I’ve been touched by your work as well as Sailor Bob, John Greven etc. Reading a paragraph can free “identity constrictions” quickly and again step into clear sky or the ocean of “the natural state”.

“My question”, and I can see by the use of the pronoun where this is coming from (thought constructs of a limited identity), involve the subjective element of life. You -(Burt) bring a unique flavor, texture, energy matrix to existence; as did Ramana, as do other author’s, artists, movies and the unique matrix and vibration that attracts our lovers, friends to us. When there is no “personal” subjective story attached to a body/mind, what is left for the “person” (Burt Harding), who has this website, who lives at a certain address, has certain friends and family that are unique to him to do? I hope you don’t mind me putting this question to other advaitists. It does seem that both dynamics exist; a quality of the natural free state (“clear seeing”,“ the elusive obvious” etc.) as well as this definite subjective personalized existence; if not why would anyone form associations with anyone else, if truly we are just “clear awareness” and identification with thoughtstreams, identities are “identity confusion”, a kind of aberration;

Why would anyone love a particular person? a particular food ? a book? Isn’t the dissonance or friction a part of what necessitates invention, creation, desire? If one is “clear sky consciousness” (I mean really living like that, not mere lip service) why would one bother to move at all ; Actually I read Eckert Tolle’s account of, his “realization”, and he related sitting on a bench for two years just caught up in the wonder of it all; I may be mistaken but I believe Ramakrishna was alsoÊin such ecstatic bliss that he needed caretakers to keep his diaper on and feed him;

It seems that Ramana Maharshi was also lying at the foot of a mountain with rats picking at him while his “devotees” cared for him. Are my statements incorrect? Would this be a model for a person living in contemporary western society? I don’t understand why people like Wolfgang Bernhard insist that people who work with him continue there familial obligations if that is no longer the consciousness that is extant ? It seems that if when a person made certain life choices such as marriage, career, children and they were under a limited identity thought construct, why would any teacher of consciousness force obligatory commitments to choices made at that time? It’s analogous to getting married at 16 and realizing at 30 that you had a far different idea of what you wanted in marriage but were “stuck ” with the consequences for the rest of your life.

A.

Dear A.,

Thank you for your kind comments. Your email is quite direct and to the point.

Here are some of the points you brought out.

• In truth there is no personal self simply because we are unique expressions of life. Nothing changes with the realization that there is no personal self except a great sense of freedom and joy in living, that’s all. Fears just drop and there is no suffering. Other than that we still go to the bathroom, the body gets tired and there are annoyances and preferences. There is absolutely little difference between an awakened being and one who is asleep. The one who is asleep (unconscious) suffers over every egoic slight filled with self-defence and reactions from the past, worries about the past and future and is filled with fears. In awakening there are no fears because there is no attachment to the egoic self.

• You asked why would anyone love another person? Love is not personal in its truest sense. It is the realization that everyone is a part of you since we are all one. Love is a natural expression of the awakened as breathing.

• When one awakens the highest and purest consciousness like Ramana Maharshi, Ramakrishna or Neem Karoli Baba then there is no past or future at all and they live fully from the moment. They are pure love and bliss just like a puppy, kitten or a child because they are expressions of pristine consciousness. Such exalted states of divinity are rare but they are also the faces of the ultimate LIFE! They are absolutely free from all suffering or limitation and at that level of Cosmic Consciousness there is no attachment to the body at all.

• You asked, why would a teacher of consciousness force obligatory commitments? Teachers of consciousness do what they do because it is their journey to do so. They gather around them people who are attracted to that type of thing. There are really no rules or shoulds but, after all, this is a big cosmic game in which we do what we do because that’s how we express our uniqueness in the grand scheme of things. Everything is allright after all. You are free to follow what you want and there is no one that can control you unless you allow them.

• In the email following with the subject “Closure” you asked the following: “If direct experience is beyond mind why the many satsangs etc?” -- satsang is given by someone who is ‘awakened’ and therefore through his realization his words have a form of transmitting power. When people come to satsang initially is because they want to feel good about themselves but deep down there is also a cry for answers, for help. The teacher helps them to find their own inner voice to their suffering. A ‘teacher’ is someone who wants to help those who are still asleep and therefore they believe that the world is real. A teacher, through compassion and love, guides those who still believe they are limited beings. A true teacher never imposes; is not interested in making money other than survival, is not looking for fame or popularity but is sincerely and honestly dedicated towards making others happy as he/she is. You asked, “Why are we talking or writing at all? Why pay homage to Buddhas and Ramana Maharshis etc?” The whole evolution of consciousness is towards the One Consciousness one already is but don’t know it. When awakening happens there is a tremendous freedom, joy and love that simply gushes forth, it is such a wonderful thing. Therefore, when one is in a state of knowing happiness and sees such a suffering world filled with unhappy people struggling just to live, one starts writing and talking to those who are ready to stop their victim-life. It is that simple. If a ‘teacher’ writes and talks out of an ego need (and there are many like that) then I agree with you. For example, if a part of your body was aching, wouldn’t you take special care of it because its part of you? Similarly, an awakened ‘teacher’ sees the oneness but also knows that ‘others’ see separation and suffer and so tends to them the same way you would tend to a part of your body.

• What is the point of lineages, koans, mediation-things? The point is to those people that find value in it. Life is a cosmic game and anything goes and if you enjoy it, why not play it? In your nature you are free. Claim that freedom but do not interfere with others’ freedom to do as they please. It is all one happy merry-go-round and the purpose of it all (if you can call it a purpose) is to enjoy it all because there’s nowhere to go except here and now. In Truth you are spirit but then so is the world you experience is spirit in manifestation, get the point?

With love always,

Burt

You walk the walk! Your e-mails silence my questions! There is a difference when I read brilliant advaitic scholars (all the usual suspects) and clearly intellectually get what they are pointing at, and yet the next question arises and the next; and THE LOVE that comes radiating thru your transmissions like getting dipped in an OCEAN OF ONENESS,GLISTENING, PRISTINE, CLARITY! LIKE WHEN MY NANA LOVED ME! I knew more love in my Nana’s pinky then all the New Age dying protestations of love.

AND BURT I’M CRYING VERY SWEETLY WHEN I WRITE THIS TO YOU. YOU’VE DONE SOMETHING WONDERFUL -AN ALCHEMICAL LIKE OSMOTIC TRANSMISSION LIKE WHAT ALL THE BEST GOOEY SPIRTIUAL LITERATURE TALKS ABOUT !

BLESSINGS & LOVE, A.