“Right,” Where I Am

Strange; this life can feel so strange. We are born into an environment that seems to compel us to reach and continue to reach. As children, we learn the rules early: kindergarten is meant to lead to Grade 1, Grade 2, and so on. We are explicitly and implicitly taught that we should strive, become more, and make something of ourselves; and to that end, we often unwittingly sacrifice a greater gift to the false gods of materialism, success, and money. The price of our ignorance can be very steep.

Several years ago, the title of this article would have seemed nonsensical to me–I wouldn’t have understood. The idea of being “right,” where I am would have been paramount to capitulation. Without a figurative mountain to climb or a vision to achieve, I would have felt lost. Without purpose, what would be the sense of living? At that time, the notion of being was such a nebulous concept; for the nectar of life seemed to be in the dreaming, doing, and achieving. My misguided approach toward life seemed to offer only two paths labelled Success and Failure; and who of us desires to tread the latter? I spent a lifetime trying to succeed, and in the process discovered that I had not lived.

Now (when we become still and awaken), we may discover that everything is, was, and always will be, just fine. Beyond the machinations of the mind, we may realize that now we don’t need to go anywhere, or attempt to be other than that which we are in reality. Here and now, a greater realization may also dawn: that we are not alone. The One is with us, and has been with us, always. One: pervading everything, everywhere. One: beyond time, eternal. One: within our family, friends, and so-called foes. One: in every rock, tree, and butterfly. One: the All in All, including us.

What does “right,” where I Am mean? It means fine with, and fine without. It means to be accepting of that which is, and that which is not. It means to be at peace, and living in such a way that we’re not always striving to be somewhere else. It means creating joyously, but from the detached perspective of wisdom. It means to be grateful; dwelling with the Creator of our breath. Lastly, it means that we may rest; for we know that “right,” where I am; so, too, is God.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones–released September 8, 2020), press here. My YouTube videos may be found through this link. May the content of either or both help you along your spiritual journey. 🙏🧡

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Seeing Clearly

This article is my prayer for you. It’s a prayer that you will be spared the unwanted effects that occurred due to my own innocent ignorance. Its message is heartfelt. Of the nature of my mistakes, no incarceration was involved–the errors were not of that nature; but there was definitely time spent suffering, which can be avoided through clear insight. The intention within all of my articles is to offer insights related to a deeper dimension of being, so that you may also experience it directly and, thus, be spared the inevitable suffering that arises when we believe ourselves to be a separate egoic “self.”

My biggest error is that I believed that I lived for the false me. Such is the case for the majority of beings who still believe their identity is of name and form only; for without the hint of the deeper dimension of being, what else could we expect? When I state that I lived for me, I am not suggesting that all of my actions were selfish or always geared towards getting; but there’s no denying that an element of that existed. Most persons believe they have to get, to achieve, to succeed. If we contemplate this deeply, even when we’re performing an action for apparent others, there often still remains the subtle desire to get–perhaps if only to experience the accompanying “good feeling” related to giving. Some egos pin those moments (complete with day, date, and year) to their lapel like badges of honor. At least I didn’t do that.

If left to its own resources, our ego will spare nothing in its attempts to fulfill its needs. The alarm clock sounds in the morning, and our ego is (so to speak) off to the races. What follows is often a racing internal narrative being “thought-spoken” by the jockey known as “me.” Without any sense of separation from that jockey who’s riding us for dear life, we have little choice but to endure the weight of its saddle and go along for the ride–be it galloping uphill, or tripping face first downhill. The solution for this type of existence is related to the prayer at the heart of this article.

If you will commit but five minutes every day to meditation, you may avoid a great deal of needless suffering. When you “Be Still“–as stated in the Bible–“and know that I Am God” you may find yourself asking who (What) is it that notices thoughts about your job, images of your child’s messy room, or the sensation of a slight ache in your left hip. What is it that notices the intruding thoughts about upcoming repairs to your car? For the first time, you may be able to become knowingly aware and see clearly that you’re not who you think yourself to be.

With practice, a shift in perspective naturallyoccurs–from that of the person to Presence. In other words, we identify as the Source of all noticing and knowing during our periods of meditation.

This “knowing” gradually imbues our days with peace and joy

–because ITs very nature “IS” peace and joy.

