Knowledge and Religion

Good tidings of joy

In this year when the economy seems to be on the down turn and fortunes seem like they are vanishing, there is one fortune that is not even touched.

That is the joy that radiates right from your heart. When you find this joy you will discover that your worth does not depend on how much you have. Rather you worth comes from what you are, which is the very source of joy. This joy was not born and it will not die; it is not affected by the condition of your body or your mind.

This is the joy that really sustains you. Just abide here and be at peace. When you find this joy you will discover the deepest meaning of the virgin birth; and find the peace that passes all understanding.

We wish you unbounded joy in the coming year.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year,

Michael and Brigit

The key to self-knowledge

The realm of meditation is vast and depending on the technique that you use, it can take you to a huge number of different places. If you are curious about how meditation on the self differs from many of the techniques out there, you will be interested in Fran’s question below.

Dear Michael,

I enjoy your blogs very much. Thank you!

I was on a teleconference Sunday with Ramana (Ramana Maharishi's predecessor?) called "Interludes with Ramana" from AHAM (Association for the Happiness of All Mankind). They opened it up for questions and my question lately that I asked is this:

Why is it that some people experience spontaneous awakenings (Byron Katie, Ekhart Tolle) with no prior interest in spirituality or awakening and it seems that others (I fall in this category) seem to have to effort, do inquiry, meditate etc?

Ramana said that it was my thoughts that kept me from awakening. He asked, “What would be my experience if I didn’t have the thought that it took effort?”  I understand this, but it didn’t exactly answer my question. My experience does not seem to be the effortless permanent experience of these people. The quality of their awakening is totally life altering in every way where my experience is a constant series of inquiry and reminders to practice the presence etc.

Bhagavan from the Oneness movement says that this state can not be achieved on ones own. He says that it must be imparted or given or bestowed in some way and that it is totally out of the hands of the awakener. His means is to give deeksha which alters the brain structure to cause this to happen. I have also read of this awakening happening in the presence of an awakened master through proximity or shakti.

If there is some energy that is required to make the shift occur permanently what is that? I tell myself continually that I am one with everything and that I am that and that I am awareness or feel the silence beneath the illusion but I still don’t embody that experience or quality of effortless being-ness that these people embody. Do I need to fake it till I make it? How does it happen? Why is that one person who is not the least bit interested or thinking about awakening can look at a bug and instantaneously become awakened? Why does it take years and practices for others who desire it yet it doesn’t happen? What is the magic switch or formula if there is one?

Thank you for your insight,
Fran

Hi Fran,

Thank you for your interest in waking up to reality and in your persistence. I do not know about a lot of teachers. But I love Ramana Maharshi and I can tell you what he said. If you want the experience of awakening find out who you are.

If you want a hint: even now you are limitless Consciousness and Bliss. That is the subject. If it’s an object that you see like a body or a state of mind you can be sure of one thing: that's not you.

Don’t fake enlightenment
You do not have to fake enlightenment. If you're just honest, and start where you think you are, you will be in a perfect position to discover the truth or reality behind the whole universe. An ordinary person is a lot closer to enlightenment than an ostentatious teacher who has not seen what he or she is trying to teach. First these teachers will have to give up their pretension so that they will be in a position to look at their lives honestly. Then they will be able to find what is true. (I do not know all the teachers that you mentioned so this commentary is not necessary directed at them)

You can cut out this step if you are just honest from the beginning. You will know why honesty is so important if you know the secret to self inquiry: Whatever you see you are not. This means that when you become aware of a limitation you are free of it. So why not just look honestly without judgment and become aware of as much as you can.

Now notice what I didn't say. Struggle with your thoughts in order to get the correct ones, shoot your energy through your spine, get somebody to reshape your brain, or repeat over and over again that you are peace and one with everything.

The reason I have not mention these things is because they are just an attempt to change that which is limited. That's right, your thoughts your energy and your brain are all limited. Not matter what you do or don't do to limitation it will not get you any closer to your limitless being. Moreover, when you try to change your thoughts you are assuming that you are centered in the mind and from that limited perspective trying to find your being.

Find the self by standing as the Self
The only way to find the self is by standing as your self and looking from there. Room space will never discover its true nature if it assumes that space is limited to a room. Similarly you will never see your true nature of you assume that you are limited to the body or mind or even the “I thought” or ego. So give up assumptions of limitation and look at life afresh like a new born baby.

