Greed And Wealth

Q: Why are we so greedy that even rich people sometimes steal from others, as seems to be the case on a very large scale at the moment?

MM: Because inside, we are so poor. The richer we get, the poorer we get. Rich means that we have a lot of things and a lot of money to buy more things, all in hopes for happiness. Then we keep busy selling the things we tire of and buying new things to please ourselves. This can go on forever if we don't realize the true nature of happiness, which is an inner wealth.

Wealth is when someone has enough. This can happen to a rich person or a to a very poor person. It is an inner event rather than an outer event. Life may not be fair, but wealth is fair. It is available to everyone, equally and at all times.

"Not having enough" often leads to hoarding or even stealing, by both the poor and even the very rich. "Having enough", on the other hand, leads to peace and to giving, by both the poor and the rich. This giving can be an outer or an inner event, or both.

Peace Pilgrim is one such person, who owned nothing but the clothes on her back, and did without food until it was offered to her. She felt free and rich. She was a normal, material housewife before she "woke up" to her inner wealth. After that, she gave and gave of herself even though she had nothing physical to give to anyone. Jesus and Buddha of course are clear examples, as are hundreds of other such people, but we often think they are so great that we can never reach such inner wealth. This is just not so. It is already there - we have just forgotten how to draw on it.

False Self, True Self, No Self

Q: Somewhere I saw you talking about our false self and our true self and in another place you talked about no self. I am confused - which one is it?

MM: No self is your true self! The I Am that Is Not! Ask yourself - when there is absolutely no self, what is left? That is who you are. Words can only point at it, but never express it. Only silence can express it.

Purity

Q: Why do so many religious teachings see sex as "dirty" and talk so much about purity etc.?

MM: If you were to go camping for a few months - and were to experience life closer to the way most people lived thousands of years ago or in difficult circumstances today - the answer to this question would reveal itself. When there is scarcity of water for washing - oneself or one's clothing - all things sexual, be that intercourse, a woman's period, birth, etc, end up simply a dirty matter of unpleasant odors and sticky feelings. Before science there was religion, and much of religious advice about purity regarding people, food, etc., happens to simply be good science, but then gets confused with spirituality.

With plenty of water and soap available to most of us today - sex is not an issue of impurity - unless too many partners are involved. Then once again a religious no-no like promiscuity proves to be good advice scientifically because promiscuity can affect ones health and emotions quite negatively. None of these unhealthy, "dirty" behaviors in and of themselves affect one's soul and eternal life, though. It is not about the sex as so many religious people misunderstand. Spiritually what matters is whether there is abuse, greed, fear, or insincerity involved - be that sex, money, power, or any other area of life.

Even with lots of water and soap - a woman, man, or child who has been raped, for example, feels dirty and often continues to try to wash this feeling away. This is a physical/psychological phenomenon that also is real. The body and the mind can become polluted like water and air can , but we are neither the body nor the mind. Therefore - the eternal, infinite soul is always untouched. We are inherently pure, even if we fall face first into the mud.

Suffering

Q: Why is there so much suffering in the world?

MM: Is there more suffering than there is joy? And why do we not ask:"Why is there so much joy in the world?" Does not the joy of one man make the suffering of another that much more unbearable?

There is as much suffering, and as much joy in the world as we see. Joy and suffering are the front and the back of the same thing. Joy turns into suffering and suffering into joy the way day and night turn into each other.

Wisdom, enlightenment, and the end of suffering - is when joy and suffering are experienced simultaneously and understood as one phenomenon, which translates into a profound peace and an intense level of awareness. For example, if one were to hold ones dead child in ones arms with both the devastation of this loss and the overwhelming gratitude for every precious moment one had had with that child, in such a moment suffering and joy become so interwoven that one can become free. This peace is beyond both joy or suffering. It expands endlessly, is experienced as if one had awakened from a never-ending nightmare. This freedom that is serenity should not be confused with the false freedom that comes from denial, detachment or numbness.

