An "Idiot's Guide to Self-Realization", (or), How To Overcome Intellectualism.

[LeiwoUnion]

Faith is a curse. Or, it is an easy way out, without having to do any work to improve yourself Spiritually. Religions are full of Faith, with little advancement. The simple this and that, and Faith will carry me through to the end. All the work is, (supposedly), done for you. The delusion. As long as I follow the rules, (and lay low), then I will get everything I want in Heaven. Visions of little old Spanish ladies kissing plastic babies in cardboard boxes, (I have seen it). Blind Faith. No thank you. I prefer to do the work, and have the satisfaction that I have done something to improve my life. I also had friends who believed in Faith, and they were the biggest hypocrites in their Religion. Meanwhile condemning others for thinking differently than them. Faith is a weakness. I have no Faith in Zen. What is that supposed to mean? Zen only works when you use it. If I sat back and said, I believed in Zen, and so I will let it do the work for me, then Zen becomes useless. There would be no point in having Zen. If anybody wants to grow Spiritually, then they have to do the work themselves. There is no other answer. It is work, or nothing. I have little sympathy for people who are too lazy to work and find their own Spiritual Realization. The God(s) never promised it would be easy, and you were responsible for your own actions. I repeat, Faith is a curse.

In my mind there is also a productive kind of faith that I utilize myself at least. My life has become a stream of synchronicities that guide my perception to the right thought patterns which are not apparent to my conscious mind. I call this my 'deep intuition' in contrast to my 'surface intuition' which speaks directly to my conscious mind as ideas and such. The thing is that the deep intuition is not 'always on', so to speak, and it can take a while for these synchronicities to occur. It certainly requires faith in my part to trust that I'm not, shall I say, 'left on the lurch', as (my) 3D mind is fond of creating all kinds of uncertainties and untrustful thought patterns. Faith action can then be utilized to dismiss these thoughts as unhelpful and the mind returns to focus with uncertainties dispelled.

In my opinion it is rather narrow minded or even dogmatic to call faith a curse. I'm sure even you, Ming, utilize faith in your own work and doings. Faith is the lens that brings one's will into focus. We cannot know or understand all in 3D, so to function and to move forward some faith is always needed.

[Ming the Merciful]

The simple choice that can be made is to let go of your cards in the melting influence of Love.

This way you don't actually have to play the game anymore.  Everything that happens is just ok.

The game is there so you can learn this. So if you just let everything go in faith that all is well even when impossible to see. Then there is no need to play the game anymore. You've just shown it was no longer needed.

Nothing to intellectualize, nothing to understand. Just blind stupid faith that all really is well.

I say thank you to the universe even for getting a headache. I don't know why I needed to suffer it, but thanks nonetheless. I have faith there is a good reason for it and it's ok that I don't understand why.

Faith is a curse. Or, it is an easy way out, without having to do any work to improve yourself Spiritually. Religions are full of Faith, with little advancement. The simple this and that, and Faith will carry me through to the end. All the work is, (supposedly), done for you. The delusion. As long as I follow the rules, (and lay low), then I will get everything I want in Heaven. Visions of little old Spanish ladies kissing plastic babies in cardboard boxes, (I have seen it). Blind Faith. No thank you. I prefer to do the work, and have the satisfaction that I have done something to improve my life. I also had friends who believed in Faith, and they were the biggest hypocrites in their Religion. Meanwhile condemning others for thinking differently than them. Faith is a weakness. I have no Faith in Zen. What is that supposed to mean? Zen only works when you use it. If I sat back and said, I believed in Zen, and so I will let it do the work for me, then Zen becomes useless. There would be no point in having Zen. If anybody wants to grow Spiritually, then they have to do the work themselves. There is no other answer. It is work, or nothing. I have little sympathy for people who are too lazy to work and find their own Spiritual Realization. The God(s) never promised it would be easy, and you were responsible for your own actions. I repeat, Faith is a curse.

