Waking Up From the Movie of Life

Category Enlightenment, Love, Presence, Time, Universe

Have you ever had that experience where you’re watching a movie or TV and suddenly you get snapped out of it, back to reality? Instead of being totally absorbed by the film, you now see the screen in front of you, your surroundings, and even the portion of the screen where the movie isn’t playing.

Before you saw nothing but the screen.

What happened? Did you go anywhere or did only your awareness shift?

Could you maintain total presence in your body and physical reality while simultaneously being totally absorbed by the movie?

No way. In a sense, you have to “fall asleep” in physical reality and totally enter another dream-like reality. The emotions you get from the movie, the sounds and sights, they all feel very real… yet when you snap out of it, you realize it was all just a flicker of images and not much more.

In fact, if you remain present while watching the film, you find you can’t get lost in the film. It loses its sense of reality and you are conscious of the fact that it’s simply a movie in front of you and not real life.

Yet interestingly, when you “wake up” out of the movie life, you find that there is a life which is even MORE real. Nothing real was actually lost by awakening. You begin to see the movie for what it actually is: simply images on a screen.

What we call “real life” in physical reality is EXACTLY the same way. Our ability to feel that it is real and get sucked in with all its sights and sounds and emotions allows us to fully experience the reality. As long as we’re asleep and absorbed in this reality, we get to “juice” all the drama and emotions, illusions that are only part of a dream.

Enlightenment is an awakening, just like snapping out of the movie. Nothing real is lost and you don’t actually go anywhere. You realize you’ve always been here the whole time. Your awareness has simply shifted from the “dream world” (separation consciousness of physical life) to the “real world” (unity consciousness of spiritual life).

Nothing real is lost and everything is gained.

Life beyond the illusion.

What is it like when you awaken and see this physical life as just a dream?

None of our fears or worries have any reality. They’re all just mental images on the movie screen.

Everything physical is made up of pure energy. What we see in physical form is simply a temporary manifestation of the perfection of creation appearing in the form of a person, thought, plant, or idea.

Everything is cradled in unconditional love. Like the light of the sun, it shines to all equally. What makes the difference is not who is special and is being given more sunlight, but rather who is willing to receive the light and be open to it warming their presence. One can block the sunlight and choose to not receive it, but it will continue to shine just the same.

Time is seen as an illusion. Reality is timeless. What we call “time” is simply a shifting of awareness from one frame of the film to the next, yet every frame of the film already exists in this moment.

Sometimes we are able to “peek” at a future section of the film and then come back to the part of the movie that’s playing now and somehow we just know what is to come if we continue playing this same film. This is called intuition, psychic abilities, or clairvoyance. It’s nothing more than recognizing that the whole movie and all potential endings to the movie exist now. If we continue playing this same movie, we can figure out what is most likely to come by simply looking ahead at the “future” which exists right now. It all literally exists right now.

All of this and more… just from “snapping out” of the movie of life. This snapping out comes from quieting the mind, abiding in the present moment, and recognizing your true nature as the awareness that is watching the film instead of the character in the film.

Past and future are illusions, nothing more than pieces of the film that you’re not currently bringing your awareness to.

Bring your awareness to this moment. This present moment. It is only Now that you can experience life. Totally experience Life as it unfolds right in this very moment, not your mental beliefs and distorted interpretations of what’s happening.

Become fully aware of Now and the more you remain in this state, the more you remain awakened from the mind-made mental reality we believe is real life.

Snap out of the movie. Ultimate reality is WAYYYYY better than the movie.

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9 Responses to “Waking Up From the Movie of Life”

steve said:

Making Sense of The World

At some point making sense of the world, and your place in it becomes the focus of all of your activities. Seeking Understanding in this or any world builds a momentum. Is there or has there ever been anything like Utopia on Earth?
You know you’re not happy, not really; you see the world condition; and at some point, even unconsciously, your own mortality begins to become part of the felt dilemma.

And then you try some things:

You become politically involved.
You become environmentally involved.
You try all sorts of therapeutic approaches.
You find like minded friends.
You meditate.
You investigate Eastern Philosophy or re-approach your born-with religious tradition.
You read books on Death and Dieing, or on After Life experiences.

Basically, you go inward or you move outward into the world with more intention. And sometimes you do both. You can spend your whole lifetime doing all of this and if you believe in it, you can re-incarnate into another life and start again.

Do any of these approaches to life, fundamentally change anything?

Or you tire of the whole thing and give the whole thing up to a life of conventional or extraordinary pleasure seeking.

How do you get beyond it all? How do you understand? Can you relax enough to feel the dilemma that mortality and your orientation to it represents?

