Mature state of consciousness transcending dualism
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13th July 2026In this Satsang, Sanjay explored spiritual teachings and meditation practices, particularly discussing Adi Shankaracharya's Aparokshanubhuti and Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi's teachings about self-realization. He shared stories about Professor Krishnamurti Ayer's transformative experience at Virupaksha Cave in 1914, where he unexpectedly prostrated before Bhagavan despite his initial skepticism toward spirituality and religion. The discussion emphasized the importance of contemplation on one's true nature, distinguishing between identifying with the body-mind and recognizing the pure witness consciousness that remains unchanging even during deep sleep. Participants explored how suffering arises from misidentification with temporary phenomena, and how practicing silence and surrendering the ego can help one abide in the natural state of bliss and pure awareness.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA (Non-duality Awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia.Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
Host Michael Taft talks with bestselling author Michael Pollan about his new book, A World Appears, and the enduring mystery of consciousness. They explore the hidden biases of consciousness researchers, the limits of scientific materialism, the embodied nature of feeling, and what literature, meditation, psychedelics, and the arts can reveal that laboratory science cannot. The conversation turns to artificial intelligence and the unsettling possibility that machines may possess ego-like structures without any genuine inner awareness, raising urgent questions about emotional attachment to algorithms and the need for “consciousness hygiene.” They also discuss ego dissolution, the microbiome's surprising influence on mind and behavior, the increasingly blurry boundary between self and world, and practical ways of becoming more fully conscious through meditation, nature, travel, art, gardening, animals, and time away from technology.Michael Pollan is one of America's most influential writers on the intersection of human life and the natural world—especially food, agriculture, consciousness, and the mind. He is the author of numerous bestselling books, including The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food, Cooked, How to Change Your Mind, and This Is Your Mind on Plants. He has taught at both UC Berkeley and Harvard and is a co-founder of the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics. His work has earned many major literary and scientific honors, and Time named him one of the world's 100 most influential people.Find out more at michaelpollan.comYou can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
LESSON 196It Can Be But Myself I Crucify.When this is firmly understood and kept in full awareness, you will not attempt to harm yourself, nor make your body slave to vengeance. You will not attack yourself, and you will realize that to attack another is but to attack yourself. You will be free of the insane belief that to attack a brother saves yourself. And you will understand his safety is your own, and in his healing you are healed.Perhaps at first you will not understand how mercy, limitless and with all things held in its sure protection, can be found in the idea we practice for today. It may, in fact, appear to be a sign that punishment can never be escaped because the ego, under what it sees as threat, is quick to cite the truth to save its lies. Yet must it fail to understand the truth it uses thus. But you can learn to see these foolish applications, and deny the meaning they appear to have.Thus do you also teach your mind that you are not an ego. For the ways in which the ego would distort the truth will not deceive you longer. You will not believe you are a body to be crucified. And you will see within today's idea the light of resurrection, looking past all thoughts of crucifixion and of death, to thoughts of liberation and of life.Today's idea is one step we take in leading us from bondage to the state of perfect freedom. Let us take this step today, that we may quickly go the way salvation shows us, taking every step in its appointed sequence, as the mind relinquishes its burdens one by one. It is not time we need for this. It is but willingness. For what would seem to need a thousand years can easily be done in just one instant by the grace of God.The dreary, hopeless thought that you can make attacks on others and escape yourself has nailed you to the cross. Perhaps it seemed to be salvation. Yet it merely stood for the belief the fear of God is real. And what is that but hell? Who could believe his Father is his deadly enemy, separate from him, and waiting to destroy his life and blot him from the universe, without the fear of hell upon his heart?Such is the form of madness you believe, if you accept the fearful thought you can attack another and be free yourself. Until this form is changed, there is no hope. Until you see that this, at least, must be entirely impossible, how could there be escape? The fear of God is real to anyone who thinks this thought is true. And he will not perceive its foolishness, or even see that it is there, so that it would be possible to question it.To question it at all, its form must first be changed at least as much as will permit fear of retaliation to abate, and the responsibility returned to some extent to you. From there you can at least consider if you want to go along this painful path. Until this shift has been accomplished, you can not perceive that it is but your thoughts that bring you fear, and your deliverance depends on you.Our next steps will be easy, if you take this one today. From there we go ahead quite rapidly. For once you understand it is impossible that you be hurt except by your own thoughts, the fear of God must disappear. You cannot then believe that fear is caused without. And God, Whom you had thought to banish, can be welcomed back within the holy mind He never left.Salvation's song can certainly be heard in the idea we practice for today. If it can but be you you crucify, you did not hurt the world, and need not fear its vengeance and pursuit. Nor need you hide in terror from the deadly fear of God projection hides behind. The thing you dread the most is your salvation. You are strong, and it is strength you want. And you are free, and glad of freedom. You have sought to be both weak and bound, because you feared your strength and freedom. Yet salvation lies in them.There is an instant in which terror seems to grip your mind so wholly that escape appears quite hopeless. When you realize, once and for all, that it is you you fear, the mind perceives itself as split. And this had been concealed while you believed attack could be directed outward, and returned from outside to within. It seemed to be an enemy outside you had to fear. And thus a god outside yourself became your mortal enemy; the source of fear.Now, for an instant, is a murderer perceived within you, eager for your death, intent on plotting punishment for you until the time when it can kill at last. Yet in this instant is the time as well in which salvation comes. For fear of God has disappeared. And you can call on Him to save you from illusions by His Love, calling Him Father and yourself His Son. Pray that the instant may be soon, today. Step back from fear, and make advance to love.There is no Thought of God that does not go with you to help you reach that instant, and to go beyond it quickly, surely and forever. When the fear of God is gone, there are no obstacles that still remain between you and the holy peace of God. How kind and merciful is the idea we practice! Give it welcome, as you should, for it is your release. It is indeed but you your mind can try to crucify. Yet your redemption, too, will come from you.- Jesus Christ in ACIM
8th July 2026 In this Satsang, Sanjay discussed psychedelic therapy, particularly psilocybin treatment in Australia through Mind Medicine Australia, and its relationship to spiritual experiences. A participant shared an interest in meeting Tanya de Jong, co-founder of Mind Medicine Australia, to understand how therapists handle cases where patients experience complete ego dissolution during psychedelic treatments. Sanjay provided philosophical insights about the nature of consciousness and spiritual realization, explaining that while psychedelic experiences can create temporary states of non-duality, the ultimate freedom comes from direct self-realization through practices like self-inquiry. The discussion also addressed practical questions about how to support loved ones with physical illnesses while maintaining spiritual understanding, with Sanjay advising to simply be present and caring without trying to force spiritual teachings on others.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA (Non-duality Awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia.Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
6th July 2026In this Satsang, Sanjay discussed the nature of consciousness. Neelakantan Ji shared a Sanskrit prayer about light illuminating the universe and explained from Advaita Vedanta philosophy, including the nature of the self, the role of mind and body, and the process of self-realization through practices like meditation and surrender. Sanjay then described how understanding the true nature of consciousness leads to freedom from suffering and the illusion of duality, comparing spiritual transformation to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Sanjay emphasized that knowing the truth requires genuine longing and proper guidance, and that human birth is rare and precious for spiritual awakening.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA (Non-duality Awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia.Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
