maintained by the slight labour of only one member. Not only that but even guests were welcomed and entertained cheerfully as if in Diwali (holiday) festivals. Now-a-days however, the guests are unwelcome like Yama i.e. God of Death. Are the Nations who are topmost in modern civilization really happy? Only some might appear happy outwardly but inwardly the majority of people in the world are drowned in miseries and have to struggle hard out of proportion for bare maintenance, so much so that one day without work means fast certain. Many cannot afford to keep a house and lie in the streets like vagabonds on account of their incapacity to provide maintenance and residence to the whole family. They cannot find maintenance for one, then, why think of family or guests? In these circumstances how do you expect true love, fraternity and universal brotherhood? This is only hypocracy and outward sham appearance. God alone knows what is passing within! The revered Great men have proclaimed that it is alone the Parmartha (Vedic philosophy) which would bring Supreme Bliss, natural happiness, mutual love and universal brotherhood. Without it the world will never be happy. Without the modern reforms and inventions the world did enjoy complete happiness. India’s wealth 8 9 was boundless and India acquired the name of “Land of Gold”! This was not because of the modern up-to-date fashionable living but it was so on account of the simple living with very few wants. It was the result of enjoying merrily the natural resources supplied by Nature. The modern civilization has produced only articles of luxury and tremendously increased the wants of people and consequently made them unhappy and miserable. Modern researchers cannot discover the useful and nutritious articles necessary for life but how the same could be produced was the discovery made by the ancient sages. The Rishis made discoveries of things necessary for the preservation of life but simultaneously enjoined renunciation in the highest degree restricting the use of and enjoyment thereof in the minimum. The reason is that one should not worry too much after such material objects otherwise one will not be able to find time and energy to think of Eternal Happiness. The measure of happiness derived from worldly objects is out of proportion to the immense labour and trouble required for their attainment. From the view of real happiness, therefore, this is not a profitable bargain, for happiness, is like an atom and the misery is of a mountain in dimension. Providence has arranged that what is required for real happiness can be had everywhere without any cost or effort. He has also arranged for the automatic and natural production from the earth of the articles required for food and drink. These natural products were enjoyed with great delight by the ancient sages and they are still being enjoyed with the greatest delight by birds, beasts and such other creatures who have no sense of discrimination. Only the mankind who are endowed with all senses and faculties and who believe themselves to be wise and superior to all others do not enjoy the same with delight and pleasure and by reason of their foolishness not only themselves suffer great hardships but along with them also cause most unbearable hardships to the dumb animals like horses, oxen, elephants, camels and others who would have otherwise enjoyed independently this natural bliss with pleasure and delight. All other ignorant creatures who have no sense of discrimination enjoy the natural resources with the utmost joy and pleasure and move as free and independent as monarchs. They never think of service, commerce, or labour even in their dream. O! Wise men! This wife (Creation-Prakriti-nature) has created and kept ready what may be required as of necessity, for the happiness of her Lord. Only the husband (mankind) has to enjoy the natural happiness always produced by Nature without any effort or anxiety. But this husband who is ‘no vara’ i.e. regardless of this natural happiness on account of his overwiseness becomes a cook like a fool and labours hard to make discoveries and inventions to find out new forms and means of happiness which however always result in extreme misery. The nature of creation is full of all resources and has in abundance all necessities of life required by all beings. Only men who are best of all creatures labour day and night like a donkey others die of worries and anxieties while other creatures enjoy the food drink and other necessities of life provided by nature with utmost delight and pleasure. There is a Marathi proverb which literally means that wise men eat cow-dung and fools eat sweetmeats. Will you try to see through the meaning of this proverb? Are you not still convinced that the natural products are more than sufficient for maintenance? Are you not still disgusted with the constant drudgery? Has not the time yet come to know from Spiritual Preceptors the means of removing the burning worries of people? Be it so! It is therefore that the ancient sages and the founders of all religions enjoined the renunciation of the material objects and realization of the Origin of the Universe viz: God or Brahma. This is what is meant by Parmartha herein. All nations are therefore hereby warned that the path chosen by them for their progress will bring them the most dreadful and terrible catastrophes. Therefore they should leave aside the idea of rejoicing in perishable material objects which are full of bitter poison and follow the path laid down in the Vedas which alone would bring them natural and Eternal happiness and create