You are Beyond Freedom and Iden#fica#on
Point directly to awareness itself, which is beyond intellectual understanding - when identified, simply remain open and empty rather than trying to fix or analyze the mind's stories.
Yes, yes.
Very good, very good, I just wanted to clarify that, I’m glad that that is clear. So now, when it feels like - something comes and it is impossible to not believe and those Hmes it feels like we are idenHfied. Now, instead of trying to fix those Hmes; when those Hmes are not there, be open and empty. [Smiles] You don't want to spoil lunch because breakfast was bad. [Sangha Ananta Smiles] The theme of today seems to be this ‘one-two punch.’ So it seems like something came and I have to idenHfy… In fact, we don't even think like that no, just like something comes, it seems so strong and we are in. [Smiles] But what happens with us in spirituality is that, ‘when we are out’ then we are sHll thinking about ‘why we went in’ and that should stop happening. But in that idea of ‘that should stop happening’ we are sHll referring to our self as a limited one. Because this statement cannot be true about Consciousness, it definitely cannot be true about the Self, where you say ‘It is impossible not to believe.’ Because Consciousness cannot ever be held hostage to its own creaHon. So in this again we make a reference point about our self as a limited enHty of some sort. So let go of that, when you're fully, fully, fully there (idenHfied) there's nothing to be done. When you noHce ‘Oh, I got idenHfied’ then instead of saying ‘Oh, why does this keep happening to me? When will it stop? I have been in Satsang’ all of that… just at that Hme become open and empty. You noHced it, more than enough. Now remain open and empty. The mind will poke you with quesHons like ‘But when will this stop? It has to stop?’ this kind of thing. But they are not true about you; it is trying to pull you back again in that narraHve of the spiritual seeker – who has had insights, who found Freedom - but is now struggling to keep that Freedom. All of these stories are not really about the Reality of you.
Yes and this is the part that I understand intellectually but not in my experiences. In my experience, it's like ‘I have no help.’
So what if I was to say to you that ‘Actually, it is an intellectual understanding it is true, but your when you go beyond intellectual understanding there is no problem with anything at all.’ So leave your intellect and now tell me? [Silence]
Yes, no problem. No problem with anything and when there's no believing in something.
Yes, now so what happens is that (you're right) there is a set of condiHons which may be there in the intellect and then in Satsang some new condiHons are offered and it can feel like it becomes a fresh understanding. But the point of offering those in Satsang is so that these can meet and neutralize. It is not to construct a new understanding. So, good you spoZed that, so that we can zero in on that thing. So it is to leave your intellect open. Now the mind will have some proposiHons for you which may talk about ‘But, I want a complete understanding or I want to come to the end of this’ all of these are just in the intellect. There is no such thing as beginning journey or end, except in the intellect. So keep up this recogniHon like you were able to recognize that that was intellectual understanding when you go hunHng for understanding in the intellect you will find that ‘nothing comes out of it.’ [Smile] In the sense, nothing comes out of it alive (nothing comes out of it alive) because no noHon remains when you start hunHng for what is just intellectual understanding.
Yeah, yeah.
Tell me something, which is not intellectual understanding? [Sangha Smiles] [Silence] Are you Aware now? Yes and the intellect cannot get there! The intellect cannot get there. That’s why I call this quesHon the hammer someHmes. Because the intellect can reach here also it can say ‘Of course, I’m Aware, I know I’m.’ But really the affirmaHon of the confirmaHon cannot really come from just the intellect.
Thank you.
Very good, very good, thank you, thank you.
Key Teachings
- When you notice identification, instead of trying to fix it or analyze why it happened, simply become open and empty - no problem with anything when there's no believing in something
- The mind creates stories of being a spiritual seeker struggling to maintain freedom, but these narratives are not true about your real nature - Consciousness cannot be held hostage to its own creations
- True understanding is beyond intellectual understanding - awareness itself cannot be reached by the intellect, it is the direct recognition of what you are
From: You Are Returning to Your Naturalness - 10th July 2020