God Trumps All

God–not the word, nor the concept–trumps all. How can this possibly be, when humankind seems so very powerful? Because God (also referred to as Consciousness), is all that there IS. It is One, indivisible, irreducible, unchanging; the Alpha and Omega of all that ever was, is, and will be. It is the Ultimate Frame within which we–as apparent human beings–live. It is That, appearing as a multiplicity and diversity of shapes, forms, and colours, which we classify according to name. From the finite view of “the world,” we may appear to have dominion over all of the Earth; while from the Infinite persepctive (which is the viewpoint of Truth), humans are little more than phantasmagorical phenomena within the Waking State of God’s Infinite Dream–dream bodies, relating their supposedly important tales of triumph or tragedy to other dream bodies.

To understand this more deeply (for those earnestly curious about Truth, or weary of suffering their apparent person) requires that we set aside our erroneous assumptions–of which there is great abundance. We must set aside everything we have been told about the nature of our being and dive deep–beyond appearance–to discover the Truth within. In short, we are not “who we think we are.” The Consciousness through which, and by which, the words of this webpage are comprehended does not arise within the body-mind. Consciousness is not personal! Only Consciousness, Itself, is conscious. Such only seems to be the case due to reflected consciousness within the dream of our life.

We–as name and form–do not truly exist. It is more truthfully expressed that we appear. To believe that we have independent existence as physical bodies which somehow magically give rise to personal consciousness is an erroneous positionality–one untenable through investigation. Science confirms this (see “the hard problem of consciousness”). What we sense, including our body-minds, are but effects of Consciousness–erroneously claimed to think and act by their own power. To believe such is unawareness of Truth; for only in Him do we live and move and have our being. Our body-minds, which arise simultaneously with the world in which they interact, are actually discrete momentary manifestations successively related together so quickly as to appear “solid” and “seamless.” So it is, also, with the apparently personal “i” (the ego-thought), which is nothing more than repetitive “i-thoughts” that lead us–via memory–to assume there is an actual somebody within the head. To believe so is to attribute the flashing moment-to-moment experience of God’s Infinite Dream as actual “matter.” Quantum Mechanics has long postulated the Observer Effect, which is basically stated in the following passage from The Tibetan Book of the Dead: “Phenomena only ‘exist’ in the mind that perceives them.”

The process (not truly a process, for there is nothing we must do to be what we are) of recognizing true Self–a child of God–is simple enough; it involves surrendering all that is false. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry summed this up through the following quote: “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” God IS that perfection; and we come closer to That when we drop our concepts related to a fictional entity. Come with me now, if you will, and re-understand your true Being from the point of young child–long before you were educated in the falsities so prevalent in this realm called Earth. Know that your body is just that–a flashing appearance in consciousness; your mind but sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts appearing–likewise–to the true “You,” Consciousness. Spill out your stories related to i, me, and mine; and, through the ensuing emptiness, rediscover your-Self filled with the power and the glory of all that you Are. You are not now–nor were you ever–the body-mind. You are Consciousness, silently witnessing and co-creating the dream of your life. Why let the concept of what you are “not” prevent you from directly knowing what you already are–Consciousness, Love…here and now.

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. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Shaking The Maya Tree

If we were to shake a tree that was full of ripe oranges, we would–quite logically–expect to see oranges fall to the ground. Likewise, if we shook a tree that was loaded with ripe apples, we would witness the falling of apples. To expect something other than the fruit of each tree (perhaps coffee cups or lollipops) to fall would very soon result in our being labeled insane. With regard to the title of this article, I am going out on a limb by sharing that all that falls when the Maya (Sanskrit, loosely translated as illusion) Tree shakes must, in the absolute sense, be illusory in nature. The fruit of Maya is transient, changeful, and ultimately unreal. Some would appropriately call such dreaming.

