But as for beating up the ego, and referring to it as the source of all suffering: it isn’t. Believing that you ARE the ego is the source of all suffering. All of spirituality, the entire spiritual journey, awakening, enlightenment, all of it, is just simply a question of identity. When you know what you are, at every level of your being, through and through, that what you are is the One, the infinite, all suffering is done. And you can happily enjoy whatever amount of ego that still hangs around as you move in and out of the world. Life becomes deliciously sweet.

So, bottom line: forget the link above. Go buy Nisargadatta or Adyashanti. You’ll enjoy them much more. Namaste.

Teri – what Tom says is critical. The ego may claim to be the source of delight but it’s not. And once that construct falls away enough, you discover the ocean of delight is within you.

Detachment is just the first step. Anyone describing awakening as just detached freedom is only just there. The juicy stuff has not arisen yet. (laughs) The benefits so surpass anything the ego can even imagine. And it keeps getting better. The ocean has no bottom.

@Teri Hmm…. Not sure I can go along with your line of thought. I agree that the spiritual journey can be dangerous. But when one is led to this path of inquiry and seeing through to the truth, well, it’s the path to walk, no matter how your life appears, good or bad. As for the ego being the root of sorrow or delight, I would agree that this whole notion of slaying the evil ego is way over done. But the ego is the root of NOTHING. It seems to me that sorrow is simple the ABSENCE of joy and love. When we turn to the light of being, and discover for ourselves that we are the light of being, all suffering disappears. The ego is seen for what it is, just a collection of messy thoughts. It never caused our sorrow. It never gave us delight. Thinking that I AM THOSE THOUGHTS, that leads to suffering. Learning that I am NOT THE EGO leads to joy. Simple.

I’m thinking about this because I’ve been very into practicing “inquiry” as A.H. Almaas describes it recently.

Easy for me to sit and be now as I am That, but would not have been before. It is curious though. So many paths that are only one path that is pathless. (laughs) It was never the person waking up anyway…

@Dee You know, I don’t see there to be any problems with the Direct Path. Essentially, if you find yourself on the Direct Path, then that’s your path, no matter how messed up you are! Actually, I was still having panic attacks when I was introduced to the teachings of Ramana and others, and it was the doing of inquiry into “Who am I?” that led me to the end of my panic attacks. Inquiry completely changed my life in a worldly sense, and all for the better. That isn’t to say that some people with “issues” may not find the direct path very distressing. Spirituality can be a rough business. But if you find yourself on the path, then you should walk it.

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As for “what place is Adyashanti in?” you are right, that is a huge topic. So, I will say one thing now, and then maybe write about it later. Ready? Whatever enlightenment is, Adyashanti is it.

It was not my intent to take comments off topic, but I’m fascinated by peoples stories of their journey. The essential process is the same but the varieties of journey are as varied as there are people…

How he came to be able to recognize he was aware, then had the clarity to be aware of awareness. Only then could he practice this. As your last line observes – if one is ready for it.

@Davidya I agree. Never an end point. Never a beginning, too. I think one of the distinguishing characteristics of Jesus, for instance, was his clarity of vision. So clear that little details like death or blindness meant nothing to what was awake in him. “SEE!” and the blind would see. Not your every day parlor trick, but the response of this world to utter clarity of vision. And yes, Michael Langford’s book is an interesting one. Strange to read. But utterly effective. Adyashanti has been lately focusing on simply turning attention to awareness as THE process, if there is to be a process. Reading Langford’s story of how he came upon the process is fascinating. He got it from a wonderful little book written by Sri Sadhu Om, a disciple of Ramana Maharshi who got the process from Ramana. Simple and succinct. And if one is ready for it, well, it really works.

and the higher page, which illustrates something of his process into what became the book:
http://www.albigen.com/uarelove/

Interesting…

In a certain way, it does end because the process of perception itself collapses when the observer and observed become one. But the refinement of clarity continues.

Interesting book reference. Only a few advanced teachers talk about becoming aware of awareness aware of itself, or awareness watching awareness. Witness to the witness. There are of course layers to that, but it’s how one becomes aware of what’s actually going on. (laughs)

I look forward to seeing clear and you posts on this.

That is beautiful! So cool to be a part of the Adya Retreat. Would really like to see how your journey is going and how you are experiencing clear reality. It is brave, scary and eternally rewarding. Meeting the universe half way will have it meet you too, the results will be a revelation. You must share!

One Love