Radical Self-Knowledge... 'Self-realisation'

2010-10-22T15:37:00.001-07:00

"Knowing the Self means being the Self."
- Ramana Maharshi

O DESPERTAR E A ILUMINAÇÃO Workshop-Seminário

2010-10-13T01:05:00.001-07:00

Workshop-Seminar taking place this weekend in Lisbon at Casa Semente (Alvalade).

Click here for more details, or see link below for the facebook post of the event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168316283178821

'True Faith'

2010-10-13T00:54:00.000-07:00

There is no soil for wisdom and peace to take root unless there is profound, non-conceptual, self-knowledge.
Lacking this, all of our seeking and all of our striving is tainted, and fuelled, by a fundamental self-doubt.
When the recognition of our essence 'spontaneously' blossoms, the primordial split between humanity and nature – between individual and source – becomes resolved, and our life unfolds without resistance...
'No faith required'...

'Individual' truth and 'Universal' Truth. Conditioned mind and Unconditioned Consciousness

2010-04-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

As individuals - as a window for consciousness - we are each uniquely positioned in space and time...

But in essence, at the roots of 'our' Being, we are consciousness itself - undifferentiated and unconditioned.

The deepest mystical revelations and spiritual insights amount to nothing more than this.

Self-realisation is a living knowledge of one's essence - not abstract or theoretical - inherently embodying the infinite creative potential as our very Presence.

Theoretical self-knowledge tends to inhibit inspired action - whereas, on the contrary, the awakened Presence is ever flowing with it.

Words cannot contain these truths... but inspired poetry can evoke them...

The 'Truth of our Essence' is world-shattering - it destroys all our beliefs about reality which are based on our sense of 'separate self'.

The Freedom that is sought while there is a constricted experience of separative-existence cannot be found by trying to 'understand' spiritual teachings. There is nothing the mind can do to alleviate this primordial suffering of existence.

But the struggle of the mind to find peace can be seen for what it is, and in that moment there is a lightning bolt of understanding that destroys the fixation on 'separativeness'.

The struggle of the mind to find peace is a symptom of the negation of our essence. While this negation continues the mind will not grasp spiritual truth - it will either reject it or intellectualise it.

There is no freedom found through the mind. There is Freedom in 'seeing through' the mind.

The play of mind is the basis of ignorance (about our essence).

Do not struggle with the mind!

This is mind's struggle! It belongs to the mind.

If you sincerely wish for and are open to Freedom, you must renounce this struggle.

It is not the mind's function to grasp 'reality'.

The mind's function/essence is to interpret and organise experience from an 'individual' (i.e. 'separate') perspective.

But renounce this struggle with mind.

It is not mind that is the problem. It is attachment to 'mind-ness' that brings the feeling of psychological or spiritual bondage.

Receive Spiritual Coaching in Sintra

2010-04-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

Sintra is one of the most picturesque and magical places on this planet.

Walk in the forests, visit initiatic gardens and labyrinths, take a picnic on the cliffs looking over the Atlantic, savour the local foods and unique sweets, visit organic farms, or learn to surf, and each day receive an hour (or more) of coaching while soaking in the magic of Sintra.

Now is the time. What better place to unwind and to let yourSelf flower?

Coaching with Peter Littlejohn Cook

information:

Tel: +351 967 045 411

panmandala@gmail.com

Shibendu Lahiri in Portugal - April 2010

2010-04-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

Shibendu Lahiri at Quinta dos Milagres, Lagos.

Shibendu Lahiri is giving a lecture tomorrow night (16th April 2010) in Lisbon at 9pm, and Kriya Yoga initiations over the weekend and then a retreat in Fátima.

You can also find information about this and his upcoming events (UK, Germany, India, USA, etc.) at:
www.kriyayogalahiri.com/htmluk/program.htm

He is a true Advaita master - a voice for the Infinite.
His teaching is not 'comforting', it is profoundly disarming and dissolves the 'I'-centred illusion of separation...
If you meet him or 'his' teaching, prepare to be 'blasted'.

The 'Energy of Understanding'

2010-03-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Whether information be the conclusion of experts, a declaration of the pope, or the revelation of angels, prophets, extra-terrestrials, ascended masters, the 'Higher Self', a guru, or God, it is not the source of information and its reputation that determines whether something is valuable or true...

It is always our understanding alone that determines whether information, or 'wisdom' or 'spiritual teachings' are 'valuable' and 'true'.

No authority can substitute our own understanding.

When we allow ourselves to be led by an authority figure or an authoritarian belief system (or 'dogma'), we may believe that we are on a Spiritual path, but really we are simply denying our 'God-given' capacity for deep, individual, alignment with Life.

A Spiritual practice - a 'spiritual life' - is supposed to bring out the best in us, to help reveal the infinite richness of our Divine heritage as Spiritual Beings. (The words 'Divine' and 'Spiritual' can be substituted with 'Original', 'Real', or 'unconditioned' if we do not identify with spiritual/religious terminology.)

If we follow an 'authority' instead of being guided by our own understanding, we are denying our heritage - our roots.

To be deeply rooted/grounded, is to be guided by our understanding - not 'intellectual understanding', but the 'energy of understanding' - the Living Intelligence, the Creative Source.

The essence of Spiritual teachings has usually been Love - God's Love (or 'Life's Love') of humanity, and Love of each other... the 'Brotherhood of humanity'.

If a teaching, even one that is given by 'God', is not understood it is, at best, useless. In many cases, it is actually dangerous because of the fervour with which it will be (mis)applied.

A tradition that emphasises faith in a teaching or doctrine and affiliation with a group, if it leads to alienation of other groups or individuals, will tend towards disrespect of those who are outside of the group (which tends to lead sooner or later to violent abuse).

