Dear Ramji.
Hari Om.
Many blessings to you! It has been some time since our last contact, but I know you see through my eyes, so it is all good. I am writing to give a short update and ask a question.
I am slowly but surely simplifying my life and continuing to study and assimilate the Vedanta scripture, mostly via your videos and Zoominars, Swami Dayananda books, and Carol Whitfield’s book. I found Carol’s book particularly helpful with regards to understanding and uprooting deeply held notions of inadequacy and the idea of being unlovable. She is able to communicate brilliantly, with Vedanta scripture and western psychology, a context that embraces the Jiva’s “dark side” in a way that has been particularly helpful to me and may in fact be for many western inquirers. I am not sure how familiar you are with her work, but she seems to be another, like you, that is able to adeptly bring the true and timeless meaning of the Vedanta scriptures to a western mind.
James: I’ve known her for almost fifty years. She’s wise person and a great Vedanta teacher.
The Stock Market is an Excellent Symbol of Isvara
In addition, and perhaps interestingly, studying day trading has helped me confront some of the deeper emotional “kinks” of my mind as well, and has clearly illuminated the fact that knowledge is the key to success not only in trading, but most importantly for self actualization. I see knowledge always trumps experience in both the material and spiritual contexts. Trading has served as a tremendous tool to uncover parts of myself I did not want to see. More specifically, I see the market as a microcosm of Isvara. It doesn’t care what I or anyone else thinks or feels. It just facilitates transactions and moves via the will of the total. This is frustrating to a Jiva who is ignorant i.e. existentially insecure and wants to be in control and is dependent on the results of his/her actions for a sense of fulfillment and/or self validation. There is a harsh reality which most of us jivas do not want to face i.e. the world, Maya, does not revolve around us, and the only thing we really have control over as jivas, is what we do from moment to moment (apparently). It makes no sense to think we have control over any results in Maya because Maya/Isvara is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of every-thing, within which we are barely existent meat tubes. And more than that, to place our sense of Self/Identity, self-worth and/or sense of joy/satisfaction in ANYTHING that happens in Maya, in that which is totally out of our control and is always changing, is simply wrong. Pain is the only result from playing the Maya game. Knowledge is the only treatment for this pain. It is quite clear to me now. But, it seems this is a hard lesson for many of us to learn…it certainly has been for me.
That being said, I believe there is a maturation occurring. A maturation that points the mind beyond Maya and it’s games, to look for identity and satisfaction elsewhere i.e., to know Awareness as my-Self…me. Because ultimately it seems, if I am to become a mature human being, the entire “me”story, feelings, thoughts, experiences, memories, etc., must be negated because it too, is not separate from the dream of Maya. And I must understand that I was never the me story and Maya/the world never actually affected me. That my nature is self-affirming, self-validating and eternally blissful, is knowledge. That I am awareness is knowledge, NOT an experience…including validating spiritual experiences. In the end, knowledge seems to be the means to both material and spiritual satisfaction, which, as I write this, seem to be one and the same. I mean, when all experience becomes knowledge, and is seen as non-separate from me, then the knowledge is truly assimilated. I believe this to be the end of seeking. Is this correct? Am I missing anything here?
James: This is absolutely correct. You aren’t missing anything. This is called discrimination in the Mundaka Upanishad, which I taught the last two Sundays. It produces dispassion and the other qualifications (maturity) required for liberation. Good for you. It doesn’t matter if one fails or succeeds or sometimes fails and sometimes succeeds in life as far as qualifiying for liberation is concerned. It only matters that one honestly evaluates one’s karma i.e one’s experiences and concludes that karma is a zero sum game. Good for you!
Lastly, Swami Abhedananda (not sure if I spelled that right), the guru you spent time with who focused on self realization through bakti…is there a resource I can tap i.e. to read, listen or encounter his teachings? You mentioned him in one of the Trout lake videos and I found myself curious. Thank you for any information you can provide.
James: No, there isn’t. He was one of the last old-style mahatmas that died before technology entered the spiritual world.
And thank you in advance for any response (or non-response) to this email, as I am quite certain it will be a blessing. 🙂 Sending my love to you and Sundari. Om Tat Sat.
You are most welcome, Ed. It is lovely to hear from you. I’m happy that “maturation” is happening and that it is pointing the mind in the right direction. Good for you!!! Much love to you both.
That being said, I believe there is a maturation occuring. A maturation that points the mind beyond Maya and it’s games, to look for identity and satisfaction elsewhere i.e., to know Awareness as my-Self…me. Because ultimately it seems, if I am to become a mature human being, the entire Ted story, feelings, thoughts, experiences, memories, etc., must be negated because it too, is not separate from the dream of Maya. And I must understand that I was never the Ted story and Maya/the world never actually affected me. That my nature is self-affirming, self-validating and eternally blissful, is knowledge. That I am awareness is knowledge, NOT an experience…including validating spiritual experiences. In the end, knowledge seems to be the means to both material and spiritual satisfaction, which, as I write this, seem to be one and the same. I mean, when all experience becomes knowledge, and is seen as non-separate from me, then the knowledge is truly assimilated. I believe this to be the end of seeking. Is this correct? Am I missing anything here?
Lastly, Sawami Abhedananda (not sure if I spelled that right), the guru you spent time with who focused on self realization through bakti…is there a resource I can tap i.e. to read, listen or encounter his teachings? You mentioned him in one of the Trout lake videos and I found myself curious. Thank you for any information you can provide.
And thank you in advance for any response (or non-response) to this email, as I am quite certain it will be a blessing. 🙂 Sending my love to you and Sundari. Om Tat Sat.
Sending my love to you and Sundari.
Ramji: You are most welcome, Ed. It is lovely to hear from you. I’m happy that “maturation” is happening and that it is pointing the mind in the right direction. Good for you!!! Much love to you and Mary.
Sent from my iPhone