You feel the mortal dilemma, but there is something else you are sensitive to also. Something simple and prior to all dilemma. You’ve Known that all your life. Right Spiritual practice seems to require sensitivity to both. This dual sensitivity has been described simply as the closed fist and the open fist.

Gu and Ru. Light and darkness. Occasionally mankind has seen the appearance of Men or Women who have know something about this. Some have lived alone and taught quietly by Being Who They Are. Others have been Master Teachers, Realizers, or Gurus, whose function is to embody and teach the Way to Perfect Freedom.

In the west, the tradition of Realizers, of Gurus is mostly either unknown or discounted, or even spit upon. And in the later part of the 20th century people have appeared, who called themselves Gurus and clearly were not.
What if such a one appeared now? How would you recognize him/it?

My Divine Avataric Revelation-Teaching takes into account the limitations of all of the first six stages of life, the limitations of all “religious”, Spiritual, and Transcendental traditions—East and West, Alpha and Omega. The Divine Truth That Is Reality Itself Is Prior to all of that—and, yet, the Divine Reality-Truth does not exclude any stage of life, any “one”, or any “thing”…. My Divine Avataric Incarnation here Is Prior to all—and My Divine Avataric Incarnation here Is For all.

Adi Da Smaraj

© 2008 The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam Pty Ltd, as trustee for The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam. All rights reserved. Perpetual copyright claimed.
Ariel Bravy said:

Yeah, it’s really cool to see the different ways people deal with making sense of the world.

Steve, what is your path?
Sebastien said:

Ariel, I hear what you’re saying, though I feel the “I am that already” is very much missing, which can lead to much resistance among people new to such ideas.

Your post has a certain “disconnect” vibe, and I know non dual states have that sort of “disconnected connectedness” where we tend to emphasize the “distance” between us and our fears and our problems because of said “higher consciousness”… though I feel it’s not that helpful to really describe it this way, unless one really emphasizes the paradox of it all, the zen-ness, the normality, the “I am that” ness, rather than the “I am no longer this, and that or that”.

I’ve had some schizophrenic tendencies in myself, and trust me, words like “illusion” just create tension and anxiety and put up resistance. I know your intentions are always good, though I’m always about refining and simplifying ideas, and to say that any part of consciousness is illusif isn’t exactly right. Our experiences in the moment are NEVER illusif, just the attachment that is. That’s it. Whenever I speak of such Buddhist things as “ridding onself of all attachments to desire” I always emphasize the word attachments… that’s the only thing to be seen as illusif, and really, in a way, I find it’s the knowledge of this, that brings a sort of unconditional love. Sitting on the knife edge of the moment. But you already know this
Ariel Bravy said:

Sebastian, words like “illusion” are totally neutral and we assign meaning to them. It sounds like you have some aversions attached to the word.

I agree with you about the surrendering of attachments themselves and not the very desires.

One thing to keep in mind is the idea that illusions, even if they are not “real” are still experiencable. We can experience suffering from anxiety and worry even if the event or fear never actually happens. That’s what “illusion” is.
Sebastien said:

“Sebastian, words like “illusion” are totally neutral and we assign meaning to them. It sounds like you have some aversions attached to the word.”

Nope, no aversion to the word, though I’m sure you see my point now? In your readers, these words are not neutral… even when you emphasize their “neutrality” and pretend that it’s all illusion to you, and thus it’s always the readers fault that they don’t get what you’re saying (you can only deny cause and effect for so long… yes, denying it will help you peek into “higher consciousness”, your stuff needs some grounding though man, honestly. It’s always the really down to earth stuff that appeals to me and most people, and it’s still really simple to appeal to even the “higher consciousness” dudes even with the grounded, down to earth stuff. Osho’s work is a perfect example. All I’m suggesting, is that you NEVER offer ANY of your stuff as an escape from ANYTHING (and that you try to not make it seem that way… it’s using ego to combat ego… many will get confused). I feel it should be about awareness and going into EVERYTHING (imagination included… really, it’s the greatest tool for setting up intention )… but that’s just me.

I hope none of that came off too strong, if so I didn’t mean to. I really just wanna help you along a bit man. I know you didn’t ask for advice, and on IG, I’d be looked down on for unsolicited advice and so on and so forth… but whatever… all I ask is for an open mind.

ps. I won’t be coming back, this stuff is definitely not for me.
Sebastien said:

stuff like this…

“Waking Up From the Movie of Life “

” You begin to see the movie for what it actually is: simply images on a screen. What we call “real life” in physical reality is EXACTLY the same way. “

Enlightenment is an awakening, just like snapping out of the movie (I know you meant a bit different here… I’m being picky hehe).

