Peter Ralston worldview

[Terell Kirby]

Interesting podcast-it gets juicy at the 23min mark when Brendon starts questioning Ralston on different levels of spiritual capacity in reaching Enlightenment:

 

Few takeaways:

• Peter Ralston seems to have a flawed notion that there is nothing “special” about his Enlightenment. That everyone can do it if they just “stick with it” as it relates to contemplation.
• Ralston comes from a place of one size fits all- “don’t believe anyone and question reality for yourself”. While this is effective, it’s hasn’t been proven universal. For example, Brendon his lead student- can’t possibly be conscious of God based on the framing of his questions to Ralston.
• While this talk has a lot of gems and nuggets, Ralston’s definition of grasping what is true is quite abstract. It’s not guaranteed that the student following his work will come to the realization that they are hallucinating reality, Peter Ralston, and his teachings. This is never really made explicit in his talks.

 

Leo was right in that we should question the worldview of even the most advanced spiritual teachers. If we are shy about it- it limits us. This was challenging, as I love Ralston’s work- still do, but it’s one perspective out of an Infinite number conjured up by Consciousness-no more or less special than the rest.

Edited 14 hours ago by Terell Kirby

[Natasha Tori Maru]

It feels like Ralston isn't (or willfully does not, so as not to create dogma) articulating much of his own internal process. He points toward that process being something the listener must find out and engage in themselves. Through trial, error, discovery. Process. Persistence. 

One thing about Ralston that gives me pause - I haven't heard him speak to individuals with real limitation. I raise this because it was something I suffered from on my early years; I would project a 'golden shadow' on others. Because I could do it, had done it, could get it, I was simply confounded as to why others couldn't. If they just stuck with it and tried they would be able to, eventually. A hard lesson for me was admitting some people just can't master some domains no matter how long they stick with something. I projected my own mastery and ability to reach expertise onto others. When they failed to reach my level I ended up very frustrated.

He emphasises 'stick with it longer' as, possibly, his main differentiating factor. Rather than any sort of limitation others may be facing. It would be good hearing him speak on the nuance of individuals with personality disorders (a very different domain of limitation) or intellectual limitations. Perhaps he has? I haven't encountered it yet. 

Having said that, I haven't read his entire catalogue of works. And often, his stream of consciousness YouTube talks are very unstructured and unclear. Compared to his written works, at least.

Edited 12 hours ago by Natasha Tori Maru

[Natasha Tori Maru]

It does feel like Brendon's question is very basic beginner stuff.

He may have asked this on behalf of an audience, and less for himself, to give Ralston space to address a common issue?

[Joseph Maynor]

I know this is controversial, but I kind of agree that since Truth comes from the inside, it's available to everyone.  Talking about it is a different thing.  Now you're comparing spiritual teachers or gurus.  But when it comes to internal realization, I don't see how there could be more or less talented practitioners.  It's only you finding Truth.  Please disagree with this, I'm not trying to invalidate anyone just expressing this nuance.  

[Leo Gura]

Math is available to everyone, but chimpanzees are worse at it than humans.

[Natasha Tori Maru]

8 minutes ago, Joseph Maynor said:

 But when it comes to internal realization, I don't see how there could be more or less talented practitioners.  It's only you finding Truth. 

Do you think part of revealing the truth is in the removal, revealing, deconstructing or uncovering? If this is indeed part of the process (it 100% was for me) it appears there would be some who have more trouble seeing past their own nose (so to speak). Which, often, would be why psychedelics can get us over the first 'hump', seeing past the small self for the illusion it is.

As an example - individuals with cluster b type personality disorders are going to have MUCH more trouble seeing through ego. Personality disorders are a different class of issues. From all evidence so far, they have genetic and structural elements of brain/body composition that present challenges seeing through the ego, clarity. They are rather gripped by it in a way others are not. That is not to say they cannot see past this to the truth. It is available. But they are going to have more trouble. 

[Joseph Maynor]

7 minutes ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

Do you think part of revealing the truth is in the removal, revealing, deconstructing or uncovering? If this is indeed part of the process (it 100% was for me) it appears there would be some who have more trouble seeing past their own nose (so to speak). Which, often, would be why psychedelics can get us over the first 'hump', seeing past the small self for the illusion it is.

