I'm sixty-four years old. I guess my spiritual searching for whatever began when I was thirteen. At least, that's when I composed my first documented philosophical writing.
So I've done more than fifty years of meditating, guru-worshipping, psychedelic drug-taking, mystical contemplating, and other sorts of spiritual'y pursuits. Golden anniversary gifts, please!
Send them on, Ultimate Secret of the Cosmos, I deserve them.
But you know what? The older I get (I'm not saying wiser, just older), the more I feel like my spiritual searching has pointed to one conclusion:
There never was anything to search for.
I've said this before. Many others have said it.
What's necessary, though, is for the saying to become who we are, not something separate from us. Then, perhaps, the end of the spiritual search is seen to be the same as the beginning.
A fiction. A fantasy.
Yet an utterly believable one so long as it is believed in. Before writing this post I Googled my own blog to see how I'd previously described the realization of "nothing to realize."
I liked what I found. Damn! I know a lot when I'm not pretending there's something spiritual to know. Here's some links and some excerpts.
"If there's no 'me,' I don't have any problems"
We try to know who we really are. Why?
Because we feel that if we knew, we'd be better off. Happier. More at peace with ourselves and the world. And religiously speaking, we'd be saved, enlightened, God-realized, whatever you want to call it.
We presume that there is a self, a soul, a psyche, a "me" — something objectively real — which is going to be known by us. So we search for it via meditation, prayer, contemplation, drugs, psychotherapy, walks on the beach, studying books, and many other sorts of ways.
But wait! Who is doing the searching?
Why, it must be…me. Who else could be doing it? Hmmmmm. This means that if I find myself, it won't be me, because I'm the subjectivity doing the looking, not the object that is found.
There's a spiritual/philosophical and a scientific/logical way of looking at this. Both end up in the same place: There's no "self" in myself. No "ego" in my egocentricity. No "soul" in my soulful searching.
Mystics, like Rumi, say that what we're looking for is so close, we don't recognize it.
—————————–
"Trapped in the goal of having no goal"
I've dived deep into the teachings of Rumi, Eckhart, Plotinus, Kabir, St. John of the Cross, Ramana, Zen masters, and many others.
They all say, in one fashion or another, that whatever ultimate reality is, there's no way to it. No path. No technique. No method.
How could there be? It's ultimate reality. It's what is. It's what we and everything else in existence are.
"Closer than your jugular vein." "Right beneath your feet." "The light with which you're searching is what you seek." "Chop wood, carry water."
There's lots of ways to express how close at hand — so close, there's no place to go — ultimate reality is. Yet somehow we keep missing it.
Because we're looking for it. And it can't be seen.
—————————–
Tonight I walked by myself for a few blocks through downtown Salem. After a rainy spell, now we're enjoying crisp clear November air.
A low-lying full moon hung not far above the city. Streetlights partially illuminated mostly deserted sidewalks. Trees were still full of fall color.
I looked through my sixty year-old eyes and thought (or, more accurately, felt) "This is all there is. This is all there needs to be. This is all there will ever be."
Like Foster said, life is mind-blowing amazing at every moment — just because it is. Someday it won't be for me. And for all of us. The "is" won't be an "isn't." Most likely it'll be…nothing.
Except, not even that. Because nothing is a lot more of a something than death promises to be.
So I had the urge — the necessity – to suck in life in all its downtown Salem glory, right then and there, knowing that there won't ever be any other knowing than what was going on in that moment.
Which is this moment. And this one … and this one …
—————————–
After sharing two poems by Mary Oliver, here's another one: The Journey.
The Journey
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.
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We’re always looking for something because we know we can’t see everything. We miss things, mistake things, and much of what-is we can’t perceive. We’re fallible and limited.
If we’re looking for what we imagine will complete or enlighten us and relieve us of our search, we’ll imagine we’ve found it, or realize we’ve been leading ourselves on.
“We’re always looking for something because we know we can’t see everything. We miss things, mistake things, and much of what-is we can’t perceive.”
