You are awareness itself. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
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Because you think that there is something that needs to be done, you aren't looking at what is perfectly present. But if you were to bring your attention back to the fact of your naturally being aware of things that are appearing at this moment, you just may see that you are awareness proper.
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The mind and body aren't the issue. You are simply by-passing presence, which is there 24/7.
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The ego is just a thought or feeling. Don't give it any kind of special significance. It is merely an appearance in presence. It comes, and it goes. You don't. You are what never changes. Stay with the truth and beauty of this fact: You are That which never changes.
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Your natural state is serene unboundedness. You never deviate from being precisely that.
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U.G. Krishnamurti said it beautifully: "The peace you are seeking is already inside you."
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You are imposing a fictitious self upon your body and mind. And when you are told that that is not the way to end suffering, you promptly attempt to control or destroy this re-occurring sense of individuality by meditation, mindfulness, and mantras. In fact, the more the ego appears to be a problem, the harder you meditate. But the ego isn't the least bothered by all of that because it is a naturally occurring appearance in the body/mind. (Also, it's not a living thing.) It's the meditation, mindfulness, and mantras that are the odd entities out! That's why people end up meditating for entire lifetimes--because absolutely nothing is getting accomplished!
Rodney's new book, Fully Present: Daily Reflections on Nonduality, is now out. It is $18.95 for the paperback (excluding postage). You can order it directly from the publisher right HERE.
For Tami Brady's review of Fully Present in TCM Reviews, go HERE.
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Check out Rodney on YouTube talking about "The Fundamental Thing."
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News & Info
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Fully Present is now on AMAZON! It can also be purchased at Barnes & Noble, and is available through bookstores nationwide.
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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 American 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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For the book's Press Release, click Here.
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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.
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
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This blog is generally updated every Sunday afternoon, Eastern Standard Time.
2 comments:
Strong pointers thank you!
Thanks for writing, Tova. :)
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