To transition from the view (subscribed to by the vast majority of persons) that “reality” is only defined by what appears via our senses is not an easy task; and to be honest, only those rare beings who are, indeed, ripe with curiosity for Truth (captial T, as opposed to belief or opinion) will be willing to make the earnest effort to investigate the deeper nature of their Being. Until the dream of life turns challenging or outright nightmarish, it is highly unlikely that individuals will question the blind assumptions that have formed their commonly accepted definition of reality. To take a figurative step in the direction of Truth, it may help if you know the following:

When Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi (a realized sage) was questioned about the difference between Dream State and the Waking State (referred to as “reality” by the masses), he replied, “Waking is long and dream short; other than this there is no difference. Just as waking happenings seem real while awake, so do those in a dream while dreaming.”
From The Law of Success by Paramahansa Yogananda: “Mind is the creator of everything.” You might think of this as the shaking of the Maya Tree. Please note that he stated everything is created by mind.
Paraphrased from Vedanta, Voice of Freedom by Swami Vivekananda: Knowledge is the axe that severs the axle that joins the wheel of the Truth of our Being and the wheel of the body-mind perspective. Through knowledge of Truth we are liberated from the conditioned (and erroneous) beliefs that we are a person.
Press here for link to “Life is a Dream” by Leo at actualized.org.
From William Blake: “As man is, so he sees.”
And finally, a photo passage from Open Secret by Wei Wu Wei:

What is the benefit of knowing this information? If your “life story” is ticking along fine, you’re almost certainly not reading this article. You’ll be apparently slaying dragons in the business world, or flying to your island home in your personal jet. If, however, you’re finding that your story has run full speed into a brick wall, it may help to know this: that what you have previously called HARD FAST REALITY is not, indeed, reality at all. It is the fruit of the Maya tree; which appears when the mind’s ability to perceive via the senses is functioning. The so-called real world (as we have assumed it to be) recedes from waking state to dream state (a more ephemeral dream world), and is totally absent in deep sleep, which is without objects, time, and space.

The real Self is That by which the apparent world is co-created and known. So what of “us” is real–for it certainly seems that we exist? Consciousness–independent of form. Please contemplate this: Can anything be known–an object, an event, even a person (including your own body-mind)–without the presence of Conscousness or a Knower? If you believe this possible, how could such ever be proven so? Is that not, in fact, like trying to know if the refrigerator light remains on when the door is closed? A tree in the forest that supposedly falls unwitnessed, neither exists, falls, or makes a sound; for such requires an observer to co-create the event and report its occurrence.

I, known in the apparent world as Art, am intuitively dictating this article to my representative form from the other side of the bridge of transition. Weird? Okay–define and label if you must; but to me what’s really strange is to blindly accept the assumption that we could ever be as finite and small as the name and form for which most persons settle. We are so much more. We are Divine Spirit, dreaming our character’s role of personhood. To know this now–while living–places one in the position of a jivanmukta (one who has attained liberation while living). If you’re tired of suffering the world of form, please come join me on the other side of the bridge. The view is beautiful–and eternal. You are not who you think you are–never have been. You can only be what you are in reality—Spirit.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

The Chains That Bind

There was a time when I wouldn’t have had a clue about the deeper nature of the chains referred to in the title of this article. I was–as is the case with so many persons–still lost in the concept of personhood and working hard to arrive at that mythical human destination called success and lasting happiness. It would be many apparent years and a truckload of suffering before I was granted reprieve. Coincidentally, “he,” who was the cause of my suffering, goes by the same name as the guy who is apparently writing this article. Let’s just say that we can blame the unhappiness on Art.

As much as it might seem, I’m not being facetious. The only guy who apparently experienced the suffering was Art. At the time, I was missing one crucial piece of information: Art is conceptual only; he has no independent existence apart from the finite mind. Neither does the character with whom you’re most likely identified. You read that correctly. The person who you think you are isn’t the “real” you. The True “I – Self” that is our essential nature is beyond all human drama. It cannot be stained by life. The Bhagavad Gita states the truth of our Being this way: “Weapons cannot cut It, nor can fire burn It; water cannot wet It, nor can wind dry It.“

I share this for one reason only: To help spare others the pain and anguish of needless suffering. Although it definitely doesn’t seem the case, suffering paradoxically serves a purpose; for it indicates that we have strayed too far from the Truth. It, thus, informs us that we need to change our direction and seek a meaningful way to live a fuller life. When we rediscover the nature of True Self, everything improves; for we are living from the perspective of Truth.