Through the recognition of true Self, our apparent life will naturally shine as a beacon to our spiritual brothers and sisters. We’ll have been unsaddled from the egoic jockey that’s been riding the joy out of our life. When realization dawns within us, we’ll clearly know that to exist for the illusory separate “i” is the cause of all suffering; and that all of our so-called problems belong to the phantom jockey. True Self–Awareness–is forever removed from the polar swings related to the human story. Please trust me, this is a prayer worth making; and realization is its fulfillment.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

The Strangest Dream

It was Celine’s weekend off work, so she was still dressed in her nightgown and robe when she meandered into the kitchen. Her long blond hair was tousled from the previous night’s sleep. As she reached for a mug from the cupboard, she said, “I think I’m going to need two cups of java this morning!”

“That tired?” asked her husband Frank.

“No, it’s not that,” said Celine. “I just want an extra boost of caffeine to kick out the effects of a troubling dream I had last night. It was so strange.”

“How was it strange?” said Frank.

After pouring her coffee and adding milk, Celine walked to the kitchen table and sat down across from Frank. “It’s kind of difficult to put into words,” she began, “but in the dream it felt as though my very being had been taken over by a strange–almost alien–force.

“That does sound weird,” said Frank.

“This thing–whatever it was–assumed complete control over me. I felt so constricted and bound. During the dream, I was forced to accept a name that I didn’t want–Neaera, whatever that means; and I had to believe that I could be defined by whatever thoughts entered my mind, especially negative ones. If I heard words such as dumb, ugly, or loser, I had to accept them as true descriptions of me. I think I rarely, if ever, heard a positive word.

“Initially, I was resistant to such rules; but as the dream progressed, my spirit became beaten down and I accepted them willingly. I began to speak of myself negatively, and I lived in almost perpetual fear of what persons thought of me. I never felt at peace, and I was defensive most of the time. When situations didn’t meet my expectations, I often became resentful, and sometimes even enraged. Get this, I actually even hated some people!” At the thought of her last words, Celine felt a tremor shake through her body.

“Whew,” said Frank, as he reached to touch Celine’s hand, “well, at least the dream is over now.”

“Yes,” said Celine, “thank God. Now, I can go back to being what I Am. Get you another cup of coffee, Honey?”

***

Dear Readers: Does the term “ego” ring a bell? Are you living from the center (and power) of your essential nature, or merely existing by the so-called standards of your ego? There’s a deeper YOU to you–and It’s divine.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Hashtag (#) Everyone

How paradoxical truth IS…

Humankind is being sold a story of the apparent good life, and the majority of persons unwittingly buy it without examining it for value. I, for one, buy it no more. On the surface, the story seems bright, shiny, and sensible; a story that deserves to be placed on a high shelf within our lives. At some point, however, many of us learn that the degree of truth contained within the story is equivalent to the facts found in the rag magazines at the grocery store checkout line. The story promises, but it doesn’t deliver.

There are various versions of the story related to name, fame, and achievement; but the theme always remains the same: “If you, little Johnny or Mary, work hard enough, sacrifice enough, and keep your nose to the grindstone long enough, you can make something of yourself. You can be a success, become a somebody, and, thus, be happy.”

With that dangling carrot in mind, the false donkey “i” within us pulls back its shoulders and goes to work. Thoughts inform us that we must build an impressive resumé and be noticed to be worthy of the happiness we desire. We practice our hashtagging skills at every opportunity. We #this about ourselves, and we #that; #I was #here–don’t you know; and #I was #there. In our mind, life hashtags around me and my story.

As long as we continue to feed the insatiable appetite of our ego, we will #never…#be…#happy. Through wisdom, we can finally realize the insanity of the story we’ve been telling. How long is it–really–before the luster of the shiny new car wears off? How long is it--really–before the promotion that promised happiness is realized for what it is? How long is it–really–before the perfect partner we adored doesn’t meet our needs?

So what is the paradoxical truth alluded to at the beginning of this post? That the happiness we seek is recognized when we are empty of the “self” that requires anything in order to be happy. We discover–quite surprisingly–that when we #give of our heart, #be of service, and #share our resources, we are naturally the most joyous. And that’s not a story–it’s the Truth. I can’t imagine an emptier way to live than for #me, #me, #me.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

8 Billion Prodigal Sons

Let me confess that this article contains an exaggeration: There are not (if I’m being truly honest) 8 billion prodigal sons. There’s actually two beings who are not (named Clive and Vaishnani), who live, respectively, in Seaside, Oregon, and Mumbai, India. Confession number two: Okay, perhaps I have understated the situation. However, we can definitely state that on a ratio basis, the vast majority of beings are definitely prodigal sons and daughters without being aware of it. Before we go any further, let’s share what the term prodigal son actually means:

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, prodigal is defined as follows: “characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure; recklessly spendthrift.” The Parable of the Lost Son is related in Luke 15: 11 – 32. It relates the account of a father and his two sons. The younger son asks to receive his inheritance from the father, who willingly grants it. He travels to a distant country and lives an extravagant and wasteful life; while the older son stays at home. In time, the son who went away becomes destitute and is forced to take employment as a swineherd; work that would have been considered repugnant. When the circumstances of his life finally become unbearable, the prodigal son finally realizes that he must rise and return to his Father; who welcomes him with open arms.