It can be very confusing in the spiritual community when every other person claims to be "spiritually awake" or to have undergone an "awakening", lets look at the definitions and the very different outcomes. Clarity of your own direction of inquiry helps you orient correctly! For nondual enquiry, community and personal sessions: https://www.elaine-hamilton.com Join Reiki events: https://www.reiki-centre.com For online Reiki courses, please see here: https://online.reiki-centre.com
1st July 2026In this Satsang, Sanjay conducted a satsang session where Sergio shared his spiritual journey and desire to maintain constant connection with his true self rather than falling back into ego-based thinking. Sanjay responded by acknowledging Sergio's mature seeker mindset and explained that once one tastes their true nature, they naturally reject the temporary satisfaction of ego-based activities. Sanjay discussed various spiritual paths and methods, emphasizing that different approaches work for different people and that the direct path of self-inquiry is not superior to other methods that help bring seekers to the same ultimate realization. He described the process of spiritual transformation, including the initial phases of inner cleansing where negative thoughts and desires arise before eventually subsiding into peace and silence. Sanjay emphasized that true liberation comes from understanding one's true nature as unchanging awareness rather than identifying with the changing mind and body, allowing realized beings to naturally follow ethical principles without external rules.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA (Non-duality Awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia.Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
29th June 2026 In this Satsang, Sanjay discussed the path of self-realization and ego dissolution. The discussion centered on how reality cannot be known while the ego remains intact, emphasizing that seekers must focus on destroying the ego rather than seeking experiences or powers. Sanjay explained techniques for observing the mind inwardly, including watching thoughts as an observer rather than an involved participant, and practicing self-inquiry by asking "who am I?" He described the process of transitioning from being involved in thoughts to becoming a witness, noting that this requires consistent effort and practice. The session covered how to recognize when ego dissolution is occurring through feelings of contentment and peace, and emphasized that while techniques help, the ultimate transformation comes from sincere effort and remaining uninvolved with the world of form and name.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
LESSON 184The Name Of God Is My Inheritance.You live by symbols. You have made up names for everything you see. Each one becomes a separate entity, identified by its own name. By this you carve it out of unity. By this you designate its special attributes, and set it off from other things by emphasizing space surrounding it. This space you lay between all things to which you give a different name; all happenings in terms of place and time; all bodies which are greeted by a name.This space you see as setting off all things from one another is the means by which the world's perception is achieved. You see something where nothing is, and see as well nothing where there is unity; a space between all things, between all things and you. Thus do you think that you have given life in separation. By this split you think you are established as a unity which functions with an independent will.What are these names by which the world becomes a series of discrete events, of things ununified, of bodies kept apart and holding bits of mind as separate awarenesses? You gave these names to them, establishing perception as you wished to have perception be. The nameless things were given names, and thus reality was given them as well. For what is named is given meaning and will then be seen as meaningful; a cause of true effect, with consequence inherent in itself.This is the way reality is made by partial vision, purposefully set against the given truth. Its enemy is wholeness. It conceives of little things and looks upon them. And a lack of space, a sense of unity or vision that sees differently, become the threats which it must overcome, conflict with and deny.Yet does this other vision still remain a natural direction for the mind to channel its perception. It is hard to teach the mind a thousand alien names, and thousands more. Yet you believe this is what learning means; its one essential goal by which communication is achieved, and concepts can be meaningfully shared.This is the sum of the inheritance the world bestows. And everyone who learns to think that it is so accepts the signs and symbols that assert the world is real. It is for this they stand. They leave no doubt that what is named is there. It can be seen, as is anticipated. What denies that it is true is but illusion, for it is the ultimate reality. To question it is madness; to accept its presence is the proof of sanity.Such is the teaching of the world. It is a phase of learning everyone who comes must go through. But the sooner he perceives on what it rests, how questionable are its premises, how doubtful its results, the sooner does he question its effects. Learning that stops with what the world would teach stops short of meaning. In its proper place, it serves but as a starting point from which another kind of learning can begin, a new perception can be gained, and all the arbitrary names the world bestows can be withdrawn as they are raised to doubt.Think not you made the world. Illusions, yes! But what is true in earth and Heaven is beyond your naming. When you call upon a brother, it is to his body that you make appeal. His true Identity is hidden from you by what you believe he really is. His body makes response to what you call him, for his mind consents to take the name you give him as his own. And thus his unity is twice denied, for you perceive him separate from you, and he accepts this separate name as his.It would indeed be strange if you were asked to go beyond all symbols of the world, forgetting them forever; yet were asked to take a teaching function. You have need to use the symbols of the world a while. But be you not deceived by them as well. They do not stand for anything at all, and in your practicing it is this thought that will release you from them. They become but means by which you can communicate in ways the world can understand, but which you recognize is not the unity where true communication can be found.Thus what you need are intervals each day in which the learning of the world becomes a transitory phase; a prison house from which you go into the sunlight and forget the darkness. Here you understand the Word, the Name Which God has given you; the one Identity Which all things share; the one acknowledgment of what is true. And then step back to darkness, not because you think it real, but only to proclaim its unreality in terms which still have meaning in the world that darkness rules.Use all the little names and symbols which delineate the world of darkness. Yet accept them not as your reality. The Holy Spirit uses all of them, but He does not forget creation has one Name, one Meaning, and a single Source Which unifies all things within Itself. Use all the names the world bestows on them but for convenience, yet do not forget they share the Name of God along with you.God has no name. And yet His Name becomes the final lesson that all things are one, and at this lesson does all learning end. All names are unified; all space is filled with truth's reflection. Every gap is closed, and separation healed. The Name of God is the inheritance He gave to those who chose the teaching of the world to take the place of Heaven. In our practicing, our purpose is to let our minds accept what God has given as the answer to the pitiful inheritance you made as fitting tribute to the Son He loves.No one can fail who seeks the meaning of the Name of God. Experience must come to supplement the Word. But first you must accept the Name for all reality, and realize the many names you gave its aspects have distorted what you see, but have not interfered with truth at all. One Name we bring into our practicing. One Name we use to unify our sight.And though we use a different name for each awareness of an aspect of God's Son, we understand that they have but one Name, Which He has given them. It is this Name we use in practicing. And through Its use, all foolish separations disappear which kept us blind. And we are given strength to see beyond them. Now our sight is blessed with blessings we can give as we receive.Father, our Name is Yours. In It we are united with all living things, and You Who are their one Creator. What we made and call by many different names is but a shadow we have tried to cast across Your Own Reality. And we are glad and thankful we were wrong. All our mistakes we give to You, that we may be absolved from all effects our errors seemed to have. And we accept the truth You give, in place of every one of them. Your Name is our salvation and escape from what we made. Your Name unites us in the oneness which is our inheritance and peace. Amen.- Jesus Christ in ACIM
