"True kensho means no kensho. The Heart Sutra says, "no attainment with nothing to attain." This means you must attain no attainment. That is true kensho. You still want something; you still want kensho. That is a big mistake. That way you will never get Enlightenment, never get true kensho. If you want true kensho, you must make your opinion, your condition, and your situation disappear. Then the correct opinion, correct condition, and correct situation will appear. The name for this is kensho. The name for this is our True Self. The name for this is Great Love, Great Compassion, and the Great Bodhisattva Way. Not special. When you are hungry, eat. When you are tired, rest. When you see a hungry person, give him food. When you see someone sad, you are also sad. Only this. Moment to moment, you must keep your correct situation. All your actions are for other people. Put down I, my, me."

What is the "me" that we assume to be our self? Is there actually an independent entity with the power to make changes happen, the power to alter what IS? Looking into what is actually HERE, not from the standpoint of philosophy or religion but hanging out with what is actually just so, can begin to dissolve the false sense of being an entity with control over what happens for the body, mind, in the world. This "me" is only an idea, born around the age of two and a half, and the arrival of that idea comes with an assumption that “I am the responsible party for what happens, who I am, what I do, what I attain or lose." It's MY power that got what I want; or it's MY power that is to blame.

This Pride/Blame pendulum is ONLY a mechanism, that falsely CLAIMS all the action, the doing, the being, as "mine". "The buck stops with ME". Pride and guilt are the two sides of that mechanism's swings, and it is that which brings about suffering: But this "me" actually DOES nothing; not even "cause" suffering". It is ONLY a claimer of what happens. A secondary involvement in what happens as the natural unfolding of the Universe. So: When the "me" is "born" then there arises the notion that "I" am in charge and "I must do what it takes to get what I want, and avoid what I do not want." "It's up to ME." And that assumption of being the source of "me and my life” brings pride when "I get my way" and anger when I don't.

Moreover, this assumption that I am Source" and must control life and living is utterly irrational. For example IT says (mechanistically), I AM the Source and I want to become One with the Source! Craziness. But this craziness is NOT "something wrong". It is NOT a "mistake" made by you, or God, or the Universe. It is quite simply WHAT IS. It is the perfect functioning of Wholeness. Wholeness excludes nothing, even "separation". Yet it IS possible that a deeper looking into that "sense of me" as the falsely responsible entity that must mange life and living can bring a profound insight. A simple question might point the way: If "I" am the source of my life and living, how is it that I so often fail to get what I want? And so often unwanted stuff happens? What is really operating here? Is this body and mind running the show? Or is there much more to this?

What if the DNA and subsequent programming of this body is simply structured to do whatever Source is to do THROUGH it? What if the machinery is JUST machinery with no independent power to change what IS? Taking a look at what the source of the breath is, can you see that your body is being breathed by Universal Energy and "you" are not required for that to happen? That there is a power far greater than the idea of me at work functioning as the Whole? Call that Consciousness, Presence, Tao, God, call it whatever you like, there certainly IS an undeniable Universal Power at work manifesting all that is. That means ALL that is. One potent pointer of Nonduality is "Consciousness Is All There Is". Consciousness unmanifest as No Thing and manifest as Everything. That is not a truth to believe, but rather a pointer. Look where that pointer POINTS; what we are pointing TO is Transcendent Knowing sans Knower. It is NON dual, the Always So of illumination.

Do your own investigation; see what is really operating; is it the “me” of an egoic claiming entity doing all the doing, or something infinitely broader and more inclusive of all that is? Imagine for a moment: What was operating that had your father and mother make love? And produce the sperm and egg that formed your body and mind? What was operating that had your great grandparents meet, and live where they lived? Go back to see what the Original Source is; what is It that is functioning THROUGH and appearing AS all that IS? This place is here to support YOUR investigation, and always bring you back to the fundamental seeing: What is the Source of “me and my life?” Is it “me”? Or is it the Whole Totality of Everything at play, functioning THROUGH the body mind apparatus I call “me”. Look deep. Look beyond the obvious to the Source of being and action. As The Buddha said; "Actions happen, deeds are done, but there is no individual doer thereof." Find out if that is true.

The claim “I am the source and cause of life and living” is worth looking head on at: Ask YOU: “Is that true”?

Visit Charlie's blog.

Boring is a very important word. If you attain boring, then everything is boring. Then this is no desire, no anger, no ignorance. Desire is boring; anger is boring; ignorance is boring; everything is boring. Then, you will get Enlightenment. So boring is very important. Everything is equal. But people don't like boring. They want something, and boring is not interesting. It's like clear water. Clear water has no taste, but no taste is great taste. Everybody likes ice cream, but eating ice cream all day is not possible. However, if you're thirsty, clear water is wonderful any time -- better than honey, better than ice cream, better than anything. The truth is like this.

