Pointers

What is it, right now, that is absolutely not changing?

*****

Presence is the "I" that knows that your body, thoughts, emotions, and sensations are temporarily appearing. That "I" is the spaciousness before you--not your body, thoughts, or feelings.

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The ego is just the sense of an individual self. It is not an actual thing or division.

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Everything arises spontaneously out of awareness. See that this is actually occurring in your daily life. Thoughts, emotions, sensations, consciousness, and your body are being known by awareness. Bring your attention to this spacious knower that you heretofore have overlooked.

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Meditation only strengthens the notion that there is a person there, and not presence.

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Presence is looking at itself through this body's eyes. That this body happens to be named Rodney, is male, is tall, and loves dark chocolate is purely circumstantial. There is nothing here but presence. Everything is coming up from and disappearing into That.

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Methods and techniques remain peripheral. Self-enquiry and ernest deliberation do not.

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Your body does not have a life of its own. It is composed of and is animated by presence. Thus, you are being lived. There is no separate person living a life. You are a wave on the ocean and are nothing but water itself.

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Existence is simply awareness finding expression in infinite forms and actions.

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Awareness isn't something that is merely constantly present. It is what you are. So stop trying gain or reach for presence. You are looking beyond it--so to speak--when you attempt to do that. So what is it, right at this moment, that you cannot look beyond? That is who and what you are! That is your heart and treasure. See what is doing the seeing and the knowing--it is that seemingly ordinary spaciousness that is directly before and within you. And truly, it couldn't be any simpler to recognize.

-----

News & Info

RECENTLY IN: Tami Brady reviewed A Vastness All Around on her TCM Reviews page.

~~~~~

"A Vastness All Around is, hands down, one of the best books out there on nonduality. Thank you for all of your writing." --Alex Taylor

~~~~~

Here's a review of the Kindle Edition of Vastness on Amazon.

~~~~~

Nonduality Magazine has published a discussion with Rodney about his work and book. The extensive and wide-ranging interview was done by John LeKay, the magazine's editor.

~~~~~

"Loved the book, Rodney. Enjoyed it as much as John Wheeler's first book, Awakening to the Natural State. My favourite quote of yours was "you are no more your personal history than you are your toothbrush." I like the fact that you included little tidbits of your life and surrounds. It felt more like reading a book on travel or history than some of the other textbook style books on nonduality. I think for anyone serious about a direct approach, your book and John Wheeler's are the two to have." -- Ian

~~~~~

A Vastness All Around: Awakening to Your Natural State is Rodney's first collection of essays, discussions, interviews, and powerful pointers. It can be ordered directly from the publisher at Lulu Press.

~~~~~

Vastness is now available for the Amazon Kindle! Order Here.

~~~~~

And for the book's Press Release, click Here.

~~~~~

If you would like to meet Rodney, have him to discuss nonduality, sign books, or read, you can email him at: writerguy@fastmail.fm Such events are self-organized, so funding is key, with groups and universities that can cover travel expenses getting priority. And much appreciation!

~~~~~

John Wheeler's site is no longer up. But earnest and serious seekers can reach him at: johnwheeler111@yahoo.com

~~~~~

This blog is generally updated every Sunday afternoon, Eastern Standard Time.

Greetings from the Netherlands

Questioner: Hi, Rodney. I'm writing from the Netherlands. The internet can be such a blessing! One discovery after another! I don't even remember precisely how I came across your blog. What I do remember, though, is that after reading some of your postings, I immediately purchased the e-book version of A Vastness All Around. And I loved it so much that I then ordered the paper version, as well.

Rodney: Wow, thanks! I'm thrilled that you resonated with the book.

Q: A few years ago, I found John Wheeler's site. I bought his books and devoured them, as well--re-reading them over and over again. They had a tremendous impact. For the first time, it became clear that before any meditation, practice, or mind-expansion type-stuff, "is-ness" already is, so to speak.

Rodney: Precisely. Any practices toward presence are away from presence. From the very first second, you are looking away from the very thing that you are seeking.

Q: I went on reading (and listening to) a whole bunch of other teachers, including Bob Adamson, Stephen Wingate, Joan Tollifson, Annette Nibley, and Vince Flammini. Again, the Web is such a goldmine, really! The only problem is: there still seems to be a gold-digger here.

