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Audio
Teachings Tape 21
Talk covers (Seeing things differently) (not criticizing self) (The five talents) (giving teaching to others) (Making a contribution to harmlessness) (Making up the mind)
This week we will continue discussing seeing differently. As one begins to see different, one is seeing much that has heretofore been in the dark (all the conditioning that made up the "self"). One is beginning to see where most of one's difficulties came from--where one set up a barrier by always wanting to have something "ideal" (what ought to be). And, of course, then comes all the difficulties of trying to gain that state of idealism or the ideal--which is an "illusion" and not what is.
One might say this is revelation. To reveal is to bring to light. One might use the parallel of many objects in a very dark room. One with no light would bump into things--would find no beauty--could not see what was there, and wouldn't understand it.
However if one were given a light, one could throw the light into the room--see the beautiful things--not bump into things, and one would have something revealed to one. In order to have the light, and to have things revealed; one, of course, must have the light and use it. If one had a lamp and didn't use it, it would be of no value.
Now the lamp that one uses, of course, is the Teaching. The Teaching points out that there is much in man that man is unaware of, and it points out a means whereby he may be aware of it--the light--self-observation. It points out that the source of his difficulties are not to be blamed on something outside, but that the difficulties arise from within the "self". As the Great Teacher said, "From within the heart of man arises lust, murders, guilts, fears", and all the other unpleasant emotions. So from within this dark area called the "self", self-observation is throwing a light on it. Self observation is seeing all the mechanical behavior and all the conditioning one was heretofore totally unaware of--was totally identified with. One now sees all the not i's. One now sees that all the limitations one experienced was from the idea of conditioning. One can begin to see that all of the things that one felt was possible (such as having what ought to be) just may not be true. One can also see that things that one thought were impossible, [such as being in charge of one's inner state despite what's going on around one] are very possible when the conditioning is no longer in the way. This is beginning to be a new person.
One is considered (in certain areas we read) that one is little in the kingdom of heaven. One has a little glimpse that everyone is doing what they feel to be right, proper or justifiable. One has a little glimpse of agape or love, but one is a new person--that awareness [to experience agape or love] was not at all present in the "self" before self-observation. I is observing all this and using the light of Teaching which is seeing all the mechanicalness--the conditioning and all the things that arise from that-all the many accounts receivable. As one is becoming this new person, I begins to see and have revealed to it what forgiveness is. It begins to reveal what anxiety is. It begins to be revealed to one where all one's difficulties arise-from the conflicts of the many not-i's. One group (A-side) contending that one should stick up for one's rights, complain to get one's way, and to blame; and the other group (B-side) saying to please everybody, believe and do as you are told by your authorities, and to put on a different front. This conflict between A and B sides is the source of man's agony and misery. The old man with the conditioning unobserved has always blamed it on outside circumstances-on other people--on disease, etc. It is revealed that the disorders of the body arise from the conflict within--from the many anxieties-from the the preparing to fight or run. One begins to have revealed to one that X always does the appropriate thing for the information received from I, whether "I" is asleep and identified with the conditioning, or whether I is awake and observing the conditioning and observing all that is going on outside.
This is revelation. One begins to live in a light and begins to see what is going on. One begins to understand other people and not be in the dark of blaming, resentments, angers, guilts, fears, etc.
As one begins to have agape (love, understanding), the first person to be understood is I, and that means there is nothing to be regretful about--nothing to feel ashamed about. The conditioning is the usual state of man. Indeed, it is something to be very delighted about--that one is beginning to see. It is something to be delighted about to have the light thrown on all the dark areas within--that the inner man with all the hidden motives and all the conditioning are being brought to light.
One understands and remembers that when one was totally identified with "self" (with all the conditioning), that one did what seemed right, proper or justifiable. That feeling of right, proper or justifiable is what was reported to X, and X operated on it. Now one is seeing entirely different things as being right or proper.