The degree of suffering that we experience in this apparent life is in direct proportion to our understanding of the truth of our being. If we think we’re the little John or Jane Doe—lookout! The only true solution is to transcend the nature of the little “self” that is apparently experiencing it. In other words, to recognize (know again) the Truth of our Being. A lot of very wise beings–including Buddha, Jesus, and Lao Tzu–knew this, and so can we. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj summed up the matter this way: “You can only be what you are in reality; you can only appear to be what you are not.”

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Forgive Me My Sins

I freely admit that I have not lived a perfect life–far from it. Through insight, however, I can admit that the story of “my life” (complete with all of its so-called flaws) has provided lessons that were absolutely perfect for my continuing evolution. I trust this process (the Power that heals my cuts and beats my heart) implicitly. Every blade of grass and every so-called weed is in the right place, at the right time. Therefore, my weedly actions (and yours, too) may be considered right. Logically, how can we possibly do better until we know better? Without question, the key that unlocks improved behaviour in the world is knowledge of our essential nature. Until we know, we are destined to “miss the mark.” With that in mind, I offer one of my own quotes:

“As we see ourself, we see another.”

Until we know our unity as Oneness, this world will be ruled by forces that arise from the perspective of the costumes, aka humans. In my case, the behaviour that was expressed through Art was–as with everyone else on the planet–due to karmic debt and the conditioning of my Being. We, quite literally, are programmed to believe that we are something (the person) that we are not. This erroneous identification with the apparent body-mind causes us tremendous pain and suffering; and whether we realize so or not, we bear the weight of our ignorance upon our back both personally and collectively.

For instance: A family whose members are unaware of their essential nature is destined to experience alternating periods of peace and strife in varying degrees. For a while, there may be little or no conflict; but eventually the polar energies of this environment called “Life on Earth” may lead to challenging conditions. Here, we can only know objects and concepts by their apparent opposite. For instance: We know mountain by its valley; right by left; in by out. Due to these polar energies, persons will be pulled or pushed in energetic patterns and collide psychologically, emotionally, and (in the worst case scenario) physically. The way that each person processes life further programs the persons within the environment. If harsh judgment rules the environment (due to ignorance), strife is bound to continue and may, in fact, lead to a fractured family.

The price that we pay for ignorance of our essential nature, both personally and collectively, is very costly; and all of us pay the price on a worldwide basis. The same alternating forces that play out within a family, play out on a collective global scale. Therefore, hateful thoughts lead to conflict and malevolent actions; selfish thoughts lead to selfishness and greed; insincere thoughts lead to hypocrisy and perfunctory behaviour. However, when Love governs our actions (which can only occur when we realize true nature), harmony will be witnessed and experienced by everyone.

The greatest sin we will ever make is to be unaware of What–not who–we are. We are neither the body, nor the mind. Ignorance will strongly attempt to convince us that we are this flesh and bones; this mortal human vehicle born to die, but such is not founded in Truth. We cannot “be” what we are not–namely, the mortal “human.” From Vedanta, Voice of Vedanta by Swami Vivekananda: We are “children of immortal bliss.” We are Spirit manifest in human form, having an apparent earthly life. My greatest sins occurred because I knew not true Self; therefore, I knew not the highest Self–Spirit–of everyone else. Just for clarity, we are not seeking forgiveness as a person (by other persons); we are seeking forgiveness from the perspective of the person. This occurs when we realize our essential nature.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

The Hidden Treasure of “I Am”

What if you were told that there is far more to “you” than meets the eye. Would you be curious? Would you be tempted to set out on a journey to discover your essential Self that is beyond name and form? As a young man living in Bombay, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (born Maruti Shivrampant Kambli in 1897) was earnestly curious; and as a result he realized true Self at the age of thirty-four. Soon after, be began to hold informal satsang (spiritual discourse, sacred gatherings) with seekers in his humble home in Bombay until the passing of his body in 1981. One of my favourite quotes from his spiritual classic entitled I Am That reads as follows: “Your begging bowl may be of pure gold, but as long as you do not know it, you are a pauper.”