—Yes, we are looking for relative truth. Nothing wrong with that. Through science, we can sometimes not miss ‘things’ and mistake things. On the other hand, all non-things (what is), we can’t perceive.
“We’re fallible and limited.”
—This is good and nice.
” If we’re looking for what we imagine will complete or enlighten us and relieve us of our search, we’ll imagine we’ve found it, or realize we’ve been leading ourselves on.”
—I’m looking for a carwash $4 off coupon. For today, this will complete me.
You guys
Your mistake is THAT YOUR “PERSONALITIES” ARE IN THE WAY
Big Time and in every phrasing
The few years resting , try to hear the sound
as tiny it might come
Don’t try to imaging or visualize a thing
because THAT is ONLY for enhancing your egos
CUT OFF all judging, reasoning
The tiny sound will generate Love, and there has to be nothing else
777
SatGurus are JUST following Orders
I didn’t add that – Only a few can
I can’t !
–
Your search ends when you realize you’re chasing your tale of what there is to be found.
Do you think a Saint SatGuru is searching ?
No , He has just a very consistent Crush on his own Master
He might easily be an alphabetical
or a ten times broke or a billionair
God is mocking about the status of a jeeva he ‘s choosing
for this task : ” following orders”
When some people see The Radiance
, . . . He Himself just feels fine and has His own Dharshan Dhyan
When miracles happen around Him, He is the first in wonder . .
I remember when visiting Malaga
some ladies told me that Gurinder
who often was cleaning the floor of the satsang place
also had the task to go for these old ladies
like doing taxi service
and then so often had He the radio much to loud with rock music
and they said then : ” Gurinder Please not that loud !!”
Again , anyone can be chosen and the former master is following orders by appointing someone.
God is not interested at all in reasoning , science & theology included and what Wilber ,Cohen, Lane
think of the case of enlightenment
A SatGuru is the humbliest of the humble
and feels Himself the lowest of the lowly
in his plane
This is very easy for God
He just shows the corresponding ego to a Gurl or Guy
and then shows how ugly egos are
compared with the bright Sounds and radiant Light
“a very consistent Crush on his own Master”…
I suppose when in love with someone, consistently feeling that being’s presence, handing everything over to that beloved, albeit in a metaphysical sense, then magic does happen around one so love is even one step further than faith as in “faith can move mountains”.
Brian, as a follow up to my previous comment.. just thinking out loud… as to the difference between faith and love.
As we know, people who for example go to a faith healer and because of their belief system, their faith will actually heal their physical problems. So in effect this is probably because of the power of their own mind, which can be attributed to the workings of the brain which can then affect their body’s illness.
I am interested in what you think about the power of pure love which does not seem to be generated by the mind… its something different and a powerful force… ?
There is no end
Shankara is wrong, . . . Buddha is right
It would be a boring situ if there was an end, so boring
Just me, . . Yes
100% so, even a crush of a 14 year’s old shows that
Exponential Fibonacci_like LOVE , which is the only stuff
growing in us, . . by giving it awayby Compassion
777
Years ago there was a training called EST
run by werner erhard.
It would take a full six hours to make a single point.
The point he was making was this:
The way you have figured it all out;
the conclusions you have made;
the way you think it is;
bears no relationship at all to
the way it really is!
In other words – it would take 6 hours of intense training for
the delegates to ‘get it’ that they don’t get it!
reminds me of :- those who claim to know – they don’t know.
The point I am making is this:
There is no YOU – and therefore nothing to figure out.
let me put it another way
“enlightenment is a journey – the destination of which is the
profound realization that there was no journey, no destination,
and nobody to undertake the journey.”
Ha – kind of like a bad joke, right?
Let’s relate this to the current situation at RSSB.
for period 1900 – 1990 all the followers of RSSB worldwide
were looking for their ‘souls’ to leave the body and rise to the
first region. There the ‘radiant form’ of the master was waiting for
the soul and would take it to the second region.
The soul would then go to the third, fourth and fifth region. Finally
merging with the big dude there who goes by the name of Sat Purush.
Further Sach Khand is divided into agam, alakh and anami.