In my mind there is also a productive kind of faith that I utilize myself at least. My life has become a stream of synchronicities that guide my perception to the right thought patterns which are not apparent to my conscious mind. I call this my 'deep intuition' in contrast to my 'surface intuition' which speaks directly to my conscious mind as ideas and such. The thing is that the deep intuition is not 'always on', so to speak, and it can take a while for these synchronicities to occur. It certainly requires faith in my part to trust that I'm not, shall I say, 'left on the lurch', as (my) 3D mind is fond of creating all kinds of uncertainties and untrustful thought patterns. Faith action can then be utilized to dismiss these thoughts as unhelpful and the mind returns to focus with uncertainties dispelled.

In my opinion it is rather narrow minded or even dogmatic to call faith a curse. I'm sure even you, Ming, utilize faith in your own work and doings. Faith is the lens that brings one's will into focus. We cannot know or understand all in 3D, so to function and to move forward some faith is always needed.

Perhaps saying "Faith is a Curse" is probably too powerful a statement. As a Practitioner. (and not the Observer), I observe "Faith" as something that is only on the surface and is superficial. Spirituality, (true Spirituality), is always something much deeper and it needs dedication to work. If I had only used Faith when I was taught by my Spiritual Teacher, I would know as much now, as the first day I started learning, (nothing). To gain Self-Realization, a person has to realize that learning True Spiritual Awareness, is long and it takes years of dedicated work. Faith cannot give you that. I am not denying that you shouldn't have Faith, but don't allow it to become a crutch. You remove your Faith, and then you will fall over.

[Patrick]

This describes what I was trying to say.

...Faith is a paradox, for one cannot gain faith. One simply must leap into behaving as if one had faith in order to begin a life in faith. Thusly, the first act of faith is the leap into nothingness. Faith, after all, would not be faith if there were a way to rationalize it or prove that it existed by any reasonable inquiry. This makes faith a real challenge, for if you have not faith, then how do you achieve it?

That leap looks very foolish and feels very dangerous. And, yet, we say to you that if you can hold the essence of faith which is that all is well and that all will be well, if you can hold to this attitude, that faith will grow and flourish and bloom in amazing ways. And if you become overwhelmed with a lack of faith you have but to start over to take that leap again and the journey accelerates once more. There is never a failure that faith will not be recovered from. There is never a desert that is too wide for faith to cross. In faith, then, when you wish to seek guidance, you may approach this search in various ways...

[flofrog]

Would there be 'faith' seen superficial as in a formatted belief given by others, while faith as perhaps seen by Ra being an act of vibration , sort of 'telepathic bliss', surrender ?

[Ymarsakar]

Faith is powerful co creation and it can be hijacked.

If i have faith ina person and give them investment cash, they could very well be a con.

[Patrick]

The thought experiment of "Having faith in a person that could be a con" is still trying to rationalize faith.

Faith cannot be rationalized and will always appear as foolish to someone wanting to rationalize faith.  Faith in others might be harder to achieve to begin with.  It may be simpler to start with faith in yourself, faith in the Universe or faith in Love.

Yes Flo, surrender might be closer in understanding.

[Ohr Ein Sof]

It can be very simple if one so chooses.

Someone needs to help me on this one! I do not see how walking the straight and narrow path is "easy".
Sure, we can turn the Will toward our desires to become but, we are not alone on this planet; there are others that provide cruel catalyst.
I guess if one to only say continuously, "this is only but a dream" and repeat that every second on the hour until your backside hits the coffin, it would be nothing but a blissful dream.
You have some esplainin' ta do Lucy....seriously.

I think we could start from Ra's poker game.  If we discuss the parts you find are difficult to manifest?

50.7 Questioner: Thank you. Can you expand on the concept which is this: that it is necessary for an entity to, during incarnation in the physical as we call it, become polarized or interact properly with other entities and why this isn’t possible in between incarnations when he is aware of what he wants to do, but why must he come into an incarnation and lose memory, conscious memory of what he wants to do and then act in a way that he hopes to act? Could you expand on that please?

Ra: I am Ra. Let us give the example of the man who sees all the poker hands. He then knows the game. It is but child’s play to gamble, for it is no risk. The other hands are known. The possibilities are known and the hand will be played correctly but with no interest.

In time/space and in the true-color green density, the hands of all are open to the eye. The thoughts, the feelings, the troubles, all these may be seen. There is no deception and no desire for deception. Thus much may be accomplished in harmony but the mind/body/spirit gains little polarity from this interaction.