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj wasn’t talking about the number of coins in our pocket, or the status of our bank account; although such is the prevalent worldly defintion of wealth. He meant that as long as we are still identified with name and form (as our society has conditioned us to believe), we have not discovered the treasure of “I Am.” We may also think of I Am as That without a Second, Source, or The Light of Pure Awareness. It is eternal, immortal, and limitless. The treasure referred to in the title of this article is true Self–“I,” Consciousness. It is the very foundation of our Being. Contrary to popular belief, consciousness is not an epiphenomenon of biological processes. In fact, the common world paradigm of materialism is backward; for the body and the mind arise within Consciousness; not the other way around as is predominantly believed.

To help with our understanding, let’s begin the process of discerning between what is real (lasting and changeless) and what is false (transient and changeful). As we know, our body is losing millions of cells every moment–by some estimates as many as 300,000,000 cells per minute. How, logically, can we claim to be that which is changing so rapidly? At what precise moment could we stop the clock and exclaim, “There I am!” The same logic can be applied to our sensations, images, feelings, thoughts, and perceptions; for all of these are also transient and changeful. However, true Self does not come and go. Our true “I Am” is the same today as it was when our person was ten, twenty, forty, or sixty. There’s a good reason to explain this: Consciousness is beyond the limitations of time and space; for both are constructs of the finite mind. The true “I” is infinite and eternal.

Our name is another good place to further investigation into our essential nature; and we may do so by understanding that a name is a representation for that to which it refers. In short, we can’t get wet from the word water; nor can the word quench our thirst. That means, of course, that common names for persons cannot literally be them. This alone–this opening for doubt about our essential nature–may provide the stimulus for us to investigate our true nature via the question “Who Am I?” –and not relent until we’ve discovered the treasure of “I Am” within. It is the heart of our Being–eternal, immortal, and limitless. We have nothing to fear; for we are Life itself. The body and mind have a beginning and an end; but true Self does not. The person and the world are within us–not the other way around.

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. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Beyond The Mask

We’re going to begin this article with a poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar. The following is sourced from Wikipedia: “He was an American poet, playwright, and novelist; born to parents who were enslaved before the American Civil War.” In 1902, his body passed at the tender age of thirty-three. How talented a writer; how rich his writing. I include his poem because I believe it clearly relates his understanding of true Self–That, which is beyond our mask of name and form:

***

We Wear the Mask

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

– Paul Laurence Dunbar –

***

We may also discover true Self, That, which is beyond any of the human drama that may have apparently occurred in “our” life. We are not now–nor were we ever–the mind’s sharpness or dullness; the body’s health or disease; our apparent failures or successes! We are neither our costume nor our story. We are beyond the mask! We do not rise or fall by our mask; the mask shines by the light of true Self. We are That which cannot be defined. I Am is our true Self–SPIRIT!

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

One Hundred Strong

Many long years ago, a group of one-hundred set out by foot on a journey of 4,000 miles. Of various races, the group was made up of men, women, and children. They wisely saw their group as colourless and faceless; no one held status above another–in fact, they knew not what such could have meant. All held a unique role within their group. Some were gatherers; some were hunters; some were fire makers; and some were makers of clothes. All were equally respected as aspects of The One.

The dangerous journey involved the crossing of mountains, great rivers, and a desert. No one was guaranteed safe passage. Each member worked toward the achievement of their common goal. When members stumbled or fell back, the group slowed and made allowance until they could all move forward together. If a member became too weak to walk, a litter was made and the member was carried by those who were stronger. When they made camp for the night, no one proudly decreed “i have made it.” They functioned as “we,” not “me.” At the end of the day, they gathered round the fire and gave thanks to The One that they had made it to a resting place.

