Know Thyself | Gathering Spot

Wow, thanks for the post, Fairy. This video was nothing like I thought it was going to be. It's a veritable smorgasbord of truth.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the video:

“There is no coming to consciousness without pain. People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” ~ Carl Jung

I'm also grateful for these words,

“… if you realize the suffering, if you see the urgency of immediate action and do not postpone, then you will transform yourself.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Some folks frown upon messages of urgency; I personally think we're well into the 11th hour -- the fork in the road where humanity decides which future we want for ourselves and each other. What we do now is vitally important and the time in which to do it is growing short.

I found the final section about recognizing our two selves within ourselves to be especially helpful. From the “First Initiation” by Jeanne de Salzmann, this concept involves distinguishing the self that lies to us ie. embraces the matrix paradigm that is taught to us and the other self that "knows thyself." It's kind of what Todd (tscout) has been saying about throwing away everything you think you know and looking at the world with an open mind and fresh eyes.

If you have a meditation that might help us to practice distinguishing the two selves, Fairy, please share it.

The dialogue continues at http://veilofreality.com/

Great stuff!!

Socrates' guiding rule was, "Know Thyself." These words are among the most powerful ever uttered, and of eternal significance. No better advice has ever been given to man or woman. When one begins to explore this dictate it leads to profound understandings about all of creation. It makes unhappiness, fear, sadness, doubt, and all the negative emotions meaningless.

'The kingdom of God is within you'. Jesus

The above is an extract from Santo Bonacci's teachings, I watched part 1 yesterday it is well worth giving time to, they are lengthy clips so time needs to be set aside. I am still digesting inwardly the information shared, all I can say is I have a new connectedness to our galaxy and our universe.

"Know Thyself Part 1"

I like the method that Peace Pilgrim speaks to in our letters and talks that she gave while living. You can find her body of work here at www.peacepilgrim.com

Expansiveness is Love. Contraction is fear. The key is discerning this. Not always easy when in the midst of life. Be kind to yourselves when you get caught up in it.

When I get caught in this trap, I become aware of the trap very quickly. Followed by the task of transmuting, disolving, dismantling, and moving beyond the trap of the matrix we are all part of and at the same time transcending.

Often life seems like a paradox. This is when I turn to the methods and living prayers that Peace Pilgrim demonstrated.

Fairy

...in the "Know Thyself" video, are from the Gurdjieff Work (a spiritual tradition I worked in for several years):

G.I. Gurdjieff

Jacob Needleman

Jeanne deSalzmannd

I find that interesting; I suspect the creator of the video is involved in that Work.

I have mixed feelings about this video. (In the early to mid-70s, Bob, I was also involved in Gurdjieff work; in LA) Yes, the "work" is to know myself and it does involve recognizing and taking back my projections onto "you," "him," "her," and "them;" and, owning this uncomfortable material as my shadow. But I believe this video and other similar presentations dismiss and fail to recognize the already fully available solution in which all problems dissolve.

Yes, within the illusion of duality which we have co-created my shadow is inevitably projected onto the nasty "other." Yet, at some point, I must realized that this is an illusion of duality and the whole movie is my movie. For as long as this is a reasoned conclusion, then I "try" my best to be inclusive and accepting and dig around in my subconscious psyche analyzing the historic and past life reasons for why I hate or fear him or her or you. IMO this can have a certain value of thinning the veil of my ego and allowing me to become more transparent to my self. But it is limited.

It's a little like A Course In Miracles speaking of cultivating a more accurate conceptual understanding of reality as a skillful stepping stone beyond the conceptual frame of referenced into the direct perception of being the one I am.

IMO, it is faster, easier and more useful to all of us for each of us to recognize the essential nature of our mind - clear, wide-open cognizance - and train that up while letting all the appearances of our conditioned, dualized mind to be as they are. In my own experience as well as in the reports of those who've understood and sincerely applied the great practice traditions of Dzogchen, Mahamudra, Advaita, Kashmiri Shaivism this is the fastest way to release the illusion and begin living as the reality of our being.