Okay so now fast forward to 2013. GSD has clearly said
“There are no regions – it is just a way of explaining.”
Hmmm…. so my father died… trying to get to a fictional ‘Sach Khand’
No wonder he failed to get there – the place don’t fu*!ing exist.
or more to the point – WHERE did all the regions go?
or were they a lie in the first place – or did the teachings change?
or perhaps – the maha parle (grand destruction) happened.
excuse my colourful language.
So all these ‘preachers’ were preaching a fictional load of bollocks
until GSD told them there are no regions.
so they were just towing the party line, right?
but this goes against the very teachings of sant mat.
“speak only what you have seen with your own eyes.”
remember the story of vivekananda – asking sri Ramakrishna if he has
seen with his own eyes and he says yes – and I can make you too see.
All the others vivekananda approached were just ‘teaching theory’
as are the current preachers at RSSB.
Then – can anyone explain how RSSB is not another religion of the
blind following the blind.
those who preach are all liars – they are lying to the sangat by pretending
they speak from experience – when in fact they are just ‘part line towers’
if that is the case – then make it 100% clear. every speaker should make a
clear statement before satsang that “I am merely speaking from the books and have
no first hand knowledge of all this – so take it with a pinch of salt.”
and I think they should supply the salt too.
and RSSB is not called – science of the soul.
give me a break!
there is not science anywhere near RSSB.
it is all delusion and more delusion.
a bunch of deluded idiots bossing about those who want to become part of the
elite group of mega deluded idiots.
sorry if my language offends anyone – but I am just calling a spade a spade.
And I challenge anyone to refute any of the statements I have made.
Most of the so-called sevadars (with some exceptions) are on a collossal
ego-trip and don’t even know it.
A path to enlightenment? show me one enlightenment person.
surely after all these decades there must be ONE enlightened person if RSSB
claims to be a valid pathway to enlightenment
check out the video I posted years ago
about the change of teachings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm2eweEr_50
You know, I have spent the last
year and a half in nature. Watching
rabbits, coyotes, birds, grasshoppers,
hawks, gophers.
They are always on edge. Always looking
around. For they all know at any minute
they may be eaten.
There is no peace in this world. God
is not love. He is a killer angel.
“This world is a giant slaughterhouse.”
Charles Darwin
Mike
Everything that you observe(d)
is of your OWN making
There is no other than Mike . . .
You are a sound pulsing in this you
but you cannot know
let’s say : It is
so difficult without The 5 excalibur words ( not those you typed down )
but the real ones given by a Holy, whole person
but what you can understand is that ther s no
better place to practice compassion
than here
That eventual Compassion is Love if no agenda is there
That compassion is clearly visible for a Saint after which He tries to serve you
777
Andrew Cohen – a spiritual teacher for 27 years – admits that his ego is still alive and well.
http://andrewcohen.org/blog
now he is apologising to his students.
could that ever happen in RSSB?
perhaps Gurinder singh will apologise to his sangat and admit he has become all about money. anyone can see he has. closed the charity parts of RSSB by saying spirituality is not charity.
fair enough – but then – he announces that organ donation is a good thing to do. why is it so good for the sangat to donate their organs? what has that got to do with spirituality.
Gurinder singh dhillon – the current head of RSSB is a businessman. He is not a spiritual guru at all. He has transformed RSSB into a profit centre. The UK arm makes £1 Million a year in profit (over £2Million in gross income)
RSSB buys property and renovates it for free labour (called Seva).
Clever business strategy. get a bunch of deluded people to work for you for FREE! Let them think they are getting some spiritual benefit.
They have closed all the small centres. Ask yourself why. it is because they want to serve and help more people? No – they basically are telling the older generation: we don’t care if you can’t get to satsang anymore – we don’t need you.
I can tell you from experience that the older generation find it hard to get to satsang and are not given any help with transportation. what does this mean? It means RSSB doesn’t give a shit about the poor and old people.
” and nobody to undertake the journey.”
Ha – kind of like a bad joke, right? ”
No
Your father didn’t use the words in vain !
