Consciousness
Non-Duality is Not Idealism
Nor is it materialism…. But is it so obvious it’s not materialism? It will be obvious they are two sides of a mistaken coin, once you see it. First, some definitions. By “Idealism” here we won’t be meaning ethical or socio-political idealism (such as “living up to the ideals of a Judeo Christian ethically-based law”).…
Read MoreLiving For the Moment or In the Moment?
Journal missive from the balcony… another set of highly imperfect notes. I once said to a young friend who I let crash in my living room, that was deep into spiritual teachings, but seemed to be very much in her own world, closed off, and often upset, taking things personally and running away (yet again),…
Read MoreDialogue With A Sage About A Depression: Don’t Hold On
In this article, after a brief discussion to set the stage, what follows is an email dialogue with a living sage* (whose identity will remain anonymous for reasons of privacy). About 30 years ago I—a past “me”, which does not exist except as a memory-thought, or traces on film in the present—experienced what was labelled…
Read MoreOn Beyond Being Born
I make fun of birthdays (my “birthday” is today – this calendar date – when I’m writing this), calling them “Unborn Days”. To distill the logic to its essence (what philosophers like to do, though I wouldn’t pretend to be one, and certainly not a professional one) it’s like this: The theory, or the assumption…
Read MoreMeditation: “Are We There Yet?”
The scene: a group in meditation. The teacher guides them to “Open their attention”, and “Simply be in awareness”, and observe, notice the thoughts going by, the feelings as sensations in the body… The teacher starts to end the session and encourages the participants to gently open their eyes. A student pipes up, “Are We…
Read MoreThe Enlightenment Contest
The scene: a non-duality spiritual retreat, led my a teacher named “Francis” and his wife “Laura”. Someone gets up, in the evening, after the meditation and dialogue, when announcements are made: “I have a little announcement. Since everyone here is interested in not only becoming enlightened—or perhaps thinks they already are—and furthermore would love very…
Read MoreOn Beyond Cause and Effect
In practical mechanical affairs, cause and effect thinking can have utility. For example, your car suddenly loses power on the freeway. Using reason and your senses in a troubleshooting capacity, you can trace down the cause. Does the starter turn? Yes. That means there’s juice in the battery. The cause is not a dead battery.…
Read More3P Brainwashing? A Response to Someone Distressed About a Family Member
I recently received this note from someone wanting some advice (“pick my brains”) about the Three Principles Psychology (3P), which I have written about in a number of articles. I emailed her back but her address bounced (probably misspelled). I’ll call her “A”. I thought my response would be of possible interest to other people…
Read MoreKissing a Sweet Goodbye to The Three Principles
From a recording: “If you’re listening to this in your car and you find yourself in a beautiful feeling, roll down your window, pop the tape out of the tape player, and throw it out the window. Stay with the feeling, and it will teach you everything you need to know.” ~ Sydney Banks…
Read MoreThe Garden of Bliss
In the garden of bliss there are no formulas no principles only the sun blazing away unknown All to all sweet as infinite love has no opposite pure perfect absolute beyond the mind beyond thought no intermediate direct silent Presence
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