In Zen no meaning is great meaning, and great meaning is no meaning. We call this zero mind. I go around and ask, "Is zero a number?" One time in London I asked this, and somebody said, "Yes, it's a number."

So I said, "Yes, if you say zero is a number, you can do everything. Let's look at this. 9 x 0 = 0. Then, 9 = 0/0. O.K.? Then, if you say it's a number, then 0/0 = 1. So 9 = 0/0 = 1, and 9 = 1.

Then he said, "Ah, zero is not a number; that's not possible. 0/0 = 1 is not possible."

"O.K.; not possible is O.K. Then, 9 x 0 = 0. That means 9 = 0/0. 10,000 x 0 = 0. Then 10,000 = 0/0. 0/0 means 0/0 = 10,000 and 0/0 = 9. So 9 = 10,000.

"Zero mind can do anything. If you say zero is a number, that's O.K. If you say zero is not a number, that's O.K.; it doesn't matter. Zero is everything; everything is zero. This is Zen mathematics, O.K.? So zero mind is very interesting. If you keep zero mind, then you can do everything."

Then someone asked, "Soen Sa Nim, you talked about a child's mind as Buddha's mind, very simple, before memory. Before memory, all children's minds are correct mind, Buddha's mind, Enlightenment mind. Is this correct? Sleep time, sleep; eat time, eat. But a child only thinks of itself. Is this correct Buddha's mind?"

I said, "Before memory, a child's mind is no-Buddha, no-God mind. Someone once asked Ma Jo Zen Master, 'What is Buddha?' 'Mind is Buddha; Buddha is mind.' The next day someone asked, 'What is Buddha?' 'No mind, no Buddha.' Correct Buddha's mind is no Buddha, no mind. So a child's mind is correct Buddha's mind."

"Are they different, Buddha's mind and child's mind?"

"A child's mind is nothing at all; it is zero mind. It's like a clear mirror. Red comes, red; white comes, white. Only reflected action: when a child is hungry, it eats; when it is tired, it only sleeps.

I "Enlightenment-mind means using this child's mind. A child only keeps Buddha's mind. Using this mind is called Bodhisattva's mind. So, child's mind is correct Buddha's mind; Bodhisattva's mind correctly uses Buddha's mind. How is it used? A child has enough mind -- he only eats. But if somebody is very hungry, a child doesn't understand. If you have Bodhisattva-mind, then if hungry people appear, you give them food; if thirsty people appear, you give them something to drink. Keeping Buddha's mind and using Buddha's mind are different. Keeping Buddha's mind is correct Buddha's mind. Using Buddha's mind is Great Bodhisattva mind.

"Great Bodhisattva mind has a Great Vow. What is a Great Vow? That is only-go-straight don't-know mind. Only go straight -- don't check me; don't check my feelings; don't check anything -- only reflect everything and help all people. This Great Vow is infinite because space and time are limitless and beings are numberless. Numberless beings means numberless suffering, so my vow is a numberless vow. Its name is Great Vow. Its name is only go straight - don't know -- try, try, try vow. So I hope you will take this Great Vow, get zero mind, attain Enlightenment, and save all beings from suffering."

(Striking the table) Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.

(Striking the table) No form, no emptiness.

(Striking the table) Form is form, emptiness is emptiness. Which one of these is correct? If you make a choice, I will hit you thirty times. If you do not make a choice, I will hit you thirty times. Why? KATZ!!! Three times three equals nine.

Thank you very much for coming to this opening ceremony. But what is it that brought your body here? Is it your mind? What is mind? Where is it? What is its shape? Mind is no mind. A mountain does not proclaim, "I am a mountain!'' A river does not say, "I am a river!" All names and all forms are made by thinking. Thus, mind is no mind. All things have name and form. Names and forms come from emptiness and will return to emptiness. Thus, form is emptiness, emptiness is form.

When you are thinking, your mind, my mind, and all people's minds are different. If you cut through all thinking, your mind, my mind, and all people's minds are the same. The mind that cuts through all thinking is the true empty mind. The true empty mind is before thinking. Your substance is before thinking. Your substance is universal substance. Before thinking, there is no speech and no language. There is no God, no Buddha, no mountains, no rivers, no things at all. Thus, no form, no emptiness.

But, "before thinking" is truly just like this. No form, no emptiness is itself a clinging to emptiness. Put it down! Then, you will have no inside and no outside; you will attain the Absolute. Everything that you see, hear, taste, and smell is the truth. God is God, Buddha is Buddha, mountains are mountains, rivers are rivers. The truth is like this. Form is form, emptiness is emptiness.