And the regions are no lie
You read the Bardo Todol
and compare all thes Boddhisatvas the Soul will see
to the regions
EACH OF US HAVE THEIR REGIONS
and there is a general structure
like the hierachy in nature
but
for a Saint , there are no regions at all
Yes I’m experiencing and many mostly analphabhetic satsangis do
and because of that
and you cannot speak about it
I am so glad that
this miracle ( google hines+vivaldi)
happened also
because everybody can go to the Nice Matin
publisher and ask a copy
but even that Mike, You didn’t do
A real non-hypocritical striver for truth would have done this
but in this group nobody did or even reacted
And concerning the radiant form,
first the ‘form’ HIM/HER-self
has no Idea
that those things happen ( Reason for the Faqir & Lane to draw the wrong conclusions
but
THE SOURCE APPOINTED them and they are sitting in obedience.
But the giant rivers of cristal diamond light flow from there forehead
and all stuff around touched in their way
changes in Transparent fluid Gold
and the observer s mind stops with thinking
as in the best meditation possible
And it is completely impossible to describe what the LOVE in that represents
Perhaps the best crush one ever had
to the power of million
Everything is relative
including Agam Anami and Radha Soami
Solopism IS WHAT IT IS – Your Dharma
And you know why people on any sincere spiritual path have confidence?
They have a kind of preview/pilot
of what will come ( with an exemption for some who don’t wish / allow that . . )
and the many coincidences which will show up regularly
in their lives ( synchronizations )
like :
My wife saying to me : “What a lovely Master we have” ( She sees Charan 24/7 )
next
and immediately hearing a little plane above the house – me , going outside –
and then seeing it was an advertising tail banner
with the text :
“I LOVE YOU TOO ” – the LOVE showed as a red heart
Completely outside the beach season here : January
apparently a guy trying to express his feelings, ordering this expensive ride
but
this is what I call synchronizations
Cheers Bye All
777
Mike:- And yet we seek comfort and calmness in a world that seems like a constant struggle with the forces around us be it people and the politics they create; or the forces within us such a doubt, depression e.t.c. I suppose somebody would argue that as humans we evolved socially to not always be on edge. We experience bliss in our ignorance but I think you are right…Peace is a fantasy.
Maybe the Joker was right when he said to Batman “Don’t get even with the world; become insane”.
I remember when visiting Malaga some ladies told me that Gurinder
who often was cleaning the floor of the satsang place also had the task to go for these old ladies like doing taxi service and then so often had He the radio much to loud with rock music and they said then : ” Gurinder Please not that loud !!”
…These saints are very kind and soft hearted, they are in love with the humankind,the only difference now is that Babaji Don Gurinder is now cleaning the floor of Sachkand and the taxi service which was previously to the Satsang hall is now directly to Sachkhand, and inspite of loud rock music, one can now enjoy the light music of Jyotniranjan…Onkar.
Hi OSHO,
I put the links to your You Tube videos
on my website and also a recent Brian
post.
http://radhasoamis.freeyellow.com/
True, satsang leaders have no experience.
My computer is messing up, keyboar-d going
Exp^lanation on 9th gate remark:
” The world is cruel but what is overall profond reason”
Cruelty and war comes from the many slaughterhouses and I do not have to explain that here in this group, mostly vegetarians
but what the owner & cie don’t see
is why people go so far
answer :
it is the mentality most of us have, at least at the start of the Path
We can diminish or increase it like :
I know Mandela, . . I helped the King
I fucked Madonna
Voila , instead of helping the poor Guy who got that awesome task just with one signature, we place :
http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/1831358/report-the-man-who-changed-shahid-kapoor-s-life
777
–
Hi Wakeupdude
They have closed all the small centres. Ask yourself why. it is because they want to serve and help more people? No – they basically are telling the older generation: we don’t care if you can’t get to satsang anymore – we don’t need you.
I can tell you from experience that the older generation find it hard to get to satsang and are not given any help with transportation. what does this mean? It means RSSB doesn’t give a shit about the poor and old people
Yes that is correct, the local centre in my area was shut down in 2006, and a host of others were also shut down. The only option now is to get the bus, elderly people cannot sit on the bus for too long or cannot afford it.