Marcus McKeown of Yellow Rock Sanctuary joins Jason for a profound conversation on ego, awareness, stillness, spiritual seeking, and why the peace we are looking for may already be here. What happens when you have tried everything — the healing, the courses, the manifestation, the self-improvement — and something inside still feels unsettled?In this episode, Jason is joined by Marcus McKeown from Yellow Rock Sanctuary for a deep, thought-provoking conversation about the end of seeking.Together, they explore the ego's endless need for certainty and control, why we become so identified with our thoughts and stories, and what might remain when we stop trying to become something else.Marcus shares his own journey through success, disappointment, collapse, questioning, and ultimately a quieter recognition of presence. This is not a conversation about chasing enlightenment, fixing yourself, or adding another spiritual practice to your list.It is an invitation to pause.To notice what is aware of the thought.To sit with the words, “I don't know.”And to consider that the peace, connection and meaning you are searching for may not be somewhere ahead of you at all.Jason and Marcus also talk about mediumship, manifestation, trying versus allowing, the magic of being alive, and why the next person to speak after asking life's biggest question might just lose.Learn more about Marcus and Yellow Rock Sanctuary:https://www.yellowrocksanctuary.life/events-yrsConnect with JasonWebsite and private readings: www.jasonpaulmedium.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jasonpaulsoulsyncSubscribe to Jason's monthly spiritual newsletter at the bottom of any page on his website for spiritual reflections, podcast updates, meditations, events and more.Guest ideas, want to share your story? Get in touch with me at hello@jasonpaulmedium.comIf this episode resonated with you, please leave Soul Sync a rating or review. It genuinely helps the podcast reach more people who may need these conversations.Join the Soul Sync monthly newsletter - become my pen pal at JasonPaulMedium.com ✨ Scroll to the bottom of the homepage to sign up for meditations, mediumship updates, podcast extras, spiritual insights, workshops, behind-the-scenes moments, and all the good soul stuff — delivered straight to your inbox once a month. Support the show
LESSON 183I Call Upon God's Name And On My Own.God's Name is holy, but no holier than yours. To call upon His Name is but to call upon your own. A father gives his son his name, and thus identifies the son with him. His brothers share his name, and thus are they united in a bond to which they turn for their identity. Your Father's Name reminds you who you are, even within a world that does not know; even though you have not remembered it.God's Name cannot be heard without response, nor said without an echo in the mind that calls you to remember. Say His Name, and you invite the angels to surround the ground on which you stand, and sing to you as they spread out their wings to keep you safe, and shelter you from every worldly thought that would intrude upon your holiness.Repeat God's Name, and all the world responds by laying down illusions. Every dream the world holds dear has suddenly gone by, and where it seemed to stand you find a star; a miracle of grace. The sick arise, healed of their sickly thoughts. The blind can see; the deaf can hear. The sorrowful cast off their mourning, and the tears of pain are dried as happy laughter comes to bless the world.Repeat the Name of God, and little names have lost their meaning. No temptation but becomes a nameless and unwanted thing before God's Name. Repeat His Name, and see how easily you will forget the names of all the gods you valued. They have lost the name of god you gave them. They become anonymous and valueless to you, although before you let the Name of God replace their little names, you stood before them worshipfully, naming them as gods.Repeat the Name of God, and call upon your Self, Whose Name is His. Repeat His Name, and all the tiny, nameless things on earth slip into right perspective. Those who call upon the Name of God can not mistake the nameless for the Name, nor sin for grace, nor bodies for the holy Son of God. And should you join a brother as you sit with him in silence, and repeat God's Name along with him within your quiet mind, you have established there an altar which reaches to God Himself and to His Son.Practice but this today; repeat God's Name slowly again and still again. Become oblivious to every name but His. Hear nothing else. Let all your thoughts become anchored on This.No other word we use except at the beginning, when we say today's idea but once. And then God's Name becomes our only thought, our only word, the only thing that occupies our minds, the only wish we have, the only sound with any meaning, and the only Name of everything that we desire to see; of everything that we would call our own.Thus do we give an invitation which can never be refused. And God will come, and answer it Himself. Think not He hears the little prayers of those who call on Him with names of idols cherished by the world. They cannot reach Him thus. He cannot hear requests that He be not Himself, or that His Son receive another name than His.Repeat God's Name, and you acknowledge Him as sole Creator of reality. And you acknowledge also that His Son is part of Him, creating in His Name. Sit silently, and let His Name become the all-encompassing idea that holds your mind completely. Let all thoughts be still except this one. And to all other thoughts respond with this, and see God's Name replace the thousand little names you gave your thoughts, not realizing that there is one Name for all there is, and all that there will be.Today you can achieve a state in which you will experience the gift of grace. You can escape all bondage of the world, and give the world the same release you found. You can remember what the world forgot, and offer it your own remembering. You can accept today the part you play in its salvation, and your own as well. And both can be accomplished perfectly.Turn to the Name of God for your release, and it is given you. No prayer but this is necessary, for it holds them all within it. Words are insignificant, and all requests unneeded when God's Son calls on his Father's Name. His Father's Thoughts become his own. He makes his claim to all his Father gave, is giving still, and will forever give. He calls on Him to let all things he thought he made be nameless now, and in their place the holy Name of God becomes his judgment of their worthlessness.All little things are silent. Little sounds are soundless now. The little things of earth have disappeared. The universe consists of nothing but the Son of God, who calls upon his Father. And his Father's Voice gives answer in his Father's holy Name. In this eternal, still relationship, in which communication far transcends all words, and yet exceeds in depth and height whatever words could possibly convey, is peace eternal. In our Father's Name, we would experience this peace today. And in His Name, it shall be given us.- Jesus Christ in ACIM
24th June 2026In this Satsang, Sanjay discussed the book "Ribhu Gita," explaining that it is a 650-page, 44-chapter text translated from Tamil to English that contains dialogues between sage Ribu and his disciple Nidaga. He described how Bhagavan used to read this book daily during his time, emphasizing that the repetitive nature of the text mirrors their ongoing satsangs since 2019, focusing on shravan (listening), manan (contemplation), and Nidhidyasana (firm conviction). Sanjay read excerpts from chapter 26, poem 37, which describe the nature of the absolute truth and self-realization, explaining that the book helps dissolve the ego through repeated exposure to spiritual truth. He shared examples of how ancient sages like Raja Janak achieved realization through dialogues in other texts like Ashtavakra Gita, and explained that true understanding comes when one sees themselves as the uninvolved witness rather than the separate entity of mind-body. Sanjay concluded by emphasizing that knowing the truth brings freedom from all conditioning, religious teachings, and societal roles, leaving one in a state of eternal peace and contentment.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
Introduction to Lessons 181-200Our next few lessons make a special point of firming up your willingness to make your weak commitment strong; your scattered goals blend into one intent. You are not asked for total dedication all the time as yet. But you are asked to practice now in order to attain the sense of peace such unified commitment will bestow, if only intermittently. It is experiencing this that makes it sure that you will give your total willingness to following the way the course sets forth.Our lessons now are geared specifically to widening horizons, and direct approaches to the special blocks that keep your vision narrow, and too limited to let you see the value of our goal. We are attempting now to lift these blocks, however briefly. Words alone can not convey the sense of liberation which their lifting brings. But the experience of freedom and of peace that comes as you give up your tight control of what you see speaks for itself. Your motivation will be so intensified that words become of little consequence. You will be sure of what you want, and what is valueless.And so we start our journey beyond words by concentrating first on what impedes your progress still. Experience of what exists beyond defensiveness remains beyond achievement while it is denied. It may be there, but you cannot accept its presence. So we now attempt to go past all defenses for a little while each day. No more than this is asked, because no more than this is needed. It will be enough to guarantee the rest will come.LESSON 181I Trust My Brothers, Who Are One With Me.Trusting your brothers is essential to establishing and holding up your faith in your ability to transcend doubt and lack of sure conviction in yourself. When you attack a brother, you proclaim that he is limited by what you have perceived in him. You do not look beyond his errors. Rather, they are magnified, becoming blocks to your awareness of the Self That lies beyond your own mistakes, and past his seeming sins as well as yours.Perception has a focus. It is this that gives consistency to what you see. Change but this focus, and what you behold will change accordingly. Your vision now will shift, to give support to the intent which has replaced the one you held before. Remove your focus on your brother's sins, and you experience the peace that comes from faith in sinlessness. This faith receives its only sure support from what you see in others past their sins. For their mistakes, if focused on, are witnesses to sins in you. And you will not transcend their sight and see the sinlessness that lies beyond.Therefore, in practicing today, we first let all such little focuses give way to our great need to let our sinlessness become apparent. We instruct our minds that it is this we seek, and only this, for just a little while. We do not care about our future goals. And what we saw an