You will be surprised by how close you are to the highest truth ever discovered by a human being, and that truth is just who you are. See if you can use this as a doorway to a practice that will get results for you. It will surely raise more questions, which you are free to ask here.

__________________________________________________

Question everything
Here I always encourage questions. People take too much for granted about the world, their body, mind, and their nature. Questioning encourages you to take a fresh look. Looking afresh, once again life becomes fresh and a real adventure. Without changing a thing, everyday experiences become completely new. If you need help with your questions you can write me at 
michael@light-up-your-life.com.

Please join us
Every Tuesday we hold a meeting here in our house in Los Gatos California. All too often it is only my wife and I that attend. But we still have a wonderful time. If you find yourself in this area and would like to attend here is a link where you can find more information

www.light-up-your-life.com/talks.html

Other resources available to you
If you need a more basic understanding of this Self-Knowledge or if you just want support for your practice, go to www.light-up-your-life.com and read down the main column. Also check out the different links that we provide as resources. They can help you to sharpen the focus of your meditation practice.

Another resource that we offer is the book, Making Your Wisdom Come Alive, a step by step guide taking you from your everyday experience to the highest wisdom and truth. To find out more, click on the link below:

wisdom.light-up-your-life.com

To join our mailing list go to: http://www.light-up-your-life.com/join.html

Please Tell Your Friend
Please tell you friends. Although we don’t have an advertising budget, we hope that everyone who wants to can find out about and wake up to this wisdom.

You have my best wishes,

Michael Gluckman

The secret of the miracle of the eternal light

Happy Hanukkah! Hanukkah is about the miracle of the eternal light. But few people know the meaning of the eternal light. Below is an article that I think will help to clarify the inner meaning of Hanukkah for all of you who would like to go deeper in your practice.

If you enjoy these blogs, tell your friends. Although we don’t have money for advertising, we would love to see everyone who wants to, wake up to the Eternal Light at their very core.

I just realized that in one way I am remiss. As I have said this teaching on Self-Knowledge is not a separate religion. It is at the core of many religions. In this blog and in my book, Making Your Wisdom Come Alive I have given examples from Hinduism, Buddhism, Sufism , Taoism, and Christianity.

But I just realized that I left out Judaism. Now that it is Hanukkah, I want to take the time to remedy that. The short version of the story of Hanukkah goes like this. In the Jewish temple there is an eternal light that shines over the book of knowledge, Torah. You are never supposed to let this light go out.

After a war however, it was discovered that there was just enough oil for one day. But miraculously, that oil burned for eight days (the time it took to have new oil pressed and made ready).

Here is the secret meaning of this story
This symbol of the eternal light is actual meant to point to your own Consciousness. Even now your true identity is Consciousness. It is by this light that you know your mind, body, and the world. You know that the mind is in constant motion, and that sometimes your thoughts disappear completely like in the state of deep sleep. You also know that day by day your body is getting older as it inexorably marches on towards death. The world too is in constant motion and sometimes like when you sleep it disappears completely.

But for all of these changes, at some level you feel that you do not change. If you want to discover your changeless identity you have to consider this: Where do you stand so you know about these changes. That changeless place that sees the motion of the universe as it rises, stays for a few seconds in cosmic time, and then disappears, that is the real you.

 It is however easy to overlook your essential nature and latch your identity on to the objects that you see. That’s because you can’t know the Self as an object. None of your senses can reach there. But you can know the eternal light of Consciousness directly, because that is your true home. Here the boarders and limitations that you thought were you disappear. You become everything and nothing both at the same time. Abiding here you get to experience the freedom that you longed for. And you discover the miracle of the eternal light.

Even now you live in the eternal light
The way to this truth is thought Self-Knowledge. No action can take you to that which you already are. After all, what can you do to get to the place where you live already? That is the meaning of the symbol of the book of knowledge. So the next time you see the eternal light shining over the book of knowledge, remember what you really are. Abide there and be free.

If you are wondering how to free yourself from the limitations that you take to be true, read through the archives of this blog and you will see how it is possible to find your innate freedom. Also if you would like a step by step approach to getting to your core and finding this freedom, you can get my book, “Making Your Wisdom Come Alive.”