Satsangis have sent numerous letters to GSD regarding this but nothing has been done. Also if you’re over 70-75 you’re not allowed to do seva at HP. They only want young people.
I thank God i’m out of this horrible group.
Hey Osho,
I showed my parents your videos, and they recognised you, you came to the local centre that was in my area (shut down in 2006) about 12 years ago, afterwards you came to my house. They were surprised, they said that you did brilliant satsangs.
You said the speakers don’t know what they’re talking about, that’s correct, they’re hypocrites, they preach past life karma etc. But there is no proof of past life karmas, its all BS. They preach one thing in the satsangs and do the opposite at home.
Hi Gaz,
were you ever initiated?
I used to be a national speaker for RSSB.
I was appointed by Mrs Wood, but then the politics of RSSB took over. I did a satsang at Derby and I translated from punjabi as I like to quote the source of statements I make. The sangat enjoys this as it benefits the indian speaking sangat only.
However, the ‘powers that be’ decided it was not a good practice and decided to use this to remove me from the satsang seva. RSSB is full of politics. If you’re ‘in’ with the people at the top – you get special treatment. If not – they want you out.
A few decades ago, in the days when Gurchetan singh was the secretary of the UK sangat (charan singh’s time) – Maharaj Charah Singh give a talk in london for the english speaking sangat only. Gurcehtan singh has given special passes to his family and close friends. My father just turned up and the sevadars asked for his pass. He said he did not need one. Gurchetan came to the scene and said he needed a pass. My father said “Let’s go speak to Maharaj Ji and ask him if I need a pass!”
Gurchetan singh let him him as she knew this would not go down well with the master.
since that time my father has been outside of the ‘in-crowd’
So when his son (me) becomes a speaker and the sangat like it – the ‘in-crowd’ have to protect their power. They cannot have an outside taking over. It’s about power.
I gave a satsang in Birmingham. After the satsang, 50% of the sangat came to the front to talk to me. They all wanted to know when my next satsang was – because they felt inspired by it. It was not like the ordinary
satsangs they usually heard.
The convenor told them it was not booked yet and then told me she would not be booking me again. She then reported me to Narinder and he asked the derby secretary to record my next satsang and send it to him.
Then he wrote me a long letter stating that I should not quote in punjabi when delivering an engligh satsang.
The bottom line was to get me removed because I was causing waves and I was not part of their ‘in-crowd’.
This kind of behaviour clearly shows that RSSB has lost the plot and is no longer about real spirituality.
Just for laughs I later applied to the Bham centre to do satsangs in punjabi. I was passed immediately by the ‘trainer’ but the secretary spoke to narinder who told him not to aloow me to speak because it had taken him great effort to remove me.
If you want to email me – my email address is oshorobbins@gmail.com
my facebook is https://www.facebook.com/osho.robbinsnew
Osho,
Wow i used to have lots of respect for Gurchetan Singh, don’t get me started on Narinder, he kicked me out of RSSB with his email to me. Although I think i was a victim of the law of cause and effect.
IMO, they’re all bunch of hypocrites, Osho you know your stuff man, I remember my parents used to love your satsangs, one of the quotes they heard you say in satsangs was ‘connect with the truth’.
I’ll send you an email my friend so we can discuss RS further.
In reply to your question, I’m only 21, I was planning on getting initiated but my later experiences with RS put me off.
WHEN i MET CHARANsINGH FOR THE FIRST TIME
He walked friendly through the assemble
little crowd
en suddenly changed course and came STRAIGHT TO ME en walked further
without even ‘noticing’ me
Consequently I was SO angry !
I spoiled half the first meeting.
Now I think THAT is the best thing which ever happened in my life.