Some people achieve this over a lifetime as the pain of loss, the hatred towards injustice, and the gradual descent into despair, is transformed into deep love, compassion, and gratitude - through an inner alchemy. Calling it forgiveness is wrong. For forgiveness there still needs to be blame. Calling it acceptance is also wrong. Acceptance is not yet deep, overall gratitude. This gratitude is not for something, but in spite of everything.

One has to go beyond logic and reason for this kind of inner alchemy that turns lead into gold to come about. One has to go beyond oneself. This is by no means easy when there is great pain and trauma. But with love, humility and self-knowledge it is available to everyone no matter their circumstances. That is why the sages tell us to wake up. Joy and suffering come from the same source.

Eating Meat And Buddhism

Q: I was out drinking last night and it was interesting to see all the old habits kick back in the more drunk I got, it was almost like stepping in a time machine and observing my old character traits.

It got me thinking, how would a Buddha act if he / she got drunk? In theory, if he / she was completely enlightened, would they act exactly the same as if they were sober? (bar limb control)

MM: Alcohol removes inhibition. A buddha is already his most ancient self. We on the other hand, have an "old self" and an "improved self" that is easily undone by alcohol. When one is one's most ancient self, even "happy drunk people" seem in great suffering.

Then there is being drunk on the divine as in this video of Amma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIGidWtaMD8

and my post on this kind of drunkeness here

There is no question that an enlightened one would be subject to almost the same physical effects of alcohol - loss of coordination, dulling of the senses like smell, sight, etc, as mentioned above (maybe slower) - just as he or she would go unconscious with anesthesia and could be operated on, but there would not be any change in personality or behavior as in reverting to a more primitive or uninhibited self.

There is no uninhibited self. Even the most deep seated, primitive reactions and reflexes from the reptilian brain are well known and conscious to an enlightened one and are relaxed consciously and instantly before they manifest in behavior. Not suppressed, mind you - that is a different mechanism, which is easily undone by alcohol.

If you want to practice, try to make yourself sneeze - or when you need to sneeze, stop yourself. Or - learn to master your startling reflex. A gun shot goes off right near you and you don't have any reaction at all. Or your toaster. This takes a few decades to master. You need a friend or master to keep startling you. Actually this is just training that does not guarantee enlightenment, but - someone who is enlightened is very familiar with relaxing the most deep seated reflexes.

The only way to get enlightened is relaxing the most fundamental and deep seated reflex of all - the one of not wanting to die. If you can do that in meditation - the truth opens up before your very eyes and you are forever free. Unless - you then become identified with being enlightened, and being free.

A Leg To Stand On

Q: I was out drinking last night and it was interesting to see all the old habits kick back in the more drunk I got, it was almost like stepping in a time machine and observing my old character traits.

It got me thinking, how would a Buddha act if he / she got drunk? In theory, if he / she was completely enlightened, would they act exactly the same as if they were sober? (bar limb control)

MM: Alcohol removes inhibition. A buddha is already his most ancient self. We on the other hand, have an "old self" and an "improved self" that is easily undone by alcohol. When one is one's most ancient self, even "happy drunk people" seem in great suffering.

Then there is being drunk on the divine as in this video of Amma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIGidWtaMD8

and my post on this kind of drunkeness here

There is no question that an enlightened one would be subject to almost the same physical effects of alcohol - loss of coordination, dulling of the senses like smell, sight, etc, as mentioned above (maybe slower) - just as he or she would go unconscious with anesthesia and could be operated on, but there would not be any change in personality or behavior as in reverting to a more primitive or uninhibited self.

There is no uninhibited self. Even the most deep seated, primitive reactions and reflexes from the reptilian brain are well known and conscious to an enlightened one and are relaxed consciously and instantly before they manifest in behavior. Not suppressed, mind you - that is a different mechanism, which is easily undone by alcohol.