One is also seeing that anything that has to be justified is, of course, invalid because only the not-i's (the conditioning) justifies things. I needs not justify anything--it merely reports what is. It is seeing what is. I sees the tremendous grace or tremendous gifts every person has--and is seeing that most people are totally unaware of these gifts. One begins to understand them and one has compassion for them. This is the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven-of Agape-of the Kingdom of Love.
Now there are certain expressions, of course, that occurs. One has a different attitude. As we said when one sees differently, one has a different attitude. The basic attitude of the conditioned person is to gain revenge, to have fear of what will people think, etc. You are quite well acquainted with them if you are paying attention. Now we can have a different attitude--an attitude of CONSIDERATION for all men. We consider and see their viewpoint and consider how one could relate to that individual in his present state of affairs. One does not need to "straighten him out"--one can't. It has to be done from his own inner revelation--from having the light and using it. One could so appear [set an example] that he might ask about it. Then, possibly, one could give him some of the Teaching, and allow him to use the light also. But the first thing is to be considerate of him in whatever state he is in. One will find one doesn't have to practice being considerate. If you practice being considerate, you are merely being tolerant. If one truly sees that what everyone around one is doing, each one feels he or she is right, proper and/or justified, and each is operating by the only light, or rather the absence of light each has. That is the only thing each can do. It is what each has done for years-each has only lived by the absence of light. Now one can be considerate of this individual who is in a blind state. Who could not be considerate of a blind person? Being considerate is a new attitude. It results in a new way of relating to the individual whoever it may be and wherever it may be. It could be in one's own household--it could be a stranger--a snippy sales clerk-any one in one's everyday affairs.
One is considerate of whom?--a blind person-a crippled person or an incomplete person. So one is considerate; and when one reports consideration to X, X brings forth the appropriate behavior for consideration.
The next attitude that one would have is to be entirely HARMLESS. Not to be helpful (which is usually to harm people), but to be harmless. It takes considerable consideration, considerable awareness, considerable looking, considerable paying attention in order to be harmless. If one [out of the guise of being helpful] decided to tell one of these blind people, "You are blind (meaning you are blind spiritually, you're blind to the "self") to what is going on in you,". You would, then, be harmful to that individual because they couldn't believe it. From that, they might draw a conclusion. Later when they might be ready and actually asking for the light, they wouldn't be able to use it because of the previous conclusion.
If they are let alone for a while, maybe they will ask for the light some day. [that is the way the teachings are designed] You see, everyone has to ask for the Teaching. It is never promoted--it is never pushed upon anyone. It is lived by example, yes, but no promotion because that is trying to be helpful in telling a person that he is blind when he does not realize it-or that they are crippled when they do not realize they're crippled--this would not do much good in the world. As one does this, one has harmlessness. One may not do much good in the world-that's beside the point; but one is harmless. [from Marsha.......Over the years, I have discovered that my answers for people are from my experience and circumstances and have nothing to do with others and their challenges. I never have all the information about their circumstances--even they don't. So it's my challenge to just listen!]
One is harmless by merely being awake, alert, and seeing--having the inner state revealed to "self"--of what the self is like-has changed the world a great deal.
Of course, the ideas of the world are "how things ought to be" and a Not-I is apt to jump up and say, "Everyone ought to have the advantage of the Teaching". That sets it into an "ideal". It is available to anyone if they ask; but if they don't ask, they do not realize they are in a turmoil--they will never ask. If they feel that something else is to blame and are convinced that something else is to blame, they will continue to blame and will not ask. It is available to everyone, but they must ask. They must knock on the door. They must seek the way. When they do, they will find it.
The best one can do is to, possibly, be an example of someone who isn't constantly in a state of turmoil--one seems to be peaceful as one goes about one's way. One might be an example, but none can be the missionary who tries to convince people that they have a problem when they are not aware they have one. Being harmless is to see, "I don't want to harm anyone." Report that to X and there will be no harm.