For more information on Self-Knowledge, go to www.light-up-your-life.com. If you have questions about this article or other things going on in your life, you can also write me at michael@ananya.com. I love questions and try to answer them all in this blog. That’s because when you start to question limitation, you are on the verge of destroying it.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Question everything
Here I always encourage questions. People take too much for granted about the world, their body, mind, and their nature. Questioning encourages you to take a fresh look. Looking afresh, once again life becomes fresh and a real adventure. Without changing a thing, everyday experiences become completely new. If you need help with your questions you can write me at 
michael@light-up-your-life.com.

Please join us
Every Tuesday we hold a meeting here in our house in Los Gatos California. All too often it is only my wife and I that attend. But we still have a wonderful time. If you find yourself in this area and would like to attend here is a link where you can find more information

www.light-up-your-life.com/talks.html

Other resources available to you
If you need a more basic understanding of this Self-Knowledge or if you just want support for your practice, go to www.light-up-your-life.com and read down the main column. Also check out the different links that we provide as resources. They can help you to sharpen the focus of your meditation practice.

Another resource that we offer is the book, Making Your Wisdom Come Alive, a step by step guide taking you from your everyday experience to the highest wisdom and truth. To find out more, click on the link below:

wisdom.light-up-your-life.com

To join our mailing list go to: http://www.light-up-your-life.com/join.html

Please Tell Your Friend
Please tell you friends. Although we don’t have an advertising budget, we hope that everyone who wants to can find out about and wake up to this wisdom.

You have my best wishes,

Michael Gluckman

What is enlightenment anyway?

If your path is self-knowledge continue to question until you are completely satisfied. Just knowing about this path puts you so close to reaching your true unimagined potential. Continue to question until you are completely satisfied and free. Then you will not fall short.

So here the question is just as important as the answer. Below you will see why. Now for a question from Bernard:

Hello Michael,
So now I know very clearly that I am not my body…I just use my body to play and work with.

I am not my emotions …they do arise and I have learnt over time to respond to them creatively as they very often help to direct me to source by showing me what I am not.

I am not my thoughts although I can use the mind to think with when it is appropriate.

I am not my experience….they arise and have become more joyful over time

I am not the ego or self image …that is just a creation of the mind/emotion.

Behind it all ‘I’ remain …..silent, invisible, mysterious

Any attempt to identify it further means that I must step outside ‘myself’ to see this Great One which clearly now makes no sense.

In meditation I found myself investigating this space of consciousness but now realize that even this is an attempt to see myself.
 
So I am left with only ‘being’. Allowing this ‘I’ to expose itself spontaneously. This seems very strange indeed for someone who has spent more than 30 years trying to find himself. The question has now arisen ….WHAT NOW? Is that it. There is no where else to go. Body, emotions and mind have all been investigated and I am no where around there. I cannot find myself if I am the one I am looking for and am already there and have never been anywhere else. So most of my life has been creating an illusion of self and then very slowly and with much pain removing the whole fabric of this illusion.

I seem to be left with nothing else to do but to get on with the work I have found myself in but the question still comes up …is that it.
Perhaps you can share something of your own life with me in a way that would be helpful to answering this question.
              Very warm greetings,
                      Bernard

Hi Bernard,

Thank you for your comments and questions. I can see that you are peeling off the assumptions that seem to keep us feeling limited. The body and mind are just objects that you see. They are not your identity or your true home.

Even the thought I, the little hook that seems to connect us to limitation, is just an object in your Awareness and not you.

You see that you cannot stand outside of Awareness as if it were an object and look at it. Your real identity shines by its own light without the need for a separate light. By standing as your true identity you shine in your own glory. In fact, it is Awareness that makes all the objects in the world seem so real and so beautiful. Remember the Christian quote, “I am the light of the world.”

As incredible as it may sound, without your Awareness the world would not be there at all. And yet reality does not change. That’s why when you dream, this world disappears and a whole new world appears, and that world seems real. It’s because reality comes from you and not from the particular world that you see.

Here even death dies
Indeed, when you wake up to your own self-nature even death dies. Death assumes that reality comes from the body and the mind. When they pass away, the assumption is that you will pass away too. But when you return to your home, the still every-present Awareness that sees change, you lose concern for the disappearance of the world, and you remain as the reality that is always here.