I guess you both Gaz and osho
see what I mean
I trained three years for an olympics
but failed at the last moment
THEN already Huzur took care for not
letting explode my ego
Here in France; among kids you hear from all sides :
“Mamam regarde”
Your stories show fantastically HOW PERFECT SANT MAT FUNCTIONS under Gurinder
IT’S ONLY ABOUT lOVE FOR THE MASTER, TO START WITH FOR OTHER PERSONS
AND NOT AT ALL FOR SELF GLORIFICATION
I OBSERVED THAT Long Time SATSANGIS ot those who were initiated before , DON’T LIKE WINNING
they play false to let another win
AND SO DON’T LIKE GAMES WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER SAD
If you see that , . . things will change for the 3 of you
777
What GSD is doing is incongruent.
On the one hand he tells disciples to respect their elders and their parents.
On the other hand he himself is showing by his actions that he doesn’t care about the older generation. When he closed the smaller centres, why did he not add a FREE BUS SERVICE to help all those who cannot make it to the centre. That is – if he really cared about the poor and older people.
Unless of course, the reasoning is that if they can’t afford to pay for the bus fare to get to satsang – they are not likely to make any donations.
RSSB makes over a Million pounds in profit each year just in the UK. They have accumutaed over £18 Million in profits.
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/SIR/ENDS61/0001013061_SIR_20111231_E.PDF
Surely if that money it FOR the sangat – it would be no big deal to lay on free buses for those who need to get to a satsang centre. After all is the purpose not to
SERVE the sangat?
Perhaps the purpose is to MAKE MONEY by opening more centres, acquiring more property and getting the sangat to work on each property to make it more valuable.
Just like the church of england – RSSB is becoming RICH! forget about spirituality and enlightenment – it’s about MONEY.
GSD is a businessman – his sons are on the rich list. He is not a spiritual master – he is a businessman and he runs RSSB like a business.
He asks the sangat to donate their organs because he is a businessman. He uses those organs and makes money from them. How? because his son runs a medical centre where those organs are gives to those who need them. This is a business – they are charged – it is not a charity.
So now you know why GSD encourages the sangat to donate organs – he makes money from it. Can you trust such a master? Who tells you to donate your organs so he can profit from it?
You think this is a spiritual master at work? Charan Singh never mixed business with spirituality for this very reason.
Now let’s look at meditation:
Swami Ji did 17 years of intense meditation.
Jaimal singh did 13 years
Sawan singh did 11 years
How much did GSD do?
The answer? none. He didn’t have time when he was younger (besides he was hardly a model satsangi). Now he has no time anyway because he is too busy making money.
oh the spiritual power gets passed down? Like an inheritance?
The granth sahib clearly states that spirituality cannot be passed down – it has to be earned. All the masters say this clearly.
furthermore GSD does not even treat the people who served charan Singh very well. A case in point is Babani Ji – He died a broken man. Just read the relevant discussions in this blog.
GSD did 10 to 12 hours of meditation a day and no he does not get money from organs.
about this statement from Wakeupdude:
Perhaps the purpose is to MAKE MONEY by opening more centres, acquiring more property and getting the sangat to work on each property to make it more valuable.
Ummmm….maybe not so much. At least not in Petaluma. Four tiny-ish houses, all save one strangely positioned. One big, new, but kinda ugly house plunked in the middle of a field. A big barn of a meeting hall, bunch of metal barns, big toilet rooms. If I were a investor, I would not purchase it because I could not hope to imagine what it might be used for…except maybe to raise chickens. (Except for the huge bathrooms, guess you could sell off the toilets and sinks.)
One of the things we have learnt from psychology is that people have certain patterns, certain habits and ‘ways of thinking’ which are pretty much ingrained and don’t change.
So GSD is a businessman – that’s his expertise, and he has applied the same thinking and is running RSSB as a businessman would.
The purpose of any businessman is to increase the value of the business and to increase the revenue.
How? by eliminating the unnecessary expenses and by increasing the turnover and income.
He has done precisely this and it would be out-of-character if he (his sons to be accurate if you want to split hairs) did not benefit financially from the organ donation programme he pushes.
There is absolutely nothing wrong in being a businessman – but trying to mix spirituality with it can be tricky.
Maharaj Charan Singh simply made sure he never mixed the two. GSD has mixed them up and there will probably be business dealings between religare and RSSB.