The next thing is to make a contribution to Life. The greatest contribution one can make, of course, is to be fully aware. A fully conscious person is harmless and causes no one any troubles, and the conscious person is not intentionally or otherwise second force to anyone--he may be unknowingly if the other has set up an ideal. He will make a contribution to peace, a contribution to pleasant moods, a contribution to seeing, a contribution to consciousness; and if the occasion presents itself, he will make a contribution to the Teaching. In other words, only when it is asked for in it's proper time, place and circumstance, could one share a light. And when one shares the light, one has made a contribution. One can make a contribution to troubled people by pointing out that it may not be quite so "troubled" at the moment or, at least, by making cooing sounds of one form or another. They feel all right about it. But you cannot teach a person who is not asking--and is not looking.
Now this is the beginning of AGAPE. It is a great spiritual experience, and there are still other spiritual experiences because there are many more levels of agape-of love-of consideration to be experienced. It is experiencing, not a practice. The only practice is self-observation--paying attention is practice-all other happens as an experiencing, as an outcome of self observation.
The next possible spiritual experience is that of FAITH. Faith on one level is the ability to make up one's mind. Now in this, one can experiment and see if one can make up one's mind; or do many things appear to be impossible and one can't make up one's mind. One cannot make up the mind about certain things? One says, "I would like it that way, BUT………….. And so one can't make up one's mind.
This gives one the great possibility of not criticizing "self" because one cannot make up one's mind, but finding that there are still powerful Not-I's-doubters--limitations that are still lurking about in one form or another--there is still dark within. Even though one has light enough to see many things, there are things still hidden in corners-things hidden under cabinets--things hidden under furniture, etc.
So let's look for the things that when you attempt to make up the mind, honestly, and you see that it cannot be, there is still a Not-I that gains power over I and says, "Yeh, you know that cannot be done." A person is ill and he makes up his mind that he is going to be well, but something says, "Well, after all, you can't be well because this is a hereditary disorder." "You can't be well because this is an incurable disorder."
Then there is still some lurking not "i" in there from the old decision that says, "believe and do as you are told by your authorities" Some authority said, "It's incurable. Or it said, "It can't get well." Or it said, "You can't do anything about it."
When one sees this, one begins to be able, then, to look and see where there are still bits of conditioning that I is still identified with--I is still agreeing with--I is still believing mammon's ideas. Most often the not "i" will say, "See, you can't even make up your mind yet--you don't have any faith." "You haven't seen anything." So then there is one of those little accusing Not "i"s that sits around and makes noises.
But experiencing these emotions is a barometer, a great asset in aiding self-observation to attempt to make up the mind. Do not accept the criticism because one can't make up the mind; but be thankful that one has discovered there is still a not "i" over in the corner somewhere that is having a very powerful effect. As one observes this, one can find them. Remember, the work says that we are to only see the not "i"s, be aware of them, to experience confession of them; and that X does all the work. It's not to criticize because you missed one the first time through or the second time through or that one has been added on lately. It is to be thankful each and every time we can throw that light of self observation on a dark area.
One excellent way of finding out is to attempt to make up your mind about something-anything that you want to whatever it may be. If you cannot make up your mind about it, you know there is a not "I" that is still powerful enough that it influences I (the observer), to believe that what "it" says is true. There is still one there, and we can throw that light of self-observation on it and bring it into the light--can reveal that dark area. Self observation can enable us to see what is bringing about that limitation in being--that tormentor--that limitation that keeps us in bondage.
Can you see the difference between being thankful that you have discovered not "I's rather than being chagrined that you have found one?-saying to self, "Oh my goodness, there is still another one." "I'll never get anywhere." You see, as long as there is "one" there, it can have an effect. We are not saying they can all be gone in a matter of weeks. We are saying that it is a continual action of serving X--to continually refer to being aware of the "self" and what's there. One excellent way is to find out if you can make up your mind about anything. Some things you will find you can, and other things, the not "i" will say, "Oh yes, but you can't about this. So there is still something to be thankful for.
