Beyond Spiritual Practices - Suzanne Segal
Written on August 11, 2008 by Tom Stine
Behind most spiritual practices is the belief that you have to get someplace you’re not- a destination called realization or enlightenment. But realization isn’t someplace else; it’s the naturally occurring human state. It doesn’t belong to anybody. It’s who we all are. Spiritual practices also set up many pictures of what this state looks like. For example, when I described how much fear was present, people told me the fear meant that something must be wrong, because fear was an indication that I wasn’t in the proper state. But fear is just what it is, and it’s there too in the vastness of who we are.
Posted in: Guru Quotes
5 comments
on August 11th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Nice quote Tom
It is powerful to realise that we are already there, already enlightened or realised, we just don’t know it yet. There is no where to go and seek and realise, we are the realisation
on August 11th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Yes, that’s the key many people miss. Realization is inclusive, not exclusive. We loose only illusion but gain everything. Everything remains, including fear. But we are no longer hostage to fear, driven by fear. It simply is.
on August 11th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
One further remark. I’ve not read her book yet but have read some of her experience. It sounds to me like she had a prolonged experience of what Adyashanti calls the BBQ. Perhaps blended with the minds battle for control. For some reason, she sought traditional help for her experiences, not recognizing what she had been trained to. It’s not uncommon to have some resistance to what has happened. It’s also not uncommon to have a struggle over it, some clearing before and after. She seems like an extreme example. I would like to read her story though. Everyone’s process is unique and can illustrate an aspect more clearly.
on August 12th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Great quote, Tom.
I really like the way she says, “…it’s the naturally occurring human state.”
It absolutely is the functioning of the organism from moment to moment.
on August 12th, 2008 at 7:14 am
@Steve Thanks. It is very powerful. It eliminates a certain “burden” from the process, doesn’t it?
@Takuin It is 100% natural. That’s why so many people dismiss it.
@Davidya The really cool part of her story is that after 10 years of seeking help via therapists and traditional means, she finally went to see Jean Klein. Basically, she had experienced an awakening in which she lost all sense of personal identity. Her “me” was gone. So, she spoke to Jean Klein about what had happened, and he told her one simple thing: “Get out of your mind.” He knew the answer was there, it was something she could figure out. So, she did. And everything was fine. She didn’t need a “me” after all.