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#1179 for Tuesday, August 27, 2002
editor - michael

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--- In unitive_conscious_awakening@yahoogroups.com "Valerie Bernes" wrote:

Quote from Tony Parsons "As It Is"

"I am . . . the divine expression exactly as I am, right here, right
now. You are the divine expression exactly as you are, right here,
right now. It is the divine expression, exactly as it is, right
here, right now.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, needs to be added or taken away.
Nothing is more valid or sacred than anything else. No conditions
need to be fulfilled. The infinite is not somewhere else waiting for
us to become worthy.

I do not have to experience 'the dark night of the soul,' or
surrender, be purified or go through any kind of change or process.
How can the illusory separate self practice something in order to
reveal that it is illusory?

I don't need to be serious, honest, dishonest, moral or immoral,
aesthetic or gross. There are no reference points. The life story
that has apparently happened is uniquely and exactly appropriate for
each awakening. All is just as it should be, right now. Not because
it is a potential for something better, but simply because all that
is is divine expression.

The invitation to discover that there is no one who needs liberating
is constant. There is no need to wait for moments of transformation,
to look for the non-doer, permanent bliss, an egoless state, or a
still mind. I don't even have to wait for grace to descend, for I
am, you are, it is already the abiding grace."
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--- In Nisargadatta@yahoogroups.com "hurg" wrote:
advaita tales from the barnyard

once upon a time a mouse fell in love with the Mountain. after 40
years of personal drama when the old mouse failed to get a single
response, he got upset and stopped speaking to the Mountain but the
Mountain was never even aware of the existence of the poor mouse.

the free ranging hungry chicken imagined itself in the cereal
warehouse.

the submissive dog lovingly devoted himself to his owner. as a
reward he dominated the sheep.

the swan had seen all this before. the swan stayed in water, but its
feathers somehow remained dry. sometimes things were turbulent, yet
the swan seemed mostly unaffected by the farm's ups and downs.

the pig was certain that the swan was suffering from delusion of
liberation. the pig just could not comprehend how the swan could be
happy without wallowing in a mud pool.

hur
and:

On one hand an interpretation of advaita points that once we realize
our true identity, what is required for happiness can be had anywhere
without effort or material possession. As elegant as it may sound,
this view represents only one part of the human experience. On the
other hand we have the fear that all our efforts and education in
search of truth may not give happiness once we discover the non sugar
coated version of reality. It takes tremendous courage to face the
end of the personal dream before it's over. Our lives move between
these two positions, being sweet personal something to "beingness."

The realization of one's identity may not be as sweet and the after
effects of the bitter reality pill may not be as bad as we expected
after all.

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A few selected quotes from the book "The Wisdom of the Zen Masters"
by Timothy Freke

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Confused by thoughts, we experience duality in life. Unencumbered by ideas, the enlightened see the one Reality.

Hui-Neng

Only by accepting that the ego is a fabricated illusion do we walk the Buddha's Way.

Dogen

If you use your mind to try and understand reality, you will understand neither your mind nor reality. If you try and understand
reality without using your mind, you will understand both your mind and reality.

Bodhidharma

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without striving one attains freedom
to try is to be bound in striving
when one lets go
then it is seen that one was always there

michael

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