I can see that the result of your meditation is that you are feeling more and more joy. This is a good sign and shows that you are going in the right direction. So the question that you have is what now? Is this it? It seems like there is nothing else to do?

So why do you return to suffering
In my own practice I felt a sense of peace, joy, and connection with everything that from within the experience seemed like it would last forever. This felt right; this felt the way things are. But then I would come back again into suffering and limitation. Then I asked, “How when my experience seemed so right did I end up here?”

I saw that I was coming back to the place that I assumed was my home, my true identity. But I didn’t just want a vacation from my suffering; I wanted to find that state which is free from suffering always. So I started to look around at my assumed home to see what it was made of. What was I assuming to be normal or just me?

That’s when I discovered that there where two types of assumptions. The public assumptions that, until we wake up, we all assume are true like: I am limited to a body and mind etc. But then there are also private assumptions which are more my personal views of life, the world, my mind and what I am.

These views may seem so normal that I would never think of questioning them. But as I grew spiritually these views didn’t seem as normal. In fact they felt like the things that were holding me back. In my case I noticed that I felt boxed in or constrained by the world and what I had to do.

That’s when I noticed that I was taking the world to be a very unfriendly and hostile place.  Yes I had seen that the world was just Consciousness, the stuff that connects us all, but my real assumption was quite different. I saw that it was our family against the world, the concentration camps in World War 2, and the reason I studied martial arts. This assumption left me feeling awkward and afraid when I had to deal with the world.

How to find freedom from assumptions?
So how did I free myself from this assumption? Just seeing it as an assumption and not reality was good enough. That allowed my life and my relationships to change in ways that I couldn’t have imagined. Also it completely eliminated the landing spots that I came back to.

I found that if it was painful to look at my assumptions, it was much more painful to live by them. By the end of my practice I wanted to destroy every little assumption that I held. But long before I could destroy all of them I saw: the self that I was assuming to be me was not me at all. It was just another thought. That’s when I woke up for good.

How does it feel when you find this freedom?
When you wake up it feels very ordinary and extraordinary both at the same time. It feels like you returned to your real home, the home that you never left. You become the peace and the joy that everyone, in a million different ways, hopes to get. There is no longer fear of leaving this home and diving back into limitation. After all, where could I go? Everything that I see is just my own being.

With this there is an end to fear. If the body gets old, or sick, or when the mind seems to go, it feels like nothing changes. I am the reality that is always the same. Even if I no longer had the ability to communicate with you, for me nothing would change.

So you should know that feelings of limitation and suffering are not normal. They are based on assumptions. When you shine the light of Awareness on an assumption, it disappears like a shadow when exposed to light. There will come a point where there will be no one separate to question. That’s when you will be free.

You can find out more about these little gremlins called assumptions in “Making Your Wisdom Come Alive.” The chapter is: “What does it mean to question assumptions?” In the mean time if you need help ferreting out limitations continue to ask questions and we will destroy them together. I hope this answers your questions. If you need clarification please feel free to ask.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Question everything
Here I always encourage questions. People take too much for granted about the world, their body, mind, and their nature. Questioning encourages you to take a fresh look. Looking afresh, once again life becomes fresh and a real adventure. Without changing a thing, everyday experiences become completely new. If you need help with your questions you can write me at 
michael@light-up-your-life.com.

Please join us
Every Tuesday we hold a meeting here in our house in Los Gatos California. All too often it is only my wife and I that attend. But we still have a wonderful time. If you find yourself in this area and would like to attend here is a link where you can find more information

www.light-up-your-life.com/talks.html

Other resources available to you
If you need a more basic understanding of this Self-Knowledge or if you just want support for your practice, go to www.light-up-your-life.com and read down the main column. Also check out the different links that we provide as resources. They can help you to sharpen the focus of your meditation practice.

Another resource that we offer is the book, Making Your Wisdom Come Alive, a step by step guide taking you from your everyday experience to the highest wisdom and truth. To find out more, click on the link below:

wisdom.light-up-your-life.com

To join our mailing list go to: http://www.light-up-your-life.com/join.html

Please Tell Your Friend
Please tell you friends. Although we don’t have an advertising budget, we hope that everyone who wants to can find out about and wake up to this wisdom.