the feeling of universal fraternity. They should start immediately the system of enjoying equally and independently the natural assets of the Creation and avail themselves of the benefit of endless powers which are hidden behind the curtain of mind. Is it not the real duty of men of best talents in this world to find out ways and means so that the happiness and joy may be universal, the anxiety for work and need for income and accumulation might be put an end to, and warfare, crooked policies, politics and intrigues may disappear and peace may reign supreme all over the world? Everyday new discoveries are made and people are made to toil and labour for them and various tactics are used to increase the needs of people. How long the world is going to continue this course of life? Is not the world still tired of it? Now enough of this! Let all this be put an end to. At present all countries are after the discoveries of only material objects and people are led to materialism. The result is that the whole world has been unhappy and miserable. There will however be one day which will be the GOLDEN DAY for the whole world when a real SAVIOUR will come forward who will find out ways and means to remove the misery of all people and make them happy. Oh! Inventors therefore find out at least one such invention whereby nobody will be required to toil, exert or labour at any time and under any circumstances. O! Leaders find out at least one such movement which would remove all anxieties and wants from people so that there may not be any want to any one for anything whatsoever. What is the utility of your present inventions, reforms and movements which only increase drudgery and hard labour and ever create worry and killing anxiety? Why exert unnecessarily? In the present times, the anxiety and worry of “must work” “must work” like a ghost has taken the grip of everyone. That will be the GOLDEN DAY therefore when some inventor or reformer will come forward, who will do away with all the modern civilization, reforms, inventions, intrigues, and politics. Such a person will be known as a real Saviour! There is no doubt that such a Saintly Person will be remembered and worshipped forever! Never think that this is not possible. If this is not clear to you, please seek the advice of His Holiness Shri Sidha Rameshwar Maharaj

Siddharameshwar maharaj died in 1936 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddharameshwar disciples: Sri Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000) was with Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj for 12 years from the young age of 12 until the age of 24 Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981) was with him for a two and a half years, 1933-1936.[15] Shri Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar (1905–2001) Maharaj met his Guru Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj in 1935 and was with him for a period of about 1 year. Sri Ganapatrao Maharaj Kannur (1909 - 2004) was with him for 13 years. Shri Vilasanand Maharaj (1909 - 1993). Shri Ranachhodray Maharaj, Baitkhol Karwar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddharameshwar _____________________________________________________________________________ Bentinho Massaro like Sadguru had no teacher. Massaro makes no mention of one in his biography on his website. Below he mentions Dzogchen, a tradition of teachings in Tibetan Buddhism. He has mentioned Nisargadatta (died 1981) who was a disciple of Siddharameshwar (died 1936) https://www.bentinhomassaro.com/biography He says this (excerpts) "it wasn’t until the age of around 16, that Bentinho’s search for Enlightenment really started to pick up in both speed and intensity of the desire to seek and “find the Source of all of existence,” as he put it to himself at that time. At the age of 18 he had his first memorable shift in consciousness. He experientially saw that the presence he had been looking for was always already here. Ever since this first and introductory ‘shift into enlightenment’ he has been riding the waves of an intensely awakened life.... After his initial awakening at 18, his sharings online started to shift from a more traditional yogic point of view, into a view more comparable to the teachings found in Dzogchen—which is based in the understanding that the natural State of Emptiness-Awareness-Bliss is always already at the root of each experience. Bentinho’s slogan at the time became ‘Always Already Present.’ He began a relentless quest, exploring all kinds of teachers, philosophies, and methods, including studies in India. He stayed with each practice only long enough to digest what was useful to his goal. Eventually exhausted, he realized that all the spiritual “authorities” were no more enlightened than himself, and he made a radical decision: to seek only within his own being, following his own resonance and trusting his intuition without hesitation. There he discovered that the “ultimate answer” was to be found in the presence of Existence itself—in all its infinite potential. “I sank into this indescribable freedom that knows no boundaries,” he says. “This enlightenment was the end of an unpleasant dream based in illusion and the beginning of my true life as an awakened consciousness.” This background helps explain an extraordinary creation that Bentinho launched in late 2014—an online university for enlightenment that many (former!) seekers claim is the quickest available way to achieve actual, experiential Self-Realization. Bentinho named it Trinfinity Academy to indicate the three categories of his teachings: Enlightenment, Empowerment, and Infinity. ______________________________________ https://www.bentinhomassaro.com/read/from-traditional-spirituality-to-a-truly-free-existence (excerpts) From Traditional Spirituality to a Truly Free Existence Bentinho Massaro: I teach two paths, self-realization, which is more along those lines, and self-actualization. What is much, much higher than anything you read in the books by Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi and the Buddha and all of that nonsense (which is great stuff—again, I teach it too and there is value in it) is to listen to what makes you come alive. Because that comes from a place tailored specifically to the purpose you were created for in this life. And if you don’t pay attention to that, and if you override it with mental spirituality, you will die of cancer or something else, because you are not being useful anymore. True spirituality is to not "know better," but rather to follow your heart, follow your heart, follow your heart, be humbled—over and over and over and over again. This will empty you out. This will truly empty you out, and simultaneously disperse you across the galaxy as Everything. It will make you so passionate and engaged with every little aspect of your life, that you will now truly fulfill the purpose that Spirit brought you here to fulfill. If anything, I don’t feel I have to give you a specific answer or toolkit. I feel that all I want you to know is to follow that new intuitive impulse that you have been receiving—that intuitive voice from within that guided you to an event like this, that is moving away a little bit from the more traditional spectrum of spirituality you are used to. I would say, wholeheartedly follow that impulse with everything you have, and let nobody tell you differently. _________________________________________________________ Above he mentions Nisargadatta Maharaj who was also mentioned in the OP Nisargadatta Mahara (1897 – 1981)was a Hindu guru of nondualism, belonging to the Inchagiri Sampradaya, a lineage of teachers from the Navnath Sampradaya and Lingayat Shaivism. The publication in 1973 of I Am That, an English translation of his talks in Marathi by Maurice Frydman, brought him worldwide recognition and followers, especially from North America and Europe. Siddharameshwar (mentioned at the top of this post was Nisargadatta's guru - below "my guru") Nisargadatta: My Guru ordered me to attend to the sense 'I am' and to give attention to nothing else. I just obeyed. I did not follow any particular course of breathing, or meditation, or study of scriptures. Whatever happened, I would turn away my attention from it and remain with the sense 'I am'. It may look too simple, even crude. My only reason for doing it was that my Guru told me so. Yet it worked! Following his guru's instructions to concentrate on the feeling "I Am", he used all his spare time looking at himself in silence, and remained in that state for the coming years, practising meditation and singing devotional bhajans: My Guru told me: "...Go back to that state of pure being, where the ‘I am’ is still in its purity before it got contaminated with ‘I am this’ or ‘I am that.’ Your burden is of false self-identifications—abandon them all." My guru told me, "Trust me, I tell you: you are Divine. Take it as the absolute truth. Your joy is divine, your suffering is divine too. All comes from God. Remember it always. You are God, your will alone is done." I did believe him and soon realized how wonderfully true and accurate were his words. I did not condition my mind by thinking, "I am God, I am wonderful, I am beyond." I simply followed his instruction, which was to focus the mind on pure being, "I am," and stay in it. I used to sit for hours together, with nothing but the "I am" in my mind and soon the peace and joy and deep all-embracing love became my normal state. In it all disappeared—myself, my guru, the life I lived, the world around me. Only peace remained, and unfathomable silence. (I Am That, Dialogue 51, April 16, 1971) Many of Nisargadatta Maharaj's talks were recorded, and formed the basis of I Am That as well as of the several other books attributed to him The life force [prana] and the mind are operating [of their own accord], but the mind will tempt you to believe that it is "you". Therefore understand always that you are the timeless spaceless witness. And even if the mind tells you that you are the one who is acting, don't believe the mind. [...] The apparatus [mind, body] which is functioning has come upon your original essence, but you are not that apparatus. Nisargadatta was critical of a merely intellectual approach to nondual Truth. He had a strong devotional zeal towards his own guru,[web 3] and suggested the path of devotion, Bhakti yoga, to some of his visitors, as he believed the path of knowledge, Jnana yoga was not the only approach to Truth. Nisargadatta also emphasized love of Guru and God, and the practice of mantra repetition and singing bhajans, devotional songs. Nisargadatta taught what has been called Nisarga Yoga(Nisarga can be translated as "nature"). In I Am That, Nisarga Yoga is defined as living life with "harmlessness," "friendliness," and "interest," abiding in "spontaneous awareness" while being "conscious of effortless living."