The members of the group were known by names, but they recognized identity at a deeper level than is common now. The eldest was Ecob; his face was deeply wrinkled from long years under the sun; his form, once tall, was now stooped. He was the carrier of wisdom. Never would he, or any other member of the tribe, confuse his or her name with identity; for all the members knew that in reality they were One masquerading as many. They realized that a name was merely a way of pointing–not to be confused with whom we actually are. To think of themselves “as” a name or status would have been ridiculous.

It would make a nice fairy tale to state that all of the members made it safely to their destination; but such is not the case. Along the challenging journey, some fell to their bodily death when crossing mountain ranges; several fell ill with fever, lost appetite, and died; a few perished under the blazing heat of the desert sun; and two slept away of old age and frailty. When the remaining members arrived at the shore of their destination, they numbered seventy-six. Although diminished in numbers, they were still strong–united as ever in the goodness of their common goal. The first night in the new world, all bowed and gave thanks to The One for safe passage; and they paid tribute to the contributions made by those who now lived on in the un-manifest.

***

How different that group is, my friends, when compared to the collection of little “i’s” running themselves ragged upon the face of our Earth. This is the period of our return to Truth; for despite appearances to the contrary, we are Oneness expressing Itself as an apparent multiplicity and diversity of forms. Together “we” will make it; divided into the conceptual little “i’s” of name and form, we are sure to perish. Through our openness to serving the common good, we will prevail. Namaste: I honor the Greatness That is You.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With deep love,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Stepping Out Of The Program

Oh, how we–as apparent humans–love to believe that we are free. How forcefully we defend the fallacy that we choose, we do, we decide. In reality, the opposite is true. What freedom could a representation possess? By most accounts, from ninety-five to ninety-nine percent of a person’s decisions, behaviours, and emotions occur due to subconscious programming; with most of our beliefs installed via environment before the age of six. There is a high probability that if momma and papa performed an action this way, that we will perform it in the same manner. Our paradigms (the collected beliefs that serve as the mould for apparent reality) rule every aspect of our lives until we become aware enough to change them.

The key that liberates us within the matrix (subconscious programming) is recognition of true Self; for until such occurs, the matrix is running the body-mind system without our knowing it. The re-discovery of Self is similar to leaving a darkened room and stepping into one filled with brilliant light. To experience this, we must put our awareness into service–not our mind. We must stop identifying with our conditioned self (the little “i” of name and form) and dare to step into the expansive dimension of Being. To do so is to step out of so-called reality, into the glorious beauty of impersonal Nowness. To live in this manner is to break free of the clutches of the character that has been masquerading as “you.”

If you doubt that this could apply to you, please be willing to assume the role of silent witness for a day. Be present—thoroughly–with every action of body and mind. Pay attention to how, where, and why your “self” does whatever it seems to do. Notice: how you stir your coffee three times before tapping the side of the cup with your spoon; how you find yourself automatically pulling up to the same parking space at the grocery; how you favour either right or left foot as you approach a flight of stairs; how you towel yourself dry in the same manner after a shower; how you reach for a worthless platitude in conversation as you might reach to shake salt upon food that doesn’t require it; how you reach for a “yes” if you’re a habitual people pleaser, or a “no” if you’re closed to opportunity. If you’re really so free (and true Self is), why don’t you change it up once in a while? If what I’m suggesting feels natural, please give it a try. You may be pleasantly suprised at the fresh sense of aliveness that arises.