If you cut through all thinking, your mind will become clear. Just that is your true self. Thinking is desire, desire is suffering. When the mind remains clear, there is no life and no death. You will find true freedom that has no hindrance.

Your body has life and death, but your true self transcends both life and death. Today we have an opening ceremony. This is the opening of the mind's door, the attainment of one's true self, and the discovery of the Great Way.

What, then, is one's true self? Does it exist or does it not? If you say that it exists, where is it? If you say that it does not, what is hearing this speech? Both of these answers are not complete. Why?

(Striking the table) KATZ!!!

Put it down, put it all down!

The Great Way is in front of the door.

Constant mindfulness is not the ultimate goal of the spiritual life. Even if it were possible to achieve, and it is not, it would not be desireable. I say this even though miindfulness meditation and mindful awareness are some of the most powerful tools I have ever discovered and used as a therapist. But by being constantly mindful, we would miss out on the direct experience of living by always being the observer and always labeling our thoughts and experiences. We would never be "in" our lives. This is NOT enlightenment or awakening.

Mindful awareness or witness consciousness and being fully present in our experiences without comment or observation are complementary processes, like breathing in and breathing out. If we only breath in or only breath out, we die. So reaching a balance between living life and watching ourselves live life is far more healthy and spiritually productive than 24/7/365 mindfulness. But even this balance, once achieved, is not to be mistaken for awakening. It is just a better way to live in this concensual dream we call reality.

Awakening from this dreamworld is a brutal process. It is not all hearts and flowers and fairy kisses of love and compassion. These things just keep us more firmly asleep. Awakening is far more similar to a nervous breakdown and involves the complete dismantling or deconstruction of everything we ever thought was true...about ourselves, our relationshiips, our beliefs, our teachers and mentors, and our world. We do not awaken by meditating for 30 years, or unselfishly serving others, or being more mindful. We awaken by setting fire to your lives and abandoning the ego in the midst of the flames. As Jed McKenna says, fire doesn't make deals and the only thing that doesn't burn is the truth.

No one chooses this kind of awakening. Frankly, you'd have to be crazy to want it. No, some are simply chosen by the process itself. Once chosen, failure is almost certain and victory leaves you feeling like you are falling endlessly through empty space with no points of reference. It's a hell of a deal. No wonder we would prefer to take something like mindfulness or mystical experiences, or alter states and call them enlightenment. Who could blame us?

Message No.02 dated. 04.05.2010

“That body is different” and “ I am “ different from that , in the form of true self.”

This experience you should attain firmly, permanently in a stable state of that true self.

“Even without that body , I am there in the form of true self .”

This type of experience you should have to attain in your wakeful state itself.

It means you need to identify yourself with that true self at every moment, in your wakeful state itself, by giving least importance to that body.

Until you get out of immersing and identifying yourself with that body, you need to continue your practice.

As long as you engage in activities of endless desires and attachments related to that body, you will identify yourself with that body only.

So eliminate that sense of self, that illusionary “I “ which is wrongly forcing you to identify yourself with that body.

Once you eliminate that, you will be placed in that true self permanently.

Then all the actions of that body will never have any influence on you, as you are acting in unison with that supreme power, under the guidance of that true self.

Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Message No. 03 dated 05.05.2010

Time is also an expression of that mind only. The real truthful thing is only ONE.

In whatever way you imagine and adore about that, then it will appear for you in that form only. If you don’t imagine about anything with that mind, the real form of that true self can be experienced.

Time is only for day to day dealing of that body with that world. It is used for managing our activities and occupations with the world. For your convenience you have divided that time as seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks months and years. For your activities you have divided that time as yesterday, today and tomorrow.

With your lasting memories and mental conceptions you have created that time in your mind. With the assistance of that time, you will record lasting impressions as past memories, execute various activities in the present and make endless conceptions for time bound future course of actions.

In reality where all these things related with that time are existing ???.

They are existing in our Mind Only.

---- Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Visit: http://andhraloarunachalam.blogspot.com

The search seems to take place in time. Where's any time right now? Who am I that's in time? How long do I need, to be who I am? We seek a freedom at the end of a time span, only to seemingly stay stuck in that flow of time, seeking the next better moment.

Where's all this time right now? What's clearly present and aware, even if time seems to be happening, (in concepts only!)

Investigating directly, we find that what we are is prior to the notion of time, as clear being itself.

There's a freedom from needing time as some means to an end, because we can see directly that what we are is not subject to this notion of time at all- we simply ARE present and aware.