The parable is actually a metaphor for what happens to on us during our human journey. I’ll go out on a limb and offer my understanding: When we stray from the Father (Awareness), such means that we have got caught up in the world of illusion (Maya) and forgotten our essential nature, which is Spirit. Due to our conditioning, we assume ourselves to be a separate self of name and form. That’s what it means to turn away from the Father, aka Consciousness. Due to this confusion, we waste our life on self-centered goals related to a fictional self. Please remember that all things–including our body-minds–are actually rendered by the mind. The parable mentions repentance, but this needn’t be interpreted so heavily. To repent merely means to acknowledge our error (sin: to miss the mark) and recognize true Self. By turning to the Father, the son “awakens” and realizes that his true nature is Spirit.

For several hundred years, the materialist paradigm of reality has convinced the vast majority of beings that their apparent body-mind and the world are made of independently existing stuff called matter. This continues to occur despite science informing us (for more than one hundred years) that atoms, which were once considered the foundational stuff of matter, are 99.999% empty space. The truth is that our apparent body-minds and the world appear in Consciousness. Both are rendered by mind. It’s why Jesus said that “I and my Father are one.” He was referring to Consciousness.

How do we turn to the Father? By investigating the nature of our being through self-inquiry. We can “Know Thyself” by withdrawing our attention from our senses and becoming still. When we meditate, we can see–directly–that we are the witness of our sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts. Our true nature is That which knows. It is Awareness, Itself, the very Substance of All That Is. It’s not dependent on the body or the mind. In fact, the truth is the other way around–the body and mind are dependent on Consciousness. They appear in the Waking State and are erroneously assumed to be the sum total of our being. Every time that we rest in the stillness of our essential nature, we return to the Father and, thus, know peace and joy. We only suffer, or become destitute (as in the case of the prodigal son), when we fall back into Maya and the perspective of personhood.

The ratio referred to in the first paragraph will begin to tip in favour of the Father when more beings investigate their essential nature. All that’s required is to ask the question “Who Am I?” with earnest curiosity. We are not our name; nor the body-mind. Instead of trying to appease the false “i” through objects or activities, we are wise to turn within and discover the true Source of happiness. Human incarnation provides a unique opportunity to recognize our essential nature. It would seem a shame to waste it.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Reasons for Oneness: #119, 104

Dear Everyone,

I hope that you’ll find that the content of my latest video a meaningful reason to go within and discover that deeper dimension of true Self.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

What Bear Ye?

With regard to the title of this article, please imagine that you are courageously stepping toward a guard at the entrance to a grand castle. As you approach, the guard clearly indicates by his hand that you are to stop. He then forcefully asks: “What bear ye?” The content of this article deals with the possible answers that you might offer if you were hoping to enter the castle.

Diverging briefly, let’s now briefly examine a couple of Sanskrit terms. In Hinduism, a “jiva” is loosely translated as the perspective of a “person.” A “gnani” is considered a “knower;” meaning a being who is aware of his/her true Self. Based solely upon appearance, it’s impossible to tell the difference between a jiva and gnani. This is complicated by the fact that a true gnani will never be prideful about being a knower; for such would be a clear indication that traits of a jiva remain.

It’s important to understand that everyone is already a gnani–it’s just that the majority of beings are unaware of the fact. Becoming a gnani is not achieved by the accumulation of knowledge; it must be directly recognized. With regard to the fact that everyone is already a gnani, another way of expressing this would be to state that we cannot “not” be That which we truly are.

One of ways that we can differentiate between the two is related to the behaviour that both exhibit. The following passage from the Bible (Matthew 7: 15 – 16) relates this principle:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.”

To “know them by their fruits” is a symbolic way of expressing that “actions speak louder than words.” A person might claim to be holy but then turn around and steal from unsuspecting investors. A gnani, conversely, who is clearly established in the Truth of his/her being, would never act against the best interests of everyone; for he/she recognizes our shared Oneness.

