Hi Ramji,
I wasn’t expecting a reply as I know you’re very busy but it’s always lovely to hear from you!
Vedanta definitely works but only if you’re fortunate enough to have a skilled teacher! Living what I know is being my own teacher but it would never have happened without your help, especially when there was so much spiritual baggage!
An old Vipassana friend contacted me recently and suggested I listen to one of Joseph Goldstein’s recent talks. I did retreats with him in the late 70’s so was curious what he was saying now. It was very interesting to see that nothing had changed as he was still advising people on how to be in the present without striving in their meditation. Out of curiosity I also checked out others who had been my friends and were now all Vipassana teachers. It was fascinating to see they were all good people, clearly devoted to the Dharma, but had no non-dual teaching and, as far as I could tell, no understanding of the difference between experience and Knowledge, the importance of qualifications, or anything about the reality of ourselves as full and complete. It was amazing, like a time travel trip, the result of which was a deep gratitude to you and Vedanta!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
God is great!
James: Yes. Vipassana is an entry level practice for doers, as are all techniques. Doers never look for anything other than more better different doing. They think knowing is “intellectual.” They can’t see that “being in the present” is striving. It’s the most frustrating doing possible. They are trying to “be here now,” not realizing that “being” is also a noun. So they just sit and sit and sit. Once in a great while all that monotonous doing kick starts inquiry and they start looking for other solutions. If they are lucky they hear about “advaita” and after stumbling around in the Neo-Advaita world for a while Isvara leads them to Vedanta and the understanding that neither the Self nor Jiva are doers and ironically that “doing” is purely an intellectual concept.
It’s very hard to start over when you’ve invested so much well-meaning energy in a technique. I went to a 10 day Vipassana retreat with Goenka at Igatpuri in 1967 or maybe 1968 and lasted three days. Even before I was clear about non-duality I could see that it didn’t make sense. I met people who had done 30 ten day sits who were full of unresolved stuff and definitely not happy. Anyway, as you say, “Living what I know is being your own teacher.” Good for you!
Love,
James
