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I speak of enlightenment. That is all that I have the authority
to speak about. I know very little else. This enlightenment has been my
consistent experience for one year now.
Upon inspection, I see that my
life is about your Awakening. I am constantly in communication with minds that
are grasping in the dark for enlightenment, liberation, self-realisation, "It".
I realise now that this is the God, Oneness, salvation, heaven, moksha,
nirvana, Godhead, unity and Primordial Nature, that I sought on many spiritual
paths.
I return, in this incarnation, as an enlightened brother,
sharing the momentous journey to your eventual Awakening. I willingly act as a
"neti-neti" ("not this, not that") teacher, exposing spiritual myths, and
thereby setting you free to experience life as it truly is.
In this
sense, there is no teaching, only pointings. As you lift your countenance up to
that horizon where the sun always shines, and bask in its heat and light, there
is no need for words or descriptions.
The extrication of your current
perceptions from the mind's erroneous interpretations is a monumental task.
Like the inhabitants of Plato's cave, you could talk forever about what the
world might be like, but having not seen it, the chances of getting it right
are remote, and will not compare with a single ecstatic moment of experiencing
it. Only one who has seen it can assuredly describe it. But words are not
enough. Unless you have the experience then the words are just stories.
It is now clear to me that enlightenment was not what I imagined, but that
it did fit existing descriptions.
It was my destiny to seek. I could
do nothing else, and now, having found, I am compelled to teach. Teaching
happens twenty-four hours a day, even in my sleep. Teaching happens
spontaneously. Your awareness and preoccupations fluctuate rapidly; I deal with
them as they arise, and find the moment when your consciousness is shining
brightly. I forget what I have said because it quickly becomes irrelevant to
our moment-to-moment interaction. I often speak in parables and jokes, not
realising that the stories frequently relate uniquely to the questioner's
current situation, and provide great insights to others.
Before
Awakening, you think you know, but have only stories. After Awakening, you know
everything that there is to know about your true self.
I am commonly
asked two questions by first time enquirers: "What can I do to get
enlightened?" and "How can I maintain the bliss that I feel when I meet you?"
The typical answer in Advaita Satsang circles is Nothing! You are that which
you seek, which is a bit of a conversation stopper. In some cases, it may be
the best advice that a seeker could hear, but the context needs to be
explained.
Enlightenment seems to strike at the same time that all
seeking activity stops. (Possibly, there is a causal sequence, but the whole
thing is a bit of a mystery even to well-respected teachers). A seeker cannot
easily choose to stop seeking. There have to be compelling reasons.
Frustration, exhaustion and confusion act simply as spurs to goad the seeker to
redouble his efforts. The only obvious reason to call off the search is having
found enlightenment. Yet, paradoxically, enlightenment only exists in a
condition of no seeking.
There is only one obvious route to
enlightenment: keep the company of an enlightened individual, and hope for
spiritual osmosis! Fortunately, there are quite a few enlightened ones around
the U.K. Unfortunately, they are not teaching publicly.
They say the
teacher turns up when the student is ready. But the truth is that enlightenment
happens, in its own time, and whether you feel ready or not, is a subjective
matter that destiny cares little about. If you find a teacher, then you are
lucky. If they actually communicate with you, then your chances of waking up
are statistically increased, which is a small consolation, if you believe in
statistics.
Satsang, loosely translated as "hanging out with an
enlightened person", is itself a paradox. The purpose of Satsang is to end your
desire for Satsang, gurus and spiritual seeking.
There came a time
when I stopped going to Satsang. Was it boring, less important, irrelevant to
me? I am not sure. My interactions with my teachers had always been powerful,
thought-stopping, speechless experiences. The meetings contrasted starkly with
my everyday activities. I was transported to a sublime realm. Inevitably, I
would return to a more mundane consciousness. One day, I never returned. I was
no longer trapped inside the identity called "David". At that time, I was not
seeing any teachers. I do not know how or why I got enlightened, especially as
I had stopped believing in it's existence.
I had tried to find
enlightenment for 30 years. I started doing yoga at the age of 5, and bought my
first mantra at the age of 11. Nothing seemed to work, not even remotely. The
best activity I did was Qigong and moving meditation. But I cannot say what, if
anything, led to this enlightenment. Some people want to imitate my life, or
model my way of dialoguing. They are welcome to try. However, I accept that
something mysterious is at work, and am quite happy to just get on with it,
without trying to understand it. I spend enough time studying computers, let
alone the mind, the Self and the Creation.
Satsang brings relief via
the release of all concerns, worries and desires. There is a place within you
that knows only love. In Satsang you can contact that place and see life for
what it is. The struggle is over.
Your next step, if you are drawn, is
to contact me for a chat, or to attend a meeting.
Contact
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