Inspired words from the Sufi sage: In God's presence, there is no room for two egos. You say "ego," and he says "ego"? Either you die in his presence, or he will in your presence, so that no duality may remain. Yet it is impossible that he should die either in the universe or in the mind, for "He is the living, who does not die." ( Qur'an 25:58 ). He has grace in such measure that, were it …
Nonduality
Practice Notes: Distinction and Separation
There are so many interesting things to explore! And I’ve explored quite a few, thus far in my life—following the thread of my enthusiasm, what piques my interest, lights my fire. But in comparison to all possible things to explore—all the phenomena past, present, and future, in this universe and all others—clearly the explorations accomplished via this one body-mind are miniscule: an estimate …
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Practice Notes: Body Cultivation
Over the years, I’ve explored and greatly benefitted from a variety of body-cultivation traditions—the majority of which have their roots in India or China. Iyengar Yoga The first was Iyengar yoga, which I was drawn to for its therapeutic applications. I was in my early 20’s and still recovering from a serious ankle injury, which had been creating all kinds of problems, also, in my hips and …
How Can There Be Instruction?
From the Avadhuta Gita of Dattatreya: "Where mind and speech can utter nothing, how can there be instruction by a teacher? To the teacher—ever united with Brahman—who has said these words, the homogeneous Truth shines out." * …
Only By Courtesy: Sankara’s Definition of Real
As of late, I’ve been enjoying a pair of books, toggling back-and-forth between them in a way that feels quite interesting and enriching. One of them—Insight into Emptiness by Khensur Jampa Tegchok—harkens from the Buddhist Madhamakaya tradition. The other—The Seven Great Untenables by John Grimes—expresses the view of Advaita Vedanta. So, I read a bit from one, then a bit from the other—as …
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Ultimately Self-Liberated
The main way to practice is to see that your disturbing emotions and concepts exist only in relative reality. They do not exist in genuine reality, and ultimately they are self-liberated. See that is is the same for all contradictions and conflicting appearances—they exist only in relative reality. Ultimately, their nature is self-liberated equality. So whatever manifests in your …