instant previous has no concern for us within this interval of time wherein we practice changing our intent. We seek for innocence and nothing else. We seek for it with no concern but now.A major hazard to success has been involvement with your past and future goals. You have been quite preoccupied with how extremely different the goals this course is advocating are from those you held before. And you have also been dismayed by the depressing and restricting thought that, even if you should succeed, you will inevitably lose your way again.How could this matter? For the past is gone; the future but imagined. These concerns are but defenses against present change of focus in perception. Nothing more. We lay these pointless limitations by a little while. We do not look to past beliefs, and what we will believe will not intrude upon us now. We enter in the time of practicing with one intent; to look upon the sinlessness within.We recognize that we have lost this goal if anger blocks our way in any form. And if a brother's sins occur to us, our narrowed focus will restrict our sight, and turn our eyes upon our own mistakes, which we will magnify and call our “sins.” So, for a little while, without regard to past or future, should such blocks arise we will transcend them with instructions to our minds to change their focus, as we say:It is not this that I would look upon.I trust my brothers, who are one with me.And we will also use this thought to keep us safe throughout the day. We do not seek for long-range goals. As each obstruction seems to block the vision of our sinlessness, we seek but for surcease an instant from the misery the focus upon sin will bring, and uncorrected will remain.Nor do we ask for fantasies. For what we seek to look upon is really there. And as our focus goes beyond mistakes, we will behold a wholly sinless world. When seeing this is all we want to see, when this is all we seek for in the name of true perception, are the eyes of Christ inevitably ours. And the Love He feels for us becomes our own as well. This will become the only thing we see reflected in the world and in ourselves.The world which once proclaimed our sins becomes the proof that we are sinless. And our love for everyone we look upon attests to our remembrance of the holy Self Which knows no sin, and never could conceive of anything without Its sinlessness. We seek for this remembrance as we turn our minds to practicing today. We look neither ahead nor backwards. We look straight into the present. And we give our trust to the experience we ask for now. Our sinlessness is but the Will of God. This instant is our willing one with His.- Jesus Christ in ACIM
22nd June 2026In this Satsang, Sanjay delivered a spiritual discourse on dispassion and Samadhi, drawing from Adi Shankaracharya's teachings in Viveka Chudamani. He explained how dispassion allows one to achieve spiritual heights that cannot be reached through passion, contrasting materialistic desires with the pursuit of absolute truth. Sanjay discussed how the mind creates illusions and desires that keep individuals enslaved, comparing this to a child obsessed with video games rather than meaningful activities. He emphasized that true peace comes from giving up wrong identification with the mind and body, and described how divine experiences are not liberation but merely indicators that spiritual progress is possible. Sanjay concluded by urging listeners to recognize their true nature as pure silence and stillness, beyond the world of forms and names, and to remain as witnesses to all experiences without attachment or desire for achievement.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
Lesson 176Review of Lessons 161 - 162God is but Love, and therefore so am I.(161) Give me your blessing, holy Son of God.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.(162) I am as God created me.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.- Jesus Christ in ACIM
17th June 2026In this Satsang, Sanjay delivered a spiritual teaching session focused on understanding life's experiences and the nature of consciousness. He discussed how people carry emotional burdens from past experiences, including feelings of right and wrong guided by conscience, and how these stories create attachment and suffering. Sanjay explained that true realization comes when one sees all experiences as detached awareness, observing both past memories and current situations without identification or judgment. He emphasized that this state of uninvolved witnessing brings freedom from emotional reactions and allows for genuine compassion toward all beings without attachment to outcomes. The session concluded with teachings on living in pure awareness, finding inner silence, and recognizing the divine presence within everyone as the ultimate truth of existence.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
15th June 2026In this Satsang, Sanjay delivered a spiritual teaching session focused on the nature of the ego and the path to self-realization. He explained that the ego is an illusory entity that arises between the body and the eternal self (Atman), and discussed how people mistakenly believe they have control over their body-mind complex when they are actually operating within programmed conditioning. Sanjay emphasized that true freedom comes from understanding we are not the body-mind but rather the unborn, eternal awareness, and shared teachings from Bhagwan about the importance of self-inquiry to dissolve the ego. He explained that self-inquiry specifically targets the ego for destruction, unlike other spiritual practices where the ego may survive, and described how realization reveals one's true nature as pure awareness beyond form and name.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
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Host Michael Taft and guest Joe Hudson explore the crucial difference between awakening and liberation: why insight on the cushion does not automatically free us in relationship, shame, self-talk, or emotional reactivity. Joe reframes emotional practice as a path of awakening, inviting us not merely to accept difficult emotions, but to love them, feel them somatically, and discover the intelligence hidden inside. Together they unpack the “golden algorithm”—the emotions we most avoid are the ones we unconsciously keep recreating—and show how negative self-talk often masks unfelt fear, anger, or shame. Practical conversation about what happens after awakening, when the old wound is triggered and freedom has to show up exactly where we are least willing to feel.Joe Hudson is an executive coach whose teachings draw from ancient contemplative traditions, modern neuroscience, and psychology. He is a teacher for leaders at such companies as OpenAI, Alphabet, Apple, and more. He is also the founder of Art of Accomplishment, which facilitates experiential courses designed to cultivate ease, joy, and fulfillment in life. Find out more at https://www.artofaccomplishment.com/You can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
20th Nov 2021(Satsangs from the Archives) These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
In this episode, Kevin explore's one of the most subtle and dangerous traps on the spiritual path: using nonduality, awareness, and awakening as a way to escape life rather than engage with it consciously.Many seekers arrive at profound realizations. They discover they are not their thoughts, not their emotions, not their identities, and not the stories they've spent years defending. They begin to see through the illusion of the separate self and recognize the witnessing awareness that remains unchanged beneath every experience.This realization is liberating.But it can also become a trap.Because once we discover that we are not the character, the mind often asks a new question: "If I'm not the character, why should I participate at all?" Why build a business? Why pursue a relationship? Why create? Why serve? Why care?These questions sound spiritual, but they often conceal a misunderstanding.The purpose of awakening is not to remove you from life. The purpose of awakening is to remove your attachment to life.In this conversation, Kevin examines the difference between spiritual realization and spiritual bypassing. We explore how the ego can hide inside spiritual concepts, using ideas such as "there is no self," "nothing matters," and "everything is already perfect" as excuses for withdrawal, avoidance, and inaction.Using examples from business, relationships, purpose, and service, he explains why conscious participation is the natural expression of true freedom. The awakened man does not leave the game. He learns how to play the game without becoming trapped by it.Kevin also explores the dream analogy, lucid dreaming, the role of the witness, and why many spiritual teachings stop too soon - teaching people how to wake up without teaching them how to live after awakening.The question is not whether the world is ultimately real.The question is how to participate fully while remembering what you truly are.When attachment dissolves, life does not disappear. Relationships remain. Responsibilities remain. Creativity remains. Love remains. Service remains. The difference is that the burden of proving, becoming, defending, and seeking completion begins to fall away.What remains is freedom in action.This episode is an invitation to stop using spirituality as an escape hatch and begin using self-knowledge as a foundation for courageous participation. To love without possession. To create without attachment. To serve without self-importance. To engage without becoming lost.Awakening is not the end of the game.Awakening is the moment you realize you've been asleep while playing it.In This Episode:The hidden danger of spiritual bypassingWhy nonduality is often misunderstoodThe difference between attachment and participationHow the ego survives through spiritual identityConscious business, relationships, and purposeThe lucid dream analogy for awakeningWhy service naturally arises from realizationFreedom in action vs freedom from actionHow to play the game consciouslyKnow. Serve. Protect.
