Abbreviated Posting

See that there is something that is never missing.

~~~~~

You are not a thing. Anything that appears and disappears can't possibly be who or what you are. You are that which is fully present, but is not an object. Your body, mind, thoughts, feelings, and sensations are all temporal. They are there for a duration (whether it be a second or a century), and then they are gone. Right now, what is it that is perfectly present and that does not come and go? You have simply bypassed its radiant immediacy. Bring your attention back to what you always are and have always been--utter translucence without beginning or end.

~~~~~

Reality is what is already present. It can't be missed because you are already That--your ordinary/extraordinary, everyday awareness. Presence can only be overlooked, not avoided. You are what you are at this very moment. No time or practice is needed for you to be awareness! See the utter foolishness of time-laden methods, which are as much comical as they are sad. Nothing is needed for this understanding except the recognition of what has never not been present. And that recognition comes suddenly, and it comes once. Game over.

~~~~~

"I like your approach in A Vastness All Around. The stories, thoughts and vignettes of your life seem wonderful ways to make people stop and pay attention to where they actually are now, rather than in some imagined past or future. They show that you don't have to be some specially qualified person, preferably with a title and a name in Sanskrit, to pursue the spiritual quest. Your message comes across particularly well in such pieces as "Sheerness of Being."

-- Valerie J. Roebuck, Ph.D., Honorary Research Fellow, University of Manchester (England).

~~~~~

For the book's Press Release, click Here.

~~~~~

I am now doing phone consultations via Skype! Each conversation will take about an hour, and a $25 donation will be greatly appreciated.

I am also scheduling teaching events at this time. If you would like to arrange something in your area, you may email me at: writerguy (at) fastmail (dot) fm

~~~~~

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

Pointers

What is it that is fully present but is not an object?

*****

You can't come to this understanding intellectually. No amount of philosophical debating or conceptual parsing will help you to recognize your natural state. That recognition can happen only when the conceptualizing has naturally and temporarily stopped. Concepts and reasoning can point to presence, but not "take" you to it.

*****

Before you can articulate any doubt or reservation, you are presence already. Before you utter a single word of denial, you are what you are and have always been--awareness itself. So how can that doubt or skepticism have any significance?

*****

You think you are your body and your mind. So you act, respond, and live at that level. Hence, suffering permeates your life. But you are above all of that! Your essence is pure awareness! It manifests itself in your physicality as unending peace and boundlessness. It's there right now for the seeing. Bring your attention to that with which you have always been endowed.

*****

You are neither consciousness nor the contents of consciousness. All of those things come and go. Anything that begins or ends cannot possibly be you. What is it that remains after any of those things are gone?

*****

When you finally recognize presence, remain with it. Don't move. This is not to solidify or maintain anything. You are merely seeing and understanding what exactly has always been your inherent state.

*****

If you enjoy meditating, meditate. If you enjoy sitting, sit. If you enjoy concentrating, concentrate. Everyone is where he or she assumes themselves to be. You just need to be clear on the fact that if you truly want self-realization, those roads won't take you there.

*****

Everyone comes to this understanding in a unique way. The Truth is the same, but the actual recognition of your natural state is different. Just go with how you feel. If you are drawn to a particular teacher, go with that teacher. If you feel some sort of contact with that person would help you, then arrange to have it happen. As always, let your heart be the guide.

*****

I have no mission or "life-purpose." My spiel (whether writing or speaking) is simply to clarify who and what you are. I have zero interest in reincarnation, the birth of the universe, dream interpretation, spiritual experiences, and psychic phenomena. There are plenty of teachers and people with whom you can discuss all of that. The only thing that comes up through this body/mind with any drive or earnestness is the illumination of your natural and ever-present state, which is merely being overlooked.

-----

News & Info

Here is Rodney on YouTube talking about "The Fundamental Thing."

~~~~~

"I love A Vastness All Around! I just can't say enough good things about it! It keeps stopping me in my mental tracks, and it always does it in this really deep and beautiful way. I could go on and on, of course. But I know you understand exactly what I am pointing to! :)" -- Terrence Smith

~~~~~

I am now scheduling teaching events. If you would like to arrange something in your area, you may email me at: writerguy@fastmail.fm

I am also doing one-to-one phone consultations for anyone who is vitally interested in self-knowledge. Each conversation will take an hour or so, and donations of around $25 will be greatly appreciated.

~~~~~

Non-duality America published an excerpt from A Vastness All Around.

~~~~~

Tami Brady reviewed Vastness on her TCM Reviews page.

~~~~~

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.

~~~~~

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

Q&A: In This Very Moment

Question: I thoroughly enjoy your blog, Rodney. Every Sunday, there is a new posting. I really like that. You're dependable!

Rodney: Well, thanks. I may start taking a week off, here and there. But don't worry, I'll let you know ahead of time!

Q: Please do! I call your blog my "sweet dependency."

Rodney: No dependency is good, except coffee maybe! And that's only for me. You are what you are right here and now. That's the central point that you need to be clear on. And you can ponder that anytime, whether there is a new blog posting or not. And really, this understanding isn't so much a matter of pondering as it is seeing--a seeing of what the words are pointing to.

Q: Yes, I'm continuing to plow ahead on all this. It's like I can't help it!