[13] The practice of this form of Yoga involves meditating on one’s sense of "I am", "being" or "consciousness" with the aim of reaching its ultimate source prior to this sense, which Nisargadatta called the "Self". The second edition of I Am That includes an epilogue titled Nisarga Yoga by Maurice Frydman which includes this passage: "This dwelling on the sense ‘I am’ is the simple, easy and natural Yoga, the Nisarga Yoga. There is no secrecy in it and no dependence; no preparation is required and no initiation. Whoever is puzzled by his very existence as a conscious being and earnestly wants to find his own source, can grasp the ever-present sense of ‘I am’ and dwell on it assiduously and patiently, till the clouds obscuring the mind dissolve and the heart of being is seen in all its glory. Nisargadatta did not prescribe a specific practice for self-knowledge but advised his disciples, "Don't pretend to be what you are not, don't refuse to be what you are." By means of self-enquiry in the tradition of Advaita Vedanta, he advised, "Why don't you enquire how real are the world and the person?" Nisargadatta frequently spoke about the importance of having the "inner conviction" about one's true nature and without such Self-knowledge one would continue to suffer.Nisargadatta claimed that the names of the Hindu deities Shiva, Rama and Krishna were the names of nature (Nisarga) personified,[17] and that all of life arises from the same non-dual source or Self. Remembrance of this source was the core of Nisargadatta's message: ‘You are not your body, but you are the consciousness in the body, because of which you have the awareness of ‘I am’. It is without words, just pure beingness. It has become soul of the world. In the absence of your consciousness, the world will not be experienced. Hence, you are the consciousness… remember what you have heard… meditate on it. Meditation means you have to hold consciousness by itself. The consciousness should give attention to itself. This consciousness is Ishwara. As there is no God other than this consciousness, worship it.’ ‘The knowledge “I am” is God. It is Ishwara, as well as maya. Maya is God’s power. All the names of God are of this consciousness only in different forms. Remember the fact “I am not the body” and get firmly established. That is the sign of a true seeker.’ The Seven Principles of Nisarga Yoga (As identified by Nic Higham, 2018) 1. Non-identification and right understanding 2. Interest and earnestness 3. Spontaneity and effortlessness 4. Attentiveness to being 5. Right action 6. Going within to go beyond 7. Awareness of Self

The dangers of a glimpse is that you think that it is important and meaningful. When the fireworks and bliss dissipates you face plant into the ground. A fall from grace it can feel like. Now there is actual hope for the person, and dispair tenfolded. You've seen the possibility of infinite orgasm, so now you want it, you want to own it and know it, have it for yourself. You don't jump into the lake, you are the lake appearing as a seperate you that is too afraid to jump into the lake. What the fuck are "you" supposed to do? You're not real, you are an illusion thinking it can do something to get rid of itself. What can an illusion do other than bask in it's own illusion? "I'm am a real something that has to do something to get nothing, when I get nothing I will let you know" derp.

Hi guys, First time posting here. Just want to share some of the more challenging experiences that come up through using psychedelics. After my 10th ceremony with Ayahuasca I was carried out of the Peruvian jungle on a stretcher to a hospital in Inquitos. From my perspective I was discovering/experiencing the Infinite Self but the facilitators and doctors were concerned enough by my behavior to prescribe me anti-psychotic medication. I took it for a few days then made my way back to my home country. A few months later I was smoking weed with my fiancé in Germany which triggered a similar awakening. From my perspective I had woken up into buddha/God consciousness but my girlfriend was concerned by my strange behavior and called an ambulance. At the hospital it seemed everyone I met was God or some kind of spiritual guide and I was meant to be there as some kind of lesson. I was sectioned for a month in a foreign country and given anti-psychotic medication. After a month I was allowed to leave and return home. Back home I was struggling with extremely stressful family and relationship issues. I stopped taking my medication and as my relationship began to fall apart I had a complete emotional breakdown and my experience of reality became very unusual to say the least. (Believing I had to complete spiritual trials/contact with alien intelligence) My parents eventually called an ambulance And once again I was sent to a psychiatric ward for a month and medicated. I thought I was being driven to the Hospital by Eve and Buddha. These events had a devastating effect on my family and myself. My parents found out I had smoked weed and insisted I brake off all contact with my fiance. I was crying to the point of screaming at the pain of the loss. I’ve never experienced anything so painful. I still live with the pain of that loss and the resulting loneliness. My doctor tells me I will have to take a relatively low dose of anti-psychotic medication for at least two years. I have suicidal thoughts almost every day. I meditate each day and arrive at the Bliss, Joy & Peace of awareness. Its a strange contrast to live with each day. One moment, perfectly content, another moment looking for a final way out. One day I was out walking, fully aware that this is Nirvana. Another day on my knees, screaming and crying. I have weekly therapy sessions now and talking through everything that has happened with someone trained to listen is a huge help. A painful lesson I learned was how selfish I had been to