Don's Nondual Awakening App: Clarity Arising Don's YouTube Channel Don's Instagram Channel Don's In-Person Monthly Retreats at Well Being Retreat Centerin Tazewell, Tennessee: Don's Twice Monthly Zoom Discourses with Q&A: Happenings at Well Being Retreat Center Don's Books: “It's Time to Wake Up Now: The Top Ten Myths that Can Hijack Spiritual Awakening:” Audio Book of “Top Ten Myths” Narrated by Don is also available on Audible “Empty Wisdom: The Subtle Art of Discovering What You Already Are” “The Natural State: Enlightened Living in the Everyday World” Listen to Don's Twice Monthly Podcasts: On Spotify On Apple On Amazon Subscribe to Don's YouTube Channel
10th June 2026 In this Satsang, Sanjay discussed the nature of suffering and enlightenment. He explained that true suffering comes from identifying with the ego, and when this entity is surrendered through complete surrender to a higher power like Arunachala or Ramana, suffering ceases. Sanjay emphasized that a realized being cannot suffer because the ego, which is the source of all suffering, no longer exists. He advised seekers to practice self-inquiry by questioning who is experiencing thoughts and emotions, and to maintain awareness of their true nature rather than identifying with body and mind activities. Ray shared his experience with self-inquiry practice and asked about balancing action in the world with spiritual practice, which Sanjay addressed by explaining that actions continue naturally when the ego is not identifying with them as "doing." Sanjay concluded by encouraging seekers to maintain constant awareness of their true nature and not to be distracted by external circumstances or desires.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
LESSON 167There Is One Life, And That I Share With God.There are not different kinds of life, for life is like the truth. It does not have degrees. It is the one condition in which all that God created share. Like all His Thoughts, it has no opposite. There is no death because what God created shares His Life. There is no death because an opposite to God does not exist. There is no death because the Father and the Son are one.In this world, there appears to be a state that is life's opposite. You call it death. Yet we have learned that the idea of death takes many forms. It is the one idea which underlies all feelings that are not supremely happy. It is the alarm to which you give response of any kind that is not perfect joy. All sorrow, loss, anxiety and suffering and pain, even a little sigh of weariness, a slight discomfort or the merest frown, acknowledge death. And thus deny you live.You think that death is of the body. Yet it is but an idea, irrelevant to what is seen as physical. A thought is in the mind. It can be then applied as mind directs it. But its origin is where it must be changed, if change occurs. Ideas leave not their source. The emphasis this course has placed on that idea is due to its centrality in our attempts to change your mind about yourself. It is the reason you can heal. It is the cause of healing. It is why you cannot die. Its truth established you as one with God.Death is the thought that you are separate from your Creator. It is the belief conditions change, emotions alternate because of causes you cannot control, you did not make, and you can never change. It is the fixed belief ideas can leave their source, and take on qualities the source does not contain, becoming different from their own origin, apart from it in kind as well as distance, time and form.Death cannot come from life. Ideas remain united to their source. They can extend all that their source contains. In that, they can go far beyond themselves. But they can not give birth to what was never given them. As they are made, so will their making be. As they were born, so will they then give birth. And where they come from, there will they return.The mind can think it sleeps, but that is all. It cannot change what is its waking state. It cannot make a body, nor abide within a body. What is alien to the mind does not exist, because it has no source. For mind creates all things that are, and cannot give them attributes it lacks, nor change its own eternal, mindful state. It cannot make the physical. What seems to die is but the sign of mind asleep.The opposite of life can only be another form of life. As such, it can be reconciled with what created it, because it is not opposite in truth. Its form may change; it may appear to be what it is not. Yet mind is mind, awake or sleeping. It is not its opposite in anything created, nor in what it seems to make when it believes it sleeps.God creates only mind awake. He does not sleep, and His creations cannot share what He gives not, nor make conditions which He does not share with them. The thought of death is not the opposite to thoughts of life. Forever unopposed by opposites of any kind, the Thoughts of God remain forever changeless, with the power to extend forever changelessly, but yet within themselves, for they are everywhere.What seems to be the opposite of life is merely sleeping. When the mind elects to be what it is not, and to assume an alien power which it does not have, a foreign state it cannot enter, or a false condition not within its Source, it merely seems to go to sleep a while. It dreams of time; an interval in which what seems to happen never has occurred, the changes wrought are substanceless, and all events are nowhere. When the mind awakes, it but continues as it always was.Let us today be children of the truth, and not deny our holy heritage. Our life is not as we imagine it. Who changes life because he shuts his eyes, or makes himself what he is not because he sleeps, and sees in dreams an opposite to what he is? We will not ask for death in any form today. Nor will we let imagined opposites to life abide even an instant where the Thought of life eternal has been set by God Himself.His holy home we strive to keep today as He established it, and wills it be forever and forever. He is Lord of what we think today. And in His Thoughts, which have no opposite, we understand there is one life, and that we share with Him, with all creation, with their thoughts as well, whom He created in a unity of life that cannot separate in death and leave the Source of life from where it came.We share one life because we have one Source, a Source from Which perfection comes to us, remaining always in the holy minds which He created perfect. As we were, so are we now and will forever be. A sleeping mind must waken, as it sees its own perfection mirroring the Lord of Life so perfectly it fades into what is reflected there. And now it is no more a mere reflection. It becomes the thing reflected, and the light which makes reflection possible. No vision now is needed. For the wakened mind is one that knows its Source, its Self, its Holiness.- Jesus Christ in ACIM
8th June 2026In this Satsang, Sanjay delivered a philosophical discourse on spiritual liberation, explaining that the key to freedom lies in convincing the mind that reality is an illusion similar to a dream. He discussed how most people remain trapped in the cycle of suffering because they identify with their mind-body complex and fail to recognize their true nature as pure awareness. Sanjay emphasized that true liberation comes when one transcends this identification and achieves Jeevan Mukt (liberation while living), where the separate existence of ego disappears and one experiences undifferentiated pure awareness as their true self. He highlighted that finding an enlightened guru, having the rare interest in truth, and receiving grace are essential for achieving liberation from the illusory dream of life.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageIn this episode of Awakening Now, I speak with Sukhdev Virdee, author of sixteen books on Advaita Vedanta and nondual philosophy.Sukhdev works with people who have already explored the teachings deeply. They have read the books, watched the videos, understood nonduality intellectually, and yet still feel that something hasn't fully landed.We explore Sukhdev's own awakening experience and the years of inquiry that followed. Together we look at the relationship between awakening and understanding, the role of spiritual teachings, self-inquiry, and a question many seekers eventually face:What happens when the pointers are no longer getting you anywhere?This conversation touches on consciousness, awareness, identity, the nature of reality, and the subtle ways seeking can continue even after profound insights have occurred.If you've ever felt that you understand the teachings but something remains unresolved, this episode may speak directly to your experience.Sukhdev Virdee works with those who have already done the work, read the books, watched the videos, understood nonduality intellectually, and still find something hasn't fully landed.Most teachings point one toward Awareness and stop there. Sukhdev goes in the opposite direction. He turns toward what is false and dismantles it precisely, the ego, the I thought, the mechanics of how the mind keeps confusion alive, until the mind has nothing left to rebuild the seeking from. Understanding ends the seeking. Believing doesn't.He is the author of sixteen books on Advaita Vedanta and nondual philosophy and teaches through his YouTube channel and one-on-one mentorship.YouTube: youtube.com/@sukhdevvirdeeBooks: amazon.com/author/sukhdevvirdeeMusic by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com