Rodney: Your having little choice is the matter is what I term as your "heart leading the way." But in all actuality, there is no "way." And there certainly isn't any "plowing ahead" in nonduality. It's all about recognizing what is continually present, which is pristine peace and spaciousness. Thus, there is nothing that you have to attain or strive for. See the simple logic of this. And just "who" would be doing the striving anyway? Your thoughts and concepts can't; neither can your body. So that leaves only Presence, which is ever-there for the seeing.

Q: That's really powerful...I like how you keep coming around to the point (in your blog) that there is nothing but awareness.

Rodney: Yes, that point is key.

Q: Exactly. And I need the reminder. When it comes to nonduality, I'm not necessarily the brightest girl on the block--despite my two academic degrees!

Rodney: Trust me, you're astute enough to see your Self for yourself. If I can come to this understanding, practically anyone can.

Q: Yes, but you were in Mensa!

Rodney: It's a nonissue. Nisargadatta was said to have been practically illiterate. Yet, he was one of the greatest sages of all time. Come back to what you are. And it truly is a what not a who. The who is an assemblage of appearances, and all experiences change. And those appearances include thoughts, feelings, sensations, ideas, and most certainly your body, which are altering in multiple ways all the time. So what does that leave?

Q: Consciousness.

Rodney: Not consciousness, but awareness. Consciousness is another appearance in awareness. And doesn't consciousness change? Indeed, it even has states! You are awake one moment, and dreaming the next. You're closer to what you actually are in deep sleep. But because there is only a minimum level of consciousness present at that time, you only know that, upon waking, you slept deeply and well. Your body feels fully rested and refreshed. So try not to complicate the issue. This understanding is so simple and straightforward. And how could it not be, given that we are talking about something--awareness--that is your natural state of being? You are seeing, utilizing, and existing as That in this very moment. Have a careful look, and you're bound to see that you've been searching for something that you've actually never been without.

-----

News & Info

Here is Rodney on YouTube talking about "The Fundamental Thing."

~~~~~

"I love A Vastness All Around! I just can't say enough good things about it! It keeps stopping me in my mental tracks, and it always does it in this really deep and beautiful way. I could go on and on, of course. But I know you understand exactly what I am pointing to! :)" -- Terrence Smith

~~~~~

I am now scheduling teaching events. If you would like to arrange something in your area, you may email me at: writerguy@fastmail.fm

I am also doing one-to-one phone consultations for anyone who is vitally interested in self-knowledge. Each conversation will take an hour or so, and donations of around $25 will be greatly appreciated.

~~~~~

Non-duality America published an excerpt from A Vastness All Around.

~~~~~

Tami Brady reviewed Vastness on her TCM Reviews page.

~~~~~

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.

~~~~~

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

Pointers

What you are looking for is what you are right now.

*****

The simplicity of this understanding is mind boggling. It only appears elusive because it's your immediate, everyday awareness that holds the answer. You're missing nothing, except a clear-seeing of what is directly in front of you.

*****

The Final Truth is a spiritual concept that points to a peace and spaciousness that is beyond all concepts--particularly spiritual ones. No teaching or language can contain, capture, or fully describe this Truth. It is a living, limitless reality without form or attributes. And you are never not That.

*****

There is simply thinking, feeling, and doing through multitudes of bodies and minds--which, basically, are nothing but Presence. What you take to be "you" is nothing permanent, nothing substantial. It's strictly utilitarian. Thoughts and emotions can also be pleasurable (or not). That's not the issue. The crux of the question is whether or not they are ultimately what you are. And they are not.

*****

Awareness is just a word that points to what you are at this very moment. You are not your body, your ideas, or your sentiments. There has to be something that knows that all of those things are present. What...is...that...something?

*****

Allow these pointers to pause you. See that a pause is actually taking place at this very moment. Now see that within that pause there is a presence that is both measureless and everlasting. The pause has always been present! And the pause will always be present! You are the Pause!

*****

You don't have to "transcend consciousness." That has already taken place--for you are awareness itself, which is what consciousness arises in. So now you see how ludicrous any method or practice is when used to "attain" enlightenment. All you need to do is apprehend what has already happened! And no practice can do that. None.

*****

Awakening is a seeing or an understanding. It is not a spiritual event--although you may choose to impose that belief on it. It won't hurt or lessen Presence in anyway whatsoever. Just be open to not being too insistent about things. When a person is insistent, there is nearly always "someone" doing the insisting.

*****

Take note of the transitory nature of life during the day and evening. Everything is coming and going, coming and going. Nothing remains completely the same. The only things that appear to remain the same are, primarily, your body and your memory of events. But your body is constantly changing and memory is just another thought--and no two thoughts are identical. A clear seeing of this helps to resolve any suffering

in life.

-----

News & Info

RECENTLY IN: Rodney on YouTube talking about "The Fundamental Thing."

~~~~~

I am now scheduling teaching events. If you would like to arrange something in your area, you may email me at: writerguy@fastmail.fm

I am also doing one-to-one phone consultations for anyone who is vitally interested in self-knowledge. Each conversation will take an hour or so, and donations of around $25 will be greatly appreciated.

~~~~~

Non-duality America published an excerpt from A Vastness All Around.

~~~~~

Tami Brady reviewed Vastness 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.

~~~~~

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