This is why religion has developed such a bad reputation, especially the religions 'of the Book' (which refers to Christianity, Judaism and Islam).

Understanding is what distinguishes wisdom from dogma.

It is only in our understanding that Spirituality can be truly alive and real.

But ultimately even 'understanding' becomes irrelevant as the sense of 'I' dissolves in the Graceful flow of Life.

*'The Energy of Understanding' is an expression frequently used by Shibendu Lahiri in his spiritual discourses.

True Health

2010-03-19T04:11:00.000-07:00

Perhaps true health is only possible when there is peace of mind... and perhaps peace of mind is only possible when we have self-knowledge... then, what do we care for all the theories about health? We become attuned to our rhythms - the rhythms of life, and radiate joy and well-being... And the body takes care of itself, without the interference of our ideas about 'how' and 'why' :o)

Walk, picnic, meditation, music and sacred chant in the Sintra countryside - Saturday, 10th of April, 2010

2010-03-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Walk, picnic, meditation, music and sacred chant in the Sintra countryside

One and many... One as many... Many as One

2010-01-03T03:34:00.000-08:00

Every 'soul'
is a point of consciousness
in the kaleidoscopic hall of mirrors
that is the 'self-reflexive' universe –

The One Being
Meditating
upon its Infinite Nature.

Every 'self' is a story, contemplated by Divine Mind...
'ego' is a concept that makes all this 'separate' experience possible

'Maya' is also supreme Creativity and Play...
Without it there is only the Deepest Silence

"No 'being' has 'entered' Nirvana"...

2009-11-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

Enlightenment is not ‘attained’... It is a ‘flowering’... a ‘dawning’.
For whom does this flowering take place? To whom does the eternal truth dawn?
It flowers upon the ground where the false identification of the self is buried.
It dawns on the horizon where the distinction between ‘me’ and ‘the infinite’ fades.
Here, now – and beyond (or prior to) all concepts of here and now – there is only Beingness or 'suchness' ('tathata' in Buddhism)... No one to become or to be enlightened or liberated.
To the mind, this is poison – or meaningless. To the heart it is poetry.

Update!

2009-11-27T10:16:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the lack of recent information...
My son was born a month ago and I am adjusting to new rhythms :)
I am now starting work in Lisbon, Sintra and the Algarve again.
Feel free to contact me for details or to receive newsletter updates on courses, seminars, retreats, consultations, concerts, etc.
Px

2009-08-27T03:57:00.000-07:00

I'm now back in Sintra and beginning work in Lisbon again...

Consultations, meditation and yoga classes, film sessions, etc.

Details will be posted soon...

Showing film today, Thursday 2nd July, at Espaço Maaiana, Lisbon

2009-07-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

"Nirvana Means Extinction"

at 20h30

at Espaço Maaiana

Contribution: 3€

Click here for address and map

Many 'paths'... one realisation?

2009-06-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

It seems strange that different paths, each setting conditions which supposedly must be fulfilled in order for realisation to take place, could lead to the same 'place', the same realisation.

But that is exactly how it is. These 'paths' and the subsequent realisation that is described can be understood simply as different forms or manifestations of one phenomenon - the feeling of a separate 'self' - through one means or another - falls away, and a realisation is experienced that 'separateness' is an illusion.

Nothing is required to 'achieve' Liberation or to 'become' Liberated.

2009-06-15T18:36:00.001-07:00

It is the divided and divisive mind that makes an effort. The best it can do is place one higher on an imaginary ladder of 'steps to realisation' – but this is just self-delusion – just a way to go on restricting the definition of one's self – and it is precisely this – the definition – the delineation of one's self – that is ignorance (ignore-ance) of one's Liberated nature – one's Liberated Being.

Realisation of the Self – Realisation of the True Nature of the Self arises by all else falling away – including the search for, or striving for, the attainment of our true nature.
The one who seeks (for his 'Self') is engaged in a futile activity as long as there is any striving. The seeker does not become a Liberated being. The seeker dissolves like a dream upon awakening, and what remains is not 'a Liberated Being' – but 'Liberated Beingness'.

"There is no such thing as 'Enlightenment'... Understanding this is Enlightenment itself."

"All paths lead to unreality."

- Nisargadatta Maharaj

'Self-realisation coaching'

2009-06-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

My work is essentially the same as all teachers of Self-Realisation – to gently guide the attention of the enquirer to the ever-present nature of the Self – to 'Pure Being'.

I do not claim to be a Master, a Guru or an 'expert'... I do not claim to hold the authority of any spiritual lineage or academic institution.

My work is simply to encourage a dissolution of the story about the self to reveal thePresence of the Self.

I do not rely on any one specific technique.

No 'technique' or 'mechanism' is required for Self-realisation.

Many spiritual traditions are referred to in my work, but ultimately all ideas and teachings must be dropped in order to embrace the fullness of the Self, unconditionally.

The Self is revealing itsSelf at every moment. The awakening to this truth is Self-Realisation. It is not a stage or state to attain... It is eternally taking place. It is all that ever happens.

This is why zen and radical advaita traditions simply refer us back to the present moment, and to the everyday beauty, the mundane, the 'insignificant'... Because it is All Arising in Consciousness Here Now. Consciousness is the Root of All that Is...

Even the question, “What do I need to do to attain Self-realisation?” is just arising spontaneously in Consciousness... and doesn't require an answer...

The only thing that distinguishes our consciousness from 'Pure Unconditioned Consciousness' is our feeling that something 'else' needs to happen before we can be 'complete'/'saved'/'forgiven'... It is this feeling that weaves a web of identity around the stories that our thoughts provide.

Without this feeling, thoughts just arise and subside...

And the vastness of the Self remains clearly untouched... unstained...