Let us re-examine this metaphor and multiply it into the longest poker game you can imagine, a lifetime. The cards are love, dislike, limitation, unhappiness, pleasure, etc. They are dealt and re-dealt and re-dealt continuously. You may, during this incarnation begin — and we stress begin — to know your own cards. You may begin to find the love within you. You may begin to balance your pleasure, your limitations, etc. However, your only indication of other-selves’ cards is to look into the eyes.

You cannot remember your hand, their hands, perhaps even the rules of this game. This game can only be won by those who lose their cards in the melting influence of love; can only be won by those who lay their pleasures, their limitations, their all upon the table face up and say inwardly: “All, all of you players, each other-self, whatever your hand, I love you.” This is the game: to know, to accept, to forgive, to balance, and to open the self in love. This cannot be done without the forgetting, for it would carry no weight in the life of the mind/body/spirit beingness totality.

Beautiful quote. One of my favorites but in no way does this sound "simple" it actually sounds difficult but rewarding. The narrow path is not simple. It takes finesse to play the game. First we begin by knowing the game, then we progress to well,now how do I play? As Ra says, it literally is a poker game stretched over a lifetime. A lot of failures and a lot of successes and a ton of limitation.

Life is a game, (and it is rigged). When we start the game, we are not given the rules. We have to learn and adapt. Some people are given more chips than others, and sit in a better position on the board. Those in the better position look down on those who are not, and they know they have the advantage. And they use their advantage over the other players and will take every opportunity to advance further. The only way to gain the advantage is by, (either) cheating, (or), winning high stakes. In the background, (unseen ), is an "Artificial Intelligence", manipulating the game. You cannot win until the Artificial Intelligence allows you to win. Those who bribe the "Overlords", (the referees), can sometimes get away with it, as long as the bribe is big. There is also someone looking over your shoulder, passing the information over to those people who have the advantage. Beware of rigged games.

Some of what you say I guess I am not entirely privy to but there are some that have worked in past lives andthey come endowed with a little more; not nore money but more spiritual wisdom as it has accumulated over multiple lifetimes. Those with more money and power due to wealth are still playing the game with a little "g" those with more spiritual wisdom who also happen to be putting it to good use are playing the Game with a capital "G".
Wanna beat the overlords? Stay focused and do the work. I think this is why I may be naive about some of what you are saying and just may not get it. I apologize Ming.

[Minyatur]

Interestingly, today's L/L Research quote on facebook is about faith:

The straightest road from fear to love is faith, the ability to move beyond the tangle in the stream of energy, back to the source, and it is done not by moving to anything but only from the position of fear. The classic paralyzing Buddhist description of fear is a seeker hanging onto a rapidly decaying branch of a tree, on the side of a cliff, with a tiger above and a tiger below, and a chasm beneath. And the answer to that image is to let go of the branch, wave bye-bye to the tigers and welcome the abyss. There is, in faith, that realization that in no way, shape, or form can we know in a linear sense that all is well or that all will be well. And yet that is what we claim. That is what we believe, and on that we base our security and our confidence. - Q'uo

I think a lot about the spiritual path is about releasing the need for control. This makes more sense if you understand that your reality is the truthful expression of the Creator, of Love & Light. Then, growth can partly be understood to be about your ability to recognize the Creator within things, to recognize Love within things, from there things do not need to be controlled because they are accepted to be what they are. This kind of state of being is hard to explain in words, but it is definitely real.

The more you feel a need to control your reality, the more you are in a state of tension with it. This state of tension can act as a gravity well that attracts people and events to yourself to act as catalyst. The reason acceptance is such a big thematic upon the path of love, is that it is the sole mean through which you can become transparent with your reality to the point of being in pure harmony with it. From a human perspective and like Q'uo said, the straightest road from fear to love is faith, because such a leap cannot truly make sense to the intellectual mind. Yet, by releasing the need of the intellectual mind to process its reality in its own ways, you are able to open up to a new way to experience your reality beyond the intellectual mind.

[zedro]

I think a lot about the spiritual path is about releasing the need for control.

Totally agree, all while still requiring proper navigation (discernment). I'm always reminded of the river metaphor, where you don't want to fight the currents but flow with them, but there is still the need to steer down the more 'ideal' path, lest you hit the rocks, the shore, or fly down the waterfall you are not ready to traverse.