3rd June 2026 In this Satsang, Sanjay focused on contemplative awareness and self-inquiry practices. Sanjay taught about the importance of sitting in pure consciousness without mixing it with thoughts or identities, explaining that true understanding comes from direct experience rather than book learning. Bodhipriya shared a translated chapter from their book about Ramana Maharshi's teachings on discovering one's true nature, which Sanjay encouraged to be kept brief and followed by contemplation rather than extensive reading. Ray discussed their experience with emotional agitation and the process of observing thoughts without attachment, while Meera shared her practice of using "thank you" and surrender to handle difficult situations. Sanjay emphasized that spiritual practice should focus on direct experience and inner awareness rather than external rituals or book study, using examples from realized beings like Yogi Ram Surat Kumar to illustrate the importance of sending blessings to those who harm us.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
1st June 2026 In this Satsang, Sanjay delivered a spiritual teaching on self-realization and liberation from mental bondage, explaining that true freedom comes from looking within rather than outward at thoughts and external phenomena. He discussed the nature of consciousness, explaining that Brahman is eternally uninvolved and pure, while the mind creates delusion through thoughts and projections that lead to suffering. Sanjay emphasized that grace comes from looking toward the source, and that spiritual practice involves breaking old associations with the mind to reveal the pure awareness that is always present but overlooked. He warned against seeking freedom through external means or teachers, stating that true liberation requires self-effort and understanding that the self is never impure or in need of purification. These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
Send me your thoughts in a Text MessageIn this episode of Awakening Now, I speak with Jim Newman, a well-known voice in radical nonduality.Jim shares one of the most uncompromising messages in the spiritual world: there is no separate self, no path, no one becoming awakened, and nothing to attain.Together, we explore seeking, liberation, free will, embodiment, and the challenge of speaking about what cannot be grasped conceptually.This conversation may bring relief, curiosity, frustration, resistance, or a sense of recognition. Rather than deciding what to think, notice how it lands in you.What happens when the seeker encounters a message it cannot use? Jim Newman, a well-known voice in radical nonduality. For the past ten years, he has shared a message that challenges many traditional spiritual teachings, pointing to the absence of a separate self and the immediacy of what is already present. His approach is direct, uncompromising, and often provocative, inviting listeners to question some of their most fundamental assumptions about identity and awakening. Music by Valdi Sabev. In loving memory and gratitude for the music he shared.Support the showWebsiteshttp://ilonaciunaite.comhttp://liberationunleashed.com
27th May 2026In this Satsnag, Sanjay spoke about Eid al-Adha, discussing the concept of sacrifice as surrendering the ego and achieving self-realization through recognizing one's true nature as pure awareness. He explained that when people understand "I am only awareness," they can experience the same bliss and peace in waking life as in deep sleep, describing this as entering a state of Samadhi while remaining active. Lakshmi asked about handling noisy family members and maintaining inner peace, to which Sanjay advised keeping quiet, having compassion, and not trying to change others, suggesting that the desire for more solitude might be a sign of spiritual progress. Sanjay also discussed how egoless awareness affects relationships, explaining that without ego, one becomes insensitive to others' egoistic behavior and simply witnesses whatever happens without trying to fix or change situations.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
25th May 2026 In this Satsang, Sanjay delivered a spiritual teaching session focused on self-realization and the nature of the Atman (self). He explained that all forms of worship and devotion should ultimately lead to recognizing one's true nature as uninvolved awareness, distinct from the body-mind complex. Sanjay emphasized that people are not the physical form or mental activities they experience, but rather the witnessing consciousness that remains uninvolved even during dreams and waking states. He discussed the concept of total acceptance as a trait of the Atman, contrasting it with the ego's limited acceptance, and shared that true understanding can come quickly when one is 100% convinced of their uninvolved nature. The session concluded with teachings about remaining in inner silence and using the question "Who am I?" to dissolve the illusory ego, with Sanjay noting that this spiritual truth is accessible to anyone regardless of education or background.These are teachings and pointers from ongoing NDA(Non-duality awareness)/Advaitic Satsangs held at Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachala Ramanaya !
In this week's Frankly, Nate discusses his long-running attempt to understand non-duality, and why this concept has remained just out of his grasp despite years of conversations with teachers, thinkers, and podcast guests. He begins with a personal reflection on the possibility that his difficulty understanding non-duality does not stem from lack of intelligence or a short attention span, but from the particular cultural operating system that Westerners seem to inherit from birth. This operating system – which appears everywhere from language to economics to institutions – reinforces separation between the subject and the object, the observer and the observed, the self and the world. It trains us to experience ourselves as isolated individuals standing apart from the living systems that sustain us. The latter part of this episode turns toward identifying moments where this separation starts to soften: experiences with music, grief, nature, and deep presence, to name a few. Nate connects these insights to the metacrisis as a whole, suggesting that humanity's treatment of the biosphere might be rooted in the same underlying assumption of separateness. Rather than arriving at an outright definition of non-duality, Nate closes with the possibility that loosening our grip on certainty may itself be a large part of the work. Have there been moments in your own life when the boundary between yourself and the world briefly dissolved? Why does non-duality seem so difficult to define within modern Western culture? And what does it mean to consider separation from nature to be the foundation beneath many of today's global crises? (Recorded May 28th, 2026) Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on YouTube Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie. --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Hylo channel and connect with other listeners
How do you regulate your nervous system in a world built to hijack it? In this episode, Jeff sits down with Sam Harris, neuroscientist, author, and creator of the Waking Up meditation app, for part two of a two-part conversation. After diagnosing the political chaos in part one, they pivot to the practice of meeting it with clarity, exploring mindfulness, non-duality, and what's prior to thought. They discuss: Why almost no one can hold attention for 30 seconds The real root of psychological suffering Dualistic vs. non-dualistic meditation practice Psychedelics and meditation compared The social construction of the self, from childhood to Sartre The hard problem of consciousness and the mystery of awareness If you want to learn Sam's approach to staying engaged with the world without losing your mind to it, go to https://onecommune.com/sam to get 30 days of his Waking Up app for free. This episode was made possible by: Vivobarefoot: Try Vivobarefoot risk-free with a 100-day return guarantee, and get 15% off your order at vivobarefoot.com/commune. Stemregen: Get 20% off your first order at stemregen.co/commune with the code COMMUNEPOD LMNT: Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/commune. Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off our entire product line. Sunlighten: Visit sunlighten.com/commune Up to 2,100 off saunas and $50 off Red Light Products with code “COMMUNE”
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Send us Fan MailPatanjali's Yoga Sutras: Do You Need a Religion to Wake Up?Enjoying our podcast? Please help us out and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your thumbs up goes a long way.Every spiritual tradition hands you a map. Patanjali's eight limbs. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle. The Four Noble Truths. Lojong mind training. But here's the question nobody asks: What good is the map if you don't know how to drive a car?In this episode, Stephan and Adam dig into what spiritual maps are really for, and when staring at one becomes the obstacle itself. They get into why discipline and restraint are the most skipped steps in Western spirituality, what actually happens when the surface mind quiets down (hint: it's not peace), and why the why behind your emotions matters less than you think.Topics covered:Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the eight limbs, and yogas chitta vritti nirodhaLojong mind training and transforming difficulty into the pathTeresa of Avila's Interior Castle and the non-linear nature of the journeySengcan's Hsin Hsin Ming, the Zen case for dropping preferences entirelyA Course in Miracles on forgiveness as stillnessWhy Neo-Advaita can leave you stuckQuestions, topic ideas, or books you want us to read: letterstotheskypodcast@gmail.com00:00 Back After Hiatus00:21 Lost Episode Story01:20 Do We Need A Map?02:57 What Counts As A Map?05:50 Different Destinations09:09 Map Versus Road11:04 Spiritual Stages And Ego14:13 Inner Roads Of Practice16:09 Ethics As Foundation26:54 Meditation Clicks Over Time30:48 Quiet Mind Brings Pain34:21 Therapy Versus Inquiry35:41 Why Knowing Why Fails36:51 Karma Reincarnation Context39:17 View Path Fruit Framework42:40 Mind Training Maps45:15 Shoes Frustration Practice48:54 Feel Fully Drop Resistance53:22 Forgiveness No Preferences01:00:34 Signs of Progress01:04:17 Map Question Wrap UpSupport the showCopyright 2026 by Letters to the Sky