Visit Michael's blog.

There are two aspects to this. The first is the clear basic truth of what you are. The second is the relinquishment of any erroneous concept taken as one's identity. From my perspective, the first point is the most important. To see yourself clearly as the non-conceptual presence of awareness or being beyond thought is the annihilation of the ability to believe in any other concept, just like if you set an ice cube out in the blazing sun, it must disappear.

Make sure this part is very clear. Your presence as being-awareness is beyond doubt, and no amount of thought activity is going to change that. Also, the very conceptualizing is appearing in awareness.

The thoughts prove the presence of non-conceptual awareness. Experiences and thoughts come and go as simply appearances in what you are. Nothing at all can knock you out of what you are, because for anything else to be, you must be present. And that presence is what this is about. From this rock-solid and unshakable platform, any other looking can happen, but always against a background of felt and thoroughly present freedom. This light of freedom naturally unwinds all residual grasping at feeble conceptual images, just like shadows flee before the rising sun. Without this fundamental aspect being locked down, any other investigation can subtly get us back into the 'now I am there, now I am not' feeling, which is really a subtle concept about a someone who is not even present

Visit John's blog.

Right now, notice the space around your body; and let the attention go onto the space. Space is always present whatever the "time" is and wherever "the body" goes; we just don't really notice it. Does space have a beginning? An ending? No. YOU are like that: Space. Putting the attention on space means taking the focus off thoughts; not trying to change, modify, resist or correct any thoughts or emotions but rather it's just a simple pulling the focus off them; not putting so much energy of attention and belief on them. Use that innate energy to notice the ever present space in which your body and the furniture, trees, cars, sun, show up.

Awareness is NOT "transient". Consciousness comes and goes in awareness; dream and sleep and waking, i.e. all "states of consciousness" and unconsciousness!), come and go in awareness. Awareness is the open beginningless endless clearing FOR all to appear while awareness itself is always fully ON. The notion that there is an "I" that "knows" or doesn't know coupled with the notion (thought) of there being such a thing as "time" (when!) is all just energy moving in awareness. And in the immediacy of present awareness there is no separation; the idea of separation must go! Let that timeless awareness be the focus. Give up all such erroneous concepts! Pause any concept of "I" or "time" and your natural eternal oneness-statelessness is utterly obvious. That is not a "practice" in "time". It's right here and right now. Just notice what you've been overlooking!

As you are no doubt aware that YOU ARE, here and now, just know that this open and awake awareness is the real treasure; it's your own language-less being-love! The invitation is to pause all concepts and dive into that loving Presence.

Awareness is open, a NON-conceptual all encompassing Love. In concept it would appear to be "something". That's why we say "it" is NON-conceptual! You are That. As Nisargadatta said, don't refuse to be That!

Your own Inner Guru is guiding every step and bringing you Home in perfect timing. Understanding this can bring a lot of peace around all the happenings!

There is one constant Presence, call it awareness, call it being, call it love, call it Self, call it God, call it … hamburger! It doesn’t matter what you call it; because “IT” is utterly beyond any concept, description or label. Language gives up when this is clear! But let’s attempt to use words to point: Close: It just IS. Closer: Isness. Closer yet: Non-conceptual awareness. Best? Perhaps, Non-conceptual love.

Visit Charlie's blog.

Why are you suffering? Look deeply to see who is suffering? What suffering is there if there is no one to suffer?

On the general, relative level of appearance, there seems to be a person with problems. But look at it more closely. In this very moment, this very presence of being, is there a problem?

Look at the illusion of time; as you sit and a moment passes, where is that moment NOW? It doesn’t exist, it only arises as a memory, which is arising when? NOW! There is only now, there is no passage of time, there is only now appearing, that’s it.

In this very moment, without going into memory, what problem is there? You must go into the assumed past to retrieve information about time in order for a problem to exist. Let’s say someone crossed you somehow, let’s say yesterday. Where is that event? Does it exist now, except in a thought that is arising in the present moment?

These thoughts about being wronged and all this are very appealing, in a perverse sort of way, because they give this identity of a separate self its seeming reality. Without such dramas, such a “self” wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. That’s why these fabrications of a wronged person arise so easily. They give the character its role to play in this drama called life.

There are two ways to go, either keep on believing in this pathetic, wronged, idea of a person, or break those shackles and see who you are. You were never that idea, never that thought that rose up.

What you are is ALL, every single aspect of the game. You are what appears to be the wronged person, and the so called person that wronged you. It’s all one expression, so how are you damaged by any of this? It’s just the Absolute expressing itself, and You Are That!

Visit JD's blog.