None of our fears or worries have any reality. They’re all just mental images on the movie screen.

One more thing I thought I’d mention. I think it’s actually a Buddhist offence to deny cause and effect (I think I recall reading it under the Boddhisattva vow, though I might be wrong. but trust me, there is really really good reason for this).
Ariel Bravy said:

Sebastien, thanks for sharing your viewpoint. (Also, it looks like I misspelled your last name in my previous response. I apologize.)

Let’s take a look at a few points you brought up.

You mentioned the disconnect vibe in the sense that nonduality is disconnecting from fears and whatnot. It could be interpreted that way, but it’s actually designed to help one differentiate between what is real (nonduality) and what is illusion (duality). It’s not about disconnecting from the world and somehow not watching the movie anymore.

“In your readers, these words are not neutral”

Certainly, and we all have preconditioned connotations to these words so it’s certainly helpful to discuss these things and make sure we’re on the same page. Interpretation and personal experience is everything here.

“thus it’s always the readers fault that they don’t get what you’re saying”

I do not blame anyone for anything and you choosing to perceive what I’m saying from a place of judgmentalism is nothing more than a reflection of your own view of the world. The world is your mirror.

That said, I do suggest people take responsibility for their own search for truths and ask questions if they feel there’s something they do not understand and I have not clarified well enough.

“your stuff needs some grounding though man, honestly.”

I do talk about higher material, but it’s never a suggestion to disconnect from the lower, physical world. It’s simply an invitation to raise your energy up to the higher levels while bringing along the other aspects of your being. Being present in this moment and watching the movie as a movie keeps you focused in the Now. It doesn’t make you leave it like you would if you were to get totally absorbed in the movie.

“It’s always the really down to earth stuff that appeals to me and most people”

It sounds like you’ve found what personal path appeals to you, though we can’t be certain whether or not the path you choose would be appropriate for “most people.”

“All I’m suggesting, is that you NEVER offer ANY of your stuff as an escape from ANYTHING”

It’s never intended to be an escape from reality. Ever. You don’t escape the movie or TV show by realizing it’s just a movie. You still watch it, play with it, enjoy it. You simply let go of the attachment and identification to it. Escape is never a part of it. Escape is simply a tool used by the ego to try and avoid pain. It’s a form of resistance.

“I feel it should be about awareness and going into EVERYTHING (imagination included… really, it’s the greatest tool for setting up intention )”

Bingo. This is exactly what they mean about being “in this world, but not of it.” You got it.

For example, you could choose beliefs that serve you, not because they’re actually real, but because they assist you in manifesting your reality. You choose your beliefs and use your imagination from a place of full awareness as to what you’re doing.

“I think it’s actually a Buddhist offence to deny cause and effect”

Two things.

First, no one’s claiming that your actions don’t have any direct consequences in life. It’s simply that the “root cause”, if you will, is deeper than just one single action. Life is infinitely more complex and interwoven than a game of dominoes.

YOU, the infinite Allness that never changes, is not affected by the world of form, the world of illusion, and the interplay of what we would call cause and effect. Everything that changes (and is thus illusion) in this world of form IS subject to that which we would call cause and effect.

Second, a Buddhist offense? Are you willing to challenge beliefs and discover your realities for yourself? Or are you only willing to limit yourself according to the boxes imposed by others?
Sebastien said:

thanks for the thought out reply ariel, I really appreciate it. Honestly, I was having a crappy day, much of it because of other peoples beliefs surrounding my “enlightenment”, which bugged the hell out of me (it’s a reaaaaally long story, and I don’t even know how people (most strangers) found out I was into enlightening practices, nor why some think I’m “enlightened”… I have written the words “I am enlightened” before, though I always do my best to really contextualize and define such words within the context I’m using them(like you said, words are neutral until we assign a meaning. I don’t assign much meaning to the word enlightenment… it ain’t about beliefs for me, so I can be a bit lenient with the word. Enlightenment is always “here, now” for me, never something I place in the future… though it doesn’t mean I’m enlightened, but I guess I learned the hard way, that one has to be really descript when explaining such things).

Basically… I’ve been thinking of “manners of teaching” a lot, and how to get my ass out of this situation (or rather, others butts… to quit placing beliefs on mine, or anyones “enlightenment)… and, as you can see, that came out in my post. Amazing how consciousness evolves with just a bit of loving intention though.

My bad man… teaching enlightenment, is definetly tricky business, especially when you don’t know you actually have an audience.
Ariel Bravy said:

Much Love, Sebastien.

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