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LESSON 139I Will Accept Atonement For Myself.Here is the end of choice. For here we come to a decision to accept ourselves as God created us. And what is choice except uncertainty of what we are? There is no doubt that is not rooted here. There is no question but reflects this one. There is no conflict that does not entail the single, simple question, “What am I?”Yet who could ask this question except one who has refused to recognize himself? Only refusal to accept yourself could make the question seem to be sincere. The only thing that can be surely known by any living thing is what it is. From this one point of certainty, it looks on other things as certain as itself.Uncertainty about what you must be is self-deception on a scale so vast, its magnitude can hardly be conceived. To be alive and not to know yourself is to believe that you are really dead. For what is life except to be yourself, and what but you can be alive instead? Who is the doubter? What is it he doubts? Whom does he question? Who can answer him?He merely states that he is not himself, and therefore, being something else, becomes a questioner of what that something is. Yet he could never be alive at all unless he knew the answer. If he asks as if he does not know, it merely shows he does not want to be the thing he is. He has accepted it because he lives; has judged against it and denied its worth, and has decided that he does not know the only certainty by which he lives.Thus he becomes uncertain of his life, for what it is has been denied by him. It is for this denial that you need Atonement. Your denial made no change in what you are. But you have split your mind into what knows and does not know the truth. You are yourself. There is no doubt of this. And yet you doubt it. But you do not ask what part of you can really doubt yourself. It cannot really be a part of you that asks this question. For it asks of one who knows the answer. Were it part of you, then certainty would be impossible.Atonement remedies the strange idea that it is possible to doubt yourself, and be unsure of what you really are. This is the depth of madness. Yet it is the universal question of the world. What does this mean except the world is mad? Why share its madness in the sad belief that what is universal here is true?Nothing the world believes is true. It is a place whose purpose is to be a home where those who claim they do not know themselves can come to question what it is they are.And they will come again until the time Atonement is accepted, and they learn it is impossible to doubt yourself, and not to be aware of what you are.Only acceptance can be asked of you, for what you are is certain. It is set forever in the holy Mind of God, and in your own. It is so far beyond all doubt and question that to ask what it must be is all the proof you need to show that you believe the contradiction that you know not what you cannot fail to know. Is this a question, or a statement which denies itself in statement? Let us not allow our holy minds to occupy themselves with senseless musings such as this.We have a mission here. We did not come to reinforce the madness that we once believed in. Let us not forget the goal that we accepted. It is more than just our happiness alone we came to gain. What we accept as what we are proclaims what everyone must be, along with us. Fail not your brothers, or you fail yourself. Look lovingly on them, that they may know that they are part of you, and you of them.This does Atonement teach, and demonstrates the oneness of God's Son is unassailed by his belief he knows not what he is. Today accept Atonement, not to change reality, but merely to accept the truth about yourself, and go your way rejoicing in the endless Love of God. It is but this that we are asked to do. It is but this that we will do today.Five minutes in the morning and at night we will devote to dedicate our minds to our assignment for today. We start with this review of what our mission is:I will accept Atonement for myself, For I remain as God created me.We have not lost the knowledge that God gave to us when He created us like Him. We can remember it for everyone, for in creation are all minds as one. And in our memory is the recall how dear our brothers are to us in truth, how much a part of us is every mind, how faithful they have really been to us, and how our Father's Love contains them all.In thanks for all creation, in the Name of its Creator and His Oneness with all aspects of creation, we repeat our dedication to our cause today each hour, as we lay aside all thoughts that would distract us from our holy aim. For several minutes let your mind be cleared of all the foolish cobwebs which the world would weave around the holy Son of God. And learn the fragile nature of the chains that seem to keep the knowledge of yourself apart from your awareness, as you say:I will accept Atonement for myself, for I remain as God created me.- Jesus Christ in ACIM
LESSON 134Let Me Perceive Forgiveness AsIt Is.Let us review the meaning of “forgive,” for it is apt to be distorted and to be perceived as something that entails an unfair sacrifice of righteous wrath, a gift unjustified and undeserved, and a complete denial of the truth. In such a view, forgiveness must be seen as mere eccentric folly, and this course appear to rest salvation on a whim.This twisted view of what forgiveness means is easily corrected, when you can accept the fact that pardon is not asked for what is true. It must be limited to what is false. It is irrelevant to everything except illusions. Truth is God's creation, and to pardon that is meaningless. All truth belongs to Him, reflects His laws and radiates His Love. Does this need pardon? How can you forgive the sinless and eternally benign?The major difficulty that you find in genuine forgiveness on your part is that you still believe you must forgive the truth, and not illusions. You conceive of pardon as a vain attempt to look past what is there; to overlook the truth, in an unfounded effort to deceive yourself by making an illusion true. This twisted viewpoint but reflects the hold that the idea of sin retains as yet upon your mind, as you regard yourself.Because you think your sins are real, you look on pardon as deception. For it is impossible to think of sin as true and not believe forgiveness is a lie. Thus is forgiveness really but a sin, like all the rest. It says the truth is false, and smiles on the corrupt as if they were as blameless as the grass; as white as snow. It is delusional in what it thinks it can accomplish. It would see as right the plainly wrong; the loathsome as the good.Pardon is no escape in such a view. It merely is a further sign that sin is unforgivable, at best to be concealed, denied or called another name, for pardon is a treachery to truth. Guilt cannot be forgiven. If you sin, your guilt is everlasting. Those who are forgiven from the view their sins are real are pitifully mocked and twice condemned; first, by themselves for what they think they did, and once again by those who pardon them.It is sin's unreality that makes forgiveness natural and wholly sane, a deep relief to those who offer it; a quiet blessing where it is received. It does not countenance illusions, but collects them lightly, with a little laugh, and gently lays them at the feet of truth. And there they disappear entirely.Forgiveness is the only thing that stands for truth in the illusions of the world. It sees their nothingness, and looks straight through the thousand forms in which they may appear. It looks on lies, but it is not deceived. It does not heed the self-accusing shrieks of sinners mad with guilt. It looks on them with quiet eyes, and merely says to them, “My brother, what you think is not the truth.”The strength of pardon is its honesty, which is so uncorrupted that it sees illusions as illusions, not as truth. It is because of this that it becomes the undeceiver in the face of lies; the great restorer of the simple truth. By its ability to overlook what is not there, it opens up the way to truth, which has been blocked by dreams of guilt. Now are you free to follow in the way your true forgiveness opens up to you. For if one brother has received this gift of you, the door is open to yourself.There is a very simple way to find the door to true forgiveness, and perceive it open wide in welcome. When you feel that you are tempted to accuse someone of sin in any form, do not allow your mind to dwell on what you think he did, for that is self-deception. Ask instead, “Would I accuse myself of doing this?”Thus will you see alternatives for choice in terms that render choosing meaningful, and keep your mind as free of guilt and pain as God Himself intended it to be, and as it is in truth. It is but lies that would condemn. In truth is innocence the only thing there is. Forgiveness stands between illusions and the truth; between the world you see and that which lies beyond; between the hell of guilt and Heaven's gate.Across this bridge, as powerful as Love which laid its blessing on it, are all dreams of evil and of hatred and attack brought silently to truth. They are not kept to swell and bluster, and to terrify the foolish dreamer who believes in them. He has been gently wakened from his dream by understanding what he thought he saw was never there. And now he cannot feel that all escape has been denied to him.He does not have to fight to save