***

Dear Readers: I now ask you to consider how you would answer the following: “What bear ye?” Only you will know the answer. Through self inquiry, we can recognize our essential nature and, thereby, realize the highest gift that we can share with the world. Are we the jiva, with self-centered goals? Or are we bearing gifts to help elevate everyone?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Thumbs Up: Enlightenment 101

When Johnny Begood was eight years old, he experienced a horrendous event. If it had been an earthquake measured on the Richter Scale, the event would have registered as a ground-shaking, pavement-heaving 10.0. Now at forty-seven, he can still remember what happened as though it were yesterday. Please glaze your eyes slightly as we travel back in time: Johnny was helping his father build a plywood doghouse:

Gleefully, Johnny hammered the shiny nails, one after another: Thump, thump! Thump, thump! Whack, whack, whack! Over and over, he repeated the process, using his “real man” hammer that his parents had bought him for his birthday. Before his very eyes, each nail that had stood so tall was pounded down, until its head was flush with the surface of the plywood. HE WAS A CARPENTER! However, during the pounding of one particularly stubborn nail that was leaning off to the side, his left thumb somehow strayed into the territory that was the domain of the head of his hammer. As the taut forearm muscles of his right arm brought the hammer down forcefully, he remembers seeing (as though in slow motion) the head of the hammer a mere split second before it contacted the surface of his tender young thumb. A thumbnail that turned purple within hours was his reminder for the next few weeks. The lesson: Keep your free hand away from the strike zone of the hammer.

***

As life would have it, Johnny Begood learned something else from that incident. He learned that he liked to help other people by sharing what he had learned; to spare them some of the pain associated with his “lessons.” In addition to cautions about the proper use of a hammer, he was also inspired to advise his younger siblings and neighbourhood friends of the following: that fingers and spokes of a spinning bicycle wheel should never get too close; that raccoons in the wild don’t like it when you poke a stick near them; and that before sitting on the end of a tree branch, you should always ensure that the branch is still alive. Johnny’s love of sharing knowledge would continue for the rest of his life.

Later in life, Johnny’s most important lesson was related to his sudden recognition of his true Self when he was forty-two. The profound nature of the “experience” was beyond words. He realized, of course, that awakening from the dream of personhood had to be known directly; but he was still happy to offer pointers to seekers who approached him with their questions. Using the hammer incident as an analogy, he advised seekers to maintain a healthy distance from the strike zone related to the perspective of their person. In this way, events that happened to the body-mind were processed in a detached manner, which lessened any associated suffering. He also reminded them of their innate I Amness–Consciousness, in which, and through which, all apparent events took place. “Be That which is aware of the person,” he said, “not the person.” During some of his talks, he shared the following description of our essential nature from the Bhagavad Gita:

“Weapons cannot cut it, nor can fire burn it; water cannot wet it, nor can wind dry it.”

In the years his recognition of true Self, Johnny has known of several seekers who have realized their essential nature. In other words, they transcended their conditioning–the uninvestigated belief that they were the person. You, too, dear readers may recognize That which you truly are. Do you dare? No hammers required–just an earnest eagerness to know Truth.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

“Enlightenment Stuff”

According to the Veritas Publishing website, David R. Hawkins (1913 – 2012) was an internationally renowned spiritual teacher, psychiatrist, physician, researcher, lecturer and developer of the widely-known Map of Consciousness. I’ve read two of his well-known books (I, Reality and Subjectivity and The Eye of the I) and found both of them helpful and informative. I remember chuckling when he expressed the following (paraphrased) statement in one of his YouTube videos:

People will either think you’re enlightened or insane!

The paradox that’s involved for “anyone” who has recognized our essential nature is that no person ever becomes enlightened! Although this may seem confusing from the perspective of the person, the reason is quite straightforward: To experience enlightenment is to awaken from the dream of personhood; in other words, the belief of being a person is transcended through direct experience. Conversely, the study “about” enlightenment yields only the accumulation of information.

The journey to Truth is not for the faint of heart. Along your journey, you may encounter questions about your mental stability, or face challenging interactions with Beings who are deeply rooted in the perspective of the person. Although such isn’t pleasant, it’s completely understandable; because the spiritual perspective is vastly different from our conditioned ways of viewing life. If such occurs, it’s wise to remain grounded in true Self and remember that conflict usually arises due to involvement of the ego, which needs to prove itself “right.”

One of the issues that will strongly challenge most seekers is related to the very nature of our apparent “world.” Fortunately, a deeper understanding is available through the Double-Slit Experiment. The subject is also addressed through the following two questions in Who Am I?, by Sri Ramana Maharshi:

Seeker: Will there not be realization of Self even while the world is there (taken as real)?

