1) Introduction to Vedanta. Before we can rid ourselves of the many limitations we suffer as human beings it is important that we rigorously inquire into our motivations. Someone unsure of what he or she wants from life or unable to see why the pursuit of worldly goals is inherently unworkable will not be successful in the quest for liberation. To bring clarity to our inquiry, this video examines the four basic human pursuits: security, pleasure, virtue and freedom. Assuming that reality is non-dual…all appearances to the contrary notwithstanding…it debunks the myth of experiential enlightenment and makes a strong case for Self inquiry. Self inquiry is essential if Self knowledge is going to destroy the persistent sense of limitation that is the hallmark of human life.
2) What is Enlightenment? compares, contrasts and carefully examines both the experiential or Yogic view of enlightenment and the Vedantic view. Understanding the distinction between experience and knowledge is crucial for anyone seeking to solve the riddle of their innermost identity. It is for want of a clear understanding of this distinction that so many are led astray by modern ‘teachings’…Neo Advaita, for example…and find themselves hopelessly confused even after many years of seeking. The video also debunks many enlightenment myths.
3) Qualifications You cannot just wander into a satsang, grab a quick hug from the Hugging Saint or sit for twenty minutes meditation and expect it to produce enlightenment. Only mature discriminating dispassionate persons endowed with certain qualities are qualified to succed in Self Inquiry. This video enumerates and unfolds these qualities in detail.
4) The Self and the 19 Cosmic Principles presents the fundamental mandala of existence. It shows in an irrefutable way why the Self, which is always self evident, is almost never known for what it is. It is vital that this elegant and beautiful mandala…which reveals the nature of the mind and its relationship to the world and the Self…become deeply etched in one’s consciousness before proceeding with one’s spiritual work. The subsequent videos in the series presuppose knowledge of this teaching.
5) Karma Yoga provides the understanding that makes it possible to ‘burn karma’ and lay to rest the anxiety that disturbs the mind concerning one’s actions and their results. It reveals how each and every life experience can be used as an opportunity to purify the mind of negative conditionings and prepare it for the inquiry that ultimately results in Self realization.
6) The Three Gunas teaching is one of the most powerful and effective models for purifying the mind. It provides the rationale for spiritual work and reveals the three hidden forces in nature and the Unconscious that affect the quality and texture of our thought and feeling life…forces that keep us tied tightly to ephemeral things.
7) Devotion (bhakti) is the transformation of emotion for changing things into devotion for the undying Truth. This video defines love as ‘willing attention’ and patiently tracks the soul as it seeks emotional satisfaction in romantic relationships, marriage, spiritual or psychological work, love of God and eventually union with the Self.
8) Self Inquiry is an overview of the inquiries unfolded in the first seven videos including inquiries into joy, time, karma, the psyche and others.
9) The Three States This video unfolds the teachings of the Mandukya Upanishad, the ‘king’ of the Upanishads. Through a comprehensive analysis of the three inner ‘personalities’ and their respective states (waking, dreaming and deep sleep) this teaching conclusively proves that you are not who you think you are. At the same time it reveals the true Self, the invariable Awareness in and beyond the three states.
10,11) The Value of Values .A burning desire for liberation is absolutely necessary for success in Self realization. However the desire to be free is not enough. Other qualifications…discrimination, dispassion, clarity of mind, faith and devotion to name a few…are also required. To develop these qualifications it is necessary to examine one’s values because what one values impacts directly on one’s ability to evolve to the point where Self realization is possible.
12) The Experience of Oneness By analyzing the location and the process of experience and knowledge this little gem of a teaching reveals the experiential oneness of everything. The assimilation of this teaching means that henceforth you will be free of the need to ‘connect’ with anyone or anything. Freedom from dependence on discrete experiences…and indeed experience itself…is a sure sign of enlightenment.
13) God and Man The teachings of the Upanishads, the portion of the Vedas dealing with Self knowledge, indicate the non-duality of everything, including the identity between the individual and God, the total. This video debunks the perennial myth of ‘union’ with God as it reveals the nature of the Self and its relationship to both God and man.
14) The Enlightened Person From the infamous 93 Rolls Royce guru, Bhagavan Rajneesh, to the saintly Dalai Lama it seems that every passing day a new enlightened being appears on the scene asking us to follow his or her teachings. Between the scoundrels and the saints lie any number of lesser known self appointed ‘awakened’ people claiming enlightenment. How are these claims to be viewed since there seems to be no objective way to verify them? This video presents a common sense way to evaluate the enlightened and discusses the effect of enlightenment on the personality.