If you want to practice, try to make yourself sneeze - or when you need to sneeze, stop yourself. Or - learn to master your startling reflex. A gun shot goes off right near you and you don't have any reaction at all. Or your toaster. This takes a few decades to master. You need a friend or master to keep startling you. Actually this is just training that does not guarantee enlightenment, but - someone who is enlightened is very familiar with relaxing the most deep seated reflexes.

The only way to get enlightened is relaxing the most fundamental and deep seated reflex of all - the one of not wanting to die. If you can do that in meditation - the truth opens up before your very eyes and you are forever free. Unless - you then become identified with being enlightened, and being free.

If A Buddha Got Drunk

Q: I was out drinking last night and it was interesting to see all the old habits kick back in the more drunk I got, it was almost like stepping in a time machine and observing my old character traits.

It got me thinking, how would a Buddha act if he / she got drunk? In theory, if he / she was completely enlightened, would they act exactly the same as if they were sober? (bar limb control)

MM: Alcohol removes inhibition. A buddha is already his most ancient self. We on the other hand, have an "old self" and an "improved self" that is easily undone by alcohol. When one is one's most ancient self, even "happy drunk people" seem in great suffering.

Then there is being drunk on the divine as in this video of Amma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIGidWtaMD8

and my post on this kind of drunkeness here

There is no question that an enlightened one would be subject to almost the same physical effects of alcohol - loss of coordination, dulling of the senses like smell, sight, etc, as mentioned above (maybe slower) - just as he or she would go unconscious with anesthesia and could be operated on, but there would not be any change in personality or behavior as in reverting to a more primitive or uninhibited self.

There is no uninhibited self. Even the most deep seated, primitive reactions and reflexes from the reptilian brain are well known and conscious to an enlightened one and are relaxed consciously and instantly before they manifest in behavior. Not suppressed, mind you - that is a different mechanism, which is easily undone by alcohol.

If you want to practice, try to make yourself sneeze - or when you need to sneeze, stop yourself. Or - learn to master your startling reflex. A gun shot goes off right near you and you don't have any reaction at all. Or your toaster. This takes a few decades to master. You need a friend or master to keep startling you. Actually this is just training that does not guarantee enlightenment, but - someone who is enlightened is very familiar with relaxing the most deep seated reflexes.

The only way to get enlightened is relaxing the most fundamental and deep seated reflex of all - the one of not wanting to die. If you can do that in meditation - the truth opens up before your very eyes and you are forever free. Unless - you then become identified with being enlightened, and being free.

Floating Into Nothing

Q: I used to meditate quite regularly (maybe just for 30 mins or so each day) but I took on some extra work and this prevented me from meditating for quite some time. On Friday night I decided to meditate again, and something amazing happened. It's quite hard to explain so bare with me.

In full Lotus, in a pitch black room by a window I could hear the sound of the wind blowing, as it was quite a rough night outside. I closed my eyes and counted by breaths to clear my mind. My thoughts vanished, and I became mindful. This is a bit weird but, my mind felt like it expanded. I could still hear the wind but it was not a distraction - I was aware of it but was not thinking about it. It was quite a calming situation. My entire self felt like I had floated a few feet above my body, like I was detached from my body and floating in nothingness. This is what I mean when I say my mind felt like it expanded. It was as if my true self disassociated or detached itself from my body. I was in, what felt like a perfect relaxing state of nothingness, like this, for about 4 hours.

I had never experienced anything like this when meditating before. Are any of you fine folks able to explain this to me? This happened again when I was meditating yesterday. To be honest, I have never been so calm and relaxed in my life, since this happened.


MM: Your mind wants an explanation. None is needed. Would you ask anyone for an explanation if you had just had the most calming, relaxing orgasm ever?

This stillness and nothingness which is beyond your body and mind, is your true identity, your true Self. As you return to your old self, this old self is looking for an explanation. In a way it wants to own the experience as in "this happened to ME". Ask yourself "To whom did this happen?" At the time there was no-one there - it is the only way it can happen. But in hindsight it seems that it happened to you. This "you" is thinking of something in the past, and maybe hoping for the same experience again in the future.