Rodney: Yes, the seeker remains.

Q: So a bit of fine-tuning would be most welcome. I particularly want to understand the awareness "versus" consciousness question.

Rodney: Trying to sort out the conceptual differences between awareness and consciousness can be tricky. You end up just re-defining your terms because things have gotten murky. But the issue resolves itself quite clearly with the recognition of your natural state. So begin (and possibly end) with what you already know--that, for instance, during a pause between thoughts--

Q: Right, as soon as I pause thought, there is this immediate and incredibly basic is-ness that I was talking about. It is peaceful, alive, throbbing with a kind of joyful expectation, (very subtle). Is this awareness?

Rodney: It is awareness, but it isn't your natural state, which--while peaceful and immediate--is never "throbbing," "joyful," or filled with any kind of expectation. What you're looking for is a subtle-yet-very definite presence of peace, spaciousness, and tranquility. It does not change in the least, because it is what you are, right here and now.

Q: Right, seeing that there is a "what," and not a "who."

Rodney: Be mindful, too, that there is something that it is not changing throughout your day-to-day life. What is that something? Deliberate on this when you have some time to sit comfortably and quietly, or even while you are out walking--if you are careful! That "something" can't be consciousness because consciousness changes: Thoughts arise and disappear; you feel awake one moment and drowsy the next; feelings come and go; you are responsive to situations and your environment, etc. All these things are part of consciousness. Now take note of the fact that there is a knowingness that is aware that these things are occurring. What is that knowingness?

Q: Yes, I see what you're saying. And it's completely ridiculous that I keep missing it! Because as you say, it is the most ordinary and obvious of things.

Rodney: Don't beat yourself up about it. You're focusing on the "wrong" aspect of the issue. The good (indeed awesome) news is that self-knowledge--because of its immediacy and simplicity--is one of the easiest things to come by. We aren't talking about something that is inherently difficult or a chore to understand. It is your own subtle self at this very moment. It isn't something that you are going to come by at some future date.

Q: Right.

Rodney: Remember, too, that stress will only inhibit your seeing. Let all of this be a gentle but frequent contemplation, all the while knowing that what we are speaking about is a living reality, the whatness of your being, and there is absolutely no lack of it within you.

Q: It's coincidental that you should mention that. Today, I was re-reading your book. (It's such a treasure, really!) And I was thinking how you are the first author who underlines so explicitly that it is not so much "Who are you" but "What are you"?

Rodney: Thanks, but most first-rate nondual writers and teachers point to it also. It's just that I tend to make it an issue because it slows the seeker's conceptual momentum. And thus, there is no "I" to build upon--just unbounded peace and spaciousness.

-----

News & Info

JUST IN: Tami Brady reviewed A Vastness All Around on her TCM Reviews page.

~~~~~

"A Vastness All Around is, hands down, one of the best books on nonduality. Thank you for all of your writing." --Alex Taylor

~~~~~

Here's a review of the Kindle Edition of Vastness on Amazon.

~~~~~

Nonduality Magazine has published a discussion with Rodney about his work and book. The extensive and wide-ranging interview was done by John LeKay, the magazine's editor.

~~~~~

"Loved the book, Rodney. Enjoyed it as much as John Wheeler's first book, Awakening to the Natural State. My favourite quote of yours was "you are no more your personal history than you are your toothbrush." I like the fact that you included little tidbits of your life and surrounds. It felt more like reading a book on travel or history than some of the other textbook style books on nonduality. I think for anyone serious about a direct approach, your book and John Wheeler's are the two to have." -- Ian

~~~~~

A Vastness All Around: Awakening to Your Natural State is Rodney's first collection of essays, discussions, interviews, and powerful pointers. It can be ordered directly from the publisher at Lulu Press.

~~~~~

Vastness is now available for the Amazon Kindle! Order Here.

~~~~~

And for the book's Press Release, click Here.

~~~~~

If you would like to meet Rodney, have him to discuss nonduality, sign books, or read, you can email him at: writerguy@fastmail.fm Such events are self-organized, so funding is key, with groups and universities that can cover travel expenses getting priority. And much appreciation!

~~~~~

John Wheeler's site is no longer up. But earnest and serious seekers can reach him at: johnwheeler111@yahoo.com

~~~~~

This blog is generally updated every Sunday afternoon, Eastern Standard Time.