As an example - individuals with cluster b type personality disorders are going to have MUCH more trouble seeing through ego. Personality disorders are a different class of issues. From all evidence so far, they have genetic and structural elements of brain/body composition that present challenges seeing through the ego, clarity. They are rather gripped by it in a way others are not. That is not to say they cannot see past this to the truth. It is available. But they are going to have more trouble. 

Honestly, I don't see anyone who is not gripped by ego, and I don't see ego as bad.  This doesn't mean there is no right or wrong though.  It's common to link ego with wrongness, which is an over-gloss in my opinion.  I just see ego as a finite self.  You could have a Truth realization and still have any number of egos with it.  I think we're assuming Truth realization requires a specific type of ego.  I tend not to do this because I've seen a lot false personas arising from feeling like "I need to become unconditioned from ego".  

[Natasha Tori Maru]

4 minutes ago, Joseph Maynor said:

Honestly, I don't see anyone who is not gripped by ego, and I don't see ego as bad.  This doesn't mean there is no right or wrong though.  It's common to link ego with wrongness, which is an over-gloss in my opinion.  I just see ego as a finite self.  You could have a Truth realization and still have any number of egos with it.  I think we're assuming Truth realization requires a specific type of ego.  I tend not to do this because I've seen a lot false personas arising from feeling like "I need to become unconditioned from ego".  

I hope I didn't express myself to lead you to think I made any such judgements as above - it was not my meaning. I did not intend to make any moral judgement regarding ego being good or bad. Merely that seeing through the ego, not deleting or subverting it, is one step to obtaining further clarity that leads to truth.

I firmly believe you cannot kill the ego. Cannot kill something that was never there. 

As with all these topics, it is and isn't. There but not. At least, to my understanding

[Terell Kirby]

Ralston also de-emphasizes the importance of states of Consciousness in his work.

One can contemplate till the cows come home, but you’d be hard pressed to getting a radical state change from that alone unless you’re a genetic freak

[Joseph Maynor]

4 hours ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

I hope I didn't express myself to lead you to think I made any such judgements as above - it was not my meaning. I did not intend to make any moral judgement regarding ego being good or bad. Merely that seeing through the ego, not deleting or subverting it, is one step to obtaining further clarity that leads to truth.

I firmly believe you cannot kill the ego. Cannot kill something that was never there. 

As with all these topics, it is and isn't. There but not. At least, to my understanding

I wasn't speaking for you.  I was reacting to your response.  You inspired me to respond.  But this has nothing to do with you.  

[Natasha Tori Maru]

13 minutes ago, Joseph Maynor said:

I wasn't speaking for you.  I was reacting to your response.  You inspired me to respond.  But this has nothing to do with you.  

Gotcha 👍

[gettoefl]

9 hours ago, Terell Kirby said:

Ralston also de-emphasizes the importance of states of Consciousness in his work.

One can contemplate till the cows come home, but you’d be hard pressed to getting a radical state change from that alone unless you’re a genetic freak

This is what every ego says. I am not good enough. I can't do this. I am feeble and slow. No. I am God playing a game of imagining that I am limited. All that I lack is making the choice to see things differently. I can change my mind right this moment and see the world anew.

[UnbornTao]

There's a good video by Brendan on the topic of listening. Should definitely watch that.

[Breakingthewall]

The problem I see with Ralston is that he doesn't realize, or seems not to realize, the enormous emotional burden that comes with being human, and how incredibly difficult that is to manage. Fear, the need for belonging, for acceptance, for self-preservation, for permanence, are encoded deep within our genetic makeup, and very few people manage to align their energies to achieve a permanent state of openness.

It's like an autistic person who doesn't feel emotions or fear danger becoming a coach and telling you: just climb that 700-meter rock wall in solo, and that's it. It's easy! Well, no, it's extremely difficult, and a teacher who doesn't understand the difficulty involved is not fit for the job.

[Breakingthewall]

11 hours ago, Joseph Maynor said:

Honestly, I don't see anyone who is not gripped by ego, and I don't see ego as bad.  This doesn't mean there is no right or wrong though

Exactly, and that grip is extremely deep. The human world is moved by that grip, people lives and dies moved by this, it's what we are. If you don't understand it and trivializes the ego as an illusion, you are going to be prisoner without scape. Understanding is essential, and Ralston only sells attitude, not understanding