The following is from The Nature of Consciousness by Rupert Spira: “The body is not an object made of matter; it is an activity made of mind–the activity through and as which consciousness limits and localizes itself.” This is totally at odds with what we have been conditioned to believe–that we are flesh and bones only; and that as such, our end will coincide with death of the body. Our true nature is Consciousness, aka Spirit. Contrary to what the mind would have us believe, space and time are not the container in which we live and move and have our being. They–and the body-mind–arise within us. The Now is all there is—ever fresh. We are not the program of the mind–Self is prior. We are ultimately freer than free. To live as such, all we have to do is be willing to step out of the program.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With deep love,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Knowing Self As “No-Thing”

For centuries, the world has seemed bent on having us define self as an object; it has stressed (through various criteria that change with the times), that a desirable object, an intelligent object, and rich object with a blueblood family name (insert Rocker-Something-or-Other) is more appealing than the alternative (Russell). Thus, those who pretend to know what’s in our best interest, have created the materialist interpretation of the world; a world in which some souls fall into the desirable class (exclaim: “I have made it!”), while the majority fall through the human abyss (pray: “Please let it all be over!”) and land in the undesirable heap. Sadly, the majority of beings often succumb to the human “story” and try to be one of the so-called “in crowd; instead of using their precious incarnation to find their way back to Oneness. I could swear right now, but I won’t. I’ll transform that energy positively and offer a quote from Ramesh S. Balsekar and his magnificent book entitled The Ultimate Understanding later in the article.

I have never favoured an interpretation of so-called reality in which some of my spiritual brothers and sisters feel inferior due to a botched world belief system that deliberately leads us away from Truth. A Cadillac, a Ferrari, a mansion, and an in ground swimming pool can never make anyone superior to someone else. Only a person would believe such lunacy. The system is appropriately labeled judgment, and our society is rampant with it. We are not now–or ever–the sum of our name and body-mind. Desirable objects and great financial wealth are not intrinsically bad; it is only our love of money above all else that creates problems. Those who would pretend superiority are merely caught in the misguided value system which is so prevalent on Earth.

Let’s cut to the chase, and practice some discernment (not judgment) about our essential nature. All experience–whether it be of the janitor or the Wall Street Tycoon–is known by One Knower, Consciousness. We cannot have any experience without the linchpin known as Consciousness. We are “That.” We have been conditioned to believe that consciousness is personal and dependent on neural processes of the body; but such is false. A search for “the hard problem of consciousness” via the internet will verify that scientists do not know how consciousness arises. We’ve also been conditioned to believe that we are a body-mind with a certain name; such is also false. It’s simply not the Truth. It’s why Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, who was often termed the fiery sage of Bombay, stated the following: “You can only be what you are in reality; you can only appear to be what you are not.” Translation: You cannot be the body-mind. And now, the quote that saved you from my profanity at the bottom of the first paragraph:

“Therefore, the only conclusion is that on object does not exist–that the ‘observed’ object is an illusion,

and the observing can only be a noumenal functioning.”
The Ultimate Understanding by Ramesh S. Balsekar

“Who Am I?” is a question (when the answer is known directly) that can take us to the depth of our essential nature. The answer is beyond words; therefore, beyond any of the false definitions with which and by which persons attempt to define themselves. Such is more aptly termed the treadmill of human existence. It’s what leads to questions such as the following: “Dear, do you think a solid rhodium toilet could make us feel more special than the Joneses? Theirs is only gold.” You are not a thing. You are beyond any of the smarmy descriptions for which so many persons fall. Let’s think: How can you truly be a nationality, a physical description, or a professional or financial status? In short, you can’t.

The mind is the creator of everything, including our body-mind. True Self is prior to the mind; therefore, independent of it. The Bible describes this as “being in the world but not of it.” If you believe that you are the body-mind, you inherit all of the fears that come along with that belief. It is not the Truth. Through the practice of clear discernment (meditation is invaluable), you can knowingly rise above all circumstance. What’s more, you do not die; because the body-mind is an effect of mind. You are First Principle, Cause. It’s why Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj stated the following: “There is as much death present when a million die as when one perishes.” We need not fall for the fiction related to the human story. Truth is available, now and forever. We have only to seek It.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Working For “The One”

The following fictional account didn’t take place–ever; but for fun, let’s go with it and pretend that it did. Special Note: The characters and events depicted in this article are fictitious. Any similarity to persons, either living or deceased, is purely coincidental. No persons were harmed in any way during the writing, editing, or subsequent publishing of this article. 🙂 Thank goodness, no one lost their job, either; came close, though.