himself. He does not have to kill the dragons which he thought pursued him. Nor need he erect the heavy walls of stone and iron doors he thought would make him safe. He can remove the ponderous and useless armor made to chain his mind to fear and misery. His step is light, and as he lifts his foot to stride ahead a star is left behind, to point the way to those who follow him.Forgiveness must be practiced, for the world cannot perceive its meaning, nor provide a guide to teach you its beneficence. There is no thought in all the world that leads to any understanding of the laws it follows, nor the Thought that it reflects. It is as alien to the world as is your own reality. And yet it joins your mind with the reality in you.Today we practice true forgiveness, that the time of joining be no more delayed. For we would meet with our reality in freedom and in peace. Our practicing becomes the footsteps lighting up the way for all our brothers, who will follow us to the reality we share with them. That this may be accomplished, let us give a quarter of an hour twice today, and spend it with the Guide Who understands the meaning of forgiveness, and was sent to us to teach it. Let us ask of Him:Let me perceive forgiveness as it is.Then choose one brother as He will direct, and catalogue his “sins,” as one by one they cross your mind. Be certain not to dwell on any one of them, but realize that you are using his “offenses” but to save the world from all ideas of sin. Briefly consider all the evil things you thought of him, and each time ask yourself, “Would I condemn myself for doing this?”Let him be freed from all the thoughts you had of sin in him. And now you are prepared for freedom. If you have been practicing thus far in willingness and honesty, you will begin to sense a lifting up, a lightening of weight across your chest, a deep and certain feeling of relief. The time remaining should be given to experiencing the escape from all the heavy chains you sought to lay upon your brother, but were laid upon yourself.Forgiveness should be practiced through the day, for there will still be many times when you forget its meaning and attack yourself. When this occurs, allow your mind to see through this illusion as you tell yourself:Let me perceive forgiveness as it is.Would I accuse myself of doing this?I will not lay this chain upon myself.In everything you do remember this:No one is crucified alone, and yet no one can enter Heaven by himself.- Jesus Christ in ACIM
What if the practice isn't about becoming better at yoga — but about seeing more clearly who you are? In this rich and contemplative conversation, Harmony sits down with Ricardo Louro and Inês Brilhante — founders of Ashtanga House Faro in Portugal's stunning Algarve region — to explore how studying Vedanta philosophy in the lineage of Swami Dayananda Saraswati has completely transformed their relationship with Ashtanga yoga practice. This is not a conversation about perfecting postures. It's a conversation about what postures are actually for. IN THIS EPISODE: The core Vedanta teaching — 'jiva jagadishvara' [VERIFY TRANSLITERATION]: the essence of the individual self, the world, and the creator are one How Ricardo went from asana obsession and identity-building to genuine inner freedom Why Inês finds Vedanta's teaching on impermanence invaluable as a mother, teacher, and business partner The practice of shravanam (deep listening to teachings) as a form of yoga in itself Mantra japa as a daily foundation — and how it freed Ricardo from needing to complete a full series to feel 'done' The 'polishing the mirror' metaphor: what it truly means to use yoga as a tool for self-inquiry How to begin studying Vedanta (recommended: Swami Sarvapriyananda on YouTube) The Dayananda Saraswati lineage and why studying in your own language matters Ines and Ricardo's path to founding Ashtanga House Faro — from Coimbra and Portimão, to Mysore, to the Algarve CONNECT WITH ASHTANGA HOUSE FARO: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashtangahousefaro/ Website: https://www.ashtangahousefaro.com/ HARMONY IS TEACHING:
What if the practice isn't about becoming better at yoga — but about seeing more clearly who you are? In this rich and contemplative conversation, Harmony sits down with Ricardo Louro and Inês Brilhante — founders of Ashtanga House Faro in Portugal's stunning Algarve region — to explore how studying Vedanta philosophy in the lineage of Swami Dayananda Saraswati has completely transformed their relationship with Ashtanga yoga practice. This is not a conversation about perfecting postures. It's a conversation about what postures are actually for. IN THIS EPISODE: The core Vedanta teaching — 'jiva jagadishvara' [VERIFY TRANSLITERATION]: the essence of the individual self, the world, and the creator are one How Ricardo went from asana obsession and identity-building to genuine inner freedom Why Inês finds Vedanta's teaching on impermanence invaluable as a mother, teacher, and business partner The practice of shravanam (deep listening to teachings) as a form of yoga in itself Mantra japa as a daily foundation — and how it freed Ricardo from needing to complete a full series to feel 'done' The 'polishing the mirror' metaphor: what it truly means to use yoga as a tool for self-inquiry How to begin studying Vedanta (recommended: Swami Sarvapriyananda on YouTube) The Dayananda Saraswati lineage and why studying in your own language matters Ines and Ricardo's path to founding Ashtanga House Faro — from Coimbra and Portimão, to Mysore, to the Algarve CONNECT WITH ASHTANGA HOUSE FARO: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashtangahousefaro/ Website: https://www.ashtangahousefaro.com/ HARMONY IS TEACHING:
Originally recorded at Science and Nonduality, 2021 Pat McCabe, also known as Woman Stands Shining, is a Diné elder, ceremonial prayer leader, and international speaker adopted into the Lakota spiritual way of life. In this conversation hosted by Lynn Murphy, Pat offers a profound invitation to examine the foundational assumptions of the modern world paradigm and consider what it might mean to live from a genuinely different understanding of what it is to be human. Drawing on teachings from her clan grandfather, her experience of intergenerational trauma and survival, and her deep inquiry into masculine and feminine principles, Pat maps the territory between the glittering world we are leaving and the green world we are entering. The conversation opens in ceremony and closes with a practice: a morning sunrise offering that anyone can begin today. Lynn Murphy is a strategic advisor for foundations and NGOs working in the geopolitical South. She was a senior fellow and program officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation where she focused on international education and global development. She resigned as a ”conscientious objector” to neocolonial philanthropy. She holds an MA and PhD in international comparative education from Stanford University. She is also a certified Laban/Bartenieff movement analyst. This episode is released in celebration of SAND's new film featuring Pat McCabe, Little Singer, premiering online May 26-28, 2026, as part of the Eternal Song series. Timestamps 00:00:00 — Introduction 00:01:45 — Lynn Murphy introduces Pat McCabe: Diné nation, Lakota spiritual way, Defend the Sacred alliance 00:05:00 — Pat introduces herself through her clans — clan names as places on the earth, worlds more than this one 00:07:00 — Traveling through worlds: the flood, men and women, and the movement from the glittering world to the green world 00:15:00 — The two paradigms: indigenous versus modern world — "I am a human being, relative to all my relations" 00:34:00 — Trailer for Little Singer — premiering online May 26-28, 2026 — theeternalsong.org/littlesinger 00:35:00 — Masculine and feminine principles: power over versus power with, the sacred hoop, and right relations 00:52:00 — A practice for beginning: the morning sunrise offering and the teaching on consent, sovereignty, and honorable relationship with all beings Resources and Links Pat McCabe — Woman Stands Shining Website: patmccabe.net Little Singer — Eternal Song Series Online premiere: May 26-28, 2026 Three-day event with Diné voices Mentioned in the episode Robin Wall Kimmerer — Braiding Sweetgrass (plant sovereignty, honorable harvest) Lakota spiritual traditions — Seven Generations teaching Diné (Navajo) Nation — Long Walk history, Bosque Redondo concentration camp, 1860s Residential boarding school history — US government and church collaboration Masculine and feminine principles in economics and right relations — ongoing inquiry in Pat's work Episode artwork “Woman Stands Shining” by Namita Contact SAND podcast@scienceandnonduality.com Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member
Host Michael Taft interviews meditation teacher Wystan about teaching awakening outside a strict lineage framework, cultural translation of Buddhist practice, why awakening does not “come with a Buddhist label,” the tension between preserving traditional forms and adapting them for modern students, devotion as a powerful but often avoided dimension of practice, the heartbreak of compassion as barriers of separateness break down, the importance of turning toward suffering rather than distracting from it, gratitude and forgiveness as possible “neo-Brahmaviharas,” why shamatha and vipashyana training can prepare students for more direct nondual practices, and Wystan's encouragement that awakening is real, possible, and worth pursuing.Wystan is a meditation teacher threading together influences from training in Theravada, Zen, Vajrayana, Dzogchen, and Shinzen Young's systematic secular approach in service of awakening.Learn more at https://www.wystantbs.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.