[Minyatur]

I think a lot about the spiritual path is about releasing the need for control.

Totally agree, all while still requiring proper navigation (discernment). I'm always reminded of the river metaphor, where you don't want to fight the currents but flow with them, but there is still the need to steer down the more 'ideal' path, lest you hit the rocks, the shore, or fly down the waterfall you are not ready to traverse.

It's really not useful to stop at a single realization.

Thoughts are finite, while what we truly realize is the infinite. So oftentimes you realize something, yet later on come to need to realize its opposite. Then, you have to learn balance the two together. So much fun we can have with duality.

[Ming the Merciful]

Discernment is everything. When you know that you have achieved something profound, there is an "Awareness" deep within your "Inner Reality", (Psyche). The innermost part of "Being". has a tingle of satisfaction that it has discovered something which is unexplainable. A "Secret Understanding" which cannot be explained Intellectually. That is the discovery of Self-Realization. Self-Realization does not happen overnight, it a gradual acknowledgement and comprehension of what you know, (and what you do not know). A simple Meditation technique, or grasping an understanding given by a Teacher. A "Spark of Consciousness". Raised Awareness. The most important thing about Discernment, is a nonattachment to it. Or, you have discovered something new, and it has opened-up a new understanding of Spirituality. That is always a dangerous time. Why? You have discovered something profound and it is the "Ultimate of Understanding", (there is no greater truth). That is where people make the mistake of clinging-on to their new Realization. At which point growth will stop.The moment you discover something new, you must let it go, and wait for the next "Spark" to appear. It could be hours, days, weeks, months or even years to appear. It depends on the individual and where they are Spiritually.

[Ohr Ein Sof]

I think a lot about the spiritual path is about releasing the need for control.

Totally agree, all while still requiring proper navigation (discernment). I'm always reminded of the river metaphor, where you don't want to fight the currents but flow with them, but there is still the need to steer down the more 'ideal' path, lest you hit the rocks, the shore, or fly down the waterfall you are not ready to traverse.

It's really not useful to stop at a single realization.

Thoughts are finite, while what we truly realize is the infinite. So oftentimes you realize something, yet later on come to need to realize its opposite. Then, you have to learn balance the two together. So much fun we can have with duality.

To my understanding or misunderstanding (depending on how distorted I am), thoughts create realities on all planes of existence and can even go on to create certain types of thought-forms which can be energized and have their own type of awareness though it be little.
I believe (and this is where I may be misguided), that we pereive thoughts within 3rd density as being finite and the balance to that is the realization that our thoughts create our reality ( but to infinity just as the Creator has made the entire universe(s) ) but on all planes of existence. Just as the words echoed many years ago still echo to this day. The spoken word was once a thought.

[Ming the Merciful]

I think a lot about the spiritual path is about releasing the need for control.

Totally agree, all while still requiring proper navigation (discernment). I'm always reminded of the river metaphor, where you don't want to fight the currents but flow with them, but there is still the need to steer down the more 'ideal' path, lest you hit the rocks, the shore, or fly down the waterfall you are not ready to traverse.

It's really not useful to stop at a single realization.

Thoughts are finite, while what we truly realize is the infinite. So oftentimes you realize something, yet later on come to need to realize its opposite. Then, you have to learn balance the two together. So much fun we can have with duality.

To my understanding or misunderstanding (depending on how distorted I am), thoughts create realities on all planes of existence and can even go on to create certain types of thought-forms which can be energized and have their own type of awareness though it be little.
I believe (and this is where I may be misguided), that we pereive thoughts within 3rd density as being finite and the balance to that is the realization that our thoughts create our reality ( but to infinity just as the Creator has made the entire universe(s) ) but on all planes of existence. Just as the words echoed many years ago still echo to this day. The spoken word was once a thought.

The beauty of a diamond can only been seen, when it is shining in the light, (a Zen saying).

