Scott Kiloby (click to check out his beautiful new site!) just published a pair of videos on the topic of reification, a fancy word pointing to how the mind separates things.
In these videos he shares a wonderful discussion on such topics as why enlightenment isn’t something to get, how it’s not something the mind can ever get, the importance of resting as nonconceptual awareness, and how thought is not your enemy.
Let’s explore some of the pitfalls that lead to the experience called non-abiding awakening, as if there were such a thing separate from anything else… This post will be a continuation of a previous post titled How To Make Yourself Unenlightened.
In this post, we will address the following 4 pitfalls:
A wonderful analogy I heard from David Hawkins is that finding enlightenment is like finding the light of the sun. The egoic veils of separation are like clouds covering the sun.
Your role as a spiritual student is not to make the sun happen or achieve the sun shining, but to remove all the clouds that are preventing you from experiencing what’s been happening all along: a shining sun.
In the video above, I talk about the statement, “You are already enlightened” based on this idea, mentioning how the work to be done is removing the barriers and obstacles standing in the way of truth and love.
(I shaved off my beard the other day to see what it’d look like, so you guys get to see my face now.)
Guru SwamiG has released a video explaining that statement as well, bringing up some additional important points regarding the end of suffering.
Hooray! I got an HD video camera in the other day and so I went to the park to shoot some test footage, push the camera’s buttons (literally, not metaphorically), and learn how to use the thing.
I want to give a big big THANK YOU to Psiplex for creating some BEAUTIFUL slides for me to use to lead in and lead out of my videos. He’s making me look totally professional…
So yeah, here’s just a random video of me chilling at the park alongside some gorgeous geese, set in one of my favorite locations on the planet: in the middle of a rushing river.
This awakening of mass consciousness that we’re seeing in humanity today, let’s put it into a larger context so that we can see where this fits. Enlightenment is not the final stage in our journey as spiritual beings, not by a long shot.
I keep going in and out of awakening, experiencing non-abiding awakenings. It’s like repeatedly being temporarily enlightened, but it doesn’t stick. Fortunately I don’t “fall back” as far every time, so maybe I’m getting a little better at this or something…
What’s most fascinating about this is that through lots of trial and error, I’m getting good at detecting exactly what the differences are between the two states and what the pitfalls are that pull me out of the awakened state.
Here are the 4 key elements I can point to that draw “me” out of awakening, or more accurately recreate a false sense of self:
Enlightenment. It’s basically your vibration raising up to the point where your consciousness has a broad enough perspective to realize that everything is “connected,” that everything is One.
It’s like progressively taking off the blinders of limitation.
Now, along with the realization of Oneness comes a natural application of actions stemming from Oneness. We could say that these actions operate on a higher level of consciousness than actions which stem from the illusion of separation.
Typically, though, the actions feel quite ordinary. They’re common, natural, and plain. It’s not about walking on water or anything, but simply being yourself, your true self. As the saying goes: Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
There are many many ways to apply the principles of Oneness in our everyday lives. Keep in mind that there is no right way, no correct way, no guaranteed way, and no definitively proper way of acting that can be turned into an external set of rules, guidelines, or laws to be followed. It must all come from within, arise spontaneously, and be a natural expression of the Oneness that you are.
That Sneaky Ego
Any external rule, when it’s not backed up by the consciousness from within, can be turned around to be used by the ego.
You tell people “Thou shall not kill” and their egos will turn it around, find a way to justify the exact opposite idea, and engage in holy wars.
Face-palm.
You tell people to Love one another and the ego jumps in trying to own others, bringing in energies of neediness and lust, totally missing the true meaning of Love. Perhaps they try to control others and override their free will because “they know better.”
Whenever you have an external mental “rule” to follow, the creative ego is ALWAYS able to spin and misinterpret something for its own selfish purposes.
From Beyond the Ego
With that said, can you think of some heart-centered actions you could take that might be representative of actions that stem from Oneness?
Off the top of my head, there’s:
Loving others as yourself
Uplifting yourself and uplifting others
Being yourself to the fullest extent possible
Not taking fears seriously
Allowing yourself to be a whole being, guided by your Higher Self instead of your limited physical mind
Replacing ideas of segregation with understandings of shared humanity
Accepting others fully as they are, the way same Creation accepts us fully as we are
Recognizing that all experiences are valid, for they all generate self-validating realities. No experience is inherently better or worse than any other. They simply have different consequences.
Sharing food, shelter, blood, time, attention, or even a listening ear with those in need
Becoming enlightened
Helping others (more of yourself) awaken to their true nature
Recognizing yourself as Love, realizing there’s nothing but Love in the universe, and thus automatically Loving all others unconditionally
These are many of the ways I’m applying it, and I’m sure many of you are already using many of these ideas as well and many more.
I’d love for you guys to help me add to this list. How else do you find your relationship with others changing now that you are coming to understand that everything is One?
You Are Truly Loved features content designed to guide people towards enlightenment, unconditional love, and living a life of joy through Self-realization and proper application of the Law of Attraction.
Enlightenment. It’s basically your vibration raising up to the point where your consciousness has a broad enough perspective to realize that everything is “connected,” that everything is One.