SRM: “There will not be.”

Seeker: “Why?“

SRM: “The seer and the object seen are like the rope and the snake [SRM is referring to the illustration of someone, who, while walking at night, mistakenly identifies a rope as a snake]. Just as the knowledge of the rope which is the substratum will not arise unless the false knowledge of the illusory serpent goes, so the realization of the Self which is the substratum will not be gained unless the belief that the world is real is removed.”

When I was first drawn to the subject of non duality (through books and videos by Eckhart Tolle, Rupert Spira, and Mooji), a point was reached at which my ego decreed that it wasn’t going to tolerate this “enlightenment stuff” any longer. Our true nature is, of course, beyond the mind’s capability to comprehend. I’m very grateful, however, that through Grace I continued my daily practice of meditation and was repeatedly drawn back to the subject.

If you earnestly desire to recognize our essential nature, I hope that you’ll find comfort through this article and steadfastly continue along your spiritual path. As your perspective shifts, your ego will undoubtedly rebel. It might inform you that you’d be better off with an affair, a new car, or another binge watch of a Netflix series. It’s also true that some of your familiar relationships may change or fall away; but you will attract new friends who can relate to the changes you’re going through. To slip back into the perspective of the person is only to invite more suffering. Keep the faith; the pearl of great price (self realization) is more than worth any apparent sacrifice required.

Note: To find a short but worthwhile video of David R. Hawkins that can lead to greater understanding, please type “Dr. David Hawkins: Enlightenment” on YouTube.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Spiritual Remedial School

It was Edward Trappedbythought’s first day at the world renowned Spiritual Remedial School. The school was famous for providing intense one-on-one attention, with the hope that students would knowingly recognize That which they truly are. The head master, a tall stately man known as Hewithoutaname, was reading Ed’s lengthy record. “It’s recorded here,” said Hewithoutaname as he approached Ed, “that you’ve been taking this whole human story just a little bit too seriously. Is that so?”

“Guilty as charged,” replied Ed, as his hands wrestled each other.

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

“No, guess not,” said Ed.

“You guess,” said Hewithoutaname, raising an eyebrow, “or you know?”

“Pardon, Sir, of course; I know.” Although Ed was middle aged, he suddenly felt as though he was five years old.

“At SRS, we have a strict three-strike policy. Do you know what that means?”

“Kinda,” muttered Ed, his face flushing. “I think it means if I get three three incorrect answers that I’m immediately expelled.”

“Well, you’re off to a good start. It seems you’ve done your homework. So let’s get straight to it. You’ll be given ten seconds to respond yay, nay, or with a full length answer that’s clearly audible. Do you understand?

“Yes,” said Ed nervously. A sheen had appeared on Ed’s forehead, threatening to rain sweat off his eyebrows.

Holding a timer in his hand, Hewithoutaname momentarily said, “First exam beings NOW:”

***

Head Master: “I am my body.”

Ed (nervously shifting in his chair, glancing at cheat notes scribbled in his palm….10, 9, 8, 7,): “Yay?

Head Master: “Buzzz–strike one! Pitty, had such high hopes for you.”

Ed: “So sorry.”

Head Master: “No talking.”

Ed: (nodds humbly).

Head Master: “I am my mind.”

Ed (eyebrows alternately raising, searching for answers on the ceiling…6, 5, 4,): Yay?

Head Master: “Strike two! Oh, dear my, this is worse than your record reflects.”

Ed: (close to fainting, with a pale give-me-a-chance expession on his face).

Head Master: “Okay, one last chance. Spell Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj’s birthname backwards, in his native language of Marathi.”

Ed (blank stare, drool coming from the corner of his mouth…4, 3, 2, 1, 0,): No answer.

Head Master: “And that’s strike three! Just kidding! Here at SRS, we’re famous for having a wicked sense of humor–guffaw, guffaw. But more importantly, we’re known for our unconditional LOVE. We’re going to give you a second chance! Tomorrow we’ll get started with a sixteen-hour meditation period, beginning at 4:00 A.M. Just so you know, no bathroom breaks permitted; so you might be advised to go easy on the fluids before bed. See you in the morning!

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

“Right,” Where I Am

Seeing Clearly

The Strangest Dream

Hashtag (#) Everyone

8 Billion Prodigal Sons

Reasons for Oneness: #119, 104

What Bear Ye?

Thumbs Up: Enlightenment 101

“Enlightenment Stuff”

Spiritual Remedial School

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