The person who is seeing differently is thankful in all states of affairs because it is valuable. It has value to discover what is limiting, and to discover that there is still a limitation. It is not something to criticize.
Now, in self-improvement programs which is the work of the world, if one hasn't improved, then one criticizes self because one hasn't improved.
But we are not concerned with any self-improvement programs--we are not concerned with ideals-we are not concerned with blaming, we are not concerned with feeling guilt or self recrimination. We are concerned with revealing all that is dark and bringing everything to the light so there is light in every area within the "self'. We are concerned that all conditioning is gradually brought to the light. One sees all this conditioning which is confession. One sees that one can surrender the desire to go with it and to agree with it. One turns about from it. One begins to see differently. Then something one could not formerly make up one's mind about, one can.
And it is all in a matter of degrees; it is not an absolute in either direction.
You will find there are many things you cannot make up your mind about right now; but when this occurs, you have found some place to look--have you not? You have found something to be very thankful for-that there is still a cranny to throw the light on-the light of self observation by observing the "self."
As one discovers this, one finds that one can make up one's mind about a few more things.
Parable of the Five Talents
There is the parable of the man who gave one of his servants five talents. [from the dictionary…..a power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement; so called from the parable in Matt 25:14-30….Marsha] The servant took it and made five more. To another servant, the man gave two talents. That servant took those two talents and made two more. To another servant, the man gave only one talent; and he buried it in the earth so he wouldn't lose it. He was trying to be safe. He was cursed; and the others were given great rewards.
We are not talking about rewards because the Work is its own reward--to live in light is its own reward--to be obedient to one's nature and to perform as one's own state designates. One's nature calls to be aware. The not "I's",--the conditioning-(which is formed personalities)--rule, operate, and intimidate man. They are very cunning and very wise, but they can only operate in the dark.
The teaching shows us how to throw the light on them. The Teaching shows us what the light is--the light of attention to the "self"--the conditioned area. It is something not "I", so it can be observed and is not like having one's attention on "self" when one was conditioned and totally occupied within it. It is seeing something separate, something that does affect.
As one observes this, one finds that faith is an ever-increasing experience. Faith is an ever increasing attribute. One experiences more and more faith because one can make up one's mind about more and more things because one has observed more of the limiting not "I's"-the accusings, the threatenings, the one that says, "Of course you can't do that." Or "Of course that's impossible." As one observes these, one finds that one grows in faith, and that one grows in light because one throws more and more light on that inner state.
I can sometimes move into that inner being and be totally all of it; but we are concerned with seeing how much of the conditioning is still there. The Teaching says that one can attempt to make up one's mind; and if you find you cannot-that doubts arise--then that is not something to be upset about, but something to be very thankful for because one can throw the light of "self awareness" on that not "I"-that bit of conditioning that was formed-that limiting personality that threatens I and says, "Of course that can't be."
I no longer agrees with it, but throws the light on it. None of the conditioning or not "I's" can exist in light--they have to depend on the darkness. So the greatest gift is the ability to use that light-that light of attention on the "self" and the awareness.
As one sees it, one sees how all others (that one associates with) are functioning. One begins to have more and more of the sense of Agape--Love. One is in a new state in the kingdom of heaven here and now. As it goes on, its supposed to not end. If one continues to observe, the kingdom of heaven is without end. So one observes and one sees, and one grows in the kingdom of heaven. One grows in faith. One grows in the appreciation of grace and of how much grace one sees. One experiences confession. Yes, still whenever there is one not "I" operating, and it can be seen; one is experiencing confession anew, surrender anew, repentance anew--(or turning about-not feeling guilty, etc). One is really turning about in a different direction, a direction of being washed of that limitation. IT IS INDEED A GIFT!
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