not fully consider all the ways my use of psychedelics could effect my loved ones. Fortunately we have been able to work at repairing the damage that was caused but it takes a long time to recover. I really don’t know if sharing this will be of help to anyone. I have both benefited greatly and suffered greatly from the effect of these powerful substances (ayahuasca, mushrooms, weed, lsd) and I’m not here to tell anyone what choice to make. I didn’t know what unconditional love was until my first ayahuasca experience and I never knew how deeply I could love until I felt the full pain of loss. One thing to be aware of is the context in which one can have these awakening experiences. The consequences of your resulting actions will depend on the country you happen to be in and the people you are surrounded by at the time. I lost my physical freedom for a period of time. I have no way of knowing if I was lucky or unlucky to have been taken to hospital and medicated. Perhaps it is pointless to imagine what could have happened in a different setting. It seems we each have painful periods in our journeys. Part of me hopes by sharing this story I can somehow help someone else avoid such pain. I don’t know if that’s possible but I know I have benefited from hearing the accounts of others

@Itsokimok you've recieved some amazing answers; what an incredibly supportive & uplifting community/ mentors! I dont have have the same blunt yet empowering type of response for you, but I do have empathy. Some people have a single trauma, such as a rape, where the ripples of that event pervade every aspect of their life even decades later. For people with one, to a few traumas, all of the techniques mentioned above could be very helpful. For me, traumatic events had been like the ensless ocean, perpetually crashing in like waves, between the calm bliss. So, with back to back to back to back (etc traumas), I can relate. Maybe I'm only still doing PD work to spit in the face of comments like: "those with *too much* trauma may be beyond actualizing"... I like to push limits... lol I am far from actualized, but I can offer some tips that help me: 1. Even the worst traumas can teach us 2. We can become stronger/ more powerful and resilient 3. When we are most in resonance, trauma is less likely to find us 4. Drama can = trauma (avoid drama situations and people) 5. Triggers are teachers too, pay attention to body sensations 6. Nature and silence can be amazing healing tools

HAHAHA i love you man. <3 Yes Leo is an imaginary ego I project onto a screen. HAHAHAHA , im aware So yes. If God woke up/wakes up through just one imaginary ego, then that's enough in a sense. That's everyone waking up. LOL HAHAHA it's so funny and horrifying and just crazy amazing beautiful to consider things like this How did you awake, my friend? With or without psychdelics? Rolling on the floor in tears of bliss for hours, I did that too haha, and I feel like doing it right now. But gotta take a night run to stay healthy and fit in this imaginary projection of myself onto WaveOfTheOcean

I love you but if you haven't realized Leo is a projection of your mind than yes hes still more enlightened LOL i know you did though:) just playin around. @traveler haha...i kinda stopped reading too but i love this dude...heck when i awoke i was rolling around on the floor in tears of bliss for hours. It wasn't the little me either

@Carl-RichardExactly, western society has a biased for material accomplishments. And it's almost implicit on this site what I hear (although never said directly), is the acknowledgement and emphasis on the importance of the material accomplishments/ self-actualization vs the self-realization. Ramana Maharshi, couternintuitively, in my opinion had just as big of an impact to the outside world as Sadhguru, even though he was more isolated. I mean honestly, it's hard to say if Sadhguru would even have the impact he has without Ramana. He even has cited a number of times Ramana's influence had on him. Ramana's influence though subtle is just as profound. This is something that goes over the heads of most westerners because we usually only see tangible accomplishments. It's pretty obvious, however, our western society beats us over the head and inundates us with the material accomplishment and the self-actualization paradigm. I'm thinking like a Tony Robbins type perspective, and honestly I don't think the guy has the same level of bliss as someone like Ramana. Some of his stuff is helpful, but there is a significant amount of marketing. He teaches you to work toward material goals, yet those are fleeting. I believe self-actualization should be a by product built off the foundation of self-realization not the other way around and that attachments to any accomplishments should be as outcome independent (or atleast non neurotic as possible) like taoism and the bhagavad gita say. It's funny you bring up Sadhguru he talks about this very thing all of the time and would probably even emphasize realization over actualization. I've had material success and accomplished most of the general material goals that people aim for in their lives and most of those things are a fleeting sense of happiness, but to have an awakening, that's something that can never go away, sure you can fluctuate through different levels of consciousness even within a day to day , but to know you've experienced that realization, yeah you can never go back to seeing the world like before. and being able to help others realize, using your experiences from your own journey, what more important work in the world is there?