You have my best wishes,

Michael Gluckman

So you should know that feelings of limitation and suffering are not normal. They are based on assumptions. When you shine the light of Awareness on an assumption it disappears. There will come a point where there will be no one separate to question. That’s when you will be free.

You can find out more about these little gremlins called assumptions in “Making Your Wisdom Come Alive.” The chapter is: “What does it mean to question assumptions?” In the mean time if you need help ferreting out limitations continue to ask questions and we will destroy them together. 

If you want love, look here

Sometimes when you ask the simplest questions you will get the most profound answers. Below is an example. Notice that the question is just as important as the answer. Unlike a path that involves faith, on the path of Self-Knowledge questions are always welcome.

Dear Michael
 
Hi, again me:)

Generally my meditation is very boring because I don't feel very well. I don't know why that is.
 
Nowadays I'm bored with everything. I want to be happy but I’m not. My life is beautiful. But I’m waiting for my love. I want to get married to a true man. Why doesn’t he come? Please help me. Thank you for your prayers.

Sincerely

Tülay
p.s. be happy all the time:))

Hi Tulay,

Thank you for your comments. Life becomes boring when you hope to find happiness in the things that you see. Just remember, if it's a man, a house, or a car, they cannot give you what you already have.

Happiness comes from what you are, not from what you see. It comes from the place where you actually experience it.

At the most an object can remind you of what you have already. But I think you will find that if you rely on the man for your happiness you will be disappointed. That's because a man cannot give you that which lies within.

So in your meditation, try to find the place where you actually experience happiness. Then your meditations will become very alive and interesting. You will feel that you are discovering something new and profound everyday.

And in the end, you will discover the kingdom of heaven within you. That is a deep peace that does not depend on what you have or don't have. Also, it does not depend on the condition of your mind and body.

Finally with this understanding, when you do get into the relationship of your dreams, you will be in a position to make it a very rewarding relationship. That's because you will be the happiness that everyone is looking for.

I hope that this helps.

Best Wishes,

Michael Gluckman

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Question everything
Here I always encourage questions. People take too much for granted about the world, their body, mind, and their nature. Questioning encourages you to take a fresh look. Looking afresh, once again life becomes fresh and a real adventure. Without changing a thing, everyday experiences become completely new. If you need help with your questions you can write me at 
michael@light-up-your-life.com.

Please join us
Every Tuesday we hold a meeting here in our house in Los Gatos California. All too often it is only my wife and I that attend. But we still have a wonderful time. If you find yourself in this area and would like to attend here is a link where you can find more information

www.light-up-your-life.com/talks.html

Other resources available to you
If you need a more basic understanding of this Self-Knowledge or if you just want support for your practice, go to www.light-up-your-life.com and read down the main column. Also check out the different links that we provide as resources. They can help you to sharpen the focus of your meditation practice.

Another resource that we offer is the book, Making Your Wisdom Come Alive, a step by step guide taking you from your everyday experience to the highest wisdom and truth. To find out more, click on the link below:

wisdom.light-up-your-life.com

To join our mailing list go to: http://www.light-up-your-life.com/join.html

Please Tell Your Friend
Please tell you friends. Although we don’t have an advertising budget, we hope that everyone who wants to can find out about and wake up to this wisdom.

You have my best wishes,

Michael Gluckman

The difference between Attention and Awareness

I was talking with a person the other day who described her meditation practice as focusing her attention on Awareness. She wanted to know if this sort of practice was a good one. I told her that if her aim was self-knowledge this practice is not very good. So you may be curious: If your nature is Awareness why don’t you want to focus on it?

When we say that you are Awareness we mean that you are the seer of objects, not the one limited by them. This means that you are Aware of your mind and body. You are not limited by your thoughts or the shape of your body.

Then what’s the problem?
But there is one problem; you do not see Awareness as if it were an object. Well then, if you can’t see it or sense Awareness how do you even know that it exists? Awareness shines by its own light. So you know Awareness by standing as Awareness. Just like you know the sun by its own light without needing a flashlight, Awareness shines in its own glory. In fact I think you will find as your practice progresses, that it is Awareness that makes everything else seem real.