15) What is a Guru? This video explores the psychology of the modern guru disciple relationship, discusses the problems that occur when there is an imbalance of power between two human beings and suggests a more rational model for the pursuit of life’s ultimate goal.
16) Origins of Self Inquiry ,,,This video opens a window on mankind’s mystic origins. Many thousand years ago in what is now called India the non-dual nature of reality was revealed to a group of forest dwelling sages. Over time a body of literature developed out of this fundamental revelation. It is called Sanatana Dharma, the eternal truth and has been preserved in four voluminous texts called Vedas. Veda means knowledge in Sanskrit, the language of the Vedas. The four Vedas deal with two topics, karma and enlightenment. The lion’s share of each Veda contains the knowledge of karma. It not only teaches human beings how to gain security, pleasure and virtue by invoking the divine source of life but it presents a complete scheme of living which insures that the soul will develop in harmony with the cosmic order an eventually attain enlightenment. It deals with topics of interest to all human beings: health, wealth, progeny, science, medicine, mathematics, astrology, religion and many others. The second or appended portion of each Veda is called Vedanta. Vedanta is a compound word that means ‘the knowledge that ends the search for knowledge.’ It unfolds the whole mandala of existence: the physical universe, the human mind and Consciousness, the transcendent principle. This knowledge is enshrined in about one hundred texts called Upanishads. This interesting and entertaining video not only discusses both the karmic and the knowledge portions of the Vedas but gives an overview of the vast body of literature evolved from them : the sutras, smritis, puranas, itihasas and bashyas and concludes with a brief discussion of Vedanta’s triple cannon: the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita.
More than twenty hours of Vedanta for $165 !
USA $165 including shipping and handling. In the Euro Zone and elsewhere
...........the cost of mailing is higher, between $15-25 more. When you order
...........Shiningworld.will caculate mailing costs according to your location.
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Bhagavad Gita |
James unfolds all 18 Chapters of the Bhagavad Gita
in this 13 DVD set filmed in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2009. The Gita is a scripture on Dharma (right living) and Moksa (Liberation) that deals with the problem of suffering, the nature of the self, the attitude for gaining a pure mind, devotion, self inquiry, God, values and how enlightenment effects a one's life. Click this link to read James' rendition of the Bhagavad Gita
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Self
Realization
7 Vedanta DVDs
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These DVDs are James unfolding the verses of Adi Shankara's beautiful text Aparokshanubhuti (Self Realization) in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2008. This brilliant work is squarely in the tradition of non-dual Vedanta and contains a number of provocative verses at the end that convert the experiential language of Yoga into the non-dual language of Vedanta.
Click this link to read the text with James' commentary.
More than 12 hours of Vedanta for $75 !
USA $75 including mailing and handling. In the Euro Zone and elsewhere
...........the cost of mailing is higher, about $20. When you order shiningworld
...........will caculate mailing costs according to your location.
Get Self Inquiry and Self Realization
for $225. Get all three sets for $350 including shipping, except internationally
where shipping is between $15-25 more |
HOW TO ORDER
Place the order by email: lidavangeest@gmail.com or swartz.jb@gmail.com. If you wish to order by telephone call Lida Van Geest at 503-895-5220 . Lida or I will reply with an address to which you can send the check. For individual videos list the number and the title. The videos will be shipped within a few days of receipt of payment. If there is damage in shipping, shiningworld will replace the videos. If any video is defective shiningworld will replace it postage paid.
Why Are These Videos So Inexpensive?
First, Shiningworld is a not-for-profit entity. Its stated purpose is to disseminate non-dual wisdom. This wisdom should be available to any one who values it irrespective of their financial situation. Shiningworld is an idea, not an organization. It has no fixed residence, no employees, no assets nor any financial obligations. Social Security and a small stipend left by my mother is enough for me to live on so there is no personal profit built into the price. The prices are a little higher than last year for two reasons. First, the production values are much improved. Most of the videos were re-recorded in 2008 and 2009 with good lighting, sound, and intros with a better camera. This involved additonal expense and hundreds of hours of work. Second, the dollar is somewhat stronger vis-a-vis the Euro, the British Pound and other currencies at the moment.
Fortunately the Self sent Lida, whose dedication to Vedanta is exceptional and who has graciously donated her time, to help make the videos. I have assisted her in every way, writing the voice overs, handling computer issues, purchasing materials, making labels, packing and shipping. Any profit realized goes to improving quality and making more of these teachings available at a modest cost.