Discernment is more than just a Realization. There is a point where we have to look beyond the Intellectual Understanding. When we begin to discover our "Real Self", (the Inner Reality), we realize that is much deeper and transcendental. It is not a "Mindful State". Self-Realization is "Mindless". Transparent and translucent. The "Diamond Metaphor" is a good example. What we are seeking is the "Inner Light". That can only be experienced when we are not in Intellectual Mind. The moment of Discernment happens is when we are not actually thinking about it. Most times Realization happens in Meditation, (not always in Samadhi), or simply when the Mind is still. In effect, what is happening in the Mindless State, is that you are allowing the Universe, (or Universal Consciousness), to speak to you. This is how people discover new Scientific discoveries or deep profound Spiritual Knowledge. The perfect example. When the Theosophical Society was founded, two of the Founding Members had been to the East and learned how to develop Intuitive Thinking. They went into Intuitive Mind, (I am not sure of their names). The discoveries they made, were parallel to the modern-day theory of Quantum Physics, and the current day Scientists have been amazed how accurate they were. What is happening, is the Scientists of today are just realizing that the Knowledge of Quantum Physics is a "Universal Knowledge". It has been there all the time, (infinitely). We are tapping-into "Universal Knowledge", when we have the "Spark" of Discernment. As I am trying to teach people, allow your Intuitive Mind to come to the surface and recognise it. Once it has been discovered, you will have wished that you had discovered earlier. It has been there all time, and you didn't know it. It changes everything, and how you understand Spirituality.

[Minyatur]

It's really not useful to stop at a single realization.

Thoughts are finite, while what we truly realize is the infinite. So oftentimes you realize something, yet later on come to need to realize its opposite. Then, you have to learn balance the two together. So much fun we can have with duality.

To my understanding or misunderstanding (depending on how distorted I am), thoughts create realities on all planes of existence and can even go on to create certain types of thought-forms which can be energized and have their own type of awareness though it be little.
I believe (and this is where I may be misguided), that we pereive thoughts within 3rd density as being finite and the balance to that is the realization that our thoughts create our reality ( but to infinity just as the Creator has made the entire universe(s) ) but on all planes of existence. Just as the words echoed many years ago still echo to this day. The spoken word was once a thought.

I have to admit I never resonated all that much with that concept that our every thought create realities on all planes of existence. I've resonated more with how it is presented in the Ra material, that everything you can think of, or many things that you never thought of are happening at some level of reality.

16.53 Questioner: All right. Continuing with what we were just talking about, namely densities: I understand then that each density has seven sub-densities which again have seven sub-densities which again have seven sub-densities. This expands at an extremely large rate as things are increased in powers of seven. Does this mean that in any density level anything that you can think of is happening? And many things that you never thought of are happening… are there… everything is happening… this is confusing…

Ra: I am Ra. From your confusion we select the concept with which you struggle, that being infinite opportunity. You may consider any possibility/probability complex as having an existence.

The way I interpret this illustration, of every thought having being as being infinite opportunity, is that as some level or another the Creator (us) will meet the opportunity of any possibility/complex as an experience. Anything that you can think of can then resonate with that complex having an existence, without necessarily meaning that from your mind you have manifested it. To me it goes back to another thing that Ra said, which is: The Creator does not properly create as much as it experiences Itself.

Now I'm not saying either that our thoughts do not have an effect, or cannot take form in some way either. Just that I never resonated with the entire notion of attributing to oneself the manifestation of any idea that crosses one's mind. Just the existence of our planet within this Octave is the product of an intricate journey of manifestation that is probably as old as time itself. So how any possibility/probability complex can have an existence is to me more likely to hold upon the complex nature of how that finite expression of infinity can be held as distant, or separate, within the infinite and endless context that surrounds it.

But yeah what I meant was really along the lines of what Ming said. To cultivate an empty mind and an unmediated relationship with your reality as to be transparent to it. This, to not attempt to constrain the dynamic and ever changing nature of your reality within the confines of finite thoughts within your mind. An example would be to not imprison the wordless within the limits of words. But ya I agree that any concept ultimately has an infinite nature. It's a bit like how people say a picture is worth a thousands words, well a word is also worth a thousand pictures.

[Ming the Merciful]

It's really not useful to stop at a single realization.

Thoughts are finite, while what we truly realize is the infinite. So oftentimes you realize something, yet later on come to need to realize its opposite. Then, you have to learn balance the two together. So much fun we can have with duality.