***

“Have a seat, Bob,” said Mr. Swanger. He descended from a long line of Swangers, before swanging became a cultural phenomena in certain circles.

“Thank you,” said Bob. He slowly stepped forward and settled himself in the chair across from Mr. Swanger’s desk. He tried to appear calm, but his fidgetting fingers gave him away.

Mr. Swanger leaned forward over his desk, which was distracting because he had a mole on his left cheek the size of Saskatchewan. His computer screen was open to Bob’s profile. “How long have you been working with us at The One?”

“Little over a month,” said Bob.

“I’ve brought you in here today,” said Mr. Swanger, “because there’s been a nasty rumor circulating, at the yellow ticker tape that surrounds the previously available water cooler.”

Bob leaned forward, an expression of innocent curiosity pasted on his face. “‘Bout what?” he said.

Mr. Swanger sat back and arched his hands together in the stereoptypical teepee power position. “This makes me very uncomfortable,” he began. “Rumor has it that you actually believe that you’re ‘Bob.’ That’s incredibly awkward, given that we all work for The One. See my point?”

“Can’t say that I do,” said Bob. “I’m not Bob?” He patted his knees; they certainly felt real.

Mr. Swanger rolled his eyes; inwardly he was wondering how Bob had slipped through the hiring process. “No,” said Mr. Swanger. “These bodies are what show up in the waking state. A few people still mistake that as reality.” Mr. Swanger turned his attention to the computer screen. “It says here,” he said, “that there’s evidence that you still believe you’re the doer.”

Bob crossed his legs and gripped the arms of the chair firmly–knuckles blanched. “I’m not?” he said.

“No,” said Mr. Swanger. “Not now–or ever, for that matter. These,” he said, moving his arms about with floating ease, “move by one power alone–Consciousness. This is idealism, Bob. We gave up that old software called naive realism years ago. That’s when we got with the times and formed the new company–The One.”

Bob began to fidget; he needed this job. He had nowhere else to go. Everyone these days was talking about the wonderful living immediacy of the present moment; the “Here and Now,” they called it. “What can I do to make it right?” he asked, learning forward. “I could stay late, make coffee. I have an advanced degree in Modern Sychophany,” he offered. “Would that help?”

“No,” said Mr. Swanger, with a wave of his hand. “Groveling is passé–went out with landlines and the notion of personal consciousness. Since enlightenment, we don’t work that way–we’re all equal here. There’s no solution except that you go home–now, of course–and spend some time in silent solitude. If you do so often enough, you’ll see that the true You isn’t Bob at all. This company is founded on the principles of The One. There’s no room for a bunch of persons running around like egoic chickens, thinking that they own the place. We work for The One; and the world functions a whole lot better when all of us know It.”

***

The meeting concluded a few minutes later, and Bob departed with a fearful I-could-soon-be-walking-down-the -road-kicking-my-lunchpail look. He was almost out of the building before he thought about the curious note with instructions that Mr. Swanger had handed to him before leaving. Politely but firmly, he had told Bob that if he wanted to continue working for The One, he should follow the instructions on the note closely. Bob’s pace slowed as his hand fumbled to remove the note from his pocket. It read as follows:

Meditate for ten minutes, once a day. Increase to fifteen minutes, twice each day.
Earnestly ask the question (“Who Am I?”) and don’t settle for the story self.
Read the works of Buddha, Jesus, Ramana Maharshi, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj; or, if you’re searching for any easier but informative book, R. Arthur Russell’s most recent work.
Watch this presentation on self-inquiry by Rupert Spira.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Category: Freedom

God Trumps All

Shaking The Maya Tree

The Chains That Bind

Forgive Me My Sins

The Hidden Treasure of “I Am”

Beyond The Mask

One Hundred Strong

Stepping Out Of The Program

Knowing Self As “No-Thing”

Working For “The One”

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