While you meditate this "thinking you" disappears and you unite with who you really are - THAT. We describe it as this nothingness and peace but it is really quite beyond words. At the danger of inflating your false Self - you are very fortunate at having "achieved" this level of meditation. Drop the idea that you reached some great level of meditation, though, and you will stay relaxed and open to this becoming "you", more and more - as in I AM.

(The complete thread lives here at Boards.ie)

Walking, Talking Humans - At Peace

This is a sequence of questions from the same person. To read the whole thread and other people's contributions to this discussion you can go to Boards.ie were most of the online MeditationMom conversations take place in the various religion forums.

Question:Are those who attain enlightenment always enlightened?
MeditationMom: Yes.

Q: I ask, as some recent meditation sittings I've done have brought on glimpses of something akin to nothingness.
MM: "Glimpses of something akin" is not yet "it" and it will take more trust and love on your part for that. A glimpse of the ocean differs greatly from jumping in. Also, there is still an "I" that had the glimpse. Who had the glimpse?

Q: But I always come back.
MM: Who comes back? From where to where?

Q: The 'edge of mind' feeling though remains, and sometimes I can almost fall back into that state/feeling/whatever with the simplest effort.
MM: This is very good that you can go there at will and it is good practice to keep going "back and forth". But, "the edge of the mind" is not yet having jumped off the cliff, so to speak. That's where you need more love and trust, still.

Q: The only thing that seems to be holding me down are things & family, even my own body.
MM: The only thing that is holding you back is not body, things or family but "I". Who would you be without your things, body and your family? More importantly, who would you be without thought - especially the root thought of all thought which is "I". Who or what would that be? That is who you are! The Nothingness you had a glimpse of - when fully known - you realize is who you are, rather than an experience that you have. This can be known fully before death, but for most at death is when they find out, again and again, life after life. If you find out before death, it is called enlightenment and it does require losing ones fear of death . So far you are experiencing your mind at profound rest which is great, and truly gives a glimpse. There is one more step in order to go beyond, and it is not a step we can take, but a step that is granted. Readiness is achieved by working on love and trust to its utmost. A family is a great training ground to practice love and trust. The readiness I mentioned is nothing but a complete willingness to give up the self.

Q: Makes me wonder if its only something that can be utterly attained at the end of life, when the final tether (body) starts to unwind.
MM: The body is not the tether. The "I" is the tether. Even when there are "almost enlightenment" experiences, it is still the "I" that had them and then loses them again. Hassidic Jews say: "You have to die before you die." This is no small thing.

Q: Do these enlightened folks walk around in this state all the time? I find that hard to bet on, tbh.
MM: They do not run around in the state you describe, because that is not enlightenment.

Q: Crazy, I know, but I'm interested in the philosophical aspects of this question. I've heard of people attaining enlightenment, just curious if they are still walking, talking humans.
MM: Walking, talking humans - with a twinkle in their eyes and a profound peace about them, living ordinary lives. The "great ones" like Buddha or Jesus were just living ordinary lives at the time, and have only become "great" in our minds over time.

God As The Number Zero

Atheist are committed truth seekers and often had very strict religious upbringing by the wrong people, or had none, and are scientifically minded.

Consider this, scientifically minded truth seeker - God is like the number zero and is both absolute power as well as absolute powerlessness. Both undetectable and obvious depending on the circumstances. He doesn't matter, unless he does. Both at the same time. It all depends on how you use the number zero in your calculations whether it makes a difference or not. It seems when atheists and believers argue about the existence of God it is like arguing whether the number zero is a number. It is not - and yet it is - it is a non-number-number. It names that, which is not. God is that, which is not matter. It is that out of which everything arises and to which everything returns. As such it matters more than matter itself. People who say God exists and people who say he doesn't exist - are both right for reasons they do not understand.

If we thought of God as the number 0, and were to describe an atheist as the number 5, a believer would be the number 05. Jesus would be the number 50, and someone like Hitler would be the number 55.