To my understanding or misunderstanding (depending on how distorted I am), thoughts create realities on all planes of existence and can even go on to create certain types of thought-forms which can be energized and have their own type of awareness though it be little.
I believe (and this is where I may be misguided), that we pereive thoughts within 3rd density as being finite and the balance to that is the realization that our thoughts create our reality ( but to infinity just as the Creator has made the entire universe(s) ) but on all planes of existence. Just as the words echoed many years ago still echo to this day. The spoken word was once a thought.

I have to admit I never resonated all that much with that concept that our every thought create realities on all planes of existence. I've resonated more with how it is presented in the Ra material, that everything you can think of, or many things that you never thought of are happening at some level of reality.

16.53 Questioner: All right. Continuing with what we were just talking about, namely densities: I understand then that each density has seven sub-densities which again have seven sub-densities which again have seven sub-densities. This expands at an extremely large rate as things are increased in powers of seven. Does this mean that in any density level anything that you can think of is happening? And many things that you never thought of are happening… are there… everything is happening… this is confusing…

Ra: I am Ra. From your confusion we select the concept with which you struggle, that being infinite opportunity. You may consider any possibility/probability complex as having an existence.

The way I interpret this illustration, of every thought having being as being infinite opportunity, is that as some level or another the Creator (us) will meet the opportunity of any possibility/complex as an experience. Anything that you can think of can then resonate with that complex having an existence, without necessarily meaning that from your mind you have manifested it. To me it goes back to another thing that Ra said, which is: The Creator does not properly create as much as it experiences Itself.

Now I'm not saying either that our thoughts do not have an effect, or cannot take form in some way either. Just that I never resonated with the entire notion of attributing to oneself the manifestation of any idea that crosses one's mind. Just the existence of our planet within this Octave is the product of an intricate journey of manifestation that is probably as old as time itself. So how any possibility/probability complex can have an existence is to me more likely to hold upon the complex nature of how that finite expression of infinity can be held as distant, or separate, within the infinite and endless context that surrounds it.

But yeah what I meant was really along the lines of what Ming said. To cultivate an empty mind and an unmediated relationship with your reality as to be transparent to it. This, to not attempt to constrain the dynamic and ever changing nature of your reality within the confines of finite thoughts within your mind. An example would be to not imprison the wordless within the limits of words. But ya I agree that any concept ultimately has an infinite nature. It's a bit like how people say a picture is worth a thousands words, well a word is also worth a thousand pictures.

I am not saying that Still Mind is something you can develop overnight. If anyone is interested, here are a couple of suggestions. When you are sitting alone, watching TV, listening to the radio, (it wouldn't work here because it takes too much concentration).You are watching TV and following a program. Continue watching the TV, and simply stop thinking for a few seconds. At the beginning, try five seconds. That is all you need to start. Once you have done that, slowly increase the time to ten seconds. Do it gradually. I have practised Still Mind for the last thirty years, and I can stay Mindless whenever I want. Mind on, Mind off. There are times when I remain in Still Mind more than thinking. It then occurs to me, I had not had a thought for the last five minutes. Then you return to thought and thinking, and for a few seconds it feels strange because I am thinking. Still Mind can also be used when you are in and ready for sleep. You close your eyes, and stop thinking. Then sleep. The time I enjoy it the most is when I am out in public. You are sitting on a bus, not thinking. All around you are conversations of the other passengers, and you are totally detached from it.

Eventually as you develop the practice you will begin to grow Spiritually because your concepts of Reality begin to change. Again, not overnight. Unfortunately, I am not near anyone to guide them, so this is why I want to be cautious. Not that Still Mind is dangerous, (but), it has to be learned slowly. Your Mind is used to being in control, and it does all the thinking for you. It does not like being controlled. Does your Mind control you, or do you control your Mind? When does Intuitive Mind develop? At the point when you begin to "Know Yourself". It is different for each person. As I mentioned in previous Posts, you will know the "Spark". Something clicks. Intuitive Mind will rise naturally, and you will know the difference between Intellectual and Intuitive Mind. Something that cannot be explained, it only comes from personal experience. If anyone wants to try it, I can always give tips and advice. For once, I am not talking Philosophically, (how strange)?

[meadow-foreigner]

TL;DR: If you need to explain it in more than a phrase/sentence, you are probably not quite there yet.