Presence is not phenomena.
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Awareness is neither active nor inactive. It is what is existing now as a presence of utter tranquility and spaciousness. There is nothing to wait for and everything to see.
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The transparency of Self is mind-boggling—or should I say mind-stopping! Keep coming back to the fact that what you are searching for is fully present. It is what you are existing as at this very moment.
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There is absolutely nothing to attain.
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Recognizing your natural state takes less than a second. Indeed, it's a timeless moment. So don't give any credence whatsoever to spiritual propagandists (or your own thoughts!) that claim that this understanding requires time and/or exertion.
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When it comes to nonduality, all issues relating to progress, morality, purification, meditation, and stabilization are non-starters. They simply have nothing to do with what you are right at this second.
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"There is no one here, I tell you. Even I am astonished that these words are coming out. You can trace backwards all day long, whether from your thoughts, body, personality, neurological makeup—but you will eventually come to this point of stillness, of I don't know or of beyond that I don't know. The I don't know is presence speaking, in a manner of speaking! That's all. It's presence pointing directly and wholly to its own existence—to what you are right now." — from phone consultation
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Life is neither destined nor meaningless. The moment you say one thing about it, you will find that it isn't that either. So put any philosophical questions aside so you can focus on what is undeniably present. This is not an exercise or practice or struggle. You are simply noticing something that has always been uncategorically present.
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You are falsely identifying yourself with your thoughts, body, and emotions. Now, this isn't to say that once this understanding occurs, everything will be A-Okay. You will still have your same personality, certain things will still annoy you. But that will also be a clear-seeing of things as they are. You won't be holding onto matters much anymore.
News & Info
The Only True Life: Living from the Natural State can be purchased from Amazon by clicking on the above link.
The Only True Life: Living from the Natural State can be purchased from Amazon by clicking on the above link.
To buy the book directly from the publisher, Lulu Press
"Rodney, I just wanted you to know that I aways buy three of your new books—one to treasure myself, and the others to pass along to spiritually minded friends of mine."
— Leif Watson
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Susan Ferguson is a talented artist, writer, and book reviewer, who lives in the gorgeous, green hills of North Canterbury, New Zealand.
You may read her review of The Only True Life at her beautiful Web site: Metaphysical Musing:
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Feel free to check out Jimmy Dabrowski's beautiful and downloadable MixTape. Jimmy's a great guy, and I am honored to be one of the nondual authors in his collection.
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And go HERE for the press release for Fully Present.
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"Fully Present is an elegant addition to the growing literature on nonduality as it is being uncovered, lived and understood in the modern West."
--Philip Goldberg, author of the best-selling America Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation—How Indian Spirituality Changed the West. Philip's Web site can be found at www.philipgoldberg.com.
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"Rodney Stevens opens his daily life and thoughts to us in these immensely natural and pleasant ramblings of one who is fully engaged in life, love, nonduality, and cinnamon muffins."
--Catherine Ann Jones, award-winning screenwriter, spiritual workshop leader, and author of The Way of the Story: The Craft and Soul of Writing. Her Web site is www.wayofstory.com
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Rodney is also the author of A Vastness All Around: Awakening to Your Natural State, a powerful and elegant collection of essays, discussions, interviews, and powerful pointers. It can be ordered directly from the publisher at Lulu Press.
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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.
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"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 right 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)
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I am now doing phone consultations via Skype! Each conversation will take about an hour, and a $25 donation will be greatly appreciated.
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This blog is generally updated every month.
