No escape (Gangaji)

...this is only possible if you stop trying to get anything, including enlightenment, transcendence, understanding, or happiness. And stop trying to get rid of anything including your sorrow, your life, your ego, and your past. Just stop and be here.

The preceding comes from the following lengthy transcript of a talk given by Gangaji last fall. There's quite a bit of good content in it though, and it also goes further to underline what is becoming my own mantra-like philosophy that we are perfect exactly as we are. Accepting ourselves with all of our faults and working mindfully within that framework is all the spiritual work most of us need (or have the capacity for). Of course, this is unless we want to go and become monastics or something, but that's a different discussion. Most of us must deal with the vicissitudes of our daily lives and routines as householders, family members, and workers before we can go off and live on a mountaintop somewhere.

No escape

Most people enter into this spiritual affair to try to escape the human condition. Once they realize how horrible the human condition is, what an aggressive species we are, and once they see within themselves how much negativity there is, how much pushing and shoving and climbing over and disregarding and hating, they are disgusted with it. They hate it. And so they want to get rid of it. They want to escape. Right? Is this familiar?

This is very deep seated then. It is disgusting, it is horrible. And it is a natural response when you see it, to want to get out of it, to want to be above it, to transcend it. And then the search begins, so that you can learn how to do that: to escape through the techniques, the practices, the altered states, the glimpses, the trying and the falling back. But humanity keeps reasserting itself, in all of its messiness. And a kind of disillusionment can set in at that point. It can turn into a cynicism, which is not useful at all. Or it can turn into surrender: "I don't know what to do. I have tried everything, and still this mess keeps appearing."

( Read more... )

x-posted to nonduality

And now for a far more concise summation of my previous post...

There is nothing to practice. To know yourself, be yourself. To be yourself, stop imagining yourself to be this or that. Just be. Let your true nature emerge. Don't disturb your mind with seeking.

--Nisargadatta Maharaj

wanted words

Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.

Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

Karmageddon (n): It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

Glibido (v): All talk and no action.

Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come very quickly.

Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.

Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

bummer...

Maybe I'll e-mail brad and see if I can tour the LJ offices instead. They just moved to SF a few months ago.

Anyone else in the SF area have some ideas about stuff to see? I'd dig checking out some Silicon Valley stuff while I'm there, you know? vyoma, you're a reformed San Franciscan, aren't you? Do you have any suggestions?

Hi Dustin,

Thank you for your note. We appreciate your enthusiasm about Google; however, at this time we don't offer Google tours of our facilities.

You can find information about Google, including search services, corporate information, services available for site owners, and much more, at http://www.google.com/about.html.

Additionally, you may be interested in receiving our free bimonthly Google Friends Newsletter, which keeps you up to date on all the latest happenings at Google. Simply visit http://www.google.com/contact/newsletter.html to sign up.

Regards,
The Google Team


Original Message Follows:
------------------------
From: d-----@-------------.com
Subject: Can I visit and tour your Mountain View headquarters?
Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 15:58:47 -0000

Hi there,

I'm going to be travelling to San Francisco next week, and I was wondering if you offer tours, informal or otherwise, to the public. I'm not seeking employment, I'm just a long-time Google fan who would enjoy seeing your operation.

Thank you.