So you are limitless Awareness and not limited to an object that you see: So what’s the problem? Not seeing Awareness, you assume that you are limited to the objects that you see. As your body changes you assume that you change, when it’s sick you assume that you are sick, when it dies you assume that you will die.

Similarly as your thoughts change you seem to change. When they are sad, you think that you are sad. When they are angry, you think that you are angry. But in reality, the whole time you are the still Awareness that sees these changes. You were never really the one affected by them.

Then how do you find this Awareness?
The difference between the deep and lasting joy shining from Awareness and the ups and downs of life, where you find happiness alternating with suffering comes from where you stand. If you stand as an individual mind and body, you will feel caught by the ups and downs of life. Returning your identity to Awareness you will find your freedom.

Superimposition the real villain  
Superimposing this freedom on limitation is like assuming that a rope is really a snake. You were walking through the forest as the sun was setting and you stumble. You see a scratch on your leg and you start to cry. You were just bitten by a poisonous snake and you know that you are about to die.

Later a fellow hiker comes along and sees you crying and asked, “What’s your problem?” You answer that you were bitten by a snake and are now about to die. The hiker looks around and sees a rope in the middle of the path and a branch with a drop of blood on it.

In an instant this hiker understands what happened. He said, “See that rope in the middle of the trail, and see the branch with the drop of blood. It is obvious that you just tripped on the rope and scratched yourself with the branch.” You then thank your fellow hiker and with much relief go on your way.

So what happened? In the evening light you were not able to see the rope clearly. So you took it to be a snake and the branch a poisonous fangs. So based on this assumption, you experienced the fear of suffering and death.

When the rope returned to its true state as rope, and the branch once again became a branch, you were relived. This is the story of superimposition. The nature of the rope was covered and a snake was projected on it. When the true nature of the rope was revealed, the snake disappeared.

Now what about reality? When you think that reality is limited to a mind and body, then you seem to suffer the fate of the mind and body. This is superimposition. But when you return reality to its source, the Awareness that sees these changes, you gain your freedom.

So recognizing that reality comes from what you are and not from what you see is the process of gaining self-knowledge. This allows you to let go of the limitations that you are not and return to the place where you really stand.

But what about focus?
Focus and attention are states of mind and not Awareness. For instance sometimes your focus is sharp and sometimes it seems to be diffuse or scattered. How do you know about the changes to your focus? It is because you stand as Awareness free of the conditions of your mind.

So here’s the reason why focusing on Awareness is a mistake. You are assuming that you are a state of mind trying to find Awareness. This is like assuming that the snake is a snake and trying to find the rope. No matter how much you struggle you will not be able to turn the snake into a rope. All you can do is look again and see what’s really there. It is then that you will see that the supposed snake was nothing but a rope.

In the same way, only by standing as Awareness will you find the source of peace and joy. Standing as the mind in the guise of focus, you will just end up with the mind and not your true nature. No matter how hard the mind tries it will not be able to turn thought into Awareness. Only by looking afresh and seeing what’s really there will you be able to stand as the Awareness that you really are.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Question everything
Here I always encourage questions. People take too much for granted about the world, their body, mind, and their nature. Questioning encourages you to take a fresh look. Looking afresh, once again life becomes fresh and a real adventure. Without changing a thing, everyday experiences become completely new. If you need help with your questions you can write me at 
michael@light-up-your-life.com.

Please join us
Every Tuesday we hold a meeting here in our house in Los Gatos California. All too often it is only my wife and I that attend. But we still have a wonderful time. If you find yourself in this area and would like to attend here is a link where you can find more information

www.light-up-your-life.com/talks.html

Other resources available to you
If you need a more basic understanding of this Self-Knowledge or if you just want support for your practice, go to www.light-up-your-life.com and read down the main column. Also check out the different links that we provide as resources. They can help you to sharpen the focus of your meditation practice.

Another resource that we offer is the book, Making Your Wisdom Come Alive, a step by step guide taking you from your everyday experience to the highest wisdom and truth. To find out more, click on the link below:

wisdom.light-up-your-life.com

To join our mailing list go to: http://www.light-up-your-life.com/join.html

Please Tell Your Friend
Please tell you friends. Although we don’t have an advertising budget, we hope that everyone who wants to can find out about and wake up to this wisdom.

You have my best wishes,

Michael Gluckman