Pointers

No matter what is happening, you are looking into awareness at that very moment.

*****

Though you may shed a tear or burst out laughing, awakening is not an emotional issue. Also, whether you're a compassionate person or a callous one, it is not a factor when it comes to perceiving your natural state.

*****

There can be no collective understanding of the natural state. It happens to one person at a time. And though it is a relatively rare and singular event, that is only because of the ease with which presence can be overlooked, and not because it is difficult to understand or a time-related issue.

*****

In a magazine article, I came across the line, "However, by practicing awareness, we can train ourselves...." But how can you "practice" what you already are? The notion is ludicrous. And who is this separate entity or person that is going to be "trained" into seeing awareness? Again, it's all meditative gobbledygook.

*****

In regards to nonduality, getting "in touch with your feelings" is a massive waste of time. You are what you are at this very moment, regardless of what you are thinking or feeling. See the power and immediate reality of this. You are what you are at this very moment, regardless of what you're thinking or feeling.

*****

If you are genuinely interested in knowing your natural state, then "freeing" yourself of everyday thoughts, emotions, and actions is not the way to go about it. Instead, go to the source--presence itself. Then, other matters will to take care of themselves.

*****

You can't "rest" or "abide" in the natural state. That would be someone in addition to the state itself.

*****

Don't dismiss small insights. They could lead to larger and more potent ones. Besides, if you give your full attention to the pause and stillness after any insight, you can immediately know and discern absolute Freedom.

*****

You can't use meditation to "get beyond the mind." Why not? Because you are expressly using the mind when you are meditating! However, seeing the bare truth of this statement does point you beyond any imagined thinker or meditator.

*****

In your natural state, peace is the spacious; and the spaciousness, peace. One blends into the other and never becomes wholly defined. There is no movement, and yet, this non-state is alive, knowing, and wondrous. It is your bright true Self, without a single limitation.

*****

People who put emphasis on "the path" to awakening do so because, in their heart of hearts, they do not believe that this can happen them. So they give themselves an out by going on and on about the importance of the "journey" rather than the destination. But true enlightenment (if you want to use that word) is a sudden discovery that you are already "located" at the place to which you are attempting to journey. So just sit with this for a few moments--or however much time you feel comfortable giving it. See the reality of your situation. That reality is merely being overlooked, that's all. It is as simple as that.

-----

News & Info

John Wheeler's Web site is no longer up. But earnest and serious seekers (and that's the only kind we have here at "Radiance") can reach him at: johnwheeler111@yahoo.com

~~~~~

"Just wanted to tell you that A Vastness All Around is, hands down, one of the best books on nonduality. Thank you for all of your writing." --Alex Taylor

~~~~~

Here's a review of the Kindle Edition of A Vastness All Around on Amazon.

~~~~~

Nonduality Magazine has published a discussion with Rodney about his work and book. The extensive and wide-ranging interview was done by John LeKay, the magazine's editor.

~~~~~

"Loved the book, Rodney. Enjoyed it as much as John Wheeler's first book, Awakening to the Natural State. My favourite quote of yours was "you are no more your personal history than you are your toothbrush." I like the fact that you included little tidbits of your life and surrounds. It felt more like reading a book on travel or history than some of the other textbook style books on nonduality. I think for anyone serious about a direct approach, your book and John Wheeler's are the two to have." -- Ian

~~~~~

A Vastness All Around: Awakening to Your Natural State is Rodney's first collection of essays, discussions, interviews, and powerful pointers. It can be ordered directly from the publisher at Lulu Press.

~~~~~

Vastness is now available for the Amazon Kindle! Order Here.

~~~~~

And for the book's Press Release, click Here.

~~~~~

If you would like to meet Rodney, have him to discuss nonduality, sign books, or read, you can email him at: writerguy@fastmail.fm Such events are self-organized, so funding is key, with groups and universities that can cover travel expenses getting priority. And much appreciation!

~~~~~

This blog